Make your Words Count…and Count your Words
Prepared by Amy MillerHigh School Writing Day
PLWP / MWSUMarch 5, 2009
I found my mother’s suicide note.
by Hell’s Kitchen baby
Definition of Memoir
AutobiographicalCaptures highlights and meaningful momentsCaptures particular scenesContemplates meaningEmotional
For Sale: baby shoes, never worn.
by Ernest Hemingway
Six Word Memoirs on NPR
http://www.npr.org/programs/totn/features/2008/02/memoir/gallery/index.html
A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts.
William Strunk, Jr., The Elements of Style,
1918
If it takes a lot of words to say what you have in mind, give it more thought.
Dennis Roth
Rendering
Brainstorm
Memorable MomentsSignificant Events
Brainstorm
CharacteristicsTitles
Connect the Dots
EventsMoments
CharacteristicsTitles
Prewriting about Event or Moment
How old were you?Where were you?Who was with you?What happened?What did you do? Want to do? Wish you did?How did you feel about it then? Now?How did it change you? Change others?Would you be a different person today if it never happened?
Prewriting about Characteristic or Title
Where did it come from?How does it affect you? Others?How do you feel about it? Want to feel about it?How do others feel about it?Can you change it?Would you change it if you could? Why or why not?
More Ideas for Six Word Memoirs
Write about:The person you want to be (now or someday).Someone you love.Someone you admire.A favorite character.Your mortal enemy.
Even More Ideas for Six Word Writing
Write a six word short story.Write a series of six word memoirs or stories.Write a collection for children.Write a tribute series for someone you care about.Create a photo essay “illustrated” with six word captions.
Navy Brat—
Ship without an anchor.