New to this forum. Writing a memoir if you have a bad memory?

The memories are there barring brain damage.

Try meditating and putting yourself in the time you want to recall, or you could use hypnosis and a tape recorder.

You can also ask others around you what their memories are. Memoirs aren't supposed to be a blow-by-blow account, necessarily; they are a combination of memories, impressions, emotions. Some events painted in detail, others in broad strokes.

Just do the best you can, and see what happens. Hopefully the more uninteresting parts are the ones you can't remember!

Remember too, that all memoir has a shadow of fiction in its path. Not every conversation will be exactly as it took place, things will be slightly askew from reality. Memoir is life seen through a vaseline lens at best. And even if you get everything close to reality, it will be your version of the truth. Every character in a memoir would see the situations differently. I never read a memoir with the idea that I am reading exact events. I have to realize that not all life is filmed by the minute. You have to adlib with what you 'think' happened in some instances. Just keep documenting from this point on. Actually sitting down and writing will also trigger your memory.