When it comes to memory, nothing is certain. By nature, memory is revision. A memoir writer should never treat memory as if it were the ultimate truth. A memory is only one person’s perspective of a particular event.
Once you’ve developed your memory into a memoir, one way to revise
it is to look at your memory from a different point of view. What if
the story were told from another person’s perspective, someone
who figures prominently in your memoir? How would the story change?
You may find that your memory is highly suspicious, colored by time
and circumstance. However, by looking at your memory from multiple perspectives,
you will deepen your relationship to the past.
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PROMPT
Retell your memoir from the imagined perspective of another person. What changes about the story? What remains the same? How can you incorporate what you’ve learned from this exercise in your final draft? |
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