Sat Nam! (Literally "Truth Name"--a Sikh greeting)
There are good how-to books out by Tristine Ranier and Bill Roorbach. Tristine's talks more about overall structure, and Bill's talks more about things like essays, and he gives more exercises. Bill's has some stuff about publishing that's out of date, but it's good otherwise.
As for memoirs to read, that depends on what type of memoir you're interested in.
Blessings,
Siri Kirpal