MEMOIRS

WHAT IS A MEMOIR? “A memoir is not what happens, but the person to whom things happen.” -Virginia Woolf

“Memoir is a window into a life.” “The memoir writer takes us back to some corner of his or her past that was unusually intense-childhood, for instance.” ~ William Zinsser

“Memoir is not the whole head of hair but one or two strands of hair.” -Jean Little

“Our memoir will come not only from our memories but also from our imaginations.” Lucy Calkins

Gage Canadian Dictionary: “Memoir: n Gage Canadian Dictionary: “Memoir: n. a record of a person’s own experiences”

Characteristics of a Memoir A memoir is a story about something that happened to the writer. Memoirs often make the reader feel an emotion that the writer is recalling (fear, anger, happiness, sadness, etc.} Memoirs are often stories about events that are important to the writer. The author doesn’t tell how he or she felt about the event, but shows you through the actions and conversations of the characters in the memoir and through sensory details.

A memoir is a kind of personal experience narrative It is a way of making sense of the past. It allows us to explore moments in our lives and make them meaningful. It encourages us to discover truths in our lives and share them. It is written in the first person point of view (I, me).

Memoir Focus A memoir is more detailed than a narrative because it focuses on one thing only. A memoir is a snapshot; a glimpse into your life. Before writing a memoir ask yourself: What experiences have I had that are worth capturing on paper? Which memories stick with me?

Discover Meaning in Memories A memoir has more of a narrative feel to it than a personal essay. It is written like a story, but it’s not fiction. It is about discovering meaning in your memories rather than recording the facts. It is about using your senses to describe the event (show don’t tell; taste, touch, hearing, sight, smell). Narrow your topic.