Christopher Bennett

Memoir Reflections

Chris Bennett

Don’t Chuck it in the Bin – Yet

Well, I’ve had some positive feedback on the fourth draft of my memoir from my editor so I won’t chuck it in the bin just yet.

She’s going to recommend some chapter titles and themes which will make it easier for me to start the fifth draft.

There are two chapters in my current draft that are each over 20,000 words long that need to be reduced into several chapters to make the memoir more readable.

Once I have the chapter titles and themes in place I can then start to craft the memoir by focusing on one chapter at a time.

This stage of writing is going to be enjoyable as just about all the research has been completed and vignettes written.

It’s been a long ten year journey to get this stage but I ‘m closer to the end of this project than the beginning.

Image courtesy of Steve Johnson via Unsplash

Done and Almost Dusted

One more writing session and I’ll have completed the fourth draft of my memoir.

Then I’ll dust a few bits off, print it out and hand over a copy to my editor for feedback.

This draft has knocked the memoir into a linear shape and I intend to take a break from writing for about three weeks before I start the fifth draft.

I need the break so I can come back to it with a fresh mind and also assess the feedback before I start to focus on structure and chapter headings.

Once I have an effective structure in place I can then hone the stories in the memoir so it’s not only readable but also engages the reader.

Easy said than done but that’s what writing drafts are all about.

The ‘Bleeding Obvious’

As I was working through the fourth draft of my memoir the other day I came to a screeching halt trying to work out which direction I should go in.

The more I thought about it the more I got stuck in the mud.

After a considerable time of thinking and reflecting I decided to give it a rest and have a break.

I also gave my colleague a call to get some feedback and she virtually gave me the solution and opened up the path again.

Her feedback was ‘the bleeding obvious’ but I could not see it because I was too involved in my writing.

I’ll probably have more writers blocks before I finish this draft but that’s okay.

When I do I’ll give it a rest and ask for feedback so I can again see the ‘bleeding obvious’.

Image courtesy of Daniel Mingook Kim via Unsplash

Memoir: Ready – Set – Go

Well, I’m ready to start the fourth draft of my memoir on Monday 27th July.

This will be what I call my fair ‘dinkum draft’ where the focus will be on crafting my story so it flows smoothly.

And I’ll also correct any spelling and grammatical errors that have crept into the third draft.

To prepare for Monday’s writing session I’ve spent this week filing my interviews, reflective pieces and notes in a systematic manner so they are easily accessible when I start writing.

I’ve also read the entire third draft of the memoir, which has helped get my head around the 86,108 words already written.

Once this draft is finished, hopefully by the end of September, I’ll send it to my editor to ‘slash and burn’ the bits or chunks that aren’t relevant. And listen to her feedback.

Then the marathon memoir race will enter it’s fifth draft stage.

Note: Image by Braden Collum via Unsplash

5 Days = 30 hours = 10,000 Words

This week I’ve set myself a target of writing 10,000 words in five days.

I’ve been averaging 2000 words per writing day over the past few weeks so I should reach this target without too much trouble.

During a day’s writing I can chart my progress by checking how many words have been written between each break.

It averages out to 500 words in each one and half hour writing blocks and there are four blocks of writing segments between 9.00am to 4.00pm.

Sometimes I get my 2000 words in before my allotted time and then I do some research.

This writing routine works well for me and so far I’ve written 77,884 words for the third draft.

I hope to complete this draft by the end of July so I can hand it over to my editor for feedback.

But more than likely it may take me until the end of August to complete this draft.

But I’m getting there and as long as I stick to my routine I’m on track to have this memoir published late next year.

Footnote: Image courtesy of Ladyheart via Morguefile