The secret of getting a memoir written is to sit down and create a workable plan with easy-to-follow steps. It's important to have a solid understanding of what "building blocks" are necessary before the main writing starts. A good many writers never finish their memoirs because they rush the project: they simply start writing, without thinking about what background information they need.
What is Involved in Writing a Memoir?
It's very easy to finish a memoir if you divide it into three stages: (1) Planning, (2) Production and (3) Distribution. If writers plan carefully, they are unlikely to be caught spinning their wheels waiting for vital information.
Stage 1: Planning a Memoir
Memoirs consist mostly of text (which will come as a surprise to nobody) with supplementary photos or other illustrations. The author of the memoir needs to start by deciding what information to include and then carefully sift through available photos and art work to decide which to use. This can be difficult: most people have hundreds of photos. Obviously, not all can be used. Here is a handy checklist for the planning stage:
- Years covered: What part of the writer's life will be included - from birth to the present day, or a significant period in that life?
- Anecdotes: What anecdotes can be told to enhance the memoir? Will it be necessary to contact others to clarify any hazy memories?
- Contributions from others: Will anyone else be contributing stories or even a whole chapter? Line these people up well ahead, and give them deadlines. (Make the deadline a month ahead of when you really want it. It's human nature to leave things until the last minute.)
- Photos and art work: What photos will be used? Is it necessary to seek further contributions from others? Think in terms of key photos, maps or art work – images that will encapsulate an era or significant event perfectly. Ask other people early.
- Research: Is it necessary to do any further research on events or key people? If possible, delegate this to willing helpers. Most writers find that it's easier to seek contributions then pull various elements of the memoir together, than to write the whole lot themselves.
- Plan the sections or chapters: Make a list of the chapters and note which part of the author's life they will cover. Then do a quick bullet-point list under each chapter heading to indicate what will be included in each chapter.
Stage 2: Producing a Memoir
Look ahead and decide whether the memoir is going to be largely home-grown, with the author or other family members doing most of the writing and layout, or whether it will done by professionals. A memoir can be entirely written, produced and distributed by one person, or it can be written then outsourced for printing or publishing. Here is a checklist for the production stage:
- Write the memoir: Follow the chapter outline created in Stage 1. Aim for slow but steady work; the pages will soon mount up. It's common to find that there are gaps once the writing starts – sometimes in the author's memory; sometimes more information is needed from other people. Act on these gaps right away (usually by getting clarification or help from others) – send an email or pick up the phone. Don't let it go; these things tend to mount up.
- Include illustrations: Photos, art work, line drawings, maps – all of these things can be part of a memoir. Decide where they should fit in the finished product: will they all be clumped together in one section or will they be scattered throughout the book?
- Edit the memoir: give it to reliable friends or to a professional editing service. The emphasis here is on 'reliable': nobody wants a published memoir full of typos, grammatical errors or wordy paragraphs.
- Publish the memoir: this can mean simply having it printed to hand out to family members, or having it professionally printed or published. If the memoir has been commissioned or accepted by a commercial publisher, the author can now sit back and relax: the publisher will decide on the number of books printed and how they will be distributed. A POD (Print on Demand) publisher may require more input from the author . Photos may have to be sent in a specified resolution (colour plates usually require high-resolution photos).
Stage 3: Distributing a Memoir
A memoir can be shared or distributed in different ways, depending on the number of copies produced and whether it is a small family production or a memoir for a big publishing house.
- Family distribution: For a limited number of books intended only to be distributed to family, the decision is simple: when to post it, and whether to hold a family party to launch the book!
- Commercial publisher: The publisher will distribute the book to bookstores, but any help offered by the author to publicise the book is welcome.
- Self-distribution: This is often difficult. If the author can't secure a commercial publisher, but is looking for a wider distribution than family and friends, there is usually a lot of work involved. The author needs to consider where and how the book can be marketed (online? As part of a speaking circuit? At different events?) as well as how to price the book and how people can pay for it (Credit card? Cash only? PayPal?)
Many of the above decisions related to writing, producing and distributing a memoir can be made in the planning stages. Writing a memoir is an achievable New Year resolution that can bring a lot of satisfaction to the author as well as long-lasting enjoyment to family and friends.
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Marg McAlister - Marg McAlister has tried on a good many writer's hats in her career, and has enjoyed wearing most of them. Her writing achievements ...
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