Cultivating Readiness in Memoir Writing

Starting to Write a Memoir

"Ready, Get Set, Write." The very phrase evokes a sense of athleticism, a burst of energy directed towards a specific goal. But for most of us, the act of writing, particularly memoir, feels less like a sprint and more like a daunting marathon. We think we need to have everything figured out before we even put pen to paper – all the facts, perfectly organized, ready to go. But that's a surefire way to never actually start. Even if we don't have all the answers yet, just getting the words down on the page, no matter how rough they are, is already a huge win.

Starting to write is less about conquering our fear, but more about creating the right space to let our creativity flow. This preparation of our mind and body is just as important as the writing itself. For me, this is comprised of a simple prayer, a quick walk around the block to clear my head, and a good podcast or book with a hot cup of coffee. These rituals help me get in the zone and slip into the storyteller mode.

The Blank Page

The real challenge isn't just starting to write, but keeping that momentum going. Even when your pages feel like a chaotic mess, you have to keep writing.

Don't wait for all the answers to the question 'What am I going to write about?' This question will constantly pop up, and it can feel like staring into a blank page. Self-doubt is the ghost in that blank page. It whispers, 'Is this story even worth telling?' or 'Will anyone care?'

The only way to silence those doubts is to write. We won't know if our story resonates until we actually write it. Doubts are inevitable, but they shouldn't stop us. Let us keep writing, even when our imagination feels stuck.

We are aware that our story won't emerge fully formed. The first drafts will surely be messy, filled with truths and half-truths. But we must see the blank page for what it really is, a page waiting to be filled with raw, unfiltered moments. So just write.

The Writer’s Block

Writer's block usually happens when we try to write something amazing right away. We get so caught up in making it perfect that we end up not writing anything at all. But writing is like a muscle – we have to use it so it can get stronger. Even 15 minutes of writing every day can make a big difference.

Eventually as we persist in writing, we will get better at turning our memories into stories. And whenever we feel stuck, we can can look again at old photos, journals, or anything that reminds us of the past to spark some new ideas and get us excited in writing again.

Memoir writing is an ongoing conversation with our self. Dealing with ourselves, we need to be forgiving, honest, patient, vulnerable, and persistent. READY, GET SET, WRITE.

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