Writing is a skill that gets better with practice. One of the best things I did is join a local memoir writing group. I was fortunate to find the group I did close by. The twice a month meetings motivate me to write when other things keep getting in the way, and the non-critical group provides an audience to write to. I recommend finding a writing group that fits your style. Every group is different, so if you try one and it doesn’t feel right, don’t give up. Keep looking.
I have also found many books that have been written about the memoir process. Here are a few of my favorites:
“Courage and Craft: Writing Your Life Into Story” by Barbara Abercrombie
“Now Write! Nonfiction” edited by Sherry Ellis
You can also learn a lot from others who have written their memoirs. Keep your eyes open for memoirs at your local bookstore or library. When you find one you enjoy, examine the style it was written in. Try it on for size with your writing and see if it feels right. Pick and choose what feels right to you as you develop your own voice.
There are a lot of blogs out there being written by writers for writers. Many of them have a lot of useful content, both motivational and practical tips. Look at those, too. There are so many of them, it’s possible to get so swept up in the blog-reading world that you stop writing. Check them out, but be wary of the time trap they present.
