3-Word Sentences

I gave a writing exercise to one of my classes that asked students to write about a 10-year span of their life using 3-word sentences. It’s a great way to get an outline for a memoir or autobiography. It’s also an interesting way to write a synopsis of any book you are interested in writing.

Here’s one example.

 TEN YEARS OF MY LIFE
 
  BORN IN ARGENTINA
 1960 IN SPRINGTIME
  BEAUTIFUL YOUNG MOTHER
  GOOD-LOOKING ABUSIVE
  FATHER
  MUSIC ALL AROUND
  JAZZ, WHISKEY, DARKNESS
  FEELING OF DESPERATION
  UNCERTAINTY AND FEAR
  STILL A CHILD
  NOT MUCH MONEY
  PARENTS SLIPT UP
  AFTER MOM’S DISCOVERY
  HER HUSBAND’S HANDS
  VIOLATE HER DAUGHTERS
  PAIN, HEAT, SORROW
  SHE LEFT HIM
  TOOK US AWAY
  BOARDING SCHOOL NEXT
  HORRIBLE SCARY PLACE
  WE WERE SAD
  MIRNA AND I
  MIRNA MY SISTER
  YOUNGER AND FRAIL.
  AFTER A WHILE
  DAD WENT OUTSIDE
  SEARCHED THE CITY
  FOR HIS ANGELS
  HIS LITTLE Girls
  WHERE ARE THEY?
  HE WOULD ASK-
  DEAR GOD PLEASE!
  HELP ME CHANGE!
  IN A DARK CORNER
  THEY MUST BE,
  HE THOUGHT THEN.
  1968 WITH MOM
  JUST TWO BEDS
   PLENTY OF LOVE
   SCHOOL WAS FUN
   MOM WORKED HARD
   I LEARNED MUCH
   COOKING, SEWING, IRONING
   ANYTHING TO HELP
   MY SISTER TOO
   WE WERE STRONG
   WE WERE WEAK
   DAMAGED BUT PURE
   WE WERE HAPPIER
   ATE ICE CREAM
   WARM SUMMER NIGHTS
   WALKING IN TOWN
   ONE DAY, SURPRISE!!
   MY PERIOD CAME
   A YOUNG WOMAN
   I WAS SCARED
   DIDN’T WANT THAT
   LONG HAIR, LEGS
   FELT TOO SEXY
   I WAS THIRTEEN
   HIGH SCHOOL FINALLY
   I WAS IMPRESSED
   FELT GROWN UP
   DID VERY WELL
   ALWAYS GOOD GRADES
   SANG ON STAGE
   AN MC SOMETIMES
   ALWAYS PERFORMING THEN
   I HAD HOPES
   ARTISTIC GLAMOUROUS DREAMS
   BUT PROBLEMS ARRIVED
   I HAD SEIZURES
   NOT VERY BAD
   NOT TREATED EITHER
   I FELT HELPLESS
   COULDN’T DO MUCH
   DIDN’T KNOW BETTER
   MY MIND WANDERED
   I HAD ABSENCES
   ANXIETY, PANIC ATTACKS
   I EXPLODED FREQUENTLY
   LIFE WAS FUN
   LIFE WAS HARD
   LIFE WAS CONFUSING.
   I TURNED EIGHTEEN
   I FOUND LOVE!
   A BLONDE LOVE,
   GREEN EYES LOVE,
   HE LOVED ME!  
   MADE ME LAUGH
   WALKED WITH ME
   HELD ME CLOSE
   MY FIRST LOVE.     

Try it!