When I teach memoir writing, my main focus is always about what truth means for the writer’s story.
Writing Tip for Today: Let’s discuss ways to write a truthful yet engaging memoir.
Read and Write
If you’re writing a memoir, you must know the difference between autobiography and memoir. An autobiography is similar to memoir, but also different. Autobiographies usually go in chronological order, mapping out meaningful moments in the writer’s life.
In contrast, a memoir might be chronological, or it may jump around in time. A memoir also tells a particular story whereas an autobiography often simply records events. Sometimes both can read like a fictional story, but autobiographies tend not to follow fictional rules as much as memoirs.
Reading books on how to write a memoir can be helpful. I recommend Mary Karr’s The Art of Memoir for solid teaching on the genre. In addition, memoirists should read a lot of actual published memoirs. Many have been bestsellers, such as Karr’s The Liar’s Club, Jeannette Wall’s The Glass Castle or contemporary memoirs such as I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennifer McCurdy or Uncool by Cameron Crowe.
“Strive to do the kind of writing that sneaks up on you and tells the truth before you’ve had time to tidy it up.” – Abigail Thomas
Universal v. Reality
“What is truth?” In memoir, this question is paramount. I’ve had students who insisted on recreating actual dialogue (it’s very difficult to remember exact words) or students who obviously embellished the true story.
In a memoir, it’s important to hit a sweet middle spot. Readers will be confused if a memoir contains too many similar characters or events, such as multiple parents, stepparents or grandparents. In that case, combining characters to differentiate makes sense. It’s not as accurate, but the truth of the entire story isn’t harmed or exaggerated.
Yet if a memoirist claims to have attended or been at a well-known event (such as Woodstock music festival of the 60s or the September 11th attacks) and the writer was never there, that assault on truth will harm the reader’s sympathy and possibly get a published memoir recalled, as in A Million Little Pieces by James Frey.
Memoir’s Story Arc
Best practices for memoirists include beginning with a story in mind, not simply a list of life phases or events. Decide before you write what the story will be. Choose the time periods for that story. Write scenes (including dynamic dialogue) for each of the developments toward the goal, just as in novel writing. And show the reader the ways in which you as a character met and overcame obstacles, changing and growing in the process. Tell the truth as you see it but without self-aggrandizing or wild exaggeration. And as my friend and fabulous writer Abigail Thomas has said, “Strive to do the kind of writing that sneaks up on you and tells the truth before you’ve had time to tidy it up.” Solid advice indeed.
