Writing Tip for the Week – August 6th

Memoir vs. Autobiography

Before you begin writing a memoir, it’s helpful to make sure you understand how this type of book differs from an autobiography.

Typically, a memoir reads more like a novel than an autobiography. While an autobiography often covers a long time period and provides many details, a memoir deals with events related to a specific theme. Examples of topics for memoirs may include recovering from an eating disorder, dealing with an abusive spouse, or what it’s like to live with a chronic illness. (I would add – any transformational experience).

Generally speaking, memoirs tend to be much more popular than autobiographies. Although a memoir is true, the events are told in a way that makes it seem like a fictional work. This makes the story much more interesting to the reader, even if the author is someone they have never heard of before. By Diana Harris