How to Write a Memoir

Many of us wish we could write a memoir. At the very least, many of us would like to write a family history, documenting our thoughts, important events and memories for future generations. We are the keepers of our memories, and sharing them with others is a wonderful gift to the history of society. We, as readers, love a good memoir or family history. The written past of others can answer questions about who we are and how we came to be in this world. We can relate deeply to the stories of other humans, in fact, we often need those stories to find our way in life.

Writing a memoir may seem simple enough, given that the story has actually already occurred. The story is alive in your mind, but the task of putting pen to paper often becomes overwhelming. It is a difficult task to organize our memories and to assign them purpose in a memoir. Our memories are not always accurate and may need to be researched more thoroughly. We, as writers, are also keenly aware that what we write will not please everyone and in fact may upset those we love and care about. Getting started writing your best memoir can be a simpler task with careful planning and by implementing a few writing techniques.

To begin, set aside time to write! Plan how often and how long you will write for each week. It is easy to procrastinate when it seems you have nothing to write about or don't know how to express your thoughts. It is also easy to put off writing in favor of chores or family needs. Allow yourself time to write and explore your memories more deeply.

What is the purpose of your memoir? Establishing purpose will set you in the right direction and provide the foundation of your memoir. Memoirs are written for many reasons. Many seniors write a family history, rather than a fully structured memoir, in order to pass on important memories and events before the past is forgotten forever. Many memoir writers use the process to heal themselves, perhaps by exploring a painful past in order to find peace and resolution. Perhaps you have learned a painful lesson that is important to share with others, or perhaps you have lived an extraordinary life that would be interesting to the reader. The purpose of your memoir will provide you the path to getting started and ultimately provide a goal for the ending.

An important step to writing a coherent memoir is to plan the proper timeline. When will your memoir begin and end? A memoir can be about a short span of childhood, or encompass an entire lifetime. Memories and events should take place in chronological order so that the reader can follow the story easily. Placing your memories in the proper order is difficult. Our memory is cloudy, depending how far back we wish to go in time. Interviewing family and friends will help place events at the correct time and can also help clarify facts such as street names or peoples' names.

It will help your writing process tremendously to list all family members, friends, events, etc., that will be included in the memoir. Making the list will force you to jog your memory and provide a reference for the story as you progress. After the list is completed, sort through any photos, mementos or journals you may have to help bring your story to life. Photos can sharpen any cloudy memories we have and remind of us events we haven't thought of in quite some time that could be pertinent to our memoir. Share your photos and mementos with other family members and use their thoughts to fill in any gaps in the memory.

Lastly, learn to let go of the fear of writing a memoir. Putting one's life out there for the world to see can be frightening for any writer. We open ourselves up to criticism and judgment, and risk hurting those close to us. Know that it is your story alone, and that it is important to have it written. Initially, write your story with a no holes barred approach. Include everything you feel necessary. The time to address family and privacy issues is after your story is completed. During the proofreading stage you may choose to leave out, or re-word, many passages you feel will be too harsh for others to handle. Many writers extend the courtesy of letting those central to the memoir read it in advance and allow their input. Whether you decide to remove anything based on those advance readings is entirely up to you, the owner of the story. If the issue is necessary to the timeline and purpose of the story, touchy passages are best left included.

Memoirs give the reader a personal look into humanity, a glimpse into the reality of life for society. Memoirs educate, entertain and provide us the comfort of knowing we are not alone in life. Writing your best memoir is an extremely satisfying endeavor with many rewards, including the knowledge that your memories are important and will live on through history. Proper planning and organization will guarantee an easier process and ultimately a successfully written memoir.