Issue 3 April 2016
An autobiography or a memoir?
You don’t have to be famous to write a memoir
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Welcome In this issue Page 2 The Life story gumption trap Page 4 An autobiography or a memoir? Page 6 You don’t have to be famous to write a memoir Page 8 Writing a memoir - first things first Page 10 Writing a memoir - get started writing Page 12 Memoir - is it OK to be creative with the truth? Page 15 It’s your turn
Welcome to the April edition of the iScribbles online magazine - a magazine for aspiring and inexperienced writers of non-fiction. At iScribbles we cover a wide range of non-fiction genres from life story, memoir, autobiography and family history to nostalgia, scrap-book journalling, food writing, local and social history and travel writing. This edition of the iScribbles on-line magazine is all about life story writing and the variety of ways in which you can start to tell your own story. If you are still at the stage where you are recalling your memories and collecting and organising your photos, memorabilia and any other artefacts which have been significant in your life, you probably haven’t given much thought as to how you want to write your story. In this month’s edition of the iScribbles magazine you will find a selection of articles which describe the most popular life-story writing genres together with some hints and tips on how to get started. So, don’t sit there thinking about how you would love to write your life story - just get on and do it. I hope the articles in this month’s issue inspire you to get scribbling. Chris Lightfoot Editor and founder of the Scribbles magazine and website
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The life story gumption trap Chris Lightfoot If you have you been thinking about writing your life story but have been put off because the whole process seems just too daunting then read on. Like many other people you probably think that the only approach is to start at the beginning and keep writing until you get to the end and this is exactly why so many people fail. If you want to succeed you must avoid falling into this classic gumption trap otherwise you may never get started.
Not another year-by-year account Life stories which plod on chronologically are typically too long and are often boring because it is tempting to include every little detail. Not many people will actually want to read a year-by-year account of your life unless it is particularly exciting or unusual so why not try something different.
Write your story piece by piece Don’t write your complete story from the beginning to the end. Instead break your life story down into manageable bite-sized pieces. To find out what each of those bite-sized pieces could be, grab a piece of paper and scribble down 10 things about yourself. Write down things which would give future generations a taste of who you are, what your interests and passions are and what memorable events and experiences have shaped your life. This process may take a while but once you have come up with 10 ideas, each idea on your list could provide the basis for a narrative.
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Length is not important Don’t worry about how many words you write. Each narrative can be as long or as short as you want. Some topics may lend themselves to brief snapshots which focus on just one or two elements such as mood, characters (this could be you), setting, period etc. whereas other topics may inspire you to write something longer. Whatever you write will provide the basis for a longer narrative which may end being your complete life story.
Forget about the order Because you are not writing your complete life story from beginning to end the order doesn’t matter. Just pick out something from your list that inspires you to write – it could be something that happened last week or something about you as a child. Once you have written a collection of short narratives or stories you could piece them all together to form a book. In the meantime you will have a collection of stories about your life which you can share with family and friends (they may even have some memories about you which you could add to your list).
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An autobiography or a memoir? Chris Lightfoot The titles memoir and autobiography are sometimes used interchangeably but they are not actually the same. Autobiographies and memoirs are both written in the first person and both tell the story of someone’s life but whereas an autobiography is a chronological account of the writer’s entire life, a memoir concentrates on just one aspect or period of the writer’s life.
Which are you going to write? It is the difference between these two genres which may determine whether you achieve your dream of writing and sharing your personal story. Writing a full-length autobiography can seem a bit daunting (even if you start you may struggle to finish) and so a memoir is a good alternative particularly if you are a new or less experienced writer.
How to decide Unless you have led a particularly exciting and unusual life, autobiographies tend to be the reserve of the famous simply because a year-by-year account of an average person’s life may not make great reading. A memoir, on the other hand, gives the writer an opportunity to pick out a special event or period and create something that is more focussed and personal. Many writers go on to write a series of memoirs which they then combine into a full-length life story.
It's your story Whether you choose to write an autobiography or a memoir, the story is all about you and the interesting events etc. that have shaped your life and so your readers will want to know that it is you talking to them through your writing. Even ghost writers of celebrity autobiographies have to make the audience believe that it is the subject of the autobiography telling their own story.
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Autobiography checklist • An autobiography is a chronological account/record of your entire life. • Because of the scope, an autobiography concentrates on the sequence of events rather than the more personal views and interpretations found in a memoir. • An autobiography is presented more like an historic document with dates, facts and achievements. • An autobiography aims for accuracy both historically and factually. • Autobiographies are typically written (or ghost written) by famous people or celebrities because they are highly marketable by publishers but don't let this put you off if you have your heart set on writing your autobiography.
Memoir checklist • A memoir concentrates on key events, themes, periods, experiences etc.. • A memoir can be written by anyone - fame or an unusually extraordinary or eventful life are not necessary to produce an interesting memoir. • A memoir is a personal account of a special time, event or aspect of your life. • A memoir stands alone as a story although a series of memoirs could be combined to create a longer story. • A memoir still aims for accuracy but it is the truths related to the emotions and experiences conveyed in the writing rather than the presentation of dates and facts. • Although published memoirs are generally highly polished literary works, memoirs are also a great starting point for new and inexperienced writers because they can be as long or as short as you want thus giving you the opportunity to develop and hone your writing skills with each memoir/story you write
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You don’t have to be famous to write a memoir Chris Lightfoot But it does help if you want to write an autobiography. This doesn't mean that you shouldn't write your autobiography, but if you are hoping it will reach an audience beyond your family and friends, then leave autobiographies to socalled celebrities and other famous people who have no problem filling the shelves of bookshops. Memoirs, on the other hand, are often written by people who may not have led extraordinarily interesting or eventful lives but who want to share some of their experiences with family and friends.
A slice of life Unlike an autobiography, which is a chronological account of an entire life, memoirs are just a slice of someone’s life. A memoir can focus on challenges, conflicts, successes, triumphs, life changing events, specific times or periods, random events - in fact anything that inspires you to write. You can only write one autobiography but there is no limit to the number of memoirs you can write.
Reach out to your readers Writing a memoir not only gives you the opportunity to capture the special moments and events in your life but it also enables you to share the feelings and emotions you felt at the time. Although a memoir is a personal account of your experiences, the story you tell should resonate with your readers. Tell them about the truths and emotions related to your experiences and how it affected your life rather than just presenting a list of dates and facts.
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Be thoughtful when writing about other people If you want to include other people in your story, use some discretion when writing about them. Their perceptions or feelings may be different to yours and so you need to make sure you don’t upset or offend them.
Put you story in context You can put your story in context and add interest and colour by incorporating details of the world beyond your own personal experiences. For example, were there any significant political events that affected you? What were the social and economic conditions at the time?
Use story-telling techniques A good memoir should read like a story. Although the basic elements of a story (theme, characters, setting, plot, conflict and resolution) may not all be relevant or necessary, some of the best memoirs do have a fictional quality about them even though they are based on fact. One of the best ways to learn more about the style and techniques of memoir writing is to read the work of well-known and successful memoir writers. If you don't have any specific authors in mind a search online will give you plenty to choose from.
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Writing a memoir - first things first Chris Lightfoot If you are keen to start writing about your life but are daunted or overwhelmed by the idea of writing your complete life story, then why not start with a memoir. Here are some more tips on how to write a memoir.
What is a memoir? As I mentioned in the previous article You don’t have to be famous to write a memoir, a memoir is all about your own life but instead of trying to recall and recount everything (typically chronologically), a memoir enables you to focus on key events, themes, periods, experiences etc.. Because a memoir is just one slice of your life, if you ultimately aspire to something greater, you don’t have to be limited to just one memoir. Some writers go on to write a series of memoirs which they then combine into their full-length life story.
Deciding on the focus or topic for your memoir You may already have some ideas about what you would like to focus on for your first memoir but if you find yourself struggling to find a topic here are some ideas to get you started: a significant turning point in your life someone who influenced your life an unforgettable person you met an accomplishment or achievement you look back on with pride a hobby or interest that means a great deal to you and has played a big part in your life • the influence of music, art, theatre, sport or whatever in your life • • • • •
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• • • • • •
an amusing event or occasion a significant or life-changing event or period a memorable trip or holiday a special relationship surviving an illness winning a competition or getting an award
Dig out old photos If none of the above work for you then try digging out some old photos or diaries, or any other nostalgic memorabilia and see what memories they bring back to you. Revisit a place featured in a photo or reconnect with some or all of the people in a photo to help rekindle your memories.
Finding a theme To help you focus and avoid wandering off in other directions, you could also consider adopting a specific style or theme for your memoir. For example: • • • • • •
humour nostalgia life affirming life changing informative memorable
Don’t be constrained by the suggestions for topics and themes above. They are simply there to get you thinking.
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Writing a memoir - get started writing Chris Lightfoot In Writing a memoir - first things first I included some suggestions for topics and themes for a memoir. In this article you will find some tips on how to get started writing. If you haven’t already done so pick out a key event, a series of related events, a specific period or experience or whatever inspires you to get scribbling.
Do some brainstorming Scribble down as much as you can remember about your chosen topic or theme - names, places, dates, descriptions, conversations or any other details you can think of that will help you create your story. Take as long as you want over this - the more information you can recall at this stage the more you will have to work with. However, don't forget that a memoir is not an account of your entire life. It is just a slice or snapshot of your life and so don't worry about trying to remember or include everything.
Use story-telling techniques As you may have already read in You don’t have to be famous to write a memoir, some of the best memoirs do have a fictional quality about them even if they don’t necessarily include all of the basic story writing elements. They do, however, incorporate the elements necessary to engage, involve and move their readers. Their stories have a beginning, a middle and an end and they use suspense, dialogue (this doesn’t have to be word for word) and descriptions of the settings, characters, events etc. to help bring their story to life.
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Write in the first person It’s your story and so it is only natural that you should write in the first person. You are writing the story from your perspective and so it is your experiences, attitudes and interpretations that should come through. These may differ from someone else who was there at the time but that doesn’t matter. It’s what you remember, it’s your take on an event or time, it’s your story and only you can tell it.
Think about your audience The way you write and construct a story is affected by who you expect to read it, so before you start writing think about your audience. This may be just family and friends but if you have a wider audience in mind consider whether you need to add more background information to help put your story in context.
Write first, edit later When you start to write your first draft don’t stop to edit as you go along simply write down whatever comes into your head. If you interrupt the flow by stopping to correct spellings, grammar etc. you may forget what you wanted to write or lose track of your thoughts and ideas. There will be plenty of time for editing and polishing your work later on. You may even find that more ideas and memories come back to you as you write so it is important to let your ideas flow onto the page without worrying about creating a perfect piece of prose (no writer has ever achieved that in a first draft).
Get a second opinion When you have a draft you are happy with (and this may be after a number of revisions) give it to someone else to read. Someone else may spot errors you didn’t pick up on (typos, for example, are very hard to see in your own writing) and they may also notice inconsistencies or passages that don't flow/read very well. Don't be put off by constructive criticism. See it instead as an opportunity to improve your writing.
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Memoir - is it OK to be creative with the truth? Chris Lightfoot Did anybody ever say to you as a child ‘don’t give me that story’? If so, you probably realised it meant don’t try to pass that off as truth (e.g. ‘the dog ate my homework’). So does this mean that if we refer to written accounts of our own lives (for example, a memoir) as stories, that we are actually writing something that is fictional? Well the answer of course is no but the storytelling techniques used in fiction can make a story more engaging and interesting. Although the basic elements of a story (characters, setting, plot, conflict, theme and dialogue) may not all be relevant, knowing and understanding what these elements are will help you to be more creative in your writing.
Memories can be unreliable A memoir is a literary work but unlike fiction it has to be based on truth. This can sometimes be a problem because when we recall memories we don’t necessarily remember things accurately. Your memory of a specific event may well differ from someone else’s recollections of the same event. Not only can memories become distorted or blurred over time but memories are subjective and so the truth or reality about a shared memory will not necessarily be the same. When you write your story/memoir you should be as truthful and accurate as you can but you should also feel free to leave bits out and organise and structure your memories into something which you think will have more appeal for your readers.
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When you write your story/memoir you should be as truthful and accurate as you can but you should also feel free to leave bits out and organise and structure your memories into something which you think will have more appeal for your readers.
You can’t make stuff up Any type of writing that relies on memory is open to comment or criticism from family members or anybody else that shared the same experiences but you are the writer of your story and so your interpretation is your version of the truth. This is very different to deliberately making stuff up. There have been famous examples of fake memoirs which made good stories but which betrayed the trust of their readers by passing them off as truth. So, if you want to introduce any elements that could be challenged, then make sure you include a caveat/disclaimer which makes this clear. For example, if there are some facts you are not sure of simply add a line which says ‘I don’t recall the exact details but ...’.
Check the facts in your memoir Even if your memory of a time or event is different to someone else you should nevertheless aim to get your facts as accurate as possible. If you can’t rely on your own memory then do some more research by looking back at original sources and by asking questions. You could also ask anybody else involved to check your story but don't let them try to rewrite it or challenge you over something they would prefer you not to include. Just stick with those that give constructive and supportive feedback.
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Add some dialogue to your memoir Conversations between characters are an important part of story telling. By introducing some dialogue into your memoir you can really help bring it to life. However, because it is unlikely you will be able accurately to recall conversations from the past, use what memories you do have and your imagination to recreate what might have been said. But once again do tell your readers what you are up to.
"Fiction is the lie through which we tell the truth" This quote by Albert Camus highlights how many fictional writers use their own experiences to create stories. If you have memories you want to share but feel unable to reveal in a memoir, then may be you should consider writing a fictional work which draws on your experiences and memories but uses fictional characters and places.
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Your letters If you have got anything you would like to say about the articles in the magazine or if you would like to share some of your own writing experiences, please email the editor at: office@i-scribbles.com We welcome your comments and opinions so long as they are polite and constructive.
Would you like to write for our magazine? We are looking for anything from writing, editing and publishing tips to bite-sized stories about your own life and experiences, stories uncovered while doing research into your family or local history, nostalgic memories, travel stories etc, etc.. Articles or stories submitted should be between 400 and 800 words and must be original. You can include pictures/photos but only if you own the copyright. We are unable to publish images for which you do not own the copyright. If you have a finished article or story or you have an idea for an article, do get in touch at office@i-scribbles.com. We would love to hear from you.
A final message from the editor We hope the articles in this edition of the iScribbles online magazine have inspired you to get scribbling. If you know of anybody else that might be interested, then please forward them the link. There aren’t many magazines or websites devoted exclusively to the craft of writing non-fiction and so we are hoping that with your support and interest this magazine will grow into something non-fiction writers will come to for help, advice, encouragement and entertainment.
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