Discovering Self Through Six-Word Memoirs - Several Exercises To Get You Started
Hi All,
Below is an excerpt from my new book,
That Which Awakens Me: A Creative Woman's Poetic Memoir of Self-Discovery (September 2009 - available on Amazon.com). I hope the exercises help jumpstart your six-word memoir journey! Let me know what you think about them. Enjoy!
Peace and Creativity,
Ananda
Copyright 2009 by Madelyn C. Leeke - www.anandaleeke.com
Discovering Self Through Six-Word Memoirs
The following six-word memoir exercises are based on the book,
Not Quite What I Was Planning – Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure edited by SMITH Magazine. For more information, visit
www.smithmag.net/sixwords.
1) Select four topics from the list below. Write two six-word memoirs for each area. Take two minutes to write each six-word memoir.
-State of Being and Personal Reflection
-Ancestral Origins
-Family Connections
-Ethnicity, Sexual Orientation, Age, and Gender
-Professions
-Spirituality and Healing
-Popular Culture Labels
-School Affiliations
-Organizational Memberships
-Socioeconomic Status and Residence
-Political Affiliation
2) Select one of the six-word-memoirs and begin writing a response to the following statement: what I really want to say about this six-word memoir is (fill in the blank with your own words). Don't censure your words. Don't read them. Just keep writing without stopping your pen for ten minutes.
3) Take five minutes to read over your writing and circle any words or phrases you feel a strong attraction to.
4) Take five minutes to examine the words or phrases. Write down how three of the words or phrases reflect your personality, choices, or life experiences.
5) Take five minutes to write nonstop about how these writing practices affected you.
6) Take three minutes to read your writing.
7) Take five minutes to write about any new discoveries you made about yourself through writing.