How to Write Memoirs

Writing an autobiography can be therapeutic, enjoyable and life-enhancing. But like most things in life there are right and ‘less right’ ways of going about it. If you want to know how to write an autobiography, then the sooner you discus your writing project with a book editor the better. They know that life story writing can present major headaches for new writers and can help you assemble and structure your experiences before you set out on the memoir writing road.

Your autobiography may be intended just for you and your friends and relatives, or you may be harbouring thoughts of exciting the world with your exciting tales of characters met and adventures pursued. Either way, time spent planning your autobiography will not be wasted. You will discover that it’s not necessary or even wise to relate your story in strict chronological order. Why? Because few people’s lives progress excitingly from one act to the next without excruciatingly boring periods intervening. As a writer you don’t have to bend the truth or mislead, but there’s nothing to stop you relating your incidents in an order that will enable you to tease your readers and arouse their curiosity. Even if your readers are all close to you, surely it’s still a good idea to keep them amused.

Some people’s memoirs seem to come alive more easily than others, and this is often because the writer has been concerned with getting his reader to say, ‘Ah, yes . . . I know what this means. I’ve felt the same myself so often.’ If you simply trot out what you did, with whom, when . . . behind the bike sheds, then you are not caring enough about your readers. Remember, like children, adults are primarily interested in their own path through life rather than the routes others take, and only if you can bring enlightenment and understanding that will enrich others as you spin out your life story will you hit gold. It can be done, but strangely enough, you have to take the ‘I’ out of your autobiography and concentrate more on how others are affected – for the education of all.

Publishing memoirs is nowadays possible for many because the cost of self-publishing has tumbled. Of course, real publishers – the ones who pay you, rather than the reverse – may be interested in seeing your work, but unless you are a brain-dead celebrity with enormous ‘front’ or an overpaid and over-sexed sportsperson who burns the candle at both ends, and the middle, the likelihood is that you will end up investing in publishing an autobiography as well as writing one.

Editing memoirs and autobiographies is a specialised task and these book editing services can help you submit work to publishers and literary agents. That’s the first step. And if you subsequently decide to self publish your memoirs, then we can ensure you don’t fall into the grasping hands of the vanity publishers: the people and organisations who offer publishing packages that promise the earth and deliver little. There are a few genuine outfits who can help you bring out a professional book at a reasonable cost, but you need guidance in selecting one unless you are happy to see your wallet emptied.

But the first step in writing an autobiography is to talk to an editorial assistant who know what works and what doesn’t. They can help you focus on your objectives, before a word is written, and explain how to lay out your work so that, when the time is right, you will have a word-processed file that can be readily turned into a book without major expense.

Many people talk about writing their memoirs, and those who tackle the job professionally will be surprised at how easily it can be done – with editing support – once you are shown how.

The first step, of course, is to talk to a book editor. Once contact has been made, and this will be without obligation or charge, you will be able to discuss precisely what you wish to achieve with someone who knows how writing your autobiography can be accomplished successfully.

If you would like access to an eBook reference gem on how to write a book then look no further than this Amazon Kindle formatted guide to writing.