It may seem logical to start your memoir with a pivotal event in your life. But to increase the tension and set the stage, you can also try briefly describing what you were doing in the hours, minutes or seconds before it happened. This can be a great way to introduce yourself, your situation and the state of the world around you, and will propel you into an action-packed sequence. For example, in A Woman in Berlin, the tale of one woman’s experiences during the Russian occupation of Berlin in 1945, the anonymous author begins: “It’s true: the war is rolling toward Berlin. What was yesterday a distant rumble has now become a constant roar.” She goes on to set the stage with: “Now and then whole hours pass in eerie silence,” adding descriptions of war-torn Berlin, the charred ruins of apartment houses, the attic apartment she occupies and “bombs that make the walls shake.” She and her neighbors can do nothing but sit and wait for the apocalypse: in this case, the arrival of the dreaded Russians.
This “before the event” technique can be used with any important event: waiting in the wings before going on stage to deliver a stunning (or disastrous) performance; tightening your helmet and shouldering your rifle before dashing across an open battlefield; getting into starting position and murmuring encouraging words to your horse before the gates open at the Kentucky Derby. It not only sets the scene, it serves as a springboard to action that will grab the readers’ attention and make them want to get on board for a wild, exciting ride. Just keep it brief: readers tend to lose patience with lengthy descriptions and set-ups that take too long. Grab their attention; then pull them into your story immediately!
We at Taylor-Fox can help you create your memoir, biography, inspirational book or other book and get it ready for publication. We’ve helped scores of people achieve their goals, and some of their books have landed on bestseller lists. Call us at 818-594-0379.
Nadine Taylor and Barry Fox write, ghostwrite, rewrite and edit books in many genres, including health, business, inspiration/ spirituality and memoirs. Their resume is long and varied but there’s one thing that never changes: They love to work with words, creating books that are clear, compelling and pleasurable to read. If you’re interested in writing a book, editing a book and/or publishing a book, you’ve come to the right place!
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Good example of how to grab the attention of someone who just picked up your book and opened to the brief into at the back of the book or the inside of the cover of the book.
Thanks, keep me posted.