MemoirMidwife

I did this tweetchat with my publisher Alpha Books back in January and after giving it a reread, I think there’s some really useful stuff here for focusing your memoir writing. Makes me think there’s some value in having to hone your thoughts down to 140 characters at a time. Hmmmmm.

Make Your Story Come Alive – The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Writing a Memoir A TweetChat Summary

(Posted on 12.01.12)

Victoria Costello, the author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide® to Writing a Memoir joined us this afternoon to provide expert guidance and suggestions on writing a meaningful memoir. Read our TweetChat summary below to learn all her tips.

@CIG_Lifestyle: To start off, how can I determine the purpose on which to focus my memoir?

@VCpsych: Think about the things you can never forget that cry out to be told.

@CIG_Lifestyle: But how can I tell if an event is “memoir-worthy?”

@VCpsych: The number one rule is to find things in your life that are both specific and universal.

@CIG_Lifestyle: Is there an exercise to help me narrow down the events to include in my memoir?

@VCpsych: List your top 20 life experiences, and then rate them in order of importance.

@CIG_Lifestyle: You said to make things both specific and universal. How can I tell if something that matters to me is meaningful to other people?

@VCpsych: Try telling someone the story-do they light up or look bored?

@CIG_Lifestyle: That’s a good idea! What is the difference between a situation and a story?

@VCpsych: A situation is what happened. The story is why it matters.

@CIG_Lifestyle: So it is important to include both in a memoir, right?

@VCpsych: RIGHT. People like specifics in a story like smell, taste, sounds. Titillate and then explain to your readers.

@CIG_Lifestyle: What if I want to include a particularly painful event, should I wait before writing it?

@VCpsych: If you want to follow the masters, the rule if you care to follow the masters is to wait 10 years! Don’t bash your ex too soon…

@CIG_Lifestyle: 10 years seems like enough time to process those events. What are the rules for writing a true story?

@VCpsych: Don’t make up events or combine them. If it’s a guess, tell your readers what you’re up to.

@CIG_Lifestyle: How should I go about double-checking facts?

@VCpsych: Ask other participants in events if you can to check facts and get other points of view.

@CIG_Lifestyle: Do you recommend any strategies to help remember details?

@VCpsych: Always include sense memories when writing your memoir…they take you right back there.

@CIG_Lifestyle: What if my memory goes blank, how do I blend my guesswork with conversation?

@VCpsych: Look at old photos, use heirlooms to prod the sights, sounds, smells and touch of the past.

@CIG_Lifestyle: What are the 5 golden rules of good writing that you mention in your new Complete Idiot’s Guide to Writing a Memoir?

@VCpsych: Like journalism, use the 5 Ws: What, When, Where, Why and Who in your memoir story.

@CIG_Lifestyle: In a memoir, what is the difference between the narrator and main character?

@VCpsych: You as the main character changes over time. As narrator, you stay the same.

@CIG_Lifestyle: Would I ever want to make my narrator unreliable?

@VCpsych: Be unreliable only if you let your readers in on it to show how something changed you.

@CIG_Lifestyle: For our last question, should I publish my work?

@VCpsych: Only if you’re ready to take the exposure and possible hits.