What is a Short Memoir?

A short memoir is based on an experience or incident from your life that had an impact on you.

Writing short memoirs are a wonderful way to engage with the art of writing memoir.

Read on to discover how writing a short memoir may be the way into your writing journey – for you.

The Advantages of Writing a Short Memoir

Sitting down to tackle the writing of your memoir can be a daunting task. But it doesn’t have to be.

Often, at the beginning of my workshops, I see writers struggling with the enormity, in their mind, of how to tackle a full-length memoir. It’s a common woe of writers. And understandably so.

Reasons vary:

• not enough time
• too long a project to tackle
• the feeling of not having enough ‘in my life’ to write about
• there is no clarity as to where to begin or how to go about it

Enter the short memoir. The short memoir is like learning to write a short story before writing a novel. It works in exactly the same way.  The short memoir is a very positive way to learn the craft and art of memoir writing.

The other great thing is that writing a short memoir is doable, which will provide the writer with a sense of completion and confidence for further writing.

The short memoir allows the writer to:

• learn the art of memoir writing
• understand story creation  
• explore all the elements of writing memoir in a succinct way
• find and deepen writing voice
• explore life experiences and how to weave memory and story
• feel a sense of accomplishment within a short time frame

And another great thing the short memoir has going for it, is, if you write 12/15 short memoirs, you then have a full-length book!

My workbook, The Memoir Writing Workbook, provides the option of choosing (at a specific point in the process of developing your memoir), whether you wish to continue in the workbook to either develop a short memoir, or a full-length book. You don’t have to make that decision before you begin.

Short memoirs also allow for infinite structure possibilities. All of which will evolve – when working with The Memoir Writing Workbook – as you dig deeper into your story, and write your memoir.

And when you complete The Memoir Writing Workbook and write your short memoir, you can then revisit the workbook with perspective, knowledge and understanding on how to develop your full-length memoir, (or another short memoir) because then you will know how to. The workbook will then serve as your guide as you dig deeper into your writing and story.

Writing Short Memoirs is a wonderful option for writers. It is also ideal for developing a specific chapter within your full-length manuscript.

Key Characteristics of a Short Memoir

• Allows the writer to focus on a specific life incident or experience, rather than a whole life.
• The length of a short memoir is not set in stone and can range from 1,000 to 5,000 words. Often writing competitions specify how many words they require, and a common number in this instance is 2,000 words.
• Short memoirs are similar to full-length memoirs, in structure, in writing voice and all other aspects of writing memoir. Like full-length memoirs, they have a clear beginning, a middle and an end.
• Short memoir also includes the retrospective voice of the writer, so the reader gets to know their challenges and what happened to them with regard to the decisions they did, and did not make in their life.

Go Write!

Want a helping hand and guide to put this into practise?

The Memoir Writing Workbook (240 pages) is based on right-brain/left-brain visual writing techniques. It has 36 multi-part focused exercises and 45 writing tips to help trigger memory and learn story creation. Each chapter with examples, show how to develop and write memoir, using the unique Memoir Map.

Learn more about The Memoir Writing Workbook →

Do join Irene for a FREE LIVE Chat on How to Start a Memoir Writing Club

Or join Irene in her 12-week Online Memoir Writing Course or on one of her Writing Retreats