Imagination is an essential element of all good writing. How you say something is just as important as what you are saying. A memoir should never be a dull recounting of a series of events or emotions, but the writing should be infused with rich metaphors, vivid descriptions, and unique phrasing. As in fiction, the writing in memoir should be kept interesting in order to keep the reader engaged. Good memoir needs to be written with imagination present.
Our life stories should contain more than just bodies and action. We go through life with our minds working and the memoir should reflect our states of mind and courses of thought during our times of action and inaction. When you do something in the story let the reader know details about your motivation for doing the action and what you were thinking as you did it. Round out everything by including body and mind. Usually this will take using your imagination as well as your memory.
In some stories the imagination can play a foremost role. There are times when you might think of yourself as being similar to the title character in James Thurber's "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty". In this story Walter Mitty goes through a mundane life while playing out amazing fantasies in his head. Don't we all do this to some extent in our lives? We imagine the worst that could happen or the best that we might like to happen. We dream up all sorts of fanciful scenarios that accompany the actions we are doing in actual life.
Don't forget to include some of these daydreams in your memoir story if they help liven up the action. These imaginary scenes can make for nice comic relief as well as contrast to the reality of your life as it was or is. Imagination is your friend and a bit of friendly fun for your readers.
Do you tend to daydream? Have you ever worried yourself to a frenzy by imagining the worst scenario? When you are reading a memoir to you like to know about the writer's thoughts during actions being described?
I do daydream quite a bit. But I overthink to the point of crushing anxiety/panic attacks which is taking a huge toll on my health.
ReplyDeleteI often will over think to unreasonable limits. I'd rather just fantasize about fun things.
DeleteLee
Huge daydreamer here.
ReplyDeleteI like to think of the worst case scenario before I attempt anything. It's always good to know what could go wrong. I don't stress about it though. If I have to stress over it than it isn't worth thinking about.
Bushman
2015 A to Z Challenge Ambassador
@jwb81074
It's good to be imaginative enough to consider options rather then just jumping in only to end up with a massive fail.
DeleteLee
The memoirs I like are the ones where the person comes to life. Where they show what they are feeling and I interpret their actions.
ReplyDeleteI like those as well. It's good when the memoir reads like a vivid come-to-life story in which I can feel a part.
DeleteLee