Basic Essentials of Memoir Writing
Getting your Life into Print Is Easier than you May Think
Sep 7, 2008
Congratulations on wanting to pen your memoirs. Think of this as a work of love and a wonderful gift that your family will cherish always.
William Zinsser, author of On Writing Well, once said, “The best gift you have to offer when you write personal history is the gift of yourself. Don’t forget that it’s there and that it has great power. Give yourself permission to write about yourself, and have a good time doing it.”
Autobiography or Memoir?
Many people assume they have to sit down and “let it all hang out,” and for most this seems daunting and potentially embarrassing. It isn’t a good idea either. You want to leave loved ones with the truth, but not necessarily the whole truth and nothing but the truth. As Zinsser puts it, “Memoir is the art of inventing the truth.”
An autobiography spans an entire life, from the very start. Not many people have lives that warrant this much telling. Memoir, on the other hand, has focus. With memoir you can just tell as little as a segment, or even a moment, of your life’s story.
For many people, using a journal format may be the perfect style for their memoir. Journals can be very precise, or they can wander, but they usually accurately record one's thoughts, feelings, impressions, etc. Don’t leave your family your journals, however. Often those musings are really of little interest to anyone but the author.
Who Is Your Audience?
Once you clearly define who your audience is, the remaining decisions are easy.
- Are you writing for family only?
- Are you writing for family and friends?
- Are you writing for a niche market?
- Are you writing for the mass market?
This particular article will assume that you are writing for family/friends only. Another article will address the needs for publishing in the niche market and the mass market.
Why You Need an Editor
Once your manuscript is complete, you will need an editor. This should not be a friend or relative who’s volunteered to proofread your work. Proofreading is only part of an editor’s job.
People go to a lot of trouble to write and organize their book, but they are reluctant to go the extra bit to ensure that their work is truly topnotch. This is a once-in-a-lifetime activity. Do it right so the book is truly something to be proud of.
An editor not only proofreads, but will catch many other errors, such as verb tense, word choice, split infinitives, dangling modifiers, active versus passive voice, point of view, etc.
Editors cost money, so only submit your work to a professional after you, and your proofreading friend, have poured over your manuscript carefully.
Cover Design
Another item to keep in mind as you write is your cover design. It is recommended, but certainly not required, that you have your cover professionally designed. Sometimes a nice photo is adequate; most of the time it’s not. There are lots of cover designers who work for a reasonable fee, and some print on demand sites offer free covers.
Printing Choices
You have many choices here, from local print shops, to online printing (such as lulu) to hiring the services of a vanity press. You can also print your book using your own computer! Shop and compare prices. Most importantly, study book samples.
What to Write
This, of course, is the sixty-four thousand dollar question and is addressed in Basic Essentials of Memoir Writing:What to Write About
