Should I include scenes and dialogue in my book/memoir?

Day 6 of 30 Bestselling Book Tips for Writing Your Life Story

Including scenes and dialogue in a memoir can make the book much more interesting because it reads like a novel or movie script. One of the most common comments I receive about my memoir is: I couldn’t put it down! Suspense and action are created by telling a compelling story — with dialogue, action and emotional content. Readers are drawn into the narrative, eagerly anticipating each twist and turn as if they were watching a thrilling drama unfold before their eyes.

By vividly describing your experience and helping readers to “walk in your shoes” you make the book more impactful and engaging. Readers become more than passive observers; they are active participants in your journey, connecting with the experiences on a deeper level and forming a lasting bond with the story being told. This immersive experience fosters empathy and understanding. As a result, the memoir becomes more than just a collection of events; it becomes a shared journey that lasts long after the final page is turned.

The best resource I’ve used to become a better scene writer is: Story: Style, Structure, Substance, and the Principles of Screenwriting by Robert McKee. No one better understands how all the elements of a screenplay fit together, and no one is better qualified to explain the magic of story construction and the relationship between structure and character than Robert McKee. Thinking about my memoir like a movie was the best way to image the chapters scene by scene and bring the characters to life. Maybe someday, my books will even be adapted to the screen. Fingers crossed. 

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