She read books as one would breathe air, to fill up and live ~Annie Dillard
About Terry Northcutt
As a small child I fell in love with the music of language. Dr. Seuss's Cat in the Hat made no sense to me, but again and again, I begged to hear the rollicking melody created by the rhythm, rhyme, and repetition of its words. In third grade, I fell in love with the humor, fantasy, and mysteries created by words in long strings across many pages that told stories. Later, I fell in love with reading narrative nonfiction focused on psychological disorders, historical events, and the natural world. I searched self-help books for solutions to life's problems. My love of words and stories continued into my teens, through young adulthood, and right to the present day.
I discovered the power of fiction and nonfiction to validate my thoughts, feelings, and experiences as well as to challenge my most cherished beliefs. Through nonfiction I discovered the historical, cultural, and psychological forces that shape individuals and events. I gained insight into the how and why of things that happened in the natural world. Through fiction I discovered the full range of human experience. And I knew I wanted to learn how writers created those stories and found words to make human experiences so vivid I felt I was there. I began to study the many genres of fiction and nonfiction and the craft of writing.
As a psychologist who for many years, spent hours each day collaborating with clients to understand broken stories, and then to create healing stories that offered a richer present and future, I came to believe that the most important thing about stories is their power to provide an understanding of the messy experience of life and living. And so, I knew that I wanted to help others write their stories.
After many years of writing classes and after wrapping up my private practice, I discovered Guided Autobiography (GAB). Becoming a Certified GAB Instructor, I began to help people write their life stories by focusing on themes such as Turning Points, Family, and Work—themes that tap the most significant and universal aspects of any life story.
And in keeping with Robert Frost’s poem The Road Not Taken, I found that way does indeed lead on to way. I discovered I wanted to guide and support writers of fiction and nonfiction to write their books. So, I completed the Editing Certificate Program at the University of Chicago with a specialization in developmental editing for fiction and nonfiction.
As a Developmental Editor (fiction, memoir, narrative nonfiction and self-help), I support and guide writers from the initial idea that insisted they write a book to a completed manuscript. I provide writing assignments that help writers clarify their idea, the point of their book, and the structure of their book. Page by page, chapter by chapter, assignment by assignment, writers develop narrative and character arcs or present information to help readers solve their problems or gain deeper knowledge and insight into an area of interest. For each assignment, I provide detailed comments focused on writing craft elements that are working well, writing craft elements that need further development, and strategies and approaches to improve the manuscript. I can never promise or guarantee that a writer's manuscript will be accepted for publication, but with large doses of writing craft instruction and encouragement, I can help writers cross the finish line with a manuscript that is carefully crafted and focused on their vision for their book.
For fiction, nonfiction, and memoir writers, I provide manuscript evaluations with inline comments and an editorial summary that not only detail the strengths and weaknesses of the manuscript but also provide specific strategies to guide the writer as they revise the manuscript. For nonfiction and memoirs, I work with writers to craft an effective book proposal to submit to agents and editors.
As a Certified Guided Autobiography Instructor, I work one-to-one with people from twenty to a hundred and twenty to help them write the significant stories of their life by following a Theme Roadmap or a Master List of Essential Stories Roadmap.
Publishing Credits:
"Anatomy of the Common Family Cold," https://www.washingtonian.com/2014/01/14/anatomy-of-the-common-family-cold/ /
"Beginner's Humility" published as part of the Birren Collection Anthology: Onward: True Life Stories of Challenges, Choices and Change
"Home is Where the Memories Are," Birren Collection Anthology: Homeward: Personal Stories on the Search for Belonging
"The Glass," Birren Collection Anthology, Gift of a Long Life: Personal Stories on the Aging Experience
I would enjoy talking with you about your Book Project. To learn more about services for life stories, memoirs and nonfiction or to register for a free consultation click on the buttons below.
As a small child I fell in love with the music of language. Dr. Seuss's Cat in the Hat made no sense to me, but again and again, I begged to hear the rollicking melody created by the rhythm, rhyme, and repetition of its words. In third grade, I fell in love with the humor, fantasy, and mysteries created by words in long strings across many pages that told stories. Later, I fell in love with reading narrative nonfiction focused on psychological disorders, historical events, and the natural world. I searched self-help books for solutions to life's problems. My love of words and stories continued into my teens, through young adulthood, and right to the present day.
I discovered the power of fiction and nonfiction to validate my thoughts, feelings, and experiences as well as to challenge my most cherished beliefs. Through nonfiction I discovered the historical, cultural, and psychological forces that shape individuals and events. I gained insight into the how and why of things that happened in the natural world. Through fiction I discovered the full range of human experience. And I knew I wanted to learn how writers created those stories and found words to make human experiences so vivid I felt I was there. I began to study the many genres of fiction and nonfiction and the craft of writing.
As a psychologist who for many years, spent hours each day collaborating with clients to understand broken stories, and then to create healing stories that offered a richer present and future, I came to believe that the most important thing about stories is their power to provide an understanding of the messy experience of life and living. And so, I knew that I wanted to help others write their stories.
After many years of writing classes and after wrapping up my private practice, I discovered Guided Autobiography (GAB). Becoming a Certified GAB Instructor, I began to help people write their life stories by focusing on themes such as Turning Points, Family, and Work—themes that tap the most significant and universal aspects of any life story.
And in keeping with Robert Frost’s poem The Road Not Taken, I found that way does indeed lead on to way. I discovered I wanted to guide and support writers of fiction and nonfiction to write their books. So, I completed the Editing Certificate Program at the University of Chicago with a specialization in developmental editing for fiction and nonfiction.
As a Developmental Editor (fiction, memoir, narrative nonfiction and self-help), I support and guide writers from the initial idea that insisted they write a book to a completed manuscript. I provide writing assignments that help writers clarify their idea, the point of their book, and the structure of their book. Page by page, chapter by chapter, assignment by assignment, writers develop narrative and character arcs or present information to help readers solve their problems or gain deeper knowledge and insight into an area of interest. For each assignment, I provide detailed comments focused on writing craft elements that are working well, writing craft elements that need further development, and strategies and approaches to improve the manuscript. I can never promise or guarantee that a writer's manuscript will be accepted for publication, but with large doses of writing craft instruction and encouragement, I can help writers cross the finish line with a manuscript that is carefully crafted and focused on their vision for their book.
For fiction, nonfiction, and memoir writers, I provide manuscript evaluations with inline comments and an editorial summary that not only detail the strengths and weaknesses of the manuscript but also provide specific strategies to guide the writer as they revise the manuscript. For nonfiction and memoirs, I work with writers to craft an effective book proposal to submit to agents and editors.
As a Certified Guided Autobiography Instructor, I work one-to-one with people from twenty to a hundred and twenty to help them write the significant stories of their life by following a Theme Roadmap or a Master List of Essential Stories Roadmap.
Publishing Credits:
"Anatomy of the Common Family Cold," https://www.washingtonian.com/2014/01/14/anatomy-of-the-common-family-cold/ /
"Beginner's Humility" published as part of the Birren Collection Anthology: Onward: True Life Stories of Challenges, Choices and Change
"Home is Where the Memories Are," Birren Collection Anthology: Homeward: Personal Stories on the Search for Belonging
"The Glass," Birren Collection Anthology, Gift of a Long Life: Personal Stories on the Aging Experience
I would enjoy talking with you about your Book Project. To learn more about services for life stories, memoirs and nonfiction or to register for a free consultation click on the buttons below.
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Terry Northcutt© COPYRIGHT 2016. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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