Having now written two books about my failures in work, life and love, I think I'm qualified to say that the only difference between a memoirist and a prostitute is timing. A prostitute sells sex for money - that money being payable either immediately before or immediately after the act. A memoirist also receives money for having sex - but our payment comes via a publisher, months or years later, once we've recounted the amusing or titillating details in print.