This article was reviewed by Gerald Posner and by How.com.vn staff writer, Finn Kobler. Gerald Posner is an Author & Journalist based in Miami, Florida. With over 35 years of experience, he specializes in investigative journalism, nonfiction books, and editorials. He holds a law degree from UC College of the Law, San Francisco, and a BA in Political Science from the University of California-Berkeley. He’s the author of thirteen books, including several New York Times bestsellers, the winner of the Florida Book Award for General Nonfiction, and has been a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in History. He was also shortlisted for the Best Business Book of 2020 by the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing.
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A memoir is arguably the most personal type of story you can tell. It provides an intimate snapshot of your life and offers readers a unique insight into your past. So how do you start writing one? In this article, we’ll offer you comprehensive advice on how to make the opening of your memoir pop. Keep reading to keep your audience engaged from the very first page.
Things You Should Know
- Begin your memoir with a dramatic opening sequence that captures your reader’s attention and introduces the conflict of the story they’ll be reading about.
- Use humor and vivid imagery to build a relationship with your reader and make them feel immersed in your story from the first paragraph.
- A memoir tells the story of one specific period in your life, not your entire life story. Clarify what this specific event is within the first chapter.
Steps
Expert Q&A
Tips
References
- ↑ https://www.mtnbrook.k12.al.us/cms/lib/AL01901445/Centricity/Domain/676/Narrative%20Hook.pdf
- ↑ https://examples.yourdictionary.com/common-types-of-humor-used-in-literature.html
- ↑ https://www.tlu.ee/~rajaleid/montaazh/Hero%27s%20Journey%20Arch.pdf
- ↑ https://slate.com/human-interest/2013/01/bad-memoir-writing-rules-for-doing-it-well.html
- ↑ https://www.austincc.edu/andreac/imagery
- ↑ http://www2.csudh.edu/ccauthen/451S12/kowit-honesty.htm
- ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/resources/writing_instructors/creative_nonfiction_in_writing_courses/the_personal_memoir.html
- ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/writing_style/diction/tone_mood_audience.html
- ↑ https://www.delmar.edu/offices/swc/_resources/Literature/theme.pdf
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