
The End of 1 – collaboration with Chris Reese and Mark Graham Communications
We’re frequently asked by potential clients if we can help them write about their own lives. The answer is always yes, but we follow up by asking the client to explain a bit about the story they want to tell. Why do we ask this? It’s because the client’s response gives us a sense of whether the client is considering writing a memoir or autobiography.
If you’re unsure of the difference, it’s fairly simple. An autobiography is a book about the full spectrum of your life, from birth to the present time. It includes key events, family members and other important people in your life, anecdotes, and the details that add color to the story, particularly if you grew up in an era unlike our current times. A memoir, in contrast, is about a specific theme, event, or aspect of your life. A memoir might be about your recovery from a serious illness, for example, or your quest to discover clues about your heritage. It could be about a perilous adventure you had, or what you learned when you went on a life-changing trip.
How do you decide which type of book to write? Consider the following:
- Audience. Who is the book for? If the book is primarily for family and friends, with the goal of providing them access to your story when you’re no longer here to tell it, you’ll likely want them to know your life story from birth onward. In this case, an autobiography is the way to go. On the other hand, if you want to share what you’ve learned based on something specific that happened to you, and your goal is to reach a wider audience who would benefit from hearing that story, memoir is the more appropriate form.
- Marketability. Related to the above, most autobiographies, unless you’re a celebrity or notable public figure, are likely of most interest to those who know the subject of the autobiography. While it’s certainly possible to market your autobiography to a wider audience, general readers tend to be more interested in the specific, relatable stories and lessons found in a memoir than they are in the life-to-present-day story of someone they do not know.
- Length. While some memoirs are lengthy due to complex subject matter, most memoirs range from 60,000 to 80,000 words (about 220 to 300 pages). Depending on how much you want to share, your autobiography can be much longer, much shorter, or around that same length. If your goal is mostly to share your life story with loved ones, you are not as limited by length conventions in autobiography as you are in memoir.
It’s worth noting that while autobiographies about the “man or woman on the street” generally do not turn into runaway bestsellers, there is no reason not to share your autobiography with a wider audience if you so choose. Self-publishing a high-quality book has never been easier than it is today, and if you’re comfortable with the idea of a wider audience reading your life story, there is no harm in publishing the book on Amazon and other online sites for anyone who chooses to purchase a copy. Our team of designers and publishing experts can help you with all aspects of turning your manuscript into a quality book.
But first, the book must be written! If you’ve started writing your story but aren’t sure how to finish it—or if you have ideas about what you want to say but need help writing the book from start to finish—our team of expert ghostwriters and editors is here to help. Please reach out so we can begin a conversation about your book. Before you know it, you will be holding a copy of your memoir or autobiography in your hands.