We All Have a Story to Tell

Illustration of a woman writing with all sorts of objects behind her, including spaghetti and meatballs, a bicycle, photos and a hamburger

Writing professor Candy Schulman offers tips to help you tell your story.

Liam Eisenberg

Everyone has a story to tell, a moment or period in their life that was formative or extraordinary or terrifying or unique. There are many reasons to write that story. Whether you write just for you or for the bestseller list is immaterial. Just write. Here’s how to start.

First, get organized

To start, note the difference between an autobiography (the full story of your life) and a memoir (which may describe a specific time frame or experience). Try the latter. Begin by making a list of five of the most significant events in your life, to spark a singular topic worth writing about. Or examine one of your favorite possessions. Why have you kept this so long? What does it mean to you? What is the story inside of this object? For inspiration, read Joe Brainard’s I Remember, a collection of his memories, looking back on his life, all starting with the phrase “I remember …” There is a story in each brief memory. Complete the sentence “I remember …” a few times and start to write.

Then, start exploring

“I write to discover what I know,” said Southern novelist Flannery O’Connor. Memoir helps us explore the past through self-exploration — tragic or funny, even both combined. Dive beneath the surface of a childhood event, a nostalgic look back at a time gone by or a difficult period in your life that you struggled through. Writing a memoir helps you clarify your life and make sense of it.

Third, get specific

Inject your writing with details. “A 1972 blue Pontiac GTO” is a stronger image than “a car.” Even stronger is that the vinyl backseat had a foot-long tear you covered with duct tape. Tap into your senses: What did the moment taste, smell, sound and feel like? Keep revising to add descriptions, metaphors, scenes with dialogue, brief quotes from old letters. To reduce inhibition, write as if no one will read it.

Last, find support

Writing is a solo act, but joining a group can be beneficial. Check out your town library or the local university’s continuing education classes. Or start your own group of memoirists; weekly or monthly get-togethers provide motivation and accountability. You will receive feedback, guidance and form new friendships.