Your Story: How to Write It So Others Will Want to Read It

by Joanne Fedler

Overview

We either think our lives are so special that everyone should be interested in what's happened to us, or so ordinary that we can't imagine anyone would care. The truth lies somewhere in between: yes, we are all special, and no, people will not care--unless we write with them in mind.
Joanne Fedler, a beloved writing teacher and mentor, has written Your Story to help all people, even those who don't necessarily identify as "writers," value their life stories and write them in such a way that they transcend the personal and speak into a universal story. This book shows how to write from your life, but for the benefit of others. Each human life is unique, and the meaning we each make from our joys and suffering can, if written with a reader in mind, be an act of generosity and sharing. Filled with practical wisdom and tools, the book tackles:

mind-set issues that prevent us from writing

ways to develop trust (in yourself, the process, the mystery)

triggers or prompts to elicit our own stories

Joanne's original techniques for "lifewriting," developed over a decade of teaching and mentoring

and much more

"Joanne understands the writer's loneliness," says one such writer whose life she's touched, the award-winning Israeli author Nava Semel. "In this book she has created a menu of encouraging possibilities on how to overcome our fears and dig deep into our souls, so that our true voice can emerge."

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781401954314
Publisher:	Hay House Inc.
Publication date:	07/25/2017
Pages:	264
Sales rank:	553,384
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Joanne Fedler is the author of nine books in genres from literary and commercial fiction to self-help to narrative nonfiction and memoir. Some have been international bestsellers. Her books have sold over 600,000 copies worldwide and been translated into several languages.Growing up in South Africa under apartheid, Joanne spent years as an advocate working to end violence against women. Today she is a popular speaker, writing mentor, and writing retreat leader; every year she takes a group of women to Fiji, Bali, or Tuscany to write their stories. This book is the culmination of 10 years of writing and teaching others to do the same. Website: - www.joannefedler.com/your-story

Table of Contents

A Note to the Writer xi

Part I Thoughts 1

Part II Trust 83

Part III Triggers 117

Part IV Techniques 149

Part V Then What? 217

Appendix: Urgent Books to Help You Learn the Craft 237

Bibliography 239

Acknowledgments 243

A Few Things about Me 243

Interviews

Sydney, Australia

Editorial Reviews

I love this book! Brimming with candor, wit, and surefire advice, Your Story by Joanne Fedler is a rich and juicy guide to writing the memoir you’ve been longing to liberate from your heart. She lays it all out with practicality and leads us within in service of putting it out there. If you are compelled to bring Your Story to the page, and you’re looking for tips, courage, and answers, look no further, everything you’re seeking is right here.”
— Nancy Levin, author of Worthy

“Your story can change someone’s life. Fedler’s message is a powerful reminder that ordinary stories of growth, healing, and transformation are the medicine this world needs now, and that each human life has its place in the great unfolding narrative of our planet. A book that inspires hope and teaches each of us how to use our words to leave a legacy.”
— Van Jones, CNN contributor and New York Times best-selling author of Green Collar Economy and Rebuild the Dream

“My favorite line from any book ever is the very last line from Charlotte’s Web . . . ‘It is not often that someone comes along who is a true friend and a good writer. Charlotte was both.’ . . . which is what came to me as I dove in to the first chapters of Your Story. Joanne Fedler is a true friend to her reader, and an amazing writer. She is also a brilliant teacher. Get this book if you’ve ever dreamed of writing a book. It will not only elevate your spirit and teach you that your experiences, your heart, and your soul are a rich and worthy voice—but it will show you exactly how to capture that voice in the written word.”
— Christine Kane, president and founder of Uplevel You

“Joanne Fedler is a compassionate word tour guide on the bumpy journey into writing. Her book is a comforting companion for writers as they navigate the joys and sorrows of their internal landscape. Joanne understands the writer’s loneliness and desperate need for belonging. In this book, she has created a menu of encouraging possibilities on how to overcome our fears and dig deep into our souls, so that our true voice can emerge. Thank you, Joanne, for reminding us that though we are writing from our story, we are writing for others.”
— Nava Semel, award-winning author and playwright

“[This book] has been life changing, perhaps one of the best books I’ve ever read on writing. Now to actually do some writing!”
— Kevin Ritchie, regional Executive Editor, Gauteng & Northern Cape, The Star, South Africa

From the Publisher