The Second Step in Memoir-Writing Success
Using Writing Prompts and Exercises to Jumpstart Memories
Jun 12, 2009
Dredging up old memories can be both time consuming and taxing, especially when there is no direction. The use of writing prompts is an excellent tool to help recover and recreate memories for use in personal essays or memoirs.
An aside, people tend to worry about the validity of their memories, don't! Memories are never going to be 100% accurate, but they weren't meant to be. Writing a memoir means writing down memories, regardless of whether or not they are 100% true and accurate. As long as the writer doesn't take too many creative liberties (turning the memoir into complete fiction) no one will even notice.
Here are a few prompts that may be helpful when attempting to recall memories for writing purposes. So, if the dreaded writer's block has struck, these will hopefully help pull the memories back to the foreground.
Photo Memory Reconstruction
As memories tend to get lost over time, a lifetime worth of memories can take up quite a few memory pockets, pictures are an excellent recreation tool. So, dust off the old family album and gear up for a flood of memories.
Photos are great, especially in memoir writing, for whenever inspiration has hidden itself away. The photo itself contains a memory and that memory may trigger another memory and so fourth. So, photos are always an ace-in-the-hole.
Choose three photos from different time periods and write about a page per photo. This should stimulate the memory. Once finished with the three different photos, read over the writing and choose the memory that speaks to you--the most colorful, emotional, etc.
Then, spend some time trying to re-create the memory on paper. This is a great exercise and can be reused many times (until you run out of photos).
Moments in History
Our own photos do wonders to bring memories to life, but resources are not limited to personal memorabilia. This prompt may require some research. Many historical events take place over a person's life time. So, hop on a computer or open up a recent history book and look back at the events that have unfolded during the past decade or further (depending on age).
Select an event that holds a particularly vivid memory and respond to it. Detail the feelings, emotions the event holds. Even if a person didn't witness the actual event, they will remember exactly what they were doing when the event happens, who they were with and how they felt. Historical events, especially tragic ones have a way of embedding themselves into memory.
React and respond. Let the emotions flow and put it down on paper. This could trigger memories of other historical events... perhaps enough memories to fill an entire memoir!
There are many different ways to stimulate the memory. There are just a few options. Perhaps going through old papers, letters, books or keepsakes will work better. Try some prompts to find a muse and perhaps a few memories along the way.
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