Post #137 – Women’s Memoirs, Writing Prompt – Kendra Bonnett and Matilda Butler
Memoir Writer Meets Blogger
If you read my blog on Sunday, then you know that I’ve been taking long walks on the headlands near Dana Point in southern California. Recently, just as I rounded a corner and was turning my back on the ocean, we passed a family scanning the ocean. Ahead of us was a park ranger. We started a conversation with him. You know how that goes. Simple pleasantries. But within about 30 seconds, he asked, “Have you seen any of our gray whales?” We knew this was the season when they migrate past this area on their way north. We’d even gone to the Whale Festival held a couple of blocks from where we’re staying. But we had to reply, “No. We’ve been looking but just can’t spot them. How far out should we foc-”
Just then the woman we had walked past said to us, “Look. Look. There’s a whale. See the spout?”
Turning and hurrying over her direction, “Where?”
“Near the buoy.”
“To the north of it? Oh yes. I see it.”
And so I met Michele.
And while our first few minutes of conversation were about whales, I was soon talking with the woman and her children about other topics.
“What do you do?”
“I’m a writer,” I responded. “We’re here on a month-long writing retreat.”
“I’m a writer too. A travel writer and a blogger.”
“Tell me what you blog about.”
And our conversation continued. I introduced myself and she handed me her card showing her website about Orange County Playgrounds and Play Ideas.
Looking down at the card for her name, I said, “Michele. May I take your picture — you and your children? I’d like to introduce you in my website.”
It’s such fun to meet new people. I may never see Michele again but thanks to her kindness, thanks to her showing me the whale, I’ll always remember her.
MEMOIR WRITING PROMPT:
1. Our lives are intertwined with many people. Sometimes the strands that weave us together are numerous and long. Others are single and short. But they are all part of the fabric of our lives. Think of someone you met in the past month. Maybe you didn’t even learn the person’s name. Write for 10 minutes about how you met, what you remember most, what the conversation was about, how the person looked.
2. Try this monthly as a writing exercise. The next time you meet someone, try to get enough details that you can write a good character sketch. This will help you with your memoir writing. What do you notice first? What second? Who starts the conversation?
Writing about people who are not in our memoir frees you to experiment with your writing and this will improve what you do.
