I’ve been going back over some of the books I have in my ‘how to write a book’ library and came across another turned down page in Memoir as Medicine by Nancy Slonim Aronie. She taught me how not to ask, “Who would want to read MY memoir?” or “Who would find this interesting?”, but to understand that “Because right now there is someone out there with a wound in the exact shape of your words.” This is my hope with my memoir, that my words will help heal ‘someone out there’! Aronie gave me another idea during my early writing days. On page 7 she describes how to write your own book jacket. I still have mine. I used a white 8.5 x 11 cardboard sheet, folded into the shape of a book cover and sketched my title and a few trees and mountain peaks and a stick person on the top with her arms upheld. On the back I wrote a bio of the author in my best flowing praise. Then I wrote a review that an enthralled imaginary reader had written about my book. The best part was sketching “WRITTEN BY”. I used to look at that book cover when I felt stuck or discouraged, then I would head back to the keyboard…and write a few more words.
Shopping Cart