Open Letter Regarding Memoirs
To all those writing memoirs or contemplating writing memoirs:
Stop. Please write something else. At the very least, understand that it’s unlikely every single moment in your life is worthy of being memorialized in a book. Hate to say it, but your life probably isn’t that much different from the lives of the rest of us. My theory of why so many supposed memoir writers have gotten in trouble for marketing books as memoirs that were something other than true life recounts? Because most people do not lead lives that would sustain an interesting 400-page book, let alone two…or three, so they make crap up. It’s called fiction. Learn a lesson from James Frey and try that.
I know this sounds harsh. I know your life is the one that is so compelling. Still, the market is flooded. This sort of thing happened to chick lit and look what happened to that. Yeah, I bet I have your attention now.
Go forth and write great fiction.
Sincerely,
HelenKay (who has reached her saturation point on memoirs, supposed memoirs, and whatever the hell fictionalized memoirs are)
July 7th, 2008 at 8:26 am
“But… but… what am I supposed to do with all this narcissism, if not sell it? I’m special—SPECIAL!!!!—and the whole world must lavish attention upon me! And also money!”
I propose some kind of litmus test, such as “Is my life story as socially relevant as Hi, I’m Nelson Mandela?” If not, go do something worthwhile and try again later.
July 7th, 2008 at 9:51 am
I asked my former agent if my little memoir of my husband’s battle with cancer was saleable, and was told it wasn’t. So I posted it on a blog instead. Seems like a lot of people would be better off doing that. The sad truth is that most of us just aren’t that interesting, and blogs work great for self-indulgent stuff:-).
July 7th, 2008 at 11:30 am
You mean your books aren’t thinly veiled memoirs? Wahhhhh.
July 7th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
LOL [and.... someone I know is at this moment writing a memoir...]
July 7th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
*snort* And yes, Ellen, many of these people would be better served posting their thoughts somewhere else
(Not at all to say that you or your memoir are self-indulgent!)
July 7th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
I think most people should just stick to a blog and let people find their stories that way. I admit I’ve read a few memoirs that I loved, but they were relevant to a situation I wanted to read about.
July 7th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
he he he…..I was so looking foward to fame and fortune, but since I think (other than school) that I have only read a handful myself….hmmmm, you may just have a point.
July 8th, 2008 at 9:28 am
Helen,
I must say that I actually never thought of writing my memoirs. My skeletons
stay in my closet. I don’t bring them out for anyone to see. LOL.
July 8th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
I agree, but for a different reason…my life has actually been pretty interesting, but I wouldn’t want to hurt others who might read about it…
July 9th, 2008 at 9:17 am
Well, there goes my dream of writing about myself. *sigh* lol
July 31st, 2008 at 12:56 pm
Perhaps you are just jealous, that your life has not been so interesting? Have you checked the various best seller lists for non-fiction (hardcover, trade and paperback) and noticed how memoirs still dominate the lists? Nonetheless, as writers follow those sales, those who shouldn’t may well be tempted to write memoirs. The fact that negligent fools working in publishing houses hired incompetent editors that couldn’t be bothered to fact-check memoirs is no reason to toss out the good books with the frauds. If you don’t like memoirs, don’t read them. But you will miss out on many inspiring stories.
August 3rd, 2008 at 9:09 pm
John - Most of these memoirs detail abusive relationships and loads of family dysfunction. I can honestly say I’m not jealous of that. We agree that memoirs are everywhere. Despite what you may think, most of the books never hit a bestseller list or sell more than a few thousand copies. That was my point. The books are so prevalent that they are becoming usual and mundane. The potential for inspiration is lessened by the sheer number of them.