#I write like by memoires how to#
#I write like by memoires skin#
#I write like by memoires full#

This is because life is, at times, just too odd to be believed. On the other hand, memoir – someone’s actual life story – does not necessarily lend itself well to fictionalizing. But plot and character decisions, whether in fiction or memoir, remain the same: the author must include scenes and people which will capture the interest of the reader, who in either case, doesn’t know story.įiction can be crafted in first person POV and work nicely as a memoir-like novel. This is the mystery of fiction – not knowing the trajectory until the novel is finished, or at least until a draft is complete. As the story progresses the characters themselves “decide” what to do. I know many, including myself, who figure it out as we go – kind of like walking blind down a path. They identify the landmarks and “write toward” that outline. Some novelists prefer to outline structure and plot before they begin to write. Additionally, many people touch our lives, but the memoirist must decide which of those people will best support her unique story from a dramatic point of view.īy contrast, a novel, though it may be inspired by a real-life event, is made up. For instance, childhood scenes alone could take up a lot of page space, but the trick is to use those that best propel the narrative forward.

#I write like by memoires full#

A life is full and large, and part of the memoirist’s job is to decide which scenes to select for inclusion. In fact, the author knows much more than can ever be reasonably included in the memoir. To my mind, the only real difference is that with memoir, the plot which is the author’s life story, is completely known.

The craft of writing a memoir and a novel is more alike than different. These descriptions could be attributed to a great novel and also a beautifully rendered memoir. There is ambiguity, mystery and resolution. Ancillary characters add dimension and complexity. The protagonist (the author) is both vulnerable and heroic. The structure of the book beats with necessary rhythm and as such, pulls the reader in deeply. The protagonist is fleshed out and the story line is revealed in a cohesive yet artful manner. One of the highest compliments a memoirist can receive is to have her book characterized as a page turner certainly, but even better, that it reads like a novel. In the end, I believe all art forms are versions of storytelling and the best stories are told from the perspective of truth and integrity craft and discernment. But to add to this, all creative arts begin with small parts and end up with a totality which is greater than those parts.

This is, of course, a simplistic reduction. Implicit in this quote is that all art forms are connected by the notion of shapeshifting.

#I write like by memoires how to#

How to Write a Memoir that Reads Like a Novel But it’s how she writes that shows you her real goods, and she generously volunteered to write what is below for the readers of The Memoir Project blog. I had the great pleasure to work with Marcia, so I know what she did, how she works and something about how she thinks. The book earned enormous praise in reviews in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and more.

#I write like by memoires skin#

IT’S A QUESTION I GET ALL THE TIME: How to write a memoir that reads like a novel? How to make it a page-turner and give it a fiction-like feel in its fine plot? All good questions, and perhaps no one is more qualified to answer them than Marcia Butler, author of the highly-acclaimed, The Skin Above My Knee.