Reflection 2020

Hey writers! As the end of 2020 approaches, it's a good time to look back on the events of this year. We use New Years’ Resolutions as a way to reflect upon our successes and failures throughout the past 12 months and think about what we might accomplish in the future.

A style of writing that encompasses this very thought is called memoir. This is when the writer looks back on their life or a historical event and write about what it means to them now. Many celebrities and other notable public figures have written memoirs about their lives. These tend to detail the highs and lows of their past from the perspective of an older age. Some writers even write exclusively about their lives and various funny or profound events from their day-to-day experiences.

Prompt

Write about an experience you had this year. It can be good or bad, happy or sad, a single moment in time or several moments spanning the entire year, an accomplishment you’re proud of or a challenge you faced. The only real "requirement" is that it happened within the last 12 months and affected you enough to remember it. If you feel like putting your own spin on it, write from the perspective of a character. The only difference is that character is you!

2020 has been a roller-coaster of a year for most of us. But that doesn’t mean we can’t appreciate the ways we connected with each other and inspired one another. Though this year has certainly been more challenging than others, there is always good and bad, and it’s important to take time and acknowledge both sides. This way we can be aware of the changes we want to make moving forward. Writing can be a great way to do just that.

Reminder

Though we may not be uploading another writing prompt until 2021, our inbox will still be open. If you want to share what you’ve written or would like some feedback on your work, please submit your responses, stories, or works-in-progress to teenwriters@tscpl.org. Happy writing and see you next year!