Memoir vs. Autobiography: What's the Difference?

The two terms are often used interchangeably, but if we get technical, there’s a distinct difference between them. Let’s start with an example. When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi is a memoir, while Long Walk to Freedom: The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela is, well, an autobiography.

I’ll pull a quote from each, and perhaps that will illustrate my point.

Paul Kalanithi says, “The physician’s duty is not to stave off death or return patients to their old lives, but to take into our arms a patient and family whose lives have disintegrated and work until they can stand back up and face, and make sense of, their own existence.”

Nelson Mandela says, “As a leader, one must sometimes take actions that are unpopular, or whose results will not be known for years to come.”

Both life stories are rich with detail and immerse the reader in their experiences. However, Kalanithi’s, being a memoir of a doctor who was diagnosed with cancer, is geared toward emotions, personal philosophy, and specific experiences that are not in chronological order, but rather thematic. Mandela is focused on the notable events in his life, from beginning to end, in chronological order, as a prominent world leader who affected mass change.

If you know me, you know that the majority of my CV is made up of memoirs.

Why do I love them so much?

Memoirs are creative nonfiction—they admit to human memory being imperfect and the author has room to fill in the gaps. Memoirs take special moments and zoom in close. You don’t have to spell out every major event of your life in a memoir. In fact, many have themes or a common thread to define one’s experiences: grief after loss, career success, motherhood, health and fitness, mental illness, et. cetera. They are honest personal revelations.

Nowadays, you don’t have to be a celebrity, world-famous athlete, or politician to write your own memoir. That’s where the beauty of self-publishing comes in—or, if you’re willing to put in the labor, finding an agent or traditional publisher who sees something valuable in your story.

Start by going through old journals or writing. If you don’t have written material to reflect on, start by going through photos and recalling specific instances. What have you overcome to get where you are today? Everyone has formative experiences—what are some of yours?

The nice thing about writing a book for the first time is that there’s usually no big rush. You have time to sit with your thoughts and ideas, write a rough draft, then scrap it and start over. Repeat as many times as you need to.

Have I mentioned I love memoirs? They’re my favorite thing. I’d love to hear ideas for yours—email me at cardinalflowereditorial@gmail.com to start collaborating with me today.