Friday 28 June 2013

Useful Information On How To Write A Memoir

By Lana Bray


A memoir is a narrative about the personal experience of an individual. One can write about a specific event or aspect of life, a particular period of life or the impact of an external event. Most people who offer advice on how to write a memoir emphasize on dividing it into smaller manageable steps and tackling each step at a time. The entire process is very demanding and requires a lot of time. It provides the writer with a therapeutic way of dealing with his or her unpleasant memories.

There is a very big difference between a memoir and an autobiography. An autobiography covers the entire life span of the writer and focuses mainly on the development of personality. They are based on history and require research to establish correct facts and dates. Memoirs contain an account of a certain period in the life of a writer.

Traditionally, memoirs were mainly written by the prominent members of a given society. These include court people, military leaders, politicians and businessmen. The main objective was to show their successful careers instead of their personal lives. Modern forms of memoirs are usually presented from the perspective of the first person. Anyone can write narrative detailing selected events in their lives.

Publishable memoirs are usually selected and are crafted around selected personal recollections. The events included have to be arranged in a given order and presented in continuous prose. To have an edge over other writers it is important to use creativity in the writing process. It is based on real life activities and fiction is used to elicit emotional response and attract the attention of many readers.

Writing a this story is a daunting task. Proper planning increases the motivation of an individual since it creates a rough picture of the desired outcome. There are many reasons why people write memoirs including sharing wisdom, leaving a legacy for future generations or for therapeutic reasons. It is important to understand the specific reason and purpose for the project.

It is important to determine the specific time period to write about. This can be achieved by using a timeline to bookend the beginning as well as the end of the story. The timelines can encompass childhood years, an overseas adventure, time spent with loved ones, spiritual journey or the time spent in pursuant of a certain goal. Once the time period has been selected, a timeline indicating the major events can now be drawn.

There are certain events that are significant our lives. These events are usually a turning point in our lives. These are the events to be included in the memoir being written. Based on the lessons learnt and the impact caused, they determine the theme of the story being written. The theme selected must have an impact on the reader to make them more attractive.

Most people give up in the course of the writing process. This situation can be avoided by finding a coach to offer guidance on how to write a memoir. A coach can be found by hiring a ghost writer, writing consultant or enrolling for a class to get more insight about this task. A writing coach provides encouragement and motivation to complete the task. When stuck or resistant, they offer solutions during these difficult times.




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