I want to give you something to think about as you write your memoir, a true story about your cat or dog, for example, or an account of something you witnessed. While it\u2019s not okay to fabricate to the point that some authors in the news have done recently\u2014to write blatant lies\u2014it is okay to ignore some of the details. In fact, I tell authors that it is sometimes okay not to tell the entire, complete truth. Many times, it\u2019s best that you don\u2019t.<\/p>\n
If it is not pertinent to the story whether you used your right hand to open the door or your left, don\u2019t mention it. Give your reader the information he needs in order to visualize the story\u2014to help him to be a part of the story\u2014but not so much detail that he becomes distracted by it.<\/p>\n
Maybe, in reality, you had to cross two streets and walk around the other side of a green Honda with a dangling license plate and a child\u2019s car seat inside to reach the dry cleaners where you picked up your linen table cloth for your intimate dinner that night. But is all of this detail necessary to the story you are telling? If not, drop it. Say, instead, that you walked around the corner to the dry cleaners and picked up the linen.<\/p>\n
Sometimes keeping to the order of things rudely interrupts a story. Maybe it happened that John came to your door and walked right in. But it may make a better story if he hesitates at the door before knocking and reconsiders what he\u2019s going to say. Instead of writing the true account\u2014that Jayne called the doctor three times before she got an answer\u2014if this isn\u2019t important to the story, just have Jayne dial the phone and speak to the doctor.<\/p>\n
In other words, stick to your story, of course, but don\u2019t be so truthful that it hurts your readers.<\/p>\n
Computers and Cats<\/strong> We certainly become complacent with our computers, don\u2019t we? We get so accustomed to the computer following our every command\u2014on command\u2014that we get frustrated when there is a glitch of any kind. <\/p>\n Sometimes my computer reminds me of my cats. At times, it\u2019s unpredictable, finicky and seems to have a mind of its own. The computer, like a cat, can provide such pleasure. But you never know when it will decide to turn on you. While a cat who may nibble on your favorite house plant, use your garden for a litter box, upchuck a soggy furball in the middle of the night on your route to the bathroom and shed all over your black suit, your computer sometimes freezes up, looses contact with the printer or refuses to perform a simple, much-needed function.<\/p>\n Speaking of cats, I received a call from my sister-in-law yesterday in Idaho telling me how much she is enjoying reading Catscapades, Tales of Ordinary and Extraordinary Cats<\/em><\/strong>. She said, \u201cThe stories just make me smile. They\u2019re so uplifting. And I\u2019m really getting to know more about you. I love it.\u201d<\/p>\n Others, who have bought copies, are coming back and purchasing additional copies for their cat-lovin\u2019 friends and relatives. Don\u2019t forget that I have a Valentine\u2019s Day special going on. I send you a dollar back for every copy of the print edition of Catscapades<\/em><\/strong> that you purchase before February 14, 2009. And what a lovely and sweet Valentine\u2019s Day gift this is for anyone who adores cats and enjoys reading about them.<\/p>\n
\nIt has been a rough morning computer-wise. I got a message that I have a nasty virus. But that turned out to be some company trying to sell me virus protection. We are running my virus protection program now just to be on the safe side. Then someone emailed me at my website saying that they could not get an email through to my yahoo address. <\/p>\n