PART TEN: Learn what happened, write it!

this and other lessons from my new memoir

The experience happened, right. And you write it as you remember it. But often that's transcription. Transcription is raw, and a little journalistic sometimes. If you don't believe me, remind yourself of how far off the actual dialogue the transcripts of your calls are...mine can never tell my voice from most of my clients.)

Transcription is the essential first draft.

the patti-isms are plentiful for this stage:

• Git 'er done.

• You only have to relive this one more time.

• Better out than in, Donkey (nod to Shrek)

• You can't see what you've got until it's on the page.

So why not write your way through it? I’m not here to make it sound easy; I’m doing it too.

I recently remember something; something really unsettling. And it took a phone call with a dear friend to help me track this memoir back to its origin when I was about 9-years-old.

I wrote it. Stumbled over it, meandering along the page and without overthinking, sent to Paula, my editor and brainstorm partner. Discovery made, I knew I was running the risk of quitting, deleting, or never looking at the memory again.

I know memoir and nonfiction can be treacherous (and also incredibly celebratory)…this is why I’m putting my advice out in the world in The Story House STUDIO now, so we can be in it together.

You need to do the draft in order to make the next draft. You can't avoid the spaghetti on the wall or the vomit on the page, AND Get " er done .. the only way through is through.