Writer’s Workshop: Memoirs

Goal of a Memoir When writers want to make a memoir, they need to look for life topics Life Topics need to have an “AH-HA” moment… in other words, there needs to be some learning that took place The reader should be able to identify what the writer learned

Brainstorming Topics Think about life topics that matter to you (what is important to you?) Remember, you want a seed story, NOT a watermelon story List memorable moments or life topics Imagine situations or places and sketch those ideas on paper

Write Small The bigger the topic, the smaller you should write “The bigger the meaning, the smaller you write” Richard Price, poet Think about Eleven

Gaining depth to your writing Sometimes writers look at seemingly unconnected topics and ask, “How might these connect with each other?” Oftentimes, there are underlying issues or truths beneath the seemingly separate bits.

What feelings do I want this story to show? What feelings or thoughts do I want at the start? How does that feeling change in the middle? What does that feeling become at the end of my story? What overall mood do you want your story to convey?

Tips to Remember Lead: Grabs the reader’s attention (setting the scene, dialogue or action) Body: Rising action, climax, falling action (think of the story mountain) Conclusion: Ties up loose ends