Writing your Memoir or Autobiography

A memoir is about one or more aspects of your life, whereas an autobiography is about your whole life. Decide which you want to write.

Memoir. Choose a theme. What is a common thread throughout your life that you can write about? It could be travels from childhood to adulthood. For instance, I love trains, so I would like to write about my train journeys, and couple that with thoughts about my life and what occurred during that time. Also, the adventures I had on those journeys. It could start with holidays, then going to army training by rail. Guess where I went on KiwiRail in New Zealand?

It can also be a short time/moment that influenced your life. Perhaps, about a battle with a serious illness. I had cancer, and beat it. How? That story could be my memoir, or a part of my autobiography.

Autobiography.  Where to start? From childhood, or a reverie about happenings that are linked, and people who influenced each occurrence.

The nuts and bolts in writing your memoir/autobiography

1. Make a list of several life experiences.
2. Choose one (the theme) and expand from there.
3. List important details.
4. You could diagram your life, such as I did for my cancer war.
5. Write an outline.
6. Keep in mind the what, where, why, how, and who of the event/s.
7. Contact relevant people in the story. Get their perspective.
8. Write an opening sentence that hooks the reader.
9. Write the conclusion with clarity. Don’t leave any loose ends.
10. Link the pieces.
11. Get beta readers to preview your first draft, and the second, and so on.
12. Get an editor.
13. Publish it.

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