So you want to write your memoirs, but you don't know how to begin. Or maybe you started writing, but never finished. Below I have outlined a short roadmap for anyone with unfinished or un-begun memoirs.

Step 1: Just Write. Wanting to write is not writing. Write every day for at least one hour. This does not mean re-read or tinker with what you wrote yesterday—it means new writing. Every day. If you need deadlines to motivate you, sign up for a class, or start a writers group.

Step 2: Start with this exercise. Have someone time you for about 6 minutes. Turn your brain off. Write down as many memories as you can in that time. They can be memories from childhood, last week, or an hour ago. Once you’re done, take out a new sheet of paper and without looking at the other list, write down the top six to eight that come to you from the previous list.
     Now examine this list of six memories for themes. The themes you identify in this list are the themes that exist in your life and in your stories. They will probably not be a surprise to you. They will most likely be things that you think about, write about, or read often. Some examples of themes are: coming of age, pilgrimage, aging, faith, and many others.
      Keep these themes in mind as you start writing your memoirs. They will help you to understand and find meaning in many of your experiences.

Step 3: Take out a large sheet of paper and make a time-line of the time period you want to write about (your whole life, the war, childhood, etc.) Draw a line and put marks along it as memories come to you. Don’t try to remember them in order, just write them down and organize it later.
      It is also best to do this exercise with your brain turned off—like in the middle of the night, or first thing in the morning. Let your memory tell you what is important. Don’t let your brain filter them and tell you what someone would or wouldn't care to read about.
     After you time-line all major memories, circle each one and make associations that shoot off from them—like people, places, or events. Your timeline will be a mess, but messes are good in this stage.
     Once you are done, look at your sheet of paper. You may be surprised at how much emotion and how many stories exist within this mess of scribbles and lines. Your job now, is to make these chicken scratches communicate these powerful emotions to other people.

Step 4: Break big rocks into small rocks. Begin writing in small chunks. Write one story, or one viniette a day. You don’t even have to work in chronological order. Most people feel chronological order works best for them at first, but occasionally you will get stuck and think, I don’t want to write about this today. So don’t. Skip to something you want to write about. You can fit it in where it belongs later.

Step 5: Push Forward. When you’re done for the day or for your hour, write the line you plan to start with the next day. This will help you to keep moving forward and write new pieces every day. Pushing forward is important. Don’t go back to revise. Wait until you have a completed draft of your memoirs before making revisions. There are plenty of people out there still revising chapter one of their memoirs, novels, screenplays, and other projects. Write until you are done. It will be an extremely messy draft, but you will actually have a draft to work with.

Step 6: Let your draft sit for a while. Reward yourself.

Step 7: Revise. The revision process is different for everyone, but it primarily consists of developing stories better, changing awkward wording, using more descriptive language, adding dialog, removing clichés—what ever you need to do to make your story come alive.
     One way to find out whether your story is working or not, is by having someone else read it and give you feedback. This step can be the most invaluable, or the most destructive. To make it productive, choose a reader you trust, and ask them to follow these few simple rules 1:

Rules for the Reader

1. Read the story all the way through several times.
2. Circle words or phrases that stick out to them for some reason, whether for good or bad reasons.
3. Tell what they think the story is about. In other words tell it back to you in their own words.
4. Tell their emotions as they were reading. I.e. enchanted, disengaged, confused, uninterested, excited, mad, etc.
5. Tell where they had questions or wanted to know more. Many times what you are writing about is perfectly clear in your own mind. Having a second reader ask you questions can give you an idea of where you need to add more information or detail.

Rules for you, the listener

1. Don't explain things and don't answer your reader’s questions. If you do so, your reader will begin responding to what you are explaining, rather than what is written. Tell them if they want to know the answer they can read it in your next draft.
2. Don't ever argue with your reader. If a reader thinks your story is about Jack discovering true love and you meant for it to be about Jack discovering that he is woman, then the reader is not wrong—he is confused. It is your job to fix his confusion in your next revision.

Step 8: Use creative non-fiction techniques. What is creative non-fiction? Basically, it is the use of fictional techniques when telling a non—fiction story. Techniques such as the use of dialog, descriptive language, imagery, and invented details where none are available.

Side note: I am always surprised how many people are worried that someone will sue them. I find that this is usually an excuse not to write. Don’t worry who will sue you or who you will hurt. Write this draft for you only. Be honest, use real names if you want to. You can change names and decide what needs to be cut later, if anything. If you are seeking publication, publishing houses have plenty of lawyers who can help you with this part. What is important now is that you write from your heart.

For more information on classes, or to sign up for a class in West L.A. or online, please call Felice at Memoirs, Ink. 310-204-5929, or email courses@memoirsink.com.