Every life is a book waiting to be written, filled with stories only you can tell. If you’ve ever felt the pull to share a piece of your personal journey, you may be considering the memoir.
A memoir is a nonfiction narrative about a specific period, theme, or series of events in the author’s life.
This article will define what a memoir is, provide a variety of examples from the genre, and offer practical tips for how to approach writing your own.
What Is a Memoir?
Memoir Definition
A memoir is a subgenre of nonfiction writing. Unlike a full autobiography that covers a person’s entire life, a memoir focuses on a specific period, a singular event, or a particular theme from an author’s life. It is an account of a slice of life, not the whole of it.
The narrative is driven by a personal perspective and emotional truth, which gives the author’s personal experience universal relevance.
Memoir Meaning
The word memoir comes from the French term mémoire, which means “memory” or reminiscence. Its purpose is to explore a memory and the emotional journey associated with it.
A memoir is a story told from the heart, focusing on what the author learned or how they changed. It is different from an autobiography, which is often a list of key events and facts.
Memoir Examples
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls (2005)
This memoir chronicles Walls’s unconventional and impoverished childhood with her eccentric and nomadic parents. It is an account of a dysfunctional family, focusing on themes of poverty, resilience, and unconditional love, all while exploring Walls’s unique upbringing and journey to independence.
Wild by Cheryl Strayed (2012)
After the death of her mother and the end of her marriage, Cheryl Strayed embarks on a solo hike of the Pacific Crest Trail. This book is an account of her physical and emotional struggles on the trail and her journey of self-discovery, exploring themes of grief, healing, and perseverance.
Educated by Tara Westover (2018)
This book is a powerful account of Westover’s childhood in a survivalist family in rural Idaho. She never attended school but found a way to pursue an education, eventually earning a PhD from Cambridge University. The book is a story of her quest for knowledge and the challenges of breaking away from her family.
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou (1969)
The first in a series of seven autobiographical books, this memoir covers the early years of Maya Angelou’s life. It details her childhood and her journey from Stamps, Arkansas, to San Francisco, exploring themes of racism, trauma, and identity while recounting her coming-of-age.
Just Kids by Patti Smith (2010)
A love letter to a bygone era of New York City and to her friend and creative partner Robert Mapplethorpe, this memoir recounts Smith’s early years as an artist. It is a story of their friendship and artistic partnership in the late 1960s and 1970s, capturing the raw energy of the downtown art scene.
Becoming by Michelle Obama (2018)
This memoir offers an intimate look into the life of the former First Lady. It follows her journey from her childhood on the South Side of Chicago to her years at Princeton and Harvard Law, her life as a working mother, and her eight years in the White House. The book is a personal story of how she found her voice and lived her life with authenticity.
Night by Elie Wiesel (1960)
This book is a harrowing account of Wiesel’s experiences as a Jewish prisoner in concentration camps during the Holocaust. It is a testament to the horrors of war and the struggle to maintain faith and humanity in the face of unspeakable evil, providing a stark and powerful historical record.
Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert (2006)
After a painful divorce, Elizabeth Gilbert decides to embark on a yearlong journey of self-discovery. This memoir recounts her travels to Italy, India, and Indonesia as she explores the pleasures of eating, the challenges of spiritual devotion, and the unexpected joy of finding love.
A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway (1964)
This is a posthumous memoir of Ernest Hemingway’s time as a young and aspiring writer in Paris in the 1920s. The book provides a glimpse into his life, friendships, and experiences with other literary figures of the time, painting a picture of a vibrant and creative period in his career.
The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank (1947)
This memoir is a collection of writings from the diary Anne Frank kept while in hiding from the Nazis during the Holocaust. It offers a poignant and intimate look into her daily life and emotional thoughts, providing a powerful account of her hopes, fears, and dreams in confinement.
My Life in France by Julia Child (2006)
A charming account of Julia Child’s years living in France with her husband, Paul, as she discovers French cuisine and writes her groundbreaking cookbook. The book explores her adventures and the passion that would define her career.
On Writing by Stephen King (2000)
Part memoir, part guide to the craft, this book traces King’s personal journey as a writer from his childhood to his development as a bestselling author. It is a look at his process and the discipline and habits that contributed to his success.
Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt (1996)
This memoir tells the story of McCourt’s impoverished childhood in Limerick, Ireland, and his struggle to escape a life of poverty and alcoholism. It is a somber yet humorous account of his family’s resilience and his journey to find a better life in America.
Fun Home by Alison Bechdel (2006)
A graphic memoir about Bechdel’s coming-of-age in a funeral home run by her emotionally distant, closeted gay father. The book is a unique and heartfelt exploration of family secrets, identity, and the complexities of parent-child relationships.
Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates (2015)
Written as a letter to his teenage son, Coates’s memoir explores the realities of race in America. It is a profound and poignant meditation on the history of race, the struggles of African Americans, and the author’s own journey to understand his place in the world.
H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald (2014)
Following the sudden death of her father, Helen Macdonald decides to train a goshawk as a way to cope with her grief. This memoir blends her personal story with natural history and is a beautifully written account of her healing process.
The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion (2005)
This memoir is an unflinching account of the year following the sudden death of Joan Didion’s husband and her daughter’s simultaneous life-threatening illness. It is a clear-eyed and powerful meditation on grief, loss, and the nature of mourning.
Dreams from My Father by Barack Obama (1995)
This is an account of the former president’s journey to understand his racial identity and his search for a relationship with his absent Kenyan father. The book explores his experiences in Chicago and his pilgrimage to Kenya to confront his family history.
Maus by Art Spiegelman (1986)
A groundbreaking graphic memoir in which Spiegelman interviews his father about his experiences as a Polish Jew during the Holocaust. The book depicts different nationalities as animals, with Jews as mice, Germans as cats, and Poles as pigs, making it a powerful and unique historical account.
Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris (2000)
A collection of humorous essays recounting Sedaris’s life, from his childhood to his move to France. The memoir is a witty and relatable account of his experiences, focusing on the absurdities of human nature and the challenges of learning a new language.
Steps for Writing in the Memoir Genre
Step 1: Find the Core Story
Before you begin to write a memoir, you need to find the central theme or argument of your memoir. Ask yourself what emotional journey you want to explore and what insights you have gained from it. This theme will serve as the narrative backbone, giving your story purpose and focus. It will also help you decide which memories to include and which to leave out.
Step 2: Use Scenes Not Summaries
The most powerful memoirs use scenes to bring their story to life. Instead of just summarizing what happened—for example, “We moved a lot as a child”—focus on specific moments with vivid details, sensory descriptions, and dialogue. This allows the reader to experience your memories alongside you and connect with your story on a deeper level.
Step 3: Write with Your Emotion
A memoir’s power comes from its emotional honesty. To tell your story effectively, write about how you felt during the events, what you learned from them, and how they changed you.
This isn’t about reporting facts; it’s about sharing your personal truth and the emotional landscape of your experience.
Step 4: Focus on a Specific Theme
Avoid the temptation to tell your entire life story. Instead, concentrate on a specific theme or event. This could be a difficult journey, a significant relationship, a particular challenge, or a single moment that changed everything.
By narrowing your focus, you create a more cohesive and compelling narrative for your reader.
Step 5: Embrace Reflection
The most compelling memoirs include moments of reflection and introspection. These parts show the author’s growth and provide readers with insight into the meaning behind the events.
Don’t be afraid to pause the narrative to share what you’ve learned or how a past event has shaped your present perspective.
Step 6: Create a Narrative Arc
Even though it is nonfiction, a memoir should have a compelling story structure. Think about your experience in terms of a beginning, middle, and end, with rising tension and a clear resolution.
Introduce the central conflict, build a sense of tension or anticipation, and then guide the reader through to a satisfying conclusion.
Step 7: Be Selective with Your Memories
You do not have to include every single detail from your life. Choose the memories and moments that best serve your central theme and move the narrative forward. Removing extraneous details can make your story more impactful and easier for readers to follow.
Step 8: Establish a Unique Voice
Your voice is what makes your story unique. Let your personality shine through in your writing, and consider how the tone of your narrative affects the reader’s experience. Are you humorous, poignant, thoughtful, or direct?
Your unique voice will draw readers in and make them feel like they are getting to know you.
Step 9: Give Yourself Permission to Write the First Draft
Don’t worry about perfection in your first draft. Focus on getting your thoughts and memories down on paper, and know that you can revise and polish it later. The goal of the first draft is simply to get the story told, not to make it perfect.
Step 10: Read Other Memoirs
Studying other authors who have written in the genre can help you understand what works. Check out our list of 20 examples above if you want any inspiration.
Pay attention to how each author structures their narratives, develops their voice, and reveals their emotional journey. This kind of research is a valuable step in your writing process.