Writing ‘in-tense’ Memories

Writing ‘in-tense’ Memories

By Carol Clouse

I remember when I was only seven years old and my grandmother took me to the park. There was a gentle stream with green headed ducks, and we would feed them bread. I toss pieces out into the water, and watch them float briefly until a duck plunges into the water and smacks his bills and swallows my soggy duck treat. They fight over the morsels, as wings flap and flutter. And this drove my editor insane.

When I write memories I have a tendency to really go there. I start out in past tense, introducing the scene as a place I was or had been to, and then before I know it I am there, alive in the scene and typing away in present tense. In my mind I am there, and the keyboard is subconsciously somewhere else. This brings about a vivid and engaging truth to my story. I can hear the dialogue, I can see the colors, I can smell the landscape, and I can feel my emotions. While this makes for a very powerful remembering, it does not make for easy reading.

“A story that is being told in the past”, as my editor put it, “should be told entirely in the past.” It was a bit painful at first to take my present tense memories and re-write them in past tense, and I fought for my intense present tense territory. I had just breezed through The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk, and recalled it being a vivid and captivating read. Surely that would prove my point. I scanned page after page only to find that the entire book had been written in past tense. Editing ensued and in the end my piece was not only grammatically correct, but it was now free and clear of reader speed bumps.

So, did I switch to writing my memories in past tense? No, not really. I write it down however is comes out, and go back later for the tense check. For me, writing in the present produces a livelier story that would not necessarily emerge in similar brilliance if I consciously typed it all out in past tense. Yes, I’ll need to do a re-write, but that is something I can implement in a removed manner. If writing your memories flows easier in present tense, then I say let them flow. Just be prepared to revisit those mindful memories, and put them in the past.

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Comment by Pamela Williamson on July 6, 2012 at 12:05pm: Thank you, Carol, for this post. It made me chuckle. Just the other day, while writing something up for my blog, I thought I would challenge myself and turn my past tense post into a present tense. I didn't like it as much and wound up turning it back into the past tense. I must have challenged myself too much because I confused myself and found that I kept flip flopping! I had to re-read it and re-edit it several times before I picked a tense and stayed with it! :)

Comment by Carol Clouse on July 3, 2012 at 10:21am: Hello there Nancy! Just remember to edit your work a bit before you pass it along to an editor... or be prepared for lots of red ink and hair pulling! All the best with your book! ...Genre? Title?

Comment by Carol Clouse on July 3, 2012 at 10:18am: Thank you Tina, for your comment post. I believe your story will emerge with vividness and power, yet sans the deep cutting pain. Time and your own personal journey have added a new distance to the story. You can still "be there", but with a new perspective and a release of the formerly attached inner judgements. In my book Clouse's Houses, I write about my mother's ordeal with polio, and both my parents' deaths, ... and the loss of my dear dog. It was a a bitter-sweet remembering, with a lingering sweet. Of course there are also fun and funny things in my story, as it is more a journey in the spirit of creativity. If you would like more information about my book, Clouse's Houses - A story of challenge, creativity, and the heart of an architect, you can go to www.carolclouse.com Author Page.

Comment by Nancy Raley on July 3, 2012 at 9:39am: I am working on my first book and as I read your post I realize I do this also! Thank you for sharing. Who knew? I wonder if this is a habit that I can break now or if like you it isn't worth trying or worrying about?

Comment by Tina Ferry on July 2, 2012 at 7:16pm: I think it sounds wonderful. I write children's books, but after the death of my first son I had a very hard time dealing with it. I never really delt with his passing I was in my 20's and was told to get over it and it was the best thing that ever happened to me (because my marriage at that time was abusive). So, I surpressed all my feelings and never really delt with any of the emotions. I am now 47 and I see dealing with it. I was told to write it down, it will help with dealing with all the feelings of that time. I intend to use it to write a book to help women who have stillbirths. But, as you said, I remember smells, feelings and seeing things and things that were said as if it were today. I think when you write with such discription it brings the reader to were you are or were you want them to be. Keep it up..sounds GREAT....If you would like you can also see a site I have regarding stillbirths maybe even pass it along to your friends....let me know what you think..I would appreciate feed back.

www.support-the-fight-against-stillbirth.com