Writing Wednesday: Storytelling

 

What triggers your memories? Is it one of your senses or an emotion? There are a lot of stories to tell, and a memory is a great place to start.

When I collaborated with Jamie Stonebridge on Family Thanksgiving, I started with the memories, traditions, and favorite things that connect me to that holiday. When I changed my point of view to an older character, I was able to create something wonderful to share.

A lot of my writing prompts, exercises, and inspirations typically start with a memory. Whether it continues with a perspective in the present or an exaggeration for a work of fiction, it all comes together with something that can be relatable or engaging.

Need some ideas for your own prompts? Try this one and take it as far as you want.

Writing Exercise:

Start your story with two words: I remember. Make it something that can prompt the recollection of a family tale or create the beginning of a fictional piece. Here are some examples:

I Remember

I remember only one thing that night. There were only three words spoken: “I hate you”.

I remember the moment we kissed. I took a breath and my bones exhaled along with the air as I felt my body turn to mush.

I remember when we all sat around and laughed. I don’t remember what caused the gut-aching topic, just the tears of joy and good-time vibes.

I remember the look on his face when I told him goodbye. He tried so hard to make it all work out, but nothing could ignite a spark and make me love him as much as he loved me.

Backyard Stories

 My grandfather's birthday is next week. He passed away about 25 years ago, but he certainly made an impact on my life. The time I spent with him contributed to a lot of my own storytelling. But stories have a way of weaving in and out of other stories. 

Grandpa always told stories over and over again. It may have been a memory thing, but these were shared to bring out laughter and happy times. He also enjoyed hearing his favorite stories over and over again. After church on Sundays, my 16-year old self was in charge tidying up and reading a passage from whatever book he picked. Often it was the first two pages of my uncle's book of short stories. 

It was a beautifully bound book of his writings that he published while in college. The dedication page spoke fondly of his parents, but the lead-off story in the book was about the childhood home. It was called "Sticker Bush for Base". It described the backyard of the home where all of the neighborhood children came to play ball. It can be a universal topic for children growing up in the 20th century full of leisure and memories. I never did get past that first story, but it has stuck with me even after all this time.

As I think about my Sundays with my grandfather, I also think about my own stories to tell from my backyard. There weren't many girls in our neighborhood, so we were often playing games with the boys in the neighborhood or riding our bikes from street to street. It is greatly different from the upbringing of my children who have their own version of backyard stories to tell. 

That being said, I started a new project about backyard stories. With a nod to my uncle, my first story is currently titled "Dirt Patch". There will always be one part of the yard that sums up a memory. The kids in my neighborhood can probably envision my reference point. I'm sure you are imagining your own special spot. These creative moments take nothing more than the time to reflect on memories and share them with the readers with storytelling flair.