Writing Your Memoir: Should You Do It Yourself or Hire a Pro?

By Clémence R. Scouten  of Memoirs & More Family History Projects.

Memoir writing has never been more accessible. Self-publishing platforms have removed nearly every barrier between a life story and a finished book. Today, anyone can publish a book. The question is no longer whether you can — it's how you want to go about it. Do you tackle it yourself? Or do you bring in a professional? There's no single right answer, but understanding what each path involves makes the decision a lot clearer.

Let's break it down by the four main stages of any memoir project.

Stage 1: The Writing
This is where most memoir projects either succeed or stall. Writing is the most time-consuming part, and it's where the difference between telling a story and writing one becomes very apparent.
DIY works well if you: enjoy writing, are a confident communicator on the page, and have the time and discipline to sit with a blank document regularly. Journalists, teachers, and lifelong journal-keepers often do well going solo.
Working with a life story specialist makes sense if you: know what you want to say but not how to say it on the page; if you're a slow writer or have limited time; if you're not sure where to begin or how to organize the story. A specialist interviews you, does the writing, and shapes the narrative — while keeping it in your voice. Not being a natural writer is no reason to leave your story untold. It's a reason to find the right kind of help.

Stage 2: Photos and Illustrations
Almost every memoir is richer for having images — photographs of people and places, scanned letters, documents, artwork. Deciding what to include and preparing those files is its own project.
DIY works well if you: are comfortable scanning photos, managing digital files, and curating from family archives.
A specialist helps if you: don't have the time or inclination to sift through decades of family photos, or if you want something beyond standard photographs — custom illustrations, designed chapter openers, or a particular visual style.
Either way: always be on the lookout for a strong cover image. It's the one photo everyone cares about most.

Stage 3: Editing and Proofreading
This one is simple: no matter who writes your memoir, have someone else read it before it goes to print. You cannot catch your own typos. Nobody can. A proofreader is affordable and essential.

Deeper editing — feedback on structure, clarity, and flow — is a more personal choice. If you've written the manuscript yourself, having a trusted reader or professional editor review it before printing is always worthwhile. The difference between a draft and a polished memoir is usually in this stage.

Stage 4: Design and Printing
Modern print-on-demand services have made it genuinely possible to produce a professional-looking book from your own home. Services like Blurb, Lulu, and others walk you through layout, cover design, and ordering.
DIY works well if you: are comfortable with technology, enjoy the design process, and have patience for learning a new tool.
A service is worth it if you: have a specific vision for how the book should look, don't want to spend time learning software for a one-time project, or want a genuinely professional result.

So which path is right? Think of hiring a memoir writing service a bit like hiring a personal trainer. Some people do perfectly well working out on their own. Others need someone there to keep them accountable, guide the process, and get results that wouldn't have happened otherwise. Neither approach is a failure; they just suit different people.

The only memoir that fails is the one that never gets written.

Whatever path you choose, PHNN members can help. Some write full memoir manuscripts from interview. Some consult on structure and help you through the DIY process. Some specialize in editing and production. Browse the member directory at phnn.org to find the kind of support you need.
 

— Clémence R. Scouten is President of the Personal Historians Northeast Network (PHNN) and founder of Memoirs & More, a Philadelphia-based life story and family history service.
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