Reminiscences: Musings in Memoir - Prompt #9

PROMPT #9 — OUT

Staying in is the new going out.
Some Random Person on the Internet

Out: There are a lot of ways the word ‘out’ is used, often in conjunction with a verb (running out, going out -or- outrunning, outgoing — which do not mean the same thing at all) or a prepositional phrase (out to dinner, out for lunch, out of pickles). You can go on walkabout or be outlandish, outsource your work or do a vigorous workout.

The most basic use/understanding of the word ‘out’ is as a truncated version of outside. A common-parlance use of the word ‘out’ refers to being “out of the closet.” In leaving-a-loathed-workplace speak, “I’m OUT!” is a end-of-day exclamation meaning it’s time for you to GO. While “You’re OUT!” is more often shout-spoken on a ball field when someone doesn’t quite slide home safe.

In music, Darryl Hall and John Oates had a hit with Out of Touch. Little Anthony (with The Imperials) lamented being on the outs with his (former) girlfriend in I’m On the Outside Looking In. Freddy Mercury sang “Just gotta get out… Just gotta get right outta here” in Bohemian Rhapsody. The Animals’ anthem We’ve Got To Get Out of This Place — girl, there’s a better life for me and you — has stricken a chord with multiple generations of working-class folks who are desperate for a change; a slight shift in time and circumstance to modern-day Coronavirus lockdowns, and the message applies to many of us. (Who isn’t dealing with needing to GET OUT OF THIS PLACE after such a long term of enforced confinement?)

So for the 9th prompt in the Remniscences project, please consider ‘out’ (either realistically or metaphorically), in whatever version of the concept you choose. If you’re not sure where to begin, think about:

Was playing outside an important part of your childhood experiences?
Have you ever run out of something just when you desperately needed it?
Are you ‘out’ to your friends and family about some aspect of your sexual identity? What was your coming out experience?
Perhaps you’ve gotten out of something – an obligation, a relationship, a contract – and you have a story to tell about that?
Or maybe, like Tears For Fears encourages, you just have the urge once in a while to let it all out:

The point of this writing project is to create new content by writing from your personal memories, with a focus on the form of memoir.

Prompts will be posted on the 10th, 20th, and 30th of each month through August 10th. The purpose of the prompts is simply to provide inspiration. You are welcome to use the prompt literally or figuratively, or as a jumping off point that leads you in another direction all together. You are also welcome to revisit past prompts as the project progresses. Your timing is your own, and adherence to the prompt{s} is not required.

To play:

Write a memoir-esque post.
Link your post either to this prompt or to the Reminiscences project description page. (Use of the badge is optional.)
Leave a comment below – you can use CommentLuv to create a live link to your post on my comment form – to let me know you’re playing.

If you’re not sure how to start or are unsure of how to approach your memoir writing, I encourage you to visit the bloggers who participated in writing for the previous prompt for inspiration:

Thanks also to Submissy, who wrote about her experience with ‘space’ (Prompt #6).

If you wrote something for Prompt #8 – or wrote your memories with (or without) any of the previous prompts as guidance – over the past ten days and do not see your name above, it means I don’t have your link. Please leave one for me and I will add your post! 🙂

For more information about this writing project, see here.

If you have any additional questions, please let me know. 🙂