(Mini) Memoir Writing Enhancing a memory

Memoir Remember, a memoir is a simply autobiographical writing. That means that this writing is all about YOU. There is no “right” or “wrong” way to write a memoir. The only requirements are that your mini-memoir contains a detailed memory of your past (with striking imagery) AND it tells us something about you and your view of the world.

Remembering… For each of the following prompts, try to remember something about your past. For two minutes, write about whatever memory comes to mind. FREEWRITE! Don’t dwell on structure, just get the images out there.

Free write (2 minutes/each) Holidays Favorite food Pets School vacation First time… Something stupid I believed I hated… I lied when… Being sick Embarrassing moment The woods Bullying A crush Favorite toy Secret place

Enhancing that memory To engage your reader, you MUST add some sensory detail (imagery) to your writing, so we feel like we were there. We call this showing instead of telling. Read the following memory and jot down what you see in your mind’s eye. I never thought I would get the chance to stand in this place I had seen only in pictures. It was amazing! The sea and and buildings were among the most beauitiful sights I had ever seen.

Riomaggiore Cinque Terra, Italy

How do we show instead of tell? We must follow three important steps to create images in our reader’s mind. 1. Be powerful! 2. BS (not that kind…). 3. Trim the fat. If we do these three things, our writing becomes something that people want to read!

Be powerful! Replace weak verbs with powerful ones. Examples of weak verbs: is, was, are, am, got, went, go, did Instead of: Barbara was a jerk. She was mean to everyone. You could write: Every word Barbara spoke was full of venom and her devil eyes could make any 7th grader cry.

B.S. (Be specific!) Ask questions to clarify what you mean. Who? What? When? Where? How?

Trim the fat Take out any words/sentences that are unnecessary. Examples: like, very, so, kind of, stuff, really Replace filler with substance! Pre-fat trim: So, like then I was all looking down on my brother and trying to spit on him and well, yeah, I kind of slipped and fell. Fat trimmed: I peered at the diminutive boy below, snorted a mouthful of snot, and puckered my lips, allowing the slippery secretion to lengthen and then drop like a bomb onto his unsuspecting head.

Showing The sea crashed on the rocks as tourists and natives to the village bounded off of rocks into the clear, blue water. The air smelled of pesto, baking bread, and salt from the ocean. Before me lay miles of rocky coastline and red, pink, orange and yellow three and four story ancient buildings, seemingly as old as the rocks they were built into.

So what?! Your mini-memoir should also give us a “big picture” of you and your view on life. The following questions will help you incorporate this into your memory. Why are you writing this? What did you learn from this experience, or how did it change you or help to form who you are today? What will the audience get out of it? What might they learn from reading this, or how might they relate to your experience?

Your turn! Look over your paper. Circle all weak verbs (is, was, were, did, does, went, go) Underline any objects you mention, but have not described in full. Cross out any filler words/sentences that don’t add to the text. Go through and try to find new ways to write that will show rather than tell.