This is a bit snarky but has some valid points. I've seen agents make some of these same points in their blogs:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/30/books/review/Genzlinger-t.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/30/books/review/Genzlinger-t.html
I realized a while ago that I am really writing it for me and close family.
Interested and harsh - I think what the author failed to recognize is the difference between a memoir and an autobiography. You don't need to be "famous" to write a memoir - different than an autobiography that is typically a recap of one's life - a celebrity or famous person.
I agree with a lot of the points made in the article. I've heard people say it doesn't matter what your memoir's about as long as it's well written. I disagree, I think you need to have an interesting story to tell. I read the article, feeling very confident that my life fell into the extremely unusual category, so it is thus worthy of being written about in a memoir.
I too am writing a memoir, but in a different vein than the ones he listed. Mine leans more towards Bill Bryson than Allan Shawn.
Would Bryson's A walk in the Woods be considered a memoir? Or is there a more accurate classification for a book like that?
Thanks.