How to write a memoir

Whether you want to share your experiences and insights with the world, leave a legacy or track pivotal experiences for yourself, writing your memoir can be a grand and worthwhile adventure. Here's some advice on how and where to begin.

- PNINA FENSTER

‘Inside each of us is a natural-born storyteller, waiting to be released,’ says writer Robin Moore. And, of all the stories we can tell, none is as emotional and familiar as our own – the story of childhood exploration, teenage discoveries, adulthood’s losses and loves, and finally, the wisdom, humour and insights that come with looking back on common threads and lessons learnt.

If you’ve been wondering whether you have a tale that’s truly yours to tell, the answer is absolutely yes. As writer and film producer Emily Gordon says, ‘Your life story is a gift, and it should be treated as such.’

The basics

Derived from the French word mémoire, meaning ‘reminiscence’, memoirs have as many motivations and insights as there are memoir writers. And you don’t have to be famous to write one.

For some, a memoir preserves memories. For others, it’s a way to honour precious people along the way. You may want to share a private narrative with close family and friends. Or you may dream of leaving a legacy for future generations or helping others. And, of course, your goal may be a published book, ideally with Julia Roberts or Reese Witherspoon starring as you in the movie version, as per two of the most popular memoirs of all: Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat Pray Love and Cheryl Strayed’s Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail.

Begin at the beginning