What happens when a fiction writer wants to become a memoir writer? They start filling pages and writing chapters with scenes from their own lives.
There might be many of you who are curious about writing a story about your own life but are unaware to do so. We have collected some of the advice from the experts to write a memoir. Let’s dig in to see the steps that one needs to follow if writing a memoir.
Step-by-step guide to writing a memoir
Choose your theme
One thing found when interviewing memoir writers is that they usually get stuck when they start writing memoirs. They intend to share their stories but have unclear visions. They have a lot to tell the audience but are moving in different directions. This confuses the reader, leading to a worse or unfinished book.
Experts have advised that writers should first take time to plan the theme. A well-crafted memoir is powerful, has a unifying theme, and is engaging. When you have a theme for your memoir, it will give you direction to choose the most appropriate story. You can also share unique and exciting stories. Some memoirs are powerful as they relate to other ordinary people.
List down all story elements
Before you begin with your memoir, make a list of all ideas and identify the ones that are strong and resonate with the theme of your book. Opt for those ideas that serve well as the primary goal of a memoir.
Experts have narrated that new writers should use bullets, brainstorming, or graphic techniques to list all the ideas. This will make it easy for them to easily visualize and arrange the components in a most effective sequence that can help kickstart the writing process.
Preplan an opening
When you have listed all the ideas, it’s time to begin with the main task. You should start planning an opening. If you want someone to guide you with ideas for the opening, look for memoir ghostwriting services near you. Remember! The memoir’s opening is important as this will set the tone of the story and help hook the readers. Now, this is totally in your hands, the way you create a first impression and convince the readers to keep on reading.
The professionals have set some rules that can help writers in achieving the target:
- Set a scene: Writers can choose a captivating moment, scene, or event that can draw the readers’ attention.
- Hook your readers from the first word: The first line of the story should be attention-grabbing and leave the readers waiting for the unfolding of the story.
- Build emotions: Opt for descriptions, details, and authentic emotions that can help in creating an experience that aligns with your readers.
- Begin dramatically: You can catch the readers from the start. This will further help you set the tone for the story so that you can follow it throughout.
- Take your readers in custody: When you are writing, make sure that the words you choose feel like the readers themselves are on the journey with you.
Create an outline
When you write, thousands of words might be revolving in your mind. You can make the process by writing the first draft. But how to write the first draft?
Here all the tips collected by experts state that:
- Write in small chunks: Writers should break down their writing sections into smaller and achievable goals. Set goals of writing a minimum and maximum word limit daily. When work is divided into small pieces, it becomes more manageable.
- Set a writing schedule: When you have to balance your daily work and writing together, it will take time to complete the book. Therefore, scheduling sessions to write that can align with the existing responsibilities helps stay on track and complete the memoir.
- Write whatever pops into your mind: It is the initial phase, so avoid putting pressure on yourself. Keep on writing without worrying about the mistakes and structure. It’s okay if things seem messy and disjointed. The main task is to put the ideas into the paper. You will get time to refine it in the future.
Begin writing the story
When you have organized everything, begin with the writing process. The introduction of your memoir might be easy at first. Stay confident when you are writing the story. Keep the messages crystal clear in your head and convey what you want to without any confusion.
Experts have made the writing process easy. The memoir doesn’t need to begin with the first chapter. As you are writing your first draft, you can begin with the middle, where you will discuss the life-changing moments. The outline will help you in staying on track, so don’t be afraid of taking risks. This is the time when you can dive deep into the story and make it as compelling as possible.
Give it a read and edit
When you have completed the first draft, it’s time to read and edit the draft. Make sure you look into minor mistakes and see that they tell the story in the way that you wish.
Professionals have restricted writers from editing drafts just after they had completed them. They should be kept aside for a few weeks. Take a break and enjoy the phase. This break will help you relax and can come back with a fresh pair of eyes. Put yourself in the shoes of the reader and try to find answers to these questions:
- Are all the ideas captivating and enjoyable?
- Is the message that needs to be delivered to the reader clear?
- Is the story in a logical flow?
Make sure that what you write reflects your unique personality and voice throughout the story.
Make others read
When you make others read your material before bringing the copy to the market will benefit you. Writers are limited to critically viewing their work, especially memoirs. It is the story of your life, so it’s impossible for you to read it from an outside viewpoint.
Experts advise that writers should hand over the memoir to a third person after reviewing it on their own. Ask the person to give feedback on spelling, grammar, and overall development. It is better to give it to someone who has editing skills.
FAQs
Q. What is the format of a memoir?
There is no fixed format for writing a memoir. You can either present the events in the exact order in which they occurred. Or you can begin with the middle or the end of the story for variety.
Q. What three things must be found in a memoir?
A memoir should include the struggle of the main character, the point of success, and the things they were shocked at. All these elements will make the story stand out.
Q. Is the writer of the memoir someone exceptional?
A memoir can be written by anyone. It can be the author himself who is writing his life scenes or a close family member or friend who knows the main character of the story well.
Q. Does a memoir have a theme?
A memoir must follow a theme. This will make the story align, and the writer will know what to write.
Now, get out of the shell and write!
When you are writing a memoir for the first time, it might be a daunting task. But you should keep in mind that anyone can learn the process of writing a memoir. Trust the values of your experiences. It is not about the stories you tell but how you tell them. Most importantly, don’t give up!
Following these guidelines while writing a memoir, you will certainly grab your audience’s attention and leave them waiting anxiously for the next volume.