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Autobiography vs. Biography vs. Memoir

The three primary formats of a memory book , used to tell a life story, are a biography, an autobiography, and a memoir. Distinguishing between the three can feel a bit confusing since they all share several similarities. But there are some distinct differences.

Simply put, a biography is the life history of an individual, written by someone else. An autobiography is the story of a person’s life, written by that person. And a  memoir  is a collection of memories written by the person themselves.

What is a Biography?

A biography, also called a bio, is a non-fiction piece of work giving an objective account of a person’s life. The main difference between a biography vs. an autobiography is that the author of a biography is not the subject. A biography could be someone still living today, or it could be the subject of a person who lived years ago.

Biographies include details of key events that shaped the subject’s life, and information about their birthplace, education, work, and relationships. Biographers use a number of research sources, including interviews, letters, diaries, photographs, essays, reference books, and newspapers. While a biography is usually in the written form, it can be produced in other formats such as music composition or film.

If the target person of the biography is not alive, then the storytelling requires an immense amount of research. Interviews might be required to collect information from historical experts, people who knew the person (e.g., friends and family), or reading other older accounts from other people who wrote about the person in previous years. In biographies where the person is still alive, the writer can conduct several interviews with the target person to gain insight on their life.

The goal of a biography is to take the reader through the life story of the person, including their childhood into adolescence and teenage years, and then their early adult life into the rest of their years. The biography tells a story of how the person learned life’s lessons and the ways the person navigated the world. It should give the reader a clear picture of the person’s personality, traits, and their interaction in the world.

Biographies can also be focused on groups of people and not just one person. For example, a biography can be a historical account of a group of people from hundreds of years ago. This group could have the main person who was a part of the group, and the author writes about the group to tell a story of how they shaped the world.

Fictional biographies mix some true historical accounts with events to help improve the story. Think of fictional biographies as movies that display a warning that the story is made of real characters, but some events are fictional to add to the storyline and entertainment value. A lot of research still goes into a fictional biography, but the author has more room to create a storyline instead of sticking to factual events.

Examples of famous biographies include:

• His Excellency: George Washington  by Joseph J. Ellis
• Einstein: The Life and Times  by Ronald William Clark
• Princess Diana – A Biography of The Princess of Wales  by Drew L. Crichton

What is an Autobiography?

An autobiography is the story of a person’s life written by that person. Because the author is also the main character of the story, autobiographies are written in the first person. Usually, an autobiography is written by the person who is the subject of the book, but sometimes the autobiography is written by another person. Because an autobiography is usually a life story for the author, the theme can be anything from religious to a personal account to pass on to children.

The purpose of an autobiography is to portray the life experiences and achievements of the author. Therefore, most autobiographies are typically written later in the subject’s life. It’s written from the point of view of the author, so it typically uses first person accounts to describe the story.

An autobiography often begins during early childhood and chronologically details key events throughout the author’s life. Autobiographies usually include information about where a person was born and brought up, their education, career, life experiences, the challenges they faced, and their key achievements.

On rare occasions, an autobiography is created from a person’s diary or memoirs. When diaries are used, the author must organize them to create a chronological and cohesive story. The story might have flashbacks or flashforwards to describe a specific event, but the main storyline should follow chronological order from the author’s early life to their current events.

One of the main differences between an autobiography vs. a biography is that autobiographies tend to be more subjective. That’s because they are written by the subject, and present the facts based on their own memories of a specific situation, which can be biased. The story covers the author’s opinions on specific subjects and provides an account of their feelings as they navigate certain situations. These stories are also very personal because it’s a personal account of the author’s life rather than a biography where a third party writes about a specific person.

Examples of famous autobiographies include:

• The Story of My Life  by Helen Keller
• The Diary of a Young Girl  by Anne Frank
• Losing My Virginity  by Richard Branson

What is a Memoir?

Memoir comes from the French word  mémoire , meaning memory or reminiscence. Similar to an autobiography, a memoir is the story of a person’s life written by that person. These life stories are often from diary entries either from a first-person account or from a close family member or friend with access to personal diaries.

The difference between a memoir vs. an autobiography is that a memoir focuses on reflection and establishing an emotional connection, rather than simply presenting the facts about their life. The author uses their personal knowledge to tell an intimate and emotional story about the private or public happenings in their life. The author could be the person in the story, or it can be written by a close family member or friend who knew the subject person intimately. The topic is intentionally focused and does not include biographical or chronological aspects of the author’s life unless they are meaningful and relevant to the story.

Memoirs come in several types, all of which are written as an emotional account of the target person. They usually tell a story of a person who went through great struggles or faced challenges in a unique way. They can also cover confessionals where the memoir tells the story of the author’s account that contradicts another’s account.

This genre of writing is often stories covering famous people’s lives, such as celebrities. In many memoir projects, the celebrity or person of interest needs help with organization, writing the story, and fleshing out ideas from the person’s diaries. It might take several interviews before the story can be fully outlined and written, so it’s not uncommon for a memoir project to last several months.

Memoirs do not usually require as much research as biographies and autobiographies, because you have the personal accounts in diary entries and documents with the person’s thoughts. It might require several interviews, however, before the diary entries can be organized to give an accurate account on the person’s thoughts and emotions. The story does not necessarily need to be in chronological order compared to an autobiography, but it might be to tell a better story.

Examples of famous memoirs include:

• Angela’s Ashes  by Frank McCourt
• I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings  by Maya Angelou
• Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S.  Grant by Ulysses S. Grant

Autobiography vs. Biography vs. Memoir Comparison Chart

Check out some of our blogs to learn more about memoirs:

• What is a memoir?
• 5 tips for writing a memoir
• Your memoir is your legacy

Ready to get started on your own memoir, autobiography, or biography? Download our free desktop book-making software, BookWright .

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Memoir vs Biography: Spotting the Genre Differences

Identifying the differences in memoir vs biography can feel nuanced. To be clear, it is. Both genres are about an individual’s life, but the focus you take depends on which you choose to write: biography vs memoir. 

Neither is better or worse than the other. What matters is determining what you want to accomplish with your manuscript. Memoir focuses on the individual from a specific angle, while biography spends time recounting the individual’s life in a different way. 

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Your writing perspective plays a crucial role in:

• The stories you include
• Tone you write in
• Audience you connect with

In this article, I discuss memoir vs biography, the key differences, and how to determine which one you should write. Let’s start with a definition of biography vs memoir. 

Memoir vs biography…what’s covered:

How is a memoir different from a biography.

A memoir is different from a biography in that memoirs focus on specific life events that teach a specific theme. Writers draft and publish biographies as a way to document an individual’s life, start to finish. For this reason, anyone who experienced specific life events that could be of benefit to others can write their memoir. 

Many celebrities and public figures share their memoirs, but everyday people can as well. As long as you have a lesson to teach or a theme that will resonate with a specific audience, you can write your memoir. 

Assessing the major difference in memoir vs biography 

The key difference between memoir vs biography is that biographies document an individual’s life from start to finish, or start to present day. Memoirs focuses on a specific theme that threads throughout key events in an individual’s life.  

Readers are not usually interested in reading the everyday occurrences of the average person. However, most people are curious about how celebrities and influential people live on a day to day basis.

For instance, Caroline Fraser’s, Prairie Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder , recounts the life of a little girl growing up on the prairie. Today, Laura Ingalls Wilder is a major name associated with this specific time period. Learning about the daily life of this iconic individual is inspiring. 

The same is true for Steve Jobs, Christopher Knight, Louis Zamperini, and Henrietta Lacks. Each of these individuals have helped shape history. Because of this, the details of their lives are of interest. 

Consider the key themes of memoir 

Memoir, on the other hand, can highlight the themes of unknown individuals’ lives and in turn, bring them into the spotlight. Whether you desire to share you experience as a Mennonite, working with a speech impediment, or dealing with racism, your story matters.

See if you can identify the themes in the following memoirs: 

• Mennonite in a Little Black Dress: A Memoir of Going Home , Rhoda Janzen
• Out With It: How Stuttering Helped Me Find My Voice , Katherine Preston
• Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption , Bryan Stevenson 

There are various themes in the above: a mennonite, Preston’s struggle with stuttering, Stevenson’s role in bringing justice to people of color in the Deep South. 

These differences bring up the valid question: if biographies recount a person’s life and memoir’s share specific parts of their life, is memoir always a biography?

Is a memoir always a biography?

No, memoir is not always a biography but rather pulls key features from your life. The key difference between memoir vs biography is its deep dive into specifics. 

The specific focus of a memoir can center around:

• A personal recounting of a thought-process through events
• Events that shaped your life, outlook, and worldview 
• A certain season in life and lessons learned 
• An inside look at your hobby
• Challenges you faced

When it comes time to learn how to write a memoir outline , think of a memoir as the key ingredients in the recipe: the themes and stories an author includes are necessary to hold the story together.

A biography adds in other seasonings that bring flavor and nuance to an individual’s life: stories and events that do not necessarily add to the theme but provide a more detailed look at their life.

Memoir vs biography: key traits of each

Now that you firmly grasp the differences in memoir vs biography (find more on autobiography vs memoir and biography vs autobiography here), it’s important to discuss the traits that set each apart. Choosing between writing a biography vs memoir can feel difficult. After all, your life matters and the different aspects of your story all feel important. 

A vital question to keep top of mind is, “How will each event I share aid my readers?” To help answer this question, below is a list of traits common in both memoir vs biography. You can read through both, then take note of which traits most resonate with you. The genre with the most traits you connect with is likely the one you should choose to write. 

Memoir vs biography:

Which column did you most resonate with? Does your life hold important moments that could resonate with a large audience? You may want to write your memoir. 

On the other hand, if you are relatively well-known, experience a certain level of influence, and find people regularly interested in the everyday details of your life, you may want to hire someone to help you write your biography.

If you want to write your story yourself, you can write an autobiography. However, even if you chose to share your story via a biography, you can work closely with the writer to ensure the final product is exactly as you want it. 

Two key traits of memoirs 

First, if you choose memoir as your final choice in your decision in memoir vs biography, rest assured that you do not need to recount your entire life story. 

This can feel empowering for some writers who may feel overwhelmed at the prospect of condensing decades of experiences into one manuscript. 

Instead, as you draft your memoir (and articulate the memoir sub-genres right for your story), focus on one main theme or story and the life experiences that build on this theme. Memoirs focus on teaching the reader through the experience of the writer, so don’t forget to be vulnerable and establish that connection at an emotional level.

Memoirs allow readers an inside look at defining moments in your life and what you learned in those seasons. 

Second, remember to use fiction writing techniques when drafting your memoir. Begin in medias res , or in the middle of the action. While biographies often begin at the start of the subject’s life, with memoir, begin in the middle. 

Grab your readers early on. Helpful questions to consider are below:

• At what point did I encounter a profound awareness that this specific situation was teaching me a lesson?
• What part of my experience will be most engaging for readers?
• How can I immerse them in my world as quickly as possible?

But now what? What’s a concrete step you can take now that you understand the key differences between memoir vs biography? Here are some examples of writing goals to inspire you. And don’t forget to check out the free resource below! 

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Autobiography vs. Biography vs. Memoir: Differences of Each Type

How to Outline a Novel Before You Start Writing

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• autobiography

Do you ever get confused when trying to differentiate between an autobiography, biography, and memoir? If so, you’re not alone—these three genres are often used interchangeably, but each one actually requires its own unique approach. In this blog post, we’ll discuss the differences of each type and provide some handy tips on how best to write them all!

Introducing the different genres of writing—autobiography, biography, and memoir 

Three genres that often get jumbled together are autobiography, biography, and memoir. While they may seem similar at first glance, each genre has its own unique characteristics. An autobiography, for example, is a first-person account of someone’s life, typically written by the subject themselves. A biography, by contrast, is a third-person account of someone’s life, written by someone else. And a memoir is a focused, often thematic account of a particular period or experience in someone’s life. Knowing the distinctions between these genres can help you decide which approach is best for telling your own story or for crafting a compelling biography or memoir.

Understanding the differences between autobiography, biography and memoir

Autobiography, biography, and memoir are often confused with each other. An autobiography is a book written by the author about their own life experiences. In contrast, a biography is a book written by someone else about another person’s life experiences. Finally, a memoir is a book written about a specific time or event in the author’s life. These three genres require different approaches to writing and reading. Autobiographies are generally more personal, while biographies generally intend to provide a more objective view of a person’s life. Memoirs allow for a deeper exploration of a specific period of time or event.

Exploring the benefits of writing an autobiography

Writing an autobiography can serve as a time capsule for one’s life experiences and also act as a vehicle for personal growth and self-reflection. Through the process of writing, individuals have the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of themselves. Additionally, an autobiography can be an invaluable resource for future generations by providing them with a window into the past and the inner workings of their ancestors. If you’re looking for a way to capture your life story and leave a meaningful legacy, writing an autobiography might be a good idea.

Discovering the advantages of writing a biography

A biography records the life and accomplishments of a person. A biography can provide insight into the individual’s beliefs, accomplishments, and experiences that shaped their life. Writing a biography requires research , attention to detail, and a thorough understanding of the individual’s life. It takes time and effort. By capturing a person’s story in writing, we can learn from their life experiences and be inspired to pursue our own passions and dreams. Writing a biography can be challenging, but the end result is a rewarding tribute to a person.

Examining the unique aspects of writing a memoir

Writing a memoir is an incredible way to tell your story and leave a lasting legacy. What makes a memoir unique is that it is not just about recounting facts or events. It is more so about exploring the deeper meaning and emotions behind those experiences. It requires a delicate balance of vulnerability and objectivity, as you must be willing to share personal details while also maintaining a sense of clarity and purpose. To truly connect with your audience, it is important to infuse your writing with your own voice and personality, making the story feel authentic and relatable.

Making efficient use of resources when writing your story

Making an efficient use of resources will help create a compelling story that resonates with readers. Whether it’s time management, research, or even word choice, every decision plays an integral role in crafting a well-structured narrative. One useful tool for maximizing your efficiency is outlining your story beforehand, allowing you to flesh out characters and plot points in a clear and concise manner. Additionally, don’t be afraid to take advantage of resources such as writing groups, online tutorials, and feedback from industry professionals who can provide valuable perspective and insight into your work.

As you now know, autobiographies, biographies, and memoirs each have their own unique focus, purpose, and advantages. Writing your life story can be rewarding and fulfilling. Having a writing partner experienced with these genres to guide you on your journey can be invaluable in producing the story you want to tell. If it is time to tell your story―whether fact or fiction―contact Elite Authors today! We will help you choose the genre that best fits your project goals while helping you craft a stunning personal account that is sure to capture the imagination of readers everywhere.

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Autobiography vs. Biography vs. Memoir: What’s the Difference?

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Autobiographies, biographies, and memoirs. These are the three main formats that tell a real person’s life story.

But unless you’re in the know, it can be a little confusing to tell the difference between each one. While they all serve a similar purpose, they each have distinctions that set them apart from one another.

In this post, I’ll explain the differences between autobiographies, biographies, and memoirs. And to clear up any confusion, I’ll provide some famous examples of each one.

Table of Contents

Autobiography vs. Biography vs. Memoir

Autobiographies.

An autobiography is an account of a person’s life, written by that person. The word originates from the Greek’ auto’, ‘bios’ and ‘graphein’, meaning ‘self,’ ‘life,’ and ‘to write.’

Since the narrator is also the subject of the story, autobiographies tend to be written in the first person.

The majority of autobiographies begin by documenting childhood experiences, working their way chronologically upwards through the decades. The author will include major and minor events that have shaped their lives and stood out to them on their journey.

A detailed autobiography will cover things like a person’s earliest memories, early family life, and upbringing. They might share stories from their education, their careers, and their relationships, as well as triumphs and challenges they’ve faced along the way.

Since an autobiography is a life story, most people wait until their later years before they pen their own, but this isn’t always true. There are plenty of autobiographies written by younger people too. Anyone that has led an interesting life can write an autobiography.  

Here’s a few examples of autobiographies written by famous people:

• Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin by Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin wrote his autobiography from 1771 to 1790. It tells the fascinating tale of his rise to power, from a boy born into a lower-middle-class family in Boston, Massachusetts, to becoming one of America’s founding fathers.

• Mein Kampf by Adolf Hitler

Adolf Hitler’s autobiography Mein Kampf, meaning ‘my struggle,’ gives us a raw and eye-opening look into the unseen life of this mass-murdering dictator. It’s not an easy or lighthearted read by any means. Still, it gives the reader a fascinating insight into his early life, his rise to power, and his own justifications behind his monstrous genocidal policies.

• The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

This is a more unusual example of an autobiography, but it’s an autobiography non the less. Ann Frank’s real-life diary documents her experience as a Jewish teenager who was  forced into hiding  during World War II.

Biographies

Just like an autobiography, a  biography  tells a person’s life story. But in this case, it is written by another author, rather than the person themselves.

Biographies are most often written about famous, notable people who have led interesting lives. They usually include factual details, such as their birthplace, their education, their partners and relationships, and facts about their career.

But a good biography will also cover how key events have shaped a person’s life. Biography authors will compile information from a wide range of sources, including interviews with the person in question or their friends, colleagues, and family members. They may also source information from letters, diaries, past interviews, and periodicals.

Here are a few examples of famous biographies:

• Churchill: A Life by Martin Gilbert

Many authors over the year have written biographies about his iconic British prime minister. Still, it’s Martin Gilbert’s work which has been by far the most successful and celebrated. 

Through years of in-depth research, Gilbert gives readers a comprehensive and honest insight into the life of the man who led Britain through the Second World War.

• Frida: Biography of Frida Kahlo by Hayden Herrera

Hayden Herrera wrote this eye-opening biography of celebrated painter Frida Kahlo back in 1983, and it has since become the most authoritative account of her life in print.

The book documents Kahlo’s struggles and pain, but it also tells of her artistic prowess and her determination to leave a positive influence on the world.  

• Sylvia Plath and Life Before Ted by Andrew Wilson 

Rather than focusing on Sylvia Plath’s painful struggles with mental health and her turbulent marriage to English poet Ted Hughs, this biography tells of Plath’s earlier life, before the pair ever met. Taking information directly from her detailed diary entries, Wilson has complied an insightful picture of the American writer’s early experiences before she found fame.

Taken from the French word for ‘memory,’ a  memoir  is a non-fiction, self-written account of a person’s life. But unlike an autobiography, a memoir focuses much more on the emotional journey rather than chronologically recounting facts and events.

Memoirs are essentially a collection of memories that are important to the author, and they paint an intimate portrait of what it was like to be in their shoes.

Due to the similar nature of memoirs and autobiographies, it’s sometimes hard to denote the difference between the two, especially in the modern era when genres are often blended, and new ways of writing become commonplace.

One key thing to remember is that a memoir is usually less of a timeline of events and more an informal, emotional picture of a person’s life. Memoirs will often focus on things like past regrets and life lessons learned along the way, whereas autobiographies concentrate on facts and things that happened.

Here are a few examples of famous memoirs:

• I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

The American writer and civil rights activist Maya Angelou wrote a total of seven autobiographies and memoirs during her lifetime, but this is the most notable one of them all.

This famous memoir documents the first seventeen years of her life as a young African American woman, and all of the struggles and turmoils she faced and overcame during that time.

• Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

This travel memoir written by the New York Times best-selling author Elizabeth Gilbert was subsequently turned into a blockbuster movie starring Julia Roberts.

It documents Gilbert’s personal journey of rebirth following a painful divorce and invites the reader to share the valuable and life changing lessons she learns along the way.

• Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt

Frank McCourt’s moving memoir takes us on an in-depth journey through his childhood years when he lived a profoundly impoverished life in Ireland during the midst of the Great Depression.

It won a 1997 Pulitzer Prize and has also been adapted to the silver screen.

Autobiographies, biographies, and memoirs all do one job: they tell a person’s non-fictional life story. But as you can see, each one is unique in its own way.

Do you have a favorite autobiography, biography, or memoir?

Let us know in the comments below.

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Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

Memoir, biography, autobiography, oh my! All these book genres have a focus on someone’s life and are written in completely factual ways. The adage that truth is stranger than fiction rings true when we delve into the lives of significant people or people who have endured something significant.

Table of Contents: • What is a biography? • What is an autobiography? • What is a memoir? • Differences between a memoir vs. autobiography vs. biography • Key features of a memoir • Key features of an autobiography • Key features of biography • BookBaby can help you self-publish

It’s easy to confuse the style and tone of these three different nonfiction books. Each has different requirements to qualify as a memoir vs. biography vs. autobiography.

What is a biography?

A biography is a novel written about someone’s entire life, typically in chronological order, written by someone other than the subject.

The topic of a biography will often be someone who is an important historical figure, a celebrity, or a person who has had significant cultural or societal impact.

One excellent example of a biography is The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, by Rebecca Skloot. This biography describes how a black woman’s body was used to advance modern medicine. Henrietta Lacks’ cancer cells were taken — without her knowledge — for medical testing and has served as the blueprint for cancer treatment.

This real-life tale reveals a hidden narrative in modern medicine and points to a history of racism in the field. The story was written and recounted by Rebecca Skloot, an American writer who has contributed to many scientific publications.

What is an autobiography?

While a biography is a written account of someone else’s life, an autobiography is written by the person who is the subject of the book.

The Autobiography of Malcolm X: As Told to Alex Haley details the life of civil rights activist Malcolm X. Written by Malcolm, this autobiography features a collaboration with author and journalist Alex Haley and was released nine months after Malcolm X’s assassination.

Reading an autobiography can be more powerful and intriguing than a biography, partly because the words and perspectives are unique to the subject. There are details and insights that only the person who is the subject can convey — unfiltered by the lens of someone else. As they recount the important events of their lives from start to finish, we get to experience it in their own words.

What is a memoir?

While a biography or autobiography usually focuses on impactful historical figures or someone who had significant cultural impact, it’s not only famous people who can write about their lives. While some lesser-known figures will be the subjects of those books, memoirs allow someone who has led a less “public” life to write about their experiences and the lessons they’ve learned.

A memoir covers a specific period of the subject’s life, often detailing a unique personal experience and how the subject was transformed by it. Unlike autobiographies and biography, a memoir does not present someone’s life from the beginning to the present (or the end). It gives us a unique look into a specific period that was transformational to the person writing it.

More than the other real-life accounts, memoir proves over and over how ordinary people can have great impact and insight writing about the trials they overcome.

Wild, by Cheryl Strayed, is a compelling example of a memoir vs. autobiography. This is a story about a young woman who, after losing her mother to cancer and getting divorced (among other travails), embarks on a 1,100-mile hike on the Pacific Crest trail — alone.

Having no previous professional hiking experience, her expedition mirrors the inner trials and tribulations she overcame before surviving in the wild on this extraordinary hike.

Men We Reaped: A Memoir, by Jesmyn Ward, is another notable memoir. The story focuses on the death of five black men in Ward’s life between the years 2000–2004. Ward details the lives of these young black men who die early in her life and speaks to how young black men’s lives are cut short far too often. She traces the impact of these losses through her own family history and writes of the complexities of love and grief.

Differences between a memoir vs. autobiography vs. biography

Key features of a memoir.

As a rule, a memoir is pulled from the writer’s real-life experience. When a person picks up a memoir, they are expecting a story that truly happened to the author. That said, a memoir isn’t just recalling events and re-told to the reader. A satisfying memoir touches on universal themes about the life story uncovered by the events that happened to the writer.

Of course, memoirs aren’t here to preach a specific message or serve as a “how-to” guide to overcoming a particular experience — in the best memoirs, the author shows their emotional truth as opposed to the truth.

Memoirs do not have to be recounted in chronological order, and there is room for creative freedom. You can’t make up important events, but there is some wiggle room around specific details in dialogue and other specifics.

Notably, a memoir also doesn’t recount the author’s whole life, but details a pivotal part of it that holds significance based on the author’s transformation. It is the author’s recollection of memories and their perspective on it.

Key features of an autobiography

An autobiography is a life account written by the subject themself. An autobiography is a recounting of the writer’s entire life from childhood up until the age they are at the time of the writing, accurately detailing significant accomplishments and telling the story of the making of who the writer is and the events that shaped their life. All of the contents of an autobiography must be 100 percent true.

Key features of biography

A biography is an account of a person’s life story written by someone other than the subject. It is the author’s rendition of what the author knows about the person’s life, sometimes personally and certainly by collecting and researching information about their life. It is typically focused on someone of cultural or historical significance.

BookBaby can help you self-publish

Whether you’re embarking on an autobiography, a biography, or a memoir, drawing universal truths from the lives of real people is a rewarding task. Of course, as a writer, once you have completed the first draft of your manuscript, it’s important to have an editor work on your manuscript to ensure it reads clearly to your reader.

BookBaby offers three types of book editing services that will be good to use at different stages of your editing process.

Line editing is our most popular editing service for first-time authors. Our line editors will review your manuscript and check for style, structure, word choice and syntax. You will also receive feedback regarding pacing, advice for writing flow, and an audit on tone and style.

Copy editing might be the best option for nonfiction authors writing a biography, autobiography, or memoir. Copy editing is a “word-by-word” edit, focusing on spelling and punctuation, along with an intensive grammar audit.

Proofreading is the last and final stage. It includes a basic check for grammar, spelling, and any lingering typos before publishing.

When your manuscript is proofed and ready, BookBaby offers print-on-demand services and distribution of your book, so you can get your work in the hands of readers. Call one of our publishing specialists to get started at 1-877-961-6878 or visit us at www.bookbaby.com .

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What’s the Difference Between a Memoir and an Autobiography?

On the literary genre spectrum, memoirs and autobiographies are right next to each other. They’re both nonfiction accounts of the author’s personal experience, usually written in first person (i.e. using I , me , and other first-person pronouns). But despite their similarities—and the fact that memoir and autobiography are often used interchangeably—they’re technically separate genres.

Since an autobiography is essentially just a biography written by the person it’s about, it has pretty much all the characteristics of a regular biography. As MasterClass explains , the narrative typically progresses chronologically and covers the subject’s whole life (thus far), with a focus on facts. That’s not to say autobiographies by default have bare-bones prose or a lack of emotion—the story of someone’s life will likely feature some fascinating formative memories and the feelings that came with them.

But those elements are much more integral to a memoir than an autobiography. According to Book Riot , a memoir doesn’t usually cover the author’s entire life, but instead a specific period or themes within it. Joan Didion’s The Year of Magical Thinking , for example, centers on the year after her husband, John Gregory Dunne, died of a heart attack in late 2003. It’s just as much a discourse on grief as it is an account of what happened in Didion’s life that year—and you might pick it up to read about grief rather than to learn about the author herself. Though Didion was, by that point in her career, famous enough that people would be interested to read about her experiences in particular, that’s not always the case with memoirists. Sometimes, it’s the subject matter that attracts readers, not the name of the author.

If you crack open an autobiography, on the other hand, it’s probably because you want to learn about the person who wrote it. Autobiographers are usually celebrities, from activists like Malala Yousafzai and Nelson Mandela to athletes like Andre Agassi —people who’ve achieved such success and/or have lived such high-profile lives that you’d want to read their full stories, starting from the cradle.

All that said, the differences between memoirs and autobiographies are more general trends than definitive guidelines. There’s no rule that says your memoir can’t be chronological, or that your autobiography must include your year and place of birth in order to be considered a true autobiography.

Have you got a Big Question you'd like us to answer? If so, let us know by emailing us at [email protected] .

Biography vs. Memoir

What's the difference.

Biography and memoir are both genres of non-fiction literature that focus on the lives and experiences of individuals. However, there are some key differences between the two. A biography is a detailed account of a person's life, typically written by someone else. It provides a comprehensive overview of the subject's life, including their background, achievements, and impact on society. On the other hand, a memoir is a personal narrative written by the subject themselves, focusing on specific events, experiences, and emotions that shaped their life. Memoirs often delve into the author's inner thoughts and reflections, providing a more intimate and subjective perspective. While biographies aim to present an objective and well-rounded view of a person's life, memoirs offer a more personal and subjective account.

Further Detail

Introduction.

Biography and memoir are two popular genres of literature that provide readers with insights into the lives of real people. While both genres focus on recounting someone's life story, there are distinct differences between them. In this article, we will explore the attributes of biography and memoir, highlighting their unique characteristics and discussing how they offer different perspectives on the subject's life.

Definition and Purpose

Biography is a genre that presents a detailed account of a person's life, covering various aspects such as their upbringing, achievements, and impact on society. It aims to provide an objective and comprehensive view of the subject, often relying on extensive research and interviews with people who knew the individual. On the other hand, memoir is a more personal form of storytelling, focusing on specific events or periods in the author's life. It is subjective in nature, as it reflects the author's own memories, emotions, and interpretations of their experiences.

Scope and Focus

Biographies typically cover the entire life span of the subject, from birth to death, or at least until a significant point in their life. They delve into the subject's background, family history, education, career, and major accomplishments. Biographers often aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of the subject's life, placing them within the context of their time and society. In contrast, memoirs have a narrower focus, zooming in on specific events, relationships, or themes that hold personal significance for the author. Memoirs may cover a shorter period or specific aspects of the author's life, offering a more intimate and introspective exploration.

Author's Perspective

Biographies are typically written by authors who are not directly involved in the subject's life. They rely on research, interviews, and other sources to construct an objective narrative. Biographers strive to present a balanced view, considering multiple perspectives and analyzing the subject's actions and motivations. Memoirs, on the other hand, are written by the individuals themselves or with the help of a ghostwriter. As a result, memoirs offer a highly subjective perspective, as the author shares their personal memories, emotions, and reflections on their own experiences. This subjective lens allows readers to gain a deeper understanding of the author's thoughts and feelings.

Reliability and Accuracy

Biographies are often considered more reliable and accurate due to the extensive research and fact-checking involved. Biographers strive to present a well-rounded and evidence-based account of the subject's life, drawing from various sources to corroborate their claims. However, biases and limitations in available information can still influence the narrative. Memoirs, on the other hand, prioritize emotional truth over factual accuracy. While memoirists aim to be truthful, they acknowledge that memory can be fallible and subjective. Memoirs may contain embellishments, omissions, or different interpretations of events, as they prioritize the author's personal perspective and emotional truth.

Writing Style and Narrative

Biographies often adopt a formal and objective writing style, resembling a historical or academic work. They follow a chronological structure, presenting events in a linear fashion and providing historical context. Biographers strive to maintain a balanced tone and avoid personal biases. Memoirs, on the other hand, embrace a more conversational and intimate writing style. They often employ literary techniques such as storytelling, vivid descriptions, and introspection to engage readers on an emotional level. Memoirs may not follow a strict chronological order, instead focusing on thematic connections or the author's emotional journey.

Reader Experience and Connection

Reading a biography offers readers a comprehensive understanding of a person's life and their impact on society. It allows readers to gain insights into historical events, cultural contexts, and the subject's contributions. Biographies can be particularly appealing to those interested in history, politics, or specific individuals. On the other hand, memoirs provide a more personal and relatable reading experience. Readers often connect with the author's emotions, struggles, and triumphs, finding resonance in their own lives. Memoirs can be powerful tools for empathy and self-reflection, as they offer a glimpse into the human experience through the author's unique lens.

While both biography and memoir share the goal of recounting someone's life story, they differ in terms of scope, perspective, reliability, writing style, and reader experience. Biographies offer a comprehensive and objective view of a subject's life, relying on extensive research and analysis. Memoirs, on the other hand, provide a subjective and intimate exploration of the author's own experiences and emotions. Both genres have their merits and appeal to different readers, offering unique insights into the lives of real people and the human condition as a whole.

Comparisons may contain inaccurate information about people, places, or facts. Please report any issues.

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Biography vs autobiography vs memoir: Which Genre Best Tells Your Story?

As a writer, it’s essential to choose the right genre to tell your story effectively. However, distinguishing between memoir, autobiography, and biography can be confusing. In this article, we’ll clarify the core differences between these genres and provide insights to help you choose the one that best fits your unique story. Whether you’re interested in exploring your own experiences or delving into the lives of others, understanding the difference between a memoir and a biography and autobiography is critical to crafting a compelling narrative. So let’s get started and discover which genre will best tell your story.

The Power of Biographies: Discovering Lives and Learning Lessons

A biography is a personal story narrated from real life. The biographies come in different sub-genres, but what they have in common is the factual loyalty. Biographies provide an in-depth look into the lives of individuals, whether they’re still alive or historical figures. For a collection of famous biographies, you might want to explore Biography.com .

Professional bio writers usually conduct a great deal of research. They can describe the life events of someone still alive or a famous person who lived years ago. The author focuses his attention significantly on childhood, relationships, and ups and downs to create a complete picture of a person’s life.

The distinct feature of the story is the writer’s presence. That’s where you don’t align memoir vs biography: while people write memoirs alone, biographies require professional writers.

The main types of biographies include:

• Contemporary biography: a story of a person who’s alive and usually at the peak of their success. It can be about well-known entrepreneurs, musicians, or politicians. It can also include the people who are especially valuable at the moment or have done something great that you have to commemorate.

The examples are: “His Way: The Unauthorized Biography of Frank Sinatra” (written by Kitty Kelley) and “Robin” (Dave Itzkoff’s intimate look at the life and career of Robin Williams).

• Historical biography: provides in-depth information on the life of historical figures or people who died without the recognition they deserved.

The examples are: “Alexander Hamilton” (an epic 800+ page biography created by Ron Chernow) and “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” (written by Rebecca Skloot).

• Group biography: the authors apply this type of biography quite rarely. One of the first examples is “A General History of the Pirates,” narrated by Captain Charles Johnson in 1724. One of the latest group biographies includes an account of the life stories of famous British royals, “HRH: So Many Thoughts on Royal Style,” written by Elizabeth Holmes.

Autobiographies: Understanding the Genre, Types, and Significance

An autobiography is someone else’s story that doesn’t involve a third party. A memoir writing service puts it differently because autobiography is the first person’s account of events.

Autobiographies have been vital throughout history. They provide invaluable stories and thoughts, giving the audience an accurate impression of historical leaders and the value they represent. Also, they allow individuals to tell their own stories in their own words. For examples of famous autobiographies that have captivated readers, check out this list on Goodreads .

The main difference between autobiography and biography is that the last one provides a person’s story written by someone else. The peculiar advantage that autobiographies provide is decreasing the number of discrepancies or mistakes. Hiring cheap ghostwriters for hire may be incorrect in describing significant events.

The types of autobiography include:

• Traditional: a complete story narrated from the first person, discussing all significant events from birth, throughout childhood, and up to the present time. It’s a challenging genre since a life story should be captivating and exciting to engage the reader.
• Overcoming adversity: on the contrary, many people don’t have as shiny lives. Some survived a series of challenging circumstances, such as assaults, murders, or other life-threatening situations. Sharing the story of the “survivor” might heal people undergoing a similar journey.
• Intellectual: focus on critical events or experiences that have changed someone’s perspective on life. Prominent examples include the “Autobiography” of the philosopher John Stuart Mill and “The Education of Henry Adams.”
• Fictionalized is a story that uses made-up characters to represent an author’s experience. This autobiography reflects on actual events vs. serving as an accurate retelling of what happened. Some of the interesting examples are “The Way of All Flesh” (by Samuel Butler) and “A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man” (by James Joice).

Memoir vs autobiography: what’s the catch?

If you’re wondering what does a ghostwriter do when writing a memoir, let’s explore its main features.

Memoir highlights the essential part of someone’s life. It can describe the critical historical period or a breakdown, focusing on the events that led to the collapse. That’s where memoirs vs autobiography differ: the first ones only focus on particular excerpts instead of telling the whole story.

• A memoir is a factual story in which the author reflects on a series of related events from their life or recounts memories from a particular period.
• An autobiography is a chronological description of a person’s life.

Although the memoir can be subjective, it must lean on facts. The authors choose a pivotal moment they’d like to shed light on and recreate the event using storytelling tools.

There’s not a specific number of memoirs in a professional book writing history. Nevertheless, we will explore the most prominent types of memoirs to let you dive into the industry:

• Transformation memoirs: tell about the most significant challenges authors These stories lead with the topic of redemption, whether you achieved it or you’re trying to gain it.

The examples are “Here We Are: American Dreams, American Nightmares” (by Aarti Namdev Shahani), “Educated” (by Tara Westover), and “Finding Freedom” (by Erin French).

• Confessional memoirs: reveal the painful or dirty secrets about authors or their families and how the particular series of events has affected them.

The examples are: “Confessions” (by Jean-Jacques Rousseau) and “Running with Scissors” (by Augusten Burroughs).

• Professional or celebrity memoirs: describe the road to fame and success. Famous people often think about how to find a ghost writer to talk about their lives and significant events in a more professional tone.

The examples are: “I Am Malala” (by Malala Yousafzai) and “Just Kids” (by Patti Smith).

• Travel memoirs: focus on exciting adventures that happen while traveling. These memoirs are often the most pleasant, allowing readers to escape everyday reality.

The examples are “Wild” (by Cheryl Strayed) and “A Year in Provence” (by Peter Mayle).

Autobiography vs biography vs memoir: where’s your match?

You don’t need to be a writing professional to comprehend the difference between memoir and autobiography and biography. Let’s take a look at some of the key points to consider.

The Bottom Line

Writing a book about your life is a challenging process. It requires lots of patience and a great deal of memory to recall the most significant events. Meanwhile, it allows you to look at your life and experiences from a whole new perspective.

If you need any help with writing a biography vs autobiography vs memoir, Penfellow will gladly assist! Our professional writers have years of experience completing similar tasks and will do the job for you. We will ensure the final paper meets your requirements and writing standards. Get in touch with us today to get your biography done in no time!

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What Are the Major Differences Between Memoir and Autobiography?

Don't know the difference between memoir and autobiography? Check out this handy breakdown of their similarities and differences.

Rebecca Hussey

Rebecca holds a PhD in English and is a professor at Norwalk Community College in Connecticut. She teaches courses in composition, literature, and the arts. When she’s not reading or grading papers, she’s hanging out with her husband and son and/or riding her bike and/or buying books. She can't get enough of reading and writing about books, so she writes the bookish newsletter "Reading Indie," focusing on small press books and translations. Newsletter: Reading Indie Twitter: @ofbooksandbikes

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Feeling confused about the difference between memoir and autobiography? You’re not the only one. The terms are sometimes used interchangeably, and there is a lot of overlap between the two, so confusion is understandable. But there are some basic differences that will help you distinguish between them and make sure you are using the most appropriate word. Knowing the difference will help you choose what to read, as well: you should know what you are getting into when you pick up a book labeled memoir vs. autobiography.

First, let’s discuss similarities between the two. Both autobiography and memoir are first-person accounts of the writer’s life. This means the writer is describing her or his life using “I” and “me” (“I did this, then this happened to me,” etc.) One exception to this is that sometimes autobiographies are written in the third person (where the author refers to him or herself as “he” or “she”), but this is not common and rarely seen in contemporary writing. Mostly, both genres are about writers telling readers about their lives in their own voice.

That’s pretty simple. What’s trickier is figuring out what makes these genres different. So here’s a breakdown of the difference between memoir and autobiography, that I’ll discuss more below.

Memoir vs. Autobiography Basics

1. autobiography usually covers the author’s entire life up to the point of writing, while memoir focuses only on a part of the author’s life..

There are going to be exceptions to every point on this list, but generally speaking, autobiography aims to be comprehensive, while memoir does not. Autobiographers set out to tell the story of their life, and while some parts will get more detail than others, they usually cover most or all of it.

Memoirists will often choose a particularly important or interesting part of their life to write about and ignore or briefly summarize the rest. They will sometimes choose a theme or subject and tell stories from different parts of their life that illustrate its significance to them.

As examples,  The Autobiography of Malcolm X  covers the major points of Malcolm X’s life, while  Abandon Me: A Memoir by Melissa Febos focuses mainly on two significant relationships (with her father and with a lover).

2. In autobiography, authors usually tell their life stories because they are famous and important. A memoirist can be anybody, famous or not.

Long Walk to Freedom,  Nelson Mandela’s autobiography, is a good example: he was an important person whose personal account of his life matters because of who he was and everything he accomplished.

For memoir, Mary Karr’s  The Liar’s Club is not the story of a famous person; instead, it’s an account of a regular person’s childhood. Her childhood was especially eventful, but it doesn’t stand out because she was famous. Memoirists do sometimes become famous, but usually it’s for writing memoirs.

3. People read autobiographies because they want to know about a particular (probably famous) person. They read memoirs because they are interested in a certain subject or story or they are drawn to the writer’s style or voice.

The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin is a book people might read because they want to learn about an important historical figure. They may also have heard it’s exceptionally interesting and well-written, but the desire to learn about a person who shaped U.S. history is probably the main motivation.

On the other hand, readers may pick up Roxane Gay’s memoir  Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body because they want to read about food, weight, and body image. Or they may admire Gay’s essays available online and want to explore more of her work. The motivation here is more about subject and style and less about the writer as a historical or cultural figure.

4. Autobiographies tend to be written in chronological order, while memoirs often move back and forth in time.

When readers pick up an autobiography, they expect it to begin with the author’s childhood (or perhaps even with the author’s parents’ lives), to proceed through young adulthood and middle age, through to the time of the writing. Olaudah Equiano’s  The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano  does just that, opening with his childhood and proceeding in a straightforward manner through time.

Memoirs, on the other hand, can be much looser in their treatment of time.  Heart Berries by Terese Marie Mailhot shifts back and forth in time and has a structure more focused on theme than chronology. We finish the book with a sense of the major events of Mailhot’s life, but not necessarily their order.

5. Autobiography places greater emphasis on facts and how the writer fits into the historical record, while memoir emphasizes personal experience and interiority.

Autobiographies are sometimes thought of as a form of history and they are used as source material for historians. While it’s possible for both autobiographers and memoirists to get their facts wrong, the stakes are higher for the autobiographer who made history or witnessed historically-important events.

Frederick Douglass’s Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass  is important in part because of Douglass’s work as an orator, statesman, and abolitionist. His historical stature adds to the significance of his book.

The facts matter in memoir, but it’s understood that memoirists select and shape the facts of their lives to explore their chosen theme. Darin Strauss’s  Half a Life: A Memoir is rooted in a real-life event—a car crash in which Strauss accidentally hit and killed a classmate—but it focuses on the emotional aftereffects of this event rather than the historical context of Strauss’s life.

And there you have it! Again, these distinctions are loose ones, but hopefully they have helped you understand the different connotations of the two words.

Want to read more about memoir? Check out this list of 100 must-read memoirs , this discussion of how to define the term “memoir,” and this post on short memoirs .

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Home / Book Writing / Autobiography vs. Biography vs. Memoir

Autobiography vs. Biography vs. Memoir

Telling the difference between an autobiography, a biography, and a memoir is easier said than done. They're generally about a person's life (often a famous person or public figure), but they each go about telling the story in different ways. They have different expectations and often cover different facets of the subject's life. But once you know what differentiates these three types of books, you'll be able to tell them apart with ease.

• The difference between autobiographies, biographies, and memoirs
• What defines each type of nonfiction book
• Famous examples of each type

Table of contents

• The Difference Between Autobiographies, Biographies, and Memoirs
• What is an Autobiography?
• What is a Memoir?
• What is a Biography?

An autobiography is a book written by the subject him or herself, detailing the important events of their life. Similarly, a memoir is also written by the subject, but focuses more on the emotional aspects of their life story, rather than the events themselves. Lastly, a biography is an account of a person's life written by someone other than the subject, usually relying on many different sources for factual accuracy.

That’s the broad view. Now let's get a little more in depth to make these differences a little clearer.

Reading an autobiography is reading a first-person account of a person's life. You get to walk a mile in the subject's shoes, seeing the world through their eyes as they share their experiences.

Since most autobiographies detail an interesting life lived, they're often written by the subjects in their later years. However, there are always exceptions to this. Some people have written autobiographies while they were still young because their younger years were interesting or extraordinary. The three most famous examples of autobiographies written by young people include:

• The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
• I Am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban by Malala Yousafzai
• Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave by Frederick Douglass

Since autobiographies are about the author's life as told by them, they can be biased, since everyone sees the world a little differently and human memory isn't always the most accurate thing.

Most autobiographies work chronologically through the subject's life, including stories from their childhood and early years, their career, and any other milestones throughout their life.

Although autobiographies are ostensibly written by the subjects, it's not uncommon for a professional ghostwriter to be involved in the project. A ghostwriter can bring a flow and cohesive narrative to the subject's life story.

Some other famous autobiographies, written later in the subject's life, include:

• Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin by Benjamin Franklin
• Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela
• Agatha Christie: An Autobiography by Agatha Christie

An “event” autobiography is less common, but there are some famous examples. Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer is a first-person account of a Mount Everest climb that went terribly wrong, costing the lives of eight people.

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Since a memoir is considered a type of autobiography, it's best to cover it now before we dive into biographies. Like an autobiography, a memoir is written by the subject — usually in the first person. It's a personal narrative that focuses more on the feelings, emotions, and memories that are important or impactful to the author.

While key events may be present in the memoir, they're generally there in relation to the emotional journey the author experienced. They focus more on the life lessons learned, regrets, and those things the subject was grateful for over their life.

While both autobiographies and memoirs are nonfiction, you're more likely to get a chronological sequence of life events and professional achievements in an autobiography . In a memoir, you're more likely to get a collection of personal details and life experiences in terms of how they affected the subject emotionally and influenced their personality and decisions.

(Interested in publishing a memoir? Check out our step-by-step article on publishing a memoir !)

Some famous memoirs include:

• The Liars' Club by Mary Karr
• I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
• A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway

Another good example is On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King. It's half memoir and half writing tips from one of the masters of fiction. The memories King shares give you an insight into his upbringing, his family, and his first successes as an author. But it's all in service of talking about writing fiction.

A biography is a nonfiction account of a person's life similar to an autobiography, with the major difference that it's not written by the subject. For this reason, biographies can be written any time. In fact, new biographies about famous historical figures are often released when new information comes to light.

Biographers use a number of different sources to piece together the information they need to give the reader a look into the subject's life. They may use interviews with those who were close to the subject (such as a family member or friend) and interviews with the subject him or herself. They'll use photos, news articles, diaries, and many other sources to present a cohesive, and usually chronological, biographical sketch of the person's life.

Sometimes, the author is someone who was close to the subject. Other times, it's a professional writer who didn't know the subject personally. A biography will usually cover childhood, professional experience, personal information, accomplishments, and key events in the person's life.

Some examples of famous biographies include:

• Steve Jobs: The Exclusive Biography by Walter Isaacson
• Red Comet: The Short Life and Blazing Art of Sylvia Plath by Heather Clark
• His Excellency: George Washington by Joseph J. Ellis

A good example of a biography written by a relative is Virginia Woolf: A Biography , written by her nephew, Quentin Bell.

Biographies, autobiographies, and memoirs are all different ways to write about a person's life. Memoirs and autobiographies differ in their presentation and focus, but both are written by the subject. A biography is written by someone aside from the subject, who relies on various sources to present a thorough and (usually) chronological book of the subject's life story.

Although memoirs and autobiographies are “straight from the horse's mouth,” so to speak, they do allow room for some unconscious (or conscious) bias. Biographies are generally more objective because of the extensive research required to write about another person's life and accomplishments.

Now you know the difference between these three types of nonfiction books (not to mention some great recommendations for new books to read). Enjoy!

Dave Chesson

When I’m not sipping tea with princesses or lightsaber dueling with little Jedi, I’m a book marketing nut. Having consulted multiple publishing companies and NYT best-selling authors, I created Kindlepreneur to help authors sell more books. I’ve even been called “The Kindlepreneur” by Amazon publicly, and I’m here to help you with your author journey.

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Memoir vs. Biography: What's the Difference?

Key Differences

Comparison chart, point of view, memoir and biography definitions, is it essential for biographies to be objective, are memoirs always factual, what's the main difference between a memoir and a biography, do memoirs cover an entire life like biographies, can a biography be written without the subject's involvement, can a person write a memoir about someone else, how are memoirs and autobiographies different, how are memoirs different from personal essays, why might someone choose to write a memoir instead of an autobiography, can a biography be unauthorized, is it easier to write a memoir than a biography, who typically reads biographies, do memoirs need to be chronological, how do biographers verify the information in their books, can fiction books be based on memoirs or biographies, do memoirs have to be written by famous people, why are memoirs popular, are memoirs considered non-fiction, do all biographies have to be book-length, can a biography be written in the first person.

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Difference between "memoir" and "biography"

I am an avid reader, and noticed that books I checked out from the library lately seem to use "memoir" and "biography" interchangeably, although they are all shelved as "biographies". Is there an actual semantic difference between "memoir" and "biography"? Or is it just something that comes down to personal preference?

• differences

4 Answers 4

A memoir is a sub-genre of the autobiography. As Wikipedia writes :

A memoir (from French: mémoire/ Latin: memoria, meaning memory, or reminiscence), is a literary genre, forming a subclass of autobiography – although the terms 'memoir' and 'autobiography' are almost interchangeable.

The criteria for determining whether a work is a memoir include:

They tend to encompass only time period of the author's life They tend to deal with one part of the author's life--say, his career They are generally written in first-person

A biography , on the other hand, is a broader category. From Wikipedia :

A biography is a detailed description or account of someone's life. More than a list of basic facts (education, work, relationships, and death), biography also portrays the subject's experience of those events. Unlike a profile or curriculum vitae (résumé), a biography presents the subject's life story, highlighting various aspects of his or her life, including intimate details of experience, and may include an analysis of the subject's personality.

Biographies tend to be about someone's entire life, although a memoir is still a type of biography . The library would shelve them together because of their shared overarching category.

Simply put, a memoir is usually written by the person whose life the writing describes, while a biography may be written by another person.

Actually, the word "memoir" has two meanings : 1) a written account of somebody's life written by that person; 2) a written account of somebody's life written by a close person. And a biography not 'may be' but for sure is written by another person. If it is written by you, such a piece of writing is called an autobiography. For example, this military biography template could be either a biography or an autobiography and it all depends on the person who wrote it.

in shortly 1)A memoir talks about a limited experience in a person’s life, while a biography deals with a larger part. 2)A memoir relies on the narrator’s memory, while a biography relies on various other sources.

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Biography, Autobiography, Memoir? What’s the difference?

by  Lan-Chi Pham

July 26, 2022

Books, Teen Writers

Caption: Royd Hatta's grandfather sitting on his new  car (1930s Ford Model A?) with his son Shigeru. Royd's grandmother stands with her daughter, May, who passed away a year or so after this picture was taken. 

The terms autobiography, biography, and memoir are occasionally used interchangeably by the public, but they are three distinct, if similar, genres of nonfiction.

Though there are nuances to each genre we can begin to understand each with the analogy of distance:

A biography attempts to illustrate a person's life story from an outsider's point of view. Imagine viewing the subject from 1000 feet away.

An autobiography is when the actual person who lived that life tells their own life story with the advantage of providing insights that only she or he can provide. Imagine YOU telling your story as it is, with your own thoughts and commentary.

A memoir , similar to an autobiography, may dive deeper still into our memories by employing literary devices such as a particular theme, symbolism, and lyricism.

The Biography

A biography is a retelling and description of a person’s life, be they a famous actor, a nobel-prize winning scientist, or an obscure writer from the 19th century.

Typically, biographies are written about well-known public figures or historical characters, with or without their consent, and are meant to cover the subject’s history as objectively as possible. 

Because of this, biographies tend to be written in the third person and take a more formal stance when describing the subject's life,  their trials, and eventual successes. 

An excellent example is Walter Isaacson’s Steve Jobs biography. Authorized and hand-picked by Jobs himself, Isaacson tells the story of a man lauded for building a world-class company from the ground up with a die-hard fan base. 

Through countless interviews and historical contexts, the book provides an unflinching look at the turmoil Jobs’ self-absorbed ambition created in his personal and professional relationships.

It’s at once the story of a man whose skill was gathering exceptional talent and continually reinventing his company to reach ground-breaking goals–often to a fault.

This led to both his being ousted from his own company, and his eventual return to make Apple an internationally respected brand.

The book is a tell-all and tribute to an iconic figure while showcasing the 80s and 90s Silicon Valley corporate wars. At the time of its release, even many of our 5th graders could not put it down.

Biographies are typically broad in scope, covering the subject from birth all the way up to their death, and everywhere in between. The details required by a biography involves a significant amount of research and fact-checking, but isn’t personal in quality. Biographies cover much more in the way of facts, locales, history, and less exact phrasing of the subject’s inner turmoil.

Think of a biography as looking at someone from a distance, with binoculars. You log their life as they live it.  You take in the large steps, but not necessarily the individual meals they have every single day. You might ask their companions about them, perhaps take in some meaning from their story to tell others, but you’ll never be so close to truly probe their inner feelings. Facts are what’s important in a biography.

Here are some biography examples many of our staff or students have enjoyed.

Look for these titles at your local library, bookstore (i.e., Linden Tree Books ), or follow the links in the images below to Bookshop.org . Through these links we receive a tiny payment that helps support our free Meetup story writing workshops. Thank you in advance!

The Autobiography

Autobiographies are biographies written by the subject themself. Typically written in first person, they are not exact counterparts to biographies as they are more personal. After all, the author is writing about themself.

The writer’s biases will show through the writing as they recount their experiences, but like biographies, an autobiography will start at the beginning of the subject’s life and end in the present, covering the events as factually as possible.

Because of this need for factuality, those who wish to write autobiographies will refer to their diaries as source for how they felt at the time of an event, and they may even seek the counsel of those who know them well to provide some perspective and accuracy.

Think of an autobiography as piecing together a scrapbook of your entire life.

Every event is documented: birth, childhood, adolescence, and adulthood, all the way up to the present.

A picture of you is more intimate than looking at someone from a distance, and you can tell a more compelling and thoughtful narrative through these photos.

You might add some of your thoughts on the events, perhaps a few funny little details, and when you show that scrapbook to your loved ones you will certainly comment on the meaning of the events that occurred throughout your life, but of most importance will be the pictures—the facts—themselves.

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

by William Kamkwamba & Byran Mealer

As all genres it is a matter of degrees, this book is a hybrid of Autobiography as it told through the boy of the title, William Kamkwamba, and assisted by a veteran reporter, Bryan Mealer, the co-author.

Through a first-person point of view, Kamkwamba tells about the struggles of growing up in one of the worst African droughts and resulting famines. Friends and family lost their lives to starvation. William's desire to attend school was thwarted as his father could not work the fields or find work. Without tuition, Kamkwamba picked a book that was lying around—an electronics manual.

From studying the diagrams to painstakingly reading it, he began to understand the basics, and created a makeshift windmill to generate electricity. It powered cellphones for the village, produced light, and had the promise of pumping water from underground. Soon, it became a working model to inspire others.

See his TED Talk for the synopsis, but read the book to experience life in an African village where the doubters became his advocates. Against the odds of hopelessness, poverty, war, and famine, this book is an inspiration.  

Above: The Picture Book

Below: The Young Readers Edition

Here some other examples of autobiographies our staff or our students have enjoyed:

Memoirs are the most personal of the three and the most narrow in focus. Similar to autobiographies, they are written in the first person and take a personal look into the writer’s life. They are, in fact, the closest relative to autobiographies. However, there are a few key differences. 

While autobiographies, like biographies, focus on the facts of the subject’s life, through a broad perspective,  memoirs, as the French word suggests, are centered around memories. Specifically, these memories are culled from a specific set of events or topic.

A memoir might take a look at the writer’s childhood and the effects of their upbringing on their current troubles. It can serve as a deep, emotional reflection on the intense portions of their life.

Memoirs tend to center around themes which the writer uses to tie together the various events they cover. In a sense, memoirs are most similar to narrative fiction, with arcs, flashbacks , and even antagonistic characters the readers root against. There are clear plots and progression within the narrative with the entire work culminating in the same way a fiction novel would possess a climax.

Think of a memoir as your secret diary. You write down your deepest feelings and troubles into your diary, hold it close to you, consult nobody but yourself. The objective facts aren’t the focus; your interpretations and your feelings are. 

The difference is, of course, this diary will be going out for the whole world to see, so if you’re thinking of writing a memoir and want to avoid a lawsuit from the “characters” of your life, you probably should keep things as accurate as possible.

Farewell To Manzanar

by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston and James D. Houston 

This classic of California history artfully embeds symbolism to note the struggles loyal Japanese-Americans (J.A.s) endured during their time before, during, and after the Japanese-American Internment of WWII.

It shines through its scenes of how the marginalized J.A.s both harness their culture's wisdom to stay strong and survive, and how it can contribute to bitter separation in navigating the shame within the camps, and the racism outside of it in America. When one has chosen to suppress their heritage to reach the American dream, and it still fails, what else can one choose? 

Manzanar the place and the book is both a reminder of the internal incarceration, shame, doubt, and betrayal that we all would like to say farewell to. 

Here are a few other ground-breaking memoirs to check out. 

What is the difference between all three genres? In short, 

A biography is the grand telling of another person's life.

An autobiography is an epic telling of your own life. 

A memoir , resembles an autobiography with more attention on a particular theme, symbolism, lyricism, or overriding concept.

In the end, any of these genres may borrow elements of the other so that the author may tell their story in the most compelling way. That's the beauty of writing. It allows us to pull from various facets of a person's world, or our own.  From it, we can begin to fathom all those special moments in our lives, and perhaps share the epiphanies and discoveries we've gain with the world. 

Check the articles below

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August 6, 2024

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Difference Between Biography, Autobiography, and Memoir – Get key Pointers

Table of Contents

Understanding the difference between a biography and an autobiography helps you appreciate the nuances of life stories. Both genres aim to tell the story of a person’s life, but they do so in distinct ways. Here’s a detailed exploration of the difference between biography and autobiography , what is the difference between autobiography and biography , and the difference between biography and autobiography and memoir .

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What is a Biography?

A biography is a detailed account of a person’s life written by someone else. It provides an in-depth look at the individual’s experiences, accomplishments, and the impact they have had on others and society. Biographies often involve extensive research, including interviews, letters, diaries, and other personal documents to ensure accuracy.

Read More Biography – Neeraj Chopra Biography | Swapnil Kusale Biography | Manu Bhaker Biography | Manika Batra Biography

Key Characteristics of a Biography

• Third-Person Perspective: A biography is written from an outsider’s viewpoint, meaning the author writes about someone else. This perspective helps provide an objective look at the person’s life.
• Research-Based: Writing a biography involves gathering information from various sources such as interviews, letters, diaries, and other personal documents. This thorough research ensures the biography is accurate and detailed.
• Objective: A biography strives to present an unbiased account of the person’s life. The author aims to tell the story as it happened, without personal opinions influencing the narrative.
• Comprehensive: Biographies cover significant events and influences in the person’s life. This includes major achievements, struggles, relationships, and any other important aspects that shaped the person’s life.

Examples of Famous Biographies

• This biography details the life of Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple Inc., providing insight into his innovative thinking and impact on technology.
• Although often considered a primary source, it serves as a biographical account of Anne Frank’s life during the Holocaust, offering a poignant glimpse into her experiences.
• This comprehensive biography covers the life and legacy of Alexander Hamilton, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, and inspired the popular musical “Hamilton.”
• A detailed account of Winston Churchill’s life, exploring his role as a leader during World War II and his impact on British and world history.
• This biography of Albert Einstein provides a thorough examination of his scientific achievements and personal life.

What is an Autobiography?

An autobiography is a self-written account of the author’s life. It provides a personal perspective on the events and experiences that shaped the author’s life. Autobiographies offer insight into the author’s thoughts, feelings, and motivations, often providing a more intimate look at their life.

Key Characteristics of an Autobiography

• First-Person Perspective: An autobiography is written from the author’s own viewpoint. The author tells their own life story, sharing personal experiences and insights.
• Personal Insight: This type of writing offers an intimate look into the author’s thoughts and feelings. The author provides a personal perspective on the events that have shaped their life.
• Subjective: Since an autobiography is based on the author’s own experiences and perceptions, it reflects their personal views and emotions. It is inherently subjective, providing a personal narrative rather than an objective account.
• Chronological: Autobiographies typically follow a timeline from the author’s birth to the present. This chronological structure helps readers understand the sequence of events in the author’s life.

Examples of famous Autobiographies

• Helen Keller narrates her experiences overcoming the challenges of being deaf and blind, and her journey towards education and advocacy.
• Mandela recounts his life, including his struggle against apartheid in South Africa, his imprisonment, and his role in the country’s transition to democracy.
• This autobiography details Angelou’s early years, touching on themes of racism, identity, and literacy.
• Malcolm X shares his life story, from his troubled childhood to his role as a prominent civil rights leader.
• Former First Lady Michelle Obama discusses her life, from her childhood in Chicago to her experiences in the White House.

Key Differences Between Biography and Autobiography

Biography and autobiography are two ways of telling the life story of an individual. While both formats provide a detailed account of a person’s life and experiences, they differ significantly in their approach and perspective.

• Perspective: The primary difference between a biography and an autobiography is the perspective from which the story is told. A biography is written by an author who is not the subject of the story, providing an external viewpoint. On the other hand, an autobiography is written by the individual themselves, offering a first-person narrative of their own life.
• Authorship: In a biography, the author conducts thorough research to compile a detailed account of another person’s life. This process involves interviewing the subject (if possible), consulting historical records, and gathering information from various sources to ensure accuracy. Conversely, in an autobiography, the author recounts their own life experiences, thoughts, and feelings, providing a personal and intimate view of their journey.
• Objectivity: Biographies strive to maintain objectivity, presenting a balanced and unbiased portrayal of the subject’s life. The biographer aims to provide a comprehensive and accurate narrative based on research and multiple sources. Autobiographies, however, are inherently subjective, as the author shares their own experiences, memories, and emotions, which are influenced by their personal perspective.
• Scope: Biographies often cover the entirety of a person’s life, from birth to death, or from significant milestones to major achievements. They may also explore the subject’s background, upbringing, and the broader historical or social context. In contrast, autobiographies focus on the author’s own life, offering in-depth insights into their personal experiences, relationships, and reflections.
• Narrative Style: Biographies are typically written in the third person, using names or pronouns to refer to the subject. This style helps the author maintain a level of detachment and objectivity. Autobiographies are written in the first person, with the author directly addressing the reader using personal pronouns like “I” and “me,” creating a more intimate and personal narrative.
• Purpose: Biographies are often written to provide a comprehensive account of a notable person’s life, contributing to historical or cultural understanding. They aim to analyze the subject’s impact, influence, and significance in a particular field or era. Autobiographies allow individuals to tell their own stories, sharing their unique perspectives, personal growth, and life lessons with readers.

What is the Difference Between Biography and Autobiography?

The main difference between biography and autobiography lies in authorship and perspective. A biography is written by someone other than the subject, providing an external viewpoint, whereas an autobiography is written by the subject, offering a personal narrative.

Biography vs. Autobiography

Difference Between Biography and Autobiography and Memoir

Memoirs are a sub-genre that often causes confusion when discussing the difference between biography and autobiography and memoir . Memoirs focus on specific events or periods in the author’s life, rather than providing a comprehensive account.

Key Characteristics of a Memoir

• Focus: A memoir concentrates on particular experiences or periods in the author’s life, rather than covering their entire life story. It highlights specific events that had a significant impact on the author.
• Subjective: Like autobiographies, memoirs reflect personal memories and feelings. They provide the author’s personal take on the events they are recounting.
• First-Person Perspective: Memoirs are written by the person who experienced the events. This first-person perspective allows for a personal and intimate narrative, sharing the author’s unique experiences and insights.

Biography vs. Autobiography vs. Memoir

Examples of famous Memoirs

• A powerful memoir of Wiesel’s experiences in Nazi concentration camps during the Holocaust.
• Gilbert recounts her journey around the world in search of self-discovery and healing following a difficult divorce.
• A memoir by a neurosurgeon who reflects on his life and career after being diagnosed with terminal lung cancer.
• Walls narrates her unconventional and often tumultuous childhood, highlighting themes of resilience and family dynamics.
• Westover describes her upbringing in a strict and abusive household in rural Idaho and her pursuit of education, which ultimately led to her earning a PhD from Cambridge University.

Understanding what is the difference between autobiography and biography and the distinctions involving memoirs can enhance your appreciation of these literary forms. A biography provides an outsider’s comprehensive perspective on a person’s life, an autobiography offers a personal narrative from the subject’s point of view, and a memoir delves into specific life experiences of the author. Each form offers unique insights and contributes to our understanding of individuals and their journeys.

Biography vs. Autobiography vs. Memoir FAQs

Can a memoir be biographical.

Yes, a memoir can be biographical as it covers real events in the author's life, but it focuses on personal experiences and reflections.

What are the similarities between memoir and biography?

Both memoirs and biographies tell the story of a person's life and provide insights into their experiences and achievements.

Should I write a memoir or autobiography?

If you want to focus on specific events or periods in your life, write a memoir. If you want to cover your entire life story, write an autobiography.

Which statement best reflects the difference between a memoir and a biography?

A memoir is written by the person about their own experiences, while a biography is written by someone else about another person's life.

How to write a biography and autobiography?

To write a biography, research the subject extensively and present an objective account. For an autobiography, reflect on your personal experiences and narrate them from your perspective.

Why is it called a biography?

It's called a biography because it is an account of someone's life written by another person, derived from the Greek words 'bios' (life) and 'graphia' (writing).

Is a memoir an autobiography?

No, a memoir is not an autobiography. A memoir focuses on specific events or periods in the author's life, while an autobiography covers the author's entire life story.

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Biography, Autobiography, and Memoir: What is the Difference?

Apr. 4th, 2022

If you have a true story you would like to tell, it is important to decide how you want to tell it. What is the difference between a biography, autobiography, and a memoir? We will discuss each form of nonfiction storytelling in this blog. 

A biography is one’s life story written by someone other than themself. Often, someone chooses a biographer to tell their story after careful consideration. People want to make sure their biographer is a writer who can tell their story well. Authors can also write biographies about a figure they are interested in without that person’s official consent. Biographies can be about any person, living or dead, famous or simply a regular person with a fascinating tale.

A biographer spends time interviewing with their subject, conducting research, and also speaking to people who know the subject in order to form a full picture of their life. Factual accuracy is important in biographies. While factual accuracy is important, it is also essential to write in a way that flows nicely rather than a laundry list of facts. Biographies still use structures found in fiction such as scenes and characterization in order to accomplish this. Summarize when appropriate, but use action scenes to describe important events.

Biographies are broad in scope, focusing on most of a subject’s life or a certain long period of their life. They are heavily structured, usually in chronological order. The biographer uses a bird’s eye view – third person perspective – to tell the story of their subject. That way, they themselves do not become a character in the story. 

If you would prefer to tell your life story on your own terms, then an autobiography may be right for you.

Autobiography

An autobiography is one’s life story as told by themselves. Autobiographies have all the traits of biographies, except the writer is telling their own story. As an autobiographer, a writer will use first person point of view. Speaking from your own perspective will lend your autobiography more credibility. Like biographies and fiction, autobiographies utilize scenes and characterization to tell the story in a way that is compelling, rather than simply reciting facts. 

However, it is still important to be factually accurate so your whole story lines up. If you would like to delve deeper into how something felt rather than how it happened in a literal sense, perhaps a memoir is a better choice.

A memoir is a nonfiction story that centers on one event or period in someone’s life, rather than a longer period or their whole life. Memoirs often use the same literary devices as fiction stories and poetry in order to make them more dynamic and compelling. As creative nonfiction, memoirs deal in finer detail than biographies and autobiographies. Authors attempt to convey their feelings. They talk about how an experience changed them. They focus on sensory details and crafting a unique narrative voice.

In memoir, the accuracy of how an event might have happened takes a backseat to how that event felt to the writer. Most importantly, a memoir attempts to reach a universal appeal through one’s own experience. While your experience may be something that only happened to you, it will be relatable to your audience. 

Ultimately, which format you decide will, in many ways, determine the course of your book. Therefore, it is important to choose wisely.

Sources consulted: Author Learning Center

For more tips on nonfiction writing, check out this blog.  

Have a biography, autobiography, or memoir you would like to publish? Contact us!

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Memoir vs Biography: Difference and Comparison

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Non-fiction stories about a person’s life can be daunting to write, but it helps if you know which format you want to write in it. There are three major formats, namely, memoirs, biographies, and autobiographies.

Key Takeaways A memoir is a personal account of the author’s experiences and memories, focusing on specific events or periods. A biography is a detailed, factual account of someone’s life written by someone other than the subject. Memoirs contain subjective perspectives and emotional reflections, while biographies strive for objectivity and historical accuracy.

Memoir vs Biography

Memoir is an essay or historical account written about the life events and experiences of a person by that person, and it focuses on the emotions and feelings of the writer. Biography is a type of non-fiction writing that gives an objective, historically accurate account of a person’s life in the third person.

Its scope focuses more on individual and specific events or experiences while giving insight into the person’s personal thoughts.

They include all accurate facts consisting of the key details that tend to shape the person’s life, like their relationships, education, family, etc. It is written in the third person point of view and objectively.

Similar Reads

• Biography vs Auto-Biography: Difference and Comparison
• Bibliography vs Biography: Difference and Comparison

Comparison Table

What is Memoir?

A memoir originates from ‘ mémoire,’  a French word that means memory or reminiscence. It is written about a person’s life events and experiences by that person themselves.

A memoir tends to focus more on reflecting and exploring the emotions and feelings of the subject during specific events or experiences.

It is written from the first-person point of view because it is written from the author’s perspective. One defining feature of a memoir is its scope. Memoirs tend to focus on specific aspects or experiences like parenting, childhood, work experience, relationships, etc.

They tell a true story about a person, but they also focus on giving an engaging narrative to the audience.

There is no strict structure or timeline that a memoir sticks to. It just focuses more on the emotional and informal side of the events.

What is Biography?

A biography is a piece of non-fiction writing work that gives an objective account of a person’s entire life. It will include all the key details about that person, like their education, work, relationships, family background, birthplace, etc.

A biography will present historically accurate facts about the person’s life along with a multi-faceted picture of their experience. In-depth research is required to make the information as accurate as possible.

Biographies are written in the third person point of view since the author is different from the subjects. The intonation of the biography is also more formal and objective.

Usually, the events are organized in chronological order, but sometimes the author may organize them based on themes or accomplishments.

Main Differences Between Memoir and Biography

• The scope of a memoir is constricted to specific events, whereas the scope of a biography includes the entire timeline of a person’s life.
• A memoir tends to present information according to the person’s experiences. On the other hand, a biography contains the information collected from the subject, their family, friends, acquaintances, or other trusted sources.

• https://books.google.co.in/books?hl=en&lr=&id=DrJrCy3hL-oC&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=memoir+and+biography&ots=6flHphUDzD&sig=net6_JmN_LK9yKuxLY2Pc6iE3x4&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=memoir%20and%20biography&f=false
• https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/2477/

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By Emma Smith

Emma Smith holds an MA degree in English from Irvine Valley College. She has been a Journalist since 2002, writing articles on the English language, Sports, and Law. Read more about me on her bio page .

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• Key Differences

Know the Differences & Comparisons

Difference Between Autobiography and Memoir

While an autobiography covers the entire life of the writer, the memoir is about a part of life of the writer. Read the article provided below, in which substantial differences between autobiography and memoir are explained in detail.

Content: Autobiography Vs Memoir

Comparison chart, similarities.

Definition of Autobiography

Autobiography is a detailed account of an individual’s life, written or told by that individual himself. It is an abbreviated summary written in chronological order, that tells one’s experience in life, like the highs and lows, in different phases like childhood, adulthood and so on. Usually, they are written in the first person, ‘I’ and in this way the writer can easily express his views on the life events.

An autobiography can be written by the subject or the subject may hire a ghost writer, to write for them. It can be in the form of books, audio recording, drama, skit, documentaries or movies.

Definition of Memoir

The word ‘memoir’ is a French term which refers to reminiscence or remembrance. It is a memory written by the subject himself, in real time that presents a moral or message to the readers. It aims to explain how the subject learned a lesson from his experience or how he changed himself. The author of the memoir is called memorist. It covers a specific section, stage or time of the author’s life, that cause him to change like a turning point or a failure, etc.

A memoir is a less formal, often friendly work, which is supposed to cover the details that are accurate and facts based. It is structure-less i.e. it can begin at any point.

Key Differences Between Autobiography and Memoir

The significant differences between autobiography and memoir are described in the points given below:

• A form of literature, in which the subject writes or narrates his own life story, is known as Autobiography. The memoir is a literary genre, which is a collection of memories, written by the individual on the incidents and events occurred to him in his life.
• An autobiography contains intricate details about the life events of the subject. On the other hand, a memoir is more centralised in nature which focuses on the specific events that happened to the author.
• An autobiography covers the entire life of the subject, but a memoir spans a particular section or time or stage, of the memoirist’s life.
• An autobiography is written in first or third person, whereas a memoir is written in the first person.
• An autobiography focuses on all events of the life of the protagonist. In contrast, memoir, focuses on exploring any particular event or incident in depth, which is important to the memorist.
• An autobiography follows a chronological order while a memoir is structure-less i.e. it does not follow any order like a novel, it can start at any point.
• Nonfictional literary genre.
• Written by the subject himself.
• Written in the first person.

A memoir is recognised as a subgenre of the biography and autobiography. The basic difference between these two literary forms is that an autobiography is a story of a life that contains all the details of the life of the main character like birthplace, education, work, relationship, etc. of the subject. On the other hand, memoir focuses on a specific aspect of the lead character’s life.

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Gracious! what an extraordinary post which I appreciated the most. Gratitude for sharing!

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Memoir, Biography, Narrative Nonfiction—How Are They Different?

Posted by Lisa Dale Norton | Feb 1, 2019 | Writing Insights | 0 |

Here we are in February, the time of year when we throw ourselves back into writing the story of our life. The end of the year, with its deepening dark and circle of celebrations, distracts. But now, we begin again, clawing our way through the relentlessness of the information cycle to a quiet rhythm of shaping words, and asking fundamental questions: What is a memoir? How is it different from biography, and how are both related to that thing called narrative nonfiction?           

Here’s my take on it:

Memoir is a story based on your life experience and what you have learned from it.

It is a winnowing of all that has happened into a tight view of a slim section of experience: the coming of age years; the head-spinning start of a career; early motherhood. But always, it is a winnowing of the vast, complicated arc of events that has constituted your life. Narrow, narrow, narrow. Find one series of events that linked together explores some vulnerable and pressing universality of life.

Biography is all about you, too—and all is the correct word. This is where you get to write about where you were born, and what went on during your young years, leaving home, setting out to make your way in the world, love, relationship, work, loss—the whole canvas.

See how biography is different from memoir?

Of course, we hope a biography will show us mistakes made and lessons learned—the vicissitudes that brought a woman to be who she is, pimples and all. We hope for some readers’ transformation as we witness the arc of that person’s life, but this is different from the expectations of the reader of memoir.

 The reader of memoir dives in for the short version, the lens of the camera zooming in to show the close up of just the years from 6 to 18, or just that summer your husband died, or just the college years that led to a Rhodes Scholarship, or just the years when you, through sheer fortitude, worked your way out of poverty, of just those events that came together to make you the vocal activist you are today. Slim focus. And from that slim focus a nugget of wisdom.

 Narrative nonfiction is a similar but slightly different beast.

This is a form where you might write about yourself and your experience a good deal, but you will also be teaching us something about the world. Maybe it’s the world of a dwindling tribe of the last subsistence whalers in the world (“The Last Whalers: Three Years in the Far Pacific with a Courageous Tribe and a Vanishing Way of Life” by Doug Bock Clark, recently published by Little, Brown and Company), so that the story ends up being about the writer’s experience getting the story, and about the nonfiction information itself.

We could say narrative nonfiction is the wedding of journalism and memoir, and while you may not be a journalist, you can do the same thing with your story by finding a topic that is central to your manuscript and making it an equal and parallel part of the story you write about yourself. Here’s a book where a writer did just that: “Don’t Make Me Pull Over: An Informal History of the Family Road Trip” (Simon & Schuster, 2018), which combined author Richard Ratay’s personal experiences with road trips, and the history of the American road trip from post-WWII to the 1970s.

See what I mean?

If you take the time to peruse the shelves of current nonfiction in your local book shop, you will see a lot of nonfiction with the author as player in the story. Why? Because we are a culture obsessed with the personal, the “I” of everything. Neither good nor bad, just ‘tis. And so, many contemporary nonfiction books give us the writer as a character and that character’s experience. But, they also give us information: the biologist who writes about his early days in the Galapagos, and Charles Darwin; the violinist who writes about becoming first chair of an orchestra, and the violin; the dog lover who writes about her dogs, and the industry of dog shows—two parallel stories that dip into and weave around each other giving us something fresh.

The name narrative nonfiction tells you everything you need to know: narrative, which means a story, and nonfiction, which refers to a topic from our world.

Can you find your project in this spectrum? Doing so now in February will make your writing year more productive, and make you more savvy about the marketplace.

About The Columnist

Lisa Dale Norton

Lisa Dale Norton is an author, developmental book editor, and a dynamic public speaker. She is passionate about layered writing structures in narrative nonfiction that reflect the complexity of life experience, and about the transformative power of writing a memoir. She is a gifted teacher, clear communicator, and a pro at creating an environment were learning can happen. Lisa wrote America’s go-to memoir writing guide, Shimmering Images: A Handy Little Guide to Writing Memoir (Macmillan), and the literary nonfiction story Hawk Flies Above: Journey to the Heart of the Sandhills (Picador USA), which won comparisons to the writing of Annie Dillard. https://lisadalenorton.com/

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Difference Between Memoir and Biography

• Categorized under Words | Difference Between Memoir and Biography

Memoir vs Biography

What is the difference between a biography and a memoir? Both biographies and memoirs tell the stories of a person’s life. They are generally found in the format of a book, which is where the original meaning is used, but it may also be observed taking the modern shape of a movie or video documentary. It might be said that you are “reading a biography of George Washington and then you will watch the movie, that is also a biography of his life”. You may also “read the memoirs of George Washington, that he wrote while fighting the Revolutionary War”. The differences between the usage of ‘biography’ and ‘memoir’ are technical, but important to know and understand for correct usage.

A biography gives a general account of the events of someone’s life. Most published or filmed biographies are about historical figures or famous people. A biography generally starts with a person’s childhood. It may even begin the telling of the story before the person was born, in order to better understand the person’s family situation or the events in the lives of the person’s parents. A biography ends with the person’s death, or if they are still alive, with a momentous event or current situation in their life. It chronicles or tells the events in their life in the order that they happened. It may have commentary, discussion or interpretation on the events in a person’s life, but it mostly focuses on factual or historical evidence. An autobiography is a biography that someone has written about their own life in a similar manner as a biography. This may be published while they are still alive or posthumously, after the person has died.

A memoir focuses on certain memories, experiences or particular aspects of someone’s life. It is less broad and less general than a biography. A memoir is written by the person it is about or written by a professional writer at the request of the person. Usually a memoir has more of a focus on emotions and feelings rather than merely an account of chronological events, such as an autobiography would tell. It may not be based on factual event as much as the person wanting their audience to understand ‘their side of the story’, or their perception of how they were affected by events. Because of this, there is also a more anecdotal, or story-like tone to the writing. It may also be that the person’s account is of a particular noteworthy or famous historical event that is based on their personal knowledge or experience, such as a soldier’s memoir about surviving World War II in a prisoner of war camp.

So when trying to decide whether a story about someone’s life is a biography or a memoir, keep in mind who wrote the story, what does the story tell, how it is written, and what the meaning or purpose the author had in mind when writing the story.

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Cite APA 7 Hutchinson, A. (2016, June 8). Difference Between Memoir and Biography. Difference Between Similar Terms and Objects. http://www.differencebetween.net/language/words-language/difference-between-memoir-and-biography/. MLA 8 Hutchinson, Aaron. "Difference Between Memoir and Biography." Difference Between Similar Terms and Objects, 8 June, 2016, http://www.differencebetween.net/language/words-language/difference-between-memoir-and-biography/.

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The Difference between Memoir and Autobiography

The words 'memoir' and 'autobiography' are both used to describe written accounts of a person's life that are written by the person themselves. Sometimes the words are used interchangeably to mean "a written history of a person's life." Sometimes 'memoir' is used to mean something different.

An autobiography is an account of a person's entire life, but a memoir usually is only about one part of a person's life. A memoir might be about a person's struggles with homelessness or addiction, or about their adventures traveling the world, or about their experience becoming an actor.

A narrative about a person's life from birth or early childhood is usually called an autobiography. A narrative about a specific period of a person's life or a specific experience is usually called a memoir.

I hope this helps.

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September 13, 2024 by Betsy Bird Leave a Comment

On Writing Memoir and NOT Autobiography: A Ruth Chan Q&A on Uprooted

September 13, 2024 by Betsy Bird   Leave a Comment

CLICK IMAGES TO SEE LARGER VERSION (WHEN AVAILABLE)

Filed under:

When I was at the last American Library Association Annual Conference this past June I had a few goals in mind. One of them was to get my hands on a certain graphic novel that was getting all kinds of attention. Called Uprooted by Ruth Chan, the book falls squarely into the graphic memoir genre that’s been doing so well since the rise of Raina Telgemeier’s Smile . Ruth Chan has always been better known for her work on picture books like How Old Is Mr. Tortoise? or Have You Seen Gordon? Now she’s come out with a book that has garnered five (count ’em) five starred reviews with praise like, “Earnest, funny, and evocative,” from Kirkus and, “A truly uplifting read” from SLJ .

The plot as the publisher describes it is:

“Ruth Chan loves her hometown in Toronto, hanging out with her best friends for life, and snacking on ketchup flavored potato chips, which are the best. What Ruth doesn’t love is having to move to Hong Kong after her dad gets a new job there. Her mom is excited to reunite with her family, but it’s not the same for Ruth. In Hong Kong, her classes are harder, her Cantonese isn’t good enough, and her parents are never around. Ruth feels lonely and completely uprooted. But as Ruth’s dad tells stories about her family, about how they relied on their strength, courage, and each other to survive the most difficult times, Ruth realizes that she too can be strong. Gradually, she puts down roots, knowing that home will always be where her heart is.”

I never got a copy of the book at ALA but at least I had a chance to talk to Ruth now about the book and the process of making it:

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Betsy Bird: Ruth! I’m so pleased I get a chance to talk to you about this book. I would have said hi at ALA but your line was approximately 5 miles long, full of people clamoring to get their hands on this title. In any case, your book is fantastic. Now you explain this a bit in your Author’s Note at the end, but for the uninitiated, where did this book come from?

Ruth Chan: Hi Betsy! I saw you from a distance at some point at ALA and wished I had had time to run over to you to say hi too. Alas!

Anyway, thank you for the kind words about Uprooted ! The book originally started as a love letter to my family and our history, including the story of my father’s birth while fleeing their home during the Sino-Japanese war. Very quickly, I began incorporating my own story as I realized how years of hearing my grandmother and aunt recount this story of survival had shaped my values. In the end, Uprooted tells of my move from Canada to Hong Kong when I was a teen while interweaving the story of my father’s birth. There’s a lot of 13-yr-old life happening in the book, from making friends to liking (many) boys, to trying to speak a language I was unfamiliar with. In both stories, there is a quest for belonging and finding out what a home means, while learning how to tackle hardship with courage, perseverance, and patience.

BB: You’ve done many a fine picture book in your day, but a graphic novel memoir feels like an entirely different beast. You undoubtedly had some idea of what you were getting yourself into, but surely there were surprises along the way. What was the process like for you overall?

Ruth: Oh boy. I thought I was prepared. I was not. I knew it would be a lot of work– emotionally and physically– but I hadn’t quite anticipated how hard it would be to craft a story that is memoir (and more than 32 pages in length!). Trying to tell a story as an adult looking back on myself as a child felt very strange. It was a mental exercise to write as “little Ruth’s” 13-yr-old voice and not that of “adult Ruth” reflecting on her past. I also wanted to include all the details, all the back stories, all the funny moments, all the relationships of that time because that’s how I remember it. But my wise agent, Rebecca Sherman, reminded me that I’m writing a memoir not an autobiography, and that I could always make another book about other stories I couldn’t fit in this book.

Another surprise– I didn’t think I’d be watching so many TV series and Netflix Christmas romance movies while working on the final art for this book. Final art is a great stage in the process because you’re just drawing over sketches and your brain can turn off. I think I watched 8-10 hours of TV a day. Eventually, I finally figured out I can listen to audio books too. Who knew!

BB: Living the dream! So to get back to what you were saying about your father and the Sino-Japanese war, the book does an excellent job of introducing a family history where the contemporary kid has to understand that the family that came before suffered, escaped, and survived in ways she never could. I was admiring how deftly you included that serious information alongside the lighter stuff. How did you find the right balance for this book?

Ruth: This was a little big of a struggle for me because it felt disrespectful to claim my 13-yr-old problems were akin to those that my family suffered during a war. But the two stories also naturally aligned in the form of Talk-to-Talks, the bedtime chats I’d have with my dad. Talk-to-Talks offered the space for both of us to share our stories, for me to learn from my family history, and to feel seen and heard. Having Talk-to-Talk scenes throughout the book helped me tell the story of my family while keeping the book funny and relevant to the reader.

BB: I’m always curious when folks do fictionalized memoirs, how much they keep the same from their life and how much they change. What were some of the key points in this book that you absolutely had to get on the page? And what did you feel okay changing along the way?

Ruth: The big scenes in the book (e.g. meeting Bonnie for the first time, or the climax of the book where I explode at my parents) still hold an emotional sharpness to this day so those are the scenes I knew had to be as accurate as I remembered them. Being such a slice-of-life book very much embedded in the time and geography, I also wanted to make sure the environments were accurate, whether that was the inside of the school or the Hong Kong skyline in 1993. Thank goodness I was an extremely sentimental teen and took photos of everything.

The things I changed along the way are things I felt weren’t the most crucial to the heart and soul of the book but would help move the story along, like changing a bit of the timeline or condensing a few moments into one.

BB: Were there any scenes or elements that you wanted to include but that eventually fell out of the book along the way?

Ruth: So many! But the one story I wish there was enough room to fit in was the epilogue to my dad’s birth story. When my dad was 13, he remembers his mother (my grandmother) bringing him to see one of the friends who had told her to throw my dad away upon his premature birth. My grandmother said, “You remember when you told me to give up on my child? Well look at him now!” My dad remembers standing as straight and as tall as he possibly could in front of this friend. It’s our family’s Pretty Woman “Big Mistake” moment.

BB: Hey, every family should have one. Last but not least, what’s next for you? What else can we expect? And is there a chance for any more comics in the future?

Ruth: I’m currently working on a second graphic memoir! When my mom read an early version of Uprooted and saw that a lot of it centered around my relationship with my dad, she jokingly asked, “When are you going to make a book about me?” Well, mom, your wish is my command. This second book will focus on the relationship between my mom, me, and her OCD, and what it means for a teen to be a ‘good daughter’. It’ll also take place in Hong Kong and I’m already questioning why I’m choosing to draw dozens of complicated building landscapes again. But being to hold Uprooted in my hands– I have to say, it’s all worth it in the end!

Big thanks to Ruth for taking the time to talk to me today. Thanks too to Morgan Rath and the team at Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for helping to put this together. Uprooted is on shelves now.

Filed under: Interviews

About Betsy Bird

Betsy Bird is currently the Collection Development Manager of the Evanston Public Library system and a former Materials Specialist for New York Public Library. She has served on Newbery, written for Horn Book, and has done other lovely little things that she'd love to tell you about but that she's sure you'd find more interesting to hear of in person. Her opinions are her own and do not reflect those of EPL, SLJ, or any of the other acronyms you might be able to name. Follow her on Twitter: @fuseeight.

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