How to Write Your Memoir

by ProActive Writer's Group on 03/11/23

There are as many ways to write a memoir as there are people. This is your story. While others may share memories of the event, only you can know how YOU perceived it. Only you can tell it from your perspective. Just write it.

Like any book, there needs to be a message or a lesson. There will be research. Accuracy is important in any book. You will learn more about the main character (yourself) as you write. Your memoir is a personal journey. That journey will be best received if it is written in your voice – straight from the heart. Write as if you were talking to a friend, or musing to yourself.

What you have to say is irrelevant if you don’t write it down. Many people WANT to write their memoirs, but they never start. They get hung up on the idea that they are not writers. Nonsense. If you write; you are a writer. So, write!

In the beginning, don’t worry about your audience. Don’t even think about them until the first two chapters are written. Just write. Formatting, editing and structuring can wait until you know where you are going. You might feel like you are running in circles, and you might be, but that can easily be fixed.

When the first two chapters are written, stop and read them from the perspective of the reader. Don’t worry about the spelling or grammar. What is the overall mood and direction?

The reason this works so well is because it is your voice. This is your style. Embrace it, even if it is different from what you have ever read. There is no right or wrong style. It is yours alone. If the editing is done correctly, your readers will quickly become accustomed to your style, regardless of what it is.

 Okay, so you’ve written the first two chapters. You have read them from the perspective of your readers. What do you think will resonate with your readers most? What is the best part of those two chapters? What do YOU like best?

Don’t panic if you don’t know. If you are confused about your direction, just set it aside and think about it for a few days or a week. Don’t wait a month, though. Haste makes waste, but procrastination often leads to defeat. You can do this if you don’t give up.

Sometimes our perception of things changes when we write it down or think of it from another viewpoint. The fact that your perception has changed doesn’t mean you have to start over. Examine what made you think differently and use it to improve the memoir. You may discover that there is a more important message than your original thought.

 

Satisfied with the overall direction? Now, write it on an index card and keep looking at it as you write the book. It is easy to slide off the trail and get lost on your journey. It happens to the best writers.

 When you have completed your book, read it again. Again, you aren’t looking for spelling and grammatical errors. You are looking for continuity. Does each chapter leave an opening to the next? Is the overall message consistent?

 Editing is a long and tedious process. I read my books at least 6 times before they go to beta readers. Then I read them again several times when I get them back from the beta readers. Each time, I always find something to correct. I think that means that you get caught up in the story and miss things.

 If you are part of a good writing group, reading the first chapter to others not only garners valuable feedback, but helps you get a better feel for your book. Reading your book out loud gives you the advantage of an echo. You notice hiccups in the flow and often think of additional points to address. Reading out loud to someone and anticipating their reaction helps you identify slow areas or areas that need more explanation.

 In conclusion, the most important part of writing your memoir is to start writing. This is your story and don’t be surprised if you discover you didn’t know it as well as you thought you did.