Proof

IN ALL OF US … THERE’S A BOOK

E veryone has a story to tell. Have you thought about crafting your memoir? There are many online resources to help you learn the nuts and bolts of putting a story together. A memoir helps you explore yourself and your history. Not only will you achieve personal expression and creative growth by writing one, but you’ll also leave something tangible for your family, friends and community. What is a memoir? A memoir is a non-fiction narrative in which the author shares their memories from a specific time period or reflects upon a string of themed occurrences throughout their life. While a memoir is a flexible genre, it should include these things: • A specific theme. • Something the author overcame. • First-person writing style.

• Supporting details and events from the past and the people who were present. Storytelling basics, like plot and setting. Honesty. Memoirs typically fall into one of these structures: Flashbacks: The author jumps back and forth between the past and present to provide the back story. Chronological: The author writes about their experiences in the order in which they happened. Themed: The author includes only memories that fall into one specific theme. Overcoming: The author focuses on one struggle and how it affected their life. What is an autobiography ? An autobiography is a non-fiction • •

account of someone’s life that they wrote themselves. Usually, an autobiography covers the author’s entire life up to the point of writing in chronological order and is sometimes (though not always) drafted in the later years of the author’s life. The events recounted in autobiographies are factual and fact checked. They’re often used as resources by historians. Many autobiographies are written by people who have some claim to fame who write about their journey to becoming famous. The author might be a politician, change-maker, business figure, professional athlete or celebrity. But anyone can write an autobiography. What is a biography? A biography is also a non-fiction account of someone’s life, but it’s written by someone else. Biographies are typically based on interviews, letters, personal journals, photos, reference books, newspapers and digital media.

40 FEBRUARY 2024