Question regarding Dialogue in Memoirs...

[jennifer75]

tipped off by the "Too Much Dialogue" thread...

In memoirs, should it be more story telling than dialogue? Is there less need of dialogue? Or should I slap myself for even thinking this? I don't mean not having any at all, but should the story read as a novel in first person would, or more of the narrative kind? Hmmmm?

[WordlyVision]

Dialogue is okay, and you are writing a memoir -- which is in essence a story -- a story about your life, so as long as the dialogue connects with the previous passage and/or the one following it, length shouldn't really matter.

There's no rule of sorts for a limit of how much dialogue or how much less dialogue to put into a memoir, but there could be cases where your memoir involves the account of a lot of conversations and if so -- yes, there's a need for more dialogue.

That said, in comparison to some typical novels, the few memoirs/autobiographies/biographies that I read generally had less dialogue (or no dialogue at all) because it wasn't needed. If there's dialogue that can provide that extra depth in your story, by all means, go and add it in.

The stuff I've read was written in first person from the author's own perspective, and traditionally that's how memoirs are written. I would forsee adding narrative or shifting perspectives to be difficult in a memoir, but if you can find some way to put a creative spin on it by adding some narrative, use that creative license -- it doesn't expire. :)

[kuwisdelu]

It really depends what kind of memoir you want to write. You asked whether it should read more like a first person novel or more of a narrative, and the answer is either is acceptable. Both kinds are published. So just decide how you'd prefer the memoir to read and write it that way.

[Alpha Echo]

I'm glad you started this thread. I was wondering the same myself, but from the memoirs I've read, there is usually very little dialogue. Not none, but very little.

I haven't started mine yet, but the pieces I've jotted down or run through my head are mostly narration. I think it would depend on your style and how you want to express your story.

PS - from what I've read, yours is perfect. :)

[jennifer75]

I'm going to derail my own thread...

hmmm...nope. I just made a new thread.

[Jackfishwoman]

I like when I read a memoir and there is some kind of preface like: "I may not have gotten it exactly right, but real-life conversations are recounted here to the best of my recollection".

[jennifer75]

I like when I read a memoir and there is some kind of preface like: "I may not have gotten it exactly right, but real-life conversations are recounted here to the best of my recollection".

Ok................................................ .......?