Posted by Kathleen Pooler/@kathypooler
“A man must have dreams–memory dreams of the past and eager dreams of the future. I never want to stop reaching for new goals.“– Maurice Chevalier
It’s that time again to take inventory on what worked and what didn’t in 2013. Thanks to all who filled out the survey. The results of my survey showed areas you liked–variety of guests, memoir moments, feeling of community as well as a few areas I need to work on–loading of my website, comment system viewed as cumbersome.
My take:
2013 has been a year on continual growth with many talented memoir writers and authors sharing their projects and stories as well as giving away their books…enlightening, inspiring and enriching all of us.
I love that Memoir Writer’s Journey continues to grow and be a gathering place for people to learn what other writers are up to.
As previously mentioned, I have reached the final editing stage of my journey to my first memoir, Ever Faithful to His Lead: A Memoir About Choices, so the goal of publishing in 2014 has become a reality. Still lots of work to be done with this and the completion of my second memoir, Hope Matters: A Memoir of Faith (working title). My focus will be on exploring publishing and marketing options.
I’m hopeful the tough lessons I’ve learned through writing my first memoir will facilitate the completion of the second one. I realize the publishing/marketing phase will bring a whole new set of challenges and learning curves.
I want to thank all my guests who posted this year. You are all winners in my book!
Top Post of All-Time:
Evoking Emotions-The Power of Sensory in Storytelling
Top Guest Post of All-Time:
Why I Chose to Write a Memoir as Opposed to Fiction: A Guest Post by Memoir Author Laura Dennis
Let’s look at the Top Tens for 2013. . .
Top posts of the year:
Seven Lessons I’ve Learned in Revising My Work-In-Progress Memoir
Seven Lessons on Using Beta Readers During Revision
Journal to Memoir: Planting The Seeds for Story
Reflections on My Mother’s Circle of Love: A Memoir Moment
The Face of Alzheimer’s Dementia: A Memoir Moment
Why “Wild” Works: Memoir Writing Tips
Writing with the Reader in Mind: Memoir Writing Tips
Preserving My Dad’s Stories: A Memoir Moment
The Role of Faith in Finding Freedom From Domestic Abuse
Back to My Roots: A Memoir Moment
Top guest posts:
How Vulnerability Can Be a Beautiful Gift: A Guest Post by Memoir Author Barbara Techel
Finding Peace Through Memoir Writing: An Interview with Karen Levy
The Healing Power of Poetry in Memoir: An Interview with Louise Mathewson
Do You Recognize Your Authentic Voice? A Guest Post by Dawn Herring
Turning Mundane into Magic: Memoir Writing Tips by Carol Bodensteiner
How to Review a Book in Eight Easy Steps: A Guest Post by Memoir Writer Sherrey Meyer
What Do Writers Read? A Guest Post by Memoir Author Belinda Nicoll
Publishing Slants of Light Anthology: An Interview with Memoirist Susan Weidener
Fine Wine and Memoir: A Guest Post by Mary Gottschalk
Other Highlights:
* Named to the National Association of Memoir Writers (NAMW) Advisory Board with Linda Joy Myers, Sharon LIppincott and Jerry Waxler.
* Taught Journaling Workshop, “Journaling; A Voyage of Self-Discovery” in Exton , PA for Susan Weidener and The Women’s Writing Circle.
* Guest Posts for the following blogs:
Your Best Writing Group (Cheryl Stahle): Six Tips for Building Community Through Blogging
My Rite of Passage: Series on Theme and Premise (Belinda Nicoll): What is the Gist of Your Story #4
Your Best Writing Group (Cheryl Stahle): Summer Day Along the Hudson River: Nothing Quite Like it
Writing a Memoir (Lorenzo Martinez): Defining Moment: Where Will My Memoir Begin?
Victoria Johnson‘s blog: Creative Spaces
Clara Freeman54: Memoir Writing Insights From Kathleen Pooler and Pat McKinzie
DIYMFA (Gabriela Pereira): How Practicing My Pitch Helped Me Write Better Book
Nancy Stephan’s blog: Healing Each Other Through Storytelling: The New Face of Narrative Medicine
Pubslush (Justine Schofield) blog: Blogs We Love: Memoir Writer’s Journey
Your Authentic Refreshment (Dawn Herring): My Authentic Refreshment, an Interview
Southern Writer’s blog, Writing Your Memoir, If It Feels Right.
Write by Grace (Sarah Freeman): God’s Grace in My Life: A Reflection
Mary C Gottschalk‘s blog: Growing Past Self-Defeating Behaviors
Write Your Life Story (Cate Russell-Cole): The True Confessions of a Memoir Writer
Women, Beauty, Purpose, Empowerment (Winsome Campbell-Green): Woman of Purpose Spotlight: Kathleen Pooler
Utterances of an Overcrowded Mind (Paul Dorsett): 7 Tips I Have Learned About Connecting with My Purpose for Writing a Memoir
Choices (Madeline Sharples): 6 Tips for Honoring the Heart of Your Story: A Memoir Writer’s Challenge
Publication:
“Choices and Chances” story published in My Gutsy Story Anthology: True Stories of Love, Courage and Adventure from Around the World, editor Sonia Marsh, Gutsy Publications, 2013
Goals for 2014:
* Publish/market my first memoir and complete the second memoir.
* Continue monthly vignettes, “Memoir Moment” and featuring other writers and authors in book promotion tours and giveaways.
* Present a NAMW online workshop on memoir writing. It is in the works…TBA.
*Enjoy the ride!
Thank you all for your loyal following and for making this year an enjoyable and productive one. I love how we continue to learn so much from one another—enlightening, enriching and inspiring each other along the way.
Here’s to more gathering “ around my kitchen table” in 2014 and to all we have yet to learn from one another.
Let’s keep sharing hope one story at a time. Our stories matter.
I’ll leave you with an inspirational quote from lifehacker.com:
““Try not to become a person of success. Rather, become a person of value. ”
Next Week:
What better way to start out 2014 than with a series about Hooked on Hope~
Monday, 1/6 and Thursday, 1/9/14: Memoir Author and Teacher Maureen Murdock will share excerpts from her upcoming memoir, Hooked on Hope: ” A Mother Speaks out on Bipolar Disease and Prison.” She will give away a copy of her newly released ebook, The Emergence of BiPolar Disorder: A Mother’s Perspective to a commenter whose name will be selected in a random drawing.