Why You Need to Write a Memoir

If you’re often told that you need to write a book about your life but are unsure where to start, then a memoir is an excellent option. And, if your initial reaction is, “Why should I write a memoir?” keep reading to find out.

Unfortunately, there are many common misconceptions about memoirs. For starters, it is important to understand how a memoir differs from an autobiography. While an autobiography follows a person’s entire life, from the cradle to the grave, a memoir is a collection of their stories.

The second misconception is that a memoir is a one-and-done. In reality, many people write more than one memoir in their lifetime. They may focus one book on their childhood and another on their travel adventures, building a business or raising a family. 

Because a memoir is a collection of stories, it can also focus on a relationship with someone in your life. For example, it can be a way to remember your parents after they’re gone and to keep their stories close so you can share them with your kids and grandchildren. 

While researching this article, I came across the work of published poet and author Blake Morrison, who has written multiple memoirs to memorialize his family members: his father, his mother, and most recently, his sister’s life. 

However, people’s biggest misconception about memoirs is that recording your stories now means you’re nearing your life’s end. While that may be true of autobiographies, a memoir can be written at any point in your life. Many experience that writing about their childhood or a particular season of growth offers them an opportunity for self-reflection. This process of reflection is often cathartic and therapeutic. And thankfully, it includes many rounds of edits. 

Regardless of when you decide to write your memoir, a key objective to keep in mind is that the best memoirs are honest and they’re raw. They offer a behind-the-scenes look at your life. Everyone talks about being authentic online, but few people actually are. A memoir is not the place to hold back—it’s where you’re expected to be unapologetically true to yourself. And, unless you’re writing a book to become a published author, most memoirs are kept within the family. 

So now, let’s move on to why you should write a memoir. 

Believe it or not, your kids want to know your stories. They’re interested, even if they tune out when you talk about your past. Trust me; they’ll ask you to retell those same stories at some point. It could be that one day, they’ll go through a life experience similar to one you had, or their kids are interested in stories about their grandparents and are asking to learn more about you.  

Another reason to record your stories now is that a widespread and unfortunate side effect of aging is that you might not remember the details of your own stories in your later years. I’ve already noticed that I sometimes remember stories differently from how I used to tell them. My memories and stories have also changed as I’ve changed over the years. 

The older we get, the more we realize that the gift of time is one of the greatest gifts in life. Additionally, the ability to dig deeper into our stories and reflect on how far we’ve come is a rare opportunity. Taking time to reflect and review will offer clarity and allow you to redefine your values and priorities as you move into your next life phase. 

So instead of asking, “Why should I write a memoir?” maybe ask yourself, “Why haven’t I written one already?”