What Separates Memoir From Autobiography? A Core Message
The core message is the most fundamental attribute of a memoir. It is the presence of a core message that distinguishes a memoir from an autobiography or even your stack of journals. Many times it often appears in the title or subtitle of the book...that's how essential it is.
The core message is so PIVOTAL to your memoir that it is the first piece we tackle in the Memoir Master Plan Cohort. From day one, we begin talking about what bigger message you are trying to share through your memoir. What theme will run through all the stories you choose to include and take the reader on a journey, allowing them to walk away with a sense of being seen, motivation to change, and a roadmap for their own healing and self-reflection?
This is an important decision that can really trip memoir writers up. It's not enough to simply compile a list of foundational experiences and link them together chronologically. The stories you share should all harken back to your core message.
I messed this up too when I first started writing my memoir. My first attempt was a hodgepodge of personal story and self-help about finding community in a new place. I had written a full 45k word draft that I paid an editor to review before recognizing that I was not telling the story I most needed to share. I hadn't dug deep enough, and that sent me back to the writing desk for another year or more to flesh out the real story. Don't waste the four months and $700 like I did (although I learned a lot in the process that now I share with others). This is why exploring the core message is the first thing I walk program participants through.
In taking time to fully develop the main focus, well-timed story beats, and key takeaways from the outset, I’m able to write with confidence knowing I am touching on the important moments while drawing out the pearl of wisdom from each lived experience. The course leader, Elizabeth, creates a safe and supportive environment to hash out some of the hardest-to-revisit traumas while navigating the inevitably challenging emotional work associated with crafting memoir.
- Rebecca, Program Participant
Tapping into the core message can be an emotional endeavor, as Rebecca's testimonial indicates. It can be very confronting to recognize linkages between your past experiences and struggles you've overcome or are still battling. This is exactly why I've built this program as a small group, where we can show up together virtually, hold space for one another, and offer support and understanding without judgment or critique.
Because memoir is rooted in our personal histories, sometimes we are too close to the material to see the obvious linkages. This happened before in previous offerings of this program. A participant discusses the stories they hope to include but struggles to find the broader connection. Meanwhile, it seems so obvious to myself and the other memoir writers because we aren't so close to the story. The group setting is powerful in helping you make perspective shifts and see connections you might not otherwise be able to see on your own, due to the personal nature of memoir.
If you’re interested in reading more about how to craft your story into a cohesive and emotional moving memoir, I invite you to join our email list. That’s also how you’ll stay up to date on our latest memoir program offerings and writer retreats.
