Memoir-Finding+A+Topic

· This is a short essay, so you need a narrow focus. Write about one, specific thing that has been important to you: a person, place, idea, belief, experience, event, day, moment, action, relationship, work of art, or another specific thing. · After finding a focal point that interests you, find a use of language – either written or spoken or both – that in involved in the story. Include it somewhere in the story, and if you can make it a major theme. · In fiction, the main character is usually more interesting if s/he changes during the story. The same is true in a personal narrative. Choose a focal point which was also a turning point: how did this thing help make you who you are now? What were you like before, and after this thing entered your life? · Personal topics are stories you feel comfortable telling in public. Private topics are stories you do not want to share in public. Do not write a story for this class that leaves you feeling highly embarrassed, panicked, scared, or so on. You may need or want to write about that topic, but not in public.
 * Choosing a topic:**

What are some important subjects or experiences in your life, past or present? Use the following guiding questions to cut this list down to one or two subjects or events.
 * Is this subject (person, place, thing, event, animal) really important to me now or in the
 * past?
 * Do I have strong feelings about this subject?
 * Do I have stories to tell about myself and this subject?
 * Will I enjoy writing about this?

Once you have highlighted your top choices choose your top three topics overall. Now that you have narrowed your choices to three, using webs, clusters, or other appropriate graphic aids to organize your thoughts.

Memoir-Getting Started