Once you have that foundation for your story, then you can move into the actual structuring and writing. If you already have some of your memoir written, now is a good time to take it out and experiment with the structure.

All writing is scary to some degree and in varying ways. Memoir writing is intimidating because of how reflective it is of real people in real life. And not only is memoir directly about real people and real events, that reality is subjective to the writer. Memoir is not journalistic nonfiction. Memoir doesn’t say, This is how the world is. Rather memoir asserts, This is how the world is—for me. That subjectivity is powerful in creating connecting and encouraging empathy. It also makes for an intimidating writing experience.

For anyone wanting to dive into memoir writing, I have two inevitable dangers you’ll have to navigate and two preventable ones you can avoid.

So, you want to write a book—awesome! Maybe you’re just in the idea stage and want to get a feel for what’s ahead, and maybe you’re sitting there with a finished manuscript thinking, Well, what now? Consider this your publishing cheatsheet as you navigate your way through this world that feels completely unknown, maybe a little gate-kept, and also a place you desperately want to be a part of.

As an editor, one of my favorite roles is that of cheerleader. I love giving my writers good feedback and pumping them up. But my compliments can go only so far. If my writer doesn’t believe in the message of their story, their manuscript will suffer. I can’t edit heart and conviction into a manuscript. That’s on you as the writer.

How often do we wait for a sign or the right moment, when really all that waiting is really just procrastination dressed up as self-awareness? Writing your memoir isn’t too different from deciding to whom to marry. Not really. Life will always be uncertain, and the stars rarely align to give you the perfect six- to twelve-month writing window. If you’re stuck waiting for the “right time,” do this instead.