THOUGHTS ON MEMORY
I CAN’T REMEMBER A SHOPPING LIST OR TELEPHONE NUMBERS, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO WRITING, I AM TRULY STAGGERED AT HOW MUCH I CAN RECALL
When I was at school I found I was very bad at remembering things by rote—so much so that I was never asked after a while. Years later, I was diagnosed as suffering from a form of dyslexia which meant, in essence, that I have an eclectic memory. That’s a charitable way of describing it.
Writing is not the best activity to chose if you have memory problems. Nonetheless, I was determined to become a writer regardless. More foolish yet, I picked an area where I would have to dredge up numerous facts on demand—the researched action thriller. Later, I added—as part of my non-fiction interests—the economy and military matters. Why so? Well, they interest me. But, all these areas are data heavy and have strained my recall to its limits and beyond.
I have developed all sorts of workarounds to prompt my memory, am obsessed with databases, and normally have a ring-binder open filled with key facts—but when I’m in the zone writing something seems to switch on in my brain and my memory seems to work better.
Damned if I understand it—but it’s wonderful.
Mind you, when I’m not writing…
VOR words 223.
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