Super Memories
Last Sunday, Sixty Minutes had a segment about people with super memories. These five people possessed the ability to recall dates and events from years ago in only seconds. Is this ability a gift or a curse? As memoir writers, wouldn’t it be wonderful to recall almost every day and event of your life? To remember entire conversations word for word? So what’s the science behind memory? According to the expert I watched, adrenaline is the magic bullet that sears a memory into our brains. I have often said that emotion is what drives us to remember an event. But if you think about it, an adrenaline rush is probably a part of that emotion. Scroll back through the significant memories of your life and try to attach an emotion to each event. I can almost...
Read MoreI Remember Dick and Jane and the Hokey Pokey
As memoir writers we are asked to write about things we remember. Think about your first school experience. Our district didn’t have a kindergarten program, so my first school experience was as a first grader in a one-room school near Underwood, Minnesota. I remember my teacher, Mrs. Gense, and the brass bell she rang to call us in from recess. I remember Dick and Jane books and how I dismissed them as “baby” books, too easy for me. I remember playing Hokey Pokey during a rainy lunch hour. But when I try to remember more about first grade, there are large holes in my memories, things I just can’t remember. I can’t remember what subjects, other than reading, I studied. I can’t remember what it was like to eat lunch from my...
Read MoreA Three-Tined Fork
When my mother passed away last year, her possessions were scattered among her large family. Knickknacks were given to her great grandchildren, her treasured cut-glass bowls were divided among her children, and her clothing was donated to a local non-profit. Have you ever noticed how the oddest things can trigger memories? Among the items I inherited was a black-handled, three-tined fork my mother used when frying bacon. The handle has melted in spots and the tines are crooked. If I tried to give it away, I doubt I could find a taker. But every time I use that fork, I think of my mother standing at the kitchen stove, her white hair frizzed around her face and her cheeks flushed. She’s holding that fork, her elbow resting on her hip as she cooks. It’s...
Read MoreYou might need to give up something, but it won’t be chocolate!
Now that many of my favorite television shows are over for the season, I’m spending less time in front of the tv and more time in front of my computer. Which leaves me wondering how important it is to recline in my nice chair and watch the world go by on a television screen each night. Did I really need to watch every episode of Survivor? Well, yes. Survivor is just not negotiable, but there were a lot of shows I could have passed on to spend more time writing. What are you willing to give up for your writing time? An hour of television, an hour of sleep, fifteen minutes on the phone with your friend or an annoying neighbor? You don’t need huge blocks of time in order to write. All you need is a few minutes and a nice piece of chocolate (something...
Read MoreWriting Goals!
It’s a new week. What will you do to move your writing forward? During my time spent as a creative-writing teacher, I have found my adult students love assignments! So I’m giving you one now: Make a list of ten possible story ideas you would like to write about. That’s it. Keep the list handy and the next time you get the urge to write something, you won’t have to watch the minute hand move on the clock while you sigh and tap out random words on your computer. Ten things you want to write about — that’s it!
Read MoreAnother Chicken Soup Call Out!
I know. I know. You’re thinking I only think about Chicken Soup. But what I love about these call outs are the ideas they help you generate. So scroll down in the post and read some of the story possibilities. Then get to work! Chicken Soup for the Soul: Boost Your Brain Power! Redesign and Energize Your Brain at Any Age Chicken Soup for the Soul is teaming with neurologist Dr. Marie Pasinski of Harvard Medical School to create a wonderful new book, full of inspirational stories and useful medical information, to help people maximize their brain power, no matter what their age or medical condition. Who doesn’t want to be smarter, think faster, have a better memory? Many people would like to enhance their brainpower and are looking for help to do just...
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