A few weeks ago, I picked up a book called The Story of My Life, filled with a diverse range of writing prompts designed to write about personal reflection. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I hoped it would give me some structure and inspiration as I work through the more difficult parts of my memoir. It has turned out to be exactly what I needed.
The prompts have been incredibly useful in helping me free write and discover new ideas about my sister’s story and mine. I feel that when you’re so close to a story, it’s easy to miss the smaller moments that make it whole. But I was meant to buy this book. Perfect timing. I picked it up casually grocery shopping at Walmart on a Sunday evening. This new book has been a tool in helping me reconnect with memories and emotions tied with my sister and our shared experiences together.
Unlocking New Details
I’ve been surprised by how much I’ve been able to uncover with these prompts. Each question seems to push me in a new direction, helping me recall specific moments I had forgotten, or hadn’t realized were so important. For example, one prompt asked me to describe a moment in my life when I felt both joy and sorrow at the same time. That led me to write about the time I saw and recorded my sister taking her first steps two weeks after the accident, a bittersweet moment that I hadn’t planned to explore/write just yet, but now feels central to the story.
This book is not just helping me organize the facts and events, but it’s also pushing me to explore the emotions behind them. It’s making me look at the little things: our conversations and how we always support each other through difficult times. It’s not just about the big events, it’s about the little moments, the emotions that accompanied them, and the impact they had on both of us. The prompts have given me a new sense of clarity and focus as I move forward with the memoir.
I’m also starting to think about the kind of research that will help deepen my understanding of the themes I want to explore. Since my memoir revolves around my sister, our family, and the impact of the accident on our lives, I need to go beyond just personal reflections and memories. Researching grief, trauma, and resilience; particularly how these themes play out within families will be essential for adding depth to my writing.
As I continue to develop my thesis, I’m realizing how important it is to delve deeper into certain areas of research to strengthen the narrative. In addition to exploring themes of grief, trauma, and resilience, I would like to also research the specifics of my sister’s injury: C1-C3 neck vertebrae fracture. Understanding the medical and emotional implications of such a severe injury will be crucial for capturing the reality of her experience, as well as how it affected our family dynamics.
By studying the medical aspects of spinal injuries, I hope to provide more context around her recovery and the challenges we faced. This research will not only inform the memoir but also help me approach the story with more accuracy. Moreover, it will allow me to explore the long-term physical and emotional impacts of such trauma, which are vital to understanding the deeper layers of our journey through this life-altering event.
