Writing a Memoir - Three Tips For Using Fiction Techniques

p>We all love well-told stories. We love theperson would have been comfortable with. As to
entertainment, the sound effects, the punchy plotclothing, you might write that you wish to give a
built around solid characterization. As we sharesense of the total person and are sharing
stories in our everyday conversations, weinformation about the character and inserting this
inevitably use fiction techniques to keep ourinformation in such a way as to be unobtrusive,
listeners' attention and interest. When we saybut the reader should not infer that all the pairings
"And then she said...," we are using dialogue -of clothing and times are factual.
that's a fiction technique.2) Use indirect dialogue. Indirect dialogue is speech
In our memoir writing, we will often veer towardthat is introduced by "that" whether used or
the same techniques fiction writers use. In fact,implied. "My grandmother said [that] she would not
we don't seem to need urging at all to adapt ourleave her house" is an example of indirect
stories to make them more compelling or todialogue. ("My grandmother said, 'I will not leave
ensure that they drive our point home. We domy house'" is direct dialogue.)
this spontaneously.Indirect dialogue is often used when you don't
Many life writers ask, "But, am I twisting thingshave exact quotes, when you are reluctant to
when I use fiction techniques? Is it really okay?"attribute specific words to an individual, or when
> Should a writer invent dialogue between hisyou want to soften the impact of a piece of
characters? He does not, after all, have a tapedialogue.
recording of the conversations of the people he isWith indirect dialogue, you will sacrifice immediacy
writing about.and impact. Because of this, indirect dialogue is
> Can the writer ascribe articles of clothing to anoften less attractive to writers than direct
individual? He can't really be sure that thatdialogue. But it is a useful tool when you don't
individual wore that article on a particular day.want to, or can't honestly, place specific words
> How does a writer share with his reader thedirectly in someone's "mouth." Indirect dialogue
thoughts that he suspects an individual might havepermits the writer to manipulate the presentation
had? After all, he was not in that person's head!of a story.
Different individuals come to different solutions to3) Never use dialogue or make any reference to
the problems posed in these questions. Here areaction or setting that is not authenticated. This
three possibilities available to life writers who feelchoice can be very limiting in terms of storytelling.
a conflict in ascribing dialogue or other details toIn this instance, your characters never actually
their stories.say anything in their own voices. They never
1) Write an introduction or preface to your lifeappear on the page with particular pieces of
story. In this piece, mention that you are usingclothing. They probably don't ever look out of
fiction techniques when you ascribe specificwindows or eat a meal--all fiction-based details
conversations and reactions to an individual. Youthat will make your characters come alive.
attest that each of these elements are, to theWithout fiction techniques, your story will have a
best of your knowledge, typical of what thecertain flatness rather than the you-are-there
character might have said or worn or done. Youimmediacy of storytelling at its best. But, if your
might write that the tone and choice of wordschoice is to eschew fiction techniques altogether,
ascribed to a person is in keeping with how theyou will have told your story in the way you
person might have spoken and in a tone thewant to tell it, with utmost truth.