Here are a few of my other favorite funny memoirs, because who couldn’t use more laughter in their lives these days? BUT the funny thing about writing a memoir is that it forces you to look at things differently, reconciling so many things you thought you had put to bed. He explains what it was like growing up in Johannesburg as the child of a Xhosa mother and a Swiss-German father. If you’re not familiar with Wong’s comedy, you should know that her subject matter and style are very adult. He reads some of it in the different languages he speaks, something I would have missed if I had not chosen to read this on audio. Sometimes there is nothing scarier than a stranger laughing loudly behind you, am I right? Huang does talk about some rough parts of his childhood, so it is not all laughter and successes. Get two audiobooks for the price of one, from your local indie bookstore. I was even interested in her thoughts about comedy writing, despite that fact that it is something I never plan to attempt in own my life. Can’t We Talk about Something More Pleasant? Keep in mind that he was born before apartheid ended so the book’s title is not an exaggeration. However, if you are hoping for a detailed recounting of Noah’s rise to fame, you will have to wait for another book. She can also be a bit graphic, so perhaps not the best to listen to around sensitive audiences (or just around anyone scared by really loud laughter). In doing so I’ve realised that being “unfinished” has deeper meaning for me, and has in fact been one of the most common threads of my life,” she wrote. Thank you for signing up! Here are a few of my other favorite funny memoirs, because who couldn’t use more laughter in their lives these days? Yang’s memoir reminded me some of Eddie Huang’s Fresh Off the Boat, another book I did not expect to enjoy as much as I did. Bossypants by Tina Fey. While I still find the cover slightly disturbing, I really enjoyed her musings. Without meaning to, I have probably read or listened to at least 10 or more memoirs from stand-up comedians. It was good and I say that as someone who does not like romantic comedies much. Without a clear vision, trying to write a memoir will likely end in disaster. From deciding on a theme to structuring your story, these writing tips can guide you as you write a short memoir: Find your theme. Somehow I realized a few years ago that I have read quite a few funny memoirs, mostly from stand-up comedians. Your memoir should be written as if the entire book is a snapshot of one theme of your life. is a graphic memoir. It was very cool to listen to him. Both funny and brutal is the way I remember it. While I still find the cover slightly disturbing, I really enjoyed her musings. I would also put in a plug for her movie Always be My Maybe. Watch repetitions. Describe one of your earliest childhood memories. It definitely looks like something that would make me laugh. Outline Your Book. If you're a Tina Fey fan, chances are you've already read … While I have read a few other funny memoirs like The Awkward Thoughts of W. Kamau Bell, I am glad there are more funny books left to discover. There’s … 3. Memoirists draw on real-life personal stories to explore a theme, as Joan Didion does with grief in... Start in the action. I laughed so hard I stopped listening in public so as not frighten others with my unexpected chortling. I enjoyed learning about his life and how his stand-up comedy developed, and I was not expecting that. A few years ago I also listened to Jimmy O. Yang’s How to American and loved it too. Another memoir I listened to and enjoyed is Ali Wong’s Dear Girls. He focuses mainly on his life before he became the host of the Daily Show. Suffice it to say that it was complicated for him. Also be forewarned that he is frank about family violence. When Tina Fey’s Bossypants came out, I was already a fan of her comedy so I definitely wanted to read her book. How old were you? Noah is also multilingual, so I highly recommend the audio. Even as you narrow your focus, we also need to think bigger in our writing pursuits. If a character cries … There is a lot of love and huge amounts of anxiety in this one—and a lot of yelling. However, his book is phenomenal. When Tina Fey’s Bossypants came out, I was already a fan of her comedy so I definitely wanted to read her book. A great way to do this is to interview people you were … For example, I have not gotten around to Issa Rae’s The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl and I somehow missed Samantha Irby’s new book Wow, No Thank You until recently. Click Here To Buy. Narrow your focus Or... 2. As someone who is most definitely never ever going to do stand-up comedy, I have still really enjoyed these. The third time you do something, it has the opposite meaning. It probably started with Steve Martin’s Born Standing Up; at least that is the first one I remember finding funny. She is very honest about both the wildly absurd moments and the emotionally wrenching decisions that have to be made as her parents age. There is usually too much romance for my tastes. Include more than just your story Yang is someone I only discovered thanks to Silicon Valley (likewise Martin Starr, who is also hysterical in that series). Another memoir that mixed both humor and sadness, Roz Chast’s Can’t We Talk about Something More Pleasant? Although I liked Martin before I read his book, I was still pleasantly surprised. Chast is a cartoonist for The New Yorker and her book details her last years with her parents, both of whom lived well into their 90s. View this post on Instagram . I look forward to reading it and to snorting and chortling all the way through. Research the Period You’ll Be Writing About. How to write a memoir 1. Keep an eye on your inbox. 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