mardi 4 mars 2014

What Makes a Great Memoir?

Well, I'm glad you asked. You might wonder, "What's the difference between a short story and a memoir anyway?" Great question. The biggest difference is what you get out of it. Writing a short story does just that, tells a story. A memoir, however, teaches us something about life or choices or family or even handling our feelings. This is called a life lesson. It is the realization that this memory is sticking because it has taught us something that we now apply to our lives.

You may be wondering why I chose the little comic you see at the top of this post. Look at the things you do and ask yourself how many of them will be worth writing about one day. This does not mean you have to be a superhero or go on world adventures every day, but I hope it makes you think about the choices you make and the quality of life you are creating on a day-to-day basis.

For those of you who are fond of the checklist, let's compile one that will help us identify a great memoir when we read (or write) one.

A Great Memoir...
  • describes feelings and emotions that matter.
  • includes sensory language (using 5 senses to describe the scene).
  • engages the reader (makes them want to read on).
  • tells about a memory that matters to the writer.
  • uses kiss and tell (skips over less important parts) and focuses on the more meaningful scenes.
  • includes tension in writing (in the head of the character, flashback, description).
  • has a great lead (something that hooks the reader).
  • has a Life Lesson (something you have learned).
  • has a conclusion that wraps up the story.