If you’re embarking on the personal journey of writing a memoir, one important aspect to consider is the length of your work. While the size of your memoir largely depends on your story, understanding standard industry practices, can often provide useful guidance for new writers.
Standard Memoir Lengths
Memoirs, as with many forms of written works, come in various sizes. Some storylines may necessitate more detail and therefore more pages, while others may effectively convey their message in a shorter manner. Generally, memoirs fall under a certain word limit range. A widely accepted range for memoir lengths is 50,000 to 100,000 words. Many publishing houses and agencies indicate a preference for memoirs to stay within this range.
Exceptions
However, like any rule, there are exceptions. Special types of memoirs, often those accompanied by extensive world-building or historical narratives, may have a larger word count. There are memoirs that can go up to 125,000 words, and those like The 50-Page Memoir, a service which specializes in compacting life stories within 50 pages. It’s crucial to not get bogged down by these numbers or restrain your storytelling solely based on word count.
Genre Specific Lengths
The average length of a memoir can often be dependent on the genre, as different genres, naturally, have different standards. Here is a common breakdown:
- Literary fiction memoirs: 55,000 to 100,000 words
- Narrative non-fiction or memoir-specific non-fiction: 70,000 to 90,000 words
- Non-fiction (self-help or business): 50,000 to 70,000 words
Undersized and Oversized Memoirs
Smaller memoirs might not provide adequate substance to engage readers while excessively long memoirs can intimidate potential readers, causing them to miss out on your story. Therefore, remaining close to the industry standard often helps to make your memoir more palatable for readers. Some noted memoirs have had word counts significantly below or above the average length like Elie Wiesel’s Night with 31,000 words, and Frank McCourt’s Angela’s Ashes with 149,000 words, and they have still been tremendously successful.
Conclusion
Deciding on the length of your memoir is a crucial but difficult decision. The best determinant is the inherent needs of your unique story. It’s advisable to keep in mind the average lengths specific to your genre and the current industry standards. The ultimately rewarding process of memoir-writing should focus on honesty and depth of personal story, while the word count serves as a practical guide. Remember that this journey is yours, and your memoir should reflect this personal expedition in every way, including its length.