Contrast Creates Drama: "God, the Devil, and Divorce" Memoir Writing

Four tough looking (dare I say it?) black men in black, walked onto the stage of America's Got Talent the other night. One wore a muscle shirt, his arms covered in tats, his hat on backwards. One wore a hoodie. The guy with sunglasses was huge. They called their act, Lincoln' Bridge, and introduced themselves with nicknames. Their spokesman said they were from a tough neighborhood, but they had always dreamed of "changing the world."

Curiosity was the shared expression on the faces of the audience and judges. I expected them to have some sort of physical act, but no. They broke into barbershop quartet parts and began singing...get this...Over the Rainbow. Was I surprised and delighted. The audience and judges were too. These guys were good! And afterwards, they cried with happiness. 

The contrast between the group's image and their music was striking, and we loved their winning mixture of tough and tender. In fact, they may very well have deliberately chosen to create such an effect. In movies, the hero often experiences tough situations with moments of relief. A happy ending is in stark contrast to his previous troubles. Contrast makes drama, surprise, and causes interest. For a memoir to capture the reader's interest, the writer must show the sunshine and shadow of her life. That's what I'm focusing on right now.