Taking on the challenge of writing a memoir can sometimes seem overwhelming. It is a task that demands a lot of patience and motivation to get through the difficulties that finally lead to the rewarding and worthwhile finished product. People write memoir for different reasons, but whether your aim is to publish or to pass on your story to your children, a few guidelines will help to make the task a more pleasant one.
Although it is often tempting to try and perfect each paragraph as you go along, it important to resist this urge. Stopping to edit can become a time consuming, tiring and frustrating task. The best bet is usually to write continuously without paying too much attention to perfection and to rather leave the editing for a later stage. The sooner all of the ideas are on the page in one form or another, the better.
Memoirs should always be written using the first person. Be sure that if you are discussing historical events that you have all of your facts and details accurate so that your story is credible. When writing about other people, remember to be courteous and fair in your descriptions since they are not made up characters and will likely react to your story if they ever read it.
Be genuine in your writing. Do not try to write in a style that is unlike your usual way of speaking of communicating as this may come across as pretentious or unauthentic. People respond more to real character and personality, so be yourself.
When you write it is also advisable to keep your target market in mind. Think about who you want to read your story. If this is a difficult task for you it may be helpful to imagine a friend or family member who fits the profile of your intended audience and imagine that you are talking to that specific person. This will keep your writing tone consistent and easy to read.
One can also use other methods of collecting your memories, such as video or audio recording. Some find it easier to talk than to write down their memories. Figure out the best way to capture your ideas in a way that can keep up with your thought processes. At times it may seem difficult to remember certain things, but try to trusty that the right memories will emerge at the right time.
One all of the info has been collected and it comes time to edit and delete, remember to keep a focus on emotional, rather than factual experiences. Although certain facts and tangible details will be necessary, the heart of the story is captured in the experience and emotions of what is going on.
Overall, when writing a memoir, just be honest. A good memoir, or any story for that matter, will capture both the good and the bad. No life is so perfect that there is nothing but happiness and success. And even the most severe tragedies occur in the context of other amazing and happy moments in time. It is this combination that is inherent in life that will really capture an audience and enable them to relate in some way to the story.
Although it is often tempting to try and perfect each paragraph as you go along, it important to resist this urge. Stopping to edit can become a time consuming, tiring and frustrating task. The best bet is usually to write continuously without paying too much attention to perfection and to rather leave the editing for a later stage. The sooner all of the ideas are on the page in one form or another, the better.
Memoirs should always be written using the first person. Be sure that if you are discussing historical events that you have all of your facts and details accurate so that your story is credible. When writing about other people, remember to be courteous and fair in your descriptions since they are not made up characters and will likely react to your story if they ever read it.
Be genuine in your writing. Do not try to write in a style that is unlike your usual way of speaking of communicating as this may come across as pretentious or unauthentic. People respond more to real character and personality, so be yourself.
When you write it is also advisable to keep your target market in mind. Think about who you want to read your story. If this is a difficult task for you it may be helpful to imagine a friend or family member who fits the profile of your intended audience and imagine that you are talking to that specific person. This will keep your writing tone consistent and easy to read.
One can also use other methods of collecting your memories, such as video or audio recording. Some find it easier to talk than to write down their memories. Figure out the best way to capture your ideas in a way that can keep up with your thought processes. At times it may seem difficult to remember certain things, but try to trusty that the right memories will emerge at the right time.
One all of the info has been collected and it comes time to edit and delete, remember to keep a focus on emotional, rather than factual experiences. Although certain facts and tangible details will be necessary, the heart of the story is captured in the experience and emotions of what is going on.
Overall, when writing a memoir, just be honest. A good memoir, or any story for that matter, will capture both the good and the bad. No life is so perfect that there is nothing but happiness and success. And even the most severe tragedies occur in the context of other amazing and happy moments in time. It is this combination that is inherent in life that will really capture an audience and enable them to relate in some way to the story.
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