Every one of us has a memory that we are fond of. These memories consist of what we call the good old times, and we remember them as if they just happened yesterday. Talk about high-definition at its finest. We tend to go back to these memories if we experience something similar, or if when we feel emotional. While some people reminisce in silence, other people put these memories in writing. We call these written memories, a memoir.
Every one of us has a memory that we are fond of. These memories consist of what we call the good old times, and we remember them as if they just happened yesterday. Talk about high-definition at its finest. We tend to go back to these memories if we experience something similar, or if when we feel emotional. While some people reminisce in silence, other people put these memories in writing. We call these written memories, a memoir.
What Is a Memoir?
Memoir literally means memory. It is originally a French word “mémoire,“ which means memory in English. More than just a word that means memory, a memoir is a document where an individual writes about certain events and moments that took place in both their private and public life. Often, these are experiences and memories that the writer is fond of, or loves to reminisce. A memoir is a nonfiction, or what we call true to life stories. The memories recalled in a memoir are factual or events that actually happened in real life, and not from the writer’s imagination. There are various types of memoir, and the writer can choose whatever type they want to write. The types of memoir are personal memoir, portrait memoir, coming of age memoir, spiritual memoir, a travel memoir, confessional memoir, political memoir, and public or celebrity memoir. Popular memoir books, according to goodreads.com, include Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom, Becoming by Michelle Obama, and The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank.
How to Write a Memoir
What skills do you need to write a memoir? A memoir is considered as a personal essay. So, if you have essay writing skills, then you know that you have it takes to write a memoir. Memoir writing is simple, as long as you know what to do and what to write about.
1. Decide on a Memoir Theme
Unlike a personal essay, you don’t just randomly write what you want in a memoir. What you should write in a memoir must be something that other people can relate to and learn something from. This will be your memoir theme. Deciding on a memoir may seem difficult at first. Think of what you have learned from your experiences and decide if it’s what you want your readers to learn from reading your memoir. The first step is crucial, but once you’ve decided on a theme, everything will seem easy.
2. Make a Memoir Outline
What do you want to include in your memoir? Write them down in an outline so that it will be easy for you to write the details later. Plan your memoir structure and use it to your advantage to make your content more engaging. Your memoir structure does not always have to be in chronological order as long as you transition smoothly from one event to another.
3. Write About What You Want to Read
Writing a memoir is like telling a story or a narrative. Narrative writing or story writing should not be boring. It must be written in a way that captures the interest of readers. You should also do the same when writing a memoir. If you find it hard to think of how to make your memoir interesting, then start with writing something that you want to read. If it is something that you want to read, there’ll be readers like you who would want to read it for sure.
4. Include Related Stories
Don’t limit your memoir only to your own experiences. Although this is the story of your life, you can still include other people’s experiences in it to support or backup your own experiences. Doing so will make your life story more interesting. Each related story that you add to your memoir will feel like a refreshing change of plot for your readers. If done correctly, it will keep your readers looking forward to the next chapters of your story.
10+ Memoir Samples in PDF | DOC
1. Six Word Memoir Sample
2. Memoir Construction Template
3. Contemporary Memoir Sample
4. Memoir Genre Study Template
5. Professional Memoir Sample
6. Sample Memoir Template
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7. Structure of a Memoir Essay in PDF
8. Memoir Sample Outline Sample
9. From Autobiography to Memoir Template
10. The Memoir Problem Sample
11. Memoir Sample in DOC
Why should I write a memoir?
A memoir may be defined as a collection of memories of one’s life, but there is more to it than just a book or a reading material. People write memoirs because they have something important to share. It could be a life lesson, a personal secret, or a secret to their success. Some people also write memoirs because they want a certain memory of a certain person or event to be known and remembered by as many people as possible. This is so that their memory will live on and become part of the lives of others.
What is the difference between a memoir, an autobiography, and a biography?
An autobiography is like a memoir where the same person writes the story of one’s life. What makes a memoir different is that it’s a collection of the memories and not necessarily the entire life story of that person in chronological order. A biography is like a history of a person’s life, but unlike an autobiography, it is written by another person. This writer could be a family member, a close friend, or someone who knows and has researched the life of a certain entity.
What makes a memoir different from a diary?
With a memoir, you have a focus or theme. You write about something you want to impart to another person or the reader. When it comes to a diary, you write about memories or events that you want to remember but do not intend to have it read by anybody, especially a stranger.
Make fond memories last through a memoir. Writing a memoir brings back a lot of memories; that is why it’s the perfect way to reminisce. Looking into the other people’s memories through their memoir is a great way to familiarize the structure of a memoir. The free memoir samples above will surely be of use. You should definitely check them out!
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