5 Memoir Subgenres that Might Be Perfect for You

When you think of the memoir genre, you might not think of all the subgenres you could write. Knowing the specific type of memoir you could write will help you narrow in on your ideas and how you execute your writing. While these subgenres are not exhaustive, understanding the different types of memoir could be helpful as you decide what to write and how to write it. (And spoiler, I have a quiz made just for you to help you figure out exactly which memoir you’re meant to write!)

Transformational memoir

Of all the types of memoir you could write, the transformational memoir is probably the most adaptable and prolific. An transformation memoir chronicles a time-bound experience in your life. This could be a diagnosis, a divorce, a death, a birth, a coming-of-age experience, a move, or the beginning or end of a life chapter. This memoir bound by the event. You can include flashbacks for context, but the central narrative will be defined by one event or transformation. While your memoir will be specific to your experience, your reader will connect to your transformation and emotion, empowering them to lean in to their own transformations.

Professional memoir

A professional memoir focuses on your career, or on one specific job experience. These memoirs are ideal for hybrid memoirs (i.e., memoirs that intertwine your story with a behind-the-scenes of an industry, business advice, or self-help). The professional memoir occupies a unique place on the bookshelf, because not only does it tell the writer’s story, it also directly inspires and informs the reader.

Spiritual memoir

A spiritual memoir is a memoir of the inner life. This type of memoir doesn’t have to refer to any specific deity or religious creed (though it certainly could). The spiritual memoir is a story of being. Essay collections are well suited for spiritual memoirs, given that they are usually incredibly character-driven. While spiritual memoirs include anecdotes and accounts of lived experience, this type of memoir centers on the writer’s inner life while still making room for the reader to see themselves

Activism memoir

In an activism memoir, the story is secondary to the message. The writer’s experience is a vehicle for making a larger statement about a problem in the world. The point of a social justice memoir is to raise awareness of a particular inequity or injustice. Activism memoirs are highly researched, using data and statistics alongside the author’s own story to make an impact and mobilize the reader.

Travel memoir

A travel memoir is not only a collection of stories and adventures—it’s so much more than that! A well-written travel memoir will include lush descriptions of the place or places you’ve been and will also weave in your own personal transformation. The travel memoir serves as a window into another place, and also finds connection to the reader through your own inner experience.

So, what memoir are you destined to write? Take a two-minute quiz to find out! When you complete this super quick and fun quiz, I’ll send you a personalized writing guide straight to your inbox. The writing guides are packed with everything from questions to ask yourself before you start writing, important things to remember while writing, and reading recommendations specific to your result!

I can’t wait to find out what memoir you’re going to write!