At first glance, authoring a memoir appears to be out of reach for the majority of people. It seems like an accomplishment only celebrities dare to strive for. But the reality is that memoirs are simply a means for anyone to share their life story and lessons. While celebrity memoirs may dominate the literary charts, there are absolutely no criteria indicating that the author of a memoir must be of certain status. Readers want to consume stories they can learn from and be inspired by, no matter the author. Through a compelling narration of your personal learnings, readers feel less alone on their own journey and are able to learn from your experiences. Your story will make a great memoir. But before we discuss what should be included, let’s explore the difference between an autobiography and a memoir.
Autobiography vs Memoir
While often used interchangeably, an autobiography and memoir are separate genres. Autobiographies are fact-driven, place emphasis on dates and details, and often involve a chronological order of events starting with circumstances surrounding the author’s birth and ending around the time of writing. They are typically written by the author later in life and focus on informing the audience of their personal accomplishments and motives. A reader might pick up this book to better understand the specific author and their life. Famous examples of autobiographies include: Bossypants by Tina Fey and Born a Crime by Trevor Noah.
Memoirs, on the other hand, weave an overarching theme throughout the book. They tell a story driven by emotion, personal experiences, and introspection. Instead of spanning the author’s entire life, memoirs narrow in on specific experiences and the author’s perception of them. Memoirs can be written at any time, and an author may write multiple in their lifetime. Readers who purchase these books often seek to understand a specific theme or subject matter and the author’s experience, rather than the author themselves. Famous examples of memoirs include: Becoming by Michelle Obama and Untamed by Glennon Doyle.
Why you should write a memoir
The really incredible thing about each and every one of us is that our stories are simultaneously unique and relatable. Other people will have experienced what you’ve gone through, but it’s how you are able to navigate your life’s events that is unique and makes for a compelling story.
There’s a branch of psychology called narrative psychology. This is the idea that your experience of life isn’t a simple accumulation of objective facts and events. Instead, your life is how you are able to weave the events of your life with meaning. Essentially, how you think and being able to determine meaning in your life’s events is what makes your story unique. Interpretations, thoughts, and emotions are key in developing your identity. Not many people realize that the way they experience life is entirely different from how someone else would experience and interpret those exact same events. Humans are masters at creating meaning and being able to see how one event may result in another. This subjective experience is critical to a great memoir.
Another reason to write a memoir is that it provides an opportunity to leave a legacy. While a memoir is an opportunity to materialize memories and experiences – it’s also a chance to literally write your legacy. You have the power to determine how your story will live on and leave a mark on the world and future generations.
What to include in your memoir:
The baseline is that you’re writing a book, and like any book, the goal is to keep readers interested. Many of the same tools fiction writers employ are useful in producing a great memoir.
- Identify an overarching theme. This will ensure your memoir remains focused on the key message(s) you hope to convey and prevent you from including irrelevant components.
- Select key events. As mentioned above, a memoir does not take readers through your whole life as an autobiography would. It focuses on specific events and how they relate to each other, or influence one another. Your chosen theme will be a guiding tool to help you in determining which events to include and which to save for your next memoir.
- Drama. If you’re writing a memoir it’s because you have learned to navigate through choppy waters; lean into that. Readers enjoy learning about failures and successes, but they also want to understand how that fits into the broader picture of life. So make sure the drama you include aligns with your chosen theme and isn’t simply filler content.
- Character development. In your memoir, you are not only the narrator but the main character. Like any story, readers become invested in the main character’s journey. It’s important that you incorporate relatability in the form of emotions, flaws, and vulnerability when portraying yourself to establish a connection with readers.
No matter your age, start compiling notes as life happens. Now is the time to adopt the mindset that your story is important – someone out there will find value in the path you’re walking. So, let’s get started.
How to get started?
Let’s face it— writing anything is a feat. It takes time, dedication, and a mastery of words. And when it comes to writing a memoir, it can be difficult to capture the key elements and sheer magnitude of a story when you’re the one who’s lived it. While it’s absolutely possible to write your own memoir, many leave the heavy lifting to professional writers. Ghostwriters are trained to take your vision and lived experiences and then mold them into a gripping story.
Get started with our WritersBlok team. We are here and equipped to collaborate with you and ensure your story is shared with your intended audience. Our partnership will be one for the history books. Let us help you tell your story in the compelling and captivating way it deserves to be told.