Memoirdepend upon the ideas and images you carry within your

memory

Challenge: release those memories to get them on paper

Memoir

One memory of significance told in detail, not many memories.

A moment that marked someone’s life forever.

Often a life-changing event or something that happened that someone never forgets.

One story within someone’s life, not his or her whole life story.

A window into life, a glimpse into someone’s emotional past.

A snapshot in time, not the whole album.

Memoir

aims to tell the story of one event or period in a person’s life

told in 1st person

A Memory…

has three parts:

1. Facts

2. Skills

3. Emotional Responses

Questions for

Memoirists

What Doesn’t Work there aren’t enough details: we can’t see things

the pace is too fast: it moved too quickly between events without filling in the gaps

it’s wishy-washy: it’s not written with authority… don’t know why this person/event is important

don’t get to know any of the characters

there is no closure: it just ends

don’t know the point: what is this about???

the beginning is boring: doesn’t arouse the reader’s curiosity or invite him/her in

it switches topics too quickly

there is no dialogue

Qualities that Work Details: lots of specifics

Keeps the audience’s interest: good introduction makes the reader want to know more

Dialogue: conversation reveals characteristics and personalities

Shows action instead of telling that the event happened

Good ending: closure

Has a point: We know the WHY… why this event is important

Get to know characters: see who they are through actions and words

Pace: can’t be too slow=boring; can’t be too fast=lose the reader

Images

Includes the special things: don’t need to tell everything

Qualities that are Needed

Necessary Qualities of Memoirs

1st person singular – I (not we, one, or you)

memoirist is the main character (someone to be with)

thoughts/feelings, reactions/reflections are revealed

enough context- background info – to understand events of the story – context is woven into story

reader can envision the action

reader can imagine the setting – when and where

reader can imagine the relationships among characters

Necessary Qualities of Memoirs

dialogue sounds natural to these people

pace is slowed down so reader can “live in” the moment and character

leave out unnecessary info.

Lead: should invite reader into world of memory

Conclusion: deliberate about writer’s decision about how to leave his or her readers

written like a story- with truth and feeling

Invent Details? What????? if it fits with memory/theme/purpose

So What? a discovery of some significance in the memory

reader should LEARN something about LIFE from reading about LIFE