Want to tell your life story? Tucker Max is the guy to learn from. He's sold millions of memoirs. The ones you probably know about are about partying, women, and drinking. Now, as a changed man, he teaches people how to write their memoir. 17 lessons from our crazy honest chat: 1. A story is a record of change. 2. Tucker's #1 rule of memoir writing: Whenever you find yourself wondering about what you should say next, the answer is: "Tell the truth." 3. The purpose of a memoir isn’t to give a step-by-step account of exactly what happened. Rather, the purpose is to share your memory of what happened and write about what it felt like to experience those things. 4. There are two kinds of memoirs: (1) Tell your story and (2) Leave a legacy. If you’re going to write a memoir, get clear on which style you’re pursuing. 5. The goal of writing a ‘Tell your story’ memoir is to tell the truth about your life. 6. The goal of writing a ‘Leave a legacy’ memoir is to make people think a certain way 7. Struggling with dialogue? Try picturing it as a movie. Trying to be too true to the exact details of the conversation will hurt you. The point is to be truthful, not factual. 8. For every major event, answer three questions: (1) What happened? (2) How did it make you feel? (3) What happened next? 9. The best memoir writing is invisible, meaning the reader doesn’t notice it. They only see the story you’re telling. 10. The most interesting thing you can do is be honest. Or, as Kevin Kelly says: “Want to be interesting? Tell your story with uncommon honesty.” 11. The first time a reader buys your book, they buy it with their money. The second time they buy it, they buy it with their time. In fact, that’s the purpose of the introduction: to keep selling your reader after they’ve bought your book. 12. The best memoir writing is invisible, meaning the reader doesn’t notice it. They only see the story you’re telling. 13. You don’t need fancy language and impressive sentences to write a memoir. You simply need to focus on telling the truth. 14. Want to write funny sentences? Point out an absurdity that most people see but aren't willing to explicitly talk about. 15. Want to know who's in power? The people you're not allowed to make jokes about. 16. People won't read your memoir to learn about you. They'll read it to learn about themselves. 17. Bad dialogue usually happens because the writer is distorting the truth, either by lying to themselves or trying to make somebody sound a certain way.
I still have to do a lot of healing. But this conversation is definitely an aid to that. So much is being said that is insightful and helpful and i appreciate it.
Here are the time stamps: 1:26 Why Tucker Writes Memoirs 3:37 Memoir Writing as Therapy 8:49 Writing Celebrity Memoirs 11:30 The Two Kinds of Memoirs 14:22 Write a Slice of Your Life Story 16:51 Focus, focus, focus 20:13 The janitor’s crazy life story 22:29 What makes writing funny? 26:53 Why some memoirs are bad 30:03 Write from your scars, not your wounds 33:29 Should you keep a journal? 37:54 Anne Frank’s diary 41:38 Tucker’s memoir-writing algorithm 50:55 What to do when you’re in tears 56:01 Writing dialogue 1:00:06 Truth vs. fact vs. fiction 1:01:59 Should you try to be original? 1:04:42 How to title your memoir 1:07:22 Audiobooks for memoirs 1:09:26 David Goggins’ audiobook 1:11:54 Tucker’s #1 rule of memoir writing 1:13:40 How to build a writing habit 1:24:11 Writing your 1st draft 1:25:12 How to write about emotions 1:29:52 Writing an introduction 1:31:44 How to begin a memoir
Full disclosure. I know Tucker well and have hired him to help me write my memoir. As such, I can't fully eliminate the potential for justification bias. That said, I've experienced his authenticity first hand. I've seen what he shares in this episode about the therapeutic effect of memoir play out in my life.
Every time when there is a real example needed, he skipped it. I didn't hear much essence in his talking. It feels like he has to pause and think about how to organise his words all the time. It made me even think this is a paid interview from him because he need some exposure...hahah
![Chris Langan - The Interview THEY Didn't Want You To See - CTMU [Full Version; Timestamps]](/img/n.gif)
Want to tell your life story?
Tucker Max is the guy to learn from. He's sold millions of memoirs. The ones you probably know about are about partying, women, and drinking. Now, as a changed man, he teaches people how to write their memoir.
17 lessons from our crazy honest chat:
1. A story is a record of change.
2. Tucker's #1 rule of memoir writing: Whenever you find yourself wondering about what you should say next, the answer is: "Tell the truth."
3. The purpose of a memoir isn’t to give a step-by-step account of exactly what happened. Rather, the purpose is to share your memory of what happened and write about what it felt like to experience those things.
4. There are two kinds of memoirs: (1) Tell your story and (2) Leave a legacy. If you’re going to write a memoir, get clear on which style you’re pursuing.
5. The goal of writing a ‘Tell your story’ memoir is to tell the truth about your life.
6. The goal of writing a ‘Leave a legacy’ memoir is to make people think a certain way
7. Struggling with dialogue? Try picturing it as a movie. Trying to be too true to the exact details of the conversation will hurt you. The point is to be truthful, not factual.
8. For every major event, answer three questions: (1) What happened? (2) How did it make you feel? (3) What happened next?
9. The best memoir writing is invisible, meaning the reader doesn’t notice it. They only see the story you’re telling.
10. The most interesting thing you can do is be honest. Or, as Kevin Kelly says: “Want to be interesting? Tell your story with uncommon honesty.”
11. The first time a reader buys your book, they buy it with their money. The second time they buy it, they buy it with their time. In fact, that’s the purpose of the introduction: to keep selling your reader after they’ve bought your book.
12. The best memoir writing is invisible, meaning the reader doesn’t notice it. They only see the story you’re telling.
13. You don’t need fancy language and impressive sentences to write a memoir. You simply need to focus on telling the truth.
14. Want to write funny sentences? Point out an absurdity that most people see but aren't willing to explicitly talk about.
15. Want to know who's in power? The people you're not allowed to make jokes about.
16. People won't read your memoir to learn about you. They'll read it to learn about themselves.
17. Bad dialogue usually happens because the writer is distorting the truth, either by lying to themselves or trying to make somebody sound a certain way.
By far my favorite podcast. Can't wait to go through this episode! Your show has impacted me BIG TIME
Thank you!!
I still have to do a lot of healing.
But this conversation is definitely an aid to that. So much is being said that is insightful and helpful and i appreciate it.
Happy to hear it, thanks for watching/listening
Refreshing. Thank you for the candid convo
Amazing episode as always my man! Thankssssss waiting for the next one 👀
Here are the time stamps:
1:26 Why Tucker Writes Memoirs
3:37 Memoir Writing as Therapy
8:49 Writing Celebrity Memoirs
11:30 The Two Kinds of Memoirs
14:22 Write a Slice of Your Life Story
16:51 Focus, focus, focus
20:13 The janitor’s crazy life story
22:29 What makes writing funny?
26:53 Why some memoirs are bad
30:03 Write from your scars, not your wounds
33:29 Should you keep a journal?
37:54 Anne Frank’s diary
41:38 Tucker’s memoir-writing algorithm
50:55 What to do when you’re in tears
56:01 Writing dialogue
1:00:06 Truth vs. fact vs. fiction
1:01:59 Should you try to be original?
1:04:42 How to title your memoir
1:07:22 Audiobooks for memoirs
1:09:26 David Goggins’ audiobook
1:11:54 Tucker’s #1 rule of memoir writing
1:13:40 How to build a writing habit
1:24:11 Writing your 1st draft
1:25:12 How to write about emotions
1:29:52 Writing an introduction
1:31:44 How to begin a memoir
POV: Tucker and David pat each other on the back for an hour and a half.
Bring on Naval Ravikant already!
Did you know most of A. Frank's diary wasn't written by her? It was proved to be written in ball-point pen that wasn't invented until after her death.
I’m still trying to find a book better than Shantaram
That introduction >>>
disconcerting how conceited tucker is
Unfortunately I feel the dude is faking. somehow he doesn't sound true. What do others think.
Full disclosure. I know Tucker well and have hired him to help me write my memoir. As such, I can't fully eliminate the potential for justification bias. That said, I've experienced his authenticity first hand. I've seen what he shares in this episode about the therapeutic effect of memoir play out in my life.
Every time when there is a real example needed, he skipped it. I didn't hear much essence in his talking. It feels like he has to pause and think about how to organise his words all the time. It made me even think this is a paid interview from him because he need some exposure...hahah