The Memoirs Publishing Blog

You’ve decided to write a memoir and chosen your subject matter, so now it’s time to put your pen to paper and start bringing your story to life.

‘What is written without effort is in general read without pleasure.’

Samuel Johnson, Johnsonian Miscellanies – Vol II

At first, writing your memoir may seem like a formidable, daunting and overwhelming project. The key to overcoming this, like with any large project, is to break down what can seem like an overwhelming task, into smaller manageable steps. Set yourself achievable and realistic goals that allow room for your other commitments, and take one day at a time. Be disciplined and stick to the regular times you have set aside for writing. With each small step you take, you will get that much closer to completion, and you will find this way of working will support, guide and motivate you throughout the writing process.

‘One of the most challenging aspects of writing a memoir is finding your own voice.’

Jeannette Walls

If you are new to writing you will need to start building your writing muscle. To do this you will need to exercise it through writing regularly. The more you write, the more exercise it gets and so in turn, the easier writing will come to you. New writers will also need to spend some time finding their voice. Again, once you have spent some time writing, you will naturally find your voice and it will become stronger the more you write. Before you begin to write your memoirs, you may like to sit down and write a few hundred words about something you’ve recently experienced or specific events that you may like to include in your memoir. Doing this a few times will help you exercise your writing muscle and find your voice- it may even give you a starting point for your memoir.

Before you sit down to start writing your memoir, it is good to map out the period of time you are looking to cover and create a timeline noting the events and emotional turning points you would like to include. This will give you a guide to refer to while you are writing.

It can be helpful to have a clear theme in mind before you start writing. This clarity will come across in your writing and the theme will transform your memoir from a collection of events into a compelling story. To discover your theme, ask yourself what your story is about and what lessons you have learned from your experience. Your theme may be love makes the world go round, courage overcomes adversity, dreams can come true or people become the strongest where they have suffered most. You don’t have to have a theme in mind before you start writing and it may only emerge or become apparent when you start writing. At some point however, you will need to choose a theme and ensure your story is organised around this. A good ghostwriter can help you notice the themes in your story, draw out the details that support it and organise your writing accordingly.

When you begin writing, don’t worry about making you first draft perfect, just focus on getting something, anything, down on paper. Many writers will tell you the hardest part of writing is getting started, but if you are able to let go of perfectionism and just start writing, you will easily overcome this obstacle. Don’t forget, you can set aside time for revising and polishing later.

You don’t need to start writing your memoir at the beginning. Start writing wherever you feel most comfortable or drawn to, be that a scene, the last chapter, or a single moment. This approach can allow room for creativity and gives you the freedom to finalise a structure at a later point. On the other hand, you may find that you would prefer to take a methodical approach and start with the first chapter, but are unsure of your opening hook. Wherever you would like to start writing your memoir, remember that you can always add to, revise and structure your story at a later point.

The best writers create vivid new worlds for their readers, yet many memoirists produce first drafts that are flat. So it is important to think about referring to all the senses when you are writing. 
Look at fully re-creating moments and experiences by adding detail with sights, sounds, smells, tastes and feelings. The ability to share candid thoughts in the form of observations, insights and learned lessons will further add to the depth and power of your memoir, and bring your true-life story to life.  For advice on ghostwriting, editing and self-publishing a book or e-book, and to see your story in print, go to Memoirs Publishing.

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