Karen Tyrrell Talks Writing and Editing her Memoir

The prize draw will be held at mid-day Monday 21st EST (Australia)  21/05/2012




Today I welcome Karen Tyrrell who is answering some curious questions about writing and editing her memoir Me & Her: A Memoir of Madness..

Writing & Editing Process ME & HER: A Memoir of Madness

1.        How did you go about reconstructing the scenes that took place during one of your later memory blanks?

My husband helped me to remember those traumatic memories which I had suppressed.  With his hot-poker reminders and fish oil supplements, my memory eventually returned.

2.        Did you find it difficult to distance yourself from the material during the editing process?

I wrote about the most traumatic events in my life, first as flashbacks. When I was emotionally ready I was able to disclose those events in detail.  Beta readers, The Society of Editors and editors like you, Sally offered advice and perspective when I was “too close” to my memoir.

3.        How much, if at all, did you change the order or impact of events to make the story work AS a story?

I wrote my memoir over six years, perhaps with a hundred drafts. I changed the order of chapters and events several times. The earliest draft was a chronological biography, and then my husband suggested I start at a pivotal point when the police thumped at my motel door, demanding me to open up.

4.        How did you know when it was time to write a mental “finished!” on the Ms and go for publication?

I thought ME & HER was finished several times. After I received feedback from a publisher I would rewrite again and submit. I did this several times.  Then, I added a present day epilogue and a short introduction to each chapter from the ME, recovered perspective. Finally I sought a professional assessment, editing and a final proof read.

Writing my own personal journey into and out of mental illness was one of the most difficult things to write about. I wanted the reader to understand the two points of view, the normal ME and the manic HER.

ANNOUNCING … ME & HER eBook

ME & HER: a Memoir of Madness launches this week on Amazon as an eBook. To find out more about Karen Tyrrell and where to purchase ME & HER please check out her website,

http://www.karentyrrell.com .Click on BUY BOOK to purchase an eBook!

eBOOK GIVEAWAYS!

Please comment here or ask Karen a question, to be in the draw for a FREE eBook. Two copies to be won!

Follow the Tour!

ME & HER Blog Tour 14^th - 20^th May

14^th May Kaz Delaney- Writing Inspiration http://kazdelaney.wordpress.com/

                Prachi S.Vaish - Psychologist - Interview www.hopenetwork.in

15^th May Tuesday Writing Tips- Writing Memoirs http://deescribewriting.wordpress.com/

            Dr Happy – Happiness after the Gloom http://www.thehappinessinstitute.com/blog/

16^th May Sally Odgers - Writing & Editing Process http://spinningpearls.blogspot.com.au/

17^th May Gabrielle Sheppard, UK - Bipolar Recovery www.bi-polargirl.com/blog

18^th May Natasha Tracy, Canada - Writing for Recovery http://natashatracy.com/

19^th May Jill Smith- Book Review & Interview http://authorjillsmith.wordpress.com

           Kids Book Review- Mental Health Books 4 Kids http://www.kids-bookreview.com/

20^th May Ang Hall - ME & HER Book Review- http://bluedingonet.wordpress.com/