IT’S BEEN A great time for The Memoir Project, my irreverent little book on how to write memoir. I was on the wonderful NPR show, Talk of the Nation. I’d love you to listen it, of course, and you can … [Read more...] about A Big Life for The Little Book That Could
Need a Memoir Topic? Use the Calendar
USE THE CALENDAR. It's the best way I know to choose memoir topics and get memoir ideas. This is advice I give all the time in my online memoir classes, and I'm reminded of that advice every time a … [Read more...] about Need a Memoir Topic? Use the Calendar
What Tone Should Memoir Take? In Praise of Humility in Memoir
SOMETIMES I CAN BE SUBTLE. And while no particular incident of that comes to mind right now, I maintain that I can be. Sometimes. I’m sure of it. Though never when teaching memoir writing, and so I … [Read more...] about What Tone Should Memoir Take? In Praise of Humility in Memoir
There is No Such Thing as Writer’s Block
WRITER’S BLOCK? NONSENSE. There is no such thing as writer’s block. Despite the fact that writing books are chock full of time-wasting exercises with all manners and ways to get you to emerge from … [Read more...] about There is No Such Thing as Writer’s Block
Ask Yourself: “What is This About?”
WHAT MAKES GOOD MEMOIR? I get this question all the time when I teach, including in a recent class, which reminded me that it’s time to limn that line here between what is merely some great scene … [Read more...] about Ask Yourself: “What is This About?”
Summer Memoir: Getting Over the Slump
THE SUMMER WRITING SLUMP. This is a tough time for writers–that time of year when the most seductive set of temptations to not write beckon: the great outdoors and all its wonders. I mean, who can … [Read more...] about Summer Memoir: Getting Over the Slump