Writing a Conclusion to a Memoir

Writing a Conclusion to a MemoirWhen writing a conclusion to a memoir, the writer may have some questions or doubts. Questions about how the process of writing a conclusion can influence the quality of the memoir. For instance, what type of impact does the decision to write a conclusion have on the story? Or, what is the value of a good ending if it's already written?Before the conclusion is written, there are a few things to consider, but once the conclusion is in place, the focus should be on finishing the memoir. I often ask myself if the decision to write a conclusion affects the story, the resulting book or more importantly, the person who was involved in the writing process.The answer is yes. Yes, it does. It's just not always easy to know exactly what that means, especially if you've been a prolific writer and author before you write a conclusion. In this case, my focus will be on the end product, the finished product. In other words, I won't worry about the process of writing a conclusion.The process of writing a conclusion has always been an ongoing process and involves, what I call, 'experiential thinking.' The first step in writing a conclusion to a memoir is to realize that writing a conclusion to a memoir is a part of the writing process, a step toward writing.So, what should I write? Should I use a pre-written outline, do I have to write it all myself? How do I determine what to write?Remember, we're all professionals, even when we're amateur writers. As professionals, we know what works and what doesn't and we also understand that the decisions to write a conclusion, to write a journal or to start another project, are influenced by a number of factors.In order to decide on the best way to go, it's important to understand what a 'best' is. Writing a conclusion to a memoir is a personal choice.Think about it; is it really the end of someone's memoir, or will it be the beginning of a new chapter in their life? I'm sure you get it now. So the answer to the question: What should I write, what should I write?