18 Comments

I wish I had read this years ago when I was writing hundreds of pages of memoir. There's an art to embedding meaning in the voice of your earlier self. Brooke, I love what you've written here. It's a great reminder that readers don't want to be taken out of a scene to be reminded that an older, wiser you is telling it.

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This is also so relevant to fiction writing—whether and how and why to incorporate the narrator’s consciousness into the through line. I find this difficult to do without inviting clunkiness.

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What beautiful examples you've included, Brooke. Staying in scene and using the correct narrator's voice is challenging when you write memoir. In addition, Laura M wanted me to write in first person present, and that was hard. There were times when I didn't think I would make it to the other side.

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I can’t tell you how this discussion helps me, Brooke. I’m about 30,000 words into my coming-of-age memoir, but feel I’m running out of events I remember with enough detail to render them in scenes. Perhaps, if I go back and work in this kind of reflection, I can simultaneously beef up and deepen what I’ve already written. I still wonder how much reflection each scene needs. I can’t imagine it’s close to 50/50. Is it more like 90/10? Or perhaps it’s impossible to say; each scene varies. Thanks again! And hello to Karen from Sara Coppler and me.

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Indeed I think you can beef up the word count with observations and ideas about your themes and aboutness. Good luck with it, Kathryn.

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You're delivering primo advice here! The toughest skills are simple to understand but difficult to implement consistently. As Shelley points about above, this concept has broad applications. ♥️ Big thanks!

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Love thinking about the reflective narrator, such a difficult concept! Your examples bring such clarity and understanding. Thank you!

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I loved reading Wild and Educated. If Another Word for Love is in that league, I’ll have to give it a read!

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This is the kind of wisdom I relied on from you as you coached me. Thanks for your generosity here.

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I like to play back and forth in time and this piece was very helpful! I’m more watchful now and that’s fun and useful.

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Thank you for such a clear description of the reflective voice and how it need not interrupt scene. Also, thank you for the tempting book recommendations. I've read some of these but not all.

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Such a contribution. Thank you. 🙏

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These posts are inspiring me to consider writing a memoir!

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Love this!!

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Thank you so

Much for this.

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As usual, advice I needed. Lots of work to do. It will take me forever, it seems. But I got a good start today editing lots of places where I said something like, "Looking back now..."

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Thank you for this. I always admire when writing and also films use a narrative voice to move the story along in a compelling way and give insight/perspective. So challenging!

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What is the best way to incorporate reflection/takeaway into your writing when your scenes are in present tense, without breaking the fictive dream?

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