Is it Time for Your Memoir? (You May Be Surprised)

It’s not something you write by firelight after the memories have faded. It’s something you write when you can still feel the fire—when the iron is hot and the colors are still vivid in your mind.

You might imagine a memoir is something reserved for later, when life has quieted down, when the main storyline has started to dwindle, or when you finally have the leisure to lazily gather your thoughts for the sake of your grandchildren.

But the old adage remains: you’re not promised tomorrow.

Don’t wait for a moment that may never come. Start writing today.

Make It Simple

Don’t overwhelm yourself with the idea of writing an entire book—a fragile archive of your life’s stories, like delicate chinaware with some edges sharper than others. Think of it instead as a mosaic. You get to piece it together in your own style, whether that’s bold and whimsical or intricate and refined. It’s your story. And in your memoir, there are no rules.

Try a Writing Exercise

Whether you write by hand or prefer a keyboard, writer’s block tends to creep in—and ironically, it’s almost inky in nature. It pours over you, clouding your thoughts with a murky film that makes even familiar words feel foreign. Sometimes, it’s as if you forget how to write altogether.

When that blinking cursor stares back at you, turn to a writing prompt. Then, tap into your senses.

For example, recall your first job or the first time you got paid; your first love—or heartbreak. You can take a broad experience and zoom in: instead of writing about your first love, describe your first date. What season was it? What were you both wearing? What scent lingered in the air? What did the seat feel like beneath you? Did you share a root beer float, fries, or an ice cream cone?

Don’t just remember it—immerse yourself in it.
Find that place, and write from there.

Collect Your Stories

Themes will begin to appear as you reflect on your life’s pleasures and aches. That’s when you can start weaving things together. Lay each story down in the order you want.

While your life unfolded chronologically, your memories don’t have to.

Let them fall where they belong.

A story about a first date might trigger a memory of seeing your parents’ childhood photos. Let them dance together on the page. That’s the magic of memoir.

And when you’re ready for guidance—someone to sit with you behind the curtain as we write the screenplay of your well-lived life—that’s when the spotlight starts to glow. That’s when you realize: your story has always been worth telling.

Feeling the pull?

That means it’s time.