Back to Basics: Do you know where you’re going with your memoir?

 

Your memoir’s ending should be its most powerful part so even while you’re writing your book’s middle parts, begin planning its ending.

 

It might seem strange to work on your conclusion before finishing the main body, but think of this:

 

“If you don’t know where you’re going,

you might not get there.”

Yogi Berra

 

You don’t want that to happen!

 

Here’s what I recommend: Throughout your writing, know approximately where you’re going and build toward that ending. Doing so will help you stay on message and more likely bring everything full circle.

 

Having said that, though, I need to warn you:

 

Many, if not most, stories can take a direction

writers might not have envisioned

at the outset.

 

Don’t worry if that happens to you.

 

After you’ve drafted the bulk of your memoir, your overall message and conclusion might be different than you originally envisioned, but that’s okay.

It’s better to focus on where you think you’ll end up,

rather than to drift, directionless.

 

Here’s a helpful perspective: You probably won’t pin down the perfected version of your ending until you’ve written all your chapters and have identified and refined the conclusions and resources you hope readers will take away from your story.

 

For now, as a general guide for you, get out a piece of paper and answer the following:

• The reason I’m writing my memoir is ________.
• What do I want readers to think as a result of reading my story?
• What do I want people to feel when they’ve finished reading it?
• How do I want them to live because they read my story?
• The most important message I want readers to take away from my memoir is _________.

Keep such points in mind while you write. Then conclude your book in a way that people will long remember it, learn from it, grow from it.

 

Memoirs are so much more than entertainment.

 

Your story matters.

Memoirs guide, influence, encourage,

inspire, motivate, and empower.

They can bring healing.

They can turn lives around.

Memoirs can even save lives.

 

“Write what should not be forgotten.” 

(Isabel Allende)

 

Your memoir’s Grand Finale, part 2

Saturday we began considering your memoir’s ending—your Grand Finale.

You might be saying, “But I haven’t finished writing my vignettes yet!” Let me explain:

1) Write a rough draft of your conclusion, subject to revisions, and

2) It might seem strange to work on your ending before you’ve finished the main body of your memoir—your vignettes, your stories, your chapters—but think of this:

“If you don’t know where you’re going, you might not get there.”

Yogi Berra

In other words, plan ahead. Know where you’re going with your memoir, and aim for that. Plan ahead for your memoir to end on a high note so your readers will long remember it.

How do you do that?

Well, you had a reason to start writing your memoir. What was it?

For me, it was stumbling upon Deuteronomy 4:9, “Always remember what you’ve seen God do for you, and be sure to tell your children and grandchildren!”

If you can pinpoint your reason to begin writing your memoir, you’ll have a better idea of how you want it to end.

You might want to get out a couple of sticky notes. On the first one write, “The reason I’m writing my memoir is________________” and fill in the blank.

On the second, write, “The message I want my readers to take away from my memoir is _______________” and fill in the blank, keeping in mind you probably won’t know the final version of your ending until you’ve written all your chapters and have taken time to dig deeply and discover all the gems hidden within—a crucial part of memoir.

“… The last impression

is what people remember.

Begin well, with attack and accuracy.

Drive it through.

But, whatever else,

make the end the best.

Know exactly what you are aiming for

and finish with a bang.” 

Alma Gluck

C’mon back on Saturday when we’ll examine additional considerations for your memoir’s Grand Finale.

Your memoir’s structure: think of it as a helper

Last Saturday we considered the importance of establishing short-term and long-term goals for completing your memoir, because:

"If you don't know where you are going,

you will wind up somewhere else."

Yogi Berra

Now is a good time to consider the structure of your memoir, the framework. In other words, decide on the order in which you will arrange the vignettes in your memoir. (Remember, your vignettes will eventually be chapters in your completed memoir.)

Does that sound like a boring task?

If so, look at it this way: A structure for your memoir can be your friend, your helper. Like Priscilla Long said in The Writer’s Portable Mentor,

Look over your list of vignette ideas—stories of times you recognized God’s involvement in your life.

If you’re like me,

• you’ve listed a collection of stand-alone vignettes,
• you’ve written rough drafts of some, but
• others remain on your to-do list.

Whether or not you’ve written every story, think about your book’s structure—the order of your chapters. How can you organize them in a way that will appeal most to your readers?

Chronological order: The most obvious and easiest would be to order your chapters according to date.

Themes: Another option is to arrange your chapters according to themes. For example, you could group together all your stories about your sister, and group together all your stories about your grandfather, and so on.

Flashback: Do you remember our lesson on crafting a flashback lead for a vignette? You start with the most gripping part of the action, then flash back to what led up to the experience; at that point you use the word “had” because it moves you back to the beginning—to where and how it started. (Refresh your memory and read a sample flashback lead at http://spiritualmemoirs101.blogspot.com/2011/07/saturday-snippet-leads-part-four.html.)

Similarly, you could structure your memoir in a flashback manner: Place the most compelling segment of your story in Chapter 1 (or maybe the first several chapters)—something intriguing or mysterious that will hook your readers. After you’ve sufficiently developed that attention-getting opening, follow with (flash back to) chapters that move the story back to the beginning, to where and how it started (and eventually work your way to the resolution).

The possibilities are plentiful. Think outside the box. Color outside the lines. Just keep your goal in mind: Organize your chapters so they enhance your overall message and optimize your readers’ enjoyment.

P.S. Be sure to come back next time because I have a really fun idea for your memoir!

Related posts:

Your finished memoir:  How do you envision it? http://spiritualmemoirs101.blogspot.com/2011/08/your-finished-memoir-how-do-you.html

The flashback lead:  http://spiritualmemoirs101.blogspot.com/2011/07/saturday-snippet-leads-part-four.html