Memoir Archives - alanwatt.com

Blog, Dilemma, First-Time Novelist, Free, General, Memoir, Novel / Fiction, Resources

Theme Ideas: Finding the Core Your Story

Theme ideas aren’t something tacked on to the end of a story. They are central to the narrative, and woven throughout it. […]

Alan WattSeptember 9, 2026

Blog, Free, General, Memoir, Novel / Fiction, Resources

The Magician Archetype: Characters Who Transform All They Touch

The Magician archetype is a character who comes into the story and transforms everything. They don’t wield a specific authority like the […]

Alan WattSeptember 7, 2026

Blog, Free, General, Memoir, Novel / Fiction, Resources

Tragic Hero Examples

You might think of a tragedy as just a sad story. A tragic hero, however, is not simply unlucky or a victim […]

Alan WattSeptember 4, 2026

Blog, Free, General, Memoir, Resources

How to End a Memoir

As a memoirist, it’s almost inevitable that you struggle with your ending. It’s important to remember that the ending of your memoir […]

Alan WattSeptember 3, 2026

Blog, Dilemma, First-Time Novelist, General, Memoir, Novel / Fiction, Resources

Book Title Ideas: Tips and Techniques

At some point in every writing project, you end up staring at a blank space where the title should be. Sometimes the […]

Alan WattAugust 27, 2026

Blog, First-Time Novelist, Free, Memoir, Novel / Fiction, Resources

How to Start a Memoir

How do you start your memoir when there are infinite places to begin, and every idea leads to ten new ones? How […]

Alan WattJuly 8, 2026

Blog, Free, Memoir, Resources

Examples of Memoirs: What Great Memoirs Can Teach You About Storytelling

A memoir is not simply a retelling of your life story. It’s about finding meaning in your experiences and shaping them into […]

Alan WattJuly 1, 2026

Blog, Free, General, Memoir, Resources

Advice from Authors on Writing Memoir – 8 Helpful Hints

Even accomplished writers balk at writing a memoir. While you may labor for years developing fictional narratives, screenplays, or essays, once the […]

Alan WattJune 27, 2026

Blog, Free, General, Memoir, Novel / Fiction, Resources

Memoir Writing Prompts to Help You Find the Real Story

Most writers think a memoir begins with memory. It doesn’t. It begins with tension. A feeling you can’t shake. A question that […]

Alan WattJune 25, 2026

Blog, Free, General, Memoir, Resources

Memoir Ideas: Finding the Story Only You Can Tell

Some writers believe you need to have lived a dramatic life in order to write a great memoir, but that’s not the […]

Alan WattJune 12, 2026

Blog, General, Inspiration, Memoir, Resources

6-Word Memoir

Writing a 6-word memoir might feel impossible at first, too restricting, maybe even unfair. You might think, How do you tell a […]

Alan WattMay 11, 2026

Blog, Inspiration, Memoir

Unmoored: My Search for Meaning

Explore the transformative power of writing as a tool for healing trauma, finding self-acceptance, and discovering meaning beyond the search for fame.

Rochelle SquiresApril 8, 2026

Blog, Memoir, Novel / Fiction, Rewriting

Beta Readers: Finding Trusted Insight for Your Work

Beta readers help writers feel safe to fall deeper into their work. Balance the proximity that your beta readers might have to you and your work and articulate the right framework to get what you and your work need most from them.

Alan WattApril 1, 2026

Blog, Dilemma, General, Memoir, Novel / Fiction, Resources

Types of Conflict in Literature

The types of conflict in literature serve to force protagonists to confront their deepest fear and reveal a story's soul through the resolution of dilemma.

Alan WattMarch 28, 2026

Blog, Inspiration, Memoir, Novel / Fiction

Authoring – and Other Writerly Pursuits

Maida Korte explores 5 critical tenets to help writer's prove their authorship and create unabashedly in a piece on her background and work.

Maida KorteMarch 17, 2026

Blog, Memoir, Novel / Fiction, Screenwriting

Paradox in Writing: Revealing Truth Through Contradiction

“The way of paradoxes is the way of truth. To test reality we must see it on the tight-rope.”– Oscar Wilde The […]

Alan WattMarch 12, 2026

Blog, Memoir, Novel / Fiction, Screenwriting

What is Creative Writing? How to Shape Ideas into Art

Creative writing invites writers to move beyond facts and formulas, using imagination and craft to shape ideas into compelling stories. Even though […]

Alan WattMarch 9, 2026

Blog, Memoir, Novel / Fiction, Screenwriting

How to Outline a Dramatic Opening

Structurally, a dramatic opening functions as a hook. Emotionally, it needs to do more than just attract attention. When an opening scene […]

Alan WattMarch 4, 2026