This is the final part of our 'Ultimate Guide to Writing a Memoir.'
To access the rest of the guide, click here.
You’ve covered a lot of information in this guide. Let’s recap on some of the most important bits before you get started!
It’s important to gather all your information before you start writing, so you can plan your story and know what you’re going to talk about.
Read Chapter 1 again
There are many different ways to structure your story, and you don’t have to write chronologically. Here’s a quick overview of the methods we go through in Chapter 2:
The chronological approach: start at the beginning, and tell it how it happened step-by-step.
The basic three acts: split your narrative into the set up, the confrontation and the resolutions.
Freytag’s pyramid: slightly more complex than the basic three, Freytag’s pyramid consists of five stages. These are the exposition, rising action, climax, falling action and the resolution.
In media res starts in the middle of the story, right at the height of the action.
The hero’s journey: this is one of the most popular methods of storytelling. It’s quite complicated, so take a look back through Chapter 2 to find out more.
Read Chapter 2 again
This chapter covers two key areas: finding the time to create a habit out of writing, and developing your own unique style.
Read Chapter 3 again
Writer’s block can affect anyone - it’s a popular name for that moment when you are in the midst of a project, but you lack the inspiration or drive to write another word. Here are some ways to overcome writer’s block:
Take a break: Read a book or draw a picture. Go for a run. Do anything that will take your mind off writing, and then go back to it feeling fresh.
Change your environment: if you’re used to writing at your uncomfortable, dimly lit desk at home, why not try seeking inspiration elsewhere? Go to a local coffee shop or library.
Free write: set a timer or a word limit and write anything. Forget about grammar or plot or structure. Just write.
Read Chapter 4 again
Editing involves making sure your ideas are expressed logically, in a clear and coherent narrative.
Proofreading comes after the editing process, and is more about language. It involves checking over spelling, punctuation and grammatical errors, as well as format.
Read Chapter 5 again
There are a few different ways you can digitise your photos, each with their own set of pros and cons.
Read Chapter 6 again
We recommend you leave a lot of the design process to the professionals. If you would like to have a go yourself, here’s what you need to think about:
Read Chapter 7 again
Designing your book cover is an important part of the design process when it comes to writing a memoir. Again, we would advise that you consult a professional designer, but we’ve provided some tips and common themes within book cover design if you want to have a go yourself.
Read Chapter 8 again
If this all seems like an awful lot of hard work, that’s because it is! But don’t worry. This is where we come in.
Story Terrace is revolutionising the way we think about our heritage with a simple idea: a biographer for every person. We match you with a carefully chosen professional writer, who will conduct in-depth interviews and ultimately, write your story. Your beautiful, hardcover, full colour books will be delivered to your door, and you don’t need to worry about a thing - because we’ve got you covered!
Whether you’re looking for a writer, or you just need a little help editing - contact Story Terrace for more information about how we can help with your story today.