I love to write, and I especially love to write books. I have always dreamed about writing a novel or memoir, and I finally fulfilled that dream when I wrote “Sober Second Sassy ”which is the name of my memoir. I wrote the book in one day – just the basic structure and content – and I am so happy with how it came out. I had so much fun creating this book, and I am sure you will have a lot of fun reading it as well.
When I started writing this book, a lot of people told me that it was impossible to write an entire memoir in one day. They said that I would have to write little by little over a period of time and that I would have to use a lot of tools to help me. Well, I did not believe them, so I did not listen to their advice. I decided that I was going to write this book in one day, and I did not care what tools I needed to use to accomplish it.
Here is how I did it:
Start Early
I usually wake up at 5:30 every morning. Since I have a busy schedule at the airport, I have to get up earlier than usual to ensure that I have plenty of time to get everything done before my flight. On this particular day, I decided to get started early, so I could put together a simple outline for my memoir and then flesh out the details as I went. It was important to me to get started as soon as possible because I knew that my schedule would become more chaotic as the day went on. Therefore, I wanted to get everything done as soon as possible so that I could relax and enjoy my time off.
I started by making a list of all of the major events that had happened in my life. I wanted to organize the events in chronological order. Once I had my list, I made a note of how much time had passed between each event. For example, I wrote that I had graduated from college 10 years ago, which meant that I had to start planning my memoir in 2005. This was easy enough to remember, and it made me feel like I had some control over the content. It also gave me a starting point for my research – I could do a quick internet search for books, films, or even songs that dealt with these events.
Be Ready
I always try to be ready when the workday begins, because I know that my time is valuable and I do not want to waste any of it. For this particular day, I decided to get ready early. I wanted to make sure that I had everything packed and ready to go, so I could get right to work. Since I was starting early, I had plenty of time to get ready. I also made sure that I had everything written down, so I could follow my outline and ensure that I did not end up with any major mistakes. In the event that I did make a mistake, I would not want to waste any more time than necessary fixing it. Therefore, I wrote down all of the details as I went along – often as I was thinking them – and I made sure to review my work at the end of each session to ensure that I did not overlook anything.
Use Your Tools
One of the first tools that I used to write my memoir was Microsoft Word, which is what I use today to publish my work. I do not have an online tool because I do not want anyone to know that I am writing a memoir. To keep my work confidential, I will only use my online tools to look for synonyms and provide quick checks for spelling and grammar. The only person who will see my work is my audience – people who read my books or listen to my radio show. I do not want my tools to suggest changes to my work, as I want to ensure that I am the one who makes the final call on the content.
Divide The Task
I always write my memoirs in long sessions, usually starting early in the morning and continuing until late at night. On this particular day, I wrote from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., which was approximately one and a half to two hours of actual writing time, plus a brief break for lunch. I usually write until I am finished with the content for the day. On this day, I did not get as far as I usually do, because I was still finishing some last-minute details and taking a few breaks to re-group and rethink parts of the story. When I finally sat down to dinner, I was tired but satisfied – I had written the majority of my memoir in one day and had not even noticed the time passing.
Check, Double Check, And Check Again
When I first started writing my memoir, I did not see the need for a formal editing process. I knew that I would go back and forth between different versions of my work, so I did not want to worry about spelling and grammar too much while writing. However, I am a firm believer in editing and proofreading, which is why I use an outside editor for my work and why I make sure to go through multiple drafts before I send it to my publisher. If I were to write my book without any formal edits, I would most likely end up with a very sloppy, unreadable book.
On this particular day, I wrote a very rough draft. I then went back and edited it, making sure to double check all of the facts and figures. For example, I did a quick internet search on my phone for all of the major events that I mentioned in my memoir. I then edited the results of that search to make sure that I had not forgotten any important details about that period of my life. After I had edited the rough draft a few times, I had a proofreader go over my work a final time. I then printed out a copy of the finished product and mailed it off to my publisher. This was a tedious process, but I was confident that, with enough repetition, it would all become second nature.
Enjoy The Process
Writing a book is a creative process, and it can be very rewarding. I love being able to bring my work to completion and to have people enjoy it. For me, the best part of the process is the creation of the book itself. I enjoy imagining what the final product will look like and creating a unique story that will entertain people.
If you are considering writing a book, I would suggest that you start early and set a writing schedule. Be ready to work hard and to enjoy the process. You are bound to get bored at times – especially in the beginning – but, as long as you keep writing, you will be able to stay motivated. You will also need a good editor and a publisher to help you get the book done, but, as long as you are happy with the end product, it is all worth it.