Thoughts on Memoir writing

explore who you are

I don’t usually write in this genre, but after attending a workshop recently, I thought I should explore memoir writing more. The prompts we were given also proved extremely useful for my own writing group. Thank you, Fiona Cameron, for your enthusiasm and encouraging leadership.

Firstly, there is a huge difference between autobiography and memoir. Autobiography normally follows a linear pattern and, in my opinion, is incredibly difficult to craft into a can’t put down book. Memoir, on the other hand, can start anywhere and generally focusses on narrative enhanced by memories which may or may not be entirely true. It makes no matter if the writer has embellished their memories, perhaps from photographs, or family stories; what results is still pertinent to the author and unique.

The first exercise we were given was to write about one of our earliest memories. It is not always easy to engage with these ethereal memories without being prompted by photographs or by taking a walk in your mind through your childhood home. For me, everything I thought about seemed to originate from photographs. Perhaps, given more time, I could have delved deeper. Talking to parents (if still alive) or siblings could stimulate hidden memories. Next time you are at a family gathering, don’t forget a notebook to jot down useful memory triggers.

If the memories seem a little blurred, why not try writing poetry instead of prose. Poetry is the perfect medium for those remembered sensations and emotions without needing a factual framework.

Fiona talked a bit about purpose. Are you intending your writing to be simply for family, or were you considering publication? The focus will of course be quite different in these situations.

Family will automatically know who Aunt Mary and Uncle John are and there will be no need to describe their personalities in any depth. You will also have to take into consideration the necessity to be kind to your family members. Sincerity and truth are important but you want your writing to be comforting without opening family rifts if your audience is going to be purely people who are related to you.

Publication allows a lot more freedom, though you may need to change names to avoid slander or libel! You may need to write to a theme. For example, you could use family recipes along with childhood experiences. What did you cook for your first boyfriend/girlfriend? Can you remember when you first travelled abroad and what it felt like to eat authentic food on holiday? You might like to concentrate on childhood holidays and what it felt like to take those long car journeys to unknown places.

Another exercise we did was to write about a piece of music or song that was important to our childhood or teenage years. This proved to be a very popular exercise. One participant wrote about the importance of nursery rhymes. How soothing to small children when they hear those familiar words and melodies! Mother singing a lullaby must be the ultimate bedtime comfort.

Others wrote about a parent’s favourite music which played repeatedly in the car on a cd on those long memorable journeys to the coast or to visit grandparents. In my car, with three young girls in the back, we played Rupert the Bear stories on cassette, narrated by the mellifluous Joanna Lumley. Not a music memory but still hugely influential in their childhood.

I left my writing group with some prompts for next time:

a) Where are you from

b) Remember me, I’m the one who……

Let’s see what they come up with.