Memoir Writing Mistakes: Why “This Happened, Then This Happened” Isn’t a Memoir with Wendy Dale

Send us Fan Mail This week, I’m joined by Wendy Dale, the author of The Memoir Engineering System, for a conversation that will change the way you think about structure, scenes, and what actually makes a memoir work. We talk about why “this happened, then this happened” isn’t a story, how connected events create momentum, and why your job as a memoirist isn’t just to show—but to transport your reader. If you’ve ever felt stuck in the messy middle, overwhelmed by pages, or unsure how to shape your lived experience into a compelling narrative, this episode is for you. Episode Highlights 03:04 Wendy's Background 05:50 The "This Happened Then This Happened Problem 09:37 What Makes a Good Memoir 12:07 The Secret to Becoming a Great Writer 16:26 The Most Important Elements a Writer Must Consider 26:03 What Readers Really Want 33:15 The Real Work Scenes Must Do Resources for this Episode: Story Cure: A Book Doctor's Pain-Free Guide to Finishing Your Novel or Memoir by Dinty Moore Survival Math: Notes on an All-American Family by Mitchell Jackson What My Bones Know by Stephanie Foo Identify Your Memoir’s Essential Question Ditch Your Inner Critic Now Wendy’s Bio: Wendy Dale is the founder of Memoir Writing for Geniuses. She offers coaching and classes for newbies and professionals to write their memoirs using principles instead of a process of trial and error. Her memoir Avoiding Prison and Other Noble Vacation Goals was published by Three Rivers Press, a division of Penguin Random House. She is also the author of the book The Memoir Engineering System, the result of 15 years of research, which details a six-step process that allows writers to craft their memoirs from the ground up with no structural errors. Her motto is “Make your first draft your final draft.” Connect with Wendy: Website: www.geniusmemoirwriting.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@memoirwritingforgeniuses Sign up for Revise Your Memoir series: https://bit.ly/4ooLTDi Building Better Memoir Scenes: https://janefriedman.com/building-better-memoir-scenes-with-lisa-cooper-ellison/ Connect with your host, Lisa: Get Your Free Copy of Ditch Your Inner Critic: https://lisacooperellison.com/subscribe/ Website | Instagram | YouTube | Facebook | LinkedIn Produced by Espresso Podcast Production