How To Fast Draft Your Memoir With Rachael Herron

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Sharing personal stories can be a way to heal ourselves and also help others on a similar journey. In today's show, I talk to Rachael Herron about writing memoir.
Rachael Herron is the bestselling author of literary fiction, romantic comedy, and Memoir. She teaches writing at UC Berkeley and Stanford. She's a podcaster and her latest book is Fast Draft Your Memoir: Write Your Life Story in 45 Hours.
Rachael's definition of memoir
How true does a memoir have to be?
On how others define us when we write memoir
What ‘room tone' has to do with writing a memoir
Treating yourself as a character with an arc when writing memoir
The two biggest mistakes writers make with memoir
Overcoming the fears that come along with writing memoir
You can find Rachael Herron at www.RachaelHerron.com and on Twitter @RachaelHerron
You can always find the show notes and links at: www.thecreativepenn.com/podcasts/

[@ritaisathome]

I self-published my memoir about a traumatic time in my childhood. I wrote it in the voice of a child so readers could feel what I was feeling. I also wrote it in the first person, present tense. I ordered your book, EVERY SPARROW THAT FALLS, because I have so many other memoirs to write.

[@carolrose]

Is there a way I can get your book.?Ive been meaning to write my own that is strangely similar to what you've written

[@myhealingsounds5676]

@@carolrose Find me on FB. Private message me with your address. Rita Ivester Lee

[@R_Raymundo]

This was so much help im writing about my family and everyone who's involved is gone it just us kids now it really hard but it's a only way for me to heal and move on

[@Halonablack]

Such a great episode! I’m a content marketing expert who wants to expand my writing skills to write a spiritual memoir and I am looking for all the support I can get. Thank you so much for this.

[@thecreativepenn]

Glad you enjoyed it :)

[@lauramorin4357]

This is so great

[@allinonecarpetandflooring2514]

Epilepsy autobiography of awrness of. 60 years

[@gtuttlebee]

This interview has really motivated me to write. Thank you!

[@qtddroo]

This was a wealth of information. I'm so glad that I stumbled upon this. Thank you so much!

[@nathanwilliams3049]

I literally was resigned to giving up trying to write my memoir until a lady in my writing group HIGHLY recommended I buy Rachel's book. THAT BOOK is my bible now..i listen to it once a week to keep my spirits up. Much Love to Rachael,and much love to You for interviewing her,she is a national treasure!

[@thecreativepenn]

She is so encouraging!

[@gayvinpowers7416]

Great video! Love it and shared it with my students. Screenwriting is all about finding visuals to show emotions and what is happening internally.

[@marvamason]

I loved this interview. This is exactly the punch in the stomach that I needed right now. Fantastic information and guidance. I am working on a creative piece about my grandmother’s life based upon her old stories that she recorded for me before she died.

[@airashiitheempress5798]

Absolutely inspiring especially because she teaches where I grew up in east Pali alto near Stanford and growing up always wanting to become a writer and storyteller. Great interview and look forward to reading some of the books mentioned. Thanks ladies for all this wonderful information

[@FloraMBrown]

This was a fantastic program, with just the right questions and great answers from Rachel. Although I already have her book "Fast-Draft Your Memoir in 45 Hours" I was thrilled to learn about other ways to be in touch, such as the many options on Patreon. Yay! Thank you, Joanna for inviting her.

[@thecreativepenn]

Glad it was helpful!

[@PatrickMartinez1]

This was soooo good. I'm so used to hearing Rachel interview other people, it's great to hear her be the one that's answering the questions.

[@AssadHamid]

Love listening to Rachael. She is amazing personality. I learn alot today as I am writting memoir.

[@thecreativepenn]

She is great :)

[@jaredbaker5887]

Woking on my life story right now. My memoir is full of death, brother and father due to their drug use, many close friends me growing up in the system, juvenile hall treatment centers. I spent 23 years from 15-38 years old selling drugs. Starting in the fast life , lots of money, cars, women and what I thought was power. The last few years were of me mostly a practicing alcoholic addict living in deep pain a and despair. Having a child that wouldn't have been born had my brother and my sons moms brother both dying at 31, that bringing us together, my son Jordan being born. then me getting sober, and now im worth on redemption every day. I have written 80 pages typed in in the last 3 weeks. I am scouring the internet for videos like this thank you.

[@winterwillow8440]

This is wonderful! I’m so glad I just found your channel!

[@EmeryDee]

This was so informative and helpful. Thank you, ladies!

[@jenniferborkowski9262]

You're both so personable and easy to listen to. Thanks for the tips!

[@worksofhands]

Thanks for sharing this great interview!

[@raphaelafoxx6292]

Two angels, I prayed for. Thank you, thank you. x

[@danieljaygrossett-author]

This was a really great video, with so much great advice for anyone writing memoirs. One of the best videos i've found online regarding memoirs and i've seen many of them. Thanks

[@thecreativepenn]

Glad it was helpful!

[@paintingwithhlsorayaabdo9876]

I really like these questions!!! They helped!!!

[@GreigStott]

Loved listening to you both chat, thank you for sharing ❤

[@thecreativepenn]

Glad you enjoyed it :)

[@thatchristianlife1647]

I really enjoyed this!!! I am in the middle of writing my spiritual testimony but I have so many questions and no one to ask. Will you have a Q&A any time soon?

[@thecreativepenn]

I'm doing a QA today :) Fri 26 June at 7 pm UK on Facebook - facebook.com/watch/?v=1324209314453932

[@thatchristianlife1647]

The Creative Penn so I will just ask the questions on Facebook live? And thank you soooooooo much for such a quick response!!

[@thatchristianlife1647]

The Creative Penn I found it never mind... I will be there. Thank you again

[@sunitathind8440]

Such good advice!

[@howardkoor2796]

Great interview

[@shannonkringen]

thanks for this. i am writing mine

[@ladyclonggleggslester2404]

I LOVE writing! I am over a half Century OLD. I've had my children, raised them, put them out on their own, survived a 23 year relationship with a man that is HIV POSITIVE, moved out of the relationship and am trying to start over again. I'm currently Hommless and living in a women's shelter looking for a place to call home.

[@stellastar2083]

Wow...you should write a memoir...all the best

[@reopercegayle8108]

Im glad i landed in this video...such an amaźing treasure chest of knowledge openned before me.

[@thecreativepenn]

Glad it helped :)

[@princeofsilence6573]

I feel like I don't have the strength to write about the past, but on the other hand I feel validation in the knowing that one day, when I'm older, I'll be able to do it. 😊

[@thecreativepenn]

Indeed. You need some distance and clarity and that takes time.

[@CarolynsLoveRickshaw]

Truly true! 😊

[@suzetteanthony5181]

I appreciate this video. I'm going to do the 48 hour writing.

[@vadaski5038]

How'd it go

[@henbane2247]

I also remember plasticity and eyewitness testimony from university. I've found that getting rid of my inner editor is helping me write 2,000 words an hour for my first draft.

[@FerReelDoe]

What was the Netflix thing they mentioned at 20:20?

[@cactustree505]

Write Your Memoir in 45 Hours...she says that's 1,000 words an hour. I cannot think that fast much less write that fast!

[@howardkoor2796]

Thank u

[@HealingMagick718]

How does one keep up momentum and confidence, to continue writing on a daily basis?

[@thecreativepenn]

I don't write every day - I work project to project. Right now, I'm editing the next novel and then I'll create something else and then get back to writing. You also have to focus on the end goal - a finished book :) But you can only get there step by step!

[@patmureithi]

Coffee

[@mmoficial]

❤❤❤

[@howardkoor2796]

🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@kkhushkkhush9892]

''baby writers'' --a great expression

[@redheadedandblessed8061]

No Audio?

[@thecreativepenn]

It's fine for me, maybe check your settings?

[@shadowartist8892]

So....she didn't start NaNoWriMo on Halloween but on Aleister Crowley's birthday.

[@kkhushkkhush9892]

I loved it when she said, ''my wife.''

[@charliewest1221]

Ugh!

[@GorgieClarissa]

This became so unbearable to watch due to all the ads. I hate videos that have ads every 3 minutes. Really? I had to stop watch at the 12 min mark. Got to watch on my computer with adblock because of SO MANY ADS WTF

[@thecreativepenn]

I've turned off the video ads :)

[@Ritalie]

It's kind of hurtful hearing: "As usual it's the Americans who say it wrong." American English is its own language, it's a separate dialect of English, which has been in use for 300 years. It's an established version of English. The changes in American English make logical sense, and are official dialect rules. It's not merely "saying something wrong."

[@thecreativepenn]

I'm pretty sure that was 'tongue in cheek' / said in jest etc.

[@alizaerber9213]

You speak too fast

[@thecreativepenn]

You can slow down the video speed.