This questionnaire is designed to help my memoir clients figure out what kind of a memoir they truly want to write -- and then to help me to assist them as best I can.

Please answer the following 12 questions. Your answers need not be long, but please consider the questions with care.

1) Begin by writing down your name, address and best telephone number. Add your e-mail address, if you like. If you plan to stay in touch by phone, please add which times of day are best for you.

2) Why are you interested in writing your memoir? What do you want to achieve by doing so? Is there one great, animating idea behind your memoir -- or many smaller ones?

3) Would you like the memoir to cover the entire course of your life? If so, why? Or would you like the memoir to cover only a part of your life? If so, which part, and why? Have you considered the advantages and disadvantages of each course?

4) Have you thought about illustrating your memoir, perhaps with family photographs or other visual aids? What do you need to do to complete this visual side of the memoir?

5) Have you thought about how your memoir would begin and end? If so, what have you concluded?

6) Is there any existing memoir -- published or unpublished -- which you consider a model for your own? Would you like help in identifying possible models for you in memoir?

7) Have you told all relevant spouses, siblings, parents, children, and friends about this memoir project? Have any of them expressed anxiety or disappointment about it?

8) If any people important to you have expressed anxiety or disappointment about your planned memoir, do you expect to overcome their doubts? Are you sure that you understand the source of those doubts?

9) Will your memoir try to supply important new information about famous people, historic episodes or an historic era? Do you expect to do a lot of research for your memoir?

10) Do you have hopes of publishing your memoir at some point?

11) If you do hope to publish your memoir, would you be happy with a small press or a university press? Or do you have your heart set on a major publisher?

12) Which of the following sounds most like your situation?

a) "I remember well, and don't have "Writer's Block." I know what I want to say, and I can write fluently. But I need help smoothing out the text, integrating the material, filling in spots that are weak, resolving inconsistencies, and so on. I need a dynamic co-author and editor."

b) "I remember pretty well, and I don't get Writer's Block. But I'm not sure what to say. I know what I personally find interesting about my life, but I haven't written down much of it. I'm looking for a professional writer, with an objective view, to sift through my thoughts and experience, help me discard the minor themes, develop the major ones, and handle all the writing."

c) My memory is okay, but I have a lot of trouble getting started. Writing was never my strong suit, and I feel a bit embarrassed to be writing "my memoirs." I need to be interviewed, to have a professional writer take notes, and stitch the memoir together from my answers. I would only lightly edit the resulting work. I feel very relaxed chatting by telephone, and am confident we could do most of this by phone.

d) I would prefer to be interviewed. However, I don't like the telephone, and as these are quite personal matters, I would expect most, if not all, of our interviews to be conducted face-to-face. I would not expect to write much myself but I would want to very carefully edit the written manuscript.

e) Other. (Please specify)