Writing my story
- Thread starter Robroy
- Start date
start at the beginning
I would think you could start at the beginning of your life, where you were raised, and how you became interested in pool.....and then that would open the way to telling all the stories you could remember along the way...?
I would think you could start at the beginning of your life, where you were raised, and how you became interested in pool.....and then that would open the way to telling all the stories you could remember along the way...?
1 Start by making a list of all the important dates and events in your life. Check old records to ensure the information that you are providing is accurate. Do not dwell on too many details at first; you can always go back to things later.
Step 2
Jog your memory by looking at old photos or reading your journals. If you find yourself forgetting significant details, these items will help you remember things more clearly.
Step 3
Begin writing after you gather your information. When you write, you should try to focus on the big stories rather than technical details. Provide important dates, but you do not need to go into great detail about the less important stuff.
Step 4
Be sure to include the goals that you still wish to accomplish. A memoir can be just a glimpse of your life; it does not have to be considered your entire life story.
Step 5
Approach a publisher or place the document in a safe place. Let your family members know about it and inform them on where you plan to keep it.
WOW!!! You guys are totally going to get the "And I want thank everyone at AZBilliards" where it gives credits...thanks guys!
go for it
robin, ihad the opportunity of meeting you in vegas briefly in may. youre full of class and im sure youre overflowing with great memoirs. i know as a poolplayer im always ready towatch, listen to, or read a sport related story. i believe hearing a story of travels of a woman pro would be a nice format in a read...go for it! endorse it at trade shows and expos.
-mick
robin, ihad the opportunity of meeting you in vegas briefly in may. youre full of class and im sure youre overflowing with great memoirs. i know as a poolplayer im always ready towatch, listen to, or read a sport related story. i believe hearing a story of travels of a woman pro would be a nice format in a read...go for it! endorse it at trade shows and expos.
-mick
I have written several books and monographs and have stumbled on a way that works for me. You might find it useful.
Make a very rough draft of an outline of your life by chapters
Age 5- 10
10 -13
14 -16
17 – 19
Now start writing anywhere about anything that comes to mind. Do not think about the introduction, references, checking facts, nothing, Just pick an event and talk about it into your recorder.
Someplace in that story you will remember, Oh yeah Jenny and I went to that pool hall and met Mike and Bobby
Now revise the outline so you can talk about it later
10-13 My mean teacher made me want to win
Playing horse shoes and I could not throw it. Made me mad and I leared how to do it
First time I played pool with Jenny, Mike and Bobby
17- 19
The revised outline only contains enough information that will trigger the next story. So in writing about that event you remember that Bobby was the guy at Vegas when you were 25 and so you revise the outline again. Over time the outline gets bigger and bigger. You will find that later you might reorganize the outline by other topics such as events, tournaments, etc. That is OK when you are done you can go back and reorganize everything by the way that is best for you.
Outlines are like a road map that tell you what you need to do and you keep adding to your outline as your memories are triggered by the stories. The outline will also help you tie everything together when you are done. You will find that some stories that seemed to fit together when you first wrote them are better place in different places.
Writing is like any other work of art such as sculpture. Chip a little here, a little there and after awhile you will have a thing of beauty.
You can start any place and it will all work out, just use the outline to keep track of things you need to talk about.
JohnnyT and I have similar ways just differences in approach. In my way of thinking it should be fun first. Fill in the facts when you think that you are done.
Make a very rough draft of an outline of your life by chapters
Age 5- 10
10 -13
14 -16
17 – 19
Now start writing anywhere about anything that comes to mind. Do not think about the introduction, references, checking facts, nothing, Just pick an event and talk about it into your recorder.
Someplace in that story you will remember, Oh yeah Jenny and I went to that pool hall and met Mike and Bobby
Now revise the outline so you can talk about it later
10-13 My mean teacher made me want to win
Playing horse shoes and I could not throw it. Made me mad and I leared how to do it
First time I played pool with Jenny, Mike and Bobby
17- 19
The revised outline only contains enough information that will trigger the next story. So in writing about that event you remember that Bobby was the guy at Vegas when you were 25 and so you revise the outline again. Over time the outline gets bigger and bigger. You will find that later you might reorganize the outline by other topics such as events, tournaments, etc. That is OK when you are done you can go back and reorganize everything by the way that is best for you.
Outlines are like a road map that tell you what you need to do and you keep adding to your outline as your memories are triggered by the stories. The outline will also help you tie everything together when you are done. You will find that some stories that seemed to fit together when you first wrote them are better place in different places.
Writing is like any other work of art such as sculpture. Chip a little here, a little there and after awhile you will have a thing of beauty.
You can start any place and it will all work out, just use the outline to keep track of things you need to talk about.
JohnnyT and I have similar ways just differences in approach. In my way of thinking it should be fun first. Fill in the facts when you think that you are done.
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Well I tried to start today....but I need lessons with the recorder. Last night coming home from church....all excited...I was telling Roy a story about when I was getting ready to play Loree Jon to see who would be in the finals, WC in 91....it is a very cool story just came in my head. He of course said "where is your recorder" oops. Then this morning I tried to talk and I was clueless how to use it...LOL I tell you guys this is going to be a kick!!
Your advise WOW!!! I don't feel real comfortable writing, but I think I can learn to use the recorder. It will go into different files and Roy will be able to move them in the time frames they belong in later. I like the idea of the recorder because you can hear my heart...I don't know if I can express myself in words. So I think in the long run it may help the one that ends up writing my story.
Anyway that is my 2 cents....do you think I'm on the right page?
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Waterdog
If you do this please mention Waterdog and when you were kids growing up. I'm a big fan and Waterdog deserves a mention.
If you do this please mention Waterdog and when you were kids growing up. I'm a big fan and Waterdog deserves a mention.
Sounds like you are on the right track 
If you are uncomfortable with the recorder pretend you are in the car talking to Roy. He is the one who is going to hear it anyway so just talk to him. He can not answer now but he will tell you later what he thinks. (Roy is your husband -- right?)
When I write I just talk on paper and use the same language that I use every day. Later I have to go back and clean it up for the written word. Like you I don't really feel comfortable writing, so I don't write, I talk on paper to my wife. My daughter is an English professor and tells me that people don't do that because writing and speaking are different. Maybe, but I just say what I am thinking, any old way I think it, I can go back later and make right. Works for me and I have had several things published. I am writing that way now -- the unedited version so to say.
Much of the stuff I have written is technical and yet was written for people who don't have the same background. I figured out awhile ago that I should just talk to my wife who is a nurse by training. If she can understand what I have to say about computers or or some other technical topic such as the violent offender, anyone else can understand it too. She has a way of keeping me on track because when I have her read a chapter, she usually says, I don't know what you mean here or why did you say that. Then I have to go back and re-write because my head was jumping around connecting things that did not make sense to her. After awhile it occurred to me to just write as if she were sitting next to me. Saves having to explain myself later -- most of the time.
I do thnk that you need to keep an outline though. It doesn't need to be any big deal. Just a page or two on the computer that gives you a map of where to go.
Before computers, I kept a 3 X 5 card file and would make outline notes on the cards to be kept in a small box. The nice thing about the cards is I could take them out and re-arrange as needed. Seemed to help me keep my thoughts in order
The computer, with a word processor, makes it easier for me because I am on the computer a lot and now I have seveal of those boxes that are easy to access whenever I need to check my outline.
These are just a few thoughts that might help you get started. For me the important thing has always been to keep it a fun thing to do. If there is too much drudgery I find that I drop the project and do something else.
I have never used a taperecorder but I think that one of the fun things might be that I could just be me. I could laugh, get angry or say any thing I felt like saying. Just get it all out and perhaps go back and look at myself where I am angry, sad, etc about all the things that took place. Of course I would need someone I really trusted to transcribe the notes. For me that would be my wife as she would tell me -- you can't say that.
I don't know, but I bet that telling the stories out loud would trigger other thoughts that would need explaining and this would lead to other stories that would explain the emotions I felt -- and so it goes. For me I would probably work backwards. That is I would start with some of the recent "good stories" and these would lead back in time as I reviewed or explained the story to my wife. Of course she can get pretty inquisitive and at some point I would wind up saying, I don't want to talk about that one casue it is too private.
After I wrote the last time it occurred tome that I should have said that writing is like playing pool -- one shot at a time -- I liked that one.
If you are uncomfortable with the recorder pretend you are in the car talking to Roy. He is the one who is going to hear it anyway so just talk to him. He can not answer now but he will tell you later what he thinks. (Roy is your husband -- right?)
When I write I just talk on paper and use the same language that I use every day. Later I have to go back and clean it up for the written word. Like you I don't really feel comfortable writing, so I don't write, I talk on paper to my wife. My daughter is an English professor and tells me that people don't do that because writing and speaking are different. Maybe, but I just say what I am thinking, any old way I think it, I can go back later and make right. Works for me and I have had several things published. I am writing that way now -- the unedited version so to say.
Much of the stuff I have written is technical and yet was written for people who don't have the same background. I figured out awhile ago that I should just talk to my wife who is a nurse by training. If she can understand what I have to say about computers or or some other technical topic such as the violent offender, anyone else can understand it too. She has a way of keeping me on track because when I have her read a chapter, she usually says, I don't know what you mean here or why did you say that. Then I have to go back and re-write because my head was jumping around connecting things that did not make sense to her. After awhile it occurred to me to just write as if she were sitting next to me. Saves having to explain myself later -- most of the time.
I do thnk that you need to keep an outline though. It doesn't need to be any big deal. Just a page or two on the computer that gives you a map of where to go.
Before computers, I kept a 3 X 5 card file and would make outline notes on the cards to be kept in a small box. The nice thing about the cards is I could take them out and re-arrange as needed. Seemed to help me keep my thoughts in order
The computer, with a word processor, makes it easier for me because I am on the computer a lot and now I have seveal of those boxes that are easy to access whenever I need to check my outline.
These are just a few thoughts that might help you get started. For me the important thing has always been to keep it a fun thing to do. If there is too much drudgery I find that I drop the project and do something else.
I have never used a taperecorder but I think that one of the fun things might be that I could just be me. I could laugh, get angry or say any thing I felt like saying. Just get it all out and perhaps go back and look at myself where I am angry, sad, etc about all the things that took place. Of course I would need someone I really trusted to transcribe the notes. For me that would be my wife as she would tell me -- you can't say that.
I don't know, but I bet that telling the stories out loud would trigger other thoughts that would need explaining and this would lead to other stories that would explain the emotions I felt -- and so it goes. For me I would probably work backwards. That is I would start with some of the recent "good stories" and these would lead back in time as I reviewed or explained the story to my wife. Of course she can get pretty inquisitive and at some point I would wind up saying, I don't want to talk about that one casue it is too private.
After I wrote the last time it occurred tome that I should have said that writing is like playing pool -- one shot at a time -- I liked that one.
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Robroy, Joe W have given you wealth of info., as other.
But some though: Are you writing a book, or screenplay each have different requrement, which you probably already know.
Will it be Fact or Fiction? Fiction less headache, Fact - Then each person mention must read what was written and sign a permission form.
Get a Book that cover or outline both legal requirement and outline step by step on writting a book. Be as smart and knowledgeable as the lawyer.
Because you're not only a Business Woman, but now a Writer, Entertainer, and an Artist. Remember that pen,paper,eraser, recorder, and etc. are Business deduction!
But some though: Are you writing a book, or screenplay each have different requrement, which you probably already know.
Will it be Fact or Fiction? Fiction less headache, Fact - Then each person mention must read what was written and sign a permission form.
Get a Book that cover or outline both legal requirement and outline step by step on writting a book. Be as smart and knowledgeable as the lawyer.
Because you're not only a Business Woman, but now a Writer, Entertainer, and an Artist. Remember that pen,paper,eraser, recorder, and etc. are Business deduction!
Sounds like you are on the right track
If you are uncomfortable with the recorder pretend you are in the car talking to Roy. He is the one who is going to hear it anyway so just talk to him. He can not answer now but he will tell you later what he thinks. (Roy is your husband -- right?)
When I write I just talk on paper and use the same language that I use every day. Later I have to go back and clean it up for the written word. Like you I don't really feel comfortable writing, so I don't write, I talk on paper to my wife. My daughter is an English professor and tells me that people don't do that because writing and speaking are different. Maybe, but I just say what I am thinking, any old way I think it, I can go back later and make right. Works for me and I have had several things published. I am writing that way now -- the unedited version so to say.
Much of the stuff I have written is technical and yet was written for people who don't have the same background. I figured out awhile ago that I should just talk to my wife who is a nurse by training. If she can understand what I have to say about computers or or some other technical topic such as the violent offender, anyone else can understand it too. She has a way of keeping me on track because when I have her read a chapter, she usually says, I don't know what you mean here or why did you say that. Then I have to go back and re-write because my head was jumping around connecting things that did not make sense to her. After awhile it occurred to me to just write as if she were sitting next to me. Saves having to explain myself later -- most of the time.
I do thnk that you need to keep an outline though. It doesn't need to be any big deal. Just a page or two on the computer that gives you a map of where to go.
Before computers, I kept a 3 X 5 card file and would make outline notes on the cards to be kept in a small box. The nice thing about the cards is I could take them out and re-arrange as needed. Seemed to help me keep my thoughts in order
The computer, with a word processor, makes it easier for me because I am on the computer a lot and now I have seveal of those boxes that are easy to access whenever I need to check my outline.
These are just a few thoughts that might help you get started. For me the important thing has always been to keep it a fun thing to do. If there is too much drudgery I find that I drop the project and do something else.
I have never used a taperecorder but I think that one of the fun things might be that I could just be me. I could laugh, get angry or say any thing I felt like saying. Just get it all out and perhaps go back and look at myself where I am angry, sad, etc about all the things that took place. Of course I would need someone I really trusted to transcribe the notes. For me that would be my wife as she would tell me -- you can't say that.
I don't know, but I bet that telling the stories out loud would trigger other thoughts that would need explaining and this would lead to other stories that would explain the emotions I felt -- and so it goes. For me I would probably work backwards. That is I would start with some of the recent "good stories" and these would lead back in time as I reviewed or explained the story to my wife. Of course she can get pretty inquisitive and at some point I would wind up saying, I don't want to talk about that one casue it is too private.
After I wrote the last time it occurred tome that I should have said that writing is like playing pool -- one shot at a time -- I liked that one.
I will work on the outline too and more than anything it does have to be fun. The furstration is when I don't know how to do something...and technical things as simple as a tape recorder...can do that. Roy said there is an off, on and pause...he tried
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Well I've been trained on the recorder I do believe I've got it!
This has been a fun thread thanks for the insight and encouragement.
If nothing happens with it I will have this for my kids and theirs.
One day at a time, today I record....I wonder how long something like this takes.
My sister was here the other day and I asked her about a whistle our mom had...only what I did said was "Marty what does this mean to you, and I whistled" she said "Mom telling us get home now". She will have great memories with me to revive.
This has been a fun thread thanks for the insight and encouragement.
If nothing happens with it I will have this for my kids and theirs.
One day at a time, today I record....I wonder how long something like this takes.
My sister was here the other day and I asked her about a whistle our mom had...only what I did said was "Marty what does this mean to you, and I whistled" she said "Mom telling us get home now". She will have great memories with me to revive.
So funny, when we were growing up before the pool room we use to catch frogs...and race them of course. My sister and I laughed we were such tom boys!!!