I sometimes hear people say that writing the book is actually the easy part. The much harder part is reaching your target audience. Getting your book into the hands of readers may be the most challenging task you ever attempt. Knowing what an agent does can help you make an important decision. 

What decision is that?

The one I’m talking about comes down between self-publishing your completed manuscript and going what is known as the traditional route. This is a pretty big decision because it boils down to choosing the road your book takes to reach your ideal readers. 

Self-publishing is, in the simplest term, when the author takes on the role of publisher. They edit the book, format it, choose the cover, release and market it all themselves. Many authors these days, because of the rapid proliferation of viable self-publishing avenues (and the crumbling stigma against it) choose to go that entrepreneurial path. I have. It is rewarding but it’s hard.

Traditional publishing, meaning going through a publisher who does all of those tasks for you, requires a degree of acceptance. An agent needs to first accept your manuscript and choose to represent it. It’s a big role, one that can make (or break) a writer’s career.

For that reason, it’s important to understand, what an agent does. 

What An Agent Does | Your Manuscript

Great agents build careers. I’ve heard numerous writers attest to that.

What an agent does, first and foremost, is they make absolutely sure your manuscript is top notch. Most writers sign with an agent on the strength of their submitted work, which means they already had a pretty good grasp of the craft. 

An agent works with you to take that a step forward. They offer notes on the manuscript. They get you ready for future re-writs. Knowing the market for your specific genre, they dig in deep with you, helping you really cultivate a voice that fits your broader goals. 

When that first book is done, perhaps published, an agent guides the writing of whatever might potentially come next. I’ve known numerous authors who have, while their first manuscript was making the rounds at publishing houses, worked with their agent to develop the follow up, or sequel.

How invaluable is that? I can’t imagine a better ally in the writing process than a knowledgeable person giving constructive notes and feedback. 

What An Agent Does | Getting Your Book Published

This is the role most people think of when they think of what an agent does. They go out and hit the proverbial bricks, getting your manuscript published.

Listen closely. This is what a literary agent does that you can’t do on your own.

Rewind. An author can get their book traditionally published without an agent. A lot of small press and medium sized publishers accept unagented submissions. If an author is industrious and searches those avenues out, writing query letters and is patient, it is possible. 

What an agent does is work the phones for you. Publishing is their business and, as a result, they have well-established relationships with sought after presses and talented editors. They know how to bypass the usual gatekeepers in order to get your book off the slush pile and into the hands of decision makers. 

Can you get where you want to go in your publishing career without an agent? Yes. Will an agent make that journey easier? They sure will. 

Your Career Working With An Agent

Throughout my career in writing and publishing, I have known many writers who attribute much of their success to an agent. Why is that? Agents cultivate writers. They get to know who they are and what makes them tick. Most importantly, they get familiar with their work and steer them toward projects and publishers that make sense for where they are. If trouble arises, they help them navigate what can be difficult water.

Writing is a career. Like anything else, some writers thrive and others, well, don’t. Having an agent in your corner is a fantastic way to ally your talents with a like minded individual.

There are advantages to choosing to work with an agent. I’ve named many of them right here. Writers are sometimes scared off by the idea of paying a commission, or potential = nay-saying, but if you look at what an agent does and the potential benefits to your career, it’s hard to argue against the value. 

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I hope this blog addressed some of your questions about what an agent does. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below. 

Have you always wanted to write your life story? Do you ever sit down to write but find you get lost? Do you struggle to get the story down the right way?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, memoir ghostwriting may be the best solution for you. 

I believe every one of us has a book in us. If you’re trying to write a memoir, or considering it, now is a great time (actually, it may be the best time). I have written a book, Memoir Writing: The Nine Things You Need To Know to help you get off the ground. 

Don’t wait. Get your free eBook Memoir Writing: The Nine Things You Need To Know by clicking here to download today.

I created this volume to be short and easy to read. My goal is to help you understand everything you need to know, from getting started, to all the reasons why now is a great time to write that book.

Contact Me For A Service Quote

If you are serious about hiring a professional ghostwriter for your book, screenplay, or non-fiction story, or you need help with editing or self-publishing your manuscript, please contact me via email, or call.

Every new contact receives a free 30-minute 1:1 consultation about their ghostwriting project or manuscript consultation.

Additionally, I offer all independent and self-publishing authors a 10% discount on my already affordable services.

Does this sound familiar? A bolt of inspiration strikes. It’s time to finally start writing your memoir. This time your life story, the book you have picked up and put down a dozen times, is going to happen. Where are you supposed to start though? You need to know how to write memoir outlines.

Writing is a difficult process. A high-quality memoir, one worthy of publication, needs to accomplish a number of things. It needs to excite readers. It needs to elicit emotions. More than anything else, it needs to tell a strong story that keeps readers talking long after they’ve put it down.  

If you’re committed to finishing your book this time, you need some know-how before you sit down in front of the computer. Here’s a hint – these days, readers have really high expectations. They want memoirs that are not only well written but teach them something about their world.

You need information. Most importantly you need to know how to write memoir outlines. Understanding where your book is going is a great first step, but how to get there is just as important. 

Do I Really Need To Know How To Write Memoir Outlines?

In the writing world, you’ll see a lot of debate over how to write a book.

Do you plot it first? Or do you fly by the seat of your pants?

Hence the great debate, plotting versus pantsing. As long as people discuss the craft of writing books, there will be a debate about which of these is the right way.

I’m a plotter. Actually, think of me as more of a reformed pantser. I can tell you that even though I’ve seen the light and started plotting my books, I know a number of successful writers who fly by the seat of their pants. They sit down, start writing, and see what comes next. 

There is no telling what type of writer you will eventually settle into. Everyone’s process is different. In my professional opinion, learning how to plot and structure your first memoir is probably the best place to start. Making it up as you go along, especially when you’re new to the craft, is a real challenge.

For this reason, I think learning how to write memoir outlines is an especially valuable skill. 

How To Write Memoir Outlines | Five Tips To Draft One

There is no golden rule for how to write memoir outlines. There are some tips, however, that if you follow them, will help you get your book started the right way.

1.) Know where you want to go

Memoirs are not like autobiographies. In a memoir, the subject chooses an important part or parts of their life story to focus on. You could, conceivably, write multiple memoirs based on a single life. Choose the part of the life story that the memoir is going to focus on.

2. Understand the book’s core message

Part of what drove you to choose that arc is the core message it contains. How to write a memoir often comes down to selecting the part of the life you want to focus on and really drill down to the main message. Is it a story of redemption? Is it about starting over? 

3. Brainstorm extensively

This is the fun part. Once you know what part of your life you’re focusing on, and you understand the message, it’s time to thoroughly explore. What happened during that time of your life? What incidents before (or after) connect to it? Get deep into your memory and stir up those memories. 

4. Find sources of inspiration.

I like to think of these as guides. As you’re brainstorming what incidents and scenes to include in your memoir, it may be helpful to find objects that remind you of that time. Do you have a box of old pictures? Maybe some letters? Sometimes music helps solidify a memory. Whatever it is, give yourself the right tools to help guide you along.

5. Create the outline thinking of it like a movie. 

I won’t go too in depth here, but it’s worth mentioning that structure is a critical component of writing. Movies are written to capitalize on viewer emotions. Books are much the same. How to write a memoir comes down to structuring the story so that it starts slowly, establishing the character, all the while building to an emotional crescendo. 

What To Do When You’re Stuck

Every writer should know that, regardless of how well structured your memoir outline might be in the beginning, you’re going to run into issues. Sometimes what had been your idea of a great opening chapter shifts to the middle. Maybe the idea for a climactic scene, after you’ve written it, falls a flat. 

What should you do if you run into one of these issues?

Before you go off the deep end, realize, these types of realizations happen to everyone. In most books, for most writers, there are many roadblocks. That’s OK – really. Even if you’ve plotted your book to the best of your ability, you’re going to need to remain flexible.

Learning how to write memoir outlines is a key skill. It is one you’ll likely need for constructing a successful book project, but it’s not the only skill you’ll need. Creating a bestselling book requires some flexibility. It requires the ability to adapt a plan. 

Don’t toss the first draft in the trash – even though you might want to. Instead, take a break. Distract yourself  from the problem of writing before going back again. Everything in the manuscript is movable. Nothing, until you actually publish, is set in stone. If that great first chapter is actually better as chapter three, redesign your plan to incorporate that instinct.

Sometimes finding professional help is the best plan. A developmental editor works with you to help elevate the quality of your manuscript, whether or not it’s finished. 

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I hope this blog addressed some of your questions about how to write memoir outlines. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below. 

Have you always wanted to write your life story? Do you ever sit down to write but find you get lost? Do you struggle to get the story down the right way?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, memoir ghostwriting may be the best solution for you. 

I believe every one of us has a book in us. If you’re trying to write a memoir, or considering it, now is a great time (actually, it may be the best time). I have written a book, Memoir Writing: The Nine Things You Need To Know to help you get off the ground. 

Don’t wait. Get your free eBook Memoir Writing: The Nine Things You Need To Know by clicking here to download today.

I created this volume to be short and easy to read. My goal is to help you understand everything you need to know, from getting started, to all the reasons why now is a great time to write that book.

Contact Me For A Service Quote

If you are serious about hiring a professional ghostwriter for your book, screenplay, or non-fiction story, or you need help with editing or self-publishing your manuscript, please contact me via email, or call.

Every new contact receives a free 30-minute 1:1 consultation about their ghostwriting project or manuscript consultation.

Additionally, I offer all independent and self-publishing authors a 10% discount on my already affordable services.