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We wanted to get to know Jennia D’Lima (NAIWE’s Creative Nonfiction Expert) better, so last month we sat down with her. Here are some thoughts she shared with us.

Do all types of life experiences make for good material for a memoir?

They all have the potential to be used to write a riveting memoir. On the other hand, even the most extraordinary life events can fall flat if style falls flat, the voice reads as inauthentic, or the pacing is off. Much like when writing a fictional narrative, these story elements contribute as much to a story’s readability as the plot or events do on their own.

At what point in an individual’s life are they ready to write their memoir?

Readiness is dictated by the intensity of the emotions that still surround the events being written about and has nothing to do with an author’s age or their life circumstances. It’s important to note that an honest emotional assessment needs to come before any outlining or writing. Writing before the emotions have settled and been processed has the potential to harm the author rather than help them find catharsis or share their story in a way that could benefit others.

Are there different types of memoirs?

Yes! There are multiple types or sub-genres when it comes to the memoir category. Summarizing each one would take an entire article, but popular subgenres include the celebrity memoir, the travel memoir (Bill Bryson is one of my favorite travel memoir authors, though he’s written books in other creative nonfiction categories as well), and the transformational memoir (overcoming some type of addiction is a popular theme seen in this subgenre). Many memoirs will fit into multiple subgenres, so I advise authors to not worry about figuring out which one is the best fit for their manuscript.

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You’ve lived through some harrowing, unique, life-changing, or otherwise fascinating events. You’re certain that a memoir is the best way to share these experiences and maybe even change someone else’s life or become their source of inspiration. But before you begin, it can be helpful to ask yourself a series of questions to determine whether writing a memoir is right for you. This webinar will use these questions to define what a memoir is and what it isn’t while also addressing an individual’s emotional readiness to share their story.

You can join in this conversation on February 13 at 7:00 pm eastern, when NAIWE will host a discussion on determining if writing a memoir is right for you. The cost for NAIWE members is only $10! Nonmembers can join for $30. Register today!

Jennia Herold D’Lima is a full-blown logophile. She joined her high school’s newspaper in ninth grade, winning statewide awards for her writing, and expanded her journalism skills by continuing to write and edit throughout her high school years and as a college freshman. While earning her BA in psychology (and minoring in cultural anthropology with a focus on precolonial Mesoamerica) and her MA in applied developmental psychology, her writing and editing naturally skewed toward all things academic. Writing for and publishing in peer-reviewed journals, editing papers for classmates, and writing parenting resource guides honed her research skills. Jennia joined multiple professor-led research groups and completed four internships throughout her academic career. After graduating with a master’s, she worked at a national nonprofit in Washington, DC, and as an assistant researcher at the University of Washington in Seattle. Jennia gradually transitioned to full-time editing. She is the host of the Writing & Editing podcast. Jennia enjoys traveling, volunteering, and taking creative photos of books and book-related items in those rare moments when she is not reading or editing.

We wanted to get to know Laura Pennington Briggs (NAIWE’s Business of Writing Expert) better, so last month we sat down with her. Here are some thoughts she shared with us.

Consistent client service and automation, how do these align for today’s freelancer?

It’s important to provide a good client experience to everyone, but it’s hard to do when you’re busy marketing and also serving clients. When you get more of your time back, you show up more effectively for your clients and also feel better about your work.

Most freelances may not know that a sales pipeline system and outstanding client service go hand in hand, but do they?

They do! The more you can automate and systematize your pipeline and how you handle current clients, the more you maximize everything you do and get the most out of your time.

Is there a routine yet creative way to drive clients to your services/products?

It’s actually not super creative. Pick a platform or method of marketing and show up to do it everyday, even if only for five minutes. This can really help build consistency and snowballs over time. It doesn’t matter if it’s cold pitching, scanning job boards, TikTok, LinkedIn, or circling back with a former client, they are all valuable when you take little actions over time.

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In this training, we’ll discuss key ways to provide outstanding and consistent client service while building automation or systems that save you time, as well. We’ll discuss three big ones worth upgrading or creating for 2024: sales pipeline systems, onboarding, and offboarding. Make a better impression on your clients and earn repeat business and referrals while spending more of your time on billable work.

You can join in this conversation on January 17, at 2:00 pm eastern, when NAIWE will host a discussion on streamlining your client service to save you time and make clients happier. The cost for NAIWE members is only $10! Nonmembers can join for $30. Register today!

Laura Pennington Briggs is the founder and CEO of the Freelance Coach. A two-time TEDx speaker on how freelancing is changing the economy and the host of the weekly Advanced Freelancing podcast, Laura has helped over 15,000 freelancers start and scale their business. She’s an expert on systems, project and client management, marketing a solopreneur business, delegating to team members, retainers, and developing multiple income streams for writers of all stripes. Laura is the author of five books, including the Six Figure Freelancer and How to Start Your Own Freelance Writing Business. She’s also the founder of Operation Freelance, a national nonprofit providing free entrepreneurship training to military spouses worldwide.