Structure your Life Story
5 great ways to structure your life story or memoir.
Ultimate Guide to Writing a Memoir (Part 2)
Introduction
This is the second part of our 'Ultimate Guide to Writing a Memoir.'
To access the rest of the guide, click here.
Organizing Your Memories
So you've gathered everything you need to write your memoir. If you need more help, make sure you've read Chapter 1: Organising Your Memories, where you can download our Memory Prompt Cheat Sheet to uncover forgotten memories. But what comes next?
There are many ways to structure your memoir. There is no right or wrong way to do it, but it’s one of the biggest choices you will make about your book. Structure is crucial to the readability of your book. You might write beautifully, but without any kind of structure, your words will be scattered and disorganized.
So how do you structure your life story? We’ve outlined five of the best approaches to help you choose.
1. The Chronological Approach
One of the simplest ways to structure your life story and develop a narrative is chronologically—in the order that it happened. In this case, you’ll start at the beginning of your timeline and work your way through from birth to the present day. Writing chronologically facilitates fluid and realistic character development, and as a result, allows events to mirror the way your book will be read.
A surprising example of a chronological structure: Time’s Arrow by Martin Amis
Shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 1991, Martin Amis’ book is written in reverse chronological order. It follows the story of a doctor getting younger and younger as time passes in reverse. This disorienting narrative makes for an unsettling and irrational read and emphasizes the importance of deliberate structure within a book.
2. The Basic Three Act Structure
The Basic Three Act structure splits the narrative into three parts: the setup, confrontation, and resolution. It is one of the easiest ways to structure your life story.
- Setup: Introduces the characters, their relationships, and the environment they live in. It also presents a strong hook—an exciting incident that provokes a change in the protagonist's routine.
- Confrontation: Makes up the main bulk of your story. The stakes are raised throughout the act until a major twist, usually a moment of crisis, initiates the start of act three—the resolution.
- Resolution: Presents the final showdown and draws together and explains all the different strands of the plot.
A great example of the Basic Three Act structure: The Titanic by James Cameron
The setup introduces Rose, an unhappy woman engaged to a man she detests. Jack rescues her following her attempt to commit suicide. The confrontation sees the stakes raised when Rose’s fiancé begins to suspect their affair. In a moment of crisis, the famously unsinkable ship hits an iceberg. The resolution follows Rose and Jack as they try to escape the sinking Titanic, ultimately ending in Jack’s death and Rose’s survival. Rose recounts the series of events as an old woman as the story ends.
3. Freytag’s Pyramid
Freytag’s Pyramid is a more complex version of the Basic Three Act structure, with five parts rather than three. These are: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.
- Exposition: Introduces the characters and backdrop of the story.
- Rising Action: Follows the series of events that occur straight after the exposition and leads up to the climax.
- Climax: The turning point that changes the protagonist’s fate.
- Falling Action: The consequence of the climax, where the conflict between protagonist and antagonist unravels in a final moment of suspense.
- Resolution: Creates a sense of catharsis in conclusion to the story.
A great example of Freytag’s Pyramid: Little Red Riding Hood by Charles Perrault
The exposition introduces Little Red Riding Hood as she takes a basket of food to her grandmother’s house. Before she gets there, the wolf eats and takes on the identity of her grandmother. This is the rising action. The wolf convinces Little Red that he is her grandmother and eats her in the climax. In the falling action, the wolf falls asleep. The huntsman finds the wolf and cuts open his stomach. The resolution sees Little Red and her grandmother freed, and the wolf killed.
4. In Media Res
Latin for 'into the middle of things', it’s unsurprising that this structure starts your book right in the middle of the story. This is usually in the midst of a crisis or at a crucial point of action. This structure gives the reader a sense of what’s to come before reverting to the beginning of the story to find out how they got there. It’s also a great way to hook the reader from the first page.
A great example of in media res: The Odyssey by Homer
The famous poem opens in media res, with most of Odysseus’ journey already finished. Flashbacks and storytelling describe the events and characters met along the way.
5. The Hero’s Journey
One of the most popular methods used to structure your life story is the Hero's Journey. It was first conceptualized by Joseph Campbell in his book, The Hero With A Thousand Faces, and has since been adapted by Hollywood executive, Christopher Vogler. There are 12 stages to the Hero's Journey.
- Ordinary World: Introduces the hero.
- Call to Adventure: A challenge or problem.
- Refusal of the Call: The hero is reluctant to accept the adventure.
- Meeting a Mentor: Gives the hero confidence.
- Crossing the Threshold: The hero commits to the adventure.
- Tests, Allies, and Enemies: The hero faces challenges.
- Approach to the Innermost Cave: The hero draws closer to the goal.
- Ordeal: The hero faces a major crisis.
- Reward: The hero achieves the goal.
- The Road Back: The hero begins the journey home.
- Resurrection: The hero faces a final test.
- Return with the Elixir: The hero returns home changed and with new knowledge.
A great example of the Hero’s Journey structure: Star Wars directed by George Lucas
In the ordinary world, Luke Skywalker lives on a moisture farm on Tatooine. R2-D2 gives Luke a message from Princess Leia, asking Obi-Wan Kenobi to help her as the call to adventure. Obi-Wan gives Luke his father's lightsaber, but at first, Luke is reluctant to accept his offer in the refusal to call. In addition, Obi-Wan, the mentor, offers to train Luke to become a Jedi. Crossing the first threshold, Luke finally agrees to go with Obi-Wan to Alderaan to deliver the plans for the Death Star to Leia's father.
Han Solo and Chewbacca, their allies, agree to take Luke and Obi-Wan to Alderaan. In the approach to the innermost cave, the Death Star destroys Alderaan. They invade the Death Star and rescue Princess Leia, but Darth Vader kills Obi-Wan Kenobi in the ordeal. The reward sees Luke join the Rebels to destroy the Death Star, who also refuses Han Solo's offer to leave. Luke chooses to help overcome the Galactic Empire in the road back.
Luke remembers Obi-Wan's advice and destroys the Death Star using the Force in the resurrection, and wins a medal, finally taking his first steps towards becoming a Jedi in the return with the elixir.
At the end of the day, your story can be as structurally unpredictable as life itself. It’s your life and your story. We hope these methods have opened your minds to the vast possibilities and different forms your life story can take. But remember, there’s no right or wrong way to structure your life story: it’s up to you.
Read Chapter 3: Writing (the nitty gritty!)
Ultimate Guide to Writing a Memoir (Part 2)
Introduction
This is the second part of our 'Ultimate Guide to Writing a Memoir.'
To access the rest of the guide, click here.
Organizing Your Memories
So you've gathered everything you need to write your memoir. If you need more help, make sure you've read Chapter 1: Organising Your Memories, where you can download our Memory Prompt Cheat Sheet to uncover forgotten memories. But what comes next?
There are many ways to structure your memoir. There is no right or wrong way to do it, but it’s one of the biggest choices you will make about your book. Structure is crucial to the readability of your book. You might write beautifully, but without any kind of structure, your words will be scattered and disorganized.
So how do you structure your life story? We’ve outlined five of the best approaches to help you choose.
1. The Chronological Approach
One of the simplest ways to structure your life story and develop a narrative is chronologically—in the order that it happened. In this case, you’ll start at the beginning of your timeline and work your way through from birth to the present day. Writing chronologically facilitates fluid and realistic character development, and as a result, allows events to mirror the way your book will be read.
A surprising example of a chronological structure: Time’s Arrow by Martin Amis
Shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 1991, Martin Amis’ book is written in reverse chronological order. It follows the story of a doctor getting younger and younger as time passes in reverse. This disorienting narrative makes for an unsettling and irrational read and emphasizes the importance of deliberate structure within a book.
2. The Basic Three Act Structure
The Basic Three Act structure splits the narrative into three parts: the setup, confrontation, and resolution. It is one of the easiest ways to structure your life story.
- Setup: Introduces the characters, their relationships, and the environment they live in. It also presents a strong hook—an exciting incident that provokes a change in the protagonist's routine.
- Confrontation: Makes up the main bulk of your story. The stakes are raised throughout the act until a major twist, usually a moment of crisis, initiates the start of act three—the resolution.
- Resolution: Presents the final showdown and draws together and explains all the different strands of the plot.
A great example of the Basic Three Act structure: The Titanic by James Cameron
The setup introduces Rose, an unhappy woman engaged to a man she detests. Jack rescues her following her attempt to commit suicide. The confrontation sees the stakes raised when Rose’s fiancé begins to suspect their affair. In a moment of crisis, the famously unsinkable ship hits an iceberg. The resolution follows Rose and Jack as they try to escape the sinking Titanic, ultimately ending in Jack’s death and Rose’s survival. Rose recounts the series of events as an old woman as the story ends.
3. Freytag’s Pyramid
Freytag’s Pyramid is a more complex version of the Basic Three Act structure, with five parts rather than three. These are: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.
- Exposition: Introduces the characters and backdrop of the story.
- Rising Action: Follows the series of events that occur straight after the exposition and leads up to the climax.
- Climax: The turning point that changes the protagonist’s fate.
- Falling Action: The consequence of the climax, where the conflict between protagonist and antagonist unravels in a final moment of suspense.
- Resolution: Creates a sense of catharsis in conclusion to the story.
A great example of Freytag’s Pyramid: Little Red Riding Hood by Charles Perrault
The exposition introduces Little Red Riding Hood as she takes a basket of food to her grandmother’s house. Before she gets there, the wolf eats and takes on the identity of her grandmother. This is the rising action. The wolf convinces Little Red that he is her grandmother and eats her in the climax. In the falling action, the wolf falls asleep. The huntsman finds the wolf and cuts open his stomach. The resolution sees Little Red and her grandmother freed, and the wolf killed.
4. In Media Res
Latin for 'into the middle of things', it’s unsurprising that this structure starts your book right in the middle of the story. This is usually in the midst of a crisis or at a crucial point of action. This structure gives the reader a sense of what’s to come before reverting to the beginning of the story to find out how they got there. It’s also a great way to hook the reader from the first page.
A great example of in media res: The Odyssey by Homer
The famous poem opens in media res, with most of Odysseus’ journey already finished. Flashbacks and storytelling describe the events and characters met along the way.
5. The Hero’s Journey
One of the most popular methods used to structure your life story is the Hero's Journey. It was first conceptualized by Joseph Campbell in his book, The Hero With A Thousand Faces, and has since been adapted by Hollywood executive, Christopher Vogler. There are 12 stages to the Hero's Journey.
- Ordinary World: Introduces the hero.
- Call to Adventure: A challenge or problem.
- Refusal of the Call: The hero is reluctant to accept the adventure.
- Meeting a Mentor: Gives the hero confidence.
- Crossing the Threshold: The hero commits to the adventure.
- Tests, Allies, and Enemies: The hero faces challenges.
- Approach to the Innermost Cave: The hero draws closer to the goal.
- Ordeal: The hero faces a major crisis.
- Reward: The hero achieves the goal.
- The Road Back: The hero begins the journey home.
- Resurrection: The hero faces a final test.
- Return with the Elixir: The hero returns home changed and with new knowledge.
A great example of the Hero’s Journey structure: Star Wars directed by George Lucas
In the ordinary world, Luke Skywalker lives on a moisture farm on Tatooine. R2-D2 gives Luke a message from Princess Leia, asking Obi-Wan Kenobi to help her as the call to adventure. Obi-Wan gives Luke his father's lightsaber, but at first, Luke is reluctant to accept his offer in the refusal to call. In addition, Obi-Wan, the mentor, offers to train Luke to become a Jedi. Crossing the first threshold, Luke finally agrees to go with Obi-Wan to Alderaan to deliver the plans for the Death Star to Leia's father.
Han Solo and Chewbacca, their allies, agree to take Luke and Obi-Wan to Alderaan. In the approach to the innermost cave, the Death Star destroys Alderaan. They invade the Death Star and rescue Princess Leia, but Darth Vader kills Obi-Wan Kenobi in the ordeal. The reward sees Luke join the Rebels to destroy the Death Star, who also refuses Han Solo's offer to leave. Luke chooses to help overcome the Galactic Empire in the road back.
Luke remembers Obi-Wan's advice and destroys the Death Star using the Force in the resurrection, and wins a medal, finally taking his first steps towards becoming a Jedi in the return with the elixir.
At the end of the day, your story can be as structurally unpredictable as life itself. It’s your life and your story. We hope these methods have opened your minds to the vast possibilities and different forms your life story can take. But remember, there’s no right or wrong way to structure your life story: it’s up to you.
Read Chapter 3: Writing (the nitty gritty!)
