Introduce yourself: a writing prompt, a life prompt

Sometimes scrolling Instagram is a massive waste of time (okay… often), but I usually restrict it to in-between moments—like sitting in a doctor’s waiting room or waiting in the car to pick my son up. Every once in a while, though, a little gem sparkles bright.

One such gem came from Jade Bonacolta, a thought leader and marketing exec who doles out bite-sized career and life wisdom in her feed. She posed a deceptively simple question:

“If I asked you to introduce yourself without mentioning your name, job, age, ethnicity, or the city you live in, what would you say?”

Well, if that isn’t a provocative memoir writing prompt, I don’t know what is.

An evergreen memoir writing prompt

“Introduce yourself.” Seems straightforward, right? But most of us are conditioned to start with the basics—our job titles, family roles, geographic location, or where we grew up. These details are comfortable and expected. But they’re also just labels.

Bonacolta explains: “When you strip away these social labels, people tell you who they are. Who they really are. You hear about their values, the things they're obsessed with, the beliefs that guide their decisions.”

For memoir writing—or even just gaining clarity about your identity—this is a powerful exercise. And it’s one you can return to again and again throughout your life or project. Below are a few tangible ways to work with this prompt, whether you’re just starting your memoir or feeling stuck midway through.

3 ways to work with this writing prompt

1. Freewrite with No Filters

   Set a timer for 10 or 15 minutes and respond to the prompt:
“Who am I, without my name, age, job, or hometown?” Don’t censor yourself. Let it be messy. Start with phrases like:
   
   • “I am someone who…”
   • “I feel most myself when…”
   • “What drives me is…”
   
   Let your values, passions, fears, and quirks take center stage. You might surprise yourself with what emerges when you're no longer listing résumé bullet points.
   
   🔍 Bonus Tip: Repeat this exercise at different points in your memoir-writing journey. The way you answer will shift—and that evolution might become part of your story.
   
   
   

2. Create a character sketch—of yourself.

   Treat yourself like one of the characters in your memoir. Without using surface-level identifiers, how would you describe yourself in a story? Try writing a paragraph or two about yourself in the third person.
For example:
   
   She moves through the world guided by curiosity and a hunger for connection. She tucks grocery receipts into her notebook, convinced they’ll mean something someday. She believes that books can save lives, that being a mom is a sacred undertaking, and that cheese belongs on everything..
   
   This not only deepens your understanding of your own voice but can become rich material in your actual manuscript.
   
   
   
   

3. Use It to unlock a chapter or theme.

   If you’re feeling stuck in the middle of your memoir, revisit this prompt through the lens of your younger self, or the version of you at a pivotal point in the story. Ask yourself:
   
   • Who was I then, beyond the job I had or the place I lived?
   • What mattered to me at that moment?
   • What did I believe about the world? About myself?
   
   These reflections often lead to unexpected turns or unlock deeper emotional truths—especially useful when your writing feels stalled or superficial.

Get a free companion worksheet…

…with exercises using this “Introduce Yourself” prompt to jump-start your memoir writing!

click here

You are more than a bio.

In a world that constantly asks us what we do, it’s grounding—and sometimes healing—to return to who we are. This simple question from an Instagram scroll can serve as a compass not only for writing, but for living more intentionally.

So, go ahead. Introduce yourself.

But this time, leave the labels behind.