The next step is to add an introduction to your memoir. An introduction is a sentence at the beginning which lets your readers know that your memoir is loosely structured, for example: “These are the sayings my husband wrote to me about in letters while he was in the Navy.” If you have sections or segments (whether labeled or not), write a transition sentence at the beginning of each segment or section. A transition sentence gives the reader a heads-up that you are using a loose structure and gives coherence to your memoir. A transition sentence could be: “Oh, and another thing” or “Another time,” “There is also,” or “He also said” or “Nothing else meant more to me than…”

Alternatively, you could also put the sayings into a bulleted list. In this case, your introduction or transition sentence for the bulleted list could be something like, “Here are several of my favorite sayings:”

Finally, read through your memoir. Check whether your introductions and transitions add the right amount of coherence to what you’ve written. Will your audience be able to see that your memoir combines items which are loosely organized? Bear in mind that someone reading this in the future may not know you, or anything about you.

Let me know how things turn out. You’ve hit on a common problem and I’d love to share the solution with my readers.

http://www.thejewishpress.com/pageroute.do/37658

Please add my byline to this article.
Helen Zegerman Schwimmer

Thank you – I’ve had this book for many years from my grandmother and happened upon your website tonite….. Is this a relative????