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30 Prompts to Start Writing Your Memoir

May 05, 2023 | 2 min read
Woman writing memoir

Everyone has a story to tell. Here at Freewrite, our passion is helping people overcome the obstacles to writing and get words on the page.

Many #FreewriteFam community members use their Freewrite for journaling or to write memoir. But sometimes your own story is the hardest to tell. Where do you start? What’s interesting enough to include?

Our advice: Stop thinking; start writing.

And if you need a little help with the “start” part, here are 30 prompts to get you going. Pick a prompt, set a timer for 15 minutes, and WRITE ON!

  1. Describe yourself as a child.
  2. How did you get your name?
  3. Describe your childhood home. How did it smell? What was the temperature?
  4. Pick a number from 1-20. Write about your life at that age.
  5. What was your favorite book or movie as a child? Why? Do you still like it?
  6. When you were young, what did you want to be when you grew up? How close did you come to pursuing that?
  7. Describe someone you admired when you were young. Did your impression of that person change when you grew up?
  8. Tell the story of the best meal you’ve ever had.
  9. What do you remember (if anything) about your parents’ relationship? Either with each other, or with others?
  10. Do you have any siblings? If so, did you get along?
  11. Describe a hobby you used to have that you no longer do. Why did you stop?
  12. Describe the best day of your life.
  13. What was your worst fear at age 5? Age 15? Age 25? Now?
  14. Describe the very first trip you took away from your hometown.
  15. Write about a historical event that you lived through.
  16. Do you believe in the afterlife? Why or why not?
  17. What was your first job? Did you like it? How long did it last?
  18. How do you define loss? Tell about a time you experienced loss, in any form.
  19. Do you remember your first love? Describe them.
  20. Have you experienced a life-or-death situation? How did you feel?
  21. Tell the story of a moment when you were scared to do something but did it anyway.
  22. What’s more important to you: honesty or loyalty?
  23. At what moment in your life did you feel most loved?
  24. What has been the biggest challenge of your life thus far?
  25. Do you prefer winter, spring, summer, or fall? Why?
  26. Name one insecurity you have about yourself. Now tell a story about where that insecurity was born, or how it has affected your life.
  27. Do you believe people are inherently “good”?
  28. Name one thing you believed as a young person that you changed your mind about.
  29. What are you good at? Be honest and don't sell yourself short.
  30. What is your most prized possession? 
March 04, 2026 1 min read

Teachers inspire the next generation of writers — and we want to support that work.

Educators: Enter for a chance to win a classroom set of distraction-free drafting tools designed to help students focus on writing instead of screens.

One selected educator will receive a classroom set of 5 Freewrite Alpha devices to pilot with their students.

LEARN ALL ABOUT USING FREEWRITE IN THE CLASSROOM HERE.

ENTER HERE:

 

Make sure to submit your entry by the end of the day on Tuesday, March 31.

Eligibility

This giveaway is open to U.S. teachers and educators age 18+ currently employed at an accredited K–12 school, college, or educational institution. Read the full terms and conditions here.

Limit one entry per person.

March 04, 2026 3 min read

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE DOES NOT INCREASE THE CHANCES OF WINNING.

1) Sponsor

The Educator Innovation Challenge Giveaway (“Promotion”) is sponsored by Astrohaus (“Sponsor”), the maker of Freewrite writing devices.

2) Eligibility

The Promotion is open only to legal residents of the United States who:

  • Are 18 years of age or older at the time of entry, and
  • Are currently employed as teachers, educators, or administrators at an accredited K–12 school, college, or educational institution in the United States.

Employees, officers, and directors of Sponsor, its affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising and promotion agencies, and immediate family members or those living in the same household are not eligible to participate. Void where prohibited by law.

3.) Promotion Period

The Promotion begins on Wednesday, March 4 at 12:00 AM Eastern Time (ET) and ends on Tuesday, March 13 at 11:59 PM ET (“Promotion Period”). Entries submitted before or after the Promotion Period will not be eligible.

4.) How to Enter

Eligible participants may enter the Promotion by completing the official entry form located at https://getfreewrite.com/blogs/writing-success/educator-innovation-challenge-giveaway during the Promotion Period. Participants may be asked to provide information including:

  • Name
  • Email address
  • School or institution name
  • Grade level or subject taught
  • Classroom use description for the devices

Limit one (1) entry per person during the Promotion Period. Additional entries may be disqualified. Sponsor reserves the right to verify eligibility.

5.) Prize

One (1) winner will receive: Five (5) Freewrite Alpha devices.

The prize will be awarded to the winning teacher for classroom use. Sponsor may request confirmation of educational affiliation prior to awarding the prize.

Prize is non-transferable, and no substitution or cash equivalent will be provided except at Sponsor’s discretion.

6.) Winner Selection and Notification

The winner will be selected by random drawing from all eligible entries received during the Promotion Period.

The potential winner will be notified via the email address provided during entry within approximately 5 business days of the drawing.

If the selected winner:

  • cannot be contacted,
  • fails to respond within 7 days,
  • or is found to be ineligible,

Sponsor may select an alternate winner.

7. Prize Delivery

The prize will be shipped to the winner’s provided address within the United States. Sponsor is not responsible for lost, delayed, or damaged shipments once delivered to the carrier.

8. Taxes

The winner is solely responsible for any federal, state, or local taxes associated with receipt or use of the prize, if applicable.

Sponsor may issue an IRS Form 1099 if required by law.

9. Publicity

By accepting the prize, the winner agrees that Sponsor may use their name, school name, likeness, and statements regarding the Promotion for promotional and marketing purposes in any media without additional compensation, unless prohibited by law.

10. General Conditions

Sponsor reserves the right to:

  • Cancel, suspend, or modify the Promotion if fraud, technical failures, or other factors impair the integrity of the Promotion.
  • Disqualify any entrant who violates these Terms & Conditions or tampers with the entry process.

11. Limitation of Liability

By participating in the Promotion, entrants agree to release and hold harmless Astrohaus, its affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising and promotion agencies, and their respective officers, directors, employees, and agents from any liability, injury, loss, or damage arising from participation in the Promotion or acceptance, possession, or use of any prize.

12. Privacy

Information submitted by participants will be subject to Sponsor’s privacy policy available at https://getfreewrite.com/pages/privacy-policy.

13. Governing Law

The Promotion and these Terms & Conditions are governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to conflict of law principles.

January 28, 2026 1 min read

Write every day with the Freewrite team in February.