Creative nonfiction writing prompts can help you dive into a genre of writing that blends elements of fiction and nonfiction. Memoir is a subgenre of creative nonfiction that tells the story of a writer’s own life.
If you are interested in writing a memoir, but you’re not sure where to start, here are a few creative nonfiction writing prompts to help you generate ideas:
Write About A Time When You Felt Lost Or Alone
This is a common theme in memoirs, as it allows the writer to explore their inner thoughts and feelings. In her memoir Eat, Pray, Love, Elizabeth Gilbert writes about a time when she felt lost and alone after her divorce.
Write About A Time When You Faced A Challenge Or Obstacle
This is another common theme in memoirs, as it allows the writer to explore their strength and resilience. In his memoir Night, Elie Wiesel writes about his experiences in the Holocaust.
Write About A Time When You Learned Something Important About Yourself
This is a great way to explore your personal growth and development. In her memoir The Glass Castle, Jeannette Walls writes about her difficult childhood, and how she learned to be independent and self-reliant.
RECOMMENDED READING
- Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia, by Elizabeth Gilbert
- Night, by Elie Wiesel
- The Glass Castle: A Memoir, by Jeannette Walls
Write About A Time When You Experienced Something Beautiful Or Awe-Inspiring
This is a great way to capture your memories and share them with others. In her memoir Wild, Cheryl Strayed writes about her solo hike on the Pacific Crest Trail.
Write About A Time When You Made A Mistake Or Did Something You Regret
This is a great way to explore your sense of guilt or shame, and how you have learned from your mistakes. In his memoir Angela’s Ashes, Frank McCourt writes about his childhood poverty and neglect.
RECOMMENDED READING
- Angela’s Ashes, by Frank McCourt
- Untamed, by Glennon Doyle
- Wild: From Lost To Found on the Pacific Coast Trail, by Cheryl Strayed
Write About A Time When You Experienced Love Or Loss
These are two of the most powerful emotions that we can experience, and they can make for powerful writing. In her memoir The Year of Magical Thinking, Joan Didion writes about illness, loss, and grief.
Write About A Time When You Changed Your Mind About Something
This is a great way to explore your personal growth and development. In her memoir Untamed, Glennon Doyle writes about her journey from being a conservative Christian to a feminist.
Write About A Time When You Were Afraid
Fear is a powerful emotion, and it can make for powerful writing. In his memoir Into the Wild, Jon Krakauer writes about his journey into the Alaskan wilderness.
Write About A Time When You Were Grateful
Gratitude is a powerful emotion, and it can make for powerful writing. In her memoir The Gifts of Imperfection, Brené Brown writes about her journey to accepting herself for who she is.
Write About A Time When You Were Happy
Happiness is a powerful emotion, and it can make for powerful writing. In her memoir Eat, Pray, Love, Elizabeth Gilbert writes about her world travels when she found happiness and peace.
These are just a few creative nonfiction writing prompts to help you get started with memoir. The most important thing is to find a prompt that resonates with you and to start writing. The more you write, the better you will become at capturing your memories and sharing them with others.
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Liz Brenner
Everyone has a story to tell.
Even you.
Especially you.