NextGen Author Audrey Burt Saha with 'Living in Tandem'
Autobiographies and memoirs share quite a few similarities with one another, and it might be tempting to use the two terms interchangeably. However, these are actually distinct categories of literature that suggest different goals on behalf of the author.!
Before diving into those differences, though, let’s first explore what these two types of projects have in common.
Similarities between Autobiography and Memoir:
For starters, autobiographies and memoirs both contain a nonfiction account of someone’s life. Projects of this nature consist of a series of events, anecdotes, and reflections that help capture a real-life story.
Secondly, autobiographies and memoirs are both typically long-form narratives over 10,000 words. While the specific length of the projects can vary, these will often be told through books, given that authors are working with a sizable amount of material.
Finally, and most significantly, autobiographies and memoirs are both written by the subject of the story. Unlike a biography, which is written by a third party, the author of both an autobiography and a memoir is someone who is writing about their own experience. MostThis will result in many autobiographies and memoirs arebeing written from a first-person perspective, as the reader is being guided directly from the author’s point of view.
Now, for the differences!
Autobiography vs memoir: Scope
An autobiography is a work that intends to capture one’s complete life story. From childbirth to the present day, professional to personal details, autobiographies intend to cover as much ground as possible to fully encapsulate the author’s life. One example is Wings of Resilience: The Ups and Downs of My 65 Years in Aviation by Gord Price - From serving as a nuclear strike pilot with the RCAF to building aerobatic aircraft, this book spans the breadth of the author’s experiences over the span of his career.
Meanwhile, a memoir is a work that intends to capture a segment of one’s life story. A memoir focuses on a specific aspect of the author’s life, which might be determined by a particularly influential time period, location, or any number of personal factors. One example is Living in Tandem: A Memoir About Being More Than An Autism Mom by Audrey Burt Saha - This book shares stories about being a parent, wife, mother, and community leader, capturing the deep love and the determination needed to live life to the fullest.
Autobiography vs memoir: Number of books
For this reason, authors will typically have only one autobiography, including all of the pertinent details needed to summarize their life story. Given that there is a great deal of material to work with, autobiographies tend to be longer and broader in scope than that of a memoir. Gord Price, author of Wings of Resilience, will likely write only one book about his life’s experience.
On the other hand, authors may have one or several memoirs that focus on different elements of their life. If an author opts to write multiple memoirs, they will often be shorter and more specialized in scope than an autobiography, although many memoirs are still published as standalone novels. Audrey Burt Saha could decide to write another memoir focused on other aspects of her life, if she chose.
Autobiography vs memoir: Goal
Ultimately, the goal of an autobiography is to provide a comprehensive narrative and timeline of the author’s life. This doesn’t mean that autobiographies can’t have their own creative flair, but that the author is focused on crafting a fact-based, all-encompassing account that includes a wide range of experiences.
As for memoirs, the goal is often to explore a particular theme within a story-driven narrative. They can still cover a wide period of time, but memoirs hone in on one or two key topics that the author will reflect upon to offer readers further insight. Memoirs might also be called “narrative nonfiction,” which emphasizes the importance in telling an engaging story within the author’s life.
At NextGen Story, we focus on life stories of all kinds - we aim to create a book that is as unique as your own life story. Check out the following examples for inspiration:.
Contact us or sign up for a free webinar today to r Feel free to explore any of the examples provided below to help you determine what kind of project you might be interested in self-publishing.!
Living in Tandem: A Memoir About Being More Than An Autism Mom by Audrey Burt Saha - This book shares stories about being a parent, wife, mother, and community leader, capturing the deep love and the determination needed to live life to the fullest.
The Lemonade Tree: Adventures Spanning Half a Century by Pat Ridgers - This story embraces life's twists and turns with curiosity, resilience, plus a touch of love, leaving no stone unturned in her quest for meaning and exploration.
Wings of Resilience: The Ups and Downs of My 65 Years in Aviation by Gord Price - From serving as a nuclear strike pilot to building aerobatic aircraft, this bookmemoir is a testament to the strength, courage, and determination of a life in the skies.
Contact us or sign up for a free webinar today to help you create a life story for you or a family member.
NextGen Author Gord Price with 'Wings of Resilience'
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