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.