{"id":904,"date":"2021-08-11T18:17:19","date_gmt":"2021-08-11T18:17:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/exisleacademy.com\/?p=904"},"modified":"2022-05-03T17:46:07","modified_gmt":"2022-05-03T17:46:07","slug":"how-to-write-a-marketable-memoir","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/exisleacademy.com\/how-to-write-a-marketable-memoir\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Write a Marketable Memoir"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Memoirs, the genre that most wants to be read. As storytellers, we gravitate toward evocative and vulnerable writing that tells us more about the writer and the world we live in. We all have stories, but will every personal story sell?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Autobiography vs. Memoir<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Often writers begin to write a memoir and then the scope becomes much larger, the writer\u2019s entire life is nestled within the pages of the book. But that\u2019s an autobiography, not a memoir. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

An autobiography usually begins during early childhood and moves chronologically, detailing key events and challenges they faced. These are often written when the author is older, as there would be more content to pull from. The author writes their motivations and thoughts based on specific life events. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Memoirs are selected memories from the author, using the memories to reflect on a larger theme. Memoirs are more focused on certain aspects of an individual\u2019s life rather than giving all information like in an autobiography. In Brian Broome\u2019s recently released memoir, Punch Me Up to the Gods<\/em>, he reflects on masculinity, Blackness, and addiction. The scenes are not chronological but are carefully selected to create an emotional story - making the private life, public. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Types of Memoirs: Celebrity, Trial or Triumph, and Novel-like<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best-selling memoirs have specific qualities making them stand out from the many. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A person\u2019s fame and public reputation leads to more sales. Michelle Obama\u2019s memoir, Becoming<\/em>, sold 10 million copies after 15 days of publication. <\/em>Celebrity memoirs offer a view of the person behind the fame, making them alluring and marketable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trial or triumph memoirs focus on a specific part of a person\u2019s life like surviving a plane crash, beating a disease, or unspeakable childhood trauma. These are stories that are so compelling that readers can\u2019t put the book down. An example would be Augusten Burroughs\u2019 memoir Running with Scissors <\/em>which details his abnormal childhood after his mother sent him to live at her psychiatrist\u2019s house. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The novel-like memoirs read like fiction. They are page-turners where the writer focuses more on showing, rather than telling. A Life of Extremes: The Life and Times of a Polar Filmmaker<\/em><\/a> by Max Quinn focuses on his experience filming in polar climates and all he\u2019s witnessed in a frigid landscape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Memoirs that Don\u2019t Sell<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like all books that sell, there has to be a market for your memoir. Publishers will let you know of this, but we\u2019ll provide a few examples of what is least likely to sell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We all have a story about our life. We may think our story is unique, but it may relate to many other people\u2019s stories and not sell well among the many other memoirs on the market. This doesn\u2019t mean your story is unimportant, it only means that your story doesn\u2019t stand out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Publishing a diary, journal entries, or series of letters may be more interesting for research than to fill a book. Again, it lacks marketability to read a regular person\u2019s letters to their significant other, for example. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your memoir is an act of catharsis, filled with pain, you may want to wait to publish. There are repercussions to publishing personal memoirs, with many authors facing defamation lawsuits. Also, it may not read very well given its heavy content. A memoir tackling difficult events requires time to have the necessary distance to reflect. It will also be difficult to receive craft-oriented criticism if the subject matter still causes pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Publish My Memoir<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After writing a memoir, revisions will be necessary. Consulting your book with professionals is the best way to receive constructive feedback to ensure your memoir has a focus and is marketable. Exisle Academy\u2019s Memoir Mastery Course<\/a> is ideal to break down every aspect of what your memoir needs to be successful. The course can help you narrow your scope, assisting with its marketability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your friends and family may be interested to read your memoir about your family history, but the general population of readers may not. Self-publishing is a possibility if the memoir has a specific niche that doesn\u2019t translate to a broader audience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When writing a memoir, it helps to have read a few. You can then see how memoirists have organised their book and what makes their story stand out.\u00a0I've selected recently published or popular memoirs with a simple synopsis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Book List<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Life of Extremes: The Life and Times of a Polar Filmmaker<\/em> by Max Quinn - unique adventures in freezing temperatures <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Punch Me Up to the Gods<\/em> by Brian Broome - exploring masculinity, addiction, and Blackness in rural Ohio<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hunger<\/em> by Roxane Gay - exploring pleasure, consumption, appearance, and health in relation to a fat -Gay's preferred term- body<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Heavy: An American Memoir <\/em>by Kiese Laymon - written in the form of a letter to his mother, Kiese explores weight, identity, friendship, and the national failures that impacted his view of how to responsibly love <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Latehomecomer: A Hmong Family Memoir <\/em>by Kao Kalia Yang - a family memoir exploring what it means to belong <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the Dream House<\/em> by Carmen Maria Machado - a novel-like memoir exploring Carmen's abusive same-sex relationship<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Running with Scissors<\/em> by Augusten Burroughs - the story of Augusten's abnormal childhood living at his mother's psychiatrist's home <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Glass Castle<\/em> by Jeannette Wells - focused on Jeannette's dysfunctional, yet vibrant family <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Follow us on\u00a0<\/em>Facebook<\/em><\/a>\u00a0and join our newsletter to be up to date with Exisle Academy.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Memoirs, the genre that most wants to be read. As storytellers, we gravitate toward evocative and vulnerable writing that tells us more about the writer and the world we live in. We all have stories, but will every personal story sell? Autobiography vs. Memoir Often writers begin to write a memoir and then the scope […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":907,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nHow to Write a Marketable Memoir - Exisle Academy - Get Your Book Published<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/exisleacademy.com\/how-to-write-a-marketable-memoir\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to Write a Marketable Memoir - Exisle Academy - Get Your Book Published\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Memoirs, the genre that most wants to be read. 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