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FROM: Sheila B

Question: I have a life story that is complicated. It starts off with one family and touches another two. I have begun my memoirs with a dream sequence. How do I continue please?

Answer: 

Dear Sheila,

I thought I could do with a little help on this one, so I approached an author who has great experience in crafting family sagas: Elizabeth Lord. She has written over 20 of these and has been kind enough to give a number of pointers and suggestions which will hopefully give you the guidance you are looking for.

This what she says:

"First  - I am sure the book can be achieved - it will need lots of dedication and will take quite a long time, but it does sound as if this would make a wonderful story.
 
"As to guidance on where to go next, there is one thing I'm a little concerned about - you say these are your memoirs. If this is a story based on your own family, I should point out that publishers are not usually interested unless the person is famous.  So it might be an idea to fictionalise it instead and not use any family names. This might seem radical, but please think about it.

"Real life can be flat no matter how many ups and downs it has, so to catch the publishers eye, some of it has to be virtually made up to become more intensive, i.e. filled with tension - a page turner. It should have a conclusive ending and an attention-grabbing beginning.
 
"Do take care that the use of three families doesn't become too complicated so that the reader becomes confused, but it certainly can work.

"Starting with a dream sequence can be very arresting so long as the dream is connected with something crucial in the story. In my novel "Company of Rebels" I began with a dream and that seemed to work fine. However, be careful that the dream doesn't go on for pages and pages. Use it to establish the context, or as a sort of flash-back, but don't overdo it."
 
In conclusion, Elizabeth says: "Do tell Sheila that I think she can make a splendid story out of this. Tell her to pace herself, trying not to get everything down on the first several pages - let it flow out slowly; remember a story should be full of hills and valleys, ups and downs, keeping the reader's attention going. (Hope I'm not preaching to the converted!) Keep at it. It sounds as though it could be great."

You might also find the answer to "Names in memoirs - use real or fictitious?" of interest. Click Here

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