Jeri- What a great list of questions. Memoir Prompt – Have you ever attended a school or class or military reunion? #5: How have childhood favorites impacted you? That’s a lot to ask of any writer, though a good way to begin the challenge of writing a memoir is to start a list of the most memorable events of your life. Sign up now, it's simple. In my life, I’ve realized when I’m not writing in my journal for long periods of time, that is the first indicator I am purposely not dealing with issues that have cropped up. Sue Mitchell from An Untold Story also has many memoir writing prompts. But I am now! However, the act of writing about memories functions so well to unearth the connections we often leave buried. Even then, my fiction draws heavily from true life experience, so in a way maybe I should just commit and take the nonfiction plunge all the way as that is where I feel most in my element. #49: What do you think the future holds for you? Memoir Prompt – Write about the your high school/college graduation. #3: What is your first memory about your siblings, parents, pets, toys, or house? The role memory plays in writing creative nonfiction has intrigued me for years. Aside from my blog, I don’t write memoirs, but this list is something to have on hand for when I do get a brain fart. Memoir Prompt – If you attended college, talk about how you decided on your college major. Although we didn’t have tickets, we took our sons and walked around the stadium in the afternoon of the game. Marquita, kissing a cousin in a Southern setting definitely has potential as a memoir topic. Which car do you think was the most “you”? I’ve spent years gathering genealogical family information and have decided it’s time to share it; but I wanted to add some stories to make it more interesting. Be sure to describe the scars, including their locations. Memoir Prompt – Write about a school trip or a camp that you attended. Ann, just imagine the family stories you could spin by using these prompts to guide you. I guess I thought it belonged there. Have you stayed in touch all that time? Many of us think our lives aren’t really that interesting or worth writing about, but I think that is exactly what makes them so compelling. Wait…yes, I just checked; they are! Memoir Prompt – List the books you most remember reading through your life. Jacquie, beginning at the end is often a great place for all types of writing to start. Are you a mentor for someone? Jagoda, the key to my success here is re-posting material I’ve already written for something else Re-purposing content is great! Did you give them away? Were you? I think it would be interesting to try to get my 2 sisters to also work on these prompts. Write in a narrative form. Debra, I do hope you’ll give some of the prompts a try. Which of these memoir writing prompts is your favorite? I think her doubt gives credibility. The flash is too strong. Memoir Prompt – List the toys you remember having as a child. Wish I had seen this post then. #23: What was the best party you went to when you were a teenager? You could write a memoir about your 50-year project…. Reading your questions made me aware of the amount of stories I have from my own life. And how do those vacations compare to the vacations you take now? I copied some of these prompts in my OneNote. Get your copy of Crowdsourcing Paris here. Read a lot of memoirs written by, maybe above all, global leaders. I had to work my way down a bit before I got to a question I’d actually be willing to answer – who gave me my first kiss. Memoir Prompt – What’s the worst thing that ever happened to you? In this post, I’m sharing my ten best creative writing prompts for memoir writers. What a great list of prompts Jeri! Hopefully writing your biography just got a little easier and these prompts have got your brains in gear, recalling all sorts of different memories from your childhood all the way through to just yesterday! Write about how you overcame the hard time (or didn’t). Memoir Prompt – What did you drink as a child? I think our memories would be shockingly different. If you need a quick prompt, check out my five favorite memoir writing prompts below. Maybe I’m better off just fictionalizing all the crazy stuff that’s happened in my life , wow, those questions are more detailed than a clinical interview! Board games, video games, card games, any kind of game at all. Write about your feelings about past birthdays. However, if the instructor takes the time to explain and introduce the memoir form, it can be adapted for introductory courses. Memoir Prompt – Inventory your kitchen collection of pots, pans and skillets. Tea? I have often thought how I wished I had asked my parents more questions about their lives – Both were born in Holland – Dad in 1907 and Mom in 1909. Enjoy the prompts. 2. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 8. Such a smart thing to have because obviously it would greatly expedite the writing of memoirs. It’s on the Memoir Starter Kit page. Ken, that makes complete sense. Ask a relative or friend to interview you. You’re the bestest! As I read them I remembered sitting with my grandmother one day and her asking me if I wanted to see her Memoir. Submit your details to receive the 65 Memory prompts we use to start writing a life story. Memoir Prompt – Make a list of your favorite stuffed animals, starting from when you were child up to the present. I like it, and it’s very much *me* (an old-school dice-and-paper RPG player). What’s their story? Remember that writing about something is better than staring blankly and writing about nothing at all. Begin every paragraph with the phrase, “I learned . "Scrapbooking + Memoir = ScrapMoir: 7 Steps to Combining Your Photos, Your Memoirs, Your Stories". Memoir Prompt – Write about a person that you love. D.G., so glad you found the prompts bookmark worthy. Marie, I’m the same way when it comes to memories and will draw a blank at times when merely thinking or talking about past events. A strategy involves weighing options. How did your physical appearance change in your teenage years? Packages start from just $1900, with options to pay by installment. Memoir Prompt – How have the household chores you do (or delegate) changed in your lifetime? One of Hillary Clintons older books really bored me because she devoted too many pages to what happened to her when she grew up. Ready to write a book about your life? Premium Writer Alan Goforth earned a master’s degree from th... How do you relate to your parents? Did you find yourself falling back into your old role from that time period? What prompted you to participate? I just re-read this list, and I still think it’s great. Or in your attic. Other prompts will come to you as you draft, so why not write them down in your writer’s notebook? #32: What do you wish you had done differently in your life? What holiday traditions did you create on your own (even if by accident)? Capture memories you didn't know you had . This should get me started! Memoir Prompt – Make a list of the games you played as a child, as a teenager, and (if you’re like me) as an adult. Either the death of a loved one, animal, or stranger? Memoir Prompt – 1. What kind of robbery was it? How did the season affect how you managed? 113 N. San Vicente Blvd,Suite 200 Beverly Hills,CA 90211. , I have a ton of prompts stockpiled. Sights, scents, and stories behind treasured family recipes with sweet and savory memories. I’m personally not interested in writing about my own life, but will pass on to my memoir writer friends. The constant exercise is to strive for the truth. Memoir Prompt – 1. Good list of memoir prompts, Jeri. Now that my parents are gone, I only wished I knew the answers to half of those questions. Sometimes the best memoir comes out of the most simple, everyday topics. What was your most memorable vacation? I’ve bookmarked, printed out for my workbook and shared around. List the places you remember living as a child. 7. It will greatly inhance my bucket of story ideas. #38: What is great about your life right now? First, I lived in Palo Alto when Super Bowl XIX (January 20, 1985) was played in Stanford’s stadium. Then set a timer for fifteen minutes, and write as much as you can. When to decide: The team that wins the coin flip can defer, giving it the right to choose between kicking and receiving the second-half kickoff. Do you still have them? Laura, so glad you’ve finally subscribed to my posts I just assumed you had me in an RSS reader… I’m headed over the Amazon now to add Thomas’s book to my TBR list. I’m not a fan of football but I have a nostalgic interest in the Super Bowl for two reasons. Memoir Prompt – Write about any unexpected opportunities that came up this year. Make a note of who gave you which ones, if you remember, or how they came into your life. Considering the huge numbers of view this post garners, I really need to do more like it. Recently, I’ve revisited some pieces I wrote ages ago for college workshops. This continues to be my most viewed post on the blog , Gosh – these are great prompts. It’s the only way future generations will believe you. Anyway, I’m impressed by how you’re keeping the blog going with quality content while doing NaNoWriMo and everything else too. Remember to download the full list for all 65 questions to jog your memory. Or perhaps you just like to write based on what is on your mind or a particular memory that came to you recently. Which souvenirs do you still have? I definitely agree how this type of writing functions great for personal growth exercises. Memoir Prompt – When I was in junior high, my English teacher made the class keep a journal in a spiral notebook. =). your dreams – maybe put in retrospect and context. An intermediate level course is a good place to introduce the memoir. List them and describe how the new version affected you, good and bad. Specific detail: The unpleasantly sweet smell of burnt cookies filled my grandmother’s kitchen. What made the experience meaningful to you? Do you feel that you devote enough time to each? #31: What was the greatest challenge of your life so far? Lorraine, thanks for letting me know about Sue’s memoir prompts. Consider interviewing the person about their experience with living with illness. All good writers should follow that advice. I have such a tough time coming up with post topics sometimes so this will come in handy, thanks! Seeing that my first idea for my blog was to do memoirs, this post is a giant help. There are no rules. Was it unbearably hot or cold? Memoir Prompt – What holiday family traditions have you inherited from your parents (or your spouse’s parents)? Memoir Prompt – Write the story of how you came by your scars. Or, keep reading for an expanded list of all ten prompts. Anyhoo, this is a great list, and I must also recommend Abigail Thomas’s book “Thinking About Memoir.” Some really good prompts in there, too. Memoir Prompt – Write about the places you have lived. We’ve hand-picked 65 of our favourite memory prompts to share with you. Get started by using these prompts. Write about what motivated you to make the change, and how you think that change has affected your life. This type of writing refers to important and significant moments. Food for thought , Diana, that’s a great idea to add as a prompt. Even if you didn’t go to college, talk about what influenced your life after high school. Or jump to the complete list of exercises you would like to see: The exercises are updated each month, after the newsletter is published. Which team receives the kickoff: Generally, teams want to start the game on offense and have the opportunity to score as early as possible, so the team who wins the toss usually opts to receive. Especially one that is well written and a captivating true story. From Wikipedia, here are the possibilities: If that player calls the toss correctly, his team gets to choose one of three privileges: 1. 3. My father wrote a memoir a while back. The books (or movies or music) don’t have to be new in 2008, just new to you. How to Start Off a Memoir: Everyone’s Story Is Different. Did you learn something valuable? Memoir Prompt – Describe the food you ate as you grew up (breakfast, lunch, dinner, supper, potluck, snacks, etc). When I tuned in, the sports announcers for Super Bowl 50 were talking about the coin toss that is the first action taken by either team that has the potential to determine the outcome. Most importantly, know thyself. Did you buy them new or used? Suzanne, isn’t it strange how memory works? Which games have you played the longest? At the very least, they can be used to fight writer’s block. I’ve been trying to write my memoirs for years, and always end up stymied for various reasons – usually wanting to protect the names of the not-so-innocent, I guess. #11: What was your favorite subject in school? Remember - the idea is not to answer every question. Future job prospects? We drove to Santa Barbara where our youngest son was in college. Still, I know that there will be a downfall eventually so I have bookmarked your blog into my prompts folder. What kind of water bed mattress(es) did you have (and how did your cats like them)? Tagged as: Memoir Prompt – Record the history of items you consider to be family heirlooms. Memoir Prompt – Where did you go during summer vacations as a child? Memoir Prompt – What’s your most interesting coincidental meeting/encounter? Memoir Prompt – Make a list of all the in-laws whose names you can remember. - Sharon Lippincott, author of Adventures of a Chilihead, The Heart and Craft of Writing Compelling Description, and others, "What gems! What to Do Whether you’re creating an outline or writing a page each day, in a year, you’ll have accomplished a lot of writing and possibly a book. Did you have to repair or rebuild any part of it? These memoir prompts have consistently ranked as the most viewed post on Word Bank Writing & Editing, and I wanted to bring feature them again for those who may have missed out the first time around. It's the perfect first step, and something you can later assemble into a timeline or structure for your story. 4. Like more than 100 million other people, I turned on the television to watch Super Bowl 50 on February 7. The second nostalgic memory for Super Bowl occurred when my partner planned a surprise birthday for me when I turned 60. Writing about past relationships always proves fruitful and cathartic. I remember reading William Zinsser’s account of his favorite childhood toy and it was just perfection. When that category of memoirs dwell to long on such issues the book frequently gets boring. Were you influenced by your parents? Write about your experience. Or perhaps you would rather pick and choose the ones you find most appealing. Jeri–I think I ended up at this post from Twitter. Your email address will not be published. People write memoirs to fixate, analyze, share, or rethink past events. The protagonist is trying to deal with her role, what she remembers, what she felt at the time, etc. Thanks for sharing these prompts Jeri. Do you still wear it? We grew up in the same family 5 years apart between the oldest (moi) and the youngest with the same parents. At Story Terrace, we often use memory prompts to kick-start the process - easy and fun questions designed to jog your memory and bring back moments you haven't thought about for years. When your time is up, post your practice in the comments section below. How did those vacations compare to what you wanted to do at the time? Do you have any special memories (good or bad) from each house you lived in? If you can’t remember their name, at least list how they became related to you “in law.”. However, limiting yourself to 300-500 words would be a great exercise in conciseness. Current desired outcomes and future changes in your goals should be considered in terms of your strategy. 3. Ready to write a book about your life? And it just so happens that I’ve written a memoir, Crowdsourcing Paris, about a real-life adventure story I experienced in Paris. If you could have dinner with three people in the whole entire world, who would they be? How has your acquisition and adoption of new technology evolved over the years? Joe Montana of the 49ers and Dan Marino of the Miami Dolphins were the stars of the upcoming game. . As for your question (assuming they don’t have to be living people) I would have dinner with Henry David Thoreau, Anaïs Nin, and Alice Walker. Memoir Prompt – If you were to assemble a time capsule of your entire life, what items would you select or make reference to? I enjoy this aspect and am working on something similar in the hope that it will reach completion. Unlock all your forgotten memories with our handy prompts! Memoir Prompt – Snapshots are seldom great photography. Do you want to write for healing? Writing Prompts. Ah, yeah that is a good one – in a canoe floating down a swampy waterway in the Louisiana Bayou and the hunk was my very own cousin. Joe Bunting is an author and the leader of The Write Practice community. #44: Is your significant other your best friend? Beth, indeed. Kim, yaaayyy! Thank-you for the comprehensive list. Submit your details to learn more about our writers, how it works, and our pricing & packages. If you use a thesis statement like the one above, the body of your memoir will almost automatically include more specifics. Frustrated almost to the point of tears, I put on the familiar sunflower-patterned potholders and opened the oven. Do you have a writing strategy? Excellent prompts to stir the memory and imagination. Memoir Prompt – Tell about major storms you and your family have survived. You’ll soon find you have more than enough to talk about. What memoir prompts would you add to the list? The little things in life often yield insightful and profound writing. I’ve got you covered. You can create a video memoir for the price of a digital video camera. Hope this motivates others to do just that – ask those questions you posted. Memoir Prompt – List the computers you’ve owned or worked with (or played with) in your life. Were they the same people now as then? A guy/girl you liked? Focus on appealing to all five senses. Memoir Prompt – Describe how your life was affected by a war that occurred in your lifetime. Plus we'll send you more guides, templates and resources in the coming weeks! Questionnaires could relate to specific events, people, themes, and be shared at family gatherings.
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