Memoir Basics 3: Adding feelings, judgments, and explanations

The Memoir lessons need a little thought and preparation before you begin.

Whether you choose to write about yourself or not, it might be worth reading through the lesson first before you start to decide which suits you better.

If you’ve already seen this page in other memoir lessons, you can skip this bit.

Should I write about myself or not?

If you choose to write about yourself and the people you know, remember to write safely.

Think about what you want to reveal to the rest of your group. What are you willing to let other people know about yourself? If you include people you know in your writing, think about how they’d feel about that, especially if members of your group know them too.

If you write something worrying or disturbing, don't be surprised if a teacher asks you if you're okay.

Should I make up a story?

If you choose to make up a story about yourself or a completely fictional character, make sure everyone in your group knows!

Can I write some true stories and some fictional ones?

For your readers’ sake, you should stick to one or the other. It will get very confusing if you mix fact with fiction! Again, it might be worth reading through the lesson first to decide which suits you better.