Comments on: Frequently asked questions about published memoirs http://memorywritersnetwork.com/blog/faq-published-memoirs/ Hundreds of Essays and Interviews to Help You Read and Write Memoirs Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:04:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Sharon Lippincott http://memorywritersnetwork.com/blog/faq-published-memoirs/comment-page-1/#comment-3179 Sharon Lippincott Sun, 31 Jan 2010 01:09:51 +0000 http://memorywritersnetwork.com/blog/?p=700#comment-3179 I've come to the conclusion that the way I remember things, rightly or wrongly, is what shapes my view of the world, so in that respect, it is Truth. When I learn that my Truth conflicts with established, verifiable facts, I remain open to reevaluating my view of the world. For the purposes of writing, that world view is frozen around my views at a specific time. With that said, the longer I grapple with memories to hammer and fit them into a formal memoir, the more complex and rich they become rippling like a sparkling brook through the channels of my mind. They morph before my mind's eye and it has become difficult to recall just what my world looked like before I began writing. Just as in quantum physics where the mere phenomenon of observation causes changes in the matter being observed, the process of writing memoir irretrievably alters memory and our view of life. I’ve come to the conclusion that the way I remember things, rightly or wrongly, is what shapes my view of the world, so in that respect, it is Truth. When I learn that my Truth conflicts with established, verifiable facts, I remain open to reevaluating my view of the world. For the purposes of writing, that world view is frozen around my views at a specific time.

With that said, the longer I grapple with memories to hammer and fit them into a formal memoir, the more complex and rich they become rippling like a sparkling brook through the channels of my mind. They morph before my mind’s eye and it has become difficult to recall just what my world looked like before I began writing.

Just as in quantum physics where the mere phenomenon of observation causes changes in the matter being observed, the process of writing memoir irretrievably alters memory and our view of life.

]]> By: jerrywaxler http://memorywritersnetwork.com/blog/faq-published-memoirs/comment-page-1/#comment-3158 jerrywaxler Thu, 28 Jan 2010 11:41:00 +0000 http://memorywritersnetwork.com/blog/?p=700#comment-3158 Thanks for the comment, Travelinoma. The "truth" problem prevents us from knowing ourselves. "What if it's not true" seems like an insurmountable problem, so we give up. But then we miss out on the fun of wondering "what if it IS true?" It's a much more interesting possibility, and fills endless hours with the craft of storytelling. Along the path towards telling the story, they learn about you, you learn about them, and in the end, everyone grows. Jerry Thanks for the comment, Travelinoma. The “truth” problem prevents us from knowing ourselves. “What if it’s not true” seems like an insurmountable problem, so we give up. But then we miss out on the fun of wondering “what if it IS true?” It’s a much more interesting possibility, and fills endless hours with the craft of storytelling. Along the path towards telling the story, they learn about you, you learn about them, and in the end, everyone grows.

Jerry

]]> By: Travelinoma http://memorywritersnetwork.com/blog/faq-published-memoirs/comment-page-1/#comment-3156 Travelinoma Thu, 28 Jan 2010 07:07:20 +0000 http://memorywritersnetwork.com/blog/?p=700#comment-3156 I've written memoir pieces about my childhood. My brother, who is only 18 months younger than I am, remembers events very differently. I've realized that each person has a unique perspective. I like your advice. My truth is true for me. I’ve written memoir pieces about my childhood. My brother, who is only 18 months younger than I am, remembers events very differently. I’ve realized that each person has a unique perspective. I like your advice. My truth is true for me.

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