Memoir Authors discussion

I was wondering if you think I should rewrite my memoir book?

When I put my book together I had all attentions of writing it like a book that flows. But, after doing all the self-publishing work of putting together my sister's poetry book and adding my photos, I just put my book together the way I had it.

It's a list of short stories of my life. It's memoirs but in no particular order.

Do people really like to read short stories instead of a book where it's beginning to end? Do you know what I mean?

My book is "Walking Down Life's Path". I'm undecided on whether to write it like a book instead of short stories. Or, just leave it go and move onto something else.

I also left out stories cause at the time felt like I shouldn't include them for reasons that have to do with family.

Thoughts?

Barbara, I faced a similar situation when I was writing my family's memoir (Digha Lodge: A short history...) I didn't really know what was the best approach. I still don't know. But I think the most important thing is to make sure that the reader is able to relate to your stories. Coherence is the key, I guess. Just do something that takes the reader from one chapter or story to another. Good luck!

Thanks Syed.

Barbara, I love the idea of connected stories, but I do think they are better connected in some way..not necessarily chronologically, but in a way that develops an arc of some sort. All memoir really has to do this: pick what experiences (or stories) to include or omit, and within those what scenes are most important to advance the narrative.

I think the challenge and opportunity is to find what you are trying to say, the lesson/s learned, etc that others will relate to (unless you are just doing this for family or recording purposes but even so.) and how you can frame that in an arc showing your own development in a way others might be inspired or resonate in another way.

it might be a good idea to find other books you think do this well and consider how it is the author has achieved it.

Good luck!

Shannon wrote: "Barbara, I love the idea of connected stories, but I do think they are better connected in some way..not necessarily chronologically, but in a way that develops an arc of some sort. All memoir real..."

Yes, originally I was in a writing group and we were doing short stories of our memoirs just for our family mostly.

Then I put it in book form. I self-published and put it out there for others to read. The more I think about it though, I'd rather it flow like a "book" as a story instead of short stories. That's the way I have it now. All the stories sort of stand on their own.

Barbara wrote: "I was wondering if you think I should rewrite my memoir book?

When I put my book together I had all attentions of writing it like a book that flows. But, after doing all the self-publishing work ..."

It sounds like you could use a beta reader, to just read what you've got and make some suggestions, overall. You might just ask your beta reader/critique partner for suggestions about structure.

I ALSO TOOK A WRITING COURSE WHERE THE TEACHER GAVE A TOPIC TO WRITE ABOUT EVERY WEEK. HE READ ALL MY ESSAYS ALOUD AND ENCOURAGED ME IN WRITING MY STORIES ABOUT GROWING UP IN WORLD WAR II-‘UP THE WOODEN HILL’ AND MY TEENAGE ADVENTUROUS JOURNEY TO CALIFORNIA IN THE 1950s – ‘COMING OF AGE IN CALIFORNIA-ENGLISH STYLE-‘.

I ENCOURAGED MY HUSBAND TO RECORD PARALLEL STORIES OF HIS CHILDHOOD PRE, DURING AND AFTER WORLD WAR II IN GERMANY UNTIL WE MET.

I SOON HAD REAMS OF TYPEWRITTEN PAGES WHICH EVENTUALLY BECAME MY TWO MEMOIRS.

Jill wrote: "I ALSO TOOK A WRITING COURSE WHERE THE TEACHER GAVE A TOPIC TO WRITE ABOUT EVERY WEEK. HE READ ALL MY ESSAYS ALOUD AND ENCOURAGED ME IN WRITING MY STORIES ABOUT GROWING UP IN WORLD WAR II-‘UP THE ..."

So you have two memoirs out? How would I find them? What are the titles?

Faith wrote: "Jill wrote: "I ALSO TOOK A WRITING COURSE WHERE THE TEACHER GAVE A TOPIC TO WRITE ABOUT EVERY WEEK. HE READ ALL MY ESSAYS ALOUD AND ENCOURAGED ME IN WRITING MY STORIES ABOUT GROWING UP IN WORLD WA..."

You can see my website here, Faith.
http://home.earthlink.net/~schaefer234/ The videos can be viewed on UTube site:

Coming of Age in California-English Style- http://youtu.be/ijrsngcPzTc

Up The Wooden Hill-The Tale of Two WWII Families- http://youtu.be/honecQ3ryOU

Thanks for asking. Jill Schaefer

I started w/short stories-chronologic and received praise from Abigail Thomas, memoirist. I changed my style and though I've grown in my skill I'm seriously considering going back.

Berta

Barbara, I guess in a way it would depend on if you have something else in mind to go on to? If you have another book in your heart, then I would start on that. Something fresh and new moving forward, which could of course, incorporate some of the writing you've already done. If you have no other ideas and feel that your book is unfinished in a way, then perhaps reworking it is not a bad idea. Sorry, that might not be very helpful, but what I'm saying is that only you can truly know. Though beta readers are also a good idea. x