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write a memoir rachael herron fast-draft your memoir note received start writing story in 45 hours highly recommend life story recommend this book love with rachael get started books on writing guide to getting received an advance draft your memoir advance copy really good write your life story every step story structure
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Christina
5.0 out of 5 stars Great tool for memoir writing that's actually fun to read
Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2019
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I've been writing a memoir for an embarrassing length of time. Without direction, I was wandering aimlessly and had no concrete ideas on how to proceed. I sent a couple chapters to a friend who does some editing and the critical feedback was so hard to bear that even thinking about my writing made me ill.

This book was exactly what I needed. I recognized some of the elements the editor pointed out and was able to frame it in a helpful light and understand in a way that wasn't painful or personal. This book gave me the courage to try again and it gave me tools I was lacking previously.

Rachael breaks things down into manageable steps in a way that is not only way to understand but is a joy to read. She interjects the perfect amount of humor and sympathy to each lesson and provides examples that clearly drive home why each lesson is important.

I followed along with the exercises and realized that I need to start and end my memoir in entirely different points in my life than I'd planned. The exercises lead you through some serious introspection that will pay off to develop your story arc and themes.

Really wish I would have read this book eight years ago.

Do I have my first draft at the end of this read? No. I still have a lot of work ahead of me but I feel so much better equipped now. I have direction, purpose and belief that I really can finish this memoir.
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Al
1.0 out of 5 stars Were all the other reviews incentivized?
Reviewed in the United States on March 12, 2019
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I have NO idea why everyone else seems to be raving about this book.

First off - it does not tell you how to write your own life story in 45 hours. Nowhere does it even touch on this. I was expected a 45 hour work plan that would guide me through getting everything down in 45 hours.

Additionally, all of the tips and advice for writing seem to be stolen directly from other really good books I've read on writing - except this book just barely scratches the surface. There's zero substance. This is more like a fast-draft of a book about how to write.

There are only about 30 pages on memoir-writing. These 30 pages cover the following topics:
what is a memoir?
reasons not to write a memoir.
don't share your memoir with anyone while you're writing the first draft.
truth vs. memory and when to bend truth in memoir (the ONLY helpful section, this is 10 pages long)

The rest of it covers: the basics of story structure that you learned when you were a kid (and isn't covered in enough depth to actually be a how-to), the importance of writing and then re-writing, doing things like 'listening to music' to put you in the mood, the importance of meditating, journaling in your life so that you have fodder for future writing, that it's important to use emotions and details to make things more interesting (this topic is covered in just two pages), what tense and point of view mean (first person, second person, past, present, etc), and then 10 pages on how to get published nowadays (the second most useful section, which is not saying much)

AND - to add insult to injury - this is a VANITY PUBLISHED piece. The writer of this created HGA publishing and published this book herself. Then she tries to give you advice on how to get published. And the section where she talks about self-publishing reads like a whine-list rather than an actual pathway to help you do it yourself, which she caps off with "I know I've just scared the pants off of you" (no, you didn't, you just annoyed me and gave me no useful advice while using a lot of filler - you advised me to hire out editing, but then didn't say HOW, and I'm left hoping you DIDN'T pay an editor for this book).

This book is BASIC BASIC BASIC - it has zero meat and a lot of "personality"/pep talks (the writer tries to talk to you directly with such nonsense as "you did this to yourself. you left tracks behind you on the page. you're a WRITER." "You've picked up this particular tome because you don't have time to waste. Good for you; of course you don't." (but then it doesn't actually ever address how to do this is 45 hours...) "grant yourself forgiveness then move on. and then write more."

I guess this book isn't the worst thing ever, it's just not worth money. And I wish I'd had a chance to look at it before the return window closed (I bought it when I requested a week off of work to set aside time to complete a writing project - specifically my memoir). That week is next week, and I cracked it open today so I could start prepping only to be horribly disappointed by the lack of quality, depth, and plan of action. I guess I can infer that I'm supposed to complete the two exercises in this book (creating an outline, determining the dramatic arc) before embarking on the 45 hours of writing, and then just write as quickly as I can?

And at the very end, she pitches her own services - which include coaching!! teaching!! and an email list you can join for just $25 dollars a year!!

I get it. I'm a professional creative, and making ends meet is rough in the current market. Sometimes people have to do some crap things like develop followers and try to dupe other people into paying high prices for 'services' that go beyond traditional writing (fill in your craft of choice). If you want to support Rachel Herron living the dream, by all means throw her some dough.

If you're looking for some actually good books on writing - with some really good exercises - and if you're interested in the topics that she barely brushes on (and seemed to have flat out stolen from some more worthwhile books), I recommend the following:
Fire Up Your Writing Brain - Susan Reynolds
The Art and Craft of Storytelling - Nancy Lamb
The Modern Library: Writer's Workshop - Stephen Koch (also covers memoir, and in at least as much depth as this book)
Improving Your Storytelling - Doug Lipman
Dialogue - Robert McKee
Self-Editing for Writers - Browne & King

Aside from the 10 pages on how to write a memoir and the 20 pages on "what a memoir is" - these other books provide exactly the same info as this book but do a MUCH MUCH better job.

Don't waste your money. And good luck with your writing projects everyone!!
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S. Day Conner
5.0 out of 5 stars I found this book the MOST HELPFUL for a first-time memoir writer
Reviewed in the United States on October 29, 2018
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Of all the how-to-write-memoir books I've purchased, checked out, or perused and put back, this book offers by far the most coherent, compact, inspiring, and clear advice. The author covers not only the reasons why you should write your memoir, but why others typically read them, how to locate your "story," and how to structure into something that will resonate with other readers (AND will help you to actually finish it). She addresses questions that other authors gloss over, like truth and honesty, how to decide what's too much, especially when you're including other people close to you in your story. She walks you through very simple exercises that are so helpful, like nailing down your 6-word summary, your elevator pitch, and a 4-act structure. I just can't say enough about this book. I'm incredibly excited to start my memoir during Nano this year now. I feel so much better prepared from having followed this author's advice and planning exercises. Thank you so much for writing this book, Ms. Heron!
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Barbara Edelman
5.0 out of 5 stars If you have EVER wanted to write your memoir....this book is for you! (and me!!)
Reviewed in the United States on February 4, 2018
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I read this book in two huge gulps from cover to cover. Simply put, if you have ever struggled to finish a book, if you have a yen to write about a time in your life, but aren't sure how to structure it, where to start, how to get through the middle and across the finish line---THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU. Clearly, generously, tenderly and humorously Rachael Herron takes you step by step through the process. Let me put this another way....have you ever looked at a patchwork quilt and thought 'wow, how does someone make that magical pattern appear? Does the quilter start at one corner and just magically patchwork their way across the quilt top to the opposite corner? -- well...writing a memoir or a book is a little bit like that. But...Rachael reveals the magical part, the underlying structure that makes the pattern stay together and come alive. No one can just start writing, (or patchwork quilting) without relying on the underneath structure. AND SHE MAKES IT CLEAR AND EASY. Donald Duck could write his memoir if he read this book. I guarantee you can too.
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Top reviews from other countries

Brighid
4.0 out of 5 stars The advice here was excellent on how to structure the book and the exercises ...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 9, 2018
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I bought this and another title by a different author because I have a truly shocking memoir to share with the world and I want to get it written and published as fast as possible. I know exactly what I am going to write, but I wasn't sure of the right structure for a memoir. The advice here was excellent on how to structure the book and the exercises were very useful.

I did the 15 minute mad dash exercise and discovered I have an average words-per-hour of 3,816. I am aiming to write 100,000 words, so I now know I can get them written in less than 27 hours. That's really motivating.

There is also good scene-setting advice, dialogue advice, and good pointers on how to bring visceral feelings in so that your readers will feel you. Overall, a really good read, and I will be referring to this book time and again as I fast-draft my memoir. Thanks Rachael, this is a really helpful guide.
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Cain Quillman
5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for anyone new to writing.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 6, 2021
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I often find many advice books regarding literature quite complex for no reason other than..big words sound better.
Considering how many books Rachael has published, she could easily do the same but clearly gets the need to make things simple for newbies.
I found every chapter extremely interesting and she makes it fun and inspired me to write immediately. In my opinion that is what this kind of book should do but by golly gosh it exceeded my expectations by a mile.
Thank you Rachael I love your work.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Very good
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 25, 2020
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Helped a great deal.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Memoir
Reviewed in Canada on November 27, 2019
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Very well written and easy to read. Useful tips.
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