Right now, take out a piece of paper and a pen or pencil. Don’t open a word processing document or journal, just use a loose sheet of paper. On the paper write your name, age, place and date of birth.
 
Got it?
 
Now crumple up the paper and throw it away, or better yet, shred and recycle it. Someday in the future, your biographer or family genealogist will be interested in that information, but that is not how to write memoirs! Memoirs are not about historic events, but about your personal experiences. They are the things we remember because they are important to us.
 
Now take out another sheet of paper, or print this handy worksheet from Remembers When. Think of a significant experience you’ve had and write down a few words or a phrase that will remind you about the story. Some phrases that might inspire you include:

• The time I …
• How I learned …
• Why I don’t …
• Where I found …
• How I met …

Carry your piece of paper with you all day today. Whenever you think of one of your experiences, jot down a few words to remind you what it was. Don’t try to write about the experience, just make a list. That’s all. You don’t need to actually write memoirs today. We’ll talk about what to do with your list in the next post.
 
And I promise I won’t tell you to throw this one away!