Personal stories are always popular
Readers are always willing to read more personal stories, people are naturally curious. Writing a story about your true experiences can be thrilling for readers knowing that the experiences written are actually true.
Relating to Real People
While there will always be a market for celebrity memoirs or autobiographies,
We relate more to the average person than a celebrity. Readers prefer relatable reads, books that speak about experiences that happen to someone of a similar background can seem appealing to readers.
Connecting with your roots:
Another reason why memoirs are gaining popularity is because it can be a great way of connecting with your past, and your ancestors. You can get to know more about yourself as you write.
Capturing a legacy:
A memoir can help you store important information about your family and their legacy, passing it on for generations to come and nothing gets lost in time.
Why should you write a memoir?
Self Discovery:
You can discover more about yourself through writing a memoir. You can learn more about yourself again through writing.
Catharsis:
Writing is a form of catharsis and memoir writing is no different. You can get clarity while writing and improve your writing skills.
Preserving your family’s legacy:
A memoir can be seen as something that lasts for a long time, across generations. Your descendents can learn more about you even if they are alive way past your lifetime, or if you are writing about your ancestors, they can learn more about those who came before you, even generations apart.
Gaining more knowledge about your family:
While writing, you will also research about your family which will make you gain more knowledge about who came before you which you might not have known if you did not start writing a memoir.
Relatibility:
Readers like to see stories that they can relate to. Start writing! You never know who can resonate with your book and in turn gain new readers.
Attract people to your brand:
A memoir can be a good introduction to you and your brand. Your readers can learn more about you and if they like you, they will automatically trust your brand and eventually become customers.
Thrilling for Readers:
Not just reliability is good, if you have unique stories about yourself or your family, write it down! It will be very interesting and thrilling to read, which can make your book a bestseller.
How to write a memoir that stands out to readers
Focus on a particular experience:
A memoir is not an autobiography, it is a slice of your life. It refers to a specific portion of your life. An example of a memoir can be your memories as a teenager in your hometown. Focusing on a particular experience can give clarity to your readers.
Paint a picture in the reader’s mind:
You shouldn’t just write, you should write in such a way that your readers can visualize what they’re reading. Using expressive language and sensory details will interest your readers.
Write for your intended audience:
You can’t write for everyone. As for any genre of writing, you have to write keeping in mind your audience. Is the type of writing used suitable for your audience?
You could write this memoir for people who have gone through similar situations, your family or friends. Make sure you write keeping in mind all these guidelines.
Revise continuously:
It’s only natural that your first draft is not your final copy. During the period of writing, you will revise and rewrite your work continuously. Taking feedback from trusted people can also help your writing. This will help you create a better memoir.
Engaging with your audience’s emotions:
You should create a story that resonates with your audience’s emotions. A good story makes their readers feel something, making your memoir more impactful.
Write authentically:
Always be authentic to your audience and yourself. By building trust with your audience with your work, you are seen as authentic. If your readers trust you, you will gain more credibility and popularity.
What you should not do while writing a memoir
Confusing a Memoir with an Autobiography:
Let’s get it clear: A memoir is a book on a particular part of your life (Take for instance, your childhood), while an autobiography is an account of your entire life.
You might be writing an autobiography, so be careful and decide what you want to write while writing a book.
Writing different genres in one
If your memoir is focused on what happened in your childhood, it should stick to it, and not what is happening in your adulthood, or a friend’s romantic pursuits. Don’t throw your readers off track, if the memoir is about your memories as a child, stick to it.
Irrelevant Details:
Every reader has different preferences, so they might not want to know irrelevant details that aren’t required unless it relates to the story at hand. Make sure to keep the memoir on topic.
Lack of Chronology:
Your book should utilise an order that readers can follow. If you talk about your childhood but then go back to your baby days, it can be confusing for readers.
Lack of Care while Writing:
You must be cautious when writing. If you mention people that you haven’t consulted, you must write it in a way that they are not slandered, by changing their name, or just not mentioning them at all. This is because if it is seen as libel they can sue you. Consult with law professionals before publishing if in doubt.
Incorrect information:
You must not, in an attempt to create an engaging memoir, write something that is inaccurate. It also might be due to misremembering something, but consult other people if so. You might be able to get away with it but dishonesty and lack of care for fact checking isn’t a great look to readers and publishers. To avoid this, consult and rely on accurate sources of information. If your book gains popularity, this will be a bad mark on you, your books and your brand.
You’re ready! Start writing your memoir today!
Memoirs are no easy task. We applaud you for embarking on this journey to write your first memoir. We wish it isn’t your only writing venture as the world deserves more of your writing. We hope that these tips will inspire you to write a stunning memoir. Think and start writing today!
Start your writing journey today with Austin Macauley Publishers, a hybrid publishing house with locations in the US, UK and UAE, who will help you publish your memoir from start to finish!
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