…Beginnings
This post is one of 26 I am writing for the A-Z Challenge on the subject of writing a memoir. I’m not an expert in writing memoirs, but I’m exploring the topic with thoughts about writing one, and am happy to share the fruits of my exploration.
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Where do I begin? Every beginning is hard to write, whether it’s the beginning of a fictional story, an essay or a memoir. The beginning has to draw the reader in, to make the reader want to finish the page, the chapter, the book.
But the good thing is: the beginning doesn’t have to be written at the beginning. You can write it in the middle, at the end or whenever you like. It’s often easier to write it at the end when you know what it has to introduce.
Miriam Drori, Author 
15 replies on “A-Z Challenge: B is for…”
Very true, and an excellent point about not having to write it when you start writing the book!
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Thanks, Dee. I’m sure you know a lot more about memoir writing than I do.
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The beginning is where you make it – and the end is also in the beginning.
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Very wise.
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And the beginning of a memoir book doesn’t have to be the beginning of the life. Did you ever see Blood Brothers on the stage? It’s the most moving play I’ve seen in a long time but it begins at the end. The two brothers are shot dead and you think, ‘well I don’t need to watch it now’. But knowing that that is going to happen makes the play even more intense.
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I haven’t seen Blood Brothers, but I’ve seen that done in films and you’re right. You can begin at the end or somewhere else, although…. Hmm, I think I’ll keep that comment for the letter O.
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Very good point! Will you be posting excerpts of your memoir as you write it…?
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I don’t think so. Although I might use episodes I blog about in my memoir, if I write one!
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Yes, just as with writing a novel you can begin at a dramatic or crucially important point in your life and then go back later to show what lead up to that point. Look at the way other memoir writers have done it, but then decide what you feel is right for you.
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Great advice – thanks 🙂
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The endings are the part I always get hung up on.
Dropping by from A to Z. First year participating.
Brett Minor
Transformed Nonconformist
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Endings are hard, too. But I have something else for E.
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Love the title of your blog and think writing a series of short pieces during this challenge will be a terrific way to start your memoir. I look forward to returning over the course of the month.
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Thank you 🙂
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Wow, that is a pretty radical concept to me. I find myself troubled at movies that do not start at the beginning, I guess it is just my feeble mind.
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