Memoir is not fiction, yet some of the literary conventions used in the genre of memoir are the same as those used in novels. Plot, dialogue, and character are three shared devices.
Fiction and memoir share a structural emphasis on narrative arc. In fiction, this is called a plot line. After setting the scene and introducing the characters through some dialogue and action, there is an inciting incident which creates tension or conflict and pushes the plot forward in a series of escalating incidents that reach a climax and eventual denouement. Real life rarely follows such a clean trajectory of chronological events so the writer must take liberties with the structural development of the story. A memoir is more than a chronicle of events, it’s a hero’s journey of personal transformation. This should not be misunderstood as permission to alter the facts, but to rise to the challenge of writing your story to provide the reader with its intended cathartic effect.
The writer of memoir is a narrator. The reader only knows what the writer narrates. The narrator in memoir must also be the protagonist, the major character in a story with which the audience with identify and champion. Many writers in their first draft of manuscripts haven’t reflected back upon how they have introduced and presented themselves to the reader. They’ve often given a great deal of consideration to the representations of other characters in their memoirs. Concerns about protecting privacy, anonymity, family secrets, legal and financial ramifications for those who might read about themselves in your book can blind you to your own self-presentation as a character.
Review your manuscript from the opening page to the last with your main character in mind. How do you introduce yourself to the reader? How do you deepen the disclosures of conflict between characters and within the protagonist? Do you use interior dialogue? Can you conjure a character sketch of yourself from what is revealed in your manuscript? Does this sketch mirror your current biographical profile?
In book publishing today the author is the brand and the book is the product. In the genre of memoir this is paramount to preparing for publication. Not only are your writing talents on review, but your personal story and experiences go under public scrutiny by every reader. That’s heavy. Fiction writers may be attached to their fictional characters but if someone doesn’t like a character or their actions they don’t dislike the author. What are the character traits you can highlight as marketing features? If you are the brand, how will you brand yourself in the marketplace of memoir writers?
The presentation of self as an author in your manuscript is a process of personal construction through careful editing. Publishing is going public and unlike other genres your sense of self and personal identity are intimately tied up with contents of your book. Before you submit your manuscript to an agent or acquisition editor, a final self-reflective reading of your manuscript for your own character’s sake is highly recommended.
Has all of this made you self-conscious? Effect intended. Self-consciousness is a good thing for writers. It’s not the same thing as self-editing and stuffing down those uncomfortable feelings. Instead explore them. Readers like narrators who are flawed humans situated in interesting circ*mstances. Your readers want to you know that you are not okay. Finding your authentic voice as a narrator and telling your truth is the literary challenge to memoir.
What kind of narrator are you? Paint a portrait of yourself as the protagonist in your hero’s journey.
FAQs
The narrator in memoir must also be the protagonist, the major character in a story with which the audience with identify and champion. Many writers in their first draft of manuscripts haven't reflected back upon how they have introduced and presented themselves to the reader.
Is the narrator the protagonist? ›
The narrator may be the protagonist, the main character. Writing in first-person point of view brings the readers closer to the story. They can read it as if they are the narrator because of the personal pronouns I, me, my, we, us, and our. Third-person point of view means that the narrator is not in the story.
Who is the narrator in a memoir? ›
The narrator has two roles in memoir: the writer-guide, who has a perspective on the whole story and tells the story in the “I” voice; and the first-person point of view “I” character, who appears in scenes of the memoir that are located in a particular time and place.
Can a memoir have a protagonist? ›
In all stories, whether memoir or fiction, the reader eagerly follows the inner life of the protagonist, the place where the heart beats and tears flow, the place where laughter is born and where the grit and determination is revealed.
What is the protagonist narrator? ›
In many first person narrative stories, the character who is narrating is the protagonist of the story. This character experiences the main events of the narrative directly and tells the audience about what is happening. This kind of narration is called first person central.
What kind of character is the narrator? ›
The narrator is the person who is recounting the narrative, and is separate from the author, or the actual human who wrote the story. A narrator can be a character within the story, or an outside observer who does not interact with the other characters, but just informs the reader about them.
Who is the protagonist in the narrative? ›
The protagonist is the character who drives the action--the character whose fate matters most. In other words, they are involved in —and often central to—the plot or conflict of the story, but are also usually the emotional heart of the narrative.
What are the characters of a memoir? ›
In memoir or personal narrative, the characters in the story are not only you, but also the people around you. You need to do them justice in your story, just as you want to clearly portray your own ideas and personal plotline.
Who is the antagonist in a memoir? ›
In a memoir, the antagonist is sometimes another person, but more often it is yourself. You have to fight your own demons almost all the way through a memoir.
How is a memoir structured? ›
The structure holds your story. Let's look at common structures of memoir, along with the advantages and disadvantages of each structure. The chronological structure is the most common way to structure a memoir. It follows a linear timeline of events, starting from the beginning and ending at the end.
The narrator in memoir must also be the protagonist, the major character in a story with which the audience with identify and champion. Many writers in their first draft of manuscripts haven't reflected back upon how they have introduced and presented themselves to the reader.
Who are protagonists or antagonist? ›
A protagonist and antagonist are opposites – antonyms. The protagonists are generally the good guys (even it means that sometimes they are antiheroes) while antagonists are generally the bad guys.
Who is the protagonists in a story? ›
Here's a quick and simple definition: The protagonist of a story is its main character, who has the sympathy and support of the audience. This character tends to be involved in or affected by most of the choices or conflicts that arise in the narrative.
Can the protagonist be the narrator? ›
While the protagonist is usually the main character, the protagonist is not always the narrator. This is connected to your chosen point of view (i.e. first, second, third objective, third limited omniscient, and third omniscient). Sometimes, the writer is the narrator—especially when written in second and third person.
Can the narrator be the antagonist? ›
Good question. I'd agree that the narrator is not necessarily the protagonist, so you can call him the antagonist all you want.
What defines a protagonist? ›
: the principal character in a literary work (such as a drama or story) (2) : the leading actor or principal character in a television show, movie, book, etc. b. : an active participant in an event.
Who is the protagonist in the story? ›
Protagonist comes from a Greek word for the principal actor in a drama. In modern literature, the protagonist drives the story forward by pursuing a goal. The protagonist of a story is sometimes called the main character. The protagonist of a story is opposed by an antagonist.
Is the narrator in the scarlet ibis the protagonist? ›
The narrator, known simply as “Brother,” is the story's protagonist. His actions lead directly to the death of his little brother, Doodle. Looking back, he regrets the cruelty of his youth, but he also explains how that cruelty was “borne by the stream of love” he had for Doodle.
Who is the protagonist in the reader? ›
The story is told in three parts by the main character, Michael Berg. Each part takes place in a different time period in the past. Part I begins in a West German city in 1958.
Who is the narrator the protagonist of the novel? ›
Considering the narrator's point of view is essential, as it influences how the story unfolds to the reader. The protagonist is the main character around whom the story revolves. Often in literature, narratives are presented through the first person point of view, using 'I', where the narrator is also the protagonist.
