How to Write a Memoir Essay?

If one knows, how to write a memoir essay properly, it can lead to personal growth and self-discovery. Check out this guide to know everything about writing an immaculate memoir, from topic selection to the main body composition, and summary of the lessons learned.

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What is a Memoir Essay

A memoir paper is a type of creative writing that balances the edge of storytelling and informative narrative. As the name suggests, it is built on the author’s memories and retells either the whole life path or a particular episode(s).

In a memoir, the author reflects on personal experiences, memories, and emotions, often focusing on a particular theme or event from their life. The purpose is to share a personal story that resonates with the audience, offering insights, reflections, and often lessons learned. 

Since it pertains to the essay genre, it also follows typical essay structure and composition, as well as length and formatting requirements.

Memoir blends academic writing with a subjective and personal approach, as is often the case with a profile essay. Nevertheless, these two exhibit significant differences in a range of aspects.  

This is how memoir writing is different from profile writing:

Steps to Writing a Memoir Essay

Step 1. Prepare an Outline.

Writing a memoir requires solid preparation. Even though it is a retrospective look into one’s past, and you’d expect all the information to be readily available right from the start, the author still needs to make an effort to recall things and frame everything into a worthy story.

Preparing an outline is the way to go with the preparation. An outline is a rough sketch of what an essay is going to be about. Just like a painter is sketching the to-be portrait of a person, the memoir writer has to prepare an approximate content of the to-be narrative.

In most cases, it is enough to outline the following elements:

• The topic of the memoir;
• The introduction part, consisting of the opening “hook” (a catchy element to draw the reader’s attention), some background information, and a thesis statement (a condensed goal of the essay – the focus of narrative within the chosen topic);
• Body paragraphs, each devoted to a specific theme, and connected to a thesis statement.

Memoir Essay Topics

Memoir papers often center around a specific topic or theme, such as childhood period, obtaining education, personal growth, overcoming adversity, relationships, or significant life events. Some memoirs review the author’s entire life path, while most focus on a particular period in their life.

The following suggestions should help you make up your mind about the topic of your memoir:

Decisive points for memoirs:

• A crucial moment that changed your life.
• The hard decision you had to make.

Difficulties and Triumphs:

• Overcoming a certain big challenge and how it helped you to succeed.
• Navigating a difficult episode in your life.

Relationships:

• An important relationship that changed your perspective.
• Someone’s influence on your life.

Studying and career journeys:

• The education, a degree that you are particularly proud of.
• Falls and rises of your professional journey.

Passions and hobbies:

• What was/is your most significant passion in life?
• The hobby that helps you be who you are.

Step 2. Write Down the Introduction.

Once you’ve completed step 1, you don’t need to worry about how to start a memoir essay. Simply begin embodying the introductory elements that you’ve sketched in the outline. 

1. First goes the “hook” – a couple of catchy sentences to grab the reader’s attention. This can be an interesting fact from your life, a joke, a provocative question, etc.
2. Then follow one or two background sentences – revealing high-level details about your chosen theme.
3. The last comes your thesis statement – the roadmap of your essay, the goal you set yourself for this particular narrative. It can be a simple one, such as the intention to talk about a particular event from your life, or a composite one, describing an event along with revealing your intention to talk about the lessons you’ve learned, the changes you’ve made in your life, or how the event has helped you to acknowledge/realize something important. 

Step 3. Compose the Main Part.

The main part is made of several body paragraphs. A memoir can be as long as 5-7 pages, which translates into at least 3 main body paragraphs (given that the introduction and conclusion also occupy a separate paragraph each).

Each body paragraph should revolve around a particular aspect of your essay’s theme and must link back directly to the thesis statement.

Start each paragraph with a topic sentence – the theme of this particular paragraph. Then develop your argument, or narrative element and finish the paragraph with a smooth transition into the next one. The transition word or phrase can also be at the forefront of the next paragraph – you need to decide for yourself where it will look and work most naturally.    

The Truth and Accuracy Controversy

One of the most controversial aspects of memoir writing is the question of truth and accuracy. Since memoirs are primarily based on personal experiences and are biased and subjective by nature, there is often a debate about the reliability of the narrative. Some contradictions arise when eyewitnesses of the events, family members, or others portrayed in the memoir question the accuracy or fairness of the stories described.

Step 3. Top Up Your Essay with a Conclusion.

Your paper should have a distinct ending – the conclusion part. In papers like a memoir, the conclusion is normally made up of a single paragraph, very rarely two paragraphs. The goal for this part is to summarize the key findings from your paper and remind the reader how these findings contribute to supporting the thesis presented in the introduction.

For the memoir’s conclusion, the general guideline is to focus the attention of the readers on the author’s lessons learned, so that they can relate to their memories and experiences. 

The teachers in colleges are very picky when it comes to their students’ ability to effectively conclude their papers. Therefore, the next and the last step is paramount.

Step 4. Edit and Proofread.    

Check your memoir for consistency, formatting, and literary coherence. Make sure you don’t leave behind any grammar mistakes or typos, as well as accidental plagiarism. 

Pay special attention to how the various elements in your essay are linked together, e.g., the introduction sets the stage for the body paragraphs, while the conclusion reiterates the main points from the body paragraphs, and reinforces the thesis statement from the introduction.

Memoir Essay Example

Check out this beautiful memoir example to better visualize the genre’s composition and find inspiration for your paper.

Whispers in the Garden

In the quiet moments of my childhood, there existed a magical realm hidden behind our modest
home—a small, enchanting garden that held the secrets of my early years. As | trace the
contours of memory, the garden emerges as the backdrop to a series of defining moments that
shaped the person | would become.

The garden was not just a collection of plants; it was a living, breathing testament to the
passage of time. Each bloom, every rustling leaf, held a story of its own. But it was the old oak
tree at the garden’s heart that became my confidant. Its gnarled branches reached out like
ancient arms, and under its shade, I sought solace and shared my whispers.

One such whisper was a declaration of dreams. | was eight, standing barefoot on the cool soil,
feeling the earth between my toes. With a determined gaze fixed on the horizon, | vowed to the
oak that | would become an artist. The garden became my canvas, and the flowers, my vibrant
palette. My earliest attempts at creation unfolded in that sacred space, guided by the murmurs
of inspiration that seemed to float on the breeze.

Yet, not all whispers were of dreams and aspirations. As adolescence approached, the garden
bore witness to the trials of self-discovery. Amidst the fragrant blossoms, | grappled with the
complexities of identity, navigating the labyrinth of emotions that accompanied adolescence
The oak, a patient listener, absorbed my fears, insecurities, and the tentative joys of first love.

In the twilight of my teenage years, the garden became a sanctuary of reflection. Beneath the
same oak, | unfolded the crumpled pages of acceptance letters and rejection notices. Each
emotion, from elation to disappointment, was woven into the fabric of the garden’s soil. The
seasons changed, and so did I, but the garden remained a constant companion—a silent witness
to the ebb and flow of my life.

Today, as an artist with brushes stained in the hues of a thousand blossoms, | revisit that
garden. The whispers have faded, but their echoes linger in the rustle of leaves and the
fragrance of blooms. The garden, my childhood haven, remains a cherished chapter in the
memoir of my life—a testament to the profound connection between nature, self-discovery,
and the dreams whispered in the embrace of an ancient oak tree.

Final Remarks

Crafting a memoir contributes to the tapestry of your personal history. Uncovering details about your life and providing a perspective on their lasting impact can set your essay apart from a sea of similar narratives. Interestingly, many individuals find a more profound connection to history through the lens of personal stories, acknowledging the role that ordinary people play in propelling our society forward.