Write For Heaven's Sake!

By: Robert Brady

I have just finished writing three articles on helps for writing an autobiography: Getting Started, Autobiography Characteristics, and the importance of writing your autobiography.

Remember: Writing is most important!

Start now.

Your style will improve the more you write.

Pick up a pen. Now.

But I don't know what to write about.

The choices are infinite:

The time you forgot your lines just before your cue in your theatrical debut.

Clubs you have belonged to. Rotary? Kiwanis? Church groups? Community groups?

Your favorite high school teacher.

Who did you sit next to in homeroom? What was that person like? Were you friends?

Lessons learned. Life's short, do something worthwhile. Work stinks, but sometimes you have to do what you have to do. Life's a crap sandwich and everyday you have to take a bite.

The number of times you've been in the hospital.

Heroes. Your dad. Your mom. A teacher. A friend.

Inspirations.

Holidays. How did you spend your Christmas' growing up? What was your favorite Halloween costume?

First time you danced with someone besides a family member. Was your mom at the dance to chaperone?

Just start writing. Things will fall into place.

Don't freeze in the face of writing something. Forget the conventions and write.

Rules help us understand each other. However, rules are meant to be bent, right? Besides, you have all of the skills that you need to get started.

Write as if you were talking to a trusted friend. Your personality will shine through.

Is spelling not your forte? I used to be a great speller. The word processor has broken me of that habit. I rely on the spell checker to keep me straight.

Your first reader is you. Don't be too critical.

Writer after writer will tell you that you have to be willing to write a poor first draft. It's true. The words will flow more freely. You can change things later.

Get lost in the writing, in the ideas, and the experience.

If you go blank, make a list. (I touch more on this in a subsequent article.) Lists are magical. Look at the list above. I'm sure ideas have already started.

What are you waiting for? There's much to write.