Friday, June 21, 2013

Useful Information On How To Write A Memoir

By Lana Bray


A memoir is a narrative about the personal experience of an individual. One can write about a specific event or aspect of life, a particular period of life or the impact of an external event. Most people who offer advice on how to write a memoir emphasize on dividing it into smaller manageable steps and tackling each step at a time. The entire process is very demanding and requires a lot of time. It provides the writer with a therapeutic way of dealing with his or her unpleasant memories.

There is a very big difference between a memoir and an autobiography. An autobiography covers the entire life span of the writer and focuses mainly on the development of personality. They are based on history and require research to establish correct facts and dates. Memoirs contain an account of a certain period in the life of a writer.

Traditionally, memoirs were mainly written by famous people in the society. Some common writers are businessmen, politicians, military leaders and court people. The main subject is the career and not the private life of the prominent individuals. Recent forms are written from the perspective of the persona. It can be written by anyone to share certain life experiences.

A publishable memoir is a selective and crafted rendering of specific personal recollections. The events must be ordered logically in structured pose. There are many people who have had similar experiences. Therefore, the account has to be presented in manner that attracts readers. Memoirs are based on actual events but fiction helps to catch the attention of the reader and elicit emotional response.

There are many challenges presented by the process of writing memoirs. With careful planning this process is made much easier and greater motivation is achieved to fulfill the set goals. Having a clear picture in the mind regarding the desired outcome prepares you on what to expect. Different people write memoirs for different reasons. This may be for the purposes of sharing wisdom, therapeutic reasons or inspiring future generations.

Before writing begins, defining the period to write about is very crucial. Most writers use timelines to bookend their story. Timelines may cover childhood years, spiritual journey, a life with special people in ones life or the time spent working towards a given goal as well as the achievement. The time period is determined and the a timeline of all the major events created.

The major events that take place in the life of an individual are usually accompanied by emotional turning points. A theme for the story is usually identified based on the major events and the emotional response they generate. A theme helps to transform the memoir from a collection of several events to a compelling story that is worth reading.

Most people give up in the course of the writing process. This situation can be avoided by finding a coach to offer guidance on how to write a memoir. A coach can be found by hiring a ghost writer, writing consultant or enrolling for a class to get more insight about this task. A writing coach provides encouragement and motivation to complete the task. When stuck or resistant, they offer solutions during these difficult times.




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