Why Would Anyone Write a Memoir?

Why would anyone write a memoir?

My first book Creatures of the Rock was a memoir. It is the story of my life but mainly focuses on my time as a veterinarian in Newfoundland. I’m pleased with Creatures and the success it has attained, but there are times when I wonder how I ever had the nerve to write a memoir.

Margaret Atwood suggests that writers must be optimists because they need to believe that they can write a book, that someone will publish it and that the public will be interested enough to read it. I think that a memoirist needs to be especially optimistic. He or she must believe that their life is so interesting that complete strangers will want to read their story. Unless you are a complete narcissist, this can be a stretch.

Not everyone writes memoirs for the same reason. There are different audiences that authors writing about themselves can reach for.

Writing a memoir can be an exercise in self-reflection. The process makes you look back on your life and consider what you have accomplished and what you could have done better. Going through this might even help you work on the rest of your life. There may be mistakes in your past that you can learn from. If this is the reason for writing a memoir, there may be no need for anyone but yourself to read your work.

Another motive for memoir writing is to preserve your history for family. How many of us have wondered what life was like for our parents or grandparents? The world was a different place a generation or two ago and it’s natural for us to be interested in the lives of those we have loved. There are many people who write their life story for no one beyond their family. This is a worthwhile and useful motivation for writing.

The final reason to write a memoir is to produce something for general consumption. In order for this kind of story to succeed, there are two requirements. The writer’s life must be interesting, and he or she must be able to tell that story well. The problem with both prerequisites is that it is almost impossible for us to judge our success in these areas by ourselves.

There are people who think their lives are dull and boring. These people of course are non-starters in the memoir business. There are also people who are certain that their lives are absolutely fascinating. Unfortunately, that’s not enough. Other people have to agree with you.

The only hint I can offer to finding out whether your life is interesting enough for a publicly released memoir is to notice whether people are continually telling you that you should write a book about the things you have done. If you hear this all the time you might be onto something.

The question of whether you can tell the story well is equally difficult to discern. All you can do is write and show your work to others. If you have honest friends who are readers, you will soon get an indication of your chances of putting together a successful memoir.

Writing a memoir can be rewarding work. I’ve never regretted putting the story of my time as a vet in Newfoundland on paper and someday there will be a sequel.