MEMORY
FROM FUNDAMENTALS OF LIFE STORIES WRITING

The intent of the memoir is the sharing of our memories with
others; the very word "memoir" implies this. When writing your
life story, your memory is your research library--your
database. The present is fleeting, each moment rushing into
the past before we can grasp hold of it. Only the MEMORY of a
moment remains to be analyzed, cherished, disdained, or
written about.

Most of our memories are rooted in the five physical senses:
sight, hearing, smell, touch, and taste. These types of memories
are recordings of the physical, our body's journal of our
experiences and perceptions. The sight of a thunder cloud may
send a shiver up your spine, recalling the fear you felt when
you were nearly struck by lightning. The sound of a favorite
song on the radio can take you back to the longing you felt
about your first love.

Learning to probe your memory is one of the most important
things you can do as a memoir writer. Recall your earliest
memory. Is it REALLY your earliest memory, or can you go back
further? Try to go beyond the complex memory of an event like
your first day of school, to a more subtle image or
feeling--maybe your favorite blanket, or a cherished stuffed
toy. Write down every detail you can remember. What feelings
does that memory evoke? Which of your senses triggers your
most vivid memories--smell? sight?

Practice probing your memory. Begin jotting down notes,
keeping a journal of random memories and past experiences,
noting every detail. Try to include elements from all your
senses. What is the lighting like? What objects are around
you? Reach out: What do those objects feel like? Take a deep
whiff: What smells are in the air? What sounds do you hear?
What does it taste like? What is its texture?

These notes and journals are the building blocks that you will
use later to construct the stories you wish to share. The
details you remember will add richness and depth to your work,
and will bring your stories to life. And don't worry if your
details are not exactly accurate. Go with your first instinct
or impression. Memory is fluid, and the truth is in the
feeling or emotion you present, not in whether your dress was
blue or yellow. What's important is that you convey the
ESSENCE of your experience to your reader and make it real for
her.