Writing Memoir Lesson 3

Using PLOT & Conflict

From 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.

PLOT

CONFLICTS• Man vs. Man

• Man vs. Nature

• Man vs. Self

• Gen vs. System• “gen” is circa 1970s for men and women.

Language matters.

WILD SUE

Patsy Hatfield LawsonAuthor & Storyteller

Photo courtesy of Patsy Hatfield Lawson

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.

http://gaslight.mtroyal.ca/mnkyspaw.htm

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?

Difficult accomplishments of yours or of someone close to you

BRAINSTORM

PLOT & CONFLICT

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 storyOR

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 isWednesday JULY 31

PARK HERESee 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.

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