Customer Reviews

Writing Your Life: Putting Your Past on Paper

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

We all have memories of people, places, and events in our lives others would enjoy reading about. My problem all these years has been finding a starting place. Dr. Stanek solved the problem for me, and I recommend you let her solve it for you. I read her book all the way through without putting it down, it was so much fun dredging up memories. I have pages and pages of notes about people, places, things, pets, adventures, embarrassments, and other fun things to write about--all from reading this little book. I'm now starting over and doing her exercises. What fun! Your children and their children and their children will bless you for writing your life stories. And you'll feel good about yourself too. Read this book soon!

The first speech given by every novice before a Toastmasters's group is to talk about oneself. Having oneself as a topic is the easiest assignment, the perfect ice-breaker to help overcome first time jitters. The same can be said of the memoir. First time writers often don't know where, or how, to begin. As with all good teachers--Lou Willett Stanek gives the student/reader permission to begin. She eases the would-be writer through self-doubt. She explains the difference between autobiography and memoir. She gives the new writer a way to begin by writing a memoir. This book is a good place to start learning the joy of writing.

I got my penny plus shipping/handling worth out of this book. While Dr. Stanek maybe wordy she is very creative with her word usage. I was able follow her except until I got to the end of chapter 17, I nearly forgot what she was talking about. She gave a lot of ideas often triggered my memory that I stopped reading to write.

I wouldn't consider this a reference book but one to provide inspiration and to get the juices flowing.

What a great, little book filled with big ideas! I am very satisfied with the condition of the book and the prompt delivery by the seller.

The book was here before I expected it to be. It is exactly what I was looking for.

I've read uncountable memoirs and books on writing memoirs, so have a basis for my judgement. After spending 10 years writing a memoir An Island In Time: Growing up in the 1940s, I continued reading how to write memoirs, and came upon Dr. Stanek's "Writing Your Life: Putting your past on paper." I liked the organization of the book, not spending a lot of time with how to write a memoir (although there are many good tips not to be ignored), but gleaning topics I could write about.
I didn't rush through the book, rather jotting down topics not addressed in my first memoir. I then finished a second memoir - An Island In Time II: Coming of age in the 1950's. Soon after writing this book, a publisher of pictorial history books contracted me to write Fox Island (Images of America: Washington).
Lou Stanek not only got me going in penning my second memoir, but I'm currently in the process of writing a third concerning my career as a teacher.
I usually sell my used books on writing after reading them; however, "Writing Your Life" remains in my library and I still check out its pages for inspiration.
In the first chapter Dr. Stanek says,"You have had an interesting, distinctive life, but who will know? think about your heirs. Family history ranks high as a legacy. My intention in "Writing Your Life" is to sort out the jumble of pain, pleasure, accomplishments and regrets you have accumulated."
Even if you don't plan on writing a book, get your life on paper. If you don't like to physically write, I recommend getting word recognition software that writes what you say. It really works!
Everybody has a story to tell, so get this book to get you thinking and preserving your life for you family, friends and future generations.

Another great memoir-writing instructional guide to help you capture your life experiences and turn them into compelling nonfiction. Filled with lots of exercises and invaluable techniques.

I ordered this book for a little inspiration only to find out I could barely get through the 1st paragraph! This book contains some of the longest run on sentences I have ever seen. I even gave it to my sister-in-law to read and she came to the same conclusion. I think the author was trying to hard to het the point across and wound up pushing the BORING button. I am sending this book back pronto for a full refund.