Tips for Improving Memoir Writing
How to Bring Your Story To Life
There is much more to memoir writing then just capturing your (or perhaps someone else’s) personal history. For a memoir to become a story or book that your reader simply can’t put down, it needs to be a good read; you need to bring your story to life.
So how can you improve your writing while also remaining true to the essence of a memoir: that it is real and true?
Framing Your Memoir
A starting point for memoir writing is to decide what you are going to write about. Perhaps it’s your full life (tends to be referred to as an autobiography rather than memoir), a period from your life, a particular event, a theme, or a thread that has run through your life. It’s important to decide your frame before you begin writing, and then stick to these as your boundaries. It will also help you decide what is relevant and what shouldn't be included.
See also Framing and Memoir Writing
Keep It Relevant
It can be tempting to include a scene or event because it was exciting or action filled, but it should remain relevant to your frame. This also helps keep your reader involved in your story; too many loose threads or themes can distract your reader and they can lose interest.
It’s in the Detail
It’s often the small, seemly insignificant details that can really bring a scene to life. It may be something that the reader didn’t know or wasn’t aware of, or it may be something that the reader can relate to, but the attention to detail brings the reader into your world. You are sharing with your reader your view on what you saw or what you felt. It can be very personal and intimate and the reader is gaining more than simply a very general view of an event.
What Your Characters Say
Capturing the real dialogue that has been exchanged can tell a lot about a situation and the people involved. Depending on now recent your memoir is, you may be able to recall some of the conversations that passed between people. The dialogue doesn't need to be an exact transcript of what was said, so long as you and the other person or people involved are satisfied that it is a true reflection.
Dialogue gives the reader an insight into how the people communicated between each other and in everyday life. However it’s important that it is authentic and relevant to your story. Good examples are humorous or sad situations, where the dialogue enhances the emotions portrayed.
See also Characterisation in Memoirs
The Order of Events
Memoirs can be told chronologically, that is in the same order as they occurred, or the author can play around with the order to heighten the impact to the story. Perhaps your personal story begins with someone looking back, recalling various events in their life. Consider how you would like to order your story before you begin. Remember your frame and keep it relevant, and make sure it flows otherwise too much jumping around can confuse your reader.
Other Reading on Memoir Writing
On Memoir, Truth and 'Writing Well', is an article by William Zinsser, author of the classic guide On Writing Well, where he discusses the challenges of writing personal history.
Writing your story should be a challenging yet rewarding experience for the author. Just because you are writing about a real event doesn’t mean that you can’t be creative and make your story more readable. Using some of the tips suggested above can help bring your story to life.
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