Why No One Wants to Buy Your Memoir
Everyone has an interesting story to tell, but not everyone tells an interesting story.
"I've led an interesting life."
Picture the bright, optimistic doe eyes of the newbie author, carrying a crammed notebook under one arm, their head stuffed with publishing dreams. The excitement to share their message across the globe and this phrase of an interesting life flash like neon signs above them to dazzle us all.
Dazzle it does not, unfortunately. It’s a sentence that, in all honesty, makes me groan (inwardly and definitely silently).
I cannot emphasise how much I wince on their behalf when, having bravely read out an excerpt of said "interesting life" their reading is met with the awkward politeness of a group unwilling to break the news that it doesn't sound very interesting at all. It's harder, I think, for most people to be honest about such a thing – with a memoir over a novel – because it feels more akin to a personal criticism against the author and their life, rather than an analytical breakdown of a story. Especially if that story is one of pain. No one wants to kick an injured bird, let’s face it.
To whom is it interesting is the key question here. And that isn't meant to sound impolite. It's the core of how they might write, pitch and sell their book. And it is too often the case that disappointment follows those who cannot wrangle this core conundrum into a marketable solution. For them, the burning desire to tell their story, to share their wisdom and experience so that others might learn or be aware, or even just the catharsis of getting their story 'out there' should be reason enough to attract a publisher.
Unfortunately, even though I agree you must have unending faith in yourself, that's not how it works.
Were I to take the bad faith opinion, I might say that, for some writers, it's interesting only for them. A case of: you had to be there to appreciate it.
However, I try and view things with good faith where possible, so let's instead say: I'll bet it is interesting, but are you writing it in the best way to ensure others understand just how interesting it is?
Everyone has an interesting story to tell, but not everyone knows how to tell an interesting story.
And especially in a long format, rather than as an anecdote. The right shaping of a book is just as vital for a memoir as it is for a novel.
This is especially true for the unknown author. The memoir market is dominated by celebrity voices who come with a built-in audience and a built-in hook: invite the reader to much more than a mere glance behind the glitzy curtain of fame. This is insider knowledge. And nothing could be truer in attributed sales than Prince Harry's "Spare" – the public and press were salivating in anticipation of an insider view to how the royal family really works. Same can be said of Michelle Obama's "Becoming", though I think a carefully managed first wife's account of presidential life isn't quite as intriguing as an embittered prince gone rogue with everyone fearing what he might reveal. Still, both attained massive sales.
Faced with this fierce competition, it's imperative to ensure the memoirs of "normal" people contain a USP – unique selling point. The main point of intrigue to the story. One man's journey to the centre of the earth, so to speak.
"You journeyed to the centre of the earth and found dinosaurs? This story is a MUST-tell!"
That's the reaction you are aiming for when you pitch your memoir to a publisher – that unique experience that only you can offer. It obviously won't be anything near as drastic as discovering secret dinosaurs, but it needs to stand out in the crowded autobiographical shelves. It has to be a story of wonder, something that will cut through the everyday drudge of stress and problems. Cut through with a message of hope.
Stories of being poor are not regarded as very interesting (not my opinion) unless it's happened in the past to someone who overcame its hurdles and turned into a success story. The majority of the world is poor, after all, so being poor all of its own doesn’t make one a tall poppy. And being rich doesn't automatically make you interesting, either, without the struggle to attain that wealth through some kind of noble deed or a huge turn around of their life. From rags to riches, usually. The notion of learning how to get rich from those people’s knowledge is an evergreen subject that has created a plethora of fake successes. And no one wants to read about someone who enriched themselves through being a ruthless exploiter, and who cares for no one but themselves. Oh, hang on, maybe I got that one wrong when you consider a certain internet influencer who remains under house arrest at the time of writing
The nasties and criminals get newspaper articles written about them; the heroes get books.
A fine example of an utterly unknown person hitting success with their memoir is Paul Hodgson, the author of Give Them Wings.
A childhood victim of meningitis that left him in a wheelchair, Hodgson's determination, passion and refusal to be dominated by any preconceived mould of physical disability to pursue a life in full colour, contentment, comedy, and even contention, carves his story into a channel of its own. A person society would normally write-off as being needy and reliant on others. Hodgson's story is one of stepping up to the plate, despite his physical struggles, and taking care of others, not from others, while having some fun along the way. It's darkly comedic, yet serious and sensitive when it needs to be. It’s inspirational. So much so, not only did he find a publisher for his memoir, they also made a film out of it.
As you can tell by my short synopsis, this story stands out. It doesn't state "I've led an interesting life". It tells us there is struggle, conflict, love and laughter. There's a strong theme of determination - grit. It offers an alternative viewpoint of a group of people largely ignored. It makes the reader see him, not assume who or what he is.
That's some powerful keg right there. Can you say the same about yours?
If you are writing or considering writing a memoir, consider the elements that make it uniquely yours. Consider which parts are the gunpowder moments and what are the fuses that set them alight – the elements that set it apart from the rest – and build on those to create not just an immensely powerful story but an immensely powerful pitch. Make it difficult for a publisher to refuse.
It’s not just the USP that will sell your memoir. Unlike a novel, an inbuilt audience ready to purchase your book can rate high on a publisher’s list of considerations. This detail makes my memoir writers recoil. They are largely retired people living in the countryside with minimal knowledge or involvement with the internet and often have an adversity to social media. They don’t sit on Twitter or Facebook for hours on end chatting to people, and Instagram is something people into cosmetic surgery use, isn’t it? Tickytocky is a thing the grandkids use to learn dances. They don’t concern themselves with having a page or a blog or any of the other things one might need – or expect – a memoir writer to have.
So what is one to do in this instance? Well, it’s another reason to write the most kick-arse memoir on the planet, to start. It’s also never too late to begin building a tribe. Yes, I say tribe, rather than audience, because tribe is what you are aiming for. People who will gravitate to you and your work. NOT the whole of the reading public. A small but loving community can work wonders. These are the most likely to turn into fans, and fans talk to people. They make recommendations.
Where can you find this tribe? Where are your networks in society that connect to the topics and themes of your book? Start there. Meet with people in person or online through support or common interest groups. Make friends, not adversaries. Blog or post about your experiences within your book’s topic. There are plenty of instances out there where, what started out as blog posts, reader demand insisted they turn into a book. Advise people, if you are positioned to do so responsibly and with authority. Don’t worry about the naysayers – people who resonate with you and your message will gravitate towards you, and those who don’t..? meh. So what? Leave them to find the people and stories they do resonate with.
Even in the absence of a tribe, other aspects will help your pitch. If you have professional credentials or experience within the field you write, or volunteer experience – anything like that. It’s something you can add to your pitch. It says you have authority on the subject.
Engagement with a small group is worth more than a large following of superficial, uninterested social media accounts who just want to bump their own follower numbers, so don’t worry about that.
Are you writing a memoir? What’s your USP? Tell us about it in the comments. It might help, if you are still struggling, to find gunpowder in your memoir.