Writers Tricks of the Trade Vol. 5, Issue 4 | Page 14

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MY SOLUTION TO THE MEMOIR
FRED RAYWORTH
Sometimes it seems like half the writers I meet tell me “I’m writing a memoir”
when I ask what they write. Autobiographies, tell-alls, life-stories, they’re all the
same. You want to write about your life and you’re betting that others will be
interested enough to pay good money to read about it.
MOTIVATIONS
This can be a sticky subject but it boils down to several things. One of them is ego
(or vanity). We want to satisfy our ego by writing about ourselves and wait for the
praise to roll in when others wow over what a great life we’ve had. Sure, it’s nice
when others recognize that you’ve done something interesting that they haven’t.
However, what if it isn’t all that interesting? What if nobody can relate? What if a
lot of other people have done the same thing? So much for the ego.
We do it for altruistic reasons, because we think we have something interesting or
compelling to tell. We’ve done something that’s truly unique. There’s a life-lesson
in what we’ve done that can help others. We may have survived some life struggle
and that struggle may help others through their challenges. Our story is something
worthwhile to society.
We do it for the humor, just because we have some goofy stories that might be
interesting to others, but we don’t know unless we throw them out there. Plain
and simple.

FRED
RAYWORTH
A MAN OF
MANY TALENTS

VISIT FRED’S
OWN BLOG
HTTP://FREDRAYWORTH.C
OM

We do it for a family legacy. Family history is important to a lot of people.
Generations may want to know what grandma or grandpa did back in the day. A
memoir is a great way to leave them a legacy. If a few bucks can be made from it,
why not?
REALITIES
To generalize, everyone is doing a memoir. As many times as I hear that in
conversation, something like fifty percent of the time, I can comfortably say that
without being too far off the mark.
What does this mean?
Ninety percent of them will never make it to the shelf at the bookstore. Don’t take
my word for it. Go to your favorite local bookseller and take a look. See who’s
represented. Recognize those names? Most of them are recognizable celebrities,
good and bad.

WRITERS’ TRICKS OF THE TRADE
Cont’d…

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JULY-AUGUST 2015