For Memoirists

The 10 Most Common Mistakes First-Time Memoir Writers Make

1. They do not know the difference between autobiography and memoir.
2. They do not Frame and Focus the subject of the memoir.
3. They have not learned to use fiction techniques.
4. They do not know the elements of story nor studied and practiced the craft of narrative nonfiction writing.
5. If they are edited or critiqued they (all) answer: “But it really happened that way.”
6. They do not understand the objective distance a writer must learn to keep from the stories and the characters in their memoir.
7. They have not researched enough to learn if their memoir has a viable subject for today’s reader and book market.
8. They have not learned the techniques of character development, singling out defining events, or learned the craft of editing for interest and drama.
9. They skim the surface without giving depth of the event they try to describe. They do not understand what to include and what to leave out.
10. They do not know the difference between The Situation and The Story.

“Toni, Thank you for the outstanding writing workshop. Those who are hungry about crafting memoir need only sit at your table. They will be fed!” – Kathy, Los Angeles

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“The 10 Most Common Mistakes First-Time Memoir Writers Make”