A Family Turning Point
Think of a turning point in your family’s history and narrate the story. This could be an immigration story, a pivotal career change for a parent, or overcoming a significant hardship. How has this event passed down through generations and affected your own beliefs and actions?
Suggested length: A personal essay: 1,000 to 3,000 words
Start the clock
Pick a sprint, press start and keep going until it stops. Momentum beats polish on a first draft.
Make it yours
Three ways to take this prompt somewhere nobody else will.
- End with what you know now that you didn't know then.
- Start in the middle of one scene you can see clearly.
- Be honest about what you didn't understand at the time.
Writing biography and memoir books
A real life, told with the shape of a story.
A biography tells someone else's life; an autobiography tells your own, start to finish. A memoir is narrower: one stretch or theme of the author's life, told with a novelist's tools. Memoir is where most new writers start.
What readers expect
- A true story with a narrative arc
- An honest, distinctive voice
- Scenes, not just summary
- Meaning drawn from experience
A tip before you start
A memoir isn't your whole life. Pick one thread, such as a year, a relationship or a question, and cut everything else.
More Biographies and Memoirs prompts
- The Challenge That Changed My CourseReflect on a time when you faced a significant challenge that defined your future direction. Explore your thoughts, feelings, and the ultimate…
- The Childhood Moment That StayedWrite a memoir entry focused on a pivotal moment in your childhood. Describe the setting, the emotions, and the individuals involved. How did this…
- The Friendship That Changed MeChronicle the unexpected friendship that has significantly impacted your life. Describe how you met, the adventures you've shared, and the challenges…
- Letters to My Younger SelfPen a series of letters you wish you could have sent to your younger self at critical turning points in your life. Reflect on the advice you would…
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