What's a memoir and how is it different from an autobiography? The first difference has to do with the length.
While a bio will tell the tale from conception to death (or the current point in that person's life), a memoir is much more focused on a certain "point" of a person's life.
Memoirs are far less structured and less encompassing than formal autobiographic literary works.
Due to their relative ease of writing - as far as research and chronological structure is concerned - millions of people write memoirs every year, either about themselves or someone else.
There's still nothing "easy" about writing a memoir, and many people seek out tips on writing a memoir every day.
Writing is sometimes considered a born-with talent, but that's simply not the case.
Ordinance and a sense of the job at hand can help anyone become a memoir writer.
Tips on Writing a Memoir The first in the series of tips on writing a memoir has to do with your mindset.
You've probably heard it before, but it shouldn't be undersold.
No matter what, you need to stay completely focused.
This focus shouldn't involve any sort of deadline, however, as that can lead to frustration, writer's block, and a host of other problems.
Instead, close yourself off when writing and stay focused on your task.
The next tip has to do with the memoir's structure.
Although the finished product is going to be in chronological order, never write it that way.
You should brainstorm on the most memorable aspects of the person's life and the ones you can readily write about.
By doing this, you're basically etching out "talking points" which can easily be filled in later.
This makes quick work of a point in time in a person's life, whereas following from birth could drag you down.
Another one of the great tips on writing a memoir has to do with the relationship you have with this person.
If you know the person (or if it's you you're writing about) don't feel as if it has to be glamorous.
A memoir should be truthful and unbiased.
This is perhaps the best of all tips on writing a memoir, simply due to the writer's responsibility to paint the correct picture - not the best looking one.
You should write an outline or a rough draft.
Too often people think that dressing it up on the first go 'round will make quick work of the memoir.
They ignore this and other tips on writing a memoir, and proceed to flesh out edited, grammatically correct, and fluffy copy on their first setting.
It's always best to draft before you craft.
The last in the tips to writing a memoir has to do with time.
You should never cram.
In fact, it's best to take a page per day approach.
Write a finished page per day after you have it drafted and formatted.
This will keep you from becoming burned out and keep ideas fresh.
While a bio will tell the tale from conception to death (or the current point in that person's life), a memoir is much more focused on a certain "point" of a person's life.
Memoirs are far less structured and less encompassing than formal autobiographic literary works.
Due to their relative ease of writing - as far as research and chronological structure is concerned - millions of people write memoirs every year, either about themselves or someone else.
There's still nothing "easy" about writing a memoir, and many people seek out tips on writing a memoir every day.
Writing is sometimes considered a born-with talent, but that's simply not the case.
Ordinance and a sense of the job at hand can help anyone become a memoir writer.
Tips on Writing a Memoir The first in the series of tips on writing a memoir has to do with your mindset.
You've probably heard it before, but it shouldn't be undersold.
No matter what, you need to stay completely focused.
This focus shouldn't involve any sort of deadline, however, as that can lead to frustration, writer's block, and a host of other problems.
Instead, close yourself off when writing and stay focused on your task.
The next tip has to do with the memoir's structure.
Although the finished product is going to be in chronological order, never write it that way.
You should brainstorm on the most memorable aspects of the person's life and the ones you can readily write about.
By doing this, you're basically etching out "talking points" which can easily be filled in later.
This makes quick work of a point in time in a person's life, whereas following from birth could drag you down.
Another one of the great tips on writing a memoir has to do with the relationship you have with this person.
If you know the person (or if it's you you're writing about) don't feel as if it has to be glamorous.
A memoir should be truthful and unbiased.
This is perhaps the best of all tips on writing a memoir, simply due to the writer's responsibility to paint the correct picture - not the best looking one.
You should write an outline or a rough draft.
Too often people think that dressing it up on the first go 'round will make quick work of the memoir.
They ignore this and other tips on writing a memoir, and proceed to flesh out edited, grammatically correct, and fluffy copy on their first setting.
It's always best to draft before you craft.
The last in the tips to writing a memoir has to do with time.
You should never cram.
In fact, it's best to take a page per day approach.
Write a finished page per day after you have it drafted and formatted.
This will keep you from becoming burned out and keep ideas fresh.
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