QUALITIES OF AN EFFECTIVE MEMOIR
The voice is first person singular: I, not we, one, or you.
The memoirist is the main character, the someone for readers to be within the story.
The writer’s thoughts and feelings, reactions and reflections, are revealed.
There’s enough context - background information - to understand the events of the story. The context is woven into the story.
A reader can envision the action - can see what is happening.
A reader can imagine the setting - where and when the memoir is unfolding.
A reader can imagine the relationships between the characters.
The dialogue sounds like these people talking, both what they would say and how they would say it:
‘Boy, you’re going to be sorry’ versus ‘You will be sorry’.
The pace is slowed down so a reader can enter the story and live it, moment to moment, with the characters.
There isn’t unnecessary information: the writer leaves out what a reader doesn’t need to know.
The lead invites a reader into the world of the memory.
The conclusion is deliberate: it represents a writer’s decision about how to leave his or her readers.
The writer isn’t acting as a reporter: the writing is subjective, the writer’s truth.
The writer invents details that fit with the specific memory and the writer’s theme or purpose.
The memoir sounds and feels like literature and not reportage.
The reader learns something about life by reading about a life.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MEMOIR:
It focuses and reflects on the relationship between the writer and a particular person, place, animal, or object.

It explains the significance of the relationship.
It leaves the reader with one impression of the subject of the memoir.
It is limited to a particular phase, time period, place, or recurring behavior in order to develop the focus fully.
It makes the subject of the memoir come alive.
It maintains a first person point of view.
Memoirs have an introduction with an attention- grabbing opening.
They include details that set the scene
They move into personal conversations [anecdotes]
They include emotions and feelings.
Memoirs include a flashback or background information
Event 1- The main action of the memory and the rich details and thoughts that were drummed up.
Event 2-the next thing that happened- details and feelings
Event 3- smaller details that you want the reader to know
Later Events
Conclusion-Significance of the experience.
Acknowledgement- Ms. Tabor’s class
Memoir writing
 Have a narrow topic and focus
 Brainstorm, visualize, free write, web, cluster
 Use your own voice
 Develop characters through thoughts, characters and words
 Use sensory details
 Write a good lead in
 Place ideas and details in meaningful order
 Focus on the relationship between the writer and the subject of the memoir

 Organize into paragraphs
 Use transitions
 Conclude effectively
 ALWAYS CHECK YOUR GRAMMAR!
Sample memoir
Gather Together in my Name
Maya Angelou
1974
"Can you cook Creole?"
I looked at the woman and gave her a lie as soft as melting butter. "Yes, of course. That's all I know how to cook."
The Creole Cafe had a cardboard sign in the window which bragged: COOK WANTED. SEVENTY FIVE
DOLLARS A WEEK. As soon as I saw it I knew I could cook Creole, whatever that was.
Desperation to find help must have blinded the proprietress to my age or perhaps it was the fact that I was nearly six feet and had an attitude which belied my seventeen years. She didn't question me about recipes and menus, but her long brown face did trail down in wrinkles, and doubt hung on the edges of her questions.
"Can you start on Monday?"
"I'll be glad to."
"You know it's six days a week. We're closed on Sunday."
"That's fine with me. I like to go to church on Sunday."
It's awful to think that the devil gave me that lie, but it came unexpectedly and worked like dollar bills.
Suspicion and doubt raced from her face, and she smiled. Her teeth were all the same size, a small white picket fence semi-circled in her mouth.
"Well I know we're going to get along. You a good Christian. I like that. Yes, ma'am I sure do.'
My need for a job caught and held the denial.

Answer the following questions:
1.
What similes and metaphors are used in this short extract? How do they contribute to the characterization of the main character and of the owner of the Creole Cafe?
2.
How does dialogue contrast with Angelou's comments about herself?
3.
What characteristics does this extract reveal about Angelou?
4.
What details contribute to a sense of time and place?