My dedication lately has been in the proposal writing for my completed full-length memoir. This has caused me to pause and reflect. I did it—I wrote my story! Can you write your story?
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| Photo by London Scout |
Clue #1 Can you be honest?
In a fictitious story, anything goes. We can let the characters do anything we want them to do.
In memoir, we can’t change the facts. We can change how we show the facts. Can you stick to the truth while getting to the heart of the matter?
Clue #2 Your story is different
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Ok, so maybe it’s not that different. You’re not the only one to have done that or gone through that. How you lived that same situation makes it different. Show so.
Or, maybe it is different. Who else can say they did this too? It’s not enough to say you’re unique.
Readers need to feel your story as if they can relate even if the details are different.
Your story is different if you can give new insight.
Clue #3 Going beyond a memorable event
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| Photo by Cheryl Winn-Boujnida |
Can you show how you triumphed over your woes or how you overcame your vice? Can you share the outcome of this ordeal?
Or, if you experienced an extraordinarily good thing, can you show how you were affected and who you are now because of this?
Clue #4 You’re creative
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Can you see the obvious, the irregularities, and the obscure in your story? And share these details with your readers?
Clue #5 And you’re driven
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Writing a memoir involves tenacity, passion, dedication, and forgoing other stuff you either want to do or should be doing. Writing takes precedence. Can you do this? Do you want to do this? Will you do this?
If you answered “Yes!” to the above 5 clues, then what’s stopping you? If anything is stopping you, stop that, and get started in your memoir writing. Our stories change the world (and us as we write). Be the change you want to see in the world.
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I wish you success in writing.
-Elle-
I like your list. Though I'm sure some will find it hard to discover that they can't answer "yes" to all of them, I think you are right about needing all those things to write a successful memoir. And several of those comments apply to writing fiction, too, if you just change it to "your idea" rather than your life.
ReplyDeleteI guess the other requirement is the discipline to do it--what I think you mean in point #5.
Best of luck with yours!
—Rebecca
My IWSG Post
Thanks for the input Rebecca; so true your comments are. If we can't answer "yes" to all, we can enjoy the creativity in those that apply and are helpful to bringing our story alive. Thanks for the luck; you too!
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