1. Creative Nonfiction: Memoir Reading and Writing
Advanced English 9
Ms. McGlynn

2. What is a memoir?
A memoir is a “snapshot” of a single event experienced by a single person.
A memoir helps frame a moment of understanding that left a lasting impression on the writer.
The framed experience may be positive or negative.
A memoir is hard to define. It is personal yet selfish in purpose. It focuses on the self but explores all human relations.

3. What is the purpose of a memoir?
to share an intense, vivid life experience in a way that will resonate with other readers
to communicate the affects of the experience on the writer

4. What is the Contemporary Memoir?
Contemporary Memoirs (CM) differ from traditional autobiographies in two ways:
CMs DO NOT encompass the complete life of the writer.
Cms DO focus on remembering, reflecting, and making sense of a single experience.

5. Characteristics of Memoir
explores and preserves the past
may be confessional in nature
recounts personal struggles and triumphs and explains the significance of the event
may be fictionalized for clarity, economy, or interest
uses a 1st person perspective (I, me, my, we)

6. Reading and Writing Personal Memoirs
When reading or writing a personal memoir consider how the text addresses the following questions:
Why was this event of particular significance?
What did it mean?
Why is it important?

7. How to find ideas for writing your memoir
Brainstorm: Determine your writing territories
On what subjects are you an expert?
Choosing to write about things that have impacted you as an individual and that you know very well will help your writing to be clear, compelling, and convincing to your audience.