The Art of Memoir Disclosure: Writing Truth Without Regret

Protecting yourself while honoring your story

A bestselling author reveals the crucial technique that could have saved her years of internet harassment, plus practical tools every memoir writer needs before sharing their truth with the world.

Welcome into Flight School:

When my memoir Blackbird hit the bestseller lists, I wasn't prepared for what followed: years of internet harassment from someone claiming my truth wasn't true enough. Looking back, one simple technique could have prevented it all - a technique I now teach every memoir writer who studies with me.

The Truth About Truth

Can a memoir writer tell the whole-truth-and-nothing-but-the-truth-so-help-me? ✋

The answer is both no and yes. Truth is never fully accessible - even our own memories shift and change over time. Yet when we have facts, we can use them to ground our story. The challenge lies in acknowledging both realities.

A Cautionary Tale

After Blackbird's release, a former relative launched a campaign against me. First came friendly overtures through my therapist, then allegations of lying once the book found success. His primary argument? His memories differed from mine.

The irony? The very discrepancies he attacked - altered names, dates, and descriptions - were changes required by Simon & Schuster's legal department to protect identities. What five-year-old keeps documentation of abuse? Yet without proof, these changes were mandatory.

The Simple Solution

Here's what I wish I'd known then: the power of cueing your reader. Simple phrases like:

• "I imagine"

• "I would like to believe"

• "I don't remember exactly, but"

• "Perhaps"

These signal to readers that you're navigating the complex territory between memory and art. Add an author's note explaining that names and details have been altered to protect privacy, and you've created both legal and artistic protection for your work.

✍️Your Turn

Look at a difficult scene in your work-in-progress. Where could you add cues that acknowledge the complexity of memory? Share how this changes the feeling of your piece.

Remember: These aren't disclaimers - they're invitations for readers to understand how memory and art work together to create meaning.

~ Jennifer, 🐦‍⬛