Exercise 1: Scenes from Your Life
First, take a sheet of paper and quickly answer as many of the following questions as you can. It's okay to leave some blanks. Use short phrases or single words, and put your response to each question (including sub-questions) on separate lines, leaving a blank line between individual responses. Spend no more than 5-10 on these quick responses. Then, go back and fill in a few specific details. For example: Who or what was involved? When and where did this occur? How old were you at the time? And so on. To the extent possible use specific names and places (don't write "my aunt"; do write "my Aunt Elena, my mother's older sister"). You may be surprised by the memories triggered as you make yourself do this. Don't overdo however: spend no more than 10 or 15 minutes on this task.
Finally, when you are more or less finished, choose one memory that stands out and write a simple story of few paragraphs about this memory. Again, please put in the specific details (who, what, when, where, how). Don't spend more than 20-30 minutes doing this. Proof read for typos if you must. After you finish Exercise 2, you can file the brief responses to the questions below in your "memory bank," and then use them later.
Congratulations! You are now a memoir writer.
Finally, when you are more or less finished, choose one memory that stands out and write a simple story of few paragraphs about this memory. Again, please put in the specific details (who, what, when, where, how). Don't spend more than 20-30 minutes doing this. Proof read for typos if you must. After you finish Exercise 2, you can file the brief responses to the questions below in your "memory bank," and then use them later.
Congratulations! You are now a memoir writer.
- What was a favorite meal served at your house when you were a child?
- What was your favorite subject in high school? Your least favorite? Who was your favorite teacher? Your least favorite?
- In what extra-curricular activities did you participate during your school years?
- Who do you consider to be your "first love"?
- Did/do you have a favorite relative? Who?
- What is the smartest thing you ever did? The dumbest?
- What was the most frightening thing that ever happened to you?
- What activity today is the most fun for you?
- What was/is your favorite job? Your least favorite?
- Who was the best boss you ever had? The worst?
- What radio or television show did you never miss when you were a child?
- What was the first movie, concert, or stage show you remember seeing in a theater?
- Where were you when: FDR died? WWII ended? JFK was assassinated? MLK was assassinated? Nixon resigned? A man first walked on the moon? Some other public event you will never forget occurred? A natural disaster you witnessed occurred?
- What was your most memorable childhood trip? Your most memorable trip as an adult?
- What do you consider to be a turning point in your life, that is an event after which your life veered in a new direction.