Make Your Mess Your Memoir

by Anna David

We've all made a mess. And that means we all have a message. This is the book that shows you how to take the former and make it into the latter. FROM THE NY TIMES  BESTSELLING AUTHOR When Anna David got sober and sold a book about her recovery to the biggest publisher in the world, she thought she'd made it. She was wrong. Still, after years of struggle and self-discovery, she ended up thriving personally and professionally. Now she's sharing what she's learned-and showing others how to do the same. In this page-turning and useful memoir-meets-manual, David reveals her personal lows (doing cocaine by herself while contemplating suicide), her career lows (a past-his-prime celebrity hurling a phone at her as she wrote his biography) and how her life today wouldn't be possible without those experiences. The last quarter of the book is a practical guide so that readers can make their own mess into a message-and memoir. In this completely comprehensive "biz-oir" packed with proven and authentic tools and techniques, memoirists-in-the-making will travel with David on her journey from struggling addict to New York Times bestselling writer/entrepreneur and also -How to determine a memoir message and "why" -How to select scenes -The advantages and disadvantages of traditional and self-publishing -How to come up with a title, rewrite a book and hire editors -Potential legal concerns and how to avoid them -How to gather blurbs, write acknowledgments and arrange for a foreword -How to be set up for success on Amazon -The importance of an Advanced Reader Team And much more.
The best time to write a book was 10 years ago. The second best time is now.  To start creating the business tool that will change your career-and life-click ADD TO CART before the price changes.

Genres: Writing

182 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 1, 2020

About the author

Anna David is a New York Times bestselling author of eight books and the founder of Legacy Launch Pad Publishing, a boutique book publishing company trusted by high-income entrepreneurs to build seven-figure authority.

A three-time TEDx speaker, she has appeared on Good Morning America, Today Show, The Talk and dozens of other programs.

Anna has also written for the New York Times, Time, Playboy, Vanity Fair and the Huffington Post, among many others, and been written about in such publications as Entrepreneur, Martha Stewart magazine and Forbes.

Her first novel, Party Girl, is in development as a feature film and she's the on-air book critic for KATU Portland. Her company has published over 50 books, many of which have become Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestsellers.

She lives in Hollywood with her boyfriend, filmmaker Jim Agnew, their son Benjamin and their cranky-looking cat Bernie.

Reviews

[Natali · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is like a masterclass in writing a memoir. In the first half, David shows you how to write memoir by writing her own. She uses her story to inspire readers to to share theirs. In the second half, she provides a practical and useful framework to get up and do it!

David's early life reads like a novel, full of celebrity romances and a journey to sobriety. It is fun and interesting to read about. It is worth reading for that part alone, even if you have no interest in writing a memoir.

However, the memoir how-to is where David's expertise is apparent. She knows how to coach the best out of people who are not career writers. She knows how to disrupt the elite world of publishing because she has done it. And she truly cares about a world where every person's experience can aid other people's lives through memoir. This is a lovely book and I highly recommend it.

[Korey Pollard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Making Your Mess Your Memoir is only one of a myriad of resources Anna David makes available to closet writers like me. She shares her mistakes in this book and illuminates the process in such a reassuring way I felt like I had no choice but to follow her lead and get started. Download this book and then go explore LaunchPad and get to work! You will see writing and publishing a book is possible. I am finally writing my first draft!!! It may suck, but I am in the process. I am so grateful I picked up a digital copy and read it in a day, I can't wait for my paperback to arrive. This book is both inspirational and a sort of textbook I will refer to over and over.

[Jessy Munch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book. I liked the first half was her story, and the second half about helping you learn how to share your own story. Super helpful since I plan to write a book and thanks to finding Anna David, I downloaded the simple outline and steps to do so. I then purchased her course that had a lot more detail about how to write your memoir. All this in combination with this book helps me so much. I am meeting with a friend this weekend to discuss who she used to write a book and will decide between hers and Anna, mainly due to costs as I am disabled and not working or on disability. But Anna’s courses and this book have so helped me. I will keep this book with the course print outs and my notes to refer back to as I write and then rewrite as I learned in this book. Highly recommend this book and her course on how to write a memoir. I had the idea I wanted to write a book, but I will write a book after all I have learned. I also learned about Anna through the Addiction Diaries book that a friend had contributed too. I also shared that book with a book bin in a neighborhood so someone else might read it and get motivated to write and share their story like I did.

[Beth Gea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Este libro me lo descargué gratis a través del link que una escritora que me gusta compartió en su newsletter.

El género de las memorias y de la ficción biográfica es un género que me gusta mucho y este libro parecía ser ideal, compartiendo

1) las memorias de Anna

2) cómo escribir una memoria

3) cómo vender tu libro


Lo cierto es que el libro se lee bien y rápido, pero no sé por qué no he acabado de conectar con la voz de la autora. Creo que no he podido conectar con su historia porque lo que explica que le pasa es como muy ajeno y de cuento de hadas. Parece que explique que todo le va mal, pero siempre acaba apareciendo en la televisión, conociendo a personas súper ricas y famosas que milagrosamente le ofrecen una oportunidad o name-dropping famosos con los que ha salido (Matt Daaaaamon!)

En cuanto a los consejos para escribir, imagino que para algunas personas puede ser útil la estructura en 10 capítulos que comparte, y entiendo por qué funciona. Sin embargo, no es la manera en la que yo tengo de escribir, así que esa parte me la salté bastante. Para personas que tenemos una manera más intuitiva de escribir, recomiendo mucho muchísimo el libro de Lauren Sapala The Infj Writer: Cracking the Creative Genius of the World's Rarest Type (y, en realidad, todos sus libros xD).

La parte sobre cómo vender tu libro era la que más me interesaba, teniendo en cuenta que estoy en proceso de edición de mi libro Expecto Patronum. Una lectura de Harry Potter y la piedra filosofal a través de los cristales de media luna del coaching. Sin embargo, reconozco que hay partes que me he saltado, aunque he descubierto que Amazon ofrece el servicio ACX para poder publicar tus propios audiolibros, y que voy a investigar a ver si merece la pena :)

En definitiva, si como yo te has podido descargar el libro gratis está bien y se lee rápido, pero no te recomendaría que lo comprases.

[John Ferreira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anna David’s book, “Making Your Mess Your Memoir,” is not only a must read for someone who’s writing about their own life with the idea of publishing their memoir, it’s a deep, vulnerable look at how messy life can get and how we can use that mess to not only turn our lives around, but help others heal and grow by living through our journey. For it’s when we don’t feel alone, we have the courage to look more deeply into ourselves.

I’ve learned that writing helps me step outside my story, see it from an observer perspective, and allows me to no longer remain a victim. Writing helps me learn from my past experiences. Anna does this beautifully in the first half of her book, giving the reader bits and pieces of her childhood and showing how that shaped who she became as an adult. We see how far she had fallen in her addiction and failed relationships, followed by what it took to turn her life around.

This one line highly resonated with me:“Rather quickly, we connected this guy’s behavior to similar things my family had done—and eventually to my core belief that unless I was adored by someone I’d assigned power to, I was worthless. We were then also able to piece together that because the love I’d been given growing up had been so arbitrary and sporadic, I only felt comfortable in situations in which people had one foot out the door. I had come to equate unavailability with love. And I had undervalued myself for so long that I didn’t know what it felt like to have supportive, loving people in my life.”

The second half of Anna’s book gives insight into the publishing world and all the nuances to self-publish a book of your own. Extremely thorough, Anna takes us through, step-by-step, what is needed to be successful.

Highly recommended, even if you don’t plan on writing a memoir.

[Don · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anna David had me at the first sentence: “Being stuck in an elevator sucks.” David uses this metaphor deftly throughout her book to reveal aspects of her messy worlds of addiction, recovery, therapy, relationships with family and others, writing and publishing, and success. In doing so, she motivates readers to embrace her ride, and ultimately take their own.

In Part 1—The Mess, David’s writing is raw, real, relatable, and riveting. I could not turn away. She reveals intimate moments, both mundane and pivotal, with honesty and humor. All the while making space for readers to consider the implications and impact of their own messes. Her use of the 10-chapter format establishes how effective the framework is for capturing and holding readers’ attention.

In Part 2—The Message, David’s writing is clear, practical, and detailed, offering readers insight into ALL that an author needs to do to launch a memoir successfully into the world—writing using the 10-chapter format, rewriting, selecting a title, publishing, promotion and more. All valuable information for first-time and seasoned authors alike.

David dedicates her book to “anyone who’s made a mess and has a message.” Let’s be honest, we all have made messes. They might not mirror the specificity or intensity of David’s. We’ve made them and as a result, many of us have a message. If you are looking for a way to launch your mess and message out into the world, this is your book.

[David Nadelberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

With Make Your Mess Your Memoir, Anna David attempts (and achieves) the Herculean task of making the anxiety-inducing process of not just writing—but publishing, marketing and strategizing— a memoir fun.  This book is a hybrid of memoir and toolkit. I got a lot out of it.

The first half of this book is a peek into what makes the author tick. It’s a vulnerable, funny and inspiring tale of a woman trying to find her voice while overcoming addiction and navigating a career in an industry that is broken. 

The second half is where the book really takes off.

Using what she learned from her experiences in media, Anna find a calling in helping others share their own stories. This half is peppered with advice and tutorials about publishing a non-fiction book and how to use that to enhance a career. 

I have worked in various aspects of media and I found a lot of what she had to say refreshingly candid and informative. It’s also just funny. This is a smart and insightful book for anybody who is considering writing a memoir or building a career as a public speaker. 

[Erin Ranta · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed Make your Mess your Memoir! Part personal story, part how-to, this book is both highly entertaining and informative. Anna’s story is one of persistence, and quite inspiring. One of many takeaways for me was that after reading her story I learned how sometimes saying no can lead you in the right direction. Through her experience with recovery and building her career in the writing/publishing world, Anna found her true calling, which is helping others share their story. The second part of the book literally shows how one can write a memoir. Anna clarifies the process. As a completely novice writer, I have been a student of Anna’s. Her classes have given me so much knowledge and power, realizing that my story is worth listening to, and everybody has a story that can be told. Following her guidelines make it actually a reality. I highly recommend Make your Mess your Memoir!

[Adele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anna David has a straight ahead style of writing. Honest. She tells the unvarnished truth, even though in doing so she might not appear to be heroic. Her story of transformation from the party girl life to a hard worker is a tale worth the read. A girl finds her inner self and beats the odds. This makes her a person we can admire. Yet, she doesn’t make transformation out of our reach, we can aspire to be her.

Part one of this book is her messy story—the circuitous way her life brought her to where she is today: a best selling author running a successful business helping well-known entrepreneurs write their personal stories of how they made it. In part two of Anna David’s Make Your Mess Your Memoir she gives us her methods, she guides the reader through the stages of how to write a memoir. It is clear, simple and full of sage advice.

Read it for her story. Read it for inspiration. Read it and write.

—Adele Slaughter, poet, author What The Body Remembers

[Dennis Hensley · Rating 5 out of 5]

From dating Matt Damon in college to working for a boss whose office is prison to discovering life-changing EMDR therapy just a few years ago, Anna David has lived a life of exhilarating ups and devastating downs. And she writes about all of it with insight, humor and warts-and-all honesty. Her story of how she got to where she is makes up the first half of the book and it zips by, engaging, self-effacing and relatable every step of the way. The second half is a road map for turning your own life story into a memoir. That process can be overwhelming but Anna’s tips are straightforward, road-tested and, most importantly, executable. What Save the Cat is to screenwriting, this book is to memoir writing. It demystifies the process and helps you focus and stay committed by taking it one-step at a time. Everybody’s got a story. Reading this book will not just give you tools to bring your story to life, it’ll give you the confidence to believe that you actually can.

[Serenity Bohon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anna David has an interesting road-to-publication story. It was surprising to see several turns in her writing career seem like sure things but not work out in the long run. This might have been disheartening if the memoir portion hadn't turned into a how-to for career freedom. I really liked Anna David’s storytelling in the memoir portion. She “skips the boring parts” beautifully, and every moment points to her message. The biz portion rang true, too. It simplifies the writing/publishing process without pretending it’s an easy road to success, and it includes a number of helpful resources. If you’ve ever had the feeling that elements of your life might help others in some way, this book may be the perfect map. It’s especially right for you if you have a business (or the intention for one) that’s built on your own story/message/brand.

[Sue Romani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Make Your Mess Your Memoir was a great reading and experience for me.
I love Anna’s authenticity and boldness in sharing her story and insights in the first part of the book, much of which spoke to me. I wish I had maybe a little bit more of her emotional experiences available to connect with her more at that level.

What I really like about this “Bizoir”, as Ms Davis calls it, is its second part with amazing tips and tools she shares making writing achievable for beginners and refreshed to experienced ones. I had many attempts to write before this book but never moved forward to few pages. I can say that I have written chapters after reading it and I look forward to keeping using this book as a source of inspiration and technique to finish my story and maybe others. I recommend it.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok, I’ve read several book on memoir and this woman is the only author I’ve found who writes in a way that 1: I relate to on a deep level and laugh out loud with the way she expresses very painful life experiences and 2: teaches me the detailed information about how to get all of that life story published. And she does it in a way that feels like I too can write my memoir, which I’m in the beginning stages of doing and that the steps to get it out into the world won’t kill me. It’s written in a way that takes the overwhelming prospect of publishing and twists it into a very tasty flavor of ease. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to get their story out into the world. Sorry about all the run on sentences...

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you believe your story can make a difference and you’re not sure where to start, start with this book. Anna takes what would seem to be an overwhelming series of tasks—writing your story, publishing your book, and using that book to create a sustainable, impactful business—and simplifies the whole process into actionable steps.

If you know you have a book in you, I highly recommend reading this book and following Anna’s straightforward directions. As one of her coaching students, I launched my book and hit #1 Best Seller in three categories and #1 New Release in NINE. You can too! She has distilled down the information and wisdom from one of her coaching programs into THIS book!

[Samantha Perkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Make Your Mess Your Memoir. Anna David was able to keep me entertained while teaching me something at the same time. I enjoyed reading about her life and how she came to be a writer, her struggles with traditional publishing, and the honest ups and downs of a writing career. But, as a writer myself, I felt like I hit the jackpot by having all of the wonderful tips, tricks, and easy to apply ideas on how to write my memoir and options for my career once I do. This book is a must-read for anyone who is interested in advancing their career by becoming an author.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is two books in one. Part one is a memoir—interesting, funny, conversational--a good, quick read. A perfect example of reading a book because you enjoy hanging out with someone like the author. Part Two is a primer on how to write your memoir, and then the most specific instructions on how to publish and promote yourself after. It really speaks to every possible question you might have, with suggestions and sources for editors, designers, and words of wisdom from several other authors as well. Highly recommended.

Jeff Kober

[Wade · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I decided to write a memoir, I knew I needed to read this book by Anna David, even before it was released! I wasn’t wrong. Anna’s guidance in the writing process is unmatched. Anna is very smart. Not only that, she is an entertaining and crazy talented writer. Not only THAT, she’s also gifted at imparting solid approaches to professional writing and is incredibly generous in sharing what has proven to work for her. And now she’s delivering all of that in this book. “Make Your Mess Your Memoir” is creative and practical GOLD.

[AIMEE ADAMS · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m a memoir junkie and biography glutton. I love consuming other people’s stories and ultimately, their unique thread of curiosity as they move through life.

Anna’s book is entertaining, fun, and helpful. In the first half of the book, she entertains via tone and story vignette selection. While in the second, she provides a simple outline framework worth following. I admire Anna’s indie spirit behind this written project and drive to guide others into the “mess” of their own memoir.

[Frances Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every writer needs a pep talk. Whether you are at the initial idea stage or think you are finished writing, Anna David is the tough coach and real-world expert you need. “MAKE YOUR MESS YOUR MEMOIR” begins with her story which is used as an example for the steps she outlines to become a successful published author. Following the clear directions, writers are encouraged to share their own experiences, knowledge, and message.

Fram Walsh Ward, author

[Alexander Shohet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Anna David wonderfully describes the challenge of finding your path to a successful career through the many twists and turns of growing up. Along the way, Anna's relationship with her family, addiction, and her own messes pave her road to success. She writes a great opening for the book using this elevator analogy about feeling stuck. Anna's adventures are quite entertaining and this book is really fun.

[Vig Gleeson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is another 'how to write your memoir' book designed to bring the reader into signing up for the author's paid program. I enjoyed listening to Ms David's messy story in part 1. Funny in parts, though not particularly deep or revealing. For someone who reads a lot of 'how to write your memoir' books, I didn't find anything new in part two. I did sign up for her newsletter though, so the 'funnel' marketing worked :)

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy To Read How To Write Your Memoir

Anna has a writing style that pulls you in and before too long, you’ve finished her book! She is very self-deprecating and you find yourself laughing along. She has tons of experience in writing and now publishing books. And her advice on writing a memoir is spot on.

[John Bialas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I award 10 stars on a scale of 1 to 5 to each chapter in "Make Your Mess Your Memoir," where Anna David writes about her own life story in Part 1 and she tells the reader in Part 2 to "take your own experience and make it into a memoir that can help other people." David's wealth of writing advice and words of encouragement make for nonstop reading. You will get going on telling your story.

[Erin Nudi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part Anna's memoir, part how to write your own memoir, part how to turn your memoir into a business. The how-to parts were as detailed and on point as expected, but as long as I've been following Anna, there was so much in her story that I had no idea about. After all this time, and after helping so many others share their story, she finally put that comprehensive one out into the world.

[Frank Deardurff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thought provoking

Definitely a different look at writing a book and even more so what to write. Many times we feel it’s about what we’re best at but miss out on what we overcame to get there. As the old saying goes... misery loves company and Anna explains in her book that people can relate because they’ve been there or have experienced similar pains. Well done.

[Merrill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has been the kick in the bottom I needed! David writes with humour, honesty and know-how! We’ll see how the advice turns out as I start a new adventure, but I have every hope that the practical and well-honed advice will help me reach my goals faster than I thought I could just last week!

[Ashley Mayhew · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to love this book. I really tried. There were some good tips in the last half, particularly the book outline but overall it just fell short. I also hated the memoir portion but maybe that’s just me. She really pushed for you to sign up for her program. Her program is outrageously high and the average person cannot afford it.

[Corrine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not only do I love the title and the idea behind the book, I like the practicality of it. With typical Anna David style, she shares her messy story at the beginning of the book and then later shares her secret formula so the reader can do the same. It's genius!

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anna offers clear, practical advice on how to tell our story - so many of us think "I want to write a book..." and then feel lost in the shuffle w/ how to start. David's book is a must read primer for this! Highly recommend.

[Darryl Dash · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the idea behind this book. The first half is a memoir. The second half shows you how to follow the same method to write your own memoir.

If you want an example of honest writing, and a structure to follow as you write your own story, I think you'll find this book to be helpful.