My+memoir+revisions

I was given the assignment to write a memoir in my English 103 class. I first had to write down three good ideas for a story. At first I was set on writing about the day my younger sister passed away, and how I handled it at age eight. At first, that was the only idea that I thought could have an impact on readers. I later wrote down two more things just to have three ideas as assigned. I am a big soccer fan, so I wrote one about soccer. Then I tried to think of any experiences I have had outside the country (as suggested), and that is when my memoir came to me. The story was not as serious, and I thought it could be a very good story to tell. I knew it would give me the chance to use a sarcastic sense of humor at times. I wanted the reader to feel drawn into the story as an adventure, and less of a tragedy. I discussed the ideas to people in my group, and they agreed that a sort of “adventure” story would be less heart-felt to the reader.

After I got my idea, I wrote a zero draft. I simply wrote down essential ideas to my story in chronological order. I then wrote down the key parts of my story, and figured out how I could rearrange them to immediately draw attention. I started my story at the climax, but I later learned it was too soon in the climax. A few days later I read a memoir and decided to use a similar introduction as theirs. I wrote the idea/summary of my story in the first paragraph so readers knew what the action would be building up to. I wrote out two or three rough drafts and they all were a similar idea, but in changed order. The process of actual drafts went on for about a week or so. To form my drafts, I basically just gave formality and structure to my zero draft.

The feedback was the most crucial part to my draft. My English professor Dr. Hartman gave me feedback on where most of my detail was. It made me realize that I had nowhere near enough detail in my assignment. Nick Rypnel gave me important information on specific ideas he thought there should be more detail in. He also helped me brainstorm other ways to write my paper. After my “rough” final draft, Tyler Clements sent me his thoughts on wording in my paper, and where he thought I should help the reader be inside my head.

The biggest revision of my draft was adding in detail. My first drafts had little detail at all, so I selected scenes that I thought readers should know more about. I revised my paper several times, but mostly within three days of the due date. After I had something I was comfortable with, I proofread my paper several times looking for small errors. After several proofreading’s I was confident with my paper and I submitted it.

If I had to go through the same process again, there is only one thing I would want to change. I would make sure that I include detail from the beginning of the memoir writing. I simply wrote out a story, and then realized I needed to add detail. I think it would be easiest if I put the reader in my shoes the whole story from the start of the writing.