"What is the premise of your story?" asked the old professor. He was not particularly gentle in his tone and I was already frustrated about the assignment.
I glared at him.
I glared at him.
"If I knew the answer, you wouldn't have to ask, would you?" I knew my reply was snippy so I modified a bit. "How do I find a premise?" I said. "I mean, what should it be?"
"That is for you to discover. You are the one writing this piece," he said. "Look, if you can't state a premise, make one up, better yet, make ten up and pick one - just do it."
"Okay, how about this? A middle aged woman takes a course in memoir writing to write her mother's stories and finds, and finds ...and finds... I don't know what I'll find. How can I make that up?"
"Okay, how about this? A middle aged woman takes a course in memoir writing to write her mother's stories and finds, and finds ...and finds... I don't know what I'll find. How can I make that up?"
"Who is your story about?" he inquired, not waiting for my reply.
"What is his or her motivation or desire?''
I started writing these questions in my spiral notebook.
"What is stopping your protagonist from accomplishing her goal?
"What does she learn?"
"Answer these questions and you'll have your premise." This statement definitely sounded like an invitation to exit his office.
"Answer these questions and you'll have your premise." This statement definitely sounded like an invitation to exit his office.
So I did.
~~~~~
Who is my story about?
Me / My Mom (two stories)
What is my motivation or desire?
To write about my mother's life
What is stopping you from your goal? Talent, knowledge of how to go about it. Distance from where my mother lives.
What does she learn?
How to collect and write the stories from the previous generation in order to pass on the lessons of the past.
Premise: When Becky attempts to write about her mother's life, she struggles with a way to approach and structure the story. She ends up writing a story about how she went about it.
~~~
Memoir Notes: The anatomy of a premise:
"[When] some event sparks a character to action, that [character acts] with deliberate purpose [until] that action is opposed by an external force, [leading to] some conclusion."
31 Days Exploring Memoir_list
What Is Your Premise?
Through the Old Milk Box
Write A Memory In Six Words
Don't Touch the Flowers
Use a Pencil
Heirlooms and Hand-Me-Downs
Through the Old Milk Box
Write A Memory In Six Words
Don't Touch the Flowers
Use a Pencil
Heirlooms and Hand-Me-Downs
Your work inspires me and brings out new memories for me work on. I really had to check my own Premise.
ReplyDeleteThis comment made my day! Thank you for taking the time write it.
DeleteVery informative... I like your perspective and approach to 'PREMISE'
ReplyDeleteand have to say, I chuckled at "When Becky attempts to write..."
very funny. I think you're doing exceptionally well!
High praise indeed! Thanks Pat.
Delete