Writers group gets tips from author

Lynn Atkins/The Weekly Vista Linda Hughes (standing) presents a few tips to the members of the Village Lake Writers and Poets about writing memoirs.
Lynn Atkins/The Weekly Vista Linda Hughes (standing) presents a few tips to the members of the Village Lake Writers and Poets about writing memoirs.

When author Linda Hughes talks to other writers about the writing process, they don't always agree, members of the Village Lake Writers and Poets group learned when she spoke as part of their Winter Series last week. She shared three tips, but then explained that writers sometimes argue with her.

The group meets at the Artist Retreat Center on the second Wednesday of each month. After the presentation, there was a potluck lunch.

Linda Hughes will present a

Memoir Writing Workshop

from 2 to 4 p.m. on

Sunday, Jan. 21,

at the Artist Retreat Center

Register at [email protected]

Start with your finish in mind, she told the group. In fact, she recommends outlining a book before you start the "fun" part of writing. Successful authors use outlines, she said. In fact, James Patterson outlines his books so thoroughly that another writer can step in and finish the book.

One published author who disagreed with her said, "I write by the seat of my pants." But when Hughes asked a few more questions, she discovered that the woman works with her husband, and her husband does the outlining.

"Outlines are hard work," she said. But even a well-outlined book can surprise the author, she said. Sometimes the book takes you where it wants to go.

She also recommends lots of research before sitting down to write. If you're writing a memoir, start out with family research, maybe even a DNA check.

She helped her good friend, Myrna Gate Brown, write a memoir about her life as the child bride of Jerry Lee Lewis. They did a lot of research about Brown's family and found that many of her ancestors married their cousins, the same way she did.

Even if you're writing fiction, it's often helpful to go to the place you're writing about. When Hughes was working on "Secrets of the Asylum," she went to her hometown in Michigan where a former asylum was located and toured it.

"Every good book starts with a hook," she said but added that some writers will argue that statement too. But even writers who don't believe they are using a hook have enough of one to keep readers interested. When writing a memoir, decide what it is that matters and get that into the first chapter, then add the back story.

It's always easier for a reader if events are presented chronologically, but an exception can be made in the first few chapters to gain the interest of the readers.

It's also important to make the last chapter connect to the first chapter for a sense of finality.

You should use real names, she said, answering a question from the audience. Think about your future audience, she recommended and how confusing it would be if the names in your memoir were fictional. Chances are, she said, the people you are afraid of offending by identifying them won't be reading your book.

And use your own point of view. A memoir is you telling your story.

Memoirs can be important, she said. The Diary of Anne Frank is a good example of a memoir that had an impact on society.

Hughes moved from Atlanta to Northwest Arkansas to be closer to grandchildren. She retired from a career as a college professor to write full-time. She has published both fiction and nonfiction and received awards from the National Writers Association and Writer's Digest.

General News on 01/17/2018