So you have decided that you want to start your life story or life review story, now what?
There are different thoughts about how to start a writing project. Some people think you need to do an outline of your life to give you the guide to start writing. This path means you start at the beginning of our life and you proceed in a straight order.Some people need a linear order to write and keep writing. Another thought is to do a time line where you list the major dates of events of your life . I like that idea but I tell my clients to write the time line and then go back a week later and fill in the details that you missed. You will be amazed how often once you start to remember how many more things your will remember.
I really am a strong proponent of just starting where one story follows another. No order just the commitment to write. Write about yesterday, last year or elementary school. Once you start the process you will start remembering and the more you write, the more comfortable you will be about writing things down and after a while a theme will develop.
Your writing style will also become evident as you write and your personality will be part of the guide to keep you on task.
Most writing coaches will tell you to:
- Make the commitment
- Spend some time on why you want to write and be clear what you want to accomplish with this project.
- Understand that this is not a one-day commitment and it could take you several years. The more time you put in the quicker it will be completed.
- Put yourself in a good frame of mind and focus on the task ahead. Good thoughts and feelings will let good stories be written with lots of energy to spare.
- Create self-imposed dead lines if you need it to stay focus. One story a week, one story completed once a day or once story completed for the month. Follow you own life style and time available.
- Find a comfortable place to write with few interruptions.
- Schedule the time to write and stick to that schedule.
- Use a tape recorder if you are not comfortable in just writing. Use a pen if you do not like writing on a computer.
- Tell the tape recorder the story as if it was your best friend. 10. Do not be judgmental of your writing. Just write and later you can edit or find an editor to help make your words and memories light up the page.
No Excuses…now start with the path that works best for you!
