BellaOnline Forums Career Nonfiction Writing Biography writing

Yesterday I was phoned and asked by someone who had heard me speak if I had written a book of my life. She wanted to get hold of it and since she was visually impaired wanted a talking book.

I have written many stories of my life. I don't want to write a traditional timeline biography. The sort of thing I would like to write is like the book 'From Strength to Strength' by Sara Henderson. She does tell her life in chronological sequence but it is done more in anecdotes.

I guess I don't know whether I can do it and how I should go about it.

Go for it Felicity! Go You! Either way, think of it as a 'Learning Curve' You can do this.........if you 'eat the elephant, one bite at a time...' as the saying goes!

Writing a personal history is fun! If it feels a little overwhelming to start, don't try to do it in order. Sit down and write whatever memory is clearest or most meaningful to you at the moment. Start a folder in your computer for it and make subfolders by decade. Each time you write a memory, file it in the proper folder. Eventually you'll have enough for a book, and then you can work on getting it in shape and deciding the best way to tell the story. For now, just start putting down the memories.

For the future, every writer should consider taking an hour on Sunday afternoon to write a memory or keep a journal. This will make life easier when you're famous and have to write your autobiography

'famous!' That's a laugh!!! but good suggestions

You can also make a cd (audio) of your own book to have to sell as a companion to your book. If you are a good reader and have a good voice, you can use the software to make this on your own computer. Many people do the cd's now and market them as something to listen to while driving. With the person who contacted you being viually impaired, this would be perfect.

I would like to do this but not put my actual real name on it, for various reasons, any info on this would be greatly appreicated.

I have 15 Chapters of a story about the challenges I met with MS and over came. I have stopped for a while for it just seems to messy. People tell me I should finish the book but I'm not a great writer. It's very hard for me to sort out. My legislative rep was the one who recommended me to tell it. She told me my story was a good one. She is the one. I begged for help to get disability. She knows the obstacles. My mother was a writer for a living but she cannot re-write it for she is to close to the subject. So I just need some advise what steps to take to sort it out?

Thank you,

T