| Memoir writing is autobiographical, but its not an | | | | Challenger, blew up. I went to a high school in |
| autobiography. Like an autobiography, it is true, | | | | Manchester, New Hampshire, and while Christa |
| however, it reads more like a novel. Events are told | | | | McAuliffe didn't teach at my high school, every |
| in such a way that the writing feels like a fictional | | | | person in New Hampshire felt great pride in Christa's |
| work. An autobiography tends to cover a long period | | | | selection as the first teacher in space. I was in |
| of time, whereas a memoir deals more with a | | | | Algebra II class, getting ready for my math teacher |
| specific event or a theme. An example of a theme in | | | | to start the class when the stunning news was |
| memoir writing might be recovering from an eating | | | | broadcasted over the PA system. My math teacher |
| disorder, a battle against a chronic illness, or even | | | | stumbled to her desk. I sat there numb. I had no |
| recovery from drug or alcohol abuse. | | | | feeling in any of my limbs. I felt like a little piece of |
| A memoir's goal is to enrich life; not only the author's, | | | | my heart had been tore away from me. I had no |
| but those reading it. By sharing our life experiences, | | | | idea how to put it back, let alone where to find it. |
| we help others and ourselves. Memoirs also help to | | | | That's memoir writing. |
| preserve people, places, and events of our past. | | | | Consider using first person voice when writing the |
| Things to consider as you sit down to tackle | | | | narrative. It strikes a more personal chord to the |
| pre-writing your memoir is to keep the focus on the | | | | reader than third person. Be descriptive. Draw on the |
| theme. (recovery from drug abuse, for example) If | | | | five senses to stimulate descriptions, then build on |
| something is controversial, you might want to change | | | | them using metaphors. The more you connect with |
| a person's name in the narrative. This is perfectly | | | | the reader using emotional description, the more |
| ethical as long as you add a disclaimer to the work. | | | | they'll find your memoir memorable. |
| Also in your pre-writing, put together an outline of | | | | Once you've got the first draft together, let |
| events that are relevant to the story. Flow charts | | | | someone read it. Consider their feedback. Expect to |
| help to organize your thoughts. Creating a worksheet | | | | edit not only for mechanical issues, (spelling |
| helps to organize events. Questions for the | | | | punctuation/grammar)but for consistency issues as |
| worksheet might include: Has my life turned out like I | | | | well. Use this opportunity to polish your writing. |
| expected? What's my greatest challenge? What are | | | | It helps to read a memoir or two before preparing |
| my goals? My life philosophy? What roles does religion | | | | your own, so you have an idea what to expect |
| play (if any) in my life? What do I want the reader | | | | when you get started. A search on will reveal a lot of |
| to take away with them when they finish reading? | | | | references for memoir writing. Experiment with what |
| What might also help is recalling memories. Look at | | | | works for you. Remember to include fictional |
| old journals, photographs, videos, and newspapers. | | | | elements such as plot, description, dialogue, |
| Some events are so poignant, they linger today. I | | | | characterization, and point-of-view. Tell your life story |
| can still recall where I was and what I was doing | | | | as fictionally as you can. |
| when I got the news that the space shuttle, | | | | |