Memoir Writers Bookstore

NOTE: Orders of this book are shipping now!

What reviewers say about
Turning Memories Into Memoirs:

American Library Assoc.'s Booklist:
"...will help writers get off to a great start."

Yankee Magazine:
"...lively, entertaining, and practical."

DownEast Magazine:
"...contains countless helpful suggestions..."

See our Writing Clinic Page for an example of what this book offers. Exercises there are drawn from the original handbook.

REVISED & EXPANDED NEW EDITION!

Turning Memories Into Memoirs
A Handbook for Writing Lifestories
by Denis Ledoux, $24.95
272 pages, exercises, examples, resource appendices, 200+ photos
Bio of author

As Time Magazine says, "Since 1988, Denis Ledoux has helped thousands of people get started on their memoirs." Denis based the original handbook on the Turning Memories^® workshops in which those thousands have learned to write autobiography and biography--personal and family stories.

Now Denis has substantially revised and updated this premier memoir writing resource from 208 to 272 pages and it reflects fourteen more years of his workshops, writer coaching and co-authoring experience.

Turning Memories Into Memoirs still contains countless helpful suggestions for remembering--researching--organizing--collecting and writing memories and family or personal stories. It includes

how-to writing exercises
clear explanation of literary techniques
proven motivational supports and
examples from the workshops.

Turning Memories is a useful reference and guide for both beginners and experienced writers who want to write personal and family stories.

NEW FEATURES INCLUDE NEW--

advice on how to establish and maintain a writing life
info about how to craft a unified collection from individual stories
insider tips about self-pubishing options
guidance to explore archetypes to inform your characterization
advice on how to use the Internet to build a wider historical context for your memoirs
25 all new example lifestories from Turning Memories® participants and affiliate teachers
an updated bibliography
a total of 272 pages
200+ photos

Turning Memories Into Memoirs is the foundation text for the Turning Memories® lifestory writing workshops. Affiliate teachers of the Soleil Lifestory Network lead workshops, present programs and offer writing services in their communities in five countries around the world. The Soleil Certifcation and Training is a unique professional development program for personal historians. Turning Memories is also used in community college and university courses across North America and abroad.

Volume discounts are available for classroom sets and promotional events.

Turning Memories Into Memoirs:
An Audio Guide to Writing Lifestories
by Denis Ledoux, 120-minutes, $16.95.

This is the heart of the original handbook (above) read by the author in a
120-minute two-tape set.

Especially handy for those who enjoy making the most of driving time or chores that leave the mind free. Useful, too, for a Turning Memories^® refresher if you'd like to get back to work on your lifestories.

The Lifewriter's Memory Binder
85 + pages, exercise instruction & forms, pockets, photo holders ($21.95).

A 3-ring workbook binder customized for lifewriters with sections for each stage of the process. Includes pockets for photos, artifacts and memorabilia. This binder organizes your entire lifestory work-in-progress--lifelists, research notes, vignettes, first drafts and more.

A companion book to Turning Memories Into Memoirs, it also contains new instructional material and many forms for streamlining your memoir project.

© Nancy-Wagner Sellers

See what photoscribing looks like

More info about The Photo Scribe and photoscribing exercises to try today!

NEW TEACHING KIT Everything you need to teach effective photo-journaling classes

The Photo Scribe: A Writing Guide
How to Write the Stories Behind Your Photographs
by Denis Ledoux, 128 pages, exercises, examples, photos ($19.95)

The guide for scrapbookers who want to give the stories the same care as the photos in their albums.

Many families want their photo albums to be more than just snapshot books with bare bones info. So Denis Ledoux has written this 128-page writing guide to help you to make sure the stories, not just the photos will be preserved.

Step-by-step instruction via numerous exercises, and 40+ contemporary and period photographs and accompanying stories as examples make it not just an "I should" but an "I can" project.

Learn to tell the story in your own words, fill in the gaps where photos are missing. The Photo Scribe will help you to create lifestory albums your family will cherish for generations.

The Photo Scribe is endorsed by:

Rhonda Kanning Anderson, co-founder of Creative Memories, the country's premier scrapbooking company:

"Having been a diligent scrapbooker for over 25 years, I felt that I was already capturing the meaning of the photos in my albums, but The Photo Scribe has inspired me to a new level of photo-journaling. This practical step-by-step guide can enable anyone to discover the depth of ones's memories."

Also endorsed by:

Michael P. Benard, Director of Communications & Public Affairs,
Vice President, Eastman Kodak

"The Photo Scribe--here's an effective way to make sure your pictures will share your precious memories with generations to come!"

The Photo Scribe's Memory Binder
85 + pages, exercises, instructions & forms, photo pockets ($21.95)

Keep all your notes for Captions and Cameo Narratives, your photoscribing exercises, MemoryLists and charts in one place. Organized in this customized, 3-ring workbook binder, your notes, memories and stories will be easily accessible.

With pockets for photos, artifacts and memorabilia, as well as exercise forms and lots of encouraging instruction, this binder is a great tool to keep your scrapbook journaling-in-progress going smoothly.

An effective companion to The Photo Scribe.