Horses

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWr6JNfDIoc

Memoir outline

 

Gemini said

Writing a memoir essay is less about recording a timeline and more about finding the meaning in a specific slice of your life. Think of it as a "mini-movie" where you are the protagonist.

Here is a flexible outline to help you structure your story.

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I. The Hook: The Inciting Incident

Don't start with "I was born in..." Start where the action or the change begins.

• The Scene: Use sensory details (smell, sound, touch) to drop the reader into a specific moment.

• The Conflict: Briefly hint at the internal or external tension. What was at stake?

• The "Before" State: Establish who you were at that time so the reader can measure your growth later.

II. The Build-Up: Rising Action

This is the "meat" of the essay where you navigate the challenges of your chosen theme.

• The Journey: Describe the series of events that led to the turning point.

• Internal Monologue: Share your thoughts and misconceptions at the time. (e.g., "I thought if I just stayed quiet, the problem would vanish.")

• Key Characters: Introduce 1–2 people who acted as catalysts or obstacles.

III. The Climax: The Turning Point

This is the emotional or physical peak of the essay.

• The Confrontation: The moment you had to make a choice, face a fear, or accept a hard truth.

• The Shift: Show the exact moment your perspective changed. This is often a "point of no return."

IV. The Reflection: Falling Action

Now that the "storm" has passed, what is the immediate aftermath?

• The Realization: Explain what you learned in the wake of the climax.

• The Integration: How did you start applying this new knowledge to your life?

V. The Resolution: The "New Normal"

End by bringing the reader back to the present or a transformed future.

• The "After" State: Show how you are different now compared to the person in the introduction.

• The Universal Truth: Briefly touch on the broader human experience your story reflects (grief, resilience, identity, etc.).

• The Final Image: Leave the reader with a lingering, powerful visual or thought.

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Quick Tips for Success:

• Show, Don't Tell: Instead of saying "I was nervous," describe your "knuckles turning white as you gripped the steering wheel."

• Focus on One Theme: Don't try to tell your whole life story. Pick one specific thread (e.g., your relationship with your grandmother, or the summer you failed at your dream job).

• Be Vulnerable: Readers connect with honesty, including the moments where you weren't the hero.

The Art of Memoir Mary Karr

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30dgGsC2P0U

Memoir Video

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qw2U42FoZls

Alan Kaufman interview

 https://www.google.com/search?q=Alan+Kaufman+Drunken+angel&sca_esv=20541e4f21a9d7f7&rlz=1CABBMB_enUS1173&udm=7&biw=1366&bih=599&aic=0&sxsrf=ANbL-n4dE3GKdG8iYRHMhgaWIuuJPC8YIQ%3A1769007149260&ei=LehwacetD7-Gw8cPw-vNiAc&ved=0ahUKEwiH-PGV8ZySAxU_w_ACHcN1E3EQ4dUDCBE&uact=5&oq=Alan+Kaufman+Drunken+angel&gs_lp=EhZnd3Mtd2l6LW1vZGVsZXNzLXZpZGVvIhpBbGFuIEthdWZtYW4gRHJ1bmtlbiBhbmdlbDIGEAAYFhgeMgsQABiABBiGAxiKBTILEAAYgAQYhgMYigUyCBAAGIAEGKIEMgUQABjvBTIIEAAYgAQYogQyCBAAGIAEGKIESNtYUOEHWPlTcAF4AJABAJgBrQGgAboeqgEFMTcuMTm4AQPIAQD4AQGYAiSgArwfwgIHECMYJxiuAsICBBAjGCfCAgUQABiABMICCBAAGKIEGIkFwgIFECEYnwXCAgUQIRigAcICBRAhGKsCmAMAiAYBkgcENy4yOaAHl7wBsgcENi4yObgHsh_CBwYyLTM0LjLIB9IBgAgA&sclient=gws-wiz-modeless-video#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:171fee59,vid:EbDRQ3rtIIQ,st:0

Syllabus

 

• January 2026

  • Tuesday, January 20

  • Introduction to Creative Writing
  • General discussion
  • Assignment: 
  • Read Alan Kaufman  Chapters 1 to 5

  • Thursday, January 22

  • Discussion of reading
  • Assignment:
  • Read chapters 5 to 10

  • Tuesday, January 27

  • Journal readings
  • General discussion of memoir/reading
  • Discussion of craft
  • Assignment
  • Read chapters 10 to 22

  • Thursday, January 29

  • Discussion of reading
  • Assignment
  • Read chapters 22 to 32

Obsolete Man

 https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7v735n