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Writing Memoir Lesson 3
Using
PLOT & ConflictFrom a Course taught at the
Osher Life Long Learning Institute
Curriculum, Instructor & Designer:
Deborah Wilbrink
YOUR STORY: ELEMENTS
• Setting: Where and When?• Character: Dialog and Action• Plot• Conflict• Moral• ThemeAnd more
Plot - sequence of events within a story.
• Beginning: Setting & Characters in Rising Action, also called Exposition
• Middle: Development of Action & Characters into a climax
• End: Climax turns the story into Falling Action, and Resolution resolves the problem (or moves it)
• Theme develops throughout; Moral often comes at the Conclusion.
CONFLICTS• Man vs. Man
• Man vs. Nature
• Man vs. Self
• Gen vs. System• “gen” is circa 1970s for men and women.
Language matters.
Becoming A Woman
Patsy Hatfield LawsonAuthor & Storyteller
Photo courtesy of Patsy Hatfield Lawson
http://www.patsyhatfieldlawson.com/videos.php
Patsy performs after winning a competition for “That Time of the Month” monthly Nashville standup comedy show.She would like you to consider that future generations will be curious about how those “Rated R” subjects were handled in your generation. Note how she builds the story. And poke around Patsy’s website for more info.
Back-storyForeshadowing
Memory Triggers: Mementoes • Back-story – what happened before this
moment?• Foreshadowing – what happens in the future
because of this moment?• Oral Example: Photo• Partnered Oral Memory
–Use a photo or object
Back-storyForeshadowing
Memory Triggers: Mementoes
Here this photo triggers a memory of working long hours for U. S. Sen. Wyche Fowler. Here I hobnob with late Congressman Richard Ray, and future U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop, Jr. The Back-story: Where was my son, since I was a single mother? Foreshadowing – how was my family affected by this career job? My country?
Plot and Conflict.• List 2+ important, difficult,
personal achievements• Choose one.• OUTLINE how it was achieved:
organizing your plot.• Use this “pre-writing” to write.
• Setting:• Main Character
Motivation: Why?• Overcoming
obstacles: How• Helpful characters
or events: Who & What
• Climax: The obstacle is met and overcome• Resolution and Conclusion – a sense of ending• Revise: Will description, dialog, action, back-
story or foreshadowing enhance this piece?
OPTIONAL HOMEWORK
Finish your achievement story
OR
Use the plot map
to pre-write & write another chapter.
Consider:
What conflicts in your life would make
good stories?
Writing from Your Life 3
NEXT CLASS is
Wednesday JULY 31
PARK HERE
See you then!
Instructor: Deborah Wilbrink
Handout: Planning Your Memoir Chapter or Story
• Setting: Where & When?• Main Character Motivation: Why?• Overcoming obstacles: How?• Helpful characters or events: Who? & What?• Climax: The obstacle is met and overcome• Resolution and Conclusion – a sense of ending• Revise: will description, dialog, action, back-
story or foreshadowing enhance this piece?
Handout:Back-story
ForeshadowingMemory Triggers: Mementoes
• Back-story – what happened before this moment to cause it?
• Foreshadowing – what happens in the future because of this moment? Show, don’t tell.
• Use a photo or object to trigger memories.