Education How To Write Memoirs That Others Will Want To Read

You do not need to be famous or have led a life of adventure and mystery to write memoirs that will be of interest to others. Even if you consider your life to have been average, you may have fascinating stories to tell. Your perspective on historic events is unique and worth telling. To help you relate your tale, here are some tips on how to write memoirs that others will want to read. Writing your story can be intimidating if you look at the project in its entirety. It may be helpful to first write down individual incidents that are the most memorable to you. Do not worry about producing one long chronological work. Instead, write separate pieces that describe one event or series of events. Later, you can place them in the desired order. Some people find it easier to talk about the past rather than try to write it. You can use a small tape recorder to create your memoirs. Just talk into it as if you were telling the story to a friend or relative. Use the tapes to jog your memory when you are ready to transcribe them. Remember to edit yourself as you go, not for proper spelling and punctuation but for content. Certain incidents could be embarrassing or hurtful to other family members. For example, if your son is a professional football player, relating an anecdote about his favorite doll as a baby could embarrass him. Your happily married daughter might prefer her husband not learn about an overwhelming infatuation she had in high school. If in doubt, talk to family members about specific incidents they would rather keep private. Keep in mind that you are telling the story from your point of view. Anyone can find transcripts of the fireside chats President Roosevelt made during World War II, for instance. What will make your memoirs interesting is how they affected you or your family. Perhaps there was a ritual involved, such as everyone sitting down with a cup of hot chocolate to listen. Or perhaps you had friends or relatives serving in Vietnam. Write about how you reacted to their deployment and the letters you exchanged. Or you can write about your reaction to the moon landing or the space shuttle disasters. What is important is not the historical detail, but your personal impression of the event. Even everyday events can be of interest to readers of your memoirs. Did you buy a paper dress when they were popular, and how did it work out? What was it like to use a microwave for the first time? How did it feel to hold your newborn for the first time? What was your first car like, or your first apartment? The most important advice on how to write memoirs is to be yourself. Readers want to know about you, your experiences, and your reactions. They can read a history book if they want the details on exactly what happened and why. You, however, are their only source for how the events impacted your life.

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