Why Your Lived Experience Is Your Expertise
What you’ve learned can change someone else’s life
One of the most surprising things you learn after publishing a memoir is that there are many people who don’t know what a memoir is.
“Isn’t that something you write at the end of your life?” is a question I got more than I expected to when I told people I had written a memoir.
What they’re referring to of course is an autobiography – a big book about your entire life that most people don’t care to read unless you’re famous.
By contrast, a memoir captures a moment in time, woven around a central theme, with a beginning and end that can unfold anywhere.
You can think of it more like a slice of life than a whole life.
So your memoir can depict, for instance:
· One life-changing summer
· The time you tackled a marathon after experiencing loss
· Caring for someone with a terminal illness
· How you left an abusive relationship
Why it matters
The reason you write a memoir is not because you’re an important person and people want to know all about your life.
It’s because you have a unique expertise about something that speaks to an experience people can relate to.
By expertise, I don’t mean something that requires a degree or certification. We have all learned things from the experiences we’ve been through in our lives. A memoir is the story of how you learned those things in the context of your unique personality, skills, and point of view.
You’re sharing something that may well be a universal experience but illustrating it through your personal lens.
As one of my mentors always used to say, There are no unique messages, only unique messengers. You have a message only you can bring to the world.
Your experience may be shared by others, but your insights are unique. Ultimately, a memoir isn’t just about what happened—it’s about what you made of what happened.
When you share your story, you share your humanity and in sharing it, you help someone navigate their own.
If You’re Committed to Writing A Memoir, This Is for You
You don’t need to be famous. You just need your story and the right support to tell it.
I help thoughtful, motivated writers craft their memoirs in just 90 days through personalized, one-on-one coaching that works around your schedule. As an award-nominated author and trauma-informed memoir coach, I’ll guide you through the entire process—helping you shape your story with clarity, confidence, and courage.
Book a free Clarity Call with me to get started:
Schedule your call here
