I don’t know about you, but I start almost every day writing in my journal. I write down the weeks’ events, joys, challenges or obstacles—all with the goal of recording a small piece of my story. (And also to think things through…I process best in writing!)
In some ways, writing a memoir is like a months-long journaling session.
This is especially true at the beginning, when you’re first starting to gather the scenes you want to include.
You know me: I love an outline. But I’ve discovered over the years that when it comes to memoir, it helps to do a lot of free-writing first. This is how you gather your life moments, which will ultimately become scenes.
You need to have a pile of life moments ready to go, before you can start fitting them into a memoir outline!
So how do you turn on the “faucet” of life moments as you get started writing? Immabout to show you!
In today’s video—which is part of our Memoir Month series— I walk you through the number one MOST important exercise that you can do on your way to writing your memoir.
You’re probably going to think I’m a little crazy when you hear it! But I promise, it works.
You’ll learn:
- My simple (if slightly crazy) process to open up your memory vault
- How to set the proper mood for the exercise
- How to build a compelling scene to draw your audience in
- Examples of my own personal life moments
- And more!
So get ready to get dig deep with the profoundly personal exercise in this video!
(And be sure to watch all the way to the end, because I’m giving you a free gift to help kick-start this exercise!)
1 thought on “Writing Your Life Story: Get Started with this Exercise”
Hi Kelly
I enjoy your videos very much. I am working on my first memoir and I find your advice quite helpful and enthusiasm contagious. So, thanks for helping me along the process.
Steve