Posts tagged as:

Family Memories

catnav-alchemy-activePost #81 – Memoir and Fiction, Writing Alchemy – Matilda Butler

Tell It Like It Is. Or Is It?

Memoir is truth. We often argue that memoir is more than factual truth. It is emotional truth.

Does this sound familiar? I know I’ve certainly taught this concept in all of my classes.

But where does that leave us when family members remember the facts of events differently than you do. Who is right? What is the truth? I’m not talking about what an event meant to you. I’m not talking about the difference between your emotional truth and your sibling’s emotional truth. I’m not even talking about facts influenced by emotional states. I’m talking about the actual facts of the situation.

Below are three videos I’d like you to view. Each one is short so this won’t take you long. The first video is a test of your selective attention. Think of this as what you focused on during your 16th birthday and what your sibling focused on. You and your sibling remember it differently. Of course, it was the same party.

You’ll be given instructions at the beginning of the video. Be sure to follow them.

Video #1: SELECTIVE ATTENTION

The second video builds on what you learned in the first one. The instructions are the same. Be sure to follow them exactly.

Video #2: MONKEY BUSINESS

The third video explains what the experiment was about and how the results help us understand more.

Video #3: RESEARCHER’S EXPLANATION OF WHY LOOKING ISN’T THE SAME AS SEEING

If you use our book Writing Alchemy: How to Write Fast and Deep, you’re aware that we include findings from the social sciences to help you dig more deeply into your stories and write in a more effective way.

The research shown in the videos above, while not in our book, is an example of insights we can gain through science to better understand our life stories.

What Insights Did You Learn that Will Help With Your Writing?

Make a list of ways that your writing can improve with your new insights about facts. Do you understand how selective focus can cause you to mis-remember a scene? Do you see that your focus or time in life may mean that you completely missed important facts? What else?

All of this helps open us to our vulnerabilities as we write. I clearly remember several situations I’ve written about that I absolutely knew were correct. Later, I found evidence that I was wrong. Not just a little wrong, but completely wrong. It’s wise to be humble when we write.



{ 0 comments }

Memoir Writing Prompt: Make Gratitude Part of Your Legacy

by Kendra BonnettDecember 17, 2010
Memoir Writing Prompt: Make Gratitude Part of Your Legacy

If it’s warm where you are, revel in our Maine snowfall. If it’s too cold, we’ve charged up the fire just for you. With Maine snow and a crackling fire as our props

Read the full article →

Memoir Contest Winner, Honorable Mention for Smoked Snickerdoodles by Deanne Watson

by Matilda ButlerSeptember 30, 2010
Memoir Contest Winner, Honorable Mention for Smoked Snickerdoodles by Deanne Watson

A charming award-winning story comes to us from Deanne Watson in South Africa where she recalls his Mum, boarding school life, and her favorite snickerdoodles — eaten even when smoked. Be sure to try her treasured family recipe for snickerdoodles.

Read the full article →

April Memoir Contest Winners Announced; First Place Story Published

by Matilda ButlerMay 13, 2010
April Memoir Contest Winners Announced; First Place Story Published

April Memoir Contest winners are announced — first place winner and 6 honorable mentions. We also include the winning entry. Be sure to read it and try her recipe. This is a well-written story that we are honored to have received. The honorable mention stories will be published beginning in July. Congratulations to everyone. To those who did not win, and to those who did not enter, please keep writing and consider submitting again in future contests.

Read the full article →

ScrapMoir How To #12: Words for Memoirs and Scrapbooking

by Bettyann SchmidtApril 15, 2010
ScrapMoir How To #12: Words for Memoirs and Scrapbooking

Guest blogger Bettyann Schmidt returns with great advice on capturing and using the beloved phrases and words of family members and friends. She even keeps a word box so she won’t forget the special ones that bring not only joy and remembrances, but also capture part of the essence of the person.

Read the full article →

KitchenScraps: The Scents of Oklahoma Rain by Matilda Butler

by Matilda ButlerJanuary 21, 2010
KitchenScraps: The Scents of Oklahoma Rain by Matilda Butler

KitchenScraps: Matilda

Read the full article →

ScrapMoir How To #5: Life in Ordinary Time

by Matilda ButlerDecember 31, 2009
ScrapMoir How To #5: Life in Ordinary Time

ScrapMoir: Guest Blogger Bettyann Schmidt shares scrapbooking and memoir vignette writing tips centered around the theme of ordinary moments in our lives. She helps us know how to think about, write about, and scrapbook these otherwise passed over times.

Read the full article →
Interviews Category Interviews Category Interviews Category Interviews Category Interviews Category Interviews Category Writing Prompts Category Writing Prompts Category Writing Prompts Category Writing Prompts Category Writing Prompts Category Writing Prompts Category StoryMap Category StoryMap Category StoryMap Category Writing and Healing Category Writing and Healing Category Writing and Healing Category Scrapmoir Category Scrapmoir Category Scrapmoir Category Book Business Category Book Business Category Book Business Category Memoir Journal Writing Category Memoir Journal Writing Category Memoir Journal Writing Category News Category News Category News Category