Stored within each of us are our memories that collection of

experiences made up of people and events in a given society that

shaped our lives. We are seeking to sort those life incidents that had a
particularly great impact upon us, and the decisions we did or did not
make. Those significant moments that changed our present and altered
our future. In reflecting upon our past we can see patterns in our history
that, once ordered, can become the focus of our memoir. You also need
to find a way to write these experiences to keep your readers interested,
wanting to hear more about your lifes experiences.

Memoir vs. Autobiography Writer should be aware of these differences

before writing their life story
Autobiography

Memoir

Not written in a chronological order

Chronological - from birth to a

given point in time

Encompasses whole life

Drawing upon specific life story and

memory
Finding subject matter and the
impact on the writers life

It would probably include hundreds

of characters, places etc. from the
characters entire life
You can only have one
autobiography

You can have many memoirs

Similarities:
Telling your life story
You are in the story, the events and experiences happened to you
Source: Graham, Irene G. "The Memoir Writing Club." Memoir Writing.
Memoir Writing Club, 1991. Web. 29 Sept. 2013.