Life as a teenager can sometimes seem gravely serious, but that doesn't mean the memoir needs to be. Try writing a very tough or serious scene as a humorous piece. Adding humor can also help the voice of the memoir become more likable, because it shows you can laugh in the face of adversity. Or if the scene is inherently emotional, try distancing the voice and stating details in a matter-of-fact manner. Trying different tones will help you understand which one works best for the memoir.
When recalling details for a teen memoir, it's easy to focus on only one detail, like the way something looks, but mixing up sensory details can help add variety to the piece. Try to recall an event or situation and use all five senses -- smell, taste, hearing, touch and sight -- when describing the scene. If you have the opportunity to revisit the scene, go back and see if your memory captured the correct sensory details.
Starting with too much backstory or before the real meat of the tale begins can slow down the pacing and fail to hook the reader early on, which can be most critical. Try starting your story later in your pages. If your memoir is about how you survived a bank robbery, you could open with the gunman telling everyone to get on the floor, or if your story is of a car wreck, start with the wreck or even the ambulance arriving. This might prove to be too late for your story and set-up might be required, but it will let you know exactly when the real action begins.
It can be terrifying to think of certain people reading your memoir, especially parents, friends or even your teacher. But to write an effective teen memoir, you have to be willing to write the dark details and events. You have to be truthful with your words, even if they might hurt others to read. Sometimes that section might not be necessary, but you won't know until you write it. When you're first writing your teen memoir, find a safe place to keep your words private. You can even use a jump drive to store your information and encrypt it with a password. Keeping your work private until you're ready to show it allows you to see how truthful you can be. Don't censor yourself until you're revising.
Sometimes exposition is necessary, but often it slows the pacing and fails to engage the reader. Take a section of narration and see if you can put it into scene. Or if the exposition took place as a conversation, try to see if you can put it into dialogue. Don't worry if every line is factual. As Adair Lara, author of "Naked, Drunk, and Writing," says, it's called creative nonfiction for a reason. Capturing the main details and the emotional truth can help keep your memoir moving and engaging to the reader.