the hangout for new and inexperienced writers of nonfiction
At Beginners Guide to Writing we specialise in helping new and inexperienced writers get started writing in a range of nonfiction genres. We provide one-to-one and group support, an online writing community where you can exchange ideas through our writing forums, a variety of writing, editing and proofreading services and a selection of books, courses and regular blog posts.
Family history research - discover your heritage Although the study of genealogy (family history research) has been around for a long time, it’s popularity has increased significantly over the past few decades. This is…
Write your book in bite-sized pieces if you are struggling to get started Sitting down to write a full-length autobiography, memoir, family history, local history book or whatever subject you have chosen can be daunting…
Putting your family history in context Although researching and writing your family history gives you the opportunity to explore and write about the lives of people you have a personal connection to, there will also be…
Starting to write - just do it Don’t let a fear of getting something wrong put you off writing. Your grammar may not be perfect, you may make some spelling mistakes or you may put a comma in the wrong place but none of…
The oral tradition of storytelling and its role in history Within families and communities there will be stories that have been passed down through the generations, some of which may have been written, but many of which…
Commonly confused and misused words in the English language There are some words in the English language that sound alike but have different meanings (these are known as homophones). There are also words that have similar…
Family history and social history have close links Anyone who has read my blogs or who has met me at workshops or Family History Fairs/Exhibitions will know that I am always keen to talk about the close link between family…
Nostalgia in a family history narrative - is there a place for it? Can you be too nostalgic when writing a family history? Professional historians don’t really do nostalgia and sentiment. It is not their job to interpret…
You don't have to be famous to write a memoir You don't have to be famous to write a memoir but it does help if you want to write an autobiography. This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t write your autobiography, but if…
Blogging your memoir - 8 tips on how to get started If you have been thinking about writing a memoir but are unsure of how to get started, why not try blogging it. Blogging your memoir is an excellent way of connecting…
Opening sentence - use it to grab the attention of your readers Arguably the most important words in a book are all contained in the opening sentence. But do you know why? Although the title of your book or narrative…
Setting up your oral history interview Once you have made all the necessary plans for your oral history interview (i.e. choosing your interviewee, doing the necessary background research, deciding on your topic and devising…
Would you like to write for niche magazines? If you are researching your family history or recalling memories of the past or if you are a local/social history researcher you probably read and/or subscribe to one or more…
Pen and paper or a computer - which do you prefer? Some people have a strong opinion about whether it is better to write using a pen and paper or a computer but I guess for most of us it is more a question of what is…
Get organised with some great online tools for writers If you struggle to remember all of the great ideas you have or if you need a better way of channelling and developing you ideas, there are some online resources out…
Write your family history story by story Feeling overwhelmed about how to start writing your complete family history? Well, why not make it easier and write your family history story by story. Many family historians,…
Free writing - give it try if you are finding it hard to start writing Even if you think you have a clear idea of what you want to write about do you sometimes find it really hard to get going? Well there is a remedy…
Productivity tools for writers - stay focused and block out distractions Are you easily distracted by emails, social media, the temptation of doing a quick ‘surf’ for the latest cheap flights and holiday deals or whatever…
Malapropism - what is it and how did it get its name? In my blog post Frequently misused words - damp squid and other blunders I included some words which are often misused, so now let me introduce you to the world of…
How to write a blog post - getting the basics right If you have seen my blog posts Choosing a blog platform and Setting up a free WordPress blog in five easy steps you will have discovered that setting up a blog using…
Have you always wanted to write about your life and experiences but lack the confidence to get started?
Have you been researching your family or local history and want to start telling the stories you have uncovered?
How about a memoir which focuses on food?
Are you a keen traveller with stories to tell?
Do you run a family or local business with an interesting history which would make a great story?
Are you an enthusiastic scrapbooker who would like to go one step further and start telling the stories behind your pictures and photos?
If you have answered yes to any of the these questions and you are a new or inexperienced writer, take a look at Beginners Guide to Writing for everything you need to get started writing.
At Beginners Guide to Writing we have a great selection of information products and courses plus regular blog posts to help you start writing in a variety of nonfiction genres from life stories, family histories, memoirs and autobiographies to local and social history, travel stories, foodoirs, scrapbook- and photo-journaling, nostalgic memories and company/corporate histories.
If you have already started writing, then check out our Writing and editing services . At Beginners Guide to Writing offer one-to-one help and support via phone, email, Skype (or in person if you live nearby). It doesn’t matter where you are in the world we can work together. We also provide editing and proofreading services and we run workshops for writers of nonfiction.
If you fancy seeing your stories in print we can advise you on the different ways you can go about this. For example, if you just want to print a few copies for family and friends you could use a print-on demand-service or you could turn your stories into an eBook which you could upload to a website or to Kindle or Amazon’s e-reader. Just let us know what you want and we will do our best to advise and help you.
Would you look to join a friendly and supportive network of writers without leaving the comfort of your own home? Then why not join in on one of our Beginners Guide to Writing forums. You can ask for help or you can share your own experiences with like-minded people.
