HOW TO REMEMBER WHAT YOU READ

"The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more you learn, the more places you'll go." - Dr. Seuss, I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!

True, Dr. Seuss, if you can remember what you read!

I have at least an average memory, maybe a little above average. I'm good at remembering names, most of the time, and can usually help someone come up with a word that's on the tip of the tongue. I'm probably a little below average remembering facts and stuff I've read in non-fiction books. But what totally surprises me is that I barely remember the plots and characters (unless they're continuing in several books or short stories) in the fiction I read. Not sure why this is, but it is. I began to wonder how I could remedy this. And wondered how many others read a lot, but remember little?

Even if you do remember a lot, perhaps some of the suggestions below gleaned by researching on the web will help you remember even more. And if you're a writer, reading thoughtfully and making notes can help you hone your craft.

First, get comfortable. Be sure you're not sleep-deprived, hungry, thirsty or in an awkward position. If you are uncomfortable, you'll be distracted and won't retain as much as you could otherwise.

1. Read when you're most awake if you're reading to remember. Many of us read before going to sleep. That's fine if you don't need to remember much about it. But if you want or need to remember a lot, find times when you are most awake to read.
   
2. If you're distracted by things other than physical discomfort such as worries about family, your significant other, friends, or things happening in your life, you are less likely to remember later what you're reading now.
   
3. Is your reading environment free of distractions--TV off, children quiet, dog not yapping? Some people can read anywhere. Most of us, though, need a quiet environment to get the most out of it.
   
4. Pay attention. Don't let your mind wander.
   
5. Have a notepad ready to write down plot points, main character names, your thoughts while you're reading. You can put down quotes from the material, how it made you feel, what you think about the writing. Be sure to include page numbers so you can go back, if need be. When you do this, the material is processed two times, once by reading, once by writing, so you have a better chance of remembering.
   
6. If you don't want to jot things down, use sticky note flags to mark pages. Check out how they come in all shapes and sizes. They come in cases, with dispensers, in highlighters and pens. Use different colors to mark passages for a particular character, theme, place, plot-line, words you don't understand and anything else that interests you. You can later transfer what you've marked to your favorite word processing program, a handwritten journal, or notebook.
   
7. If you're confused by what you're reading, you'll have a hard time remembering it. If there are a lot of characters, list them and who they are, what they do in the story. Use a dictionary to check unfamiliar words and write them down along with the character list--the author might use them again.
   
8. Are you enjoying what you're reading? Do you like most of the characters, or at least like reading about them? Is the plot keeping you engrossed? Is the setting at least somewhat interesting? Are you anxious to get back to reading the book after you have to put it down? If so, then you're more likely to remember a lot about it later.
   
9. Can you visualize what's going on in the book? Does it unwind for you as if you were watching a movie? Is the setting vivid, the characters memorable? Has the author evoked emotions you can relate to, actually feel? Again, if so, you'll remember this particular story better.
   
10. If you find yourself skimming, losing track of what's happening, try slowing down, reading more carefully, or even reading out loud. Read aloud to yourself as if you were reading to a child. Change the voices of the characters. Lower your voice when something scary happens. Speak in higher tones when it gets exciting.
    
11. The more you read, the more you train your brain to remember. Try to read a minimum of half an hour a day. Consider it a day wasted if you haven't had time to read.
    
12. Join a book club or get together with friends who like to read the same things you do, then discuss books, or even short stories or short story collections. Notice the things that strike others that you may have forgotten. This can be a fun way to remember. If you can't find enough people for a "live" group, join a forum (or two or more) on-line where people discuss books. (I'll discuss these in a later column.)
    
13. If you're reading a classic, consider reading the Cliff Notes first. You may get insights into parts of the book you'll miss on your own. Characters, themes, metaphors, symbolism, even setting and plot may be clearer to you and easier to remember if you read the Notes first. They are readily available on-line, and because they're shorter than the actual book, it's not so difficult to read them that way than to read a whole book on-line. Or check out Wikipedia for a plot summary and often other information about the book.
    
14. Pay attention to your attention span. When your mind starts to wander, you know you've probably reached the amount of time you can read without losing interest. (Unless the material is boring--of course you'll lose interest then, so why continue if you're reading for pleasure? There's lots of other books and stories out there to read.) If you feel your attention span is too short, work to increase it by forcing yourself to read another five minutes, then ten minutes, and so on until you are happy with your now-increased span.
    
15. When you're finished, think about what you're read several times to fix the main points and characters in your mind.
    
16. Keep a reading journal. It can be as simple as listing books/authors you've read when, or as elaborate as a full review including the plot, characters names, and whether you liked it or not. Some readers even give their reviews stars.

How much of this article will you remember? Were you comfortable while reading it?

Did you take notes? Did you visualize yourself doing what's suggested?

Start right away to try to remember more of what you read. You'll be a fountain of information!

Gotta run--again I'm reading a great collection of short stories - 21 Tales by Dave Zeltserman - Highly Recommended