Post #100 – Women’s Memoirs, Writing Prompt – Kendra Bonnett and Matilda Butler
Memoir Writing Promised
As everyone knows, Borders is going out of business. I went to our local one a few nights ago. The prices were still high, but the discounts will improve as the weeks and months go by. Rumor has it that the Corvallis Borders will probably stay open through the rest of the year.
I wasn’t going to buy at the current prices, but thought I’d look around to see what might be interesting to purchase later. Different formats always intrigue me so I picked up something that looked like a checkbook. Indeed, it was I.O.U. checks that a child could use as gifts for a friend or parent. These I.O.U.s included telling a joke, singing a song, etc.
I immediately remembered all the I.O.U.s I gave my parents when I was young. As a child, I never had money to go buy a gift so I thought up the idea of an I.O.U. I’d go with my father to work on the weekend. This gave me access to a typewriter where I’d create perfect I.O.U.s. I didn’t know much about checks, so mine were just typed on a piece of paper and then signed by me. I remember ones like:
I.O.U. 5 table cleanings (We had a glass top table and I’d use Windex on it.)
I.O.U. 1 breakfast in bed (My father had to help me with that one.)
I.O.U. 1 pan of brownies (I’d learned to make these and they were my favorite. I guess that one was partly a gift to me.)
I.O.U. 1 car washing (This was a gift for my father.)
When I came back from my reverie, I realized I.O.U.s could be a fun writing exercise.
Memoir Writing Prompt
If you like this idea, you might take it beyond a writing prompt and turn it into holiday presents. December will be here before we know it. Of course, these make great birthday, just-thinking-of-you, etc. gifts as well.
1. Think of people you’d like to give a gift to. Make a list.
2. Think of a story each person on your list would enjoy knowing. A story from your adult child’s youth. A story about your mother that you remember from your childhood. A memory of a time that you and your father did something together. Perhaps you have a favorite aunt or uncle and you recall a story that expresses why you like them so much. Write that person an I.O.U. You could even use blank checks. Fill in the dollar amount with: A Special Poem for You … or … A Story Written Just for You. For the date, put in when you will give the person the promised story or poem.
3. Give each person the I.O.U. This is a great way to motivate yourself to write those stories — stories that will be treasured by the recipient more than any store bought gift.
4. Start writing.
