Recently, I had the opportunity to help with editing an amazing memoir entitled The Other Side of Midnight: A journey to healing for spouses and loved ones affected by suicide by Dr. Erie S. Emery Crawford, Ph.D., LSW and published by BAna Studios. For the author, the book was a labor of love. It was also a way to cope with the unexpected death of her husband by suicide and catharsis during the COVID lockdown. The result is a book of immense empathy and wisdom, written by a person of faith to comfort and console family, friends, co-workers, and church members and clergy who lost one of their own. I highly recommend it to anyone who has lost someone they love to suicide!
I enjoy helping authors finish their memoirs because memoirs are always beautiful, personal works of art. If you are in the process of editing your memoir, I hope this blog will help you. Editors are always a knowledgeable resource to strengthen your writing and improve your story’s flow, but before you hand that manuscript over to the editor, I encourage you to act as your own editor.
Read the book through once more (If you can stand to do so again!) and see if you have finished editing your memoir. Evaluate whether your memoir has accomplished your mission, whatever that may be. I have created a checklist for editing your memoir with twelve key questions you should be able to clearly answer before you are finished editing your memoir and hand your manuscript over to another editor. These questions get to the heart of what you are trying to do —communicate about your life. If you can answer “yes” to all of these questions, your manuscript will be ready for editing, and for the reader, too!
1. Has my memoir clearly communicated the message and themes that I intended to convey?
Before you publish your memoir, think about the overall message you want to convey to the reader. Then, look at your manuscript critically. Is your message coming through loud and clear?
2. Are all events narrated in the correct sequence for the reader?
It isn’t easy to read your drafted memoir through the eyes of someone who doesn’t know you or anything about your life. Will your storytelling sequence make sense to the reader if they have no idea who you are?
3. Do I show rather than tell about events throughout? Where could I “show” more?
Showing, not telling, means using a descriptive device to communicate your point. For example, instead of writing “I was scared to go in the door,” you could write that you approached the door apprehensively with shaky hands. You have shown the reader that you are scared without telling them overtly.
4. How is the flow? Do I move smoothly from one scene to the next, or do I need to work on my transitions?
Once again, reading through the eyes of someone new to your life can help you discern how you have done with your transitions as you are editing your memoir. In general, it is wise not to make any leaps. For example, talking about running one day, and how you are in a wheelchair the next day with no explanation between (or forthcoming) about what happened to you, will confuse the reader.
5. Are all the settings mentioned in the book described accurately and well?
Readers like description. Be sure to take them to the places in your memory through colorful, descriptive imagery. Address one or more of the five senses as you describe a familiar place. What did it look, feel, sound, smell, or taste like?
6. Do I have permission to mention people, or have I hidden their identity well?
Be sure to keep mentions of people positive and have permission whenever possible. Use pseudonyms for people who do not wish their names mentioned in your book.
7. Are all the ”characters” (the real people mentioned in the book) well developed in their descriptions and actions so the reader knows them?
Introduce the people in your book with thoughtful, descriptive details so the reader can envision them in their mind. Describe them like a character, using details like their physical appearance, skills, overall attitude, etc. Here’s a good test for you as you are editing your memoir: If your reader met someone you described in your book, would they be able to identify them?
8. Is the first person (or chosen point of view) used consistently throughout the book?
It is typical to write memoirs in the first person, using the “I” pronoun for yourself. As you are editing your memoir, be sure that you have used consistent “I” pronouns throughout. Do not switch to using your name in any context or ever refer to yourself as he, she, or they.
9. Is dialogue used appropriately to communicate information and the personality of the character speaking? Are there places you should/could add more dialogue?
Readers love dialogue, and it is a nice break from paragraphs of solid text. It also expresses the flavor of your personality and others in your book. As you are editing your memoir, use dialogue liberally to speak about past conversations with others.
10. Is the dialogue natural and authentic?
When writing dialogue, try to make it sound as natural as possible. for the character. Here, it is fine to use words like “ain’t” or “gonna” if that is how the speaker talks. Write authentic, but easy-to-understand dialogue.
11. Have I told the reader how I am feeling in each major event, as well as what happened?
The reader should understand what you are feeling on every page, and for every event that you narrate. For example, if you write something like, “When he told me he loved me, I couldn’t believe it,” you could mean many things. If you had hoped to hear those words, your expression could mean the words made you happy. If you were actively trying to avoid the speaker, the expression would mean that you were frustrated and annoyed. If the speaker never said things like that, your words may mean you were confused. Always make sure whatever feeling you write about is being felt simultaneously by the reader as you are editing your memoir.
12. Have I acknowledged everyone that I should in the book?
Most memoirs have an acknowledgement page where authors can thank the people in their lives that helped with writing or editing their memoir. Think about who helped you write your memoir, either overtly or subconsciously. As you are editing your memoir, be sure to include everyone.
I want to congratulate you on writing (or even thinking about writing) your memoir! It’s a Herculean feat and I hope these questions will help you prepare an editor-ready manuscript. And if you are looking for a memoir editor, I’d love to talk! Contact me at karen@bigideaswriting.com.
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