Memoir focuses on a key aspect, theme or event in a person’s life. As with fiction, it can start anywhere and can move around in time and place. It differs from biography in that it focuses more on emotional truths than factual, historical data. It also feels more personal.

The techniques for writing memoir are very similar to those used in fiction. You need to include character, setting, action and plot to draw the reader in.

So what do readers want?

• A sympathetic main character: the reader should be able to identify/empathise with the main character (you).
• Vividly depicted scenes: Strong scenes have greater impact in the mind of readers
• Emotional tension: An emotionally involved reader will keep reading. Tension hooks the reader in and builds emotional impact
• Rising action: increasing drama/conflict keeps the reader gripped
• A satisfying ending How you choose to wrap up the story should bring a sense of closure.

Tips for writing memoir

Obviously, you can’t write your whole life, so you have to make choices about what to focus on, and what to leave out. You need to decide what themes or subject matter to explore. Before you decide, it can help to look at your life, identifying pivotal moments. Here’s a few tips:

• Plot out your life, identifying big moments and small ones that are important to you
• Don’t begin at the beginning (unless your birth was particularly memorable or crucial to the themes you want to explore)
• What you leave out is as important as what you put in
• Write from the senses

Today’s exercise helps you get started. This is what you do.

Part 1:

• On a side of A4 make a list of the most memorable events of your life. These should be significant moments that had big emotional impact or high drama.
• Make another list of small moments which resonate with you or which you remembe fondly.
• Choose an item from one of your lists and write the scene, engaging the senses and building up the tension.
• Now repeat the exercise with something from your other list.

Part 2:

• Think of an occasion during your lifetime that made the news.
• It could be something you heard about on the news or an event you were actually caught up in.
• Write about what happened from your own perspective at the time.
• Where were you, who were you with, what were you doing when you heard the news?
• How did you feel about the news?

If you enjoyed this exercise you might like to try other memoir exercises included in this blog