Gear up for Success!
Issue #43 - July 31, 2000 <<WRITING YOUR MEMOIR>>
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brought to you by Laurie Riddell Geary, M.Ed., PCC. Coaching you to
get your life IN GEAR by making shifts, getting unstuck, finding balance,
accelerating your growth, and mapping the best route to your chosen destination:
a life filled with passion and purpose.
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Table of Contents:
1. Topic: <WRITING YOUR MEMOIR>
2. Recommended TASKS
3. Recommend READING
4. Some Special ANNOUNCEMENTS
*Relationship Telegroups
*A Special Website: www.giveforchange
5 Upcoming Local WORKSHOPS
6. SUBSCRIPTION information
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Topic: <WRITING YOUR MEMOIR> by Rhoda Riddell, PhD.
Have you ever thought about writing your memoir? I know I have...yet I never seem to find the time nor the motivation to do so....and I am at a loss on how to get started. In this issue, Rhoda Riddell, published author and writing coach, gives you four good reasons to write your memoir as well as ways to get unstuck and get started!
Why write your memoir? Consider the 4 P’s:
1 - Personal Growth: While the unexamined life may not be worth living,
if you
would believe Aristotle, the fact is that writing can be a wonderfully
healing, liberating, growing process. You become much more aware of
yourself
and the world. You can come closer to knowing yourself. All kinds of
research
supports the idea that writing can be therapeutic in several ways.
2 - Posterity: This is a gift you can leave --as the saying goes - do
that thing
which only you can do. Remember <Roots> or read <The Westward
Journey>...letters
and diaries of women crossing America in covered wagons. So whether
you keep
a journal with an eye toward your reader, like Anais Nin in her diaries,
May
Sarton in her journals, or write letters to everyone...read <Gift
of a Letter>
by Alexandra Stoddard--or write your memoirs in any other form... just
DO IT!
3. Publication - Some want it, some don’t. The good news is the new
field of
publishing on the internet; now you can put your story on the internet.
There
are publishing houses that will do it all for you for a few hundreds
of dollars
compared to the thousands for desktop self publishing. But you can
do that
too. The print-on-demand books are a boon today to those who expect
a small
market--maybe just family. I can put you in touch with someone local
and
reliable who will lead you through either path inexpensively.
4 - Profit: You might actually make some money from your memoir. Remember
<Angela’s Ashes> did well, and so did Maya Angelou’s memoirs..
and many others.
Profit is definitely a consideration if your life story is an interesting
one. I wonder if
mine is? (see newsletter issue # 5 <Gidget Goes to the Convent>)
What Blocks you from writing your memoir? How can you Break those Blocks?
1. You don't know how to get started:
Talk into a tape recorder the minute you wake up each morning. Maybe
another
time but make it the same time and place each day if possible. Limit
yourself
to half an hour or even 15 minutes...it’s less onerous. Fill one side
of a 30
minute tape. These can be tapes to remind you, that can be transcribed
and
then edited, or left as is for your kids. Make notes through the day
of what
you want to touch on.
This is sometimes easier if you team up with another person who is also
writing memoir, or a relative, who will ask you questions. If you have
a
computer, new software enables you to talk onto the computer and it
will
transcribe. Write out your list of questions and answer them. Use a
book such as <The Artist’s Way> by Julia Cameron or <At a Journal
Workshop>
by Ira Progoff.
Write a letter or two or three each day. Keep a journal like Nin’s or
Sarton’s or your own. See <The New Diary> by Rainer.
Take an old photograph album and write the story of each picture. Let
the
memories flow from the pictures.
Think of special events and holidays and tie in family memories. Start
a
family Round Robin. See <Families Writing> by Stillman on how to
do this.
Create or join a group or class or find one other to keep you on track.
Get a writing coach like me. I give you your first conference free and
we
discuss your special needs and aims. What does a writing coach do?
Contact me for my flyer.
2. You don’t have the time.
Try 15 minutes a day. One page a day. In 15 minutes you can write three
pages a day.
Find yourself a “Willy.” (The writer Colette married at 16 a
man named Willy, 36.
He would lock her in her room each day until she had written something
like 3000 words!
She divorced him, of course, but by then she had two best sellers.
If you can produce one
page a day you will have your book within six months.)
3. It’s too painful.
Read Anne Morrow Lindbergh’s <Hour of Gold, Hour
of Lead>. Some stories need to be shared. You may need a group
or a coach to
help you get through this because if you are writing of traumatic events
re-living them brings it all back. In <What You Can Change
and What You Can’t>
by Seligman, he says traumatic stress syndrome is the most difficult
problem to address and
change.
4. It’s too boring.
If it bores you it will bore your reader. Discuss with the group.
Can you make it less boring? If it bores you, why?
It’s your life...if it’s boring, how sad. Maybe you should try writing
fiction. Get a life, as they say.
5. You know it will offend others and they will disown you.
That happens, has happened, can happen. Again, is this a story
that should be
told? Is there a good reason to write it? A writing group can be very
supportive and help you to see how to write the story, where to find
courage,
how to tell the truth and keep your friends and family....sometimes
you
have to write the Roman a clef...that is, tell the story and call it
fiction.
Also you can use a <nom de plume> Most of these options can be explored
with two or three
trusted co-writers, a writing group, or a writing coach.
Article written by Rhoda Riddell, PhD, author and writing coach
living in Ocean Beach, California
email: gaby1028@aol.com
phone: (619)226-1394
What do you need to do to get started on writing your memoir?
We all have a story to
tell....a legacy to leave. I know I want my grandchildren...my
great grandchildren ...and all
the rest of my family...to know me and to know the positive difference
I tried to make in their lives.
I see writing my memoir as the best way to talk to them...I AM going
to write my memoir some day..
why not start now?
What about you? when will you start?
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.
TASKS =
1. Begin today! Start your memoir.
2. Read one of the books mentioned in the article...See list below.
3. Go to my Website www.ingearcoaching.com for back issues of my newsletter
4. Call me for a complimentary half-hour COACHING session to support
you in creating the life you want...suitable for leaving a memoir!
Voice:617-494-1422; email: laurie@ingearcoaching.com
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Recommended READING:
<AT A JOURNAL WORKSHOP: Writing to Access the Power of the Unconscious
and Evoke Creativity> by Ira Progoff
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN/0874776384/gearupforsuccela
<THE ARTIST'S WAY> by Julia Cameron
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN/0874776945/gearupforsuccela
<THE RIGHT to WRITE> by Julia Cameron
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN/0874779375/gearupforsuccela
<GIFT OF A LETTER> by Andrea Stoddard
htp://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN/0380714647/gearupforsuccela
<THE NEW DIARY: How to Use a Journal for Self Guidance and Expanded
Creativity>
by Tristine Rainer
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN/0874771501/gearupforsuccela
<FAMILIES WRITING> by Peter Stillman
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN/0966323300/gearupforsuccela
<WHAT YOU CAN CHANGE, WHAT YOU CAN'T> by Seligman
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN/0449709719/gearupforsuccela
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Some Special ANNOUNCEMENTS:
***highly recommended COACHING TELEGROUPS:
"Attract Your Ideal Relationship"
coaching telegroup for coaches and a separate telegroup for clients
of coaches is now forming. Space is limited, so act now and enroll yourself
or your client(s).
About the Group:
The "Attract Your Ideal Relationship" Coaching TeleGroup is a powerful way to learn to attract your ideal mate. It is an attitude, life and behavior changing experience that will have you discover and clear away all roadblocks to your true love.
About the Leader:
Rinatta Paries, an innovative Relationship Coach, Coach U Graduate and a Professional Certified Coach (PCC), has been educating and coaching clients individually and in groups in how to attract their ideal relationship for the past 9 years. She is the publisher of a very popular Relationship Coach eNewsletter and a coach with a proven record of client success. To learn more, go to www.WhatItTakes.com
A Group for Coaches
Are you a single coach who wants a relationship, think you know all of the right stuff about attraction but still have not attracted your ideal mate? Joint this group and learn to apply what you know to your dating & mating, so that you too can have true love.
Joint the "Attract Your Ideal Relationship" Coaching TeleGroup to:
· Be in a group of coaches with same goals as yours
· Discover the subtle paradigm shifts you need to make in order
to attract your ideal mate
· Have powerful breakthroughs in relationships
Location: Teleconference Bridge
Size of Group: 8 coaches
Start Date: Wednesday, 9/6 at 2 pm Pacific/5 pm Eastern
Duration: 12 weeks, 1& 1/2 hours a week
Cost & Payment: $575 for 12 weeks, or 3 monthly payments
of $200, payable by credit card
To Register: Call Coach Rinatta Paries, toll free @ 888-215-6033
or email Coach@WhatItTakes.com
A Group for Coaching Clients
Here is an innovative concept. What if your female client(s) could get
the benefits of relationship coaching from an expert, without loosing you
as a coach? Well, now she can by joining "Attract Your Ideal Relationship"
Coaching Group created especially for her. The group will cater to you
and her in 4 ways:
· Other participants will also have coaches and be on the same
page
· Group will meet twice a month, so that she has time to both
work on her success coaching goals with you and advance in her relationship
goals
· Your client deals with relationship issues faster & more
effectively by working with an expert
· You are guaranteed to never loose clients to Coach Rinatta
Paries - you have my word on it!
Location: Teleconference Bridge
Size of Group: 8 women
Start Date: Wednesday, 9/6 at 4 pm Pacific/7 pm Eastern
Duration: Twice a month for 1& 1/2 hours a week, for up to 6
months, 3 month commitment required
Cost & Payment: $125 per month, or $375 for 3 months, payable by
credit card
To Register: Call Coach Rinatta Paries, toll free @ 888-215-6033
or email Coach@WhatItTakes.com
Register in one of these groups & learn how to attract true love!
***and check out this very special website:
Make a donation to your favorite cause through www.giveforchange
Current Matching Contributions Ends August 1
Here's a great opportunity to boost the impact of your donation! Make
a
contribution to any of the following nonprofits listed below, and we'll
match your individual donation dollar for dollar up to $1,000 per donor.
Each of these organizations is doing phenomenal work in their area
of
expertise. To find out more detailed information on these groups, simply
click on the corresponding links below the names of the groups - if
the
links do not work simply copy and paste them into the address field
of your
web browser.
· Center To Prevent Handgun Violence
http://www.giveforchange.com/interact/item.asp?cat=Civil+Rights&itemno=CPH-5
· Doctors Without Borders, USA
http://www.giveforchange.com/interact/item.asp?cat=International+Relief+and+
· Million Mom March Foundation
http://www.giveforchange.com/interact/item.asp?cat=Civil+Rights&itemno=MMM-9
· Planned Parenthood Federation of America
http://www.giveforchange.com/interact/item.asp?cat=Civil+Rights&itemno=PPA-1
· Rainforest Action Network
http://www.giveforchange.com/interact/item.asp?cat=Environment&itemno=RAN-94
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<UPCOMING LOCAL WORKSHOPS>:
BE A PERSONAL & PROFESSIONAL COACH
*Boston Center for Adult Education
Monday, September 18 - also, Monday, November 13.
and
*Middlesex Community College
Saturday, September 23rd from 9-4 pm
and
*North Shore Community College
Wednesday, September 27th from 9-3 pm
TEAM-BUILDING:
*Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center
August 2...September 6th and 16th
and
*The Warren Conference Center...Northeastern University
August 30 & 31st.
RISK-TAKING: THE PATH to PERSONAL GROWTH
*North Shore Community College
Wednesday, October 4th from 9-3 pm
also
*BCAE - Monday, October 16 from 6:30-9:30 pm.
BUILDING YOUR SELF ESTEEM with the 8 A+ SYSTEM
North Shore Community College
Wednesday, October 11th from 9-3 pm
ATTRACTING WHAT YOU WANT IN LIFE
*Middlesex Community College - Saturday, October 14th from 9 to 4 pm
TEAM-BUILDING & NETWORKING: Games and Initiatives for Learning
ICF Conference, Balance Program, Vancouver, BC
October 27, 2000
also at RANCHO LA PUERTA SPA, Tecate, Mexico
December 16-22, 2000
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Please forward your copy of this newsletter to anyone you think
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Laurie R. Geary, M.Ed.
Professional Certified Coach, Certified Teleclass Leader
Register for my free weekly newsletter: GEAR UP for SUCCESS!
at my website: www.ingearcoaching.com
Phone: (617)494-1422 Fax: (617)494-1786
Address: 4 Canal Park, PH9, Cambridge, MA 02141
Graduate: Coach U www.coachu.com