I’m a writer blog

Guidelines for writing Poems, Stories and Tales

How long should a memoir be?

70,000 to 100,000 words70,000 to 100,000 words. Yours seems a bit short. Push it to more than 60,000 words and then start querying.

How long is a memoir supposed to be?

60,000 to 80,000 words

Memoir word count tends to be right there in the same range as novel word count, or 60,000 to 80,000 words. Shorter than that, and you may not have enough substance to truly excite readers, you may not be going deeply enough into your story, or telling enough of it.

How long is a short memoir?

Use relevant anecdotes. Before you start writing, figure out the focus of your story. A short memoir is only 2,000 to 5,000 words long, so the story needs to be concise. A good memoir uses anecdotes that are both riveting and also support the central storyline.

What are the 5 parts of a memoir?

These are the key elements of a memoir:

  • A focused theme. Your memoir should have an overarching theme, takeaway lesson, or message for your readers. …
  • Conflict. …
  • Writing style. …
  • Use supporting stories and details. …
  • Storytelling elements. …
  • Truth.


What 3 things should be in a memoir?

Memoirs (French for “memory” or “reminisce”) focus on personal experience, intimacy, and emotional truth—memoir writers often play with their memories and with real life in order to tell a good story. For this reason, memoirs are not bound to formal expectations around chronology or factual accuracy.

How do you end a memoir?

End your memoir with honesty and clarity. You may want to leave the readers with optimism and lessons learned, but you also want to be brutally honest and show all of your flaws.

What makes a great memoir?

A good memoir is novelistic, with an unfolding story line, or plot, and scenes intermixed with narrative. The people in a memoir are referred to as characters, and characters are developed like in a novel, through narrative (description) and scenes (action and dialog set in location).

How do you write a strong memoir?

10 Tips for Starting a Memoir

  1. Engage the reader from the first word. A great memoir draws the reader in from the start. …
  2. Build trust with the reader. …
  3. Bring emotions out of the reader. …
  4. Lead with a laugh. …
  5. Open with a dramatic moment. …
  6. Think like a fiction writer. …
  7. Keep it relevant. …
  8. Write for the reader as well as yourself.

What tense should a memoir be written in?

The vast majority of memoirs, autobiographies, and personal histories are written in past tense, with a “first person” point of view. It makes sense: you are telling your own life stories, about things that have happened in the past, and so it feels more natural.

What do the best memoirs have in common?

The University of Vermont adds that both memoirs and autobiographies use narrative elements to tell the story. Just as fiction uses memorable characters, settings, plot and dialogue, memoirs and autobiographies weave actual events together with devices that bring the story to life for readers.

Do memoirs sell?

The memoir is the first piece of writing you’ve ever attempted. It’s often said that a writer’s first manuscript never gets published; it’s the third, fourth, fifth (or later) manuscript that gains acceptance by a publisher.

Is a memoir written in first person?

In memoir, you are that main character. While fiction writers can invent entire worlds and determine how much of that world is revealed to the narrator, memoir is expected to be first-person (most of the time) and to reflect the author’s truth (all the time).



Is writing a memoir worth it?

Whether for yourself or for others, if you have a clear purpose for writing your memoir, then it’s a story worth sharing. If you’ve reflected on your life and you’re passionate about communicating what you’ve learned with the world, then your memoir is worth writing.

How do you start a short memoir?

10 Tips for Starting a Memoir

  1. Engage the reader from the first word. A great memoir draws the reader in from the start. …
  2. Build trust with the reader. …
  3. Bring emotions out of the reader. …
  4. Lead with a laugh. …
  5. Open with a dramatic moment. …
  6. Think like a fiction writer. …
  7. Keep it relevant. …
  8. Write for the reader as well as yourself.

How many words is average memoir?

around 65,000 to 75,000 words

Keep it the right length



A memoir should never be shorter or longer than it needs to be. That said, the average length of a memoir these days is around 65,000 to 75,000 words. I’ve edited successful memoirs that have exceeded 100,000 words, but usually a manuscript of that length calls for a bit more of the red pencil.

How long are micro memoirs?

Dissecting Short Memoirs



They can come in the super short variety of six words like you find on the Six-Word Memoirs website. Some might be short novels. Others are a short essay of no more than 100 words. On average, you’ll find that most flash memoirs can run between 1,000 and 5,000 words.



What is a 6 word memoir examples?

A six word memoir is an autobiography of your life, told in only six words. An example of a six word memoir might be: Dreamed of flying. Still do, inside.

What are the 7 characteristics of a memoir?

Characteristics of a Memoir

  • #1. It has a specific focus. …
  • #2. It makes the subject come alive. …
  • #3. There must be an ABC story arc. …
  • #4. Memoirs are often limited in nature. …
  • #5. The story is more important than 100% accuracy. …
  • #6. The writing of a memoir is deliberate in nature. …
  • #7. …
  • #8.


How do you write a personal memoir?

How to write a memoir

  1. 1 – Narrow your focus. …
  2. 2 – Include more than just your story. …
  3. 3 – Tell the truth. …
  4. 4 – Put your readers in your shoes. …
  5. 5 – Employ elements of fiction to bring your story to life. …
  6. 6 – Create an emotional journey. …
  7. 7 – Showcase your personal growth.