Memoir or Self Help or Both

by JoJo Patience
25th April 2017

Hi lovely writers and artists community.

I'm new to the group but have been reading the useful Q's and A's and submitted a question to an agony aunt and had a hugely helpful reply.

I'm writing my story about adoption from two perspectives touching on a range of emotions from loss to love. I'm not terribly sure if I should just write a memoir and hope people take something away from it or a self help book for people who have experienced a similar journey to me (of which there are many). Or in fact should I not even concern myself with either and just crack on and write? I do actually want my experience to impact others in an inspiring way and those that have read the bits I've written so far have commented that it's tragically beautiful (whatever that means haha) and that it has reduced some to tears! Eeek. Anyhow your comments would be marvellous.

Is it an idea to post a snippet in the shared works area do you think?

Replies

Hi Jo, I would say you should just write the book and worry later as to whether it is a memoir or something else.

My book is a memoir, and it too makes some people cry when they read what happened to me.

But they also remark that I have lead a full life despite all my problems. One published author stated: "This is an extraordinarily honest, truthful and moving book."

When writing the last few chapters I have gone into the psychological concepts that impacted on my life, which I had to understand to be able to confront my past. I hope these last chapters may help people who are affected by PTSD, dissociation and depression.

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Jeremy
Gavins
330 points
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Autobiography, Biography and Memoir
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Jeremy Gavins
27/04/2017

Yes Thanks Daphne - snippet on the shared works bit... called Guilt and Cigarettes

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JoJo
Patience
270 points
Developing your craft
Popular science, Social science, Medical Science
Practical and Self-Help
JoJo Patience
26/04/2017

Crack on and write. It may/should become clearer which way you want to go -memoir/self help - as you continue. You can then decide or leave it until the inevitable editing starts. Look forward to reading your 'snippet'.

Daphne

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Daphne
Milne
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Poetry
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Daphne Milne
26/04/2017