Minds On
What is a memoir?
Consider the word for the personal narrative genre, “memoir.” What other word(s) does the word “memoir” bring to mind? What words are similar or relate to a similar meaning?
Use a dictionary to find the history and origin of the word “memoir.” Use a thesaurus to find synonyms for the word “memoir.”
Memories, Memorize, Memorial
You may have thought of and found related words such as:
- commemorate
- memoriam
- remember
- mind
- memorial, memorize, memories, memorable
In Latin, memoria is the noun memory, in memorium is an adjective while in memorium is an adverb.
In French, we have the word “memoire” for memory.
The word remember is related to Ancient Greek μυήμη pronounced mnḗmē.
Action
Memoirs
Maybe you already know you enjoy reading memoirs. You probably are familiar with some books you’ve read that were written as a memoir. Think of some memoirs you have read.
A popular fiction for younger children written in the style of a memoir is Diary of a Wimpy Kid.
What makes a memoir different than other works of writing? Explore the first 13 minutes of this 26-minute TVO episode of The Agenda in the Summer called, “The Art of Memoir Writing – Natural Storytellers,” where Allyson Latta, a writing instructor from University of Toronto’s Continuing Studies, talks about the writing process of a memoir. You may wish to consider the entire episode.
As you explore the first 13 minutes, take jot notes (by hand or using a computer, tablet, etc.) as you learn about what makes a memoir. The transcript link is also included. A suggestion to get complete jot notes is to explore it a number of times first, with or without taking notes, then again, this time pausing to add in missing ideas to your jot notes.
Use the Jot Notes Template in your notebook or use the following fillable and printable document to help you get started.
| Jot Notes for (title): | Questions/Thoughts |
|---|---|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Press the ‘Sample jot notes’ button to examine how your jot notes may appear.
|
Jot Notes for (title): The Art of Memoir (TVO broadcast August, 2016) |
Questions/Thoughts |
|---|---|
|
|
|
“So challenges could be anything:
|
|
|
- moves the reader |
|
|
|
|
OMG….what if I don’t want to do that….do I have to? that sounds kind of cool…. |
Using your jot notes from instructor Allyson Latta’s interview, keep these qualities or criteria of a memoir in mind as you work through the writing process.
Qualities of an effective/good memoir:
- author is the main character written in first person narrative – author uses I to write (not we, one, or you)
- author reveals their thoughts and feelings, reactions and reflections, telling their version of events in the tone that they wish (i.e., humour, drama, etc.)
- has ONE focus told in a slow pace with a single theme around such topics as relationship, pet, place or object, recurring behaviour, time or phase of life
- brings the reader into their story so the reader can:
- understand clearly what is happening in the story
- imagine and get a feel for the setting (where and when)
- feel like they are experiencing the relationships in the story
- includes dialogue to portray the individuals in the memoir–what they say and how they talk
- can be any length:short (less than 1,000 words) or a novel. Events are told in the order of the author’s choosing
- feels like a memory–has sensory information, observations, just enough details provided and leaving out unnecessary information the reader doesn’t need to know
- includes a strong, thoughtful ending that leaves the reader to reflect upon their own life experiences.
Below is another example of a memoir. Trevor Noah discusses stories of growing up biracial in South Africa. Below is a short excerpt from the memoir. As you explore this short text, reflect on the qualities of an effective memoir. Which of these qualities do you notice?
The genius of apartheid was convincing people who were the overwhelming majority to turn on each other. Apart hate, is what it was. You separate people into groups and make them hate one another so you can run them all.
At the time, black South Africans outnumbered white South Africans nearly five to one, yet we were divided into different tribes with different languages: Zulu, Xhosa, Tswana, Sotho, Venda, Ndebele, Tsonga, Pedi, and more. Long before apartheid existed these tribal factions clashed and warred with one another. Then white rule used that animosity to divide and conquer. All nonwhites were systematically classified into various groups and subgroups. Then these groups were given differing levels of rights and privileges in order to keep them at odds.
Brainstorming – phase 1
Now it’s your chance to brainstorm some potential topics. What is something significant that has affected you? Some examples include: a relationship, pet, place, time period, object, recurring experience or behaviour, food, anything that is personal, or a significant time and place in your life.
Use a mind map or a graphic organizer of your choosing to delve into your memories. You may wish to close your eyes, listen to some calming sounds or music, and take some deep breaths before you brainstorm.
Allow yourself some time to think. You might keep a diary or journal at home and wish to pursue through that to get inspiration for your memoir. Talk it through with someone or listen to a familiar song. Maybe you have photos from your past that can help guide you in the direction that feels right for you. Sometimes memories visit us in dreams or maybe you like to draw or doodle.
Use may wish to use the Brainstorm Organizer in your notebook or use the following fillable and printable document to help you get started.
Choosing your focus – phase 2
Congratulations! You have now chosen a focus for your memoir. It might be a relationship, pet, place, object, or something of personal significance or familiarity for you.
Now, brainstorm (using the format of your choosing) some descriptive phrases, details, and important background information relating to that theme/focus.
Think about what are you revealing about yourself and why?
Press the ‘Reasons to write a memoir’ button to know more.
- so that others find courage and strength as they reflect on their lives?
- by reading your memoir the reader knows and feels they are not alone?
- to share the humour you find in your life?
- is it for yourself?
If you are writing about a relationship, make some notes about how and what they say so you can include that in your writing.
Think about how you are going to bring the reader into your memoir.
Are you going to introduce your memoir the way memories seep into our day-to-day routines? Will you add some fictional details while keeping to your personal truth of your memory and experiences?
Try to keep your memory to 1,000 words or 1–2 pages, but don’t limit the length of your memoir.
Getting inspiration: phase 3
Explore one of the following TVO interviews featuring authors who have written memoirs. Take some jot notes on the following:
- what makes their work a memoir (relationship, place, time period, recurring experiences, topic of personal importance)?
- what appears to be the reason they wanted to write their memoir? (memorialize, to share, to heal, to teach, to inspire; did they write their memoir for someone special and/or themselves or others?)
- does the memoir focus on specific events?
- does the author talk about the significance of their memoir topic or focus?
Explore the video of an interview that interests you.
Author/Journalist Duncan McCue
Canadian Memory Books
Who knows! Your memoir just might inspire your peers to write a memoir themselves.
Developing the story outline: phase 4
Develop a story outline or story map for your memoir. Remember, it is about creating an experience and recreating a memory.
You may find that you wish to mind map your story outline as memories aren’t connected in dots on a straight line.
Try using one of the Storymap Templates in your notebook or use the following fillable and printable document to help you get started.
Consider some literary devices to include such as rhetorical devices like the following.
comparing something to something else such as a simile or metaphor like personification
words such as clear, sharp, foggy/hazy, funny, serious, frozen, sad, heart-wrenching, loving, joyful
e.g., The store has an OPEN sign written in neon blue flashing lights.
e.g., They walked with the urgency of someone whose feet couldn’t keep up with their upper half.
The use of literary devices helps to establish a mood.
Consult a thesaurus to help you vary your word choices.
Are you writing all of it in the past tense or are you bringing the reader to the past (memoir) and connecting it to the present?
Writing the first draft: phase 5
Write the first draft of your memoir. Don’t worry about including everything in your first draft as you will be revising your work and looking at how you can incorporate the suggestions to enhance your memoir with the help of a peer editor, your teacher, a partner at home or even working through a few drafts independently. This phase is simply writing your ideas in an order you believe to be effective.
Revising the first draft: phase 6
Now is when you can begin exploring how the following suggestions can help you ensure you are creating a memoir you can be proud of.
Here are some reminders. Check to see if you used:
Consider adjusting sentence lengths and sentence complexity to add variety to your sentence structure.
Once your revisions are done for content and structure, revise for punctuation, grammar and spelling.
Writing the final draft: phase 7
Now is the time to use your revisions to write your final draft.
You have the choice to publish if you wish. Perhaps you wish to submit your memoir to a publisher like TVO!
Consolidation
Your turn to research
Research a memoir author. Ask permission and write them a letter or send them an email through a trusted adult email account. Ask the the author about their writing process. Ask them what inspires them. Ask them if they have any writing advice or tips.
Consider forming a book club with a small group of your peers. Decide upon a memoir you will all read. Then arrange to get together (in person or virtually) to talk about what you thought as a reader. Sometimes, memoirs will include discussion questions and an interview with the author at the end.
Identify some strategies you used before you began your writing. Identify some strategies you used during your writing. Identify some strategies you used after writing. Which strategies did you find were most helpful? Why? How does being a regular reader help your writing?
Do you think what kinds of materials you read is important to the writing process? How might keeping a journal or diary help your writing? How might keeping a journal or diary help your writing for a personal memoir you might wish to write in 15-25 years?
Reflection
As you read the following descriptions, select the one that best describes your current understanding of the learning in this activity. Press the corresponding button once you have made your choice.
I feel...
Now, expand on your ideas by recording your thoughts using a voice recorder, speech-to-text, or writing tool.
When you review your notes on this learning activity later, reflect on whether you would select a different description based on your further review of the material in this learning activity.