Write Stories That Stir Memories: Create a Deeply Satisfying Experience for Your Readers
Many memoir writers I work with are choosing to write their memoir in the genre, “creative nonfiction.” This gives them ‘creative license’ to mask certain events and characters to become unrecognizable, similar to films that tout – based on a true story. Therefore, I thought this might be helpful to both fiction and nonfiction writers.
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Great stories do something special. They stir memories, bringing us back to moments we might have long forgotten, or reconnecting us with emotions and experiences we thought were lost to time.
As we age, our memories become more precious, and it’s often in the pages of a well-written book that we find bits and pieces of ourselves. A familiar setting, a character’s journey, or even a single sentence can trigger a flood of memories like: places we’ve visited, people we’ve known, or times when life felt simpler. Books, in this way, are more than just stories—they’re mirrors that reflect our past and help us understand our present.
One of the most powerful ways that books stir memories, similar to a great film, is through their characters and settings. A character may remind us of someone we knew years ago, or even of a version of ourselves from a different time in our life reminding us of our own personal experiences.
Settings, too, have a way of calling to us. A small town, a busy city, or a quiet countryside often hold pieces of our past. A novel set in a particular era, like the 1960s or the 1990s can evoke memories of family, friends, and transformational moments. Details of clothing, hairstyles, architecture, films or music, can transport us back in time in a way few other things can.
Another way stories stir memories is through the emotions they conjure up. Books have the unique ability to tap into deep feelings of love, loss, hope, and fear that we’ve all experienced. These emotions are universal, no matter our age. A book that depicts a young couple falling in love might remind us of our first romance, or a story about a parent and child might bring back memories of our own children or our relationship with our parents.
Even more than plot twists or fantastical adventures, it’s the emotional connections in stories that truly resonate with us as we reflect on our own lives. Stories can capture those fleeting moments that define our experiences. Ones we might have forgotten are suddenly brought into sharp focus by a well-crafted dialogue.
Books that stir memories are often a way for us to revisit parts of our lives that we cherish. Whether it’s a memoir, a family saga, a historical novel, or a simple love story, there’s a unique comfort in reading stories that feel familiar. They offer a chance to reflect, reconnect, and remember, all while enjoying the timeless magic of storytelling.
Here are some examples of such stories. Since ‘creative nonfiction’ gives us/writers the ability to change certain events or characters that are unrecognizable, the lines of nonfiction and fiction blur. A few below are based on true stories.
- The Nightingaleby Kristin Hannah
2. The Book Thiefby Markus Zusak
3. The Help by Kathryn Stockett
4. A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
5. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
6. The Bridges of Madison County by Robert James Waller
7. The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro
These books offer emotionally relatable stories that engage readers and provoke memories lost in their own life experiences. I have read over half of them. I found each one moving and full of themes that touch on love, loss, personal growth, and the moments that define our lives. At one point many years ago, I couldn’t get enough of Kristin Hannah. Her character development drew me to her writing.
Enjoy!