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Especially since folks have come out and said Jill Abramson got facts wrong in her book. This is *terrible* advice & anyone who thinks your memory serves you well as a reporter should write without looking at notes then check your draft to your notes. It’ll kill this nonsense.
A few years ago I sat in on this talk by Gay Talese where he said he does not take notes at all. That he interviews people then goes into a room and writes everything down, recreating the gist of the conversation. I could not believe Magazine editors let him get away with that.
I’ve written from memory to keep the writing flow and then gone and checked to my notes and at times realized I *completely* made things up. Orange house was blue. Hair in Afro not fade. Like things you wouldn’t think you’d mess up. You do. I’d *never* trust my memory.
