Memoir is similar to many elements of fiction: Careful scene setting, pacing, tension, conflict. Seduce the reader with a confiding tone. Reveal secrets. The best secrets are those that the author reveals or learns about self in the process, “Ah, did I really think that?” Readers are interested in your conflicts. It’s important to modulate good times and bad times. “The best memoirs explore and reveal conflict in a way that illuminates and startles.” —Kat Meads Consider the scope of your memoir. It’s not necessary to start from when you were born and work your way up. Don’t try to write about everything. Take one aspect. The year you were in Paris, for example. If you go with a chronological way of telling, share just the important events that shaped you. The idea is to look objectively at your life to write a richer subjective memoir. Part of writing memoir…
Category: Prompts
Seeing the scene from character’s point of view . . . Prompt #603
“The goal of description is to create a well-designed set that provides the perfect background for your characters—a setting that stays in the background without overwhelming the scene or interrupting the story.” —Moira Allen In real life, we explore our surroundings through our actions and experience them through our senses. Create a structure for your characters to do the same. Craft your descriptions so details unfold as your character moves through the scene. Know which details your character would notice right away and which details will register more slowly. Suppose, for example, your heroine is a secretary of humble origins and has just entered the mansion of a millionaire. Let her notice how soft the rich Persian carpet feels underfoot, how it muffles her footfalls, how she is tempted to remove her shoes. Don’t mention how soft the sofa is until she sinks into it. Let her smell the leather…
A time you fumbled. Prompt #602
The prompt: Write about a time you fumbled or stumbled or faltered. Or: Write about a kindness you have done or would have like to have done. Here’s the backstory: December 2016 Occasion: Nobel Prize ceremony, Stockholm, Switzerland. Patti Smith delivered an emotional rendition of Bob Dylan‘s “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall” at the Nobel Prize ceremony in Stockholm, Sweden, December 2016. She sang for a few minutes, faltered, stopped singing, and said, “I’m sorry. I’m so nervous.” Then she continued in her beautiful, transportive way. We’ve all been there, haven’t we? Awkwardly faltering. But usually, we don’t want to admit what we perceive as a weakness. January 2017 I’ve had a lot to think about these past few days. Extreme highs: Watching granddaughter perform as rat and a camel in her church Christmas pageant and as a soldier in the Nutcracker. Celebrated with son, his wife, and her family as his…
Dance . . . Prompt #601
Writing Prompt: Dance Write about the last time you danced. Or write about a memorable dance experience.
Look on the bright side . . . Prompt #600
Today is a banner day! Celebrating my oldest granddaughter’s twelfth birthday. And my favorite daughter and her husband’s ninth wedding celebration. Also celebrating 600 writing prompts on The Write Spot Blog! I’m taking a moment to take that in. Six hundred writing prompts. How did that happen!!?? One writing prompt at a time. The first prompt, “I remember . . . ” posted on September 24, 2013. And now I invite you to jump in, remember a story, and Just Write! Today’s writing prompt: Look on the bright side!
I could never . . . Prompt #599
Writing Prompt. Choose one and Just Write. I could never get rid of . . . I could never like . . . I could never go to . . . I could never eat . . . I could never get over feeling guilty about . . . I could never forget . . . Pick one or make up your own:I could never . . . This writing prompt is from “The Write Spot to Jumpstart Your Writing: Discoveries” along with 57 other writing prompts. Discoveries is on sale for $6.99 at Amazon for a limited time. ereader is $2.99 or free on Kindle Unlimited.
Summer Smells . . . Prompt #598
Write about smells of summer . . . Pink lemonade Cut watermelon Gazpacho Caprese salad Juicy plums Jam simmering on the stove Fruit tarts River water Sand Ocean Hot sun on asphalt, on a canvas chair, on your arm Sunscreen Write about summer smells.
The good thing is . . . Prompt #597
Writing Prompt: The good thing is . . .
I am struggling with . . . Prompt #596
Writing Prompt: I am struggling with . . .
All Summer Long . . . Prompt #595
Writing Prompt: All Summer Long . . .