Key Difference between Memoir and Autobiography | How to Write a Memoir

When you know the key difference between memoir and autobiography you will know how to write a memoir. Memoir is a literary genre that has its own style, structure, content, and purpose. However, it is often confused with an autobiography. In this video, I share the key difference, as well as other differences, between these two literary genres. I also discuss the similarities between memoir and autobiography which is what leads to this confusion. I use two bestselling memoirs, Becoming by Michelle Obama and Educated by Tara Westover to illustrate the differences between memoir and autobiography.

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Becoming by Michelle O'Bama

Educated by Tara Westover

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Video Chapters:
0:19 The differences between memoir and autobiography
0:36 The similarities between memoir and autobiography
2:52 The key element of memoir
3:46 The fluidity of memoir
4:23 The memoir Becoming by Michelle Obama is actually an autobiography
5:53 The memoir Educated by Tara Westover is a good example of a memoir
6:40 The key difference between memoir and autobiography

[lchristensen]

Oh, this is a good one. I've been feeling quite unorganized on what I want to write about. I'm quite passionate about a historical narrative because my parents died by the time I was 8 years old and I really know how it feels to not know anything about them. So maybe what I'm wanting to do is write a historical narrative (autobiography) in a creative way so not to bore the reader and I might come up with a memoir theme along the way. I actually already have a theme, but it hurts so much to think about it, but that probably means I need to write about it. It's a subject that I feel other motherless and fatherless daughters might benefit from. Oh I tear up just thinking about it. Thank you for your videos; I'm going through them one by one.

[petersadie]

thanks for clarifying the difference Brenda. When one writes it's always to some extent with readers in mind though. Perhaps it's more a question of which readers you're focusing upon? With autobiography perhaps it's more about telling your story and because you're famous (usually) people will read it. With memoir maybe you also need to create an interesting angle which attracts an audience. Here your focus needs to be more upon what themes would my audience respond to?

[BrendaSmitJames]

Are you writing a memoir or an autobiography? Are you clearer in your understanding between a memoir and an autobiography, their respective function and their purpose?