A key concept in my memoir courses is the importance of building your memoir around conflict and tension. In the simplest possible terms, your character needs to want something. What is it that she wants? What’s stopping her from getting it? And what’s at stake if she doesn’t get it? The answers to those questions create tension, which is what keeps the reader turning the pages. It’s what keeps your reader engaged. But when we’re writing a book-length memoir, it’s easy for the tension to drop in the middle. And if your reader gets bored and puts your book down, then you’ve lost your chance at making an impact. That’s why we discuss various ways to maintain that tension throughout your entire memoir in my new 9-week online course, Navigating the Messy Middle. Juggling your primary theme with your minor themes (or subplots) […]
How to Build a Strong Narrative Arc in Memoir
