I’m writing a memoir (at the “just take notes” stage), and here’s the most useful thing that I’ve read lately. It comes from Philip Galanes’ interview with Jimmy Carter and the writer Jacqueline Woodson in last Sunday’s New York Times.

Memories don’t come back as straight narrative. They come back in little bursts with white space all around them….  – Jacqueline Woodson

She was talking about poems, but it’s also true when you’re digging into a memoir.  Memories can be hard. Especially happy ones.  It helps when they come in little bursts and you can leave a lot of white space around them.