How do you go about writing a deeply personal story? In this episode, Sonia Orchard discusses her memoir, Groomed, and the process of writing about a traumatic childhood experience. She also shares tips for others looking to write their own memoir.

00:00 Introduction
03:15 Writing tip: It’s never too late to start
06:53 WIN!: Best, First and Last by Amy T. Matthews
09:07 Word of the week: ‘Grok’
11:18 Writer in residence: Sonia Orchard
15:33 Deciding whether to tell such a vulnerable story
17:00 Writing it vs not writing it
19:25 How Sonia compiled the memoir
23:12 “Write for yourself and edit for others”
24:20 Choosing what details to remove in the story
26:55 Navigating the justice system
28:08 The therapeutic power of writing
33:55 Memoir vs fiction: Similarities and differences
44:31 What Sonia hopes people take away from this book
46:30 Top tips for writing your own memoir
48:41 Final thoughts

Read the show notes

Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook
Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com

How do you go about writing a deeply personal story? In this episode, Sonia Orchard discusses her memoir, Groomed, and the process of writing about a traumatic childhood experience. She also shares tips for others looking to write their own memoir.
00:00 Introduction 03:15 Writing tip: It&rsquo;s never too late to start 06:53 WIN!: Best, First and Last by Amy T. Matthews 09:07 Word of the week: &lsquo;Grok&rsquo; 11:18 Writer in residence: Sonia Orchard 15:33 Deciding whether to tell such a vulnerable story 17:00 Writing it vs not writing it 19:25 How Sonia compiled the memoir 23:12 &ldquo;Write for yourself and edit for others&rdquo; 24:20 Choosing what details to remove in the story 26:55 Navigating the justice system 28:08 The therapeutic power of writing 33:55 Memoir vs fiction: Similarities and differences 44:31 What Sonia hopes people take away from this book 46:30 Top tips for writing your own memoir 48:41 Final thoughts
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-654/">Read the show notes</a>
Connect with Valerie and listeners in <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/2346749828883788/">the podcast community on Facebook</a> Visit <a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/">WritersCentre.com.au</a> |&nbsp;<a href="http://valeriekhoo.com/">ValerieKhoo.com</a>

Everything you’ve always wanted to know about succeeding in the world of writing and publishing. Learn practical writing techniques, go behind-the-scenes and discover how real-life authors got their big break. Uncover the creative processes of writers who have made it. Your host is Valerie Khoo – author, journalist, creative and CEO of the Australian Writers’ Centre. 

Everything you&rsquo;ve always wanted to know about succeeding in the world of writing and publishing. Learn practical writing techniques, go behind-the-scenes and discover how real-life authors got their big break. Uncover the creative processes of writers who have made it. Your host is Valerie Khoo &ndash;&nbsp;author, journalist, creative and CEO of the Australian Writers&rsquo; Centre.&nbsp;