Why and How Louisianians Should Write Their Life Stories

Louisiana is full of characters.

We tell the wildest fishing stories. Tales of fais-do-do’s. We are small-town legends and contributors to our communities. We recount memories of times long ago—homes without running water or going to town in the carriage.

We tell these stories. But how many of those life story narrativesare written in books? How many will survive to amuse and inspire the next generation and the one after that?

There’s a lot of reasons why life stories matter. But in a place as culturally diverse and charming as Louisiana, our stories are all the richer.

Below are some things to consider when Writing Book in Louisiana your life story in a book.


 1. Write EVERYTHING you can.

Don’t worry about how pretty the language is. Don’t grapple with word choice. Simply churn out your memories. Dump them onto the page. You can always sort out and clean up later. The key is to get as much information recorded as possible without sweating the small stuff.

 2. Be emotional.

Don’t stray from the tough subjects. Even if it hurts to remember certain times, be bold. Write about those times anyway. On the flip side, don’t delve so deep into the hard memories that you neglect to share all the good times. Even if you write about a balance of joy and pain you experienced in your life, know both the good and bad times will warrant emotions. Feel those feelings. Get them out on paper.

3. Don’t feel pressured to start at the beginning.

Perhaps you want your memoir to focus on your career or time in the military. Perhaps you want to elaborate on your travels, business, marriage, children, or community involvement. Perhaps one overarching theme has recurred in your life. Whatever your focus, know it’s okay to write with a focus. Don’t feel pressured to write about every period of your life, unless you want to. Wherever you start in your story and wherever you finish is up to you.

4. Don’t just write a summary, write a story.

Include details. If you remember what you could see out of your bedroom window as a child, then write it down. Describe the serene pasture, the tree you used to climb, and the color of your curtains. Details color a story and bring it to life for the reader. Don’t worry that you may be putting in too many details. As mentioned in number 1, you can always clean up the manuscript later. When writing the first draft, be as descriptive as possible. Details are the difference between summaries and stories.

5. Start today

Don’t wait for tomorrow or next year or when you retire to write your autobiography. Start writing your life story book today.

For more life story inspiration, visit www.RaconteurWriting.com.

 Article by Olivia Savoie of Raconteur Story Writing Services

Tips from a professional Louisiana life story writer to help you write

What have you lived through? Has your life brimmed with the usual allowance of joy and suffering, hope and despair, adventure and monotony? Or would you consider your life extraordinary? Whatever the case, every individual has a story inside of them. A life story so unique and compelling that it’s capable of awe and inspiration. Each story should be preserved.

Have you ever thought about (or started time and time again, only to not get far) writing your memoir writing Louisiana?

Writing your memoir is no easy feat. Some people write their memoirs as if their pen is on fire in a rapid six months. Others linger through the struggle for upwards of twenty years. No matter your speed, the process of putting pen to paper is hard. It’s overwhelming. Where do you start when writing your life story? How much or little detail should you include? What if you leave something out?

Here’s some advice for writing your memoir from our professional Louisiana memoir writers:
Start. Start anywhere in your life—not necessarily at the beginning. Follow whatever is inspiring you now. Rather you write about yesterday or your first memory in your memoir doesn’t matter, just write.

Focus on little moments rather than the big picture. If you have fond memories of your cat, Tweedle Dee, or fond memories of your inspiring grandfather, write about both characters. Don’t think anything is too small or insignificant for inclusion. Eventually, the small moments and memories will collide with the larger narrative.

Use a list of chronological prompts to guide you. Rather than simply trying to remember EVERYTHING, find lists of questions online to guide you through.

Reference pictures. What better way to remember things you nearly forgot than to look them in the face? Break out the old photo albums.

Make an outline. If you’re worried about condensing your life enough or too much or forgetting meaningful people and moments, make an outline to guide you through.

Write a little every day. Rather you write two sentences or two pages, still write every chance you get.
Or don’t do any of this. Contact our life story writers at Raconteur Story Writing Services. We will interview you about your life and write a full, vivid, published life story, usually within 2 to 6 months of the first interview.

What are you waiting for? Get started preserving your life story today. Get past that voice in your head whispering lies like No one wants to hear about you life or You’re not a good writer. Go for it. Only you lived your life. Only you can act to preserve your story. Only you can inspire and inform your family today and for generations to come.

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What to Keep in Mind When Writing Your Life Story

Everyone has a story inside of them. The question is, how do you condense sixty, seventy, eighty, or even ninety plus years into one memoir? How do you sort through the stockpiles of memories and select the ones that will create the most poignant, meaningful biography? And if you don't consider yourself a  Louisiana Creative Writer, how do you proceed?

As a professional life story writer for hire and author of dozens of life stories, I have formulated a plan to help guide anyone interested in putting their memories down on paper. Below are six focal points to keep in mind when penning your life story.

1. Your Origins and Family
 
Fifty years from now when your great-grandchildren read the stories you crafted about your life, they will live in a completely different world than the one you grew up in. So, preserve that world by writing about your early years and family history. Write about where you grew up, how your family came to live there, and what your day to day life was like.

2. Your Family
 
Write about your life's partner or the partners you've had along the way. Recollect your early dating days, the details of falling in love for the first time, and your journey throughout your marriage. If you have children, write about their entrances and upbringings. Write about their accomplishments and the time you now spend together. Consider parents, siblings, grandparents, and extended family members and write about them.

3. Career
Write about your first job to your most recent. What work did you most enjoy? What impact did your work make? Elaborate on your working years.

4. Overcoming obstacles
 
Make a list of your life's greatest challenges and hardest days. What trial led to triumph? What great lessons did you learn? Write about the tough times while looking through a positive, distant lens. You never know who you will inspire in the future.

5. Adventures

  Don't forget the fun stuff. Did you take European cruises? Join a square-dancing club? Have you gone sky diving or won three years straight for your cherry pie recipe at the county fair? Do you write poems, paint, or play golf? What's added joy and delight to your life? Write about the adventures that colored your life.

6. Looking back
 
To conclude your life story, consider your life as a whole. What are you proud of? Who did you most love and enjoy? What made your life worth living? What are you most grateful for? Consider these questions as you look inwardly and wrap up your life story.

Article by thelife story writers at Raconteur Story Writing Services. Learn more at http://RaconteurWriting.com

Easy, Stress-free, and Unconventional Ways to Write Your Life Story

Who should write the narrative of their life? Everyone. Here’s why: Your story is only yours. No one else lived your life. No one else can vibrantly speak for your memories or preserve them. 100 years from now, who will remember the details of your lifetime of love, overcoming obstacles, and adventure? It’s up to you to preserve your story writing in Louisiana.

But, maybe the actual writing holds you back. Maybe you’ve tried to write your life story before. Maybe you don’t consider yourself “a writer.” Perhaps you’ve used fill-in-the-blank books or tried to write from scratch. But have you tried writing your biographical information in an unconventional, freeing way? Writing it with the goal of enjoying the journey rather than hoping for a monumental, 300-page, written-as-good-as-Hemmingway result? Here’s some ideas that can remove some stress from the daunting task of writing a biography, let you have fun with it, and get some of your biographical info down on paper.


1. Write in lists

• When you remember a special memory, write it down. When you remember something else, write it down. Don’t worry about all the ideas connecting.
• Make lists of people who impacted you at different points of your life
• Make lists of jobs you had or places you lived
• Make lists of trips you went on

2. Outline

• Make an outline of your life, highlighting the key points
• If you ever wish to return to the outline and fill in more details, you can. If not, at least you have a thorough outline that shows the main points of your life story

3.Write in a new form

• Try writing your biography in poetic verse like this:

from my bedroom window

five-year-old me could see the ravine flowing beyond the Louisiana pasture

where Daddy had his herd

and when I turned and looked the opposite way

I could see my older sister, Margerie, reading on her bed,

her door was always open

• Try writing your biography in the form of letters to loved ones
• Try writing your biography like informal diary entries

Whatever you do, do something. Write little remembrances here and there. In lists. In poetic verse. In whatever works for you. Over time, you’ll be surprised how much information you can amass.

Article by life story writers at Raconteur Story Writing Services. Learn more at http://RaconteurWriting.com

Why You Should Write Your True Life Story From Louisiana Memoirist

How many of us have dreamed of writing a book of our own? A book full of so much truth and real-life experiences that in strikes our readers and pulls them in. The true story of our early years. A story about a remarkable friendship. A timeless love story. A war story of survival. Or maybe, an overarching life story that recaps an entire, vivid lifetime.

Despite our innate desire to share our story, there are also common factors holding us all back. Most are inward battles. But rest assured you're not alone. Every writer and writer-to-be fights inner turmoil-especially when they're about to bare their soul with a true story.

Whatever true story you want to write, here are some questions and answers on breaking barriers and getting started.

Who wants to hear about my life? Your family. Your friends. Your community. Everyone who cares about you wants to hear about your life.

I don't know what to say about my life. Luckily, prompts or pictures can guide you. Find a list of prompts online that help lead the life story writing process. You can also break out old photo albums and reminisce. Both tactics remind you how much you have to say about your life. 

My family already knows me pretty well. Writing about your life from beginning to end or intensely focusing on a particular episode often brings up untold stories and memories. So even if you think your family knows you well, putting what they know and more down on paper will still be a gift to them and others.
I don't know where to start. There is no right or wrong place to start. Some start at the beginning. Some start at the end. Some write backwards and forwards or in perfect order. Write what flows and what you feel. Worry about connecting the dots later.

Once you get past the noise in your head, the words will spill out of your heart and through your hands, onto the page of your very own book. Should you need assistance at any step via ghost writing, proofreading, editing, or publishing, then contact a Raconteur writer or publishing consultant to help. We make book dreams come true for storytellers throughout Louisiana, as well as those across the country who we are happy to consult with over the phone or in person.

Author is an expert article writer who has written many articles related to story writing. Currently, She is writing content on Writing book Louisiana

Advice on What to Look For and Avoid in a Life Story Ghostwriter

Do you have a phenomenal life story to tell? Maybe you know the intrinsic value and inspiration your life story can cast on your loved ones. Maybe you want to preserve your life and legacy in a book that will outlast your lifetime. But maybe putting pen to paper is harder than you thought.

Perhaps you have dreamed of hiring a ghostwriter to write your life story, but don’t want to pay tens of thousands of dollars to produce a book. Or maybe you see the super cheap postings online and wonder about their legitimacy. Keep the following things in mind when searching the internet for potential ghostwriters:

Look for an “affordable” rather than “cheap” ghostwriter in Louisiana.

Here’s why: Everything of good quality comes at a cost. Would you buy a used car that has a value of $10,000 for a road-side deal of $5,000? Or would you question if the car salesman has something to hide about what made this “deal” too good to be true? The same goes for ghostwriters.

If you do a little online research, you’ll discover that reputable ghostwriters often charge between 50 cents and 3 dollars per word. Stick. With. That. Pricing. If you see some amazing deal from an online posting offering to write your 50,000-word memoir for 500 dollars, just say no. Something’s WAY too good to be true about that “deal.” You are either about to get ripped off or be given a horrific product.

On the other side of the same coin, don’t pay 3 dollars per word for a ghostwritten life story book to give to your grandchildren. You should generally stick to the 50 cents to 1 dollar per word range. If there’s a ton of research involved in your book project or other additional labor-intensive hours involved, then paying up to 2 dollars per word makes sense. We don’t recommend paying much more than that unless you’re a congressman, a reality TV star, or Elvis’ long-lost son. Basically, family heirloom books should cost less per word than mass-marketed ones.

Look for a ghostwriter who writes to your audience from your voice.

If your goal is to write the next #1 New York Times Bestseller, then choose (and pay for) a ghostwriter with that track record. However, if you want to write a memoir for your children and community to savor, then find a family heirloom specialist. This goes for any genre or story idea. Find someone who can write to your readers in particular.

When you find a ghostwriter who strives to vividly and beautifully write in your own voice to your specific readers, then stop your search right there. When you discover a writer who desires to tell your story in your own way, then you’ve found the right match.

Look for a ghostwriter with ample references and a lengthy portfolio.

If an writer claims to be a professional ghostwriter, then he or she should have a plethora of excerpts to demonstrate their expertise. The writer should also be able to provide at least one complete book that a former client has permitted him or her to share. If not, how do you know the writer is capable of writing a book-length work? Don’t be anyone’s guinea pig.

It also helps to call or email real people who worked with the ghostwriter before. Find out if the work matches the quality standards the ghostwriter advertises, as well as if the writer is knowledgeable, responsive, and meticulous in his or her craft. And find out if the writer is a passionately and genuinely excited about preserving your story.

Look for a ghostwriter who only writes life stories.

Oftentimes, my clients choose me—a full-time writer with a specialized focus in life story writing—after speaking with other ghostwriters who have day jobs as journalists and teachers among other professions. My clients understand that their stories don’t deserve to be a side gig; instead, each story warrants dedicated, 100% focus.

When you look for a ghostwriter, find one who writes life stories day and night. Find one who breathes writing stories like yours. Don’t settle for less than a dedicated, skilled professional.

In closing…

Now you know what to look for and avoid on your search to find the ideal ghostwriter for your life story. I wish you success during your life story preservation journey.

Advice from a Louisiana Author and Publishing Consultant

You've finally done it. You've finished the manuscript. The pages have literally absorbed your sweat and tears over months or years of writing. But now that you've finally completed your book, what do you do next?

Perhaps you've googled "how to publish my book" or "help publishing my book in Louisiana." Be forewarned: this is an open invitation for shady companies to come calling. Their representatives promise big book sales accompanied with huge up-front costs. Luckily, there are some reputable sites you can trust such as Lulu Publishing, Blurb, Barnes and Noble Press, or CreateSpace.

How to Spot a Scam:

Company has a minimum order of books over 25 (an order of 1 is recommended at first, but up to 25 is reasonable)

There are fees over $100 simply for using their press (free is better, and most reputable sites offer it)
Big up-front fees are demanded (again, using the company's site should be free; the company should profit from book printing or design only)

The above listed companies along with some others create stunning books with quality and precision. However. In order to use their websites, you need to know HOW to prepare your files for print, as well as HOW to design a cover. These sites offer you a pricey option to have their professional team design your book, and we admit, they do a good job. But do they do a job that's best for YOU and YOUR book?

GO WITH A LOCAL OR ONLINE SMALL BUSINESS.

We believe that local services are a better match than giant companies and corporations who don't know your name. Since people judge a book by its cover, shouldn't you have a designer who has read your book, knows your story, and cares about reflecting you as an individual and author? Shouldn't your book be formatted to fit your specific requests and vision? Most big companies cap the number of photos you can include in your book. As the author, shouldn't you have the freedom to include whatever you wish?

Find publishing consultants that help bring your book to life through publication YOUR way. Find someone who will get to know you in person, via Skype, or over the phone. Work with real people and real authors.

At Raconteur Story Writing Services, our publishing consultants help you by having the answers to your publishing questions. We offer proofreading or editing services to polish your story to make it as professional as possible. We prepare the files for print via formatting and design your dream cover. We act as a knowledgeable liaison between you and the printing press. We order your first batch and show you how to re-order books. We also throw in complementary book marketing advice and assistance.

We are a small business founded by a Louisiana native who published her first book at age 16 and knows the tricks of the publishing trade. She knows firsthand that getting a book in print can be quite a challenge and that it's crucial to have a hometown team backing you up and cheering you on.
Plus, our pricing is affordable. Our help publishing your book starts at just $300. Our proofreading and editing services start at a similar price.

Still not sure? We have tons of references from former happily published authors who'd love to tell you about our quality standards and genuine care for YOUR book.