Question About Writing a Memoir

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 2/12/06 at 7:13pm

Hey, I am going to be writing a memoir for my communication writing class. I know one of the important things in a memoir would be a "conflict." I have an idea that I think I could be descriptive on, but I dunno if it's exactly memoir material and want to know what you think. When I was younger I used to teach imaginary people, even making up lesson plans, taking attendance, correcting papers, etc. I was thinking maybe the conflict could be like an escape from reality and wanting to be an authority figure. I dunno, is this really memoir material? I dunno how I would exactly write about "overcoming" this...I need some advice I'm having trouble thinking of ideas...thanks guys!

[JLSatUD]

Posted: 2/12/06 at 7:17pm

I think writing a memoir can be one of the most challenging pieces of writing. I think the memories of your play time are meaningful to you and something you remember in a positive light, but I'm not sure if it's enough conflict. If it had a direct impact on your life, you could twist it that direction. Like, did you know from such a young age that you wanted to be a teacher and then spend your life achieving that goal? Instead of going for a memory that you like and brings you warm fuzzy feelings, are there memories of your childhood that are difficult to think and write about? Breaking through the difficulty of those might make for a more compelling story.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 2/12/06 at 7:23pm

My childhood was pretty much boring...like honestly I can't remember anything...the one thing I could possibly write about is taking the training wheels of my bike and staying outside all day learning how to ride a two-wheeler...but seriously I don't think I can remember enough specific details to come up with much to write about. This is probably one of the more difficult things I ever had to write.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 2/12/06 at 7:24pm

Is this for a college class?

I have to wonder how many people have enough to write a memoir about at college age....

[JLSatUD]

Posted: 2/12/06 at 7:26pm

How open is your teacher to different ideas? Here's why I ask. When I originally read Memoirs of a Geisha, I read the forward that explains how he had to wait to write the book until certain people in the story died so as not to disrespect people. Then I read most of the book. About 3/4 of the way through the book, I happened to read something on the back cover about "Fiction written as a memoir." I was confused because I had read the forward! When I went back and checked, I noticed that the forward was written by a fictional person, NOT the author.

So ... could you create one? If your teacher is really straight laced, it might not fly.

[best12bars]

Posted: 2/12/06 at 7:29pm

I disagree with this necessity of conflict. Unless you're trying to tell a DRAMATIC story, you don't need "conflict."

You do, however, need a "point."

Simply telling this story (by the way, I think it sounds fascinating!)... isn't enough. Try to make sense out of these (day)dreams and fantasies you had. You don't have to have all the answers... Don't try to make it a sitcom that ties up in a neat little bow at the end.

Describe your story in detail. Start with your "real life" situation at the time you began to fantasize about teaching. Describe the fantasies in detail. Tell us how they made you feel. How you felt about your "real life." Offer up suggestions on why you might have felt the need to "make believe." And let us know what you're doing now, and how these fantasies affected your life today. Did you act on them. If so, why? If not, why not? How do you feel about them today? Are you a different person now? Do you regret them or embrace them?

(this is all food for thought)

But I think it's an excellent idea for a short "memoir." Just take us back in time with you.

And leave the "conflict" for dramatic narratives.

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 2/12/06 at 8:01pm

Just take a page from today's most popular memoirs.
Lie.