How to Publish Memoir: Part Two

Continued from Steps one thru four.

Sixth: You have to decide if your serious about writing your story. If not? Fine, use pen and paper. If you are? Get a computer and Microsoft Word. Learn how to type, even if its just with two fingers like I do, although keyboarding is much better. I like Dell and HP, but any brand will just about do these days. In my estimation, every serious writer has to master Word and organize and save their documents. Its a fantastic writing tool. For one, it underlines grammar and spelling errors in green - very helpful. If you're still unsure of the spelling, go to Google. Enter "define embarrass" - it'll give you the correct spelling and definition.

Also buy an All-in-one printer. I have an Officejet 6500A Plus. That's why my autobiography has an 108 page Appendix with tons of photographs, pictures etc.because the scanner is so easy to use. And I use the fax on occasion -- very handy. Be careful here - the new printers will not print if even one cartridge is out of ink. That includes color. The older printers printed black even if a color cartridge was empty. Sometimes these companies should be shot.

Seventh: Buy (or download it free online) Strunk and White's Elements of Style. It's all of 85 pages. If you already have or bought a computer, you should also be or become familiar with email and Wikipedia, two indispensable writer's tools. Of course there's much, much more you can use and do, but that's enough to get started. Oh, and read Stephen King's On Writing, its mandatory reading (and studying) for memoir writers, in my opinion.

Eighth: Give a short meaningful title to all your pieces, stories etc. Insert a Heading on every piece. In the heading, insert "Draft # 4" (or whatever it is each time), followed by the copyright symbol, the year, and your name. Also date it. I use Word's triple heading slots. Insert Page Numbers at the bottom of the page. I use the "Page 2 of 4" format. Save each piece you've written in a file by name. I have many files for my pieces "Books." "Memoir pieces finished" "Memoir classes" etc. Whatever floats your boat. But be organized about it.

Ninth: Start editing and polishing when the piece is mostly done, when you're done writing "what happened."  Add how you felt at the time and what others expressed. Add dialogue that you remember, or the gist of it. Add settings, sights and sounds. Use action verbs only.  Show AND tell. In other words, learn from others or buy a good book on how to write better. There's a dozen good ones out there. This is the toughest part by far. Only you can do it unless you hire a ghostwriter (which, if you have the dough, is entirely possible).

Tenth: Okay, your essay, chapter or book is done, its ready - for something. Whether two pages or two hundred. Now what? Print it out and give it to your kids or your wife, and your done. For now. Or do you, like me, want to publish your work? Well, you need a plan if you're going to publish, that's all there is to it.  Here, let me describe mine so you get an idea....

To be continued after publication of my first book, Episodes of ABLiA (A Blessed Life in America).