Are you ready to dive into the world of book publishing? If so, a great way to do this is by knowing how to start a memoir, writing your own memoir, and submitting it for publication. It’s not an easy process, however.
There are a lot of considerations that go into making your submission successful. Before you submit your work to publishers, there are some tips and tricks that can help make sure your project stands out from the rest of the submissions they receive every day.
The success of your memoir can be affected by these 4 things
Whether you are working with an agent, taking memoir classes online, or directly with publishers, here are some ideas on what makes a successful submission.
1. Have a clear idea of who your target audience is
If you’re aiming for a book deal, you need to know who you’re trying to reach. There’s a lot of research that goes into understanding your audience and what they want to read. You may already have a good idea about who your ideal reader is, but if you’re unsure, there are a few ways you can research this information.
- First, you can start by reading best-selling memoirs. This way, you can get an idea of what works and what doesn’t. Look at the cover of the book, the title, and the back cover blurb. This will give you insight into what the publisher thinks will appeal to readers and help you determine who you’re trying to reach as well.
- Next, you can talk to people who are similar to your intended audience. This can include speaking with friends, family, and people you know at book clubs or workshops. You can also use social media to poll people on what they think others would want to read.
- Plan for the length of your memoir: Memoirs are about people’s life experiences and the length varies. So how long is a memoir and how many words should a memoir be? This depends but mostly not more than 100,000 words.
2. Be honest and transparent about the events you’re writing about
The big question is what should I write a memoir about? There are a lot of memoirs out there about people’s lives and many of these books are about the positive aspects of their journey. This can make for an inspiring read, but it doesn’t always make for a compelling one.
When submitting your book for publication, make sure to be honest and transparent about the events you’re writing about. If there are parts of your story that are negative, don’t shy away from these events. There are many memoirs out there that are based on the author’s journey through grief or their experience living with a mental illness.
The more honest you are, the more likely your book will resonate with readers. This doesn’t mean that you have to write a book about a tragic event in your life. You can write about anything that is meaningful or special to you. Keep in mind, though, that you should focus on how you were impacted by the event. This will help you stay on track and avoid drifting into unnecessary details.
3. Hire an editor and proofreader
Before you submit your memoir, it is a good idea to hire an editor and/or a proofreader. This can be done through freelance websites such as Upwork or Fiverr. Editors can help you clean up your manuscript and make sure everything is consistent throughout.
Additionally, they help you with your sentence structure and word choice. If you have a subject matter that is particularly complicated, you may need a developmental editor to help you break down your text into layman’s terms.
A proofreader will go over your work and make sure that there are no spelling or grammar errors. This person can also point out areas where your writing could use improvement. This is especially important if you’ve written your manuscript in a language other than English. Even if you’re fluent in English, a proofreader helps you catch any mistakes that you may have missed.
4. Don’t forget to include an author bio and thank you
At the beginning of your submission, you’ll find both a bio and a thank you note. Your bio should briefly summarize who you are and your writing experience. You can also include information about your publishing history or any awards or recognition you may have received for your work.
The bio should be professional and succinct. Make sure it is written in the third person, as opposed to the first person. The thank you note should be written to the editor or editor-in-chief at the company you are submitting to.
This is an important part of your submission, as it shows that you’re serious about your work. A thank you note is always a nice touch, but it’s especially useful when you’re submitting your work directly to publishers.
Summing Up
So how to end a memoir? If you’re ready to take the plunge and turn your life experiences into a published memoir, the first step is to make sure the writing you’ve done is a high-quality submission. This means reading the submission guidelines, having a clear idea of who you’re trying to reach, and making sure your work is free from errors.
To make your submission successful, you’ll need to also hire an editor and proofreader, be honest and transparent about the events you’re writing about, and make sure you include an author bio and thank you note.
