The issue of Endnotes recently came up in conversation with a memoirist, so I thought I’d address it here.

To have them or not to have them?

When most readers think of endnotes, they imagine heavy biographies, scholarly works, or history tomes where every statement must be documented and sourced. Endnotes reassure readers that the writer has done the research. But what about memoirs? Should a personal narrative—something built from memory, experience, and reflection—include them?

Endnotes in scholarly and biographical writing

In biographies, endnotes are essential. They establish credibility by showing exactly where the writer gathered details, dates, and quotations. In scholarly works, they are non-negotiable: a roadmap that allows readers to trace the argument back to original sources. Without them, such books risk being dismissed as careless or unreliable.

In Memoirs: a different purpose

A memoir, by contrast, is primarily a work of personal truth. Its authority comes from lived experience rather than footnoted research. Readers pick up a memoir to hear a voice, to step into another life, and to feel the emotional core of the story. Endnotes are not required for that.

That said, some memoirists do use endnotes—and effectively:

• Context or clarification: When a story refers to a historical event, a cultural reference, or a technical detail that might not be familiar to readers, an endnote can provide background without breaking the narrative flow.
• Acknowledgment of sources: If a writer has drawn from letters, newspaper clippings, or oral histories beyond their own memory, endnotes can credit those sources.
• Transparency: Some writers like to distinguish between memory and documented fact, noting where family stories diverge or where research has filled in gaps.

When to use them in Memoirs

Endnotes in Memoirs are most useful when:

1. Research enters the picture – For example, if you weave in historical context about a political upheaval, migration, or a cultural movement.
2. Quoting others – If you quote from published material, even a short excerpt, an endnote shows respect and avoids copyright concerns.
3. Adding optional detail – Some readers love extra texture (background on a Cuban song, say, or details about a piano score). Endnotes let you share that without weighing down the main story.
4. Clarifying memory vs. fact – If your siblings remember an incident differently, an endnote can acknowledge the contrast without derailing your own telling.

When to skip them

If your memoir is intimate, conversational, and deeply rooted in your personal experiences without heavy research or outside sources, endnotes may be unnecessary. Too many notes can make a memoir feel academic, pulling the reader away from the heart of the story.

Final Word

Endnotes are not the hallmark of a good memoir—voice, honesty, and storytelling are. But when used thoughtfully, they can enhance credibility, offer richer context, and give readers the option to go deeper. The key is to decide: does this note serve the story, or does it interrupt it? If it serves, keep it. If it interrupts, leave it out.

Example of Endnotes

1. My memory of this Thanksgiving differs slightly from my sister’s, who recalls we ate in the dining room rather than the kitchen. I’ve kept my version here, while acknowledging hers.
2. The hymn I mention—Nearer, My God, to Thee—was played at both of my parents’ funerals. I include it here for readers unfamiliar with its significance in Cuban Catholic traditions.
3. For more on Operation Pedro Pan, which brought more than 14,000 Cuban children to the United States between 1960–1962, see Yvonne Conde, Operation Pedro Pan: The Untold Exodus of 14,048 Cuban Children (New York: Routledge, 1999).
4. The song “Quiéreme Mucho” (Love Me Deeply) is a Cuban bolero composed by Gonzalo Roig in 1911. My father often sang it at family gatherings.

A few things to notice:

• Numbered sequentially: Each note ties back to a superscript number in your text.
• Mix of clarifications and citations: Notes can range from simple context (family memories, translations) to formal sources (books, articles).
• Optional detail: Readers who want more depth can turn to the back; those who don’t can keep reading without interruption.

Endnotes in Mysteries

Uncommon in fiction: Traditional mystery novels (Agatha Christie, Tana French, Louise Penny, etc.) almost never use endnotes. Fiction generally relies on narrative voice and internal logic rather than citations. The main exception would be if the author is blending fiction with historical research (for example, a historical mystery that references real events or documents). In those rare cases, an endnote section might appear to clarify sources or historical accuracy.

• Alternative tools: Instead of endnotes, many mystery authors use author’s notes or afterwords at the end of the book. This is where they can explain inspirations, research sources, or factual elements behind the fiction.

Here’s an example of an Author Note I could have included in “The Pianist and the Snake,” had I chosen to:

This novel grew out of my lifelong love of both music and mystery. The Central Park setting is one I know well—I walked past Bethesda Terrace countless times as a student in New York, imagining stories that might unfold under the Angel’s gaze. Some musical moments come from my own experiences at the piano; others are inventions. While the book is fiction, the themes of resilience, bullying, and the healing power of art come from very real places in my life.