How to Write a Memoir Essay: 4 Tips for Writing Memoir Essays

A memoir essay is a short, essay-length version of a memoir—typically between 2,000 and 10,000 words. A memoir essay is a first-person narrative drawn from the author’s own life. A memoir essay is, by definition, a true story. Like other forms of creative nonfiction, though, memoir essay writing makes use of many of the literary devices and techniques of fiction.

Unlike an autobiography, a memoir essay isn’t meant to be your entire life story. It probably won’t be chronological, and you may or may not even be the main character. That said, while it may focus on the author’s relationship with multiple family members or loved ones, a memoir essay tends to be narrow in scope. In fact, many of the best memoir essays focus on a single relationship or a flashback to a key life experience. As with a short story or novel, a good memoir essay is consciously constructed and ordered for literary effect.

There’s no bad subject for a memoir essay. That’s because what makes a memoir special is your writing style and the way you draw meaning out of past experiences. A great memoir essay could revolve around a memory of growing up or an account of one day in your life that proved to be consequential. It could be about your first job or it could be about your experience leaving home and being around college students for the first time. Here are some writing tips to keep in mind as you dive into the first draft of your memoir essay:

1. 1. Pay attention to those memories that keep coming back to you. Even if you don’t know why a memory may be significant, the fact that you keep thinking of it means there’s probably a great story worth exploring there.
2. 2. Feel free to play with structure. While your memoir essay will be true, you don’t have to relate events in the exact order and manner in which they occurred. Reread some of your favorite short stories and novels and see how those writers manipulate time, perspective, and structure to create dramatic effects.
3. 3. Include specific images. Remember, memory is always tied to the five senses, and the more specifically you can recall individual memories, the more vivid your writing will be. Beginning your memoir with a memory grounded in a specific sense can be a powerful entry into a memory—maybe you begin with the smell of your grandmother’s living room, the taste of your favorite ice cream flavor, or the sound of your grandfather’s tractor.,
4. 4. Capture the complexity and nuance of memory. Remember, while you may be the narrator of your own memoir, you’re not necessarily the hero. The point of a memoir isn’t to make yourself look good; it’s to bravely explore your own memories and perceptions. Think about how time and distance have changed the way you reflect on the way you felt or acted as a younger person. That tension and complexity will help pull the reader through your whole essay.

Become a better writer with the Masterclass Annual Membership. Gain access to exclusive video lessons taught by literary masters, including Neil Gaiman, David Baldacci, Joyce Carol Oates, Dan Brown, Margaret Atwood, David Sedaris, and more.