Memoirs and autobiographies are similar but have a primary distinct difference. Both are written by the person they are about however, an autobiography tends to cover a person’s life through the end date of the book. Memoirs are slightly different in that they tend to focus more on a specific area of a subject’s life.

Here are four tips for the author setting out to write their memoir.

1. Topic Choice

Self-publishing authors of memoirs must consider what readers will be interested in learning about. For example, many people may consider themselves and their adventures exciting, but they may not be things that interest readers.

The self-publishing author must consider what events of their life are unusual and what others would relate to. For instance, a person might write about an unusual job, a trauma they survived, or an unusual humanitarian project they were part of.

Topics shouldn’t be too broad, or they may not be marketable to the right readers. The self-publishing author must also consider what the point of their story is. Are they trying to convince others to join or not join a profession? Are they trying to promote a charity? Do they want to reveal unknown facts about certain occupations?

Too many self-publishing authors start writing their memoirs as if they were writing in a diary. It is a rare author who can write such a book and still give the reader an enjoyable experience.

2. Choose the Memories

Memoir authors must pick and choose which memories they will share in their self-publishing book.

Sometimes authors are tempted to add stories they believe are entertaining but that are only loosely tied, or not tied at all, to the book’s primary topic.

Occasional meandering can be excusable by readers if it is entertaining enough, but generally, authors should try to stay on topic. Prolonged or frequent detours can distract readers and lead to a poor reader experience. It can also make it more difficult for the self-publishing author to get their point across clearly.

3. Include Photos

Adding photos to a memoir can add context for the readers and make the author’s memories come alive.

Despite the benefits of adding photos, self-publishing authors should consider getting assistance with interior book design for proper photo placement. Photo-heavy books, while appealing to readers, can be tricky to format.

4. Legal Precautions

Memoirs can be tricky from a legal standpoint because authors are presenting memories that may be different from others who were present. They also may show real places and people in a negative light which can hurt their reputation.

Similarly, the author must have the rights to use included photos and have permission from those in the pictures to publish their likeness.

In most cases, self-publishing memoir writers should seek qualified legal advice to be sure their books are legally protected. No self-publishing author wants to put their heart and soul into a memoir only to have a court battle over defamation later.

Memoirs can be valuable to readers by sharing experiences they are interested in. They may learn about industries, cultures, and people they knew little about.

InstantPublisher can help self-publishing memoir writers during the book publishing process.

InstantPublisher is a book printing company that helps self-publishing authors succeed. They offer a wide range of author tools including custom book covers, digital printing services, interior book design, and other book printing services.