I view stories, particularly the personal kind, with three sets of eyes. First, the eyes of a human who is deeply moved by the capacity of the human soul to rise above astoundingly traumatic shit. Then, the eyes of a writer (and editor) whose job is to make the thing sit right on the page for the reader. Finally, the eyes of a publisher, who must determine if a series of these stories in the form of a book is right for the house, or not.

Just for a moment, I want to share with you what’s involved with writing a memoir. Because,  more often than not, the folks I talk to who believe their personal story alone will make them rich and famous are in fact erstwhile memoirists. (The biggest giveaway is that their story has little if any direct link to the way they currently make their living.)

Memoir is a very different animal than a prescriptive non-fiction book, which is what I traffic in, even one that’s heavy on the personal narrative.

Here’s what you need to know if you’re going to go down that road.