Sunflower Field | Watercolour by Lee Rawn
Memoir writing relies on memory. As you know, everyone remembers events differently. Since this is your memoir, you go with what you remember. It doesn’t hurt to check in with others, but in the end, it’s your story.
Your experiences are neatly stored like memory in a computer. But accessing these events can be tricky. We can’t just scroll through our documents. Or can we?
When memories are dim, a good technique to try is mind-mapping. You envision the place that you wish to write about and make a map on paper.
Where was your house? Where was the fort in the woods? Who lived next door? What did the walk to school look like? Were the sidewalks uneven where tree roots cracked and lifted? Was the street lined with maples? What do you remember of smell? What did you hear?
Try to remember as much detail as you can, not only of place, but of people. All of a sudden, your file is open and a rush of memory spills onto the page. Your map doesn’t have to be a neighborhood. It could be a room, a city, whatever you are writing about. You can map feelings as well.
For those of you who are writing fiction, you can still make maps, because your experiences in life flavor your writing.
Give it a try. Mind-mapping will open those pesky doors
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