A narrative memoir begins with an idea. Choose a particular time in your life or an event that is memorable. Some people write about married life, college life, going through a divorce, serving as a missionary or serving in a war. A memoir can virtually be about any event or time period in your life. Narrative memoirs always have a specific purpose which is outlined in a thesis statement. This statement should summarize the main point or theme of the entire memoir.
When you begin to write about the chosen subject, start at the beginning. Explain the setting and the details of where you were when the event began. This allows the readers to understand the story from the beginning. After that, begin to logically and sequentially write the details and events about the subject. You do not have to include every detail; however, you should include the details that directly pertain to the subject. The memoir should contain an introduction, a body and a conclusion. Be sure to tie up any loose ends when writing the conclusion; which avoids leaving the reader wondering about anything.
A narrative memoir is similar to an autobiography, but is generally much shorter. It generally covers only a small portion of a person's life. Most memoirs include details of an event or time period filled with crises or problems of some kind. As the story proceeds, the writer includes details regarding how the particular crisis was resolved.
Some authors of memoirs choose to write the memoir by beginning with a main event that happened and then working their way back to the beginning. With this type of memoir, it is similar to flashbacks found in movies. A major point is emphasized and the details that led up to the event are explained later on throughout the narrative.