How to Write a Memoir Natasha Carthew shares her top tips for memoir writing
Festival of Ideas
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Author and founder of the Working-Class Writers Festival Natasha Carthew has recently released her first memoir, Undercurrent: A Cornish Memoir of Poverty, Nature and Resilience. She reveals the lessons she learnt during the process of writing a memoir, and where she recommends new memoirists start.
- Think like a fiction writer. A memoir is a true story of your life, but it should also incorporate structural elements that make it captivating.
- Write it like you’re reading it, detachment in the early stages is key to telling the truth, your truth.
- Remember that this is your account, nobody else’s. Memoir is an account that comes from personal knowledge, yours.
- Read other memoirs to get used to the rhythm of this style of storytelling.
- Think about what message you want your memoir to send?
- Be vulnerable, you are ripping your heart out for the whole world to look at and dissect.
- Add the impact in your life today.
- Write a memoir you want to read.
- Don’t lie!
- Remember that writing your memoir and moving through events in your life is triggering. Be kind to yourself.
Natasha Carthew’s Bristol Ideas Events
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Festival of Ideas
