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Deep Memoir: An Archetypal Approach to Deepen Your Story and Broaden Its Appeal
We stand at the crossroads of two remarkable the golden age of memoir and the golden age of publishing. This is an exciting time for memoir readers. However, for memoir writers, it presents a formidable challenge. In a saturated market brimming with competition, how do you captivate the hearts of readers and the discerning eyes of publishers?
Cheryl Strayed, the celebrated author of the wildly successful memoir Wild, reveals a crucial “The most powerful strand in memoir is . . . tapping into your universality.” You mine “your” story for “our” story, the universal inside of the unique, the archetypal inside of the personal—that’s where the gold lies.
While many books on memoir writing acknowledge this, none are dedicated to showing you precisely how to and where to tap into the universal. Until now. In Deep Memoir, author and popular memoir teacher Jennifer Leigh Selig distills decades of experience in writing, teaching, and research into nine chapters focused on the archetypes essential to memoir
• The Storyteller
• Structure
• The Journey
• Character
• Truth
• Meaning
• Image
• Transformation
• Community
Deep Memoir is not just a book; it's an odyssey into the heart of memoir writing. Enriched with examples from over 140 memoirs and the stories of their creators, and enhanced by cutting-edge neuroscience about our brain's affinity and affection for archetypal patterns, this book is an indispensable companion for all memoir writers seeking to enrich their storytelling and expand their reach.
Cheryl Strayed, the celebrated author of the wildly successful memoir Wild, reveals a crucial “The most powerful strand in memoir is . . . tapping into your universality.” You mine “your” story for “our” story, the universal inside of the unique, the archetypal inside of the personal—that’s where the gold lies.
While many books on memoir writing acknowledge this, none are dedicated to showing you precisely how to and where to tap into the universal. Until now. In Deep Memoir, author and popular memoir teacher Jennifer Leigh Selig distills decades of experience in writing, teaching, and research into nine chapters focused on the archetypes essential to memoir
• The Storyteller
• Structure
• The Journey
• Character
• Truth
• Meaning
• Image
• Transformation
• Community
Deep Memoir is not just a book; it's an odyssey into the heart of memoir writing. Enriched with examples from over 140 memoirs and the stories of their creators, and enhanced by cutting-edge neuroscience about our brain's affinity and affection for archetypal patterns, this book is an indispensable companion for all memoir writers seeking to enrich their storytelling and expand their reach.
310 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 20, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 16, 2025
I think this has to be one of the best, if not the best, memoir craft books I have read to date.
The book is premised around the concept of the archetype, a term brought into the mainstream by the Swiss psychoanalyst Carl Jung. These are "universal patterns that live in the psyche" (pg. 7). They are universal in that "all cultures in all time periods recognize these patterns, though they may live in the unconscious or run like a script in the background of which we're unaware" (pg. 7). Though Jung brought it to the mainstream, the concept goes back to the 4th century BC and Plato. Jennifer quotes Richard Tarnas on page 11, who says that in the Platonic view, archetypes and universal forms are "absolute essences that transcend the empirical world yet give the world its form and meaning. They are timeless universals that serve as the fundamental reality informing every concrete particular."
And it is these archetypes, these universal patterns, Jennifer argues, that can help connect writer and reader in memoir.
Examples of archetypes that we may not think of as archetypes could be things like addiction, lost and found, student and mentor, themes (fall from innocence, good vs evil), feelings (anticipation, guilt, grief), values (friendship, harmony, love). Essentially anything we find to be a uniquely human trait can be an archetype.
Every chapter is named for the usual elements we find in memoir and story: Storyteller, Structure, Journey, Character, Meaning, Truth, Image, Transformation, and Community. But Jennifer argues that these are simply archetypes, and that focusing on these will help deepen your memoir and broaden its appeal (the title of the book). Jennifer then does a deep dive into these various elements.
For instance, in the chapter "The Archetype of Image", Jennifer goes into a deep dive on how archetypal and important metaphor is, and also gives a nice list on how to place them (e.g. sentence length metaphor, chapter length metaphor, etc). This is extremely useful when trying to build your own memoir.
The way Jennifer explains these things makes them accessible even to untrained writers like me. She uses ample examples from no less than 50 or so memoirs to show how various others have incorporated the archetypal story elements she is explaining. Showing numerous real world examples is extremely invaluable.
This heavily-researched and well-written memoir craft book should be in everyone's back pocket while they are writing their own memoir. Jennifer really did us all a huge favor in writing this book.
The book is premised around the concept of the archetype, a term brought into the mainstream by the Swiss psychoanalyst Carl Jung. These are "universal patterns that live in the psyche" (pg. 7). They are universal in that "all cultures in all time periods recognize these patterns, though they may live in the unconscious or run like a script in the background of which we're unaware" (pg. 7). Though Jung brought it to the mainstream, the concept goes back to the 4th century BC and Plato. Jennifer quotes Richard Tarnas on page 11, who says that in the Platonic view, archetypes and universal forms are "absolute essences that transcend the empirical world yet give the world its form and meaning. They are timeless universals that serve as the fundamental reality informing every concrete particular."
And it is these archetypes, these universal patterns, Jennifer argues, that can help connect writer and reader in memoir.
Examples of archetypes that we may not think of as archetypes could be things like addiction, lost and found, student and mentor, themes (fall from innocence, good vs evil), feelings (anticipation, guilt, grief), values (friendship, harmony, love). Essentially anything we find to be a uniquely human trait can be an archetype.
Every chapter is named for the usual elements we find in memoir and story: Storyteller, Structure, Journey, Character, Meaning, Truth, Image, Transformation, and Community. But Jennifer argues that these are simply archetypes, and that focusing on these will help deepen your memoir and broaden its appeal (the title of the book). Jennifer then does a deep dive into these various elements.
For instance, in the chapter "The Archetype of Image", Jennifer goes into a deep dive on how archetypal and important metaphor is, and also gives a nice list on how to place them (e.g. sentence length metaphor, chapter length metaphor, etc). This is extremely useful when trying to build your own memoir.
The way Jennifer explains these things makes them accessible even to untrained writers like me. She uses ample examples from no less than 50 or so memoirs to show how various others have incorporated the archetypal story elements she is explaining. Showing numerous real world examples is extremely invaluable.
This heavily-researched and well-written memoir craft book should be in everyone's back pocket while they are writing their own memoir. Jennifer really did us all a huge favor in writing this book.
March 10, 2024
A whole-hearted approach to writing memoir.
Jennifer Selig masterfully takes her readers on a journey to bring all our hearts, souls, and minds to the vulnerable work of sharing our life experiences through memoir. In addition to sharing ideas for structure, she gives excellent examples and cites myriad memoirs and books on aspects of craft. My “to read” list expanded, and I have already learned so much from her and the other teachers and writers she cites. I think this is a great book for any writer, not just memoirists. Selig’s thoughts about how writing classes and groups can be conducted as places of safety, encouragement, and inspiration are beautiful, and much needed in our world of easy criticism and cynicism.
Jennifer Selig masterfully takes her readers on a journey to bring all our hearts, souls, and minds to the vulnerable work of sharing our life experiences through memoir. In addition to sharing ideas for structure, she gives excellent examples and cites myriad memoirs and books on aspects of craft. My “to read” list expanded, and I have already learned so much from her and the other teachers and writers she cites. I think this is a great book for any writer, not just memoirists. Selig’s thoughts about how writing classes and groups can be conducted as places of safety, encouragement, and inspiration are beautiful, and much needed in our world of easy criticism and cynicism.
September 1, 2024
The author's publicist requested a review, and I was happy to agree as I'm recently retired and have been working on a memoir of my teaching career. I have been struggling with organization, so Selig's book came at the perfect time to help me, especially "Chapter II: The Archetype of Structure."
I also appreciate the focus on creating a bond with the reader, bringing one specific life into relevance for a wider audience. I now see how I can expand my audience to all people, even though I am focused on my teaching career.
In addition, I liked the scientific approach to the idea of memory and overall academic tone without being stuffy. I learned a great deal that has been helpful as I revise my memoir.
I also appreciate the focus on creating a bond with the reader, bringing one specific life into relevance for a wider audience. I now see how I can expand my audience to all people, even though I am focused on my teaching career.
In addition, I liked the scientific approach to the idea of memory and overall academic tone without being stuffy. I learned a great deal that has been helpful as I revise my memoir.
May 21, 2025
Excellent, and a must for anyone wishing to understand and develop their skills in memoir writing.
Following more than a few years break from trying to write and pull ideas together, and having read many 'how to' books on memoir writing, this one by far takes first prize for fully breaking down and chewing the psychology process.
Obviously, reading quality memoirs written by others will always help, and there is an extensive reading list at the back, but this book digs deep (as in the title) and really gets down to the nuts and bolts - including reasons to write versus the fear factor and why our experiences are worth recording for 'the human manual'.
I'm preparing to read again and this time, I'll be making notes.
Following more than a few years break from trying to write and pull ideas together, and having read many 'how to' books on memoir writing, this one by far takes first prize for fully breaking down and chewing the psychology process.
Obviously, reading quality memoirs written by others will always help, and there is an extensive reading list at the back, but this book digs deep (as in the title) and really gets down to the nuts and bolts - including reasons to write versus the fear factor and why our experiences are worth recording for 'the human manual'.
I'm preparing to read again and this time, I'll be making notes.
February 17, 2025
Must-read for memoir writers
I’ve read several books on writing memoir, but this one takes memoir to a whole new level by considering archetypes in our stories, our writing, and our connections with our readers and other writers. Contains the most helpful discussion of metaphor I’ve ever read. It goes beyond how metaphors can enrich a story to tips on creating metaphors that fit your unique story. Highly recommended!
I’ve read several books on writing memoir, but this one takes memoir to a whole new level by considering archetypes in our stories, our writing, and our connections with our readers and other writers. Contains the most helpful discussion of metaphor I’ve ever read. It goes beyond how metaphors can enrich a story to tips on creating metaphors that fit your unique story. Highly recommended!
March 18, 2026
so helpful
This book is great! Full of wisdom, interesting facts, fascinating quotes, and more, this book is one of the best I’ve read on memoir writing. It’s right up there with Maureen Murdock’s book on memoir, and, incidentally, she taught a class with Murdock.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book and will be rereading it and sharing it with anyone I know who writes both fiction and nonfiction as a resource.
This book is great! Full of wisdom, interesting facts, fascinating quotes, and more, this book is one of the best I’ve read on memoir writing. It’s right up there with Maureen Murdock’s book on memoir, and, incidentally, she taught a class with Murdock.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book and will be rereading it and sharing it with anyone I know who writes both fiction and nonfiction as a resource.
December 22, 2025
This is a book one should study, not read. And I mean that in a good way. As I revise my own memoir, I plan to apply many of the concepts (archetypes) described to help make my work better. Especially helpful were the discussions of structure and metaphor, but each chapter contained valuable material for the writer of memoir.
August 9, 2024
The best memoir-writing craft book I’ve read in a long time. The key to welcoming the reader into your story, your journey, your quest is transformation, change, to invite readers into the self-transcending meaning of life. But writing deep memoir is not for the faint of heart. One must walk into darkness to find light, let alone healing. In memoir, that is the prize.
June 30, 2025
I'll be rereading this one. The discussion on "takeaways" was a revelation.
November 10, 2025
Worth it for breadth of memoirs covered - and good insights on archetypes
December 27, 2024
I began reading this book because I was stuck in my memoir writing process. I ended this book with ideas and insights, yes. But I also ended with my heart opened, with a greater understanding of how and why writing and the sharing of writing are healing.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews