Gather artifacts from your past that may help to clarify your memories. Memoirist Mary Clearman Blew describes how diaries, letters and conversations with her relatives have provided inspiration for her writing.
Select what you want to write about. As Patricia Hampl notes, "A memoirist must acquiesce to selectivity, like any artist." Choose episodes that both drive the narrative of your story and shed light on its meaning. Avoid repetition or details that do not contribute to the meaning of the story.
Outline your autobiography. Not all writers work well with an outline, but jotting down a list of chapters may help to keep you on track.
Focus on bringing the scene to life for your readers. As memoirist Peter M. Ives points out, each of your memories "is a story loaded with details, dialogue, and imagery." Rather than concentrating on the chronology of events, select vivid details that underlie your emotional reactions to the memory.
Scrutinize the truth and facts. Patricia Hampl recommends completing the first draft before revisiting what you've written and considering the truth of your memories. As Peter M. Ives observes in his essay "The Whole Truth," memories may be inaccurate and, while small errors cause no harm, you should be careful to avoid mischaracterizations that may hurt the people who appear in your writing.
Make editorial decisions. Writer Fern Kupfer notes that the story often requires altering the facts. For example, composite characters keep your cast of minor characters to a minimum, and omitting details makes your autobiography readable. However, these edits are controversial and should be used with care.