FAQs

What is a memoir?

A memoir is a first-person account of important episodes in your life. Some memoirs focus on a specific time period, while others explore a meaningful relationship or transformative experience.

The memoir genre has evolved over the past half-century to encompass many varieties of personal expression, blending narrative, dialogue, introspection, and other elements.

What is the difference between a memoir and an autobiography?

An autobiography typically provides a chronological account of your entire life, from birth to the present day. A memoir, on the other hand, is more often a close-up of a specific time period or experience.

How long is typical memoir?

Memoirs commonly range from 150-200 published pages, or about 40,000-60,000 words. Some are shorter, some longer. It depends on the stories you want to tell and your personal style as a storyteller.

How do I write a memoir?

In plain terms, a memoir is nothing more than a collection of personal stories. Anyone can take up a pen or sit down at a keyboard and begin writing down their memories. It's as simple as that. However, most people are daunted by the prospect of writing long-form narratives. They lack both time and skill. That's why many choose to work with a professional team to document, arrange, and write down their memories, rather than struggle alone, and end up with only an incomplete draft to show for all their years of effort. 

What does a memoir writing service do?

At The Memoirist, our craft is taking your stories and bringing them to life through rich description and compelling storytelling. Aside from the actual writing, one of the biggest challenges in producing a memoir is choosing how to sequence the various episodes and scenes of your past. For new writers, this process can feel like trying to put together a 1,000-piece puzzle without having a clue what the complete picture is supposed to look like. Our team works closely with our clients through every phase of the writing process,  so that by the time their memoir is published, they feel the same sense of ownership and accomplishment a regular author would.

Do I own the copyrights to my memoir?

Yes. You retain full ownership of your personal stories, including everything you share with us during interviews, correspondence, and so on. When the memoir is published, it's yours. 

Can you make my memoir a best-seller?

Literary greats throughout history have cautioned aspiring writers about the perils of writing for fame and fortune. Like most pursuits in life, success in the literary world has a lot to do with luck. For this and other reasons, we don't work with literary agents or publishing houses. We can help you set up a listing for your memoir on Amazon, but we don't guarantee results.

What we do promise, however, is that you will end up with a book you can be proud of—something you will cherish for years to come and share with your friends, family, and colleagues.

Besides, the gift of wisdom and a good story is far more valuable than any other asset you might choose to leave behind for your children and grandchildren.

How much does a memoir service cost?

Many memoir and ghostwriting companies offer expensive, rigid packages that cost upwards of $30,000-40,000. We prefer to offer maximum flexibility to our clients, so we charge a flat rate of $0.29 per word, or about $12,000-18,000 for an average-length memoir. This covers the cost of all phases of the project, from interviewing, to transcribing, research, developmental editing, writing, copyediting, proofreading, layout, and artwork. 

How long does it take?

For people who write a memoir on their own, it usually takes several years or more, sometimes decades! At The Memoirist, we are a small team that works with just 6-8 clients per year, so we're able to keep a tight schedule. Our typical project timeline is below:

I already wrote my memoir. Can you help me edit it?

Yes. We offer editing services for $0.10 per word, which includes three rounds of editing — developmental, copyediting, and proofreading. 

I want to write my memoir by myself, but I need help. Do you offer coaching?

Yes. We offer memoir and autobiography coaching for $300 per month, which includes weekly calls and a monthly manuscript review of up to 10,000 words.

I have more questions. How can I contact you?

You are welcome to write us an email at info@thememoirist.com — 

We'd love to hear from you!

We offer free 40 minute interest calls for those who would like to explore the possibility of working with us to write their biography or memoir. 

To schedule a call, write us an email at info@thememoirist.com