Tell us what happened, give us the details. A memoir is narrative non-fiction, a true story written like a novel. Show us what happened with quoted dialogue, action, and sensory description.
We want to know what things look like, how they smell, how they feel to the touch. Avoid self-pity, exaggeration or aggrandizement.įor more on the nuances of writing in first person, look at this post that asks, How many POVs in an “I” narrative? That’s life, right? Even if there’s no Hollywood happy ending, readers will appreciate a realistic, credible story into which they can easily project themselves. Whether you’re a star or still on the way out of some struggle, readers will engage in your memoir if the narrative voice is frank about your weaknesses and strengths, successes and failures. Tell your story as a first person “I” narrator. Not every reader will have had the same experience you write about, but most will still be able to identify with a struggle against adversity in any passionate endeavor, whether it’s forging a long-desired meaningful relationship, starting a small business, becoming a devoted teacher, realizing that a path you’ve taken is a dead end and finding a new one that’s ultimately fulfilling.įor more on identifying the thematic focus of your story, take a look at this earlier post about writing a memoir.
Whats a memoir professional#
Some examples: an immigration story, coming of age, overcoming illness, escaping an oppressive family, finding love, struggling for professional success. These 9 tips come directly from my 50+ years of working with authors as a developmental editor in major publishing houses and with private clients.Įvery successful memoir needs a strong thematic focus on a transformative journey. Want to write a memoir that’s powerful and inspiring? One that has impact, and appeals to a broad popular market?
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