Memoir VS Autobiography

LoLo · 07-26-2011, 01:12 AM

I have been working on my autobiography off and on for the last 6 years. But, now people are telling me that a memoir would sell faster that a bio. Is this true? If so, how do I change my bio to a memoir? I am not quite sure of the difference in the two. I just came across this forum. It is very enlightening.

PinkAmy · 07-26-2011, 02:37 PM

Absolutely. Biographies/autobiographies are a lot drier than memoirs. Memoirs read like novels and cover a part of your life where something unique or unusual occurred. Autobios cover birth through present. There is a lot of info in autobiographies that most readers would find boring, except for famous people. IMHO, unless you're a celeb (and even if you are a celeb), memoir is the way to go.

Sunnyside · 07-26-2011, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PinkAmy

Biographies/autobiographies are a lot drier than memoirs.

Ouch.

LoLo · 07-26-2011, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PinkAmy

Absolutely. Biographies/autobiographies are a lot drier than memoirs. Memoirs read like novels and cover a part of your life where something unique or unusual occurred. Autobios cover birth through present. There is a lot of info in autobiographies that most readers would find boring, except for famous people. IMHO, unless you're a celeb (and even if you are a celeb), memoir is the way to go.

Thanks PinkAmy, I am new to this. I joined this forum to learn the ends and outs of writing and the process of getting published and finding an agent. I appreciate your honesty.

PinkAmy · 07-27-2011, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sunnyside

Ouch.

Sorry- I'm sure your bios aren't

--I meant in general bios don't read like novels, they read more like non-fiction which tends to be drier. There are times I'd rather read a bio than a memoir (though probably not an autobiography.) When I want to know everything about an individual, what makes her tick from an unbiased (hopefully) POV, I'll take the bio any day.

PinkAmy · 07-27-2011, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoLo

Thanks PinkAmy, I am new to this. I joined this forum to learn the ends and outs of writing and the process of getting published and finding an agent. I appreciate your honesty.

Same here. I learned that a lot of what I thought was fascinating about my life, others thought boring and that it slowed down the pacing. Beta readers are wonderful at helping ferret out things that slow down the pacing of the book.

LoLo · 07-28-2011, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PinkAmy

Same here. I learned that a lot of what I thought was fascinating about my life, others thought boring and that it slowed down the pacing. Beta readers are wonderful at helping ferret out things that slow down the pacing of the book.

Interesting. Now I know why my editor deleted parts of my story that I thought were interesting, colorful and held the story together.

PinkAmy · 07-29-2011, 01:15 AM

You're quicker than me then, I needed a few people to tell me before I realized I did not indeed know more than they did LOL.

LoLo · 07-29-2011, 03:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PinkAmy

You're quicker than me then, I needed a few people to tell me before I realized I did not indeed know more than they did LOL.

I was actually mad at her. I was telling all of my friends and relatives that she had done a hack job editing my bio. LOL But, I understand it all now. There was a method to her madness. LOL

Al Stevens · 07-29-2011, 04:01 AM

An autobiography is about you. A memoir is about other people and you. There is some of one in the other.

LoLo · 07-29-2011, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Al Stevens

An autobiography is about you. A memoir is about other people and you. There is some of one in the other.

Thank you. I guess I am writing a memoir and not an autobiography.

CACTUSWENDY · 07-29-2011, 11:02 AM

IMHO....a bio usually is about someone that is/was famous in some form. Many read them because they are nosy about that famous person.

A memoir can be about someone that has faced a huge challenge/sickness/abuse/etc. It is something that gives one insight/hope/etc.

Al Stevens · 07-29-2011, 06:55 PM

Also, a bio typically spans the lifetime of the subject whereas a memoir can be about only one day.

LoLo · 07-29-2011, 10:42 PM

[QUOTE=Al Stevens;6380375]Also, a bio typically spans the lifetime of the subject whereas a memoir can be about only one day.[/QUOTE]

WOW! That's interesting.

LoLo · 07-29-2011, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CACTUSWENDY

IMHO....a bio usually is about someone that is/was famous in some form. Many read them because they are nosy about that famous person.

A memoir can be about someone that has faced a huge challenge/sickness/abuse/etc. It is something that gives one insight/hope/etc.

I am now positive that I am writing a memoir and not a bio. Thanks so much.

REMLIG · 08-28-2011, 04:17 AM

Thanks for posting this thread. Very helpful.

07-26-2011, 01:12 AM	#1
LoLo figuring it all out Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 59	Memoir VS Autobiography I have been working on my autobiography off and on for the last 6 years. But, now people are telling me that a memoir would sell faster that a bio. Is this true? If so, how do I change my bio to a memoir? I am not quite sure of the difference in the two. I just came across this forum. It is very enlightening.

07-29-2011, 11:02 AM	#12
CACTUSWENDY An old, sappy, and happy one. Requiescat In Pace Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Sunny Arizona Posts: 12,864	IMHO....a bio usually is about someone that is/was famous in some form. Many read them because they are nosy about that famous person. A memoir can be about someone that has faced a huge challenge/sickness/abuse/etc. It is something that gives one insight/hope/etc. __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] love you guys.. *http://softwinger.wordpress.com/* Posted on Amazon.com and Smashwords.com Don't forget to give a buck or two towards the Number One writing site online. You are only a shadow standing in your own sunshine.[/SIZE]

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07-26-2011, 02:37 PM	#2
PinkAmy New kid, be gentle! Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 2,763	Absolutely. Biographies/autobiographies are a lot drier than memoirs. Memoirs read like novels and cover a part of your life where something unique or unusual occurred. Autobios cover birth through present. There is a lot of info in autobiographies that most readers would find boring, except for famous people. IMHO, unless you're a celeb (and even if you are a celeb), memoir is the way to go.

07-29-2011, 01:15 AM	#8
PinkAmy New kid, be gentle! Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 2,763	You're quicker than me then, I needed a few people to tell me before I realized I did not indeed know more than they did LOL.

07-29-2011, 04:01 AM	#10
Al Stevens practical experience, FTW Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 2,506	An autobiography is about you. A memoir is about other people and you. There is some of one in the other.

07-29-2011, 06:55 PM	#13
Al Stevens practical experience, FTW Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 2,506	Also, a bio typically spans the lifetime of the subject whereas a memoir can be about only one day.

07-29-2011, 10:42 PM	#14
LoLo figuring it all out Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 59	[QUOTE=Al Stevens;6380375]Also, a bio typically spans the lifetime of the subject whereas a memoir can be about only one day.[/QUOTE] WOW! That's interesting.

08-28-2011, 04:17 AM	#16
REMLIG practical experience, FTW Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Sunny Florida close to the beach Posts: 158	Thanks for posting this thread. Very helpful.