What is your memoir or biography about? - Page 4

Siri Kirpal · 01-07-2013, 10:25 PM

Sat Nam! (literally "Truth Name"--a Sikh greeting)

Right at the moment, I'm swamped with my own revisions, and expect to be for the next few months. But I'll probably be available in summer. You can pm me then.

And yes, post a two or three sections in SYW first.

Blessings,

Siri Kirpal

Vortex Theory · 01-11-2013, 12:15 AM

I will! Summer seems like a more realistic timeline for me anyway, considering I work full-time and manage a household in between my creative endeavors. And again, thank you for your encouragement!

spirit110 · 01-21-2013, 04:41 AM

I am the only journalist in the world who has interviewed Bill Gates twice! Oh yeah, the first time was as a male reporter, the second time as a female. Yes, Counting My Blessings from Zero to One is the story of a writer who abandons her male privilege to achieve truth, justice and most importantly laughter! While there are no animals harmed in the making of this story, many members of my family, however, suffered extensive damage.
Barbara

Mclesh · 02-03-2013, 03:52 AM

Lately I've been working on my story: I'm two-time breast cancer survivor. My first experience, I was 34 and my son was two years old. (My young son was probably the hardest thing for me to deal with at the time; I was so fearful of leaving him behind.) In 2012, my cancer resurfaced and I underwent a bilateral mastectomy in May of 2012, then reconstruction this past November. I've written a small series of blog posts falling under the heading: The Cancer Diaries, and I'm basically working on expanding my experiences, life lessons, and coping skills into a short e-book.

At this point, I'm planning (hoping) to hire an outside editor and self-publish once I feel I have something worth sharing. I want to add my story to the millions of stories out there and possibly help other women dealing with breast cancer.

Okay, now I've said it publicly.

Siri Kirpal · 02-04-2013, 03:31 AM

Sat Nam! (literally "Truth Name"--a Sikh greeting)

May that goal give you the push to continue to survive, McLesh.

Blessings,

Siri Kirpal

Mclesh · 02-07-2013, 03:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Siri Kirpal

Sat Nam! (literally "Truth Name"--a Sikh greeting)

May that goal give you the push to continue to survive, McLesh.

Blessings,

Siri Kirpal

Aw, thank you, Siri. I appreciate your kind words. I'm cancer free now. The old bod is taking longer than I would like, though, to heal and get back to work at my day job. The book project is helping me use my time a bit more constructively.

Relic37 · 03-10-2013, 07:11 PM

I've been reluctant to post to this thread - my memoir is rather pedestrian compared to others here. I'm a recently retired firefighter who wrote down short stories of some of the stranger things that happened on the job over the years. It was intended for the eyes of family members only, but for some reason (probably a flush of egomania) I decided to publish the stories as a book. It was 25 years in the making and frankly, it's hard to believe some of the writing survived so long.

Since I was fairly certain no traditional publisher would be interested in the MS, I went straight to POD. So far it has been a relatively smooth ride and sales have been decent, if unspectacular.

Siri Kirpal · 03-10-2013, 10:19 PM

Sat Nam! (literally "Truth Name"--a Sikh greeting)

Relic, why on earth would you think that a book of a firefighter's odder experiences wouldn't do well? That doesn't sound pedestrian to me at all.

And Scatterjoy, best of luck!

And folks, there's a Share Your Work section for memoir. Once you reach 50 posts, you can post a section and get feedback. Password is "vista."

Blessings,

Siri Kirpal

Relic37 · 03-11-2013, 07:51 PM

Siri,

The audience for this type of writing seems to be very limited, and there are already lots of firefighter memoirs in the marketplace. Mine seems to fall into the category of "me too."

Sales for the first three months are a bit under 200, so it is not exactly flying off the shelves. Still, it is a nice feeling to be finished, see it in print, and find that a few people have enjoyed reading it. In that regard I count myself very fortunate. Thanks for the kind words.

Siri Kirpal · 03-11-2013, 10:33 PM

Sat Nam! (literally "Truth Name"--a Sikh greeting)

Ah, well, if there are a bunch of others, that makes sense.

Blessings,

Siri Kirpal

Rachel Udin · 03-13-2013, 08:51 PM

Been working on it on again and off again, but mine covers my adoption to Russian Atheist Jews who went to a Unitarian Universalist church for ten years and the emotional abuse I suffered through bullying at school and at home (in the form of a parent) until I met my Korean father who turned out to be a Buddhist monk (who drinks, eats meat and goes to singing rooms... XD)

I'm on the fence about presenting the abusive relationship I also went through in my early twenties... it's a tangent and yet not a tangent too... (And I know it was abusive since he was throwing things closer to me when he was upset... and my things...)

It's ambitious, though, since I want to give a wider view of adoption than my own in order to contextualize my actions and views which means I have to present a little about the history of adoption itself which I see as a weakness of other memoirs in adoption.

It's a story of fighting and surviving... as much as it is about adoption.

Siri Kirpal · 03-13-2013, 10:23 PM

Sat Nam! (literally "Truth Name"--a Sikh greeting)

Sounds interesting, Rachel! Since your focus is on the adoption, I'd suggest only including the abuses that aren't tangental to your story.

Blessings,

Siri Kirpal

PrincessFiona · 04-01-2013, 10:27 PM

My story of surviving cancer while pregnant with my fifth child.

01-07-2013, 10:25 PM	#76
Siri Kirpal Swan in Process Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: In God I dwell, especially in Eugene OR Posts: 2,575	Sat Nam! (literally "Truth Name"--a Sikh greeting) Right at the moment, I'm swamped with my own revisions, and expect to be for the next few months. But I'll probably be available in summer. You can pm me then. And yes, post a two or three sections in SYW first. Blessings, Siri Kirpal __________________ "The only freedom any of us ever has is the freedom to choose how we will not be free."

01-11-2013, 12:15 AM	#77
Vortex Theory figuring it all out Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: The Vortex Posts: 68	I will! Summer seems like a more realistic timeline for me anyway, considering I work full-time and manage a household in between my creative endeavors. And again, thank you for your encouragement! __________________ *It's got your lighter. And that missing sock.*

01-21-2013, 04:41 AM	#78
spirit110 Counting My Blessings Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Seattle Posts: 3	I am the only journalist in the world who has interviewed Bill Gates twice! Oh yeah, the first time was as a male reporter, the second time as a female. Yes, Counting My Blessings from Zero to One is the story of a writer who abandons her male privilege to achieve truth, justice and most importantly laughter! While there are no animals harmed in the making of this story, many members of my family, however, suffered extensive damage. Barbara __________________ Barbara Sehr http://www.barbarasehr.com

02-03-2013, 03:52 AM	#79
Mclesh It's too hot Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Southern California Posts: 1,632	Lately I've been working on my story: I'm two-time breast cancer survivor. My first experience, I was 34 and my son was two years old. (My young son was probably the hardest thing for me to deal with at the time; I was so fearful of leaving him behind.) In 2012, my cancer resurfaced and I underwent a bilateral mastectomy in May of 2012, then reconstruction this past November. I've written a small series of blog posts falling under the heading: The Cancer Diaries, and I'm basically working on expanding my experiences, life lessons, and coping skills into a short e-book. At this point, I'm planning (hoping) to hire an outside editor and self-publish once I feel I have something worth sharing. I want to add my story to the millions of stories out there and possibly help other women dealing with breast cancer. Okay, now I've said it publicly. __________________ Normalish, YA contemporary, Musa Publishing , Amazon Finding A Man For Sylvia, contemporary romantic comedy Musa Publishing, Amazon Let Me Get This Off My Chest, nonfiction, July 2013 Facebook, Twitter Website, Blog Goodreads

02-04-2013, 03:31 AM	#80
Siri Kirpal Swan in Process Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: In God I dwell, especially in Eugene OR Posts: 2,575	Sat Nam! (literally "Truth Name"--a Sikh greeting) May that goal give you the push to continue to survive, McLesh. Blessings, Siri Kirpal __________________ "The only freedom any of us ever has is the freedom to choose how we will not be free."

03-10-2013, 07:11 PM	#82
Relic37 New Fish; Learning About Thick Skin Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 7	I've been reluctant to post to this thread - my memoir is rather pedestrian compared to others here. I'm a recently retired firefighter who wrote down short stories of some of the stranger things that happened on the job over the years. It was intended for the eyes of family members only, but for some reason (probably a flush of egomania) I decided to publish the stories as a book. It was 25 years in the making and frankly, it's hard to believe some of the writing survived so long. Since I was fairly certain no traditional publisher would be interested in the MS, I went straight to POD. So far it has been a relatively smooth ride and sales have been decent, if unspectacular. __________________ Jay Adair "24 Hours At A Time: Life As A Dallas Firefighter - Paramedic" http://www.24hoursatatime.com

03-10-2013, 10:19 PM	#83
Siri Kirpal Swan in Process Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: In God I dwell, especially in Eugene OR Posts: 2,575	Sat Nam! (literally "Truth Name"--a Sikh greeting) Relic, why on earth would you think that a book of a firefighter's odder experiences wouldn't do well? That doesn't sound pedestrian to me at all. And Scatterjoy, best of luck! And folks, there's a Share Your Work section for memoir. Once you reach 50 posts, you can post a section and get feedback. Password is "vista." Blessings, Siri Kirpal __________________ "The only freedom any of us ever has is the freedom to choose how we will not be free."

03-11-2013, 07:51 PM	#84
Relic37 New Fish; Learning About Thick Skin Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 7	Siri, The audience for this type of writing seems to be very limited, and there are already lots of firefighter memoirs in the marketplace. Mine seems to fall into the category of "me too." Sales for the first three months are a bit under 200, so it is not exactly flying off the shelves. Still, it is a nice feeling to be finished, see it in print, and find that a few people have enjoyed reading it. In that regard I count myself very fortunate. Thanks for the kind words. __________________ Jay Adair "24 Hours At A Time: Life As A Dallas Firefighter - Paramedic" http://www.24hoursatatime.com

03-11-2013, 10:33 PM	#85
Siri Kirpal Swan in Process Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: In God I dwell, especially in Eugene OR Posts: 2,575	Sat Nam! (literally "Truth Name"--a Sikh greeting) Ah, well, if there are a bunch of others, that makes sense. Blessings, Siri Kirpal __________________ "The only freedom any of us ever has is the freedom to choose how we will not be free."

03-13-2013, 08:51 PM	#86
Rachel Udin I've learned to stay away from hens Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: USA... sometimes. Posts: 1,077	Been working on it on again and off again, but mine covers my adoption to Russian Atheist Jews who went to a Unitarian Universalist church for ten years and the emotional abuse I suffered through bullying at school and at home (in the form of a parent) until I met my Korean father who turned out to be a Buddhist monk (who drinks, eats meat and goes to singing rooms... XD) I'm on the fence about presenting the abusive relationship I also went through in my early twenties... it's a tangent and yet not a tangent too... (And I know it was abusive since he was throwing things closer to me when he was upset... and my things...) It's ambitious, though, since I want to give a wider view of adoption than my own in order to contextualize my actions and views which means I have to present a little about the history of adoption itself which I see as a weakness of other memoirs in adoption. It's a story of fighting and surviving... as much as it is about adoption. __________________ http://www.racheludin.com http://www.diversitywriters.com

03-13-2013, 10:23 PM	#87
Siri Kirpal Swan in Process Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: In God I dwell, especially in Eugene OR Posts: 2,575	Sat Nam! (literally "Truth Name"--a Sikh greeting) Sounds interesting, Rachel! Since your focus is on the adoption, I'd suggest only including the abuses that aren't tangental to your story. Blessings, Siri Kirpal __________________ "The only freedom any of us ever has is the freedom to choose how we will not be free."

04-01-2013, 10:27 PM	#88
PrincessFiona New Fish; Learning About Thick Skin Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 14	My story of surviving cancer while pregnant with my fifth child.

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