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63 Best Memoir Writing Prompts To Stoke Your Ideas

You’re writing a memoir. But you’re not sure what questions or life lessons you want to focus on.

Even if only family members and friends will read the finished book, you want to make it worth their time. 

This isn’t just a whimsical collection of anecdotes from your life.

You want to convey something to your readers that will stay with them. 

And maybe you want your memoir’s impact to serve as your legacy — a testament to how you made a small (or large) difference. 

The collection of memoir questions in this post can help you create a legacy worth sharing.

So, if you don’t already have enough ideas for a memoir, read on. 

A Strong Theme

Overcoming obstacles, emotional storytelling, satisfying ending, examples of good starting sentences for a memoir , 63 memoir writing prompts , what are the primary parts of a memoir.

Though similar to autobiographies, memoirs are less chronological and more impressionable – less historical and more relatable.

Resultantly, they’re structured differently. 

With that in mind, let’s look at five elements that tie a memoir together, rendering it more enjoyable.

Biographies are histories that may not hew to a cohesive theme. But memoirs focus on inspiring and enlightening experiences and events.

As such, books in the genre promote a theme or idea that binds the highlighted happenings to an overarching reflection point or lesson.

Many people are super at sniffing out insincerity, and most folks prefer candidness.

So while exact dates and logistical facts may be off in a memoir, being raw and real with emotions, revelations, and relational impacts is vital. To put it colloquially: The best personal accounts let it all hang out. 

People prefer inspiring stories. They want to read about people overcoming obstacles, standing as testaments to the tenacious nature of the human spirit. Why?

Because it engenders hope. If this person was able to achieve “x,” there’s a possibility I could, too. Furthermore, people find it comforting that they’re not the only ones who’ve faced seemingly insurmountable impediments.

Readers crave emotion. And for many of the stoic masses, books, plays, television shows, and films are their primary sources of sentimentality.

Historically, the best-performing memoirs are built on emotional frameworks that resonate with readers. The goal is to touch hearts, not just heads.

In a not-so-small way, memoirs are like romance books: Readers want a “happy” ending. So close strongly. Ensure the finale touches on the book’s central themes and emotional highlights.

End it with a smile and note of encouragement, leaving the audience satisfied and optimistic.

Use the following questions as memoir writing exercises . Choose those that immediately evoke memories that have stayed with you over the years.

memoir writing topics

Group them by theme — family, career, beliefs, etc. — and address at least one question a day. 

For each question, write freely for around 300 to 400 words. You can always edit it later to tighten it up or add more content. 

1. What is your earliest memory?

2. What have your parents told you about your birth that was unusual?

3. How well did you get along with your siblings, if you have any?

4. Which parent were you closest to growing up and why?

5. What parent or parental figure had the biggest influence on you growing up?

6. What is your happiest childhood memory?

7. What is your saddest or most painful childhood memory?

8. Did you have good parents? How did they show their love for you?

9. What words of theirs from your childhood do you remember most, and why?

10. What do you remember most about your parents’ relationship? 

11. Were your parents together, or did they live apart? Did they get along? 

12. How has your relationship with your parents affected your own love relationships?

13. Who or what did you want to be when you grew up? 

14. What shows or movies influenced you most during your childhood?

15. What were your favorite books to read, and how did they influence you?

16. If you grew up in a religious household, how did you see “God”? 

17. How did you think “God” saw you? Who influenced those beliefs?

18. Describe your spiritual journey from adolescence to the present?

19. Who was your first best friend? How did you become friends? 

20. Who was your favorite teacher in elementary school, and why?

21. Did you fit in with any social group or clique in school? Describe your social life?

22. What were your biggest learning challenges in school (academic or social)? 

23. Who was your first crush, and what drew you to them? How long did it last?

24. What was your favorite subject in school, and what did you love about it?

25. What do you wish you would have learned more about growing up?

26. What did you learn about yourself in high school? What was your biggest mistake?

27. What seemed normal to you growing up that now strikes you as messed up?

28. How old were you when you first moved away from home?

29. Who gave you your first kiss? And what do you remember most about it?

30. Who was your first love ? What do you remember most about them?

31. Was there ever a time in your life when you realized you weren’t straight? 

32. Describe a memorable argument you had with one of your parents? How did it end?

33. Have you lost a parent? How did it happen, and how did their death affect you?

34. What was your first real job? What do you remember most about it?

35. How did you spend the money you earned with that job? 

36. At what moment in your life did you feel most loved? 

37. At what moment in your life did you feel most alone?

38. What do you remember most about your high school graduation? Did it matter?

39. What’s something you’ve done that you never thought you would do?

40. What has been the greatest challenge of your life up to this point?

41. What did you learn in college that has had a powerful influence on you?

42. How has your family’s financial situation growing up influenced you?

43. How has someone’s harsh criticism of you led you to an important realization? 

44. Do you consider yourself a “good person”? Why or why not?

45. Who was the first person who considered you worth standing up for?

46. If you have children, whom did you trust with them when they were babies?

47. Did you have pets growing up? Did you feel close or attached to any of them?

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48. Describe someone from your past whom you’d love to see again. 

49. Do you have a lost love? If yes, describe them, how you met, and how you lost them. 

50. Describe a moment when you made a fool of yourself and what it cost you. 

51. What is something you learned later in life that you wish you’d learned as a child?

52. How do you want others to see you? What words come to mind? 

53. What do you still believe now that you believed even as a child or as a teenager?

54. What do you no longer believe that you did believe as a child or teenager?

55. When have you alienated people by being vocal about your beliefs? 

56. Are you as vocal about your beliefs as you were when you were a young adult ?

57. Are you haunted by the consequences of beliefs you’ve since abandoned? 

58. How have your political beliefs changed since you were a teenager? 

59. Have you ever joined a protest for a cause you believe in? Would you still? 

60. How has technology shaped your life for the past 10 years? 

61.Has your chosen career made you happy — or cost you and your family too much?

62. What comes to mind if someone asks you what you’re good at? Why does it matter?

63. How is your family unique? What makes you proudest when you think about them?

We’ve looked at the elements that make memoirs shine. Now, let’s turn our attention to one of the most important parts of a personal account: the opening sentence.

We’ve scoured some of the most successful, moving memoirs of all time to curate a list of memorable starting sentences. Notice how all of them hint at the theme of the book.

Let’s jump in.

1. “They called him Moishe the Beadle, as if his entire life he had never had a surname.” From Night, a first-hand account of the WWII Holocaust by Elie Wiesel

2. “My mother is scraping a piece of burned toast out of the kitchen window, a crease of annoyance across her forehead.” From Toast: The Story of a Boy’s Hunger, foodie Nigel Slater’s account of culinary events that shaped his life.

3. “Then there was the bad weather.” From A Moveable Feast , Ernest Hemingway’s telling of his years as an young expat in Paris

4. “You know those plants always trying to find the light?” From Over the Top: A Raw Journey of Self-Love by Queer Eye for the Straight Guy’s beloved star, Jonathan Van Ness

5. “What are you looking at me for? I didn’t come to stay.” From Maya Angelou’s masterpiece, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings , the story of persevering in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles

6. “I’m on Kauai, in Hawaii, today, August 5, 2005. It’s unbelievably clear and sunny, not a cloud in the sky.” From What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami, a memoir about the fluidity of running and writing

7. “The soil in Leitrim is poor, in places no more than an inch deep. ” From All Will be Well , Irish writer John McGahern’s recounting of his troubled childhood 

8. “The past is beautiful because one never realizes an emotion at the time.” From Educated , Tara Westover’s engrossing account of her path from growing up in an uneducated survivalist family to earning a doctorate in intellectual history from Cambridge University 

9. “I flipped through the CT scan images, the diagnosis obvious.” From When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi, the now-deceased doctor’s journey toward mortality after discovering he had terminal cancer

10. “Romantic love is the most important and exciting thing in the entire world.” From Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton, a funny, light-hearted memoir about one woman’s amorous journey from teenager to twentysomething

Final Thoughts

These memoir topics should get ideas flooding into your mind. All you have to do, then, is let them out onto the page. The more you write, the easier it will be to choose the primary focus for your memoir. And the more fun you’ll have writing it. 

That’s not to say it’ll be easy to create a powerful memoir. It won’t be. But the more clarity you have about its overall mission, the more easily the words will flow. 

Enjoy these memoir writing exercises. And apply the same clarity of focus during the editing process. Your readers will thank you. 

Best Memoir writing Prompts

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Home / Book Writing / Topics for Memoirs: 50+ Ideas and Prompts to Get You Started

Topics for Memoirs: 50+ Ideas and Prompts to Get You Started

The memoir is a popular type of nonfiction writing that's often associated with celebrities, business leaders, and politicians. However, you don't need to be any of the above to write a good memoir.

Most people develop, over the course of their life, interesting experiences, expertise, or hardships that could interest others. But how do you know you have a good idea for a memoir? Better yet, how can you come up with a good memoir idea ?

Well, read on to find out as we discuss topics for memoirs. 

  • What sets memoirs apart from other nonfiction.
  • Tips for writing a compelling memoir. 
  • Memoir writing prompts. 

Table of contents

  • What is a Memoir?
  • Open With a Hook
  • Structure it Like a Novel
  • Read Many Memoirs
  • Inspirational Memoir Ideas
  • Confessional Memoir Ideas
  • Comedic Memoir Ideas
  • Nostalgia Memoir Ideas
  • Travel Memoir Ideas
  • Other Memoir Writing Prompts
  • Position Your Memoir for Success

Before we go any further, let's get on the same page. A memoir is an exploration of a certain topic or subject with which the author has experience. This sets the memoir apart from the autobiography , which is typically a look at the author's entire life (or at least the interesting parts). A memoir, on the other hand, only explores certain aspects of the author's life that have to do with the topic or theme at hand. 

Memoirs also read like fiction books. There's a cast of characters, and the protagonist is almost always the author. They have a similar tone and style to fiction books, as well, which is one reason people read them. In fact, some memoirs have been known to skirt the line between truth and fiction ( A Million Little Pieces , anyone?). 

That said, you should strive for truth in your memoir. But you'll also probably leave some stuff out by necessity. In other words, you don't need to tell all about the boring stuff. 

How to Write a Good Memoir

Memoir writing doesn't have to be hard. In fact, some writers may find it easier than writing a story about fictional characters. After all, the memoir will be about your own life and experiences. Here are a few tips to help you get started. 

Grabbing the reader from the beginning is essential for any memoir (or novel, for that matter). There are a number of ways to do this, and the type of story you plan to write will often dictate how it’s done. You can start with humor, action, conflict, or strong emotions. Don’t be afraid to combine more than one of these factors. 

But no matter how you start the book, you’ll want to ensure you write from the heart and stick to the truth as you remember it. If you write with emotion and keep it compelling, the reader will be happy to go on the journey with you for the rest of the memoir. 

Thinking of the structure of your memoir as that of a novel is a great way to craft a compelling narrative. Try your best to have the reader identify with you early on, while also setting up the central conflict of the story. 

Each scene should advance the story, add character development or depth, or support the overarching theme of your memoir. All the better if a scene does more than one of these things!

As is the case with writing any other type of book, you'll want to be very familiar with other people's memoirs. You can't expect to know what readers expect from a good memoir if you don't read them yourself. Luckily, there are a ton of different memoir subgenres you can dive into. Some are funny, some are heart-wrenching, and some are informative. Here are some suggestions for excellent memoirs to check out. 

Augusten Burroughs has written several successful memoirs. The most notable of these is Running With Scissors , which was even made into a movie. But he has written other memoirs, including Dry and A Wolf at the Table . 

David Sedaris is another well-known writer in the memoir genre. Unlike Burroughs, Sedaris typically releases books that comprise a collection of essays on a certain topic. The personal essays in his books are memoirs of a kind. 

Alison Bechdel is a cartoonist who has written what is known as graphic memoirs. Similar to a graphic novel, her book Fun Home is a memoir in illustrated form. 

Some other memoirs you may have heard of include:

  • Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt
  • Becoming by Michelle Obama
  • The Liars' Club by Mary Karr
  • Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
  • I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
  • The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion
  • Educated by Tara Westover
  • A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway

For more practical advice, check out the essay How to Write a Memoir by famed nonfiction writer William Zinsser. 

Memoir Writing Prompts

Now that we've covered some broad-strokes writing tips for memoirs, let's dive into some memoir ideas. I've split the following prompts into some overarching memoir categories, but this is not to say that you need to keep any given idea in that category. You can take any prompt that strikes your fancy and apply a different theme to it. 

By definition, your memoir will be very personal. It will be uniquely yours, but if done well, it will also give other people entertainment, insight, and value. After all, a memoir is just a long personal essay. Keep this in mind as you read the following ideas. 

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If you have stories that can touch and inspire, then this may be the theme for you. Overcoming challenges makes for great reading. 

1. Think of the hardest thing you've ever had to do in your life. How did you overcome the challenge? Did you do it by yourself or with the help of friends, family members, a spouse, your kids, etc.?

2. Have you ever had a profound religious or spiritual experience? If so, what prompted it?

3. Have you ever had to deal with a life-or-death situation? Did you keep your cool when others were panicking? What did you learn and how did your life change after the situation was over and you had time to reflect?

4. If you were able to go back in time and talk to your younger self, what would you say? 

5. What is the single most important life experience you've had? Why?

6. Write about the one thing that makes you different from everyone else. How has this difference affected your life, and where would you be if you weren't different?

7. Love is something everyone can relate to. Describe meeting your partner or your trials and tribulations in the world of finding and losing love. 

8. Have you lived through any specific historical event? If so, how did it change your life or affect your view of the world and the human race?

9. Have you devoted your life to a specific field of expertise? With all your knowledge of your specific industry, start a personal narrative that explores how your expertise has influenced your life. 

10. Recount the greatest adventure of your entire life in detail. Why was it so great, and how did it change the course of your life?

Confessional memoirs intrigue readers because the authors share their dirty little secrets. However, most of the time, there's a light at the end of the tunnel. 

11. If you've ever dealt with addiction of any kind, a personal memoir could help other people who are dealing with something similar. 

12. Most industries have a dark underside that doesn't often make the news. If you've been in a position to see this underside, it could make for a good memoir.

13. If you've done something interesting — like working with the homeless or at-risk teens — then your experiences could make for a good confessional memoir. Of course, you'd need to get permission to write about specific people first. 

14. People who have lived a life of crime are in a unique position to write a compelling memoir. True crime is a popular concept across all media, and a true crime memoir could certainly do well. (Of course, I'm not suggesting you commit any crimes just so you can write about them.) 

15. Is there something you've had to deal with, such as a mental or physical illness? Writing about it could be a way to help others with their own struggles. 

16. Traumatic encounters can also make for impactful memoirs. Of course, writing about any kind of trauma can be difficult, but if you feel up to it, you may consider this kind of memoir. 

17. Growing up is hard. If you had a particularly tough or unique time while shedding your childhood and donning adulthood, it could be of interest to future generations. 

18. People are often interested in those who have different experiences from them. Whether you're an African American growing up in the United States or a disabled person navigating through life, try to pinpoint what makes you unique and discuss how it has impacted your life. 

19. Confessional memoirs don't need to be as dramatic as crime or trauma. They can be as simple as mistakes you've learned from. Consider writing about a time when you made a mistake or did something that you are not proud of. Reflect on what led up to the event, how it affected those around you, and how you learned from it.

20. Like mistakes, secrets and your reasons for keeping them can also make for a good memoir topic. Write about a secret that you have kept for a long time. Consider the reasons why you felt the need to keep it hidden. How has it affected your life, and what have you learned from the experience of keeping it hidden?

While confessional memoirs are often serious reads in which the author bares their soul, comedic memoirs often deal with similar issues but with a very different tone. Readers seek these out to laugh and revel in the lives of others.

21. Were you a class clown in middle school, high school, or college? Did you get up to silly hijinks that landed you in the principal's office? If so, a humorous tell-all could be the creative writing project of your dreams. 

22. Everyone's family is pretty strange. But some are certainly stranger than others. If you can look back on your formative years and laugh, you might just have the right attitude for a comedic memoir. 

23. Some of the best memoirs are about family members. Maybe you had a brother or a sister who was zany or simply uniquely funny in their own quiet way. Writing a memoir about how your close family member kept the dark times light and the light times infused with laughter is a fun undertaking. 

24. Sometimes it takes a while to “grow up” and start adulting. And there are certainly potholes along the way. If you have some cringe-worthy stories from living, loving, and learning, then your embarrassment could mean hours of entertainment for your readers. 

25. Trying and failing at something can provide some of the best life lessons of all. Maybe you went to LA to become an actor, or you tried your hand at sports with hilarious results. By making light of your failures, you can help people not take their own so seriously. 

26. Kids say the darndest things. No, I'm not talking about the show, but it's a good example of the kind of memoir you could write if you have raised or been around kids in any capacity. Not only are they funny, but they can teach us how to retain some magic in our own lives. 

27. Humor is certainly a coping mechanism. And while there's a fine line between poking fun and making fun, there's some room in the comedic memoir genre for discussing things like your relationship to food, entertainment, and even exercise. These are the things of life, and with a little creative writing, they can make for fun reading. 

28. Do you work in an industry dominated by the opposite sex? Or in an elite industry where only a few “make it”? Exploring anecdotes from your unique point of view can make for awkward, embarrassing, and funny writing. 

29. Everyone has experienced some hard times in their life, but not everyone can see those things in a positive light. Using humor, write about the hardest moments you've lived through, giving them a comedic twist from your perspective today. 

30. Was there ever a time in your life when a kind word or a silly joke brought you out of a dark place? Write about the power of kindness and laughter in your life. 

Nostalgia memoirs are attractive to readers because they often remind them of their own childhood or experiences. Other readers may pick them up to see what the world was like in a certain time and place. 

31. Growing up in small-town America — with white picket fences and a mailman who stops to chat — is a rarity these days. If you had this kind of upbringing, your experiences could transport readers back in time for an entertaining and inspiring journey. 

32. We relate to the world through stories. And the ones we enjoyed as children often hold a special place in our hearts. If you can relate movies, shows, or books you enjoyed growing up to the person you've become today, it could make for a great memoir. 

33. Music is the soundtrack to our lives. And a memoir that ties popular and classic songs to important events in your life has the potential to be a bestseller!

34. Did you attend Woodstock? Were you there for the Million Man March? Events like these — even those as recent as 1995 — can make for great memoirs. Life was different then, and much has changed. But our love for a good story hasn't. 

35. Write about a significant event or period of your life, and reflect on how your perspective and feelings about it have changed over time. What do you miss most about that time, and what do you appreciate about your current stage of life?

People like traveling almost as much as they like stories. And these kinds of memoirs combine both. It's a way for readers to experience other parts of the world vicariously through the author's eyes. 

36. A year-long trek across Europe. Riding a bike across America in a year. Living in hostels for a year. If you've ever done anything like this, get to writing!

37. Have you ever been injured or stranded in a foreign country? If so, you could write a thrilling memoir that details your experiences, the people you met, and how you managed to get back home. 

38. Snow storms, flash floods, or broken limbs. A lot can go wrong out in the wilderness. If you've ever had a close call or a harrowing experience like this, a piece of narrative writing detailing it could be in order. 

39. You can learn a lot about the world and about people by traveling. Experiences, both good and bad, can be interesting to the average memoir reader. And any life lessons you've learned along the way will certainly add depth to your memoir. 

40. If you've ever been to Antarctica or the Sahara, Everest or Kilimanjaro, your experiences could make for great reading!

Many published memoirs are a collection of essays that are all related by theme. So these are the nonfiction equivalent of short story collections. Don't feel like you need to write one long story for your memoir. You can write several stories on different topics and then publish them as a collection. The following writing prompts can help you do just that. 

41. Write about an epic journey you took. 

42. Write about the time you realized what was really important in life. 

43. Explore the topic of love — both platonic and romantic — and how it has influenced your life. 

44. What is the one life lesson you wish you had learned earlier? Why?

45. Write about the person who has had the greatest impact on your life. 

46. Explore discipline and how your life would be without it. 

47. Talk about big changes in life — from childhood to adulthood or middle age to old age — and impart lessons to those who will be going through the same thing. 

48. If you've ever been through a divorce, explore its impact on your life. 

49. Talk about your hobby and how it has had a positive (or negative) effect on your life. 

50. Explore ways you've tried to help others during your life. 

When you have your memoir written and ready to publish, you’ll need to think about positioning it for success on the biggest online bookseller out there: Amazon. And the easiest way to do this is with Publisher Rocket .

You can think of the information you get from Publisher Rocket as the foundation for your writing career . You get insights directly from Amazon on:

  • Keywords – Metadata to position your memoir on Amazon.
  • Competition – Allowing you to see what other memoirs are selling well and how stiff the competition is.
  • Categories – Allowing you to position your memoir in the right categories and subcategories to increase your chances of success.
  • Amazon Ads – Helping you quickly configure a list of profitable keywords for running ads to your published memoir.

I hope these memoir writing prompts help get your creativity flowing. Don’t forget to check out Publisher Rocket here to use data to sell your finished book!

Increase Your Book Marketing

See the Publisher Rocket effect, when you use the right keywords and categories to help get your book seen more on Amazon.

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  • Legacy Projects

30+ Memoir Topic Ideas + Tips for Choosing One

Updated 11/19/2021

Published 06/26/2020

Sam Tetrault, BA in English

Sam Tetrault, BA in English

Contributing writer

Discover the best memoir topic ideas, including ideas for college students, older adults, and others.

Cake values integrity and transparency. We follow a strict editorial process to provide you with the best content possible. We also may earn commission from purchases made through affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more in our affiliate disclosure .

A memoir is a personal account of your life, an experience, or anything that shapes you into the person you are today. There are a lot of examples of some of the best memoirs out there, but have you ever considered writing your own?

Jump ahead to these sections: 

Personal memoir topic ideas, tips for choosing the best memoir topic, tips for starting your memoir.

There are no rules when it comes to writing your own memoir. You can choose any topic you’d like, and there are no restrictions on how you write your life story . This is a great writing exercise for students, older adults, and everyone in between. 

By taking the time to write about an experience that matters to you, you also do a lot of self-reflection. This could shine a light on how you want to be remembered, your legacy, and any changes you’d like to make in your life. 

There are so many important things you’ll recognize only once you begin writing. Instead of waiting for inspiration to strike, here are 30+ memoir topic ideas and tips for choosing the right one for you. 

If you're interested in unique ways to continue the legacy of a loved one, you can consider a custom urn from a store like Foreverence  or even have a memorial diamond made from ashes with a company like  Eterneva .

A personal memoir is something that’s meaningful for you. This could be an interesting event, a life-changing moment, or even just a bit of internal reflection. Again, there are no rules. Let these ideas be your guide. 

Ideas for middle school and high school students

A memoir is an excellent writing exercise for students in middle school and high school. Though these students might not have a lot of life experience, they still have unique perspectives on the world. Capturing these ideas in writing is worth its weight in gold. 

1. A major life event

We all experience major life events, even as children. What major life event defines your life, and how can you grow from it? It could be a transition from middle school to high school, a parent’s divorce, or even a vacation. These are the memories that define who we are. 

2. Your favorite place

Where do you find the most comfort? Is it at home in your bedroom or outside somewhere special? Why does this space have so much meaning for you, and how do you spend your time here? Share an experience you’ve had here.

3. Your best day

Best days might not come around all that often, but they sure are memorable when they do. Share one of the best days you’ve ever had, who you were with, and what you did. What made this moment so special?

4. Favorite food

Food is one of the things that bind people together. What food speaks the most to you, and why does it have such an important place in your heart? What does food mean within your family?

5. Favorite teacher

Teachers impact the way we think, and their role transcends the classroom. Who was your most memorable teacher? What stood out about them, and how do you work hard to make them proud?

6. Favorite book

Everyone has a book they’ve read that stuck with them. Humans share who they are through stories. Like the memoir itself, this book plays a role in who you’ve become. What book is your favorite, and what does it mean to you?

7. Most prized possession

This topic is like show-and-tell in written form. What item do you hold in the highest esteem? Is it a beloved shirt or a prize from a sporting event? Where do you keep this item, what does it look like, and what place does it hold in your heart?

8. Your favorite class or subject

No matter your feelings about school, there are bound to be some classes or subjects that stood out to you. What inspired you about these lessons? What have you learned, and how will you use these teachings moving forward?

Who are your closest friends? When did you become friends, and what keeps you close? Exploring these relationships in a memoir is a wonderful tribute to those who matter the most. 

10. Favorite holiday

Holidays have a lot of meaning around the world. Which holidays matter the most to you? What do these say about your family, culture, and personality? What is your favorite way to celebrate?

Ideas for college students

College students are at a defining moment in their lives. They have a lot of responsibility, but they’re not quite on their own in the “real world” just yet. This is the perfect transition point for some reflection through a memoir. 

11. Major or focus

In college, most students define a major or area of study. What major did you choose, and what significance does this have for you? Where do you see yourself in a few years using this major?

12. First love or friendship

We’ll never forget our earliest relationships. Share a time when you fell in love or had a close friendship. What did this relationship mean to you? How did you feel in the moment, and how do you feel now?

13. Obituary

While this might sound odd, a common writing exercise is to write your own obituary. An obituary or death announcement is a way to share your legacy on the world. Though you hope to have many happy years ahead, what do you want to include in your obituary ?

What is your most memorable travel experience? From spring break with friends to family holidays in nearby cities, the places we experience often define us. What have you learned from your journeys both near and far?

15. Hometown

If you’re no longer in your hometown, reflect on what this means to you. Was your hometown somewhere to escape from or to? How has moving away for college affected your relationship with this place?

Describe an experience of loss. Whether you lost someone you love, a pet, or even just a favorite sweater, we all experience these feelings in our own ways. What does loss mean to you?

17. Grandparents

Talking to our grandparents is one of the best ways to bridge gaps between generations. Talk to your grandparents about their experience in college or at your age. How does this compare to your own experience?

18. First job

What was your first job like? When did you receive your first paycheck, and what did this experience mean to you? If you’ve never worked a “real” job, what do you imagine it will be like? Describe a volunteer, academic, or professional experience. 

19. Future you

Write a memoir from the perspective of your future self. Where do you see yourself in 10 years? 20 years? How will this version of yourself look different? What will they have accomplished?

20. Failure

Though difficult to write about, it’s important to reflect on our weaknesses just as much as our strengths. Have you ever failed in your life? How did you move on from this, and what did you learn along the way?

Ideas for older adults

As someone with more life experience, there’s a lot of room to reflect as an older adult. Here are some ideas to get those creative juices flowing as you drift down memory lane. 

How exactly do you want to be remembered by friends and family? What have you accomplished that you’re most proud of, and how will this affect your legacy?

What is your favorite hobby? Describe your experience learning this hobby and becoming a part of the culture. How does it affect your day-to-day life?

23. Life’s passion

While most people have a variety of passions, try to define a single, key passion that defines your life. Limiting it to one helps you focus on what matters most. 

24. Historical event

Have you witnessed any historical events? Things like national disasters, wars, rights movements, and so on are all once-in-a-lifetime experiences. How did they affect you, and what is your perspective on these happenings?

25. Paradigm shift

Was there ever a moment where your point of view changed drastically? Did it stem from someone, something, or a single experience? Describe this moment. 

26. Trip abroad

If you’ve traveled abroad, write about your experience in a new place and surrounded by an unfamiliar culture. What do you remember the most? What lessons did you take with you back home?

What is your relationship with change? Is it something you welcome with open arms or run from? Evaluate how your relationship with change has adapted over time. 

28. Built a home

What does “home” mean to you? Is it the place you grew up or somewhere you built for yourself? Define what home means to you and how you’ve built your own home life. 

While your career isn’t everything, it does say something about you and the life you lead. How has your career affected your life, and what doors has it opened or closed?

30. Life story

Finally, consider sharing your entire life story. If you’re not sure where to start, try the beginning. Each of us has a story to tell, no matter how big or small. 

There are no one-size-fits-all questions for sparking your memoir topic. Follow these tips below to find the right fit for you. 

Writing time and experience

Before you begin, consider how much time you have to dedicate to writing. While writing your life story might be a great goal, this should only be attempted if you have the time to follow through. Otherwise, choose something with shorter writing requirements like sharing an experience. 

Brainstorm before you begin

If you’re not sure where to start, simply start brainstorming or journaling. Often you’ll find the answer in what you write here. What are you drawn to most naturally? Where do your thoughts focus the most? This is where your story lies. 

Choose multiple topics

There are no rules that you only have to stick to one memoir topic. You could write a series of essays that discuss many of the topics above. There is no need to worry about them fitting together perfectly. Life isn’t a highlight’s reel. It’s raw and imperfect, and that’s okay.

Sometimes, the hardest part about starting a memoir is just that: getting started. While you need to have a solid overarching story, you also need to make a strong impression on readers early on. Like all forms of writing and craftsmanship, this process can be intimidating. 

The good news is it’s okay to be messy, to make mistakes, and to figure it out as you go. For inspiration, follow these tips for starting your memoir. 

Start with action

While it’s tempting to start your memoir off with backstory or context, this doesn’t necessarily draw readers into the story. Instead, begin in the middle of the action. There will always be time for context and further explanations later. 

Engage your audience in the work from the first moment, grabbing the reader’s attention. Whether you begin at an important decision-making moment, on a trip abroad, or wrapped in a moment of passion, make every inch of the page count. 

Treat your reader like a friend

Spilling your truth on the page is no easy feat. Because a memoir is your own story, it’s normal to feel anxiety about letting these feelings out from deep inside. One helpful tip for starting your memoir is to treat the reader like a trusted friend. 

This is someone you confide in regularly, and you know you can trust them. They won’t meet you with judgment or confusion. They’re just present in the moment, listening to what you have to share. When you place your trust in the reader, they feel that trust as well. 

Borrow from fiction writers

While you don’t want to borrow elements of stories, borrow writing techniques from your favorite fiction writers. Who said nonfiction had to read like a textbook? The best memoirs all tell a story creatively, relying on traditional fiction techniques to paint the narrative. 

Just like with fiction, create a structure for your story. This includes a strong opening, middle, climax, and resolution. Even a truthful memoir needs a clear course for readers to follow. Take inspiration from other memoirs, fictional stories, and the tales that inspire you. What can you learn from other authors?

Write for yourself

Most importantly, write for yourself. Writing your own memoir can be a healing process. When you write your own stories, even if they’re never shared, you let go of this weight inside ourselves. 

While you shouldn’t look exclusively inward, don’t focus so much on the reader that you lose sight of yourself. Invite your reader into these real-life moments. Let them exist inside them for a little while, even if it’s only on borrowed time.

Above all, write the story you have to tell. Everyone has something inside of them that wants to be let out. Your memoir is an opportunity to share that truth with a blank page, even if this is something you don’t share with others. 

Start Writing Your Memoir

There’s nothing holding you back from writing your memoir. As long as you’re willing to put the words to paper, you can get started today. You don’t need any formal training or writing experience to get started. Memoirs are written by people from all backgrounds and walks of life. 

You don’t need to worry about your story being “good enough” or “exciting enough.” A true story is a worthy story, no matter how it’s told. Let these 30+ topics above be your guide. From there, the page is yours to explore.

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Writer-ish

🖋 50 Impactful Memoir Writing Prompts to Get You Writing TODAY

If you’re thinking about writing your memoir but facing a blank page, I have a few great memoir writing prompts that will get you writing TODAY . Let’s do this! ⚡️

Writer’s Block? Nah!

Creative writing prompts are useful tools for unlocking memories so you can get your life stories onto the page. I have a deep respect for the creative process, and I’m a fan of creative writing prompts because they work. They’re a diving board into your memories, helping to unlock past experiences you may have forgotten. If you struggle with writer’s block, memoir prompts are more like the well-meaning swim coach that gives you a purposeful nudge, right into the water. Once you’re in, you’re in! 🏊🏻‍♀️

Writing is an intuitive process, and this is especially true for memoir . It can be helpful to think about specific memories or moments in your life that were particularly meaningful to you. Other times, it can be helpful to focus on a specific theme or area of your life that you would like to explore in your writing. Don’t be surprised if you end up pivoting in a different direction, too. If you stay open, the story you are meant to write will reveal itself to you (this might sound silly, but it’s been true for me and all the books I’ve written ).

Creative writing prompts can be a warm-up to the actual writing, or the writing itself. You can decide the shape of your memoir once you know what you’re writing about and have generated enough material that can serve as the foundation of your memoir. You can smooth your prose and make everything cohere into a memoir everyone will want to read. 🤗

But right now? Get writing.

Using Creative Writing Prompts

Creative writing prompts and writing exercises that help you write your memoir by providing structure and ideas to get you started. They offer simple but thoughtful questions to help you excavate the stories that are wanting to be discovered. ⛏

Prompts can be as simple as asking you to describe a significant event in your life, or they can be open-ended, like asking you to write about a specific theme or feeling. Sometimes you’ll end up writing about something completely different than the memoir prompt, and that’s okay. Trust wherever it takes you.

The more writing you do, the more memories will get unlocked. Not only that, but a little bit of writing each day adds up to a lot of writing if you just keep going . And as an added bonus, you’ll be developing your writing skills with each prompt you write. 🏋🏻‍♀️

Memoirs are a great way to share your life story with the world. These prompts will help you get the most out of your writing and get your creative juices flowing.

Why Memoir Writing Matters

Memoir writing as a creative process that serves the writer and ultimately the reader. 🤓

For the writer, writing our personal narratives is a way to remember and process our own life experiences, to help us understand the significant events of our lives that helped shaped who we are. Writing these stories down can be a source of comfort and healing, providing a space to reflect on our past and make sense of our present. They offer a creative outlet for exploring our thoughts, feelings, and memories, and are a great way to connect with our past selves.

For the reader , memoirs can be a source of inspiration for others, offering a glimpse into someone else’s life and providing hope, motivation, and insight. I’ve always viewed memoir as proof that we’re not alone, that others have been through similar experiences and can relate to us. Great stories help us appreciate what we have in the present moment, and offer compassion for ourselves and others.

What are Some Good Memoir Topics to Write About?

Unless you already know what you want to write about in a memoir, and it can be difficult to know where to start. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Some good topics include your childhood, your family and friends, your education and career, your hobbies and interests, and any significant life events. These topics can also be used as creative writing prompts to help you get started on writing your memoir, even if you plan to focus on something different.

Most memoirs have a specific theme. Check out this free printable list of 125 themes from my book, Writing the Hawaiʻi Memoir: Advice and Exercises to Help You Tell Your Story  (Watermark Publishing).

Memoir Prompt Writing Tips

Before you begin, here are a few things to keep in mind.

Be honest and raw

Be honest with yourself and your writing. Don’t worry about putting on a show or looking perfect. Don’t start changing family members’ names because you’re worried they’ll get mad. Remember that no one is going to see your work at this stage unless you show it to them.

Experienced memoir writers know it takes many drafts to get to a polished manuscript, but you have to start at the beginning, and beginnings are usually pretty messy. Give yourself permission to write without any inhibitions — no censoring of your words or thoughts. Just get it down, and then decide what to do with it once you’re finished. If you really hate it or feel horribly embarrassed, you can always toss it out. But you probably won’t. 😉 

Write by hand

When it comes to writing prompts, I’m a strong proponent of writing by hand. Before you panic, you’ll only be doing this for ten minutes (see below), and there’s a connection that’s made between the brain and the page when you write by hand. I do most of my writing on my computer — I’m a fast typist and a fast thinker, so I prefer to have my fingers on the keyboard … except when I’m responding to a prompt. Something important happens when we write by hand, and it gets missed when we’re on the computer or on our phones.

If you’re not convinced, try it for one week and see what happens. 👋🏼

Establish a daily writing practice

When you decide you’re going to write, a daily practice helps keep you on track. Have a writing process in place ensures that you get the writing done, and with each day that passes, you become a better writer.

Some memoir writers swear by Julia Cameron’s morning pages , which I love but don’t always have the time to do. My recommendation is to set the bar low — begin with writing ten minutes a day. Choose a prompt, set the timer, and keep your hand moving (thank you, Natalie Goldberg ). When the timer goes off, stop.You can spend another 10 minutes revising and reshaping the work, or you can put it aside to rest.

If you do this daily, you’ll have 365 individual vignettes by the end of the year (366 if it’s a leap year). Whether you choose to use them in your memoir is up to you, but these are excellent starting points and you’ll usually find some gems in there, which you can submit individually to literary magazines or string together into a collection of personal essays or narratives.

The most important thing is to write, and write daily. 📆

Tell a story and give us details

Every memoir tells a specific story the writers wants to share. Memoirs are not a recounting of every fact or statistic of your entire life like an autobiography or biography, but a glimpse into a particular moment.

I like to use the example of a photograph — sometimes what is outside the frame is just as important as what’s inside the frame. Use sensory details to bring us in the moment with you. What’s happening?

When you’re ready, and once you’ve selected the pieces you want to spend time on, you can revise your work. This will give you a chance to do a deeper dive into whatever it is that want to say, and shape the work for a reader. But again, you don’t have to worry about that now, just be assured that you can “fix” whatever you need to fix, later. 👩🏻‍🔧

Fountain pen on paper.

Mem oir Writing Prompts & Ideas

Let’s get started! Use the following memoir prompts to get your creativity flowing. These open-ended prompts are very flexible so choose at random, switch them up, make them yours. Use them as a starting point, trust the process, and GO. 🏃🏻‍♀️

  • The Alphabet Autobiography (similar to the abecedarian poetic form). You’ll write one sentence of line for each letter of the alphabet, from A to Z. Start with the letter A, and think about something (or someone) in your life that begins with A. It doesn’t have to “important” — don’t overthink it. Go with whatever comes up first, and keep going until you reach the end of the alphabet.
  • Write about a family heirloom.
  • What were the cartoon characters of your childhood, and which one did you identify with?
  • Write about your first best friend. 
  • Not everyone has owned a pet, but we all have animal companions in some form. Think stuffed animal, class pet, a totem animal. Write about the first one that comes to mind.
  • Write about a favorite teacher. 
  • What’s the first thing you did this morning? 
  • Have you ever had a near-death experience?
  • Write about your first love.
  • What was the most embarrassing thing that happened to you in high school?
  • What is the best memory you have of a place you traveled to?
  • When was the last time you saw a relative you don’t know very well? Tell us what you think about them. How are they related to you?
  • Tell us about your favorite article of clothing. Where did you get it, why do you love it, what does it say about you?
  • What was the first thing you ever bought yourself?
  • What is your favorite gift you’ve ever given (or received)?
  • Who do you love to spend time with? Why?
  • Think of a time you lied.
  • Think of a time when you stole something.
  • Think of a time when you laughed so hard, you cried.
  • Think of a time when you felt triumphant.
  • Think of a time when you were completely and utterly in love.
  • What was the worst day of your life?
  • What’s your favorite season? Why?
  • What’s your favorite holiday? Why?
  • When you were the happiest you’ve ever been?
  • When you were the saddest you’ve ever been?
  • What is one of your most vivid memories of your parents?
  • When was the last time you felt jealous?
  • Write about a random act of kindness someone did for you. 
  • What is your favorite smell?
  • Write about your name. What does it mean? Do you have a nickname? Does it suit you?
  • What is something no one knows about you?
  • Tell us a recipe that you make by heart. How did you learn it? How often do you make it?
  • Did you have a comfort object growing up? What was it, and when did you need it?
  • Write about a recurring dream.
  • When you look in the mirror, what feature do you notice first? Write about that.
  • What was the first place you ever traveled to?
  • How has your worldview changed since you were a child?
  • What was your first car?
  • When was the last time you went swimming?
  • What’s a job would you would love to do?
  • How many siblings do you have, and what are their names?
  • Tell us about your favorite kind of sandwich.
  • Write about your scars.
  • What’s your go-to cocktail?
  • How many times have you moved in your life?
  • Describe the house you grew up in.
  • How many tattoos and piercings do you have, and why did you get them?
  • Write about the last time you were in nature, and what happened.
  • Write about a camping trip.

More Great Resources

  • Read this post,  10 Tips on How to Write a Book About Your Life , for an overview of the writing process.
  • Read this post, Top 10 Must-Read Books on How to Write a Memoir , which features books by some great writers of the genre.
  • Want to know when I add more prompts? Join my newsletter ! 💌

Become a Writer Today

127 Best Memoir Writing Prompts You’ll Love

Memoir writing requires dedication and talent to describe critical points of your life. See our memoir writing prompts to inspire you to make your own.

So you finally decided to put your life on paper. Writing a memoir and sharing it with others is a great way to immortalize your achievements, failures, and lessons. 

However, you might find it hard to decide which areas of your life to focus on. Because a memoir requires themed occurrences, you can’t make it a compilation of narratives from the moment you were born. As memoir coach Marion Roach Smith told us in a podcast interview , your memoir must be honest and also impart something valuable to readers. 

How To Use These Memoir Writing Prompts

The process, memoir writing prompts, what are good topics for a memoir.

How to use these memoir writing prompts?

Memoir writing is personal. It involves sensitive information such as personal and family history. So, be careful to only pick highlights in your life that you are comfortable sharing. At the same time, these key events should be those you think your readers will find interesting.  

Memoirs don’t need to be chronological, nor should they read like an autobiography. These non-fiction pieces don’t need to include everything in your life. Memoirs can center on one colossal event and are primarily created to share lessons that inspire and encourage. Use the prompts below to get an idea of what to include in your memoir.

We’ve written extensively about writing prompts before. Here, you can read through our list of prompts and choose those closest to your experiences for a memoir. Pick as many as you want. Then, evaluate which ones you find most relatable. Continue this process of elimination until you have a foundation of what you want to include in your memoir.

  • What’s the story behind your name?
  • Talk about your first love. It can be a person, a thing, or a feeling. 
  • Identify your proudest moments. Give details on how you felt during those times.
  • What would you say to your older or younger self if you had the chance?
  • If you can delete a memory, what will it be? Why?
  • Recall a time when you’ve been in an accident.
  • What’s your earliest memory?
  • Talk about the worst day of your life.
  • Narrate an event you feel already happened, like a deja vu.
  • Describe your childhood room in detail.
  • Detail a situation when you feel betrayed. What did you do, and how did you handle it?
  • If you have traumas or illnesses, share how you got them and discuss your recovery story.
  • What were you afraid of when you were a child, and why? Are you still scared of it today?
  • Talk about an occasion when you were terrified to do something but still did it.
  • How did your first date go? What’s your ideal first date?
  • List three ways people always describe you. Why do you think they describe you as such?
  • Identify your worst insecurity and why you got it. What are the steps you’re taking to overcome it?
  • Write about winning something.
  • Talk about your first heartbreak. It can be about a past lover or a failed endeavor.
  • Who’s your favorite teacher? Why?
  • What’s your worst fear?
  • Describe the most beautiful art you’ve seen.
  • What are your quirks?
  • What are you most grateful for today? Why?
  • Have you ever had a spiritual or religious experience? Expound on it.
  • What are your most valuable possessions? Why?
  • List three of your worst phobias. Share your worst experience concerning these fears.
  • Talk about your hobbies and how you got them. If you have a hobby from childhood that you carried to your adult life, what are they?
  • Talk about the most memorable holiday you’ve had.
  • Share an experience where you feel the most embarrassed.
  • Recall a time when you met a terminally ill person. How did their life philosophy affect you?
  • What’s the worst mistake you’ve ever made? What did you do to mitigate or correct it?
  • Talk about any experience you have with the supernatural.
  • Talk about an unforgettable memory you had with your mom or dad.
  • Recount your experiences growing up with strict or devout parents.
  • Describe your worst physical pain and share the story behind it.
  • Describe your relationship with your siblings.
  • Recall a time when you had a meltdown. What were the events that led up to it?
  • Talk about the funniest incident you’ve witnessed.
  • Talk about a time when you were dirt poor – no money, no friends, and no motivation.
  • List five of your all-time favorite songs. What memories do you connect to these songs?
  • Talk about your first job. How did it go, and what did you learn from it?
  • Narrate how your graduation went. Include what you felt and who you celebrated it with you.
  • Describe the most beautiful wedding you’ve attended.
  • Talk about when your experiences with racism, sexism, and other types of discrimination.
  • Is there a period when you feel lost? Share what you felt and how you overcame it.
  • What’s the first school memory you can recall?
  • Talk about the time when you hated yourself the most.
  • Recount a time in your life that you consider a fresh start. Compare the person you were before and after this new beginning.
  • Talk about the happiest day of your life.
  • What’s the most shocking event you’ve experienced?
  • What part of schooling did you hate the most?
  • Talk about the origin of a lie you still present as truth today.
  • What is your dream job? Recount your experiences during the period when you strived to get that dream job.
  • Walk around your house and look for items that trigger your consciousness. Relay the memories connected to these items.
  • Recount the story of your birth. How did your parents or guardian describe it?
  • Think back to a time when you had to make an important decision. What did you pick, and how do you feel about it today?
  • Talk about your greatest regret.
  • Narrate an encounter where you were stereotyped based on your gender.
  • What skill are you most proud of, and how did you develop it?
  • Talk about your favorite childhood toy and share a prominent memory of it.
  • Is there a family secret you wish you didn’t know? What is it, and why?
  • If you’re a part of the LGBTQ+ community, share your journey to discovering and understanding your sexuality.
  • Look back to your past expectations of yourself. How different are they from your current goals?
  • If you have an experience with a grave disease, share your life before and after your diagnosis.
  • Recount your experiences and lessons as a first-time parent.
  • If you’re a war veteran, narrate your first-hand experiences during your service.
  • Speak about the meaningful experiences you’ve had in your job or career. 
  • Talk about a time when you had to break the law to survive.
  • Recall a time when you were pushed to be the leader of a group or a project. How did it go?
  • Pick the largest scar on your body and share how you got it.
  • Talk about something you’ve gone through that you pretend never happened. Include how you finally faced and pulled through this tribulation.
  • If you have any tattoos, talk about their meaning/s.
  • Describe the moment you realized you’ve matured or grown up.
  • Describe what you expect your retirement to be like.
  • Talk about a book you deeply feel connected to.
  • Talk about your favorite photo of yourself and the story behind it.
  • Recount the day when you got your first car.
  • What did it feel like when you moved out of your family home?
  • Describe your childhood home and pick your favorite areas. Explain why.
  • Recall an incident when your feelings were hurt the most.
  • Talk about an experience that made you believe in extraterrestrial life.
  • What vegetable do you hate the most? Share a memory of when you realized you hate that food.
  • If you’ve had a poor relationship with food, share your struggles with eating, weight, and self-concept.
  • What do you do when you feel sad? How do you lift your mood?
  • Talk about how you met the best people you know today.
  • Do you have unique family traditions? What are they, and what do you feel about them?
  • Tell the story of how you met your current partner.
  • Talk about your different friend groups. What memories of them do you like the most?
  • Describe your parents’ dynamic. How did their relationship affect your perception of love and marriage?
  • Recount the most intense argument you’ve had with someone close to you. Include why the fight happened and how you solved it.
  • Identify your greatest personal challenge so far and elaborate on it.
  • Talk about a time when your family prepared for a death of a loved one.
  • Recount the period after losing a loved one. Talk about your grief, mourning, and how you coped with the death.
  • Talk about how you started and achieved success in your field. Add tips to help aspiring beginners of the craft.
  • If you’re from a broken marriage, share how the separation affected you growing up. Include your struggles with your identity, self-respect, etc. 
  • Talk about a time when you were falsely accused of something.
  • Have you ever joined an organization? Share your most memorable experience with the group.
  • Share your experience with a natural calamity, such as an earthquake or a hurricane.
  • Talk about the first year of your marriage to your current partner. Include your realizations, compromises, and adjustments.
  • Discuss a relationship you’ve been in that made you a better person. For example, you can speak about a toxic or a healing relationship.
  • Talk about a rare habit one of your friends or relatives has that you find amusing.
  • Talk about a major change you had to go through in your life. How did you cope with it, and what did you learn?
  • Speak about a time when you were addicted to something.
  • Talk about a time you felt the closest to your mother or father.
  • Recount an incident that pushed you to cut ties with someone special to you.
  • Narrate the story of how a grandparent imparted a vital life lesson to you.
  • Talk about your celebrity idols and how they influenced your life.
  • Talk about your best friend and how the two of you became close.
  • Did you have a school bully? Recall the worst thing they did and how their actions impacted your school life.
  • Talk about a family feud. How did it start, and how did the dispute affect you?
  • Discuss a life-or-death situation you’ve been in. How dangerous was it, and how did you survive it?
  • Talk about your best traveling experience that changed your perception of life.
  • Talk about a time when you feel powerful or unstoppable.
  • Write about a bizarre encounter you’ve experienced.
  • Talk about your political beliefs and why you support these beliefs.
  • Write about a time when you felt a place is hunted. Share the details of your trip.
  • Try to describe your hometown in vivid detail. What’s one thing you remember the most about your hometown?
  • Write about a historical event that greatly affected your life. What is it, and how did it change your everyday living?
  • Pick one memory you strongly associate with each: spring, summer, autumn, and winter.
  • Think of a time when you had to choose between two good things. For example, love or career, then talk about your experience.
  • Recall the most memorable adventure you’ve had. 
  • Talk about an instance when you saved someone. 
  • Talk about your experience when you moved to another country.
  • Talk about the time when you met your childhood hero.
  • Recount what happened when you had your first child.
  • Think of your first major loss. Explain what it’s about

Childhood Memories : Remember when you climbed that giant oak tree in your backyard or had your first heartbreak in middle school? Your early years are a goldmine of raw, evocative memories. Delve deep, and you might be surprised at the rich tales you can tell. If it helps, read old journal entries .

Overcoming Adversities : Have you ever faced a daunting challenge? Perhaps you battled an illness or overcame financial hardship. These experiences shape who you are and resonate with readers who seek inspiration and hope in the face of their own struggles.

Travel Adventures : That backpacking trip across Europe, or the time you got lost in a bustling market in Bangkok? Travel stories transport readers to a different world, filled with sights, sounds, and cultural nuances.

Relationship Dynamics : Love, friendships, and even the intricacies of family dynamics can make for poignant memoir material. Dive into the beauty, the pain, and the lessons learned from the people who’ve come in and out of your life.

Professional Life : If you’ve built a unique career or made significant shifts in your profession, these experiences might intrigue those looking to understand the ins and outs of a particular field or those seeking motivation to change their own career paths, like a writing job .

Personal Transformations : Did you embark on a journey of self-discovery, perhaps through spirituality, weight loss, or even a simple hobby that grew into a passion? Sharing such personal evolutions can be deeply moving.

Historical or Cultural Insights : If you’ve lived through significant historical events or come from a rich cultural background, offer readers a window into that world. Paint them a picture of a time or place they might never personally experience.

Life in the Shadows : Maybe you’ve had experiences on the fringes of society or in lesser-known subcultures, for example triathlon training. Shedding light on these areas can be both enlightening and captivating.

Educational Pursuits : Remember when you returned to school or pursued an unconventional educational path? There’s always someone out there wondering if it’s too late or if they’re on the right path.

Mundane Magic : Sometimes, the simple, everyday moments hold the most beauty. The smell of your grandmother’s kitchen, the laughter shared over a family dinner, or the quiet moments alone with your thoughts. Celebrate the ordinary; it often holds extraordinary stories.

If you’re still stuck, get the best memoir-writing apps to assist you.

memoir writing topics

Maria Caballero is a freelance writer who has been writing since high school. She believes that to be a writer doesn't only refer to excellent syntax and semantics but also knowing how to weave words together to communicate to any reader effectively.

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The Write Practice

10 Memoir Writing Prompts to Get Your Life Story Started

by Joe Bunting | 0 comments

Want to write a memoir but not sure how to get started? I've got you covered. In this post, I'm sharing my ten best creative writing prompts for memoir writers.

Top 10 Memoir Writing Prompts

If you need a quick prompt, check out my five favorite memoir writing prompts below. Or, keep reading for an expanded list of all ten prompts.

My 5 Favorite Memoir Writing Prompts

Write about a life or death situation you've experienced.

  • Describe your own meet cute. Think back to the first time you met the love of your life.
  • You've traveled through time and encounter a younger version of yourself. What life lesson would you share?
  • What is one moment where you were afraid to do something but did it anyway?
  • Write about one encounter with death.
  • Read on for more!

Use These Memoir Writing Prompts to Get Started

Ready to write a book about your life? Get started by using these prompts. Then tell us which prompt you chose and share up to 250 words of your writing in the practice link below.

2. Area of Expertise

Make a list of every area of expertise you have, e.g. writing, playing an instrument, the history of 18th century French history, etc. Then choose one of those areas of expertise and write for fifteen minutes about what you've learned about that expertise. Begin every paragraph with the phrase, “I learned . . .”

3. Meet Cute

Describe your own meet cute. Think back to the first time you met the love of your life. Describe the situation and how you felt the first time you saw them.

4. Betrayed

Share the story of one time you were betrayed.

Have you ever encountered death? Either the death of a loved one, animal, or stranger? Write about your encounter with death and how you experienced it.

6. Adventure

What is the biggest adventure you've ever experienced? Write about it.

7. Life Lesson

You've traveled through time and encounter a younger version of yourself (choose one of the following ages: seven, fifteen, seventeen, twenty-three, or thirty-one). What life lesson would you share with yourself? Tell yourself the story of how you learned that lesson.

8. Surroundings

Describe your surroundings right now. What memories do your surroundings evoke?

9. Life or Death

10. too much good.

Think of one moment in your life when you had to choose between two very good things, like love or money, fun or responsibility, happiness or duty. Then write about it.

Become a Better Memoir Writer by Reading a Great Memoir

One of the best ways to learn how to write a memoir is to read  memoirs. And it just so happens that I've written a memoir, Crowdsourcing Paris , about a real-life adventure story I experienced in Paris. Even better, according to reviewers, it's really good!

See what people are saying about Crowdsourcing Paris here .

Inside the memoir are the adventures I experienced in Paris, including my near-death experience in the catacombs, the illegal 170 miles of tunnels below the City of Light.

Throughout the memoir, I also share my writing lessons as I learn to become a writer in Paris.

Get your copy of  Crowdsourcing Paris  here.

Which of these memoir writing prompts is your favorite? Let us know in the comments !

Choose one of the memoir writing prompts above. Then set a timer for fifteen minutes , and write as much as you can.

When your time is up, post your practice in the Pro Workshop here (if you’re not a member yet, you can join here ).

And if you post, please be sure to give feedback to at least three other writers.

Happy writing!

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Joe Bunting

Joe Bunting is an author and the leader of The Write Practice community. He is also the author of the new book Crowdsourcing Paris , a real life adventure story set in France. It was a #1 New Release on Amazon. Follow him on Instagram (@jhbunting).

Want best-seller coaching? Book Joe here.

How to Write a Memoir: How to Start (and Actually Finish) Your First Draft

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Best Memoir Writing Prompts—16+ Ideas That Will Inspire You

  • July 29, 2022

Memoirs are autobiographical accounts of one’s life story. They can cover an entire life or focus on a few significant events in a person’s life. 

They include the author’s memories, intimate thoughts and feelings about their past, and significant life experiences.

They may tell a story of the author’s secret past, the ups and downs of their love life, the most influential person in their lives, or significant life lessons one has learned through a life lived.

We write memoirs not only for others to read but to help ourselves form a narrative around our life stories.

Writing about past experiences and the personal narrative that went with them offers much insight. Writing about a time filled with struggles has even been found to help process trauma.

As far as inspiration goes, we’ve got you covered. Below we’ve included a list of over 16 memoir writing prompts to inspire you and get your creative juices flowing.

If you’re stuck, don’t fret – it’s not easy to summarize a life story the moment you sit down to write. It may take time, reflection, and inspiration before you can even begin to know what to write about. 

How to write a memoir

Writing a memoir requires reflection and contemplation on one’s past experiences. These should take place before the writing process and are often the reason a person feels inspired to write a memoir in the first place. 

Still, the memoir writing process is also incredibly reflective, and an author may gain insights and perspectives they never had before as a result of the writing process.

So, if you’re ready to get started on your memoir, check out the prompts below.

Memoir writing prompts and ideas

There are many possible focal points of your memoir . You can write about a time when life was sweet or you can write a powerful memoir which has made it difficult for you to live in the present moment.

Here are some suggestions of major life events to you can draw inspiration from:

1. Your first romance

Write about the first romantic partner you ever had. How did you meet them? How old were you? What was unique about your relationship? Did you end up with your first crush?

If you’re not with that person anymore, how did things end? Was there a memorable argument which led you to end the relationship? Did you ever see them again?

2. Near-death experience

Have you ever had a near-death experience? What happened, and how did you survive? Describe your experience. What was the significance of that moment? Did it give you a new outlook on life? Or was it a novel experience that lost significance after the initial event?

Memoir prompts, memoir ideas

3. A day with your younger self

You don’t have to write memoirs chronologically, and you don’t have to confine yourself to writing exclusively about the past. Get creative by imagining that you, as you are now, can visit your younger self.

Choose any age, child, teen, or adult, and write about a day spent with that younger version of yourself. What would you tell them? Do you have insight and wisdom now that would have helped the younger you?

Consider a time in your life when you had to make an important choice. Perhaps all options were exciting and viable before you, but you had to eliminate all but one.

What decision or choice did you make, and how do you feel about it now? How do you think your life might have been had you made a different choice? Perhaps you chose one romantic partner over another or decided to live in a different country from where you were born.

5. Your earliest memory

What is your earliest memory? How old were you and who was there? How do you feel about that memory now? Do you remember it fondly, or is it a painful memory? Was it something you think defined your character, or is it simply a fun and adored memory?

6. Childhood

What was your childhood like? Write about the household in which you grew up.

Was it a happy household, or was there a lot of trouble? Did you grow up with two parents and siblings, a single parent, or were you an only child? How did your parents relationship mold your character?

How do you feel about how you grew up, and do you ever wish things had been different? How do you think your childhood influenced the person you are today?

How was your experience in high school? Write about elementary school, high school, or college. Did you like school? Do you have a favorite teacher who has greatly influenced your life today?

What were the good parts, and what were the bad ones? How was your social life in high school? How do you feel about the education system? Do you think it served or hindered you?

8. Spirituality

If you’re spiritually minded or religious, write about your life’s experience from your spiritual perspective? Have your thoughts on God, religion, and spirituality changed?

What attitude did you hold when you were younger, and how do you see things now? Were there any significant events or an influential person that shaped your spiritual beliefs and perspectives?

9. Best friend

Write about your relationship with the best friend you’ve ever had.

Are you two still friends today? How did you two get to know each other, and what experiences have you shared? How do you feel about that friendship and friendship in general?

Did that person set a standard that no one else could ever meet? Did you two ever fight? How is the relationship now?

10. Regrets

Do you have any regrets? Perhaps you made one choice over another and now see it as a mistake. Did you hurt anyone in your life and wish you go back and change things?

Alternatively, write about how you feel about regret as a concept by relating your perspective to your experiences. Do you think there is any value in regret? Did you regret things once but no longer?

11. Unlearning

What did you learn as a child that you had to unlearn as an adult?

Perhaps the behavior of your parents or other family members taught you that particular conduct was expected, but you realized how abnormal it was when you left home. Do you understand why that person behaved, or are you still confused? Do you forgive those who taught you unhealthy behaviors?

Memoir Writing Prompts, memoir ideas

12. Gratitude

What makes you feel grateful? What life experiences, good or bad, happy or sad, joyous or nightmarish, taught you to look at life through a lens of gratitude? Have you always been grateful, or is gratitude something you learned later in life?

13. Sexuality

Write about the journey of discovering your sexuality.

Did you realize at some point that you had sexual preferences you weren’t clear about previously? Have you always had the sexual preferences you have now or had for most of your life?

Write about the process of discovering your sexual self and the trials and tribulations that came with it.

14. Expectations

When you look back on your life, did it turn out how you expected when you were younger? Did you have an idea or vision of how your life would turn out at a certain age?

As a child, in your teens, twenties, or thirties, how did you imagine the life ahead of you? Is your life now an accurate portrayal of that vision, or is it different? How different is it?

15. A big impact

Write about a time you hugely impacted another someone’s life. What happened, and what is your relationship with that person now? Alternatively, write about a person who greatly influenced your life? Again, what happened, and what’s that relationship like now?

16. Life lessons

What’s the most important life lesson you’ve ever learned? What happened in your life for you to understand that lesson?

Is this lesson something you have tried to share with others? Do others hear that lesson the same way you do? Does it resonate with others? How do you think your life might have been if you had never learned that lesson?

A memoir is a deeply personal account of memories that the author, the memoir writer, believes influenced their life and is worthy of sharing with others. They are more than just a whimsical collection of stories and anecdotes, though you’re free to write with a sense of humor about your experiences.

As a writing exercise, start with a short story using one memoir writing prompt. Something about first time you set eyes on your first love will be easy. A bit more challenging memoir topic will be your family history.

If you want more help with writing your memoir, consider reading those of others. Writers of all kinds need to be avid readers to hone their craft. 

Reading others’ memoirs not only shows how to structure your writing but can also inspire you to look at your own life through a reflective and insightful lens.

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Last updated on Apr 14, 2023

How to Write a Memoir: Turn Your Personal Story Into a Successful Book

Writing a memoir can be a meaningful way to reflect on your life's journey and share your unique perspective with people around you. But creating a powerful (and marketable) book from your life's memories — one that can be enjoyed by readers across the world — is no easy task. 

In this article, we'll explore the essential ingredients that make up an impactful and commercially viable memoir and provide you with tips to craft your own.

Here’s how to write a memoir in 6 steps: 

1. Figure out who you’re writing for

2. narrow down your memoir’s focus, 3. distill the story into a logline , 4. choose the key moments to share, 5. don’t skimp on the details and dialogue, 6. portray yourself honestly.

Before you take on the challenge of writing a memoir, make sure you have a clear goal and direction by defining the following:

  • What story you’re telling (if you’re telling “the story of your life,” then you may be looking at an autobiography , not a memoir),
  • What the purpose of your memoir is,
  • Which audience you’re writing it for.

Some authors write a memoir as a way to pass on some wisdom, to process certain parts of their lives, or just as a legacy piece for friends and family to look back on shared memories. Others have stronger literary ambitions, hoping to get a publishing deal through a literary agent , or self-publishing it to reach a wide audience. 

Whatever your motivation, we’d recommend approaching it as though you were to publish it. You’ll end up with a book that’s more polished, impactful, and accessible 一 even if it’ll only ever reach your Aunt Jasmine.

🔍 How do you know whether your book idea is marketable? Acclaimed ghostwriter Katy Weitz suggests researching memoir examples from several subcategories to determine whether there’s a readership for a story like yours.

Know your target reader

If you’re not sure where to start it doesn’t hurt to figure out your target audience 一 the age group, gender, and interests of the people you’re writing it for. A memoir targeted at business execs is a very different proposition from one written to appeal to Irish-American baseball fans. 

If you want a little help in asking the right questions to define your audience, download our author market research checklist below. 

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Find your ultimate target audience with our checklist.

Now that you know who you’re writing for, you need to clearly define which (yummy) slice of your life you want to share with them. 

When writing a memoir, there's always the temptation to cover broad periods of your life, from that time in first grade when Mrs. Taylor laughed at your painting, to your third divorce, and everything in between. But remember, this is not a biography. You should try to choose specific experiences or aspects of your life that form a red thread or a central theme. The narrower the focus, the better your memoir will resonate with others. 

For example, a memoir could be about the time you hiked the Appalachian Trail, became a Jiu-Jitsu master, or volunteered in a refugee camp. Naturally, anecdotes from other parts of your life may intertwine with your main narrative, but there needs to be a focused center to your book.

Not only will a narrower slice of life help you concentrate your efforts, it will also make it easier to shift the focus from your personal story to specific, relatable things you experienced , making it easier for readers to care and take something away from the book.

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A broader theme readers can relate to

Unless you’re a celebrity, you can’t expect people to just want to read your memoir 一 you have to give them a reason to carve time out of their busy schedule and sit with your book. People are drawn to stories that they can relate to or that teach them something about themselves and the world. 

So, before you get to writing, identify the broader themes behind your personal experiences and center the book around them. For example, a story about hiking the Appalachian Trail could be a story about spiritual growth. A book about learning Jiu-Jitsu may be about building confidence and overcoming fear. A memoir about working with refugees could be about cultivating empathy and overcoming structural inequality. 

These are themes that people from different ages, gender, and cultures can relate to. They will make your memoir much more universal. Figure out what readers can learn from your experiences, whether that’s something about resilience, trauma, parenting, self-discovery, or other, and center your book around that .    

💡 Listen to 3-time memoir author Paul Bradley Carr explain the importance of nailing your memoir’s focus from the get-go in this advice-packed Reedsy Live.

bzL9GjeO5bY Video Thumb

At this point, you’re probably fired up and stretching your fingers to start writing. But there are a few more steps to take to ensure you’re set up for success. 

Memory lane isn’t a straight path — it’s a winding road with many off-ramps and distractions. So before you start drafting, make a note of where you’re going by encapsulating your memoir in a sentence or two. Ask yourself: if I were to pitch it to a stranger on an elevator, how would I summarize it? The purpose of this exercise is to help you weave the main themes into a clear narrative arc, which is essential to turn your life into a captivating story. 

Here are some example loglines from famous memoirs for inspiration: 

Take some time with your logline and whittle your story down to its purest form. If it helps, start by writing what you think the back cover blurb will be. Then boil it down further and further, until you can finally pitch it in just a few sentences.

The logline is the North Star that will guide you as you start to collect the moments of your life to include in the book. 

Now that you have a direction and some central themes, it’s time to pick the best tales from your buffet of life experiences. It’s natural to look back at your life chronologically and select memories in a linear fashion, but really, what’s important is to pick the most meaningful moments, whether big or small, that propel your memoir forward.

For example, Trevor Noah’s Born a Crime is a collection of stories about growing up as a mixed-raced child in Apartheid South Africa. The book shares how Noah questioned his mother’s religious beliefs, spoke multiple languages to bridge cultural differences, made and sold CDs to escape poverty, and more. Each story is a different window into his world and how it shaped him, but all of them build on the book’s central themes of faith, identity, and resilience.

Look for moments of high emotion

When you’re mining your memory for stories, look for those with moments of high emotion and meaning. Whether it was a funny, sad, or embarrassing memory, the ones that shaped who you are and how you see the world tend to be the most emotionally charged.

To discern the gems from mediocre stories, consider working with a professional editor and take advantage of their editorial wisdom. 

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Now close your eyes, and dig deep into your memories to repaint your stories on the blank page as colorfully (and accurately) as possible. 

To make your memoir deeply engaging, experiment with different storytelling techniques and use sensory details, actions, and dialogue, as opposed to explicitly stating what you did or how you felt. This falls into the classic writing advice of ‘ Show, don’t tell .’

When revisiting your memories, be thorough in your research and try to collect as many details as possible: 

  • Read back your journal entries (if you kept one) to see how you felt in the moment.
  • Get your hands on photos or videos from that period in your life (either digital or analog.)
  • Interview your family members, friends, and other people relevant to your story.
  • Revisit locations and settings from the past that you plan on writing about.
  • Look up anything that can be verified or fact-checked (e.g. dates, social media posts, or world news.)

Once you've collected the raw material, organize these memories in a way that makes sense for you. Being systematic in your research will pay serious dividends when you actually start working on your manuscript.

You’re allowed some creative license with dialogue

One thing that is particularly important to get right is dialogue. Obviously, you don't have to write dialogue exactly as it happened — our memories are fallible after all. However, you do need to accurately capture the essence of what was said (and how). As long as you’re faithful to what happened (or at least honest about how you experienced it) you can take some liberties with the precise wording. 

To write believable dialogue, take inspiration from your favorite writers, or take our free course below for tips. 

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😱 Inevitably, when you write about other people there’s always a risk of portraying them in a way they don’t appreciate. As general advice, tell them you’re writing this story, or prepare to lose some relationships. And if you’re really pushing some boundaries, discuss it with your lawyer! 

Next, it’s time to look inwards and flesh out a compelling and relatable protagonist: you!  

The best memoirs read like novels, which means they hinge on the protagonist’s voice and personality 一 their quirks, values, and goals, and how they rise to life’s challenges. Just as in a novel, your memoir needs a relatable protagonist that undergoes some change.

It takes a good dose of courage to portray yourself as a multidimensional character 一 one with both strengths and weaknesses, one who sometimes wins and sometimes loses. 

Do background work on yourself

To infuse a dose of humanity to your own character, you’ll have to do the background work as if you were a character in a novel. Take note of everything from your physical appearance, cultural background, psychological traits, and more. This exercise will help you bring to surface details about your personality that you’d otherwise look over, and depict a much more well-rounded protagonist. To facilitate the process, use our free character development template which will guide you with specific prompts and questions.  

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A story is only as strong as its characters. Fill this out to develop yours.

Define your character’s arc

Additionally, it's helpful to define your own character's arc 一 how you’ve matured through the life experiences highlighted in the memoir. There are specific steps you can follow to define your personal hero's journey , but among other questions, you’ll have to answer: 

  • What inciting incident set you on a journey?
  • What were the obstacles you encountered?
  • Which mentors helped you along the way?
  • What were the lessons you needed to learn?
  • How have you changed as a result?

These questions will help you strengthen your memoir’s narrative, hooking the readers in like the best novels do. 

To give an example, Cheryl Strayed's journey in Wild begins after the death of her beloved mother and other family problems, which lead her on a path of self-destruction, culminating in a divorce and addiction to heroin. Having reached the bottom, she decides to hike the Pacific Crest Trail for three months in order to find herself. The path is filled with challenges 一 from her hiking inexperience, to losing her boots, to fellow hikers warning her that it's not safe to go on alone. Through resilience (and some help) she is able to overcome her physical and emotional challenges, find forgiveness and rediscover her inner strength. 

Still of Reese Witherspoon in Wild, backpacking the Pacific Coast Trail

Take inspiration from Wild and other memoirs, and deconstruct how your own experiences might fit into these all-important story elements. 

You now have all the ingredients: a specific memoir topic that touches on universal themes (as summarized by your logline), a selection of vivid and relevant memories, and a multidimensional character with an interesting story arc. It’s time to put it all together by outlining the structure of your memoir, which is exactly what we’ll cover in our next post.

15 responses

CourtneySymons says:

11/01/2018 – 15:26

This was exactly the article I needed today! I've just begun a new career path as a ghostwriter and am finding it difficult to find learning resources (conferences, courses, books, networks of ghostwriters, etc.). If any readers have advice on where I should be looking or who I should be talking to, I would be forever grateful! Thanks so much!

M. Thomas Maxwell says:

11/01/2018 – 15:28

I had no intention of writing a book but encouraged by my grandson I embarked on a story telling venture that led to Grandfather's Journal, www.captaintommaxwell.com. It truly is a series of life stories shared with my grandson. Published by Westbow press in 2015 I used many Reedsy tips and am very pleased with the results.I have since encouraged others to consider doing the same. It took over a year and was a pleasant experience.

Don Karp says:

11/01/2018 – 16:06

As a self-published memoir writer, I read this with appreciation. I do not agree with all that's said here. For example, "2. Do Your Research." Of course certain events--those experienced publicly by a large number of people--need to be accurate. But even the word, "memoir," says it's about memory, not accuracy. This is one of the major differences from an autobiography which does require research. I looked up the dictionary definition and got confirmation on this. Perhaps you need to re-examine this and get it right?

↪️ Reedsy replied:

11/01/2018 – 17:00

I would agree that memoirs are indeed based on memory — and in some way that's why historians are often forced to question the reliability of memoirs as a primary source. I would say, however, that modern readers to expect memoirs to be as factually-correct as possible. Editors at publishers will go to great pains to ensure that — or face a public backlash. If you say anything in a memoir that can be disproved by a basic google search will seriously compromise your relationship with a reader. The other benefit with research is that it can do a lot to jog your memories. Unreliable recollections can often be set straight once you remind yourself of certain facts. Thanks for commenting!

↪️ Don Karp replied:

11/01/2018 – 17:28

Thanks for your response. This brings up two points for me. First, what is more powerful, a memory of an experience or the actual experience? Different people interpret the same experience differently. Second, what do you propose to do with the dictionary definition of "memoir?" Since the word is based on memory and not research, perhaps you can suggest some alternate word form?

↪️ The Red Lounge For Writers replied:

05/12/2018 – 08:14

I think looking at the idea of the 'voice of innocence' and the 'voice of experience' could really help with this distinction between fact and memory. As writers of memoir, we are expected to write what we remember. We can do this using the voice of innocence, and use the voice of experience to write about the factual context.

Stu Mountjoy says:

11/01/2018 – 21:48

A group I used to attend, on a Friday, started people off with the basic exercise of writing a story about one thing that happened to you, and I did one about a race at school. I am always impressed by the first page I read of Alan Alder's bio (actor in M*A*S*H TV series) - "Hi I'm Alan Alder, and when I was six, my mother tried to kill my father." - wow.

31/01/2018 – 10:15

Alda's a great writer — "Things I Overheard While Talking to Myself" is such a fantastic name for a memoir too.

Robbie Cheadle says:

31/01/2018 – 04:48

A very useful and interesting post on writing a memoir.

31/01/2018 – 10:14

I'm glad you like it Robbie :)

The Red Lounge For Writers says:

05/12/2018 – 08:10

All great advice. Memoir is probably my favourite genre to read, and some of my favourite books are memoirs. I'm of the opinion that everyone has a story to tell; it's just a matter of figuring out how to do it really well.

James Soil says:

15/07/2019 – 13:16

Thank you very much I just finished my Memoir titled Addicted it will be out this summer after reading this article I feel much better about it I pretty much did what the article says.

Izaura Nicolette says:

04/08/2019 – 04:50

Self-published Author, Izaura Nicolette. 'Within The Mountains: A Mormon Reform School Experience.' Published January, 2019. Seeking legit Publishing House or Agent. I still have not received any royalties due to publishers being fraudulent. I want to speak publicly about my memoir. Hundreds to thousands can back me up. This is a true story. I hold too close to my heart. Hoping to heal by sharing this experience, and opening door for many others.

Magzley says:

08/08/2019 – 02:14

Can I *breathe* life into my story instead?

Cassandra Janzen says:

20/12/2019 – 04:35

Very helpful, thank you!

Comments are currently closed.

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75 Memoir Writing Prompts

Writing / November 17, 2022 by Lori Ballen / Leave a Comment

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A memoir writing prompt is a question or set of questions designed to guide an author in writing their memoir. Memoirs are non-fiction books usually written by one person about his/her life. They are written in the third person (“he”/”she”) but are told from that person’s point of view, looking back on their life. It can range between 30,000 to 100,000 words, depending on the material covered and how much space it takes up.

Memoirs generally include personal history, family background information, and key events throughout an individual’s life, leading them up to where they are today. The actual writing of a memoir is not always chronological; some elements may be written before others even though they happened after them. Some memoirs end up with their author at old age, while others do not.

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Memoirs are usually written because the author has something to share, lessons they’ve learned throughout their life that could benefit or inspire others. While money is not always a main motivating factor for writing a memoir (most authors receive no royalties), the satisfaction of sharing one’s story and hopefully connecting with readers who can relate to it makes it worth it.

There are many types of memoirs; anyone could write about his/her experiences as long as they have something interesting to say. The following are just some examples:

  • Drug addiction/recovery
  • Child abuse/childhood hardship
  • Experiences in war
  • Interpersonal relationships (parents, siblings, spouses, friends)
  • Growing up in a foreign country
  • An unconventional childhood
  • Loss of a loved one/grief and recovery from it

Memoir writing prompts are questions that help guide someone when they begin thinking about their own memoir. Without prompts to get them started, an individual may struggle to find the exact angle he/she wants to use to tell their story in a way that keeps readers interested until it is finished. Prompts help them flesh out ideas and formulate sentences and paragraphs.

Here are 75 of the best memoir Writing Prompts.

1) Write an essay about a time when you felt lost.

2) Write a short story of a time in your life when you leaned on someone else for help.

3) Write down everything you know about your family history.

4) Imagine that you are writing a letter to the person who has been the biggest inspiration in your life. How would you describe them? What makes them so special?

5) Write about a time when you went with the flow and didn’t question it too much.

6) Remember something embarrassing that happened to you, but it’s OK if others already know about it—what matters is how YOU feel about it.

7) Think of three words or phrases people use to describe you. Now, think of three words or phrases that best describe you.

8) Your memoir is about a time when people thought something bad was going to happen, and they were completely wrong! What happened?

9) Write down your earliest memory; make sure it’s not too fuzzy and doesn’t include any major life events (like sibling birth, etc.) because we want this to be just about YOU.

10) What is one thing that everyone in your family does that irritates or annoys you? How do they react when you tell them how it makes you feel?

11) If there’s one person in your family who can always cheer up someone else in the family, even when no one else can, who is that person, and why do they have such a “special power”?

12) Describe a time in your life when you were truly uncomfortable. What happened?

13) Think about what’s been going on throughout your life for the past month or so. Write it all down. Now go back to the beginning of that same period of time and write it all down again but from a different point of view, with a completely different perspective—as if you had only just found out about everything that’s been going on.

14) Think about something really embarrassing that has happened to you more than once in your lifetime. How have you dealt with these instances, and how did others help you?

15) Write about a time in your life when something felt familiar, like deja vu.

16) Think of the most popular game you played as a child; write about it and why people played it.

17) Describe three different apartments or houses that you’ve lived in throughout your life—not necessarily nice ones but just any kind of living space that was your own at one point.

18) Make up an old family recipe for dinner. What’s in it? What is its origin? Did anyone teach you how to cook it or did you learn on your own? How does this dish make you feel whenever you eat it/think about eating it again?

19) Write about an instance when you were uprooted from your home.

20) Think of a person who always seems to have it together, in both big and little ways. Do you ever ask them for advice? What are some things that person would say/do if he/she knew about this memoir project? Now, write about the last time you saw that person and everything that was going on in your life at the time: how did they react?

21) Think about the members of your family and rank them (1st place, 2nd place, etc.). Why did you choose these specific people? How do they make you feel whenever you spend time with them or think about spending time with them again in the future?

22) Think about all the places you have lived in throughout your life. Write them down in order or rank them, starting with your present location. How has every place made you feel? Why did you choose to live in each one?

23) Pretend that someone else is writing a memoir about you—what would they want people to know about how the two of you are alike and also what sets you apart from everyone else?

24) Talk about an instance where something was entirely out of your control. What happened?

25) Write about a time when something really unexpected happened. How did it change things for your family or friends or anyone else who was involved in whatever transpired?

26) Think back on all the people you’ve met throughout your life. What did you like most about them? How did they make you feel?

27) Think of all the birthdays that were celebrated in your family growing up (your own included). Did anyone ever get more presents than anyone else, or was it always equal? Who gave out the birthday parties and why did they do it this way?

28) Which person in your family would be the best person to give advice about almost any major life decision someone could make if he/she had all the facts surrounding said decision beforehand? Describe him/her.

29) What’s one thing that never fails to cheer you up when you’re feeling down in the dumps?

30) Write about a time that you were excluded from something or someone.

31) Think about your first big fight with one of your siblings and how it all got started.

32) Write about a time when you had to be more responsible than usual (for example, taking care of younger siblings while your parents were away).

33) Make up some family trivia: for example, what’s the most embarrassing thing that’s ever happened to one of your relatives? What is his/her worst habit? What makes him/her happiest in life and why?

34) Think about an instance where everything seemed “right” or at least OK; things were calm and relaxed. Describe that moment as best as you—how did it make you feel?

35) Think about the worst day of your life . What was going on that day, or what happened leading up to it?

36) All great memories come from somewhere—write down all the places, good and bad, that you’ve lived in throughout your life. How have they helped shape who you are today?

37) Make a list of all the things you wish you’d done differently growing up—not necessarily big ones but little ones too. Why is this list so important to you?

38) Write about a time when everything seemed perfect for a specific reason (for example, maybe something happened at school/work that made everyone happy). Everything just seemed to fit into place. What would keep that feeling going?

39) Think about an important discussion (or series of discussions) that took place in your family growing up. What was the topic? How did that affect everyone’s feelings or relationship with one another moving forward?

40) Write about a time when you were faced with the most difficult decision you’ve ever had to make (remember, it doesn’t have to be related to something big like deciding whether or not you should leave home for college). Why was this so difficult for you and what ended up happening as a result of it all?

41) If someone asked your parents what is most important to them about their life together right now, what would they say is most important to them? Would they mention anything in particular about you, their child?

42) What is your biggest regret? If you could go back to a time in the past when you still had this regret but knew what you know now, would there be anything that you would change about how it all went down and unfolded? Why or why not?

43) How did growing up influence your dreams at night and what did they mean to you moving forward into adulthood?

44) Think of all the people who’ve come into and out of your life over the years. Have any of them truly made an impact on who you are today—positively or negatively? How so? What’s one thing that they taught you along the way (whether by example or through words)? Why is this important to you?

45) Describe all the places that you’ve lived. What were some of your favorite places to visit as a child? Why did you like visiting them so much and what was it about those locations that made you feel this way? (Note: if you haven’t lived in many different places, write about one location or one trip instead.)

46) Think back on the past five years of your life. How has this changed how you see yourself now compared with before? What memories do you have from this period of time and specifically, why are they sticking out more than others right now?

47) If someone asked your parents what is most important for them in their relationship with one another right now, what do you think they would say? Why is this important to them right now?

48) Who has been the most influential person in your life so far—and why? What has this person taught you, if anything?

49) Imagine that you are meeting with a group of new people for the first time. Describe each one of these people as best as you can (how they look, what their interests are, what they’re passionate about). Now imagine that at least one of these people ends up being part of your life moving forward. What do you think will happen between the two of you now that you’ve met each other and now know each other’s personalities, interests, etc.?

50) Is there anything special or unique about the place where you grew up? What makes it special—and why is this important to you?

51) How have your past experiences made you who you are today?

52) Think back on all of your high school or college memories. Which ones stand out the most right now, and why do they stand out in your mind more than others? What did you learn from each of these memories that helped shape how you see yourself now compared with before everything happened?

53) Write about a time when something happened that changed everything for some reason (like an argument, someone moving away, etc.)…but instead of trying to make sense of what happened, focus on how it felt afterward. Why did things happen the way that they did? What was the aftermath like in terms of how it changed this person’s life and day-to-day routine and how it made them feel about certain things in life in general?

54) If someone were to ask your parents what is most important for them right now, what would you want their response to be? Why is this important to you?

55) Think back on all of your favorite memories from over the years. How has this changed how you see yourself now compared with before? What do these memories mean for who you are today and why is this so special to you when you look back at everything that happened long ago when compared with something that happens today?

56) Choose a season (winter, spring, summer, or fall) and write about why this season is important to you. For example: maybe you like spring because it’s your birthday, or fall because it’s the beginning of a new school year…or winter because of Christmas Eve traditions with family and friends.

57) Think back on all of your favorite memories from over the years. How has this changed who you are now compared with before? What do these memories mean for who you are today and why is this so special to you when you look back at everything that happened long ago compared with something that happens today?

58) Is there anything particularly special about where you’re from? Why is it important to be from here—and even if not, what makes your hometown special to you and why?

59) Is there anything special or unique about the place where you live right now? What makes it stand out compared with other places you could be living instead, and why is this important to you that things are the way they are right now?

60) How have your past experiences made you who you are today?

61) If someone were to ask your parents what’s most important for them in their relationship with one another right now, what would they say? Why is this especially important to them at this point in time when asked directly about it rather than how it can be inferred from some of their actions or certain conversations they’ve had together recently?

62) Is there anything particularly special about where you’re from? Why is it important to be from here—and even if not, what makes your hometown special to you and why?

63) Think back on all of your favorite memories from over the years. How has this changed who you are now compared with before? What do these memories mean for who you are today and why is this so special when you look back at everything that happened long ago when compared with something that happens today or is happening right now in the present moment?

64) Sometimes life doesn’t seem fair. No matter how hard we try, certain things happen anyway. Write about an instance where this seems especially true…perhaps one where it feels like nothing was done about what had happened despite everyone’s best efforts or maybe something that was avoided but continues to have repercussions in the present.

65) Is there anything particularly special about where you’re from? Why is it important to be from here—and even if not, what makes your hometown special to you and why?

66) Write a letter of advice to a current version of yourself. What’s one thing they should know right now when going through difficulty or hardship?

67) Describe a situation in your life when something happened that changed everything for some reason (like an argument, someone moving away, etc.)…but instead of trying to make sense of what happened, focus on how it felt afterward. Why did things happen the way that they did? What was the result when all was said and done? Why does this story matter to you when compared with other stories in your life?

68) Sometimes we want something that someone else also wants, and then we end up in a conflict over it. Or maybe there’s something that one of us doesn’t like or is made uncomfortable by—and the other person doesn’t care about it at all! Write about a conflict like this in your life with another person. How did things turn out, and what would you do differently if you could go back in time knowing what you know now after the fact?

69) Think back on all of your favorite memories from over the years. How has this changed who you are now compared with before? What do these memories mean for who you are today and why is this so special to you when you look back at everything that happened long ago compared with something that happens today?

70) Sometimes it’s hard to know what path we should take in life. When faced with a big decision, how do we make a choice about what’s right if everyone else seems to have their own opinions as well? How can we be sure that making our own choice instead of just going along with someone else will benefit us in the long run rather than having an outcome that feels negative or disappointing in some way?

71) Describe a situation in your life where there was a conflict and what happened as a result. How did it feel when this was happening? What were the various ways to resolve the conflict before everything started to turn out badly?

72) Think back on all of your favorite memories from over the years. How has this changed who you are now compared with before? What do these memories mean for who you are today and why is this so special when you look back at everything that happened long ago when compared with something that is happening right now in the present moment?

73) Sometimes being kind is taken advantage of or misinterpreted by others, resulting in feelings of negativity or resentment toward someone else. Write about an experience like this—perhaps one where they’re being overly kind to the point where you want to just say, “Stop!” Why is it so important that they truly understand what being kind means?

74) When is a time you were glad that you trusted your instincts and when have those instincts been wrong? What was going on in your life at the time—and how might things have turned out differently if you hadn’t listened to your gut feeling about something or someone?

What do these memories mean for who you are now compared with before?

75) Think of all of the people who have come into your life. In most cases, the most meaningful interactions seem to be those that develop slowly. What would need to happen for this type of meeting to occur here?

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78 Memoir Ideas That Will Help You Capture Your Life Story

By: Author Paul Jenkins

Posted on Published: October 5, 2022  - Last updated: July 4, 2023

Categories Writing , Creativity , Inspiration , Storytelling

Do you have a story to tell? Whether it’s about your life as a whole or a specific event that stands out in your memory, writing a memoir can be a rewarding experience. It can also be difficult to know where to start. We’ve put together this list of 78 memoir ideas to help get you started.

78 Memoir Ideas

  • Write a memoir about your first day of middle school.
  • Write about how you met your best friend.
  • Write down the funniest memory of your life story.
  • Write about the first time you got sick as an adult and had to take care of yourself.
  • Write about how your grandmother’s love of gardening inspired you to start a garden of your own.
  • Tell the story of the first time you went to a friend’s house.
  • A story about a pet or animal from your childhood.
  • Write about your time as a child when you were a loner and how that affected your later life.
  • Write about a time when you felt like a failure, but then something great happened that changed your mind about that failure lasting.
  • Tell the story about your favorite toy when you were little.
  • Tell about your favorite meal or food you ate as a child.
  • Write about your first love and how your relationship ended.
  • Write about your parents’ relationship and how it affected you as a child.
  • Write about the time your parents divorced.
  • Write about what it was like to be raised by only one parent (or what family dynamic is most important to your life).
  • Tell about where you went on vacation with your family when you were little or a young adult.
  • Tell who taught you to ride a bike, roller skate, etc. and how old you were when you first did it.
  • Tell the story about your favorite piece of clothing from your childhood (e.g., “the shirt my grandma gave me”).
  • Tell the story about something that happened in high school (e.g., “the time someone played a prank on me in gym class”).
  • Tell the story about how you were bullied as a child.
  • Write about the worst thing that happened to you as an adult, such as getting fired or having someone close to you cheat on you, and how it changed who you’re today and how others see/treat you because of those experiences (or lack thereof).
  • Write about a time when you didn’t get something you wanted.
  • Write about a time when you got everything you wanted.
  • Write about the best thing that happened to you on vacation.
  • Tell about the time you felt like a failure because of someone else’s success.
  • Write about your first kiss.
  • Write about the day you got your first job.
  • Write about how you left your first job.
  • Write about your first car.
  • Write about the time you changed jobs or experienced a big change in your life.
  • Write a personal memoir about an important historical event (e.g., 9/11).
  • Write a memory about moving from one place to another and discovering what was there before you arrived.
  • Write about the first time you felt completely alone or lost (and how that changed over time).
  • Write about how a major technological change affected you as a child/teenager/young adult (and how it still affects you today).
  • Write about how a particular song helped you through a difficult time.
  • Write about a trip abroad that changed everything for you (or nothing at all).
  • Write about how your parents had you as a teenager and how you eventually became a parent yourself.
  • Write about how your heart was broken and you’d to learn to trust again.
  • Tell your family history.
  • Describe what it was like for your family to immigrate to America from another country and how it affected them to grow up here in America!
  • Describe your spiritual journey from your youth to today.
  • Tell how an event made you who you’re today – a breakup, graduation, etc., but from the perspective of what’s happened since then (what’s changed in your life as a result of that event?).
  • Write a memory of the first time you drank alcohol.
  • Write a memory of growing up with a sibling whose personality was very different from yours.
  • Write an account of losing someone close to you through death or separation.
  • Write an account of an argument with someone close to you that changed your view of them forever (or vice versa).
  • Write about the first time you got sick – the symptoms, how long it lasted, and what it was like to have a loved one take care of you during that time (this can also be written from their point of view).
  • Write about the person who had the biggest impact on you.
  • Write about the most embarrassing moment of your life.
  • Write about a time when you wanted to give up but didn’t and how that changed your life for the better.
  • Write about a time when you were really scared.
  • Write about your worst day at work.
  • Write about a time when you were proud of yourself.
  • Write about a time when you felt the world was against you and how you overcame that feeling and came out victorious!
  • Write about the best gift you ever received.
  • Write about your favorite thing to do on Christmas Eve/day as a child/teen/young adult (or as an adult).
  • Write down what you missed most about your childhood (e.g., playing outside, staying up late).
  • Write down the first time you got in trouble at middle school.
  • Describe the first time you felt brave.
  • Tell the true story of how you met your partner.
  • Write about the first time you felt like you were the center of attention.
  • Write about the first time you felt like an adult.
  • Tell a story about the most important thing someone taught you (not just parents/siblings/guardians).
  • Write about the best birthday party or event from your childhood.
  • Describe what’s the best thing about living in your hometown.
  • Write about how you learned an instrument or other important skill.
  • Tell the story of how you rediscovered an old hobby or interest that was important to you as a child but was lost over time (or vice versa).
  • Write down the true story of how someone helped you when you needed it most.
  • Write about the strangest thing I’ve ever eaten.
  • Write about when you found your true passion in life.
  • Write about the first time you went to summer camp as a kid.
  • Write about the first time you saw your favorite band in concert.
  • Write about the one thing that changed your life forever.
  • Write about your most memorable day in middle school.
  • Tell the story of how you became a parent and how that changed your life forever.
  • Write about series or movies that most influenced you during your childhood.
  • Describe your most memorable teacher.
  • Explain how your political beliefs have changed since you were a teenager.

Personal Benefits of Writing a Personal Memoir

Memoir writing is a great way to get in touch with your past and be inspired by it. There are many benefits to writing a memoir, including:

  • Writing your memoir helps you reflect on your life and think about the choices you’ve made. This is a good exercise for anyone who wants to make better choices in the future.
  • It allows you to share your story with others, which can be an important part of healing from trauma or adversity you’ve experienced.
  • It allows you to reconnect with old friends and family members who may not have been there at some important moments in your life.
  • It helps you learn more about yourself and recognize positive qualities that you may have suppressed for years due to mental illness or other issues that affect people from time to time.

Challenges of the Writing Process

The first challenge of writing a memoir is that it can be difficult to finish. Memoir writing is different from fiction creative writing in that it’s not just a story, it’s an account of your life, and that can be overwhelming for some writers.

The second challenge is that you may not have the time or energy to write as much as you’d like. You may also feel pressured by family and friends who want to read your story.

The third challenge is that it can be difficult to find the right publisher for your work. There are many publishers, but which one will publish your book? And even if they do publish your book, there’s no guarantee they’ll sell enough copies to make you rich!

While these challenges may seem daunting, they don’t have to stop you from writing your memoir. All you need is a little determination and perseverance – but if you don’t feel like writing, then writing may not be for you!

The Best Thing About Writing a Memoir

A memoir is a book about your life. They can range from childhood to young adulthood to old age. Great memoirs are often written by famous people, but also by ordinary people like you and me.

The best thing about writing a great memoir is that it’s your life experience story and you can do whatever you want with it. You can combine stories from different periods of your life or tell the story of a single year of your life. You can decide what to include and what to leave out. You’re free to tell the truth about yourself or not. It’s up to you!

Another benefit of writing a memoir is that it forces you to think about your life. Even if you only write about one year in your life, you’ll have ended up learning so much about yourself and how life events affect us as people.

Where Should Memoirs Begin?

A memoir is a story about your life. They can range from your childhood to your adult life and can be as long or short as you want. Memoirs can be fictional or non-fictional and written in any style.

There are many ways you can begin your autobiography, but one of the best is to start with an anecdote or scene that grabs the reader’s attention. If your story starts with something funny or shocking, that can work well too.

Another way to begin your story is to introduce yourself and explain why you’re writing this book now. You can also write about your personal experience or how it came to be. For example, if you just moved away from home after graduating high school, explain what happened in your life during that time and how it affected you emotionally.

How to End Your Autobiography

The end of your memoir is just as important as the beginning. If you don’t have an ending, you run the risk of losing readers and making it harder for them to remember what they read. Also, they’ll likely be dissatisfied with what they experienced while reading your work.

Here are some tips on how to write a good conclusion:

  • Make sure it ties back to the beginning of your story . You don’t want your readers to have questions about how it all started or why they should care about what happens next. If you don’t resolve something, it could confuse people or make them think the story is still going on, but it’s not.
  • Make sure your ending is related to the memoir topic . If your memoir has a central message or theme that runs throughout the story, you should mention it at least once in the last one or two (or three!) chapters. This helps reinforce what readers have learned from reading your story and gives them something to think about after reading.
  • Leave room for interpretation and imagination by leaving out details or using images instead of concrete descriptions when describing life events or feelings at the tim e. You want readers of your book to feel like they know you well enough to understand how you felt at certain times during these experiences. You don’t want them to feel like they need more outside information but to be able to empathize with the situation and relate it to their own lives.

Publishing Your Memoir

Once you’ve decided to publish your memoir, you’ll need to submit a book proposal. This will convince potential publishers that your narrative is worth telling.

Before submitting your book proposal, you should consult with an attorney who specializes in publishing law. He or she can advise you on whether there are any legal problems with your book proposal, such as libel or invasion of privacy, and can advise you on the possible consequences of publishing your personal narrative. For example, if you’re writing about someone who’s deceased but whose family is still alive, the publisher may ask their permission before publishing the book. This may need to be included in the contract between the author and publisher.

Once you’ve consulted an attorney and determined that publishing your memoir is legally safe, you should hire an editor who specializes in nonfiction or at least has experience with nonfiction. An editor can help you polish your manuscript so that it flows better from beginning to end and can be understood by readers who’ve not experienced what you’ve.

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20 Memoir Writing Do’s and Don’ts

POSTED ON Sep 8, 2023

Shannon Clark

Written by Shannon Clark

Everyone has a unique story because no two lives are the same. Whether we’ve been an underdog, a crusader for just causes, or something altogether different, sharing our adventures and misadventures links us to others. It’s the human-to-human connection that makes writing a memoir worth the effort. 

Memoir writing is a memory experiment that can be both therapeutic and terrifying. But if you can find the right way to write a memoir  – your memoir – and give your life journey wings, you have a great opportunity to immortalize a piece of your history. 

Need A Nonfiction Book Outline?

These tips for memoir writing include:

What is a memoir .

A memoir is a nonfiction piece of writing that focuses on a particular time in a person’s life—a singular event or a related group of events. Memoirs are intimate narratives of factual, personal experiences that the author has chosen to share. 

Below, you’ll find tips on memoir writing. Before you begin, consider each to ensure your personal story resonates with your reader while protecting your loved ones and secrets you don't want to share.

Do's and don'ts for your memoir writing structure

One part of memoir writing is simply understanding the best way to tell your story. As we mentioned, this is an extremely personal journey, but there are some tried and true tips you can learn from authors who have gone before you.

1. DO focus on a specific theme from your life

Don’t write an autobiography.

The difference between a memoir and an autobiography is the focus. Memoirs are focused on a particular theme from your life, like learning how to parent or overcoming a loss. Meanwhile, autobiographies condense your entire life into book format.

Think of memoir writing as a couple of letters in the alphabet and an autobiography as a journey that takes you from A to Z. You don't have to tell your whole story for it to be a good one.

2. DO craft your story carefully

Don’t treat your memoir casually.

The same rules apply to memoir writing that apply to any other book. The difference is that, when writing a memoir, it may feel more intimate, like writing in a journal. But unlike a journal for your eyes only, a memoir is for an audience. And how you present your story to them matters. 

Your memoir is like a puzzle that your readers walk with you as you put the pieces together. Who wants to spend time assembling a puzzle with missing pieces? 

The same goes for your book. Before you start writing, take time to carefully plan your story and craft a memoir outline to follow. This will help make sure no details are overlooked so that your readers can enjoy the complete picture. 

Not sure where to start? Check out our memoir writing prompts  for memoir ideas to get the creative juices flowing – or challenge yourself to a Six Word Memoir writing exercise! 

3. DO write chronologically

Don’t confuse the reader by hopping around.

Readers don’t know your story. You do. 

If this is your first book, or if you’re new to memoir writing, the safest road is to write in an order or sequence that makes sense to the reader. Chronologically.

“A good technique is to open the story with an incident that focuses the theme of the memoir after that starting the story at the beginning and continuing with scenes chronologically (unless you have good reason to do otherwise).”  -Jane Friedman, Strategist for Authors and Publishers

If you are a more experienced writer and want to use flashback techniques,  editor Trish Lockard  suggests navigating tenses by remembering that “there must always be a  now . You  now  tell your readers where and when you are in your life, the place and time of your life from which you are writing the memoir. No matter how you time travel, you must always return to your  now .”

For either of these examples, having a trusted writing coach could help immensely. You will be able to show them your outline or chapter summaries – and they will be able to provide you with an external, third-party opinion. That's just one way our coaches love to help our authors!

Related: What Is an Inciting Incident?

4. DO show discretion when sharing personal events

Don’t use your memoir as an opportunity for payback.

While it might be tempting to try to humiliate someone who mistreated you in the past, anger and resentment tend to poison even the best stories. They drip from pages like thick sludge, making it difficult to see the story underneath. 

Instead of focusing on the message, readers may redirect their attention to the offender's actions and miss any redeeming value you’re trying to share, like overcoming abuse, tragedy, or heartbreak. 

If the theme of your book focuses on resiliency and you spend a third of it bashing a former friend for their poor behavior, there’s a high probability that your words of contempt will overshadow the intent of your book.

5. DO write like a fiction author

Don’t forget to engage your reader.

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Memoirs are a type of creative nonfiction. Although they relay factual life events, they are typically written like fiction with characters, character arcs, a plot, and a point of view. As with fiction, memoir writing should take the reader on a journey. 

Veteran memoir ghostwriter John DeSimone suggests that if you want your memoir to be accepted by a wider commercial audience, “using narrative story arcs will be critical to your book’s success.” 

Narrative arcs provide a familiar format for readers to follow, increasing their understanding.

6. DO add enough details to make the story engaging

Don’t add so many details that the story becomes cumbersome and hard to read.

When you’ve lived out an event or a set of circumstances, it’s hard to overlook even the tiniest details; however, minutia can make your reader's eyes glaze over. 

Instead of recounting every last detail down to you  remembering it was the fourth of July because you were wearing your favorite red, white, and blue t-shirt with the ketchup stain from the previous year’s barbeque,  narrow your focus.

Your reader will thank you.

Details matter, but too many details can derail the best of books. 

7. DO focus on emotions

Don’t let the events of your memoir hog the spotlight.

Author Amy Lou Jenkins offers this advice: “While events are important, the emotions and feelings behind those events make a memoir an absorbing read. In first-person writing, the voice of the narrator and their inner and outer journey can create a layered and satisfying read.” 

Events are hollow until emotions are attached.

When writing about your experiences, try to recall how you felt in the moment and document it in your story. This focus will help guide the reader into your world. 

8. DO give an accurate account of events

Don’t exaggerate.

Exaggerations and tall tales are great for novels and children’s books, but they can sap your credibility when you stretch the facts in your memoir. It should be an accurate account of your life, so any detour from the truth can come back to bite you. 

Instead of exaggerating, try to remember that your experiences have value. Focus on the sites, sounds, people, and underlying emotions you felt in the event. 

It’s not the size of the circumstances that matters as much as how you interpret them and their impact on your life. 

9. DO write to share your story

Don’t write a memoir for therapy .

Memoir writing is not journaling or a therapy session. While the writing process can be cathartic and healing in many ways, every emotional wrestling match won’t fit into your book’s overarching message. 

10. DO use professional publishing services

Don’t do everything yourself to save a few dollars.

The final form of our book is everything. Consider a package on your grocery store shelf. The outside and its contents should appeal to the customer. When a manufacturer takes a shortcut, you know. The same goes for your book. Even if you're self-publishing your book (and we absolutely recommend that you do!), you can still get invaluable support by hiring a writing coach, hiring someone for specific steps of your process, and taking a course.

The success of your memoir is not just about your story. The book cover design , back cover synopsis, and interior formatting all matter, so know your strengths. 

For example, if you’re a great writer and book cover designer but a horrible speller, hire a professional book editor . 

You don't need to hire a publishing team to create a successful book, but knowing when to pay for professional support vs cut corners is critical. 

To the best of your ability, don’t compromise the integrity of your book when you have access to professionals who can partner with you to create the best version possible.  

11. DO take time for reflection

Don’t let the first draft be the only draft.

Memoir writing can be tough, especially when it dredges up a lot of emotional baggage. It's important to take a step back and recalibrate during the writing process. Reread the draft a few times after you’ve taken a breath and decide how to move forward. 

“Treat yourself very kindly during this process. You’re likely dealing with deep emotions and possibly things you haven’t thought about in a long time.”  – Joanna Penn, Serial Author

The first draft is seldom the last – or best – draft. And that's okay! It's a part of the writing process for all authors.

12. DO write to entertain

Don’t write for sympathy.

This is a tough one because empathy can be a lifeline, but there’s a difference between sharing your story with a close friend and doing so with a thousand people you don’t know. 

Be true to yourself and your experiences, but remember that most of your buyers will be people who don't know you and are purchasing your memoir for its entertainment value.

Write in a way that pulls readers into your story so they want to stay there. 

If you fall into a sea of emotions while writing it, that’s okay. Just make sure you wear a life jacket so you can get back to the shore where your readers are waiting for you. 

13. DO read, read, and read some more before writing

Don’t write before you’re familiar with the art of storytelling.

Author William Faulkner said it best: “Read, read, read. Read everything—trash, classics, good and bad, and see how they do it. Just like a carpenter who works as an apprentice and studies the master.”

When you read a variety of writing (especially memoirs), you get a feel for what you like and don’t like and which elements of storytelling you want to include in your memoir. There are plenty of memoir examples you can look to for inspiration. Choose some that cover the same topics as you – and some that don't. The variety in perspectives can enhance your own writing.

Remember that memoirs are a genre of writing, so readers have an expectation of what the reading experience will be like. Study other memoirs to understand the expectations of the genre. Once you are confident in how to write one, you can experiment or borrow elements from other genres. 

Do's and don'ts when thinking about your audience

While the primary objective of memoir writing is to share your story, you don't want to lose sight of who's going to be receiving that story.

14. DO write with your audience in mind

Don’t make the memoir only about you.

While the memoir is about your life, you want others to read it. So make it appealing. 

Writing a book to sell is just as much about the audience as it is the author. When you write your memoir with your audience in mind, your readers will feel like you are speaking directly to them. 

Memoir ghostwriter  Amy Suto  offers the following advice, 

“When starting out, the concept and content of your book reign supreme. You have to write for an audience that is hungry for what you're sharing and understand what they want from your book: knowledge? Escapism? Most writers forget that they're writing to be read and don't think enough about how to entertain their audience.”

Related:   “How to Write a Memoir People Will Read”

15. DO share your memoir to offer perspective

Don’t preach.

Everyone has their own compass for what’s right or wrong. Generally, most people don’t like being told what’s best for them, even if it comes from a good place. 

With memoir writing, if you want to guide a reader to your life conclusions, it’s best not to force-feed them because they’ll resent it. Instead, meet them with openness and respect for other perspectives by sharing your story authentically based on how it impacted you. 

It’s better to say, “This is what I went through, what I learned, and how I persevered” rather than turning the tables and trying to force the reader to come to the same conclusions.

16. DO write a memoir to add to the tapestry of shared stories in the world

Don’t write a memoir just to make money or to gain notoriety.

While money is great for paying bills or saving for a rainy day, using it as a foundation for why you write a memoir can have serious drawbacks. 

If you take the time to publish a book, making money is a definite consideration, and wanting to be viewed as an authority in your space makes sense, but if that's your only focus, the temptation to embellish or write what you think will sell can become a central focus. Readers can see through inauthenticity and will call you out on it.

Instead, focus on developing a story that adds value to someone's journey. This is how great books spread.

Do's and don'ts for protecting yourself and your memoir

This is a question we get often: “Can I get sued for writing and publishing a memoir?” In most instances, no. They are a true account of your life. However, we do have some tips for authors that will ensure your security.

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17. DO consider the feelings of the people you include in your book

Don’t make your feelings the only ones that matter.

Sometimes, when we share something that happened to us, thinking about how others may have felt is not at the forefront of our minds. Especially if we were the victims of abuse or another very difficult situation.

Everyone has feelings and a perspective that may or may not align with how we see things.  

When it comes to memoir writing, insensitivity, prejudice, fear, and every other type of emotion are magnified in the pages of a book and can be off-putting to your reader. 

Try to consider each person in your story carefully. You want to accurately tell the story without unfairly condemning someone or causing new wounds.

For example, if you had a terrible relationship with a parent growing up but have a healthy one now, recounting the bitterness and resentment you felt toward them can sting, even though it is in the past. A better approach might be to balance your mention of the past with an anecdote about how much better things are today. 

18. DO save some of the details of your life experiences for yourself

Don’t share to the point of regret.

While transparency is great, keeping some things private can protect your mental health by putting the control in your hands. Writing a memoir can feel both freeing and leave you feeling exposed.

It’s okay to pour your heart out, but as mentioned in point #11, once you’ve bared your soul, go back and reframe just the pieces needed to make a great story. 

19. DO protect yourself

Don’t get sued.

To piggyback off of #18, everyone will not always see (or describe) a course of events the way you do. So tread carefully. Unless you have the evidence to support your claims. But, even then, we still recommend that you tread lightly. 

Defamation and libel  are real, and you could be accountable for statements against another person. Even if what you share is true, if the other party feels they’ve been misrepresented, you could end up in court.

20. DO believe in yourself.

Don’t allow fear to keep you from sharing your story with the world.

Memoir writing is hard because you’re so close to the content. But who better to pen the words of your life than you? No one has walked in your shoes or can tell your story the way that you can.

Maybe there’s a reader who has walked a similar journey and will be inspired by yours. Here at SelfPublishing, we truly believe that books change lives. And you’ll never know if you don’t write it and share it. 

There’s something personal and touching about knowing that you share similar challenges with another human being. That if they overcame them to find value and meaning in their lives, then maybe you can too.

The magic of the memoir is that it meets the readers where they are and gives them access to the messiness of real-life experiences. It’s the story of the woman or man who faced seemingly insurmountable odds who grabs our attention and keeps us reading. 

Unlike other genres, memoir writing provides a window into someone else’s life while simultaneously giving the reader a mirror to view their own.

Are you ready to take the next steps of your memoir-writing journey?

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Gilmore Girls' Kelly Bishop to Chronicle Her Time as Emily in New Book

H ere's a topic of discussion for your next Friday-night dinner: Gilmore Girls matriarch Kelly Bishop is writing a book about her life in showbiz.

The actress, who played Lorelai's mother and Rory's grandmother Emily Gilmore on the beloved drama, will release The Third Gilmore Girl this fall, People reports. Gallery Books will publish the memoir.

Per the official synopsis, the book will span "her six decades in show business from Broadway to Hollywood with A Chorus Line , Dirty Dancing , Gilmore Girls and much more."

Bishop has enjoyed a long collaboration with Gilmore creator Amy Sherman-Paladino. In addition to the WB/CW hit and its Netflix revival, she co-starred in Sherman-Palladino's short-lived ABC Family/Freeform ballet dramedy Bunheads . More recently, she recurred as a ruthless matchmaker on her Emmy-winning Amazon series The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel .

"If you don't have good material, you don't have good television," Bishop told TVLine in 2016 at the premiere of the Netflix revival Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life . "And [Amy gives us] really good material."

In a statement to People, Bishop said: "From my first steps onto a Broadway stage, to the town of Stars Hollow, I am excited to take my fans along with me through the story of my life."

The Third Gilmore Girl is slated for release on Sept. 17.

Will you read Bishop's memoir? Hit the comments and let us know!

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Gilmore Girls' Kelly Bishop to Chronicle Her Time as Emily in New Book

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  1. 63 Memoir Writing Prompts With Examples

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  2. Memoir Writing Ideas for Middle School

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  3. How To Write A Memoir Outline

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  4. Write your Personal History

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  5. Memoir Topics for All Ages

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  6. How to Write About a Topic that Triggers You

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  2. Tips for Writing Memoir from On Writing Well by William Zinsser #writing #storytelling #memoir

  3. Synopsis Writing Tips for Memoir

  4. Why Writing Your Memoir Too Soon Will Disappoint Readers

COMMENTS

  1. 63 Memoir Writing Prompts With Examples

    July 15, 2023 by Barrie Davenport You're writing a memoir. But you're not sure what questions or life lessons you want to focus on. Even if only family members and friends will read the finished book, you want to make it worth their time. This isn't just a whimsical collection of anecdotes from your life.

  2. Topics for Memoirs: 50+ Ideas and Prompts to Get You Started

    Last updated on March 6th, 2023 The memoir is a popular type of nonfiction writing that's often associated with celebrities, business leaders, and politicians. However, you don't need to be any of the above to write a good memoir.

  3. 75+ Memoir Writing Prompts to Inspire Your Next Book

    What are good topics for a memoir? Anything! If you experienced something that had a profound impact on your life, health, beliefs, or loved ones, it's likely a story worth telling. Bestselling memoir ideas are limitless. However, some of the most common themes covered include: Personal growth Family and relationships Navigating personal identity

  4. 101 Memoir Ideas For Your Next Memoir Project

    Memoir Ideas 1. Memoir Ideas for Beginners: Tips and tricks to jumpstart your memoir writing journey. 2. Life Story: Pen down your entire life, capturing every twist and turn. 3. A Family Affair: Write a family history, exploring the threads that bind generations. 4. Time Capsule: Write about a time that changed your perception forever. 5.

  5. 30+ Memoir Topic Ideas + Tips for Choosing One

    Is it at home in your bedroom or outside somewhere special? Why does this space have so much meaning for you, and how do you spend your time here? Share an experience you've had here. Best days might not come around all that often, but they sure are memorable when they do.

  6. 50 Impactful Memoir Writing Prompts to Get You ...

    What are Some Good Memoir Topics to Write About? Memoir Prompt Writing Tips Be honest and raw Write by hand Establish a daily writing practice Tell a story and give us details Revision Memoir Writing Prompts & Ideas More Great Resources The Alphabet Autobiography (similar to the abecedarian poetic form).

  7. 127 Best Memoir Writing Prompts You'll Love

    January 3, 2024 / 11 minutes of reading Memoir writing requires dedication and talent to describe critical points of your life. See our memoir writing prompts to inspire you to make your own. So you finally decided to put your life on paper.

  8. 66 Creative Memoir Ideas to Beat Writer's Block

    #1 - Tell a story about a trip you took that changed your life. Whether it was the people you met or the place you went, travel can bring so much to someone's life. #2 - What were some of the key romantic relationships in your life? Whether they lasted a long time or a short time, there are probably some that played an impact.

  9. 21 Memoir Examples to Inspire Your Own

    Last updated on Apr 06, 2021 21 Memoir Examples to Inspire Your Own Writing a memoir is a daunting endeavor for any author: how do you condense your entire life story into a mere couple hundred pages? Of course, you'll find plenty of online guides that will help you write a memoir by leading you through the steps.

  10. 10 Memoir Writing Prompts to Get Your Life Story Started

    Ready to write a book about your life? Get started by using these prompts. Then tell us which prompt you chose and share up to 250 words of your writing in the practice link below. 1. Afraid " Memoir writing prompt: What is one moment where you were afraid to do something but did it anyway? Tell the story. Tweet this 2. Area of Expertise

  11. Best Memoir Writing Prompts—16+ Ideas That Will Inspire You

    July 29, 2022 Memoirs are autobiographical accounts of one's life story. They can cover an entire life or focus on a few significant events in a person's life. They include the author's memories, intimate thoughts and feelings about their past, and significant life experiences.

  12. How to Write a Memoir: Turn Your Personal Story Into a ...

    1. Figure out who you're writing for 2. Narrow down your memoir's focus 3. Distill the story into a logline 4. Choose the key moments to share 5. Don't skimp on the details and dialogue 6. Portray yourself honestly 🎒Turn your personal life stories into a successful memoir in 6 steps! Click to tweet! 1. Figure out who you're writing for

  13. 50+ Superb Memoir Ideas for Free » JournalBuddies.com

    A memoir can focus on any topic and can be as long or as short as you want it to be. The goal is simply to share from your own life and to consider what you or others may be able to learn from that experience. With that in mind, we've compiled some memoir ideas and writing prompts to help you get started.

  14. 75 Memoir Writing Prompts

    1) Write an essay about a time when you felt lost. 2) Write a short story of a time in your life when you leaned on someone else for help. 3) Write down everything you know about your family history. 4) Imagine that you are writing a letter to the person who has been the biggest inspiration in your life. How would you describe them?

  15. How to Write a Memoir: Examples and a Step-by-Step Guide

    Inspired by Joe Brainard's memoir I Remember, this prompt is a great way to generate a list of memories. From there, choose one memory that feels the most emotionally charged and begin writing your memoir. It's that simple! If you're in need of more prompts, our Facebook group is also a great resource.

  16. 59 Memoir Ideas

    56 Memoir Topics Which of these have been important in your life? being a parent your parent your grandparent a sister or brother a sport or game that's been important to you gardening a trip you took a particular job your career something you collect an unusual talent dieting or fitness your cultural heritage a romance marriage divorce farming

  17. How to Write a Memoir: 7 Ways to Tell a Powerful Story

    5. Employ Elements of Fiction to Bring Your Story to Life. 6. Create an Emotional Journey. 7. Showcase Your Personal Growth. Memoir Examples as Inspiration. Examples of Memoirs that Use an Effective Structure. Examples of Thematic Memoirs.

  18. Memoir Writing Prompts

    A memoir is a personal account of a life experience or a period in your life that shaped you or impacted you in some way. To help you get the creative juices flowing, read on to learn about some...

  19. 29 Memoir Writing Exercises and Prompts for Your First Draft

    Jan 27 Written By Marina Crouse Memoir writing is an incredibly powerful tool for releasing, reflecting on, and understanding our personal stories. If you're working on your own memoir, chances are you are trying to find "the right way" to tell your life story. Good news: There's no right or wrong way!

  20. 78 Memoir Ideas That Will Help You Capture Your Life Story

    78 Memoir Ideas Write a memoir about your first day of middle school. Write about how you met your best friend. Write down the funniest memory of your life story. Write about the first time you got sick as an adult and had to take care of yourself. Write about how your grandmother's love of gardening inspired you to start a garden of your own.

  21. Memoir Writing Prompts To Spark Inspiration

    1. Keep a journal. Capture events so that they're there for you in 20 years' time. What's more, journal keeping is a discipline that maintains a writing practice. 2. Find inspiration in photographs. A picture can help us recall past events. Take a look at your phone. What were you doing 5 years ago today?

  22. 20 Memoir Writing Do's and Don'ts

    One part of memoir writing is simply understanding the best way to tell your story. As we mentioned, this is an extremely personal journey, but there are some tried and true tips you can learn from authors who have gone before you. 1. DO focus on a specific theme from your life.

  23. How to Write a Memoir, Memoir Writing Topics

    1) Focus your memoir. Instead of trying to include your whole life, it helps to choose a focus. You might write about: - a specific event that happened to you. - the impact on your own life of an outside event (for example, a war, an economic crisis, your parents' divorce). - a specific aspect of your life (for example, your relationship with ...

  24. Creative Writing: Memoir Writing

    Take your skills to new heights with our Creative Writing Workshop! Learn the structure of a memoir, elements, and also read examples and excerpts of memoirs. We will also work on creating our own short memoirs. ... Creative Writing: Memoir Writing. Date and Time. Tuesday, February 20, 2024, 5 - 6:30 PM. End times are approximate. Events may ...

  25. Gilmore Girls' Kelly Bishop to Chronicle Her Time as Emily in New ...

    Here's a topic of discussion for your next Friday-night dinner: Gilmore Girls matriarch Kelly Bishop is writing a book about her life in showbiz. The actress, who played Lorelai's mother and Rory ...