Memoir: My life's not that interesting

My life's not that interesting.

That's what someone wrote in the comment section of a memoir survey I sent a while ago.

It's not what I expected, and I don't believe it's true.

After all, what makes an interesting life to one person may not be interesting to another. Is an interesting life one with lots of travel? A successful career? Life on a farm? Sailing around the world? Lots of dinner parties and dancing?

Any one of those things might fill your days, but I'm not sure that would guarantee a good memoir. What makes a good memoir is your take on the world ... how you see things, and why they matter.

Your perspective is what people want to read about.

I like to write about the unexpected, curious ways the commonplace can (and does) surprise and shape me.

Memoirs that offer a behind-the-scenes look at how someone created or experienced something can be reassuring, educational, and inspiring.

The stories that resonate with people are the ones they can relate to ... stories that remind them about something they've experienced ... or want to experience.

Where you go and what you see.

So don't worry about whether or not you have an interesting life. Where you go with your writing and memoir is more about what you see and how something made you feel; sharing what you learned, and the joys, and frustrations you experienced. That's what people want to read about.

The stories you tell could be about the pets you've had and what you learned from them, your first job, how you started your business, or what it was like that first and only time you went to summer camp. It's the common experiences, disappointments, successes, and life affirming joy that people are looking to connect with.

When I re-read some of the stories I've written, they remind me of different times in my life; a life filled with curiosity and attention to detail. And that's what matters, no matter where or how you live your life.

What did you see? How did it make you feel? What did you learn?

Write about that.

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