Whether in the form of photographs, scrapbooking, or miscellaneous keepsakes collected in a box to serve as reminders, many people tend to record and save their memories to look back on later. Some indicate happy memories, and others are reminders of sad but meaningful experiences. One popular way of recording and remembering the past is writing a memoir.

Many people shy away from non-fiction literature because they do not feel comfortable attempting to remember exactly what was said or what happened in a given situation. In fact, there have been instances where published authors got in legal trouble for misrepresentation. However, it is not necessary to remember word for word what happened, so long as the intent and general conversation is recorded as accurately as you remember. It may be good to consult the other person in the conversation, if possible, to verify its authenticity.

Many writers use fake names for real-life characters in their books in order to protect their privacy. There are laws indicating where this is necessary. For some successful stories, the books are re-published later with the people\’s real names, but permission must be granted for this.

Often, this type of literature deals with hard topics or difficult memories. Because of this, many experts suggest that writers have personally addressed the issues themselves before recounting them for an audience in any formal way. Many find that creating a narrative can be a type of therapy in itself.

Sometimes it is difficult to find time to write as a part of a busy day. For this reason, it is a good idea to plan out a time every day to write. Other writers find that they work best in large blocks. Setting aside a day on the weekend to write all day is a good way to ensure things stay on track.

Regardless of the reasoning for writing a memoir, anyone can successfully accomplish it with dedication and thought.