Hi! I'm a storytelling, media, marketing and traditional book publishing coach for authentic personal brands and nonfiction writers. I've worked in digital media for over 20 years and I'm a twice-published (traditionally published) author. As an editor & journalist for major media I've written thousands of nonfiction articles, essays and two books for traditional publication: Love & Other U-Turns (Allen & Unwin). A Letter From Paris (Scribe). I currently run a coaching & online education business to help authentic personal brands reach success with their first nonfiction book and online business.,
Hello I’m seeking advice on my memoir ,to do with debilitating illness, That is so rarei it needs to spoken about before Anything happens, mine is a true story, Tyvm, ✍🏼
Not writing and finishing a memoir is like showing a picture of a cake that you want to bake but you’ve only got the ingredients on the kitchen counter but you haven’t created it. Thank you your information is so helpful
I am working on a historic tragedy memoir that I lived through when I was ten years old. That tragedy is now 70 years in the past and is in what I call lost history. Being that far back, just how much telling vs. showing is acceptable. The story is told from my memories of the event. That being said little dialog is possible do to the fact that it happened so many years ago. Any pointers would really be helpful.
I've put the best pointers and advice on these common questions into the free masterclass on writing a memoir - you can watch it via the link on my website: louisadeasey.com/art/
Thank you for this video! I'm not quite ready for a one on one yet as I am still in the rewrite process, turning a second person novel draft into a memoir. I will be removing mention of my memoir from my website, and have a question regarding timing. This month I had a suspense short story published in an anthology that will be available only for one year. 11 years ago I self-published a horror/suspense novella. So I am trying to help sales on those 2 books, while keeping in mind that I will need to shift my focus to nonfiction before my memoir is ready to be pitched. When I have finished with the rewriting and editing, I will be sure to remove the other books from my website. My question is how soon is too soon to rebrand? Or rather, how soon should I rebrand? This rewrite will take me the rest of this year, I'm sure (due to lack of time becaue of a fulltime job). So should I wait until then or should I start rebranding now by posting things to social media that are relevant to my memoir (without mentioning the memoir in progress)?
Hi there, I can't possibly do your multiple questions on author brand here justice by answering you in a comment, as I don't have context on you or your work or your life or the full story of what you're aiming for.... This is exactly why I'm coaching in a private 1:1 capacity! Brand stuff is really personalised and the strategy is not going to be the same for every author.
I’ve almost finished writing my medical memoir (about training in the hospital as a student nurse). It’s on 53k words but I want to finish it at 62ish- k as I’ve heard this is the best length for this specific genre. I don’t know much about the publishing process at all. What is the best way to get professional/critic advice before it ever reaches an editor or publisher? I have heard not many agents work with this type of non-fiction, and I’m not sure what the best approach is as I am new to this. Any advice would be greatly appreciated if you have any:) it’s quite a complicated process ! But I am happy with the structure and themes (though unsure if I have done things correctly).
Hey Poppy! Well done with the draft. Take a look at the masterclass I just shared here on YT where I take you behind the scenes on the back end of publishing deals for nonfiction and memoir. And jump on my email list if you want to know more about free trainings and paid offers I have around memoir and nonfiction publishing deals. 👇 louisadeasey.com/get-published-class/
I actually want to be an agent, but it's good to hear anything I can about publishing and writers. I also have written several books and screenplays. I'm trying to work both sides for myself and others.
This is good info, as always. What are your thoughts on the advantage or disadvantage of using substack as a memoir writer who wants traditional publishing?
I Louisa. Do you have a full video on substack for authors? I did a search on your channel but didn't find one so thought I'd ask in case I missed it. I am wondering if it's a good idea to write on substack or to focus instead on getting personal essays published in magazines and newspapers - or do all of that.
Do all of that! Again, I cover the entire specifics of all of this in Create Your Writer Platform. And my thoughts on blogging or email newsletters vs substack. louisadeasey.com/create-your-writer-platform-evg
Hi Louisa. Thanks as always for your time and ino. I get what you're saying, however, I have a self-published horror novella, and a short horror story coming out in an anthology next month, and am now working on a memoir. Because it's a completely different genre, I thought it good to mention that I am working on a memoir, so I don't appear to only write horror. Thoughts in a case like this? Is it still better to not mention the memoir? How should a writer make it known on the website that they do not write only horror for instance?
Still take it off. Try to get an essay or article published in the memoir genre, link to that instead. Mixing genres is tricky and confusing. If you want a traditional publisher for your memoir, I’d be taking the self publishing / horror stuff off…
@@ShannonsChannelI think what you’re asking is more than I’m covering in this short video. My create your writer platform course gives you all the steps on setting up your digital platform effectively if you want publishers, media and readers to find you & buy your books. The link to the course is on my website.
@@LouisaDeaseytv I will certainly keep this in mind, Louisa. I really appreciate your videos and your responses to comments and questions. As I get closer to finishing my memoir I will be spending more time on all of the other parts of the process. To date, the only writing I had published, other than songs, was the horror novella, so that was what I advertised. This will change when the memoir is ready to be pitched.
Oh my goodness, thank you for explaining all of this. I'm editing my memoir and discovering nuances in the story and loving the process but I thought I was working towards turning it over to an editor because I couldn't possibly see the story as a reader would. But you're saying what I feel, that nobody can bring out the depth better than the person who lived it.
Happened to me. I foolishly tried to follow the advice from 'experts' on You Tube and messed about with my writing in an effort to obey the rules, and ruined the style of it...('be it bad or good) if we adhere srictly to these set demands, then we shall all end up writing the same book., like all those proverbial monkeys with a typewriter, eventually all managing to write The Complete Works of Shakespare. Dean Koots once said, it is also useless to look up other writers to compare what is in vogue and what isn't, because the reader, (and I am an avid one) is looking for something original and new. Imagine if no one tried anything innovative because it broke the rules. Your advice is so heartwarming and encouraging. The only thing important to me, is that a professional agent(s) assess my manuscript which will stand or fall on its merits or demerits. And if it won't do, It won't do ! I will learn from my mistakes. But then...what if it does 'do' ? I am reminded of an old adage. 'Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach.' Thank you for encouraging us to carry on.
Dean Kootz says exactly the same thing about all writing. f we take into considderation all of the aspects of the 'experts' on You Tube, we will end up with the same book
Great insight, Louisa! Makes so much sense to view the query as a conversation starter rather than hoping for an instant book deal. Not smothering the agent with too much details. Just giving enough to invite them to ask for more. Thanks!
After 69 years, writing my memoir put the puzzle pieces together for the first time. Yikes, I realized I am autistic. Would have been splendid to have discovered I'm artistic...oh, well. Great video as usual. Thank you!
