Do you want to know the secret to writing a killer memoir?

Whatever kind of book you want to write, the first steps are always the same: research, planning, and outlining.

A good outline helps you to structure and organize your work. An outline will focus your thoughts, and cover relevant topics, stories, and thought-points so you can avoid straying off course. When you create consistency within your ideas and smooth transitions from chapter to chapter, you’ll be better able to guide your reader toward the experience and outcomes you want them to have.

Today, I’ll write about outlining a teaching memoir.

A teaching memoir offers your readers specific lessons and experiences gained through your own life story. It could be organized chronologically, with different lessons or set of lessons revealed to your reader as you experienced them. Or, it could be organized by theme, where you tell stories from your life around a set of principles, lessons, or cautionary tales.

Every new author has difficulty with what to include in his or her book. Some are tempted to write a memoir or autobiography because they’ve overcome a life-threatening accident, a unique challenge, or mind-blowing circumstances. Many have emerged stronger and wiser because of it and want to share their life lessons with others. 

That said, unless you are a well-known celebrity, a popular speaker, or already have a large platform, memoir can be a tough genre to crack. Sorry, most readers don’t care about your story! They’ll want to read your story and buy your book only because you can solve their problem, give them a solution, ease their anxiety, or quell their fears. 

Here’s the secret to writing a killer memoir:

It’s not about you! 

It’s all about your readers…

It takes a large dose of skill and artistry to write a full-on memoir that does not offer the reader an immediate pay-off. There’s a difference between writing that is self-serving and serving your readers. That said, there are ways to strike just the right balance to include the relevant parts of your story…along with solving your readers’ problems, giving them solutions, and easing their anxieties.

It’s fine to share a hardship that you’ve overcome with grace and dignity, but mostly your reader wants to see what you can do for them. Give them tools, lessons, and action steps….not a sob story!

Now on to the outline:

Introduction -  Who I am…And Why I have something important to say

? This is where you introduce the concept, theme, or problem to be solved. You want to give your readers the perspective of what became possible for you once you lived through specific events and learned from experience. You can include an overview of your story here to give readers a map of your narrative and why they should listen to you. Include how the book is organized, how to use the book, and potential outcomes for your readers. 

First Chapter – First Steps…or First Lesson Learned

? This is a great place for your opening story— what life is like before your readers learn the information you are about to explain as the solution. Include your struggles, how ignoring sage advice cost you, and what you learned that you can share with your readers to help them avoid making the same mistake(s).

Think beyond your own personal memories and feelings and begin to craft a journey of transformation that you can offer your readers. Each chapter might also benefit from a summary along with a transition to the next chapter.

Second Chapter – Next step or Lesson Two

? For this chapter, move on to the moment when you discovered a second lesson and learned how it operates. What happens if you don’t apply the lesson? Introduce exercises or practices, if applicable, and be sure to end with a summary and transition to the next chapter.

Third Chapter – Third step or Lesson Three

? Include another opening story along with a third action toward your book’s solution. Again, introduce the overview of the chapter, along with sub-topics that fit the theme. Add exercises or practices for your reader before summarizing and transitioning to the next chapter.

Fourth Chapter – Fourth Step or Lesson Four

? Include another opening story along with more actions for your readers to take  toward your book’s solution. Again, introduce the overview of the chapter, along with sub-topics that fit the theme. Add exercises or practices (if applicable) for your reader before summarizing and transitioning to the next chapter.

Subsequent Chapters – Next Steps toward Solution

? Repeat the structure and organization of your previous chapters as you build toward more effective solutions for your readers.

Conclusion/Last Chapter – How to take what they’ve learned into the world

? How to take what readers have learned from you into their lives and out into the world. Give examples of how others have done this. Your conclusion should clearly support the chapters preceding it. Make sure the lessons are tied together at the end, and offer suggestions of a bigger picture, or more steps your readers can take from here.

Once you have a solid outline, you can start writing sections or chapters.

You can also use free writing or other right-brain exercises to bring more creativity and unexpected material to your work. Do your revisions chapter-by-chapter. To come back to a chapter weeks or months later is almost like starting over, and not very effective.

So remember, if you set out to write a personal transformation story:

It’s not about you! It’s all about your readers…

What does your book offer to readers?

What benefit would they get out of reading your book? 

What makes your story unique?

Plan for success,

Lindsay

P.S. If you’re not sure if your book is a good idea, or you don’t have a clear plan, schedule a FREE DISCOVERY CALL with me to see how I can help.