Love this. Thank you! Here are my notes: 1. MARKET RESEARCH -identify niche/ target audience -is their a large audience for your niche? -or is this more of a legacy memoir with a limited audience? 2. PROPOSAL -not as set in stone as with other non-fiction -can possibly quarry first -ghost writer w. industry experience may help for proposal 3. JOURNALIST RESEARCH on YOURSELF -deeply explore the story / sink into memories -ask yourself questions like a journalist -may yield structural ideas or new insights 4. RESEARCH -fact check dates, weather, places -revisit locations -talk to people present at the time -look through newspapers or photos -write out a timeline -don’t make anything up 5. FIND YOUR THEME -how someone else will relate -touchpoint between narrative and reader 6. COLLECT KEY MOMENTS -80,000 words max -most emotional moments -build narrative around those moment 7. START IN THE RIGHT PLACE -moment of high tension that highlights themes -brings you into the story -shows importance of the story 8. HONE DETAIL AND DIALOGUE -this is PROSE -how did you feel in the moment? -focus on tangible details -dialogue doesn’t have to be perfect, just accurate to the speaker 9. PITFALLS -Making yourself the hero/ faultless -Choosing a linear structure without exploring other options -Not getting outside opinions
I'm writing a memoire and the opening scene is an intense practical joke my 6th grade teacher played on me with the entire class in on it. It was a humiliating experience and it shows my serious educational struggles and serious self-esteem issues which I begin to overcome through a stay in a French family at the age of 17, which changes the arc of my life dramatically when I begin tapping into a previously unknown talent I had for writing letters to my French friend and a lot of others. After watching this video I see there's another possible way to have the 6th grade scene later in the book. It would stand out being the first scene, but having it later could make it more intriguing. It's great to think I could put that scene in a different place. I have seen many of your videos. Thank you for this one on writing a memoir.
I've been searching for helpful advice and information on how to write a memoir for the past two years. I tried to fit my memoir into fiction structures but just became more frustrated. A writer friend shared your videos about nonfiction with me last night, and I've already learned so much! This video was extremely helpful! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Now I don't have to just wing it and hope it works out!
Strangest coincidence: I was just thinking about how my memoir (turned fiction because I don't want people to know it's true 😅) would be structured, what it would contain, and how I would need to change the order of events slightly! Then I landed on this video in my subscriptions page, and it was somehow exactly what I needed at this EXACT POINT IN TIME!!! Incredible 😲🤯😍
Yes, perfect timing! I'm writing a memoir duology? One theme two different ways because I don't feel the same about it now that I don't have rose colored glasses on. Excited for more tips!
I have been thinking for quite a while about writing a memoir about going to France for the first time in 1972 to meet my French penpal. We were both about 19 years old at the time. He is now deceased but I am still in touch with his family, almost 50 years later.
Wow yes I hope you are able to write it. I'm writing a memoire that covers some of my early struggles with school and with self-esteem and how my stay in a French family in 1988 with a boy my age, 17 at the time, set me on a path to self-worth and changed the trajectory of my life. It was a high school program and we were perfectly matched. I went back to see him in 89,90, and 93. That short stay and my future travels in Europe along with all of the letters I wrote to that boy and like 13 other people changed everything. I am sorry that your friend is no longer alive. I am glad you are able to still be in touch with the persons family. I wonder if you felt as I did that being over there was like living in brilliant colors and returning home, here in the states was like returning to a world in black and white? I wish you luck with your idea.
@@nathanphillips4027 I have started writing the story about me and my French penpal. I totally identify with what you said about over there was like living in color and coming back home was black and white. I truly remember coming home and having to translate English into French because I was already starting to think in French. My first day back I was with my mother at a clothing store and I came into contact with a woman as I was passing an aisle. Automatically, I said “pardon moi.” I was originally in Bretagne in 1972, and again in 1983 and Christmas of 1989. That first trip in 1972 was such a different time of life.
I wrote two memoirs (unpublished). Now I'm planning for my third and this one I aim to put it to public. This is exciting and scary at the same time! Thanks for the informative video! 👍
ive watched your videos since i learned how to write a Fantasy book ( and story structure etc ), now i'm writing a Memoir you are soooo helpful thank you ❤
I wrote a memoir about 10 years ago, and I sold 5,000 copies. I want to re-write it, I feel it would be better first-person past tense. I love the videos you make thanks so much,
Very well put. Thank you for putting your time and effort into the making of this video. Wishing you the best in your bright future! Not that you need the luck! = D
I’m a high school art teacher and I’m having my students create a VISUAL memoir of a specific memory of their past that was meaningful to them. I’m applying many of your writing strategies to try to explain to my students how to achieve the same VISUALLY within a short video they are creating using stock images and video, etc that they can manipulate on Canva. Do you have any advice from your perspective? (I am going to have them write a 3 to 5 paragraph “mini-memoir” to accompany their creation for display, but I have to keep it more simple than a typical English class since I can’t grade them on ELA standards, per se, in a non ELA class).
I just found this video, as I am considering writing something.... Though, from what I have seen, I am not sure if it would be considered a memoir or some other non-fiction. My story/life has a rather dark theme that has plagued me since childhood, but I can not figure out what my "aha" moment is, or what insight may be gained from reading what I would write.... And, I am also struggling to find lighter moments that would still be able to fit in with the overall story arc.
My memoir begins with my birth because of the circumstances surrounding it. Is that appropriate? Would it be acceptable to combine smaller events that happened on different days into one scene? It's not exactly truthful, but I don't want to write tiny scenes.
I'm a math person, I'm writing for school. I'm confused and terrified. I think this will help me a lot. Ps. Any else noticing that her tiny earings make her pop, show that she put some thought into her look.
what is your advice for the people who are just ordinary? Nothing special like a celebrity? Are people really interested in someone else's life who is not distinguished in any apparent way?
It can also be a memoir and/or biography. I read "the immortal life of Henrietta Lacks". The author wrote about life of others mainly. It was a biography and memoir-liked. It's not easy to pull them apart.
![How to Write a Memoir for Beginners [12-Step Blueprint from a Writing Coach]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/t5TUZajlM6g/mqdefault.jpg)
Love this. Thank you! Here are my notes:
1. MARKET RESEARCH
-identify niche/ target audience
-is their a large audience for your niche?
-or is this more of a legacy memoir with a limited audience?
2. PROPOSAL
-not as set in stone as with other non-fiction
-can possibly quarry first
-ghost writer w. industry experience may help for proposal
3. JOURNALIST RESEARCH on YOURSELF
-deeply explore the story / sink into memories
-ask yourself questions like a journalist
-may yield structural ideas or new insights
4. RESEARCH
-fact check dates, weather, places
-revisit locations
-talk to people present at the time
-look through newspapers or photos
-write out a timeline
-don’t make anything up
5. FIND YOUR THEME
-how someone else will relate
-touchpoint between narrative and reader
6. COLLECT KEY MOMENTS
-80,000 words max
-most emotional moments
-build narrative around those moment
7. START IN THE RIGHT PLACE
-moment of high tension that highlights themes
-brings you into the story
-shows importance of the story
8. HONE DETAIL AND DIALOGUE
-this is PROSE
-how did you feel in the moment?
-focus on tangible details
-dialogue doesn’t have to be perfect, just accurate to the speaker
9. PITFALLS
-Making yourself the hero/ faultless
-Choosing a linear structure without exploring other options
-Not getting outside opinions
Wow. Great timing. I am writing a memoir designed to help people know that healing from grief is possible
I'm writing a memoire and the opening scene is an intense practical joke my 6th grade teacher played on me with the entire class in on it. It was a humiliating experience and it shows my serious educational struggles and serious self-esteem issues which I begin to overcome through a stay in a French family at the age of 17, which changes the arc of my life dramatically when I begin tapping into a previously unknown talent I had for writing letters to my French friend and a lot of others. After watching this video I see there's another possible way to have the 6th grade scene later in the book. It would stand out being the first scene, but having it later could make it more intriguing. It's great to think I could put that scene in a different place. I have seen many of your videos. Thank you for this one on writing a memoir.
I've been searching for helpful advice and information on how to write a memoir for the past two years. I tried to fit my memoir into fiction structures but just became more frustrated. A writer friend shared your videos about nonfiction with me last night, and I've already learned so much! This video was extremely helpful! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Now I don't have to just wing it and hope it works out!
Strangest coincidence: I was just thinking about how my memoir (turned fiction because I don't want people to know it's true 😅) would be structured, what it would contain, and how I would need to change the order of events slightly! Then I landed on this video in my subscriptions page, and it was somehow exactly what I needed at this EXACT POINT IN TIME!!! Incredible 😲🤯😍
Hey, Have a look into a genre called Auto-fiction, It is a mixture of both :)
Yes, perfect timing! I'm writing a memoir duology? One theme two different ways because I don't feel the same about it now that I don't have rose colored glasses on. Excited for more tips!
I have been thinking for quite a while about writing a memoir about going to France for the first time in 1972 to meet my French penpal. We were both about 19 years old at the time. He is now deceased but I am still in touch with his family, almost 50 years later.
Wow yes I hope you are able to write it. I'm writing a memoire that covers some of my early struggles with school and with self-esteem and how my stay in a French family in 1988 with a boy my age, 17 at the time, set me on a path to self-worth and changed the trajectory of my life. It was a high school program and we were perfectly matched. I went back to see him in 89,90, and 93. That short stay and my future travels in Europe along with all of the letters I wrote to that boy and like 13 other people changed everything. I am sorry that your friend is no longer alive. I am glad you are able to still be in touch with the persons family. I wonder if you felt as I did that being over there was like living in brilliant colors and returning home, here in the states was like returning to a world in black and white? I wish you luck with your idea.
@@nathanphillips4027 I have started writing the story about me and my French penpal. I totally identify with what you said about over there was like living in color and coming back home was black and white. I truly remember coming home and having to translate English into French because I was already starting to think in French. My first day back I was with my mother at a clothing store and I came into contact with a woman as I was passing an aisle. Automatically, I said “pardon moi.” I was originally in Bretagne in 1972, and again in 1983 and Christmas of 1989. That first trip in 1972 was such a different time of life.
I wrote two memoirs (unpublished).
Now I'm planning for my third and this one I aim to put it to public. This is exciting and scary at the same time!
Thanks for the informative video! 👍
I've now seen this for the third time during the past year and have finally gotten what I needed from it. I even took notes. Thank you.
I recognize and appreciate this. Making a memoir for graduation was demotivating for me. You cleared things up!!♥
Like you explaineng the steps and details on subjects
ive watched your videos since i learned how to write a Fantasy book ( and story structure etc ), now i'm writing a Memoir you are soooo helpful thank you ❤
Great video. Im 26,000 words into my 1st book, a memoir. Ive been through soo much the world needs this book. It will be out this year. Thanks
This is very informative, thank you!
I wrote a memoir about 10 years ago, and I sold 5,000 copies. I want to re-write it, I feel it would be better first-person past tense. I love the videos you make thanks so much,
Excellent.
My life reads like a life of hell. However, it's been worth it in that I've discovered the truth about humanity and planet Earth.
(UK)
really loved it, great advice thanks. I have been struggling to put my memoir in pages for years!
Very well put. Thank you for putting your time and effort into the making of this video. Wishing you the best in your bright future! Not that you need the luck! = D
I’m a high school art teacher and I’m having my students create a VISUAL memoir of a specific memory of their past that was meaningful to them. I’m applying many of your writing strategies to try to explain to my students how to achieve the same VISUALLY within a short video they are creating using stock images and video, etc that they can manipulate on Canva. Do you have any advice from your perspective?
(I am going to have them write a 3 to 5 paragraph “mini-memoir” to accompany their creation for display, but I have to keep it more simple than a typical English class since I can’t grade them on ELA standards, per se, in a non ELA class).
You’re really beautiful, particularly with your hair that length!
I just found this video, as I am considering writing something.... Though, from what I have seen, I am not sure if it would be considered a memoir or some other non-fiction. My story/life has a rather dark theme that has plagued me since childhood, but I can not figure out what my "aha" moment is, or what insight may be gained from reading what I would write.... And, I am also struggling to find lighter moments that would still be able to fit in with the overall story arc.
great video!
My memoir begins with my birth because of the circumstances surrounding it. Is that appropriate? Would it be acceptable to combine smaller events that happened on different days into one scene? It's not exactly truthful, but I don't want to write tiny scenes.
I'm a math person, I'm writing for school. I'm confused and terrified. I think this will help me a lot.
Ps. Any else noticing that her tiny earings make her pop, show that she put some thought into her look.
what is your advice for the people who are just ordinary? Nothing special like a celebrity? Are people really interested in someone else's life who is not distinguished in any apparent way?
If you have an interesting story, you can certainly write a memoir even if you aren't a celebrity!
What if the theme of the memoir takes place over most of your life
👍👍
Me Attempting at Mine Autobiographical Memoir Experiences Painstakingly! Ye Gospel Truth
A Compendium Of Poetic Narrative Prosodically!
When you write non fiction stories about other people, what genre is that
It can also be a memoir and/or biography.
I read "the immortal life of Henrietta Lacks".
The author wrote about life of others mainly.
It was a biography and memoir-liked. It's not easy to pull them apart.