Why Memoirists Are Their Own Worst Enemies

Are you struggling to start – or finish writing your memoir? In this post, we look at the reasons memoirists are their own worst enemies.

Writing a memoir isn’t easy. Nobody promised it would be. However, there are some things we can do to get out of our own way when we pen our life stories.

Why Memoirists Are Their Own Worst Enemies

1. They Doubt Themselves – Many memoirists wonder if their story is worth telling. They question whether they are important enough to tell a story. This is understandable, but aspiring writers should remember that most memoirs are not written by famous people. They are written by people who have a story to tell and a competent way of telling it. Once we learn to narrow the focus of our memoir, we are well on the way to being able to get it down.
2. They Doubt Their Storytelling Abilities – People who write memoirs are often not writers. This makes them feel insecure. One of the best ways to remedy this is by learning storytelling techniques with a good fiction writing course. Once they have these basics under control, a great course on writing a memoir is advised. Writing a memoir is a craft and it must be learned.
3. They Worry About Other People – They are frightened of offending people they know. As long as they have taken the time to write about these people as three-dimensional beings and not caricatures, there should not be a problem. If there is still a problem, I suggest this post: 5 Ways To Write About Real People In Memoirs
4. They Keep On Putting It Off – Memoirists often have a burning story to tell, but they keep on relegating this task to a future date. This is often because we don’t want to confront the painful parts of our lives – in person or on paper. Unfortunately, we need to get over this and learn to write it down. If we don’t, nobody will ever know our side of what happened. Make time to write every day. Sort out your memories and use them as a reference as you go along.

The Last Word

We need to stop judging ourselves and start writing. Yes, there is a long road ahead, but we have to start somewhere.

I hope this short post on why memoirists are their own worst enemies helps you to move forward with your story.

Top Tip: If you want to learn how to write a memoir, sign up for our How To Write A Memoir Online course.

 by Amanda Patterson
© Amanda Patterson

If you liked this blogger’s writing, you may enjoy:

1. Why Writers Should Create A Setting Like A Character (& How To Do It)
2. 40 Ways To Write About Empathy
3. How To Choose Your Genre
4. What Is An Analogy & How Do I Write One?
5. 10 Tips For Retelling A Classic Tale

If you want to read more about memoirs:

1. The Ultimate Memoirist’s Checklist
2. 5 Ways To Write About Real People In Memoirs
3. 5 Common Traits Of A Successful Memoir
4. 6 Differences Between A Novel & A Memoir
5. 7 Tips For Finding Your Memoir Mojo

Top Tip: If you want to learn how to write a memoir, sign up for our Secrets of a Memoirist course.