Memoir Writing For Dummies Cheat Sheet

• Your One-Sentence Pitch: Can you boil down your memoir’s premise to a single, powerful sentence? This helps focus your writing.
• Your Ideal Reader: Who do you most want to connect with through your story? Keep their interests and experiences in mind as you write.
• Your “X-Factor”: What makes your story different? Is it a unique perspective, an extraordinary experience, or a relatable struggle?
• Your Growth: Who did you become? What lessons did you learn?

• Brainstorming Sparkplugs:
  • My most pivotal turning point . . .
  • The person who influenced me most . . .
  • A time I felt truly lost . . .
  • A defining childhood memory . . .
• Small Moments, Big Themes: Explore seemingly ordinary moments that reveal something larger about you, your journey, or life in general.
• Age-Specific Prompts:
  • Childhood: A favorite toy, a schoolyard experience, your imaginary world
  • Adolescence: First crush, a defining act of rebellion, a moment of belonging (or not)
  • Young adulthood: A major decision, a life-changing trip, a significant relationship
  • Adulthood: A career highlight/setback, a profound realization, navigating parenthood

• Sensory Details: Engage the reader’s senses. What did you see, hear, smell, taste, touch?
• Emotional Honesty: Don’t shy away from difficult emotions. Vulnerability adds depth.
• Show versus Tell: Use vivid scenes and dialogue to let the reader experience the story with you.
• Narrative Arc: Guide your reader through your growth and change. Consider the traditional story pyramid (exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, conclusion).

• Central Theme: What underlying message does your story convey?
• Internal Conflict: What were your biggest internal struggles along the way?
• Authentic Voice: How can you best express your unique personality and perspective on the page?
• Revision Checklist: Does this scene advance the plot, reveal character, or connect to your theme?

• Action: “I slammed the car door and ran for my life.”
• Dialogue: “You’re sure you want to do this?” the doctor asked.
• Reflection: “It wasn’t until years later that I understood . . .”
• Atmosphere: “Our house always smelled of cinnamon and old books.”

• Permission: If including deeply personal stories about others, consider asking for permission if possible.
• Fairness: Strive to portray others with both honesty and empathy.
• Anonymity: You can change names or details to protect others’ privacy if necessary.

Memoir is a journey of self-discovery. Trust the process and let your story unfold — the most important thing is to start writing!