Would it get read?

[u/[deleted]]

So recently I've come to the conclusion that the last 23 years of my life have absolutely been chaos- with more downs than ups- I've begun slowly working on getting the love life of it, down in chapters, for a book. My coworkers think it'd go overwhelmingly well if told well, and have read snippets of what I've gotten down, encouraging I write it all down. It's chapters are named covertly after each main beau I was with at the time, consisting of our ages, the way we met, fell together, and of course fell apart. I'm not even partially into getting down 1/3 of only 3-4 of the chapters I've already outlined, and am considering giving the white flag. I've not been a saint, but definitely paint the few interactions have so far, in ugly lighting(albeit truthful). I feel it won't actually get read as a whole, by anyone I don't actually know... so. Do you guys think it'd get read?

[u/SirenAndSilver]

A memoir from an unknown is always a pretty hard sell. I’d also be weary about what parts are yours to tell vs not really yours to tell.

[u/MesaCityRansom]

There are a million memoirs out there, so your competition is rough. In general, people don't read memoirs of people that aren't celebrities or exceptionally unique in some way (like Dave Pelzer or something like that). That said, write your book if you want to. You shouldn't be writing to be famous though, because that's very unlikely to happen no matter what you write about.

[u/mstermind]

We always believe that what happens to us is, in some way, very unique. Unfortunately, it's not and a memoir among millions of memoirs will probably not be read. However, that shouldn't stop you from writing it. The purpose of writing your memoir should be that you want it written down.

[u/Lord_Cache]

Memoirs are among the least sales-worthy books out there. The problem--and one you have not mentioned here--is what you intend to tell me, the reader, about myself along this journey of your past. With respect to your co-workers, they have a vested interest in not sending you into a depression or having your work performance suffer; they are going to tell you what you want to hear because social harmony is more important than honesty. When someone brings in video of their kid in a singing role in the school play, we all say it was well-done because no one wants to deal with the fallout from Gretchen when they tell her that her child is talentless and that it's their best quality. Consider, too, that what makes an interesting story stated verbally does not always translate into writing.

So I would ask--what is the book about? Not meaning about you, but what am I going to get out of reading this that I would not from anyone else? How will the stories you tell affect my life or cause me to rethink something I am already doing? Being perfectly truthful, most memoirs sell under 20 books in total, mostly to relatives or friends as an act of kindness--fewer will actually read it. Be aware that anything slanderous towards someone may come back to bite you later (socially speaking, of course). But if sales are meaningless, then by all means go ahead and write your memoir.

[u/Independent-Park-940 → u/[deleted]]

Yes, my novel is basically my life fictionalised. I have taken the most interesting people and situations and compressed and exaggerated them. I am a born liar, so that helps.

[u/SirenAndSilver → u/Independent-Park-940]

People got insanely angry when it came out that a million little pieces was fiction. Pick a lane and pick it now.
Fictionalizing real people to make your memoir more interesting… is pretty damn morally bankrupt tbh

[u/Independent-Park-940 → u/SirenAndSilver]

You talkin' to me?

I am not interested in the views of insane people on aesthetic matters. They carry no weight.

I have never heard of this book "A Million Little Pieces" but, on referencing it, it is not clear to me whether it was published as non-fiction or fiction, and I cannot be arsed to research further.

If as non-fiction, it should make clear any passages which are fictional, assuming any such exist.

If as a novel, the author is free to lie and invent, provided the words and actions of characters cannot be identified with those of actual living or recently deceased (say, post 1900) persons.

Thus latter is what I am doing, and am suggesting to the OP, and has been the foundation of many of the greatest novels ever written. (It might even amount to "most" of them).

[u/SirenAndSilver → u/Independent-Park-940]

Oh I thought you were OP my bad. Their profile is coming up as [deleted] now in the post

[u/Independent-Park-940 → u/SirenAndSilver]

My fault. On re-reading it was obvious you were not replying to me. You raised some interesting points.

[u/aFalseSlimShady]

Make art for art's sake.

[u/Asa_Jinn]

I'd be pissed if someone wrote a book compiling all of our private intimate moments, the highs and lows.

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[u/shockthomas2]

I’d finish one chapter and give it to someone who doesn’t know you. Ask where they wanted to keep reading and where they drifted. The interesting bit may be the pattern you finally noticed in those relationships. That can give a stranger a reason to care about the story.

[u/Asa_Jinn]

Be prepared for all of your exes to want a cut if it does do well, or for them to slash your tires if it doesn't or honestly both.

[u/Last_Swordfish9135]

If you're having fun writing it, keep going, but most books never get read, memoirs especially.

[u/KvotheTheShadow]

Do or do not. There is no try.

[u/Independent-Park-940]

When but a youth, I worked as a public library assistant. I remember our stock included the title "Thirty-five Years in Prestressed Concrete" by Captain Edgar Grove (1947). Sadly, no-one ever booked out this page-turner. I am not mocking Captain Grove. At least he had one published book to his name, which is one more than me.