"What we could have, should have, or would have done—these kinds of thoughts follow an if-then logic. But we’re also drawn to alternative selves that hover on the edge of sense." Joshua Rothman, What If You Could Do It All Over? The New Yorker, December 21, 2020. Take...

How do you see new things in a familiar scene?  Look at usual things from a new angle. When writing about something that happened in your family, pretend for a bit what the occasion was like for your parents or siblings. Imagine you are standing in your brother's...

My favorite (home, garden, vehicle, vacation) was ___________________________ because ___________________________. My special memory is _____________________________. Share some photographs of ___________________________. Consider asking others who remember your...

Start with a blank page, either paper or word processing page. List every memory of your life that comes to mind. Don't stop to think about each one, just write enough, a few words or sentence, so that you identify it. Keep going as long as you can recording as many...

What are the tangible things in your life you value most? Are there objects in your clutter that matter to you? What is the story behind one thing you own that means more than its monetary worth? What Objects Bring You Comfort? is a New York Times article to read and...

Family life and traditions are precious to us. Here are some ways to start a story. My family celebrates birthdays by . . . We always had a special dinner on Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Easter, and other special days. We enjoyed . . . As I child, I was assigned...

@ClaraLilyRose shared a Tweet "Beautiful things seen stay with you forever" along with an image of a lake and forest. Think of some beautiful places you've seen and write a description of what you saw and what it meant to you at the time. End by telling us what your...

Do you remember a news story that changed your views or influenced your life? When “I like Ike” was a slogan. When protests of the Vietnam War were going on? When the first men landed on the Moon? When the first atom bombs were dropped? Where were you when President...

Take five minutes and write down three to five times in your life when something unexpected happened that caused a change in your plans. Don't "think" as you write the list. Just make it as quickly as you can. List everything that comes to your mind without evaluating...

Photographs help you recall the times of your life and also help you share those stories. Look back through your images for story ideas. Share the photos you find with friends who were with you and compare your memories. You'll be surprised at the memories that will...

The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien is a hard book to read about individual soldiers in Vietnam and they items they carried with them. The book is described on Amazon (available as paperback, Kindle and audio) as follows: One of the first questions people ask about...

What if you were given a chance to write your last Tweet?  What message would you left the world? Write a last Tweet now. You have 280 characters to let us know how you sum up your life. Or use your characters to leave us with a joke. Here's where you can read other...

What's your favorite mode of transportation: car, train, airplane, bike or . . . Start this life story with one of these phrases: My first car was a . . . I once went on a long bike ride . . . My favorite way to travel is . . . We traveled across the country on a...

Paul Wallace shows us an interesting way to write a list essay describing who you are today. Everyday, you could write a list essay describing who you are and every day it would be different. It would likely be different if you wrote one many times a day, Another...

Write a story about your childhood to read to you grandchildren or nieces and nephews. Share an experience from your childhood. Retell a story your parents shared with you. It's a chance to share some family history with the next generation. What do you remember about...

Participate in sports? Sports fan?  Here are a couple ways to start your next life story. Tell us why you like the sport and some of your favorite memories. The sports I really like to play include . . . The sports I really like to watch are . . . The sport I wish I'd...

Look around your house and choose an item that has been with you for a long time. Write a story from the object's perspective. The Washington Post published some examples of writing stories based on a cast iron frying pan that had been part of the family.

Think back over your life and the things that mattered to you enough that you supported the cause. Have you ever joined a protest march? Did you protest the Vietnam war? Against police violence such as the March on Washington, Rodney King protests or Black Lives...

Remember a time when someone you trusted let you down. It could be a minor occasion such as forgetting to pick you up at the airport or an emotionally damaging event when someone you counted on did not stand up for you. How did you process and recover from the event?...

Pick a technology that’s changed in your lifetime: Telephone service and devices Texting Email Internet Electronics Digital Cameras Transportation Did you see the change coming? What difference has the change made for you? Do you miss the old...

Think back to your school years. Remember your teachers and coaches. What organizations and school activities were you involved with. Here are some questions that may suggest story ideas. Who was your favorite teacher in grade school, high school or college? Why? What...

Think back to your first "real" job. What was your first real job? What do you remember about it? What were you paid? Did it seem like a lot of money at the time? Did you save your earnings? were you saving for a special thing you wanted to buy? What was it? Or id you...

Did you ever hide your baby teeth under the pillow for the Tooth Fairy or write to Santa Claus at the North Pole? Do you remember when you learned that Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy were not real people? Or learned that they were really your parents or caregiver?...

There are times when something unexpected happens and changes our plans. Think of times in your life when you had all your plans made for a trip or activity and something out of your control occurred that changed everything. Do you remember a time with a weather event...

Write your ethical will. What life learnings, personal philosophies, mottos, and core values do you want to leave as legacy to your descendants? How did you learn these lessons or acquire these philosophies? Read about the history of ethical wills on Wikipedia. How...

Many times we write about the big things that happened in our lives. The small things we do everyday are part of who we are. Think about some of the things that you did during the pandemic year. With the lock-down orders and limited or no travel, you may be thinking...

Sports, games, contests: these are all opportunities for winning and losing. We can learn lesson from both as we grow up and attend school and other activities. What are your memories that involve winning or losing? Ever won a contest, drawing or a prize. Share your...