Writing Tips: Personal Essay and Memoir

When writing personal essay or memoir, and you can’t remember certain events or why something happened, write from “perhaps” to loosen your memory, or even to make things up. Whatever follows “perhaps” does not have to be the literal truth.

A personal essay utilizes a more idiosyncratic voice than journalistic writing. Be as much of yourself as you can bear to reveal.

Source or Inspiration: Cecile Goding’s weekend workshop in personal essay at the University of Iowa Summer Writing Festival, 2008