In this issue...

• Letter from the Editor
• What's New in our Readers' Circle
• Some Tips from our Writers' Circle
• Some Creative Writing Exercises
• Introducing our Feedback Forum
• Free Resources available to you

A few points specifically pertaining to memoir-writing:

• It is customary to write your memoirs in the first person. Don’t worry about overusing the word “I”.
• Tell the bad and the good…it’s more interesting and believable.
• Be gracious when writing about others…be truthful yet tasteful.
• Do your best to get it right. You are producing an historical document based on memory…just do your best to keep it accurate.
• Be yourself…the more true to yourself you are, the more you will shine. Don’t try to be a “writer”…instead, imagine you are writing a letter to your best friend. The words will flow more naturally, and people will relate to the real person that you are as opposed to someone you are trying to portray.
• Most importantly, have fun! You’ll find that this kind of writing is addictive, and you won’t want to stop.

See if you meet the qualifications for writing an autobiography by clicking here: http://www.memoirsbyme.com/writers.html

• Pick a family member and tell about the greatest impact this person has had on your life.
• Describe your favorite place whether it be a home or vacation spot and tell why it was meaningful. Use all your senses in your description. What did it look like? What were some significant scents? What sounds do you recall hearing? What did it feel like...what was the weather like? What kind of foods did you eat when you were there?
• Choose one event that changed the course of your life. Describe your situation just before the event, the event itself, and the after. Explain how this event changed the course of history for you.

For more, click here: http://www.memoirsbyme.com/homework.html

Register on our Feedback Forum and not only will you be able to read what everyone has to say, you can join in on the discussions yourself. Don't worry, it's easy!

Click on this link: http://www.memoirsbyme.com/phpbb/index.php

At the top of the forum you will see the word "Register", click there and you will be taken to a screen giving the ground rules, then click the appropriate link. A username is required but then you can complete the remaining fields only if you desire. You're in!

Introduce yourself in our Meet & Greet | Intro's Forum. Click "New Topic" and tell us about yourself and perhaps what interests you about our site. Also take a few moments and meet some of the members who have come before you.

If you have any general questions or comments, go ahead and post them in the Feedback & Comments Forum. We're all ears.

• Free Family Tree Chart
  http://www.genealogy.about.com/library/free_charts/bl_family_tree.htm
  
  
• Free Ancestral Chart
  http://www.genealogy.about.com/library/free_charts/bl_pedigree.htm
  
  
• Free Genealogy Relationship Chart
  http://www.genealogy.about.com/library/nrelationshipchart.htm