To create a good opening for a memoir or biography, the author needs to think about several things: the span of time being covered; who will be reading the memoir, and the general tone of the work.
The Memoir's Time Span
The choice of whether to proceed chronologically, or to jump around in time, is an individual preference. If the memoir is more like a biography, and will cover most of a lifetime, then the writer may like to go back and start with his or her birth – especially if it is in dramatic circumstances! If, however, nothing much happened in the first few decades of life, then it might be better to start at the beginning of a more interesting period and briefly mention the early years later.
If the memoir covers one significant part of the writer's life, then it makes sense to start at the place where it all began.
The Memoir's Intended Readership
Is the memoir intended for the general public, or mostly for family and friends? If it's for family and friends, then the writer might like to start with an anecdote that family will appreciate and relate to. If it's for general consumption, then it's a good idea to spend time thinking about an opening that will pique the interest of a wide range of people.
The General Tone of the Memoir
Is the memoir intended to be serious, or a light-hearted look at family life? Is there going to be a humorous tone throughout, or does the writer want to deliver a message or share lessons learned through tough circumstances? (This does not mean that there is no place for humour in a memoir that deals with serious matters, of course... but the general tone will probably not be humorous.)
The opening should reflect the tone and style that the writer intends to use throughout the memoir: keep in mind that many readers of memoirs available for sale in book stores just browse the first few pages to get a sense of what the book is like. Be careful not to mislead them!)
General Tips on Writing a Good Opening
There is one 'rule', for want of a better term, for the beginning of any book: make it interesting! Whether the tone is light or serious; whether there is a weighty message or the story is full of amusing anecdotes, one thing is certain: readers don't want to be bored. Remember that everyone reading a book has one question in mind (even if it's at a subconscious level): "What's in it for me?"
Readers always have a reason for sitting down to read the memoir. That reason might be something like "I'd better read this to keep Aunty May happy... " or it might be "This sounds like a colourful character... might as well give this book a go". The first few pages are important: the writer either hooks the reader or he doesn't. Here are a few tips to ensure that the reader wants to keep turning pages:
- Start with an interesting anecdote
- Start at a dramatic moment, then fill in the circumstances leading up to it
- Start with a quote from a newspaper or magazine that reviewed an event or incident in the book
- Start with a funny or well-known saying from a family member
- Start with a peaceful scene then quickly move on to show how a life was shattered or changed for ever
- Start with the first day on the job and show how it foreshadowed things to come (first day in a major corporation; first day with a top sporting team; first day in a menial position before rising to the top, etc)
And one final tip: all writers are also readers. The writer should think "What would interest me and make me want to read on? What would I find boring so I'd start skipping pages?" Knowing what most readers don't like is a good place to start!
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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