Alternate Memoir Structure: Linked Essays

This structure allows authors to cover a longer time period without sacrificing depth

There are several different ways to structure memoir. I typically recommend a chronological structure for novice writers (those working on their first narrative book). This kind of book often opens with a major shocker or turning point (often the end of Act 2) and then circles back to start at the beginning of the story.

Why don’t you want to start at the beginning? Because it’s boring. The action hasn’t happened yet. The reader isn’t going to invest time in your story unless you can grab their attention immediately. (For this reason, I often call opening scenes “grabbers.” But I digress.)

What if you want to cover a longer time period in your memoir? You might consider writing an autobiography, except there’s no market for it. Often when I see a client who has written their memoirs, rather than a memoir, they’ve tried—and often, not succeeded—in writing a memoir that’s a series of linked essays.

Covering a longer time period is entirely doable, though it takes more skill and more willingness to omit large chunks of what happened in order to focus on the most powerful, transformational moments, scenes and stories.

Linked Essay Memoir

A memoir of linked essays is what it sounds like: Each chapter is an essay about a different story you want to share. The overall structure is still chronological, you’re still showing growth (transformation), and you might even include flashbacks, but you cut everything that happened between the chapters. So one chapter might take place over Parents Weekend your sophomore year at college, and the next one during your dissertation defense eight year later, and another set during a political rally when you were 28.

All the essays should be thematically linked. This means making sure the entire manuscript feels ‘parallel’ in tone and theme (you may need an editor’s eye to show you where you aren’t staying parallel).

Two great examples of linked-essay memoirs

THE OTHER FAMILY DOCTOR, by Karen Fine, DVM, is one veterinarian’s take on human-animal bond and what we can learn from other species. The first essay is about the moment Fine knew she wanted to become a veterinarian—while she was in South Africa visiting her grandparents at age 11. Another looks at her veterinary education, and then quickly, we get into stories of her patients as well as her own pets.

HERE FOR IT, by R. Eric Thomas, is one gay man’s examination of being perceived as ‘other’ and how that affected him as a child and as an adult. (Warning: Don’t have any liquid in your mouth when you read the first chapter…or, really, any subsequent chapters.)

It’s important to note that Thomas was a TV writer, acclaimed playwright and established writer/host across several mediums. In other words—say it with me—he had a PLATFORM before he began to write this book.

By contrast, Fine didn’t have a platform, but she had the credibility of having been a practicing holistic veterinarian for 25+ years.

Both of these books are fantastic reads, whether or not you plan to write linked essay memoir.

Do you have a favourite memoir of linked essays? Tell us in the comments!

Photo by Karine Avetisyan on Unsplash