What is a Memoir?
What This Autobiographical Genre of Literature is All About
Apr 9, 2008 Dulcinea Norton-Smith
It is often said that along with the 15 minutes of fame we all have to look forward to we also all have a book in us. In essence that is true as every single one of us, no matter how boring we feel our life is, have an autobiography in us. The age of the autobiography has left us for the moment however to make room for a more aspirational book. The memoir.
What is a Memoir?
Memoir comes from the Latin word "memoria" meaning memory. A memoir is an evolution of the autobiography. An autobiography is a story written by yourself about your life. Your life story so far. A memoir, in the style which the publishing market are flooded with at the moment, tends to deal with a more specific period or theme in your life.
Despite their seemingly new modern popularity the memoir has been around for as long as man has felt the need to write about himself.Although true memoirs will sometimes seem fictional due to their emotionally charged story like quality. Despite what common reading trends lead us to believe a memoir does not need to be a blockbuster written for the whole world to read. A memoir is written for your own reasons and for whatever result you want.
What Sort of Events are in a Memoir?
Anything and everything can be in a memoir and they can be in any emotional range however the most saleable style in 2007 and 2008 so far has been the inspirational memoir and the Mis Lit (Misery Literature) memoir, with memoirs of war survivors and adults who were abused as a child flying off the shelves.
Why Write a Memoir?
Some reasons to write a memoir are:
- You feel you have an important story to tell. Maybe you are the sole survivor of a disaster or have been treated badly by a big company. Maybe you have been misrepresented in the press or worked for a famous recluse. Whatever the story if you feel that a particular part of your life is an interesting story then write it in a memoir.
- For future generations. Maybe you are struggling through a divorce and want your children to understand in their adulthood what had happened. Maybe you want your grandchildren to know you better. Maybe you have emigrated and you want future generations to know what their heritage is. A memoir can be like a piece of you reaching out to your descendants long after you have gone.
- To document your success. Your rags to riches struggle. Your journey from crackpot inventor to innovative millionaire. Your struggles as a freelance writer leading eventually to that one best seller. Both inspirational and interesting everyone likes to read how people triumph in the face of adversity.
- To document how you handle an illness. Whether you have an illness which will reduce your mobility, sight or attention span or have been diagnosed with a degenerative disease a memoir can be a good way to document your illness and treatment for others in a similar situation to read or to help their relatives understand how they may be feeling.
- As therapy. Writing or talking about your feelings and past events can be an excellent way to work through them in your head and find some peace or resolution.
- To remember. Writing a memoir can help to unlock memories you had forgotten you had and as a result can help you to understand yourself better
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