What is a memoir?
A memoir is an account of an author's personal experiences. So when you write about something that happened to you in first grade or the best vacation you've ever taken----that's a memoir.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
You may start by just writing about a memory and then turn it into a poem.
Example From Mrs. Whitehurst: My birthday is on Christmas Eve. I have a picture of myself at age six sitting on the dining room table showing off my birthday present, a Cinderella watch. In the background of the picture you can see the Christmas tree. Here's the poem I created from that picture:
Now I am Six
Rapt in the glow
of Christmas tree lights
and birthday candles
I pose for the camera
clothed in velvet and lace.
Now I am six,
and with wrist extended
I display my Cinderella watch
and my Shirley Temple smile.
by Mrs.Whitehurst
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
You may want to consider the following questions from Nanci Atwell's book, Lessons that Change Writers. These may spark an idea for your list of Writing Territories.
Questions for Memoirists
What are my earliest memories? How far back can I remember?
What are the most important things that have happened to me in my life so far?
What have I seen that I can’t forget?
What’s an incident that shows what my family and I are like?
What’s an incident that shows what my friends and I are like?
What’s an incident that shows what my pets and I are like?
What’s something that happened to me at school that I’ll always remember?
What’s something that happened to me at home that I’ll always remember?
What’s an incident that shows how I think or feel about something?
What’s an incident that changed my life?
What’s a time or a place that I was perfectly happy?
What’s a time or a place that I laughed a lot?
What’s a time or a place when I felt like my heart was breaking?
What’s a time with a parent that I’ll never forget?
What’s a time with a grandparent that I’ll never forget?
What’s a time with a brother or sister that I’ll never forget?
What’s a time with a cousin or another relative that I’ll never forget?
Can I remember a time I learned to do something or did something for the first time?
What memories emerge when I make a time line of my life so far and note the most important things that happened to me each year?
|
|
