Brainstorming like a soundwriting memoirist

The job of a memoirist (someone who writes memoir) is "capturing a shift. A heartbeat. A memory that still stings or sings," so says Writers of the West. In Project #1, you're trying to recollect (and tell) a story about your experience with belonging at Saint Mary's College that can be told in 4-5 mins.

This might seem simple, but we are looking to share a real experience that we can retell with lots of sensory details. So much so that our audience feels like they're with you. It's about revealing something personal, maybe even vulnerability, so that you don't have to explain what the story says about belonging directly, but with a feeling so clear your audience knows the takeaway.

To get started, let's turn part of Writers of the West's description of memoir into a brainstorming activity. In the article, they write:

You’re capturing a shift. A heartbeat. A memory that still stings or sings...You’ll find them in journals, on blogs, even tucked into captions. Because in 500 or 1,000 words, you can hit a nerve, stir a memory, or bring someone to tears...You don’t need a polished life. Just a true moment.

To write your blog, take 10 mins to think about what belonging means to you on campus: What makes you feel a sense of belonging? What makes you feel like you don't belong? When have you felt like you belonged at SMC? When have you felt like you don't belong at SMC? As you think about those questions, brainstorm three lists:

📷 What's the photo (real or imagined) that you associate with feeling like you belong/don't belong?

🔊 What does belonging/not belonging feel (in terms of touch), taste, or sound like?

🗣️ What is a sentence someone said once that still echoes in your feelings of belonging not belonging?

Assignment Overview 

• Length: 300 words 

• Media Requirement:

  • Take a picture of your brainstorming lists & embed it in your blog 

• Your blog should reflect on the memories that are emerging through your brainstorming by answering the following questions:

  • What experiences might you write about and what sensory details would you want to convey to your audience the help them feel engaged in the story? How would those sensory details bring your audience into your story?

  • How does this brainstorming exercise compare with other brainstorming exercises you may have done for more traditional written essays?

    
    

Review and Publish

• Proofread your writing for clear and engaging language.

• Check that your image is visible after publishing but before submitting your blog

• AI for writing or media is not permitted on this blog.

• Publish the post, then copy and paste your blog's link in Canvas.