Memoir Writing from an expert
Today I welcome Doreen McGettigan write a post on Memoir Writing based on her experience of writing two memoirs. I’ve been connected to Doreen for a while now and was privileged to work with her as one of Arlee’s Ambassadors on the Blogging From A to Z April Challenge 2014.
Doreen has written for several Philadelphia area newspapers. She is a freelance journalist, blogger, content writer, ghostwriter and an author. She works part-time as a caregiver for the elderly most of who are in Hospice Care.
Her first book, Bristol boyz Stomp
She lives in Delaware County, Pa. just south of Philadelphia with her husband John. They have 5 grown children (2 more in heaven) and 13 grand children (their own little cult).
Their lives are not boring. 🙂
Connect with Doreen on her website and Twitter.
Memoir Writing
Some in the publishing business would have us believe that memoir is completely unsaleable and unless, you are famous with a global platform your book has no chance of making it into print and even less of a chance of making it onto a bookstore shelf.
I can tell you first hand that is flat out not true. If memoirs don’t sell, how do publishers explain the success of Elizabeth Gilbert‘s Eat, Pray, Love; or Jane Hawkings’ The Theory of Everything; Cheryl Strayed’s Wild and most recently. the record breaking book sales and film opening for Chris Kyle‘s, American Sniper? These are just a few examples of recent memoirs that not only sold well but were made into major motion pictures that also sold well.
The truth is a well written memoir does sell.
A memoir is based on a memory, something that happened and that ‘something’ has changed your life for the good or the bad. A memoir is completely different than an autobiography or a biography which are the stories of an entire lifetime.
Where do you start?
My favorite question is, “What is the difference between a pile of rocks and a pyramid?” The answer of course is a plan.
With a memoir the best place to start is not at the beginning. If I were walking down the street and came upon your house just as your life changing event was happening and I looked in your front window, what would I see? That is a good place to start.
An outline is a good way to plan your memoir. Start with the synopsis (think of the text on the back cover of the book.) One page that tells the reader who, what, when, where and why as well as the beginning, middle and end of your book. Then add a page for each chapter. When you are ready to start writing you can work on whichever chapter you would like.
How to go about it?
Writing a memoir as revenge is a bad idea. Readers of memoir want to learn something from you. They want to feel good and inspired when they finish reading.
That doesn’t mean you should write without feeling. You definitely want to write using all five senses.
You want to pay particular attention to the main event, the arc of your story. A memoir should read like a novel. Focus on the people in your memoir. They are real people but they should be written with depth.
Your memoir is your story based on your memory and you own everything that happened to you so tell your truth.Click To TweetDo not waste time worrying about hurting someone’s feelings. Your memoir is your story based on your memory and you own everything that happened to you so tell your truth. You will never get everyone to love what you write.
Ask yourself if you want to be a writer or do you just want to share your story. If you are not interested in a writing career, perhaps you should consider a ghost writer. It is your story but publishing is a business that is about readers so your book has to be saleable.
Attending workshops, conferences, taking classes and joining writing and critique groups are a great way to gain knowledge and to find encouragement and support from other writers.
They say everyone has a story, are you brave enough to tell yours?
Another week and another round of #WritingWednesdays. We look forward to you telling us about topics you’d like covered here.
This week we have a prompt :
Do you think you’ll ever attempt to write a memoir?
It’s totally up to you whether you want to respond to the prompt or not. We invite you to add links to your posts from this week. The linky will be open until next Tuesday.
Please do the right thing – comment on the posts of others and share the love (use the hashtag #writingwednesdays). Thank you.
I always thought they were similar to writing biography. Loved how different aspects of memoir writing is explained here. I don’t think I will ever have the patience to write a full fledged memoir. But I guess mine would be like a drama with episodes. But the problem will be to find something interesting to write about 🙂 or probably I will just dramatize the ordinary 😛
This is inspiring, I would like to write a memoir too one day. But like Sunita said, it is impossible to write one without upsetting anyone, this very thought keeps haunting me. But I hope I do write one later on. Thanks for sharing this post!
I absolutely loved all the pointers here about writing a memoir… It made a lot of sense where Doreen tells us about how and where to begin. And also the difference between a biography, autobiography and memoir.
Probably after fiction, memoirs is my favourite reading material.
Thank you for this great write up Corinne.
I don’t know if I will write a memoir. Maybe in a way, I’m writing it already in my blog. We all are, no? If I do write one, who is going to read i? That’s the question on my mind 🙂
Your post, Corinne, based on Doreen McGettigan’s post helped me to dispell doubts and earn clarity on what a memoir is. I was under the impression that it was a kind of biography. Thanks a lot for that. After having said that, it’s also very tricky, you’ve to be truthful utterly, use your all senses, at the same time give something to your readers to learn, without displeasing those who gave you that life-changing memory. I don’t know I should venture that now, perhaps later. Yeah, time is a factor; but I take it as it comes. For the time being, I started my first novel. I agree with the post, you have to know the business of writing if you think of being a writer for which joining a writing and a critique group is a must.
just started my
I have started a memoir many times now but always get stuck with how much to tell. It’s hard to be honest without hurting people or even upsetting them. My truth is not their truth and normally memoirs are events that are affected or rather effected by those close to you.
Writing a memoir is something that has been on my mind ever since I got positive feedback on my blog posts that dealt with my life. I wish to write my mom’s story but memory often fails me. Doreen makes a very encouraging point that memoirs do sell. Will check her memoirs too. I think reading memoirs is also a good exercise for those who wish to write a memoir.
I have realised that I write short memoirs like blog posts better than fiction… I connect to the readers better when I have really felt what I have written… I think I will write a full fledged memoir one day….
I agree with you, Pratikshya. As much as I enjoy reading fiction, when it comes to blog posts I prefer ‘real’ stories.
I have attempted another, do let me know what you think.. 🙂
I would like to write a memoir someday about the changes in me with life’s journey. Another one would be how I raised a reader (in case he grows up to be) amidst a pool of people who have nothing to do with books. I am being ambitious and have been reading up on memoir writing. The points in this post have been quite helpful especially the one which says ‘do not start from the beginning’.
I look forward to read your memoir someday, Anamika. Don’t wait too long though, I’m past 50 now! 😉
Glad you found Doreen’s post useful.