Memoir Magic - It's Your Life and You Deserve to Tell It Well

There is no set way to write a life story, or even a story about a part of your life. You don't need a degree to tell your story well, but unless you're a born writer proven by already having a career as a wordsmith, there are valuable things to learn about memoirs.

For example, every story has a theme, and that is true of every life as well. In my case, I knew I would be a writer at the age of seven, and I stuck to that idea no matter how many times I was told I was smart and should be a doctor or lawyer to make a lot of money. Most writers never make it, I was told.

I'm glad I ignored those people with their failed ambitions, but there was another aspect of my life that became a prominent theme, when I became a teacher. That started when I was asked to create a "catch-all" course for aspiring writers at UCLA Extension Writers Program, the largest writers program of its kind in the world. I helped people sell articles, stories, even poetry, and spoke on novel, non-fiction, screenplays, and stage plays. These things weren't learned in a degree program – I'd sold all of the above.

Memoirs because a staple in my life when I wrote legendary singer Patti Page's life story, starting with her when she was 80. That's when I began learning all about memoirs.