Free Resource: 5 Simple Questions for Planning a Memoir
In this free resource, I pose five simple questions to help you get started with planning an (In)formal Memoir. This resource will help you define the subject of your memoir, explore potential memoir topics, and identify any loved ones who you might like to consult for additional memoir material! Use the free resource if you are considering creating a memoir on your own or to prepare for your free 30 minute consultation with me.
Whose (In)formal memoir do you want to create?
In this resource I include three likely options for the subject of the (In)formal memoir you have in mind. These options include:
writing your memoir: the majority, if not all, of the memories, stories, and/or reflections come from you!
creating a loved one’s memoir: you want a beloved family member or friend to record their memories, stories and/or reflections.
creating a tribute memoir for a loved one who is alive or who has passed: you and/or other family members or friends contribute their memories, stories, reflections, family history, and other memoir topics of a loved one who is alive or who has passed away.
Perhaps none of these quite align with your memoir goals or you are unsure, which is fine! Whether you know exactly the kind of (In)formal Memoir you would like to create or need help generating ideas, I am here to help.
What memoir topics interest you?
Regardless of who the subject(s) of the memoir is, it will be helpful for you to have ideas for topics that you would like included in the memoir! The free resource (linked below) contains a list of 20 broad categories of topics to help you generate ideas for stories, reflections, and other memoir content. Check off all that interest you. You can always start with “a lot” of memoir topics now and cut down later. As you go through the checklist, take note of any memoir topics that you felt were missing from the list and write them down! This can help you further identify your priorities for the content of the (In)formal Memoir.
Whose perspectives or knowledge do you want to include?
Regardless of whether you are writing your own (In)formal Memoir or you would like a loved one to create their memoir, are there certain family members, friends, or other contacts who you would want to consult for certain pieces of memoir content? For example, does a certain family member hold a lot of knowledge about your family’s history? Or are there certain family members or friends who you would like to compare memories with on a certain event from childhood? Some people might opt to consult no one for their memoir content while others might opt to include several family members or friends. It’s up to you and the kind of memoir you would like to create!
How will you obtain the perspectives or knowledge of others for your memoir?
If you are not consulting others for memoir content, then skip this step. If you are interested in consulting others for memoir content, what are the strategies you’ll likely use to communicate with them? By phone? In-person the next time you see them? By email? By letter? This all depends on how far you live from them and their (and your) comfort with technology.
By when do you want to complete the (In)formal Memoir?
Do you have an urgent timeline for creating an (In)formal Memoir? For example, would you like to have a ‘tribute memoir’ created before someone’s birthday or for another type of celebration? Or perhaps you want to preserve memories or family history of a beloved one who may pass soon. If you do not have an urgent due date for the memoir, it is still good to have an idea of how much time you want to spend creating the memoir. For non-urgent memoirs, you might want to aim to complete it within 6 months.
Let’s Get Started!
Click here to download the free resource on planning an (In)formal Memoir, and contact me for a free consultation when you are ready to create an (In)formal Memoir!
