Writing exercise #1: The thumbnail sketch
Chose a character and describe him (or her) in two colorful sentences. Make one sentence something visible, such as hair style or a way of dressing. The other sentence might be something physical – a gesture, tick, or mannerism. Combine these two sentences for a thumbnail sketch.
Writing exercise #2: Rounding out your characters
If you have an unsympathetic character in your story (and most of us do) make a list of her (or his) more appealing personality traits. You might describe a mean-spirited person who possesses a rich sense of humor, for instance, or a self-centered person with a surprising generous streak.
Writing exercise #3 Be in the “now” of the past
Close your eyes and mentally return to an episode in your memoir. Take your time setting the scene. Think of it as building and painting a stage set; try to recreate all the visual and sensory details as accurately as you can. Once you have the setting firmly in mind, visualize the scene unfolding around you. Feel, smell, see and hear what you did then. Notice who you are in the past, reinhabit your former self. If the scene involves another person or a conversation, have that conversation. Glance around you as you imagine it, just as you did then. Notice all the details (you may chose not write about all these, but being aware of them will enrich your recreation.)
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