by Mike Cavanagh
In a world increasingly turning to artificial intelligence, is there a role for AI in memoir writing? Well, the way I see it, memoirs are our voices carrying across time, speaking to those who remain even after we’ve gone. The great opportunity and challenge of writing a memoir is to be heard as you, not you as interpreted by something else; like AI.
So does that mean there’s no role for AI in memoir writing? Not quite, but I’d argue strongly that it shouldn’t be part of the creative process in your writing. That should always be you; your ideas, your viewpoints, your values and your words. On the other hand, chances are you are already using a form of AI. Ever use the spell and grammar checker in MS Word, or some equivalent? Then you’re using a form of AI. These days there are much more powerful and comprehensive AI writing tools: Grammerly and ProWriting Aid to name two. But like all tools, they’re only as useful as the person wielding them, and they can be very blunt tools at that.
So, where is the balance?
The two keys for me are to always write it from your heart first, and to know what it is that you’re trying to do when it comes time to fixing what you’ve put on the page. It’s like taking your car to the mechanic; far better if you know what they are talking about than to simply accept everything on face value. Even more than that, the more you can do yourself the better.
With that in mind, I’ve teamed up with memoirist (and ex-Herald journalist) Anne Howell* to help aspiring memoirists to keep their creations firmly in the realm of real stories by real people. We’re introducing a new course tailored for memoirists: Your Memoir Draft to Done. It will offer support with DIY editing, tips on publishing and an introduction to promotion for your memoir.
Starting on August 7th, it will run once a week, for six weeks, online. All memoirists are welcome. Bookings are essential.
Both Anne and I agree that the best people to guide you through the personal journey of memoir writing and editing are those who walk with you — people who understand your learning journey through having undertaken their own.
* – Anne is the author of All That I Forgot, a story about her early recovery from amnesia.
Course: Your Memoir Draft to Done
Dates: August 7 to September 11, 2025
Venue: Zoom
Host: South Coast Writers Centre
Book: Humanatix
Link: https://bit.ly/4mXLp6P
Mike from Magpie Cottage Enterprises is a multi-published memoirist that offers mentoring and editing services to encourage, support and guide others to bring their own stories to life. Go to Mike’s website for more information on the services he offers or visit our Members page to read Mike’s bio.
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