Sharon Said:

English Help: Writing a Memoir for myself.?

We Answered:

One of the world's greatest literary works, "Remembrance of Things Past" by Marcel Proust, begins when the narrator dunks a little cake into a cup of herbal tea. The taste on his lips and tongue triggers a sense memory of his childhood, the town where he grew up, his parents and the other people he knew. "Remembrance of Things Past" spans several volumes, all flowing from this one moment in time.

Your assignment is to write a memoir. You must surely have a photograph somewhere that reminds you of a moment in your life that has strong memories and associations for you. Use that photograph. Describe the event or person it shows. Make your reader feel as if he or she is there, feeling what you do -- the sights, sounds, smells, touches, tastes.

Then let your mind and imagination wander. What other related events does the photograph remind you of? Go from there.

Your purpose is to make the reader feel -- both physically and emotionally -- as if they had lived your life. Did that initial moment in time leave a lasting impression? Did it change your life forever? Did it make you the person you are today? Don't just say it. Show it. Make the reader feel it.

Danny Said:

creative writing english gcse task?

We Answered:

When you do creative writing, write the 'middle bit' first then conclusion, then write the beginning last as you will have more of an understanding about what you are introducing. It sounds like a classic tale of betrayal and regret. You could write it from your own perspective or from hers or his. It sounds like you gave him to her only for them, or him, to realise it wasn't what they wanted. He only went with her as you broke up with him and she wasn't what he wanted. So that leaves her. Maybe she only wanted him because she was jealous of your relationship with him. There's so much you could do with this 'story'. What was the outcome?