Are you available and ready?

“A seed of an idea.”

Do you feel ideas sprouting up inside you, stories you need to include in your memoir?

Or, on the other hand, are you overwhelmed at the thought of coming up with ideas for writing a memoir? If so, relax. Ideas are endless!

Make yourself “available and ready.”

Listen to your silent thoughts and imaginings because

while you’re driving to work,

or folding laundry,

or getting ready for a board meeting,

or preparing a sermon,

or reading posts on Facebook,

or tucking the kids into bed at night,

or grocery shopping,

or brushing your teeth—

ideas will pop into your mind.

When they do, jot them down. If you don’t have a piece of paper to write on, use your cell phone to list those ideas when they come to mind. And then pat yourself on the back, because by doing that, you’ve started your memoir!

For example, give yourself time to think about following questions if you want to write a memoir about your childhood:

• Who was your best friend when you were 13 years old? 18 years old? 20 years old? How did those friends influence you (good or bad)?
• What was the most unusual adventure of your childhood?
• Who was your favorite teacher or coach or Scout leader or church youth group leader? Why?
• What were your favorite books when you were a kid? a teenager? a college student?
• What did you want to be when you grew up? Did that change over the years? Why?
• What was the best day of your childhood? Why?
• What was the saddest day of your childhood? Why?
• What event changed your life forever (good or bad)?
• What were your parents and grandparents like? aunts, uncles, cousins, neighbors?

Like I said, the ideas are endless. Have fun exploring them. Over time, you’ll begin to notice patterns, you’ll be able to connect the dots. Then start writing your rough draft. And have fun!