I recently read Handling the Truth by Beth Kephart and thought a summary would be useful for other memoirists. Part 1: What is and what is not a memoir? I love that she says it’s not about the author winning that final battle or winning some war she thinks she is in with someone else, …
Awhile ago I reviewed Scrappy Rough Draft by Donna Barker. I thought you might like a rundown of the different chapters–there are so many–and you only need to pick the ones that will help you finish your first draft. Hold your breath… here we go. Read chapter 1 if you feel you need to write …
You Can’t Give Up on Your Book: Summary of Scrappy Rough Draft by Donna Barker Read More »
I interviewed Colin MacArthur on writing a memoir about a loved one. Colin was born in Canada, but he lived nearly half his life in the UK. He’s always had an interest in writing and the written word has been published as a photographer and has had one-man exhibitions of his photography, both in Canada …
Writing About a Loved One | Interview with Colin MacAuthor Read More »
I recently read Beth Kephart’s book Handling the Truth: On the Writing of Memoir and wanted to share my thoughts on it. So, here is my review. Who is Beth Kephart? Beth Kephart starts off telling us that she started as an unschooled writer and outsider in the book world. Don’t let her fool you. …
The first thing I have to say is if an editor tells you they edit all genres and they do all types of editing, run. If you need a developmental edit for a memoir, then don’t hire someone who has done all their work in academia or guidebooks. This is especially true for developmental editors, …
I have been called Scrappy myself, so I had to read Scrappy Rough Draft by Donna Barker. Enjoy the review. Who is Donna Barker? Donna Barker is an author, author coach, and one of the minds behind the Creative Academy. Her book Scrappy Rough Draft offers 22 brief chapters to inspire, motivate, and educated authors …
Finally Finish Writing Your Book: Review of Scrappy Rough Draft by Donna Barker Read More »
Choosing the right editor for your book and stage of writing can be confusing. It is important to hire the right editor for each stage of your book project. Ask four editors to tell you what type of editing there is and you might get four different answers.Your book needs four levels of editing: Developmental …
Ah, the career author. Imagine walking along the beach after a morning of writing while your books fly off shelves. That’s the life! More like a fantasy. Few authors make enough money from their books to not have other jobs or income sources. I will not say you can’t, because some people do. Just like …
5 Things All Successful Career Authors Have In Common Read More »
If you want to publish a book that people will love to read, you need an editor. Writing a polished and professional book without one is impossible. Behind every bestselling book is an outstanding editor. Here are 10 reasons your book needs one: 1. An Editor Helps You Focus on the Details You Can’t See …
