


Which type of memoir is right for you?Īll of these different types of memoirs can then be broken down into sub-types based on writer preference. What were the writer’s thoughts, feelings, and choices during this difficult time? That’s what makes this type of memoir stand out. Imagine climbing Mount Everest and dealing with the cold, wind, and low oxygen near the summit. This type of memoir focuses on the personal adventure of the situation and challenges the writer may have faced and overcome. Others may have started traveling just so they could have those experiences. Some writers have had notable experiences while traveling. A transformational memoir should also include what the writer found or learned at the end of the journey during the quest for transformation. Significant events and experiences that helped to shape the writer are important elements in this type of memoir. embracing religion or spirituality and the changes that decision helped to create.overcoming addictions or challenging circumstances.This is one of the most common types of memoirs today. There are more thoughts, opinions, feelings, and points of view included in this narrative without the need for a comprehensive story arc. The public memoir is a little different because the goal is to let readers get to know the writer in a more personal way than the public lens allows. Celebrities would be associated with this type of memoir, but so would anyone that lives their life in the public eye on a regular basis. Some people live their lives in a very public way. Others may be written as training materials for other employees.Īt the end of the day, however, this type of memoir still needs to offer a story arc and thesis to keep the reader engaged. Some memoirs in this category are written for the purpose of forming a historical record of events. If someone was a politician, for example, they might write a memoir about their time in public office.Ī writer might offer a memoir about their experiences of trying to get their first novel published.
#Memoir definition professional
This type of memoir is written from the perspective of the writer’s professional life. The writer of a portrait memoir does not include their own thoughts or feelings – only what they have found in their research is included. If someone found a diary, for example, they could begin to write this type of memoir based on what the diary writer had included within their narrative. It’s based on the experiences or events of a person who has documented them thoroughly in some way. This unique type of memoir is the only one that is written by someone other than the actual person. what the writer learned after the situation resolved.It may be an adventure that they had, an illness they had to fight, or a divorce they had to endure. It offers a glimpse at the writer’s personal life in a certain segment of time. This has been traditionally the most popular type of memoir. It is a lot like someone entering a confessional booth to talk to a priest about their sins, which is how this memoir got its name.Īfter discussing the decision or actions, the writer would then use the memoir to talk about how they made amends with those involved and how the process eventually changed their life for the better. This unique type of memoir focuses on what the writer feels like are the wrong actions or decisions they took in life. Which one of these types of memoirs could be right for you? #1. Each of the seven types of memoirs below has its own advantages. In another, it includes certain fictional elements in the way the story is constructed so that readers from all walks of life can be related to the story.īefore writing a memoir, a writer must decide what type of memoir they wish to offer to readers. In one way, it’s a creative nonfiction narrative. The memoir has become a very popular way to discuss the lessons learned over the course of a life.
