What is the difference between memoir and autobiography?

There are many terms to describe different types of life story writing. Two of the most common are "autobiography" and "memoir." So what is the difference between the two, and which one should you be writing? Here's the low-down:

Autobiography

Autobiography is a first-person account of a complete life story, usually written in chronological order. It likely contains much factual information like names, dates, and places woven throughout the story. For famous people, autobiographies may actually be published and sold in book stores. For non-famous people, autobiographies are usually written to be enjoyed by friends and family, and to serve as a record of a person's life.

Memoir

A memoir differs from an autobiography in that it is centered around a specific theme or period of life, as illustrated by a true experience. For example, a memoir that has a theme of grief and loss might be illustrated by the author's experiences of losing her beloved grandmother when she was a teenager. The author only shares details about their life story that are relevant to the theme, so there may be large spans of years that are left out completely. Genealogical and timeline information is secondary to the story and theme. If the writer is talented enough and has a strong story and theme, they may be able to publish and sell their memoir even if they aren't famous.

So which should I write? Autobiography or memoir?

To answer that question, you need to think about the kind of story you want to tell. Do you want to tell stories spanning your entire lifetime to give your posterity a sense of who you were? Autobiography. Have you had an experience (or multiple related experiences) that have been particularly significant in some way, like a near-death experience, a miraculous rescue, or a tragic loss? Or are you passionate about a certain topic and want to teach others about it via your own experience? Memoir.

Another aspect to consider is your intended audience. Typically, only close friends and family will be interested in reading your entire life story. (Even then, you have to be very judicious about what you choose to include and how you tell your stories if you want to the book to be engaging and valuable to the reader.) Conversely, memoir is more appealing to a broad audience because is not actually about YOU, but rather about your UNIVERSAL MESSAGE, to which readers will be able to relate. Readers turn to memoir because they want to know and understand what YOU do, because of what you’ve been through.

Is there overlap between the two?

Yes, there can be overlap between the autobiographical and memoirist styles. In fact, the most engaging autobiographies use writing techniques that are typically employed in memoirs, i.e. using descriptive language, "hooks" at the beginning of a story, flash-forwards and flashbacks, direct quotes and dialogue, humor, etc. Perhaps most important of all, good life story writing, whether it be autobiography or memoir, seeks to find meaning in events of the past, to provoke contemplation in the reader and leave some kind of impression on them.

Can you help me write a memoir or an autobiography?

My primary focus is memoirs, but I consider autobiography projects on a case-by-case basis. Please reach out and see if we’re a good fit for each other.

Want to learn more about working with me to create a custom book? I would love to chat with you!