In my Author’s Note 4 ‘Memory underpins imagination’, I mentioned that I had just started reading Pieces of Light, Charles Fernyhough’s book about memory.
I'd love to know more about this - "Is the whole process of writing The Drying Rooms slowly releasing a different thinking about some of the truths that are closest to the core of me?"
-Can you give an example? How you came to the blank page with one truth but in writing have expanded/uncovered what that truth really is?
I find this all the time in writing. Writing helps me clarify what I really think about a subject, or at least, dig through the shallow surface layer to get to the richer soil underneath.
Separately, I'm working through a bunch of traumatic memories as I write my work of autofiction and thinking about the light in the room in those memories is a really intriguing idea... It is possible that unlocks some way of describing the memories while knowing that the scene can't be perfectly remembered.
Thanks for this comment, Bailey. Lots to think about. Yes, I find writing is great for nailing what I really think about something. Not sure if I can specific examples of moving from one truth to another. I’m still a work in progress myself!
Good stuff. Thanks for the book rec. My go to book for understanding autobiographical memories is White Gloves: How We Create Ourselves Through Memory by John Kotre. John does a fabulous job of explaining the plasticity of memories and all the ways memories are made, shaped and given meaning. I’ve read it several times and each time come away with something new.
Thank you so much for this post... it really gives me food for thought.... food beyond Tizer, Twiglets and bought cake, eaten on birthdays in the common room, just on the corridor before the swing doors into G-Block. I must read the book and learn more about what seems like the flux of Quantum Memory.
This is absolutely fascinating (I am finally beginning to catch up on your writing!) and much food for thought. I need to read it again. The notion that in our memories we feel at home is something I never would have thought about but yes, I can feel that as I step into some memories as more or less of a test, both good and bad ones. It is a belonging to the situation specifically as me. I think about your story/ies and believe that much of the trauma experienced cannot be too off the mark because the imprinting of it was so deep.
Sooo interesting!!
I'd love to know more about this - "Is the whole process of writing The Drying Rooms slowly releasing a different thinking about some of the truths that are closest to the core of me?"
-Can you give an example? How you came to the blank page with one truth but in writing have expanded/uncovered what that truth really is?
I find this all the time in writing. Writing helps me clarify what I really think about a subject, or at least, dig through the shallow surface layer to get to the richer soil underneath.
Separately, I'm working through a bunch of traumatic memories as I write my work of autofiction and thinking about the light in the room in those memories is a really intriguing idea... It is possible that unlocks some way of describing the memories while knowing that the scene can't be perfectly remembered.
Thanks for this comment, Bailey. Lots to think about. Yes, I find writing is great for nailing what I really think about something. Not sure if I can specific examples of moving from one truth to another. I’m still a work in progress myself!
Good stuff. Thanks for the book rec. My go to book for understanding autobiographical memories is White Gloves: How We Create Ourselves Through Memory by John Kotre. John does a fabulous job of explaining the plasticity of memories and all the ways memories are made, shaped and given meaning. I’ve read it several times and each time come away with something new.
Thank you, Lori. I haven’t read White Gloves. Will definitely get it.
Such a thoughtful and honest response to the challenges of memory and truth. Excellent post.
Thank you so much, Anna.
Thank you so much for this post... it really gives me food for thought.... food beyond Tizer, Twiglets and bought cake, eaten on birthdays in the common room, just on the corridor before the swing doors into G-Block. I must read the book and learn more about what seems like the flux of Quantum Memory.
Thank you, Angie. I remember that birthday dining room so well!
I think, for my up and coming B'day, Twiglets, Tizer and Victoria Sponge will be on the request list.
A kind of 'made it through' meal!!!
This is absolutely fascinating (I am finally beginning to catch up on your writing!) and much food for thought. I need to read it again. The notion that in our memories we feel at home is something I never would have thought about but yes, I can feel that as I step into some memories as more or less of a test, both good and bad ones. It is a belonging to the situation specifically as me. I think about your story/ies and believe that much of the trauma experienced cannot be too off the mark because the imprinting of it was so deep.