In a previous post I shared some takeaways from Fast-draft Your Memoir. The author, Rachael Herron, shared her workshop process to quickly write a memoir.

Herron’s primary process starts with identifying six pivotal moments, expanding on these briefly, and then developing one concept into a full book-length memoir. Each heading below is a step of Herron’s process, and my notes for each step are listed.

6 Pivotal Moments

• Changing majors in college
• Mom’s death when I was 25
• Marrying [first wife]
• Camping trip (keyboard)
• Marrying [second wife]
• Experiences from performing in a band

6-word Memoirs

• Life and love through my fingers (piano experiences)
• From starter wife to happy life
• Every experience is a learning opportunity

Elevator Pitch

Life many young teens, I started losing interest in piano lessons, but a chance encounter put me on a different path. My adult life is still impacted by that encounter.

10 “Big Things”

• Batman (1st lessons)
• Transitions
• Keyboard evolution
• High school music(al)
• Friends
• When the music stopped
• The return of music
• 4 weddings and a funeral
• Meeting [second wife]
• Passing on the Vision

2-3 “Smaller Things”

I’m only including the “smaller things,” which are scenes, for a couple of “big things.”

• Batman (1st lessons)
  • Mom’s piano
  • Batman story
  • Lessons with Karla
• Friends
  • [college girlfriend] – critical connection – tie into changing major?
  • Music group
  • Other college music

It is likely that these notes don’t mean much to you, but I hope you can see the evolution from brainstorming ideas to developing an outline from which writing can begin.