We'll start with a short discussion about the craft of memoir writing and then have a few writing prompts. Bring something to write with -- pen and paper, a computer, or whatever you like to use to write.
Readings:
Introduction to Memoir Writing
https://docs.google.com/
The Sacred Journey by Frederick Beuchner - Introduction and excerpt
(A coming-of-age memoir by a Presbyterian writer and minister)
The Sacred Journey by Frederick Buechner - "Giants of our childhood" excerpt
Other good examples of memoir (you don't have to read them all, just choose one or two if you're short on time):
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls - excerpt
(First couple chapters of her memoir of a crazy childhood)
'The Long Goodbye': A Syllabus For Modern Mourning
(NPR article and excerpt from Megan O'Rourke's memoir of grief)
Easter Weekend by Eugene England
(More of an essay than memoir, strictly speaking, but just gorgeous)
The Learning Curve by David Sedaris
(Also more of an essay, but an example of using comedy in personal writing)
List of Memoirs for Further Reading
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1S8EvrG7cV0p7H4XOoZIjjOHkX16EcKRzKLnq7AMiu28/edit
Thought questions:
Reflect a bit on your own life, specifically these questions:
- Who in your life has been important to your personal development? (could be a parent, sibling, spouse, friend, enemy, frenemy, teacher, etc.)
- What are the pivotal moments or events in your life to this point? (could be career decision, a death, moving, marriage, mission, meeting a specific person, reading a specific book, an accident, etc.)
- What places are most meaningful to you? (could be a home you grew up in, a certain spot in nature, a library you spent a lot of time in, a small town, a big city, a foreign country, etc.)
- What is your first memory?
FYI - if you are interested in Frederick Buechner's other memoirs you can find them here: http://frederickbuechner.com/page-group/book/genre/Memoir
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