Why Writing Your Memoir Might Be the Most Generous Thing You Ever Do
Last week, I spent three days in a recording booth with nothing but a microphone, a pair of headphones, and 80,000 words I wrote back in 2018. I was there to record my audiobook. I thought it would be a technical exercise — speak clearly, keep my voice hydrated, avoid rustling the pages.
Instead, it became one of the most moving, emotional weeks of my life.
With every sentence, I was pulled back into moments from my 22 years as a political spouse - the triumphs, the stumbles, the lessons I never saw coming. And with each chapter, I thought about the people who’ve told me over the years:
“Your story helped me.”
“I felt less alone.”
“You gave me hope.”
It made me realize: writing a memoir might be one of the most generous things you ever do.
The Ripple Effect of Telling Your Story
When we share our personal stories — honestly, vulnerably, and without holding back — something remarkable happens:
We inspire. Someone out there is waiting to hear how you got through what they’re facing right now.
We educate. Your lived experience offers lessons no textbook can teach.
We connect. You might never meet the reader whose life you touch, but the connection is real.
We give hope. When someone sees themselves in your story, they begin to believe change is possible for them too.
Writing Generously: 10 Tips for Memoir Authors
Tell the truth — even when it’s messy. Readers connect with honesty, not perfection.
Write for your reader, not your ego. Always ask: “How will this help someone?”
Share your emotions, not just events. Let us feel what you felt.
Show, don’t tell. Use sensory details to pull your reader into the scene.
Include your low points. Your struggles make your triumphs relatable.
Offer the takeaway. End chapters with a lesson, insight, or reflection.
Use vulnerability as a bridge. Let readers see the real you.
Trust your story’s worth. You don’t need a dramatic life — you just need truth.
Be generous with details. The small moments are often the most universal.
Write like you’re talking to one person. Your reader will feel seen.
The Sacred Obligation of Storytelling
Some of us are called to write because we know that our words can help someone else make sense of their world. In that way, memoir writing is an act of generosity, connection, and — sometimes — healing.
If you’ve been sitting on your story, waiting for the “right time,” maybe this is it.
Ready to start? Download my free 5-day Memoir in Minutes video series. Click here to get daily 1-minute lessons to help you start writing your story now.