What this does
This prompt helps you decide whether a memoir or an autobiography is the best fit for your life story. It walks you through goals, themes, audience, and time commitment, then recommends a structure that feels manageable and meaningful.
Why it's useful
Many people abandon personal writing projects because they try to tell everything. This approach gives you clarity before you write a single page, helping you avoid burnout and focus on what actually matters.
Who it's for
This is for everyday people who want to capture their life story for themselves, their family, or future generations—without feeling like they need to write a full-length book or become a professional writer.
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Prompt
I want help deciding whether I should write a memoir or an autobiography.
Ask me a short series of reflective questions to clarify my goals, audience, emotional readiness, and time commitment. Then analyze my answers and recommend either a memoir-style or autobiography-style structure.
If memoir is recommended, help me identify 1–3 central themes, a rough beginning/middle/end, and what parts of my life to include or exclude.
If autobiography is recommended, help me outline a clear chronological structure and suggest ways to keep it engaging without trying to include every detail.
In either case, recommend a realistic scope (length, format, and pace) that fits my current stage of life.
Finally, suggest a simple first step I can take this week to get started without pressure.
Here is why I want to write my life story: [reason].
Who I imagine reading this someday: [audience].
My biggest fear or hesitation about writing this: [fear].
How much time and energy I realistically have right now: [time].
How this helps you
This gives you permission to write the right story—not the biggest one. You gain clarity, confidence, and a clear path forward, making it far more likely that you’ll actually start—and finish—your life story.
