Writing the Memoir: From Truth to Art, Second Edit
Acclaimed memoirist and writing teacher Judith Barrington has revised and updated her bestselling book aimed at those aspiring to the highest literary standards, but useful, also, to those who simply want to record stories for family and friends. Here are chapters on getting started, finding form, telling the truth, using fictional techniques, expanding your language skills, developing sensory detail, writing about living people, placing your story in a larger context and steering clear of common pitfalls. • Detailed writing exercises are included in each chapter. • Legal issues pertaining to memoir are explained in the appendix. • Guidelines for critique offer an invaluable tool for writers’ gr… More >>
Writing the Memoir: From Truth to Art, Second Edit
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The five star rating led me to order, but I would recommend looking elsewhere, unless you’re a high school sophomore in need of some pointers for class. The suggested excercises are comically simplistic, and overall, the book was a disappointment.
Rating: 2 / 5
For anyone interested in trying to tackle the art of writing a memoir this book will help. This style of writing can be a real learning experience. There’s so many different styles to putting down on paper what keeps readersUNDER THE NEON SKY…A Las Vegas Doorman’s Story reading.
Rating: 4 / 5
This book is geared towards those interested in writing memoir, and is a combination of practical advice, as well as more general reflection on the genre of memoir itself. Barrington begins by distinguishing between autobiography (the story of a life) as opposed to memoir (a more theme-based examination of a life).
The heart of this book for me was Chapter 4: “The Truth: What, Why, and How?”, a thoughtful examination of factual truth vs. emotional truth. In it Barrington concludes that what is important is not to record every last detail or verbatim conversations, but to capture the essence of past events and re-create them in the memoir.
Chapters that focus more on the nuts and bolts of writing memoir are: Chapter 3 which discusses the forms a memoir can take, Chapter 5 which discusses the use of fictional techniques of scene, summary and musing in writing non-fiction, Chapter 6 which discusses use of tense and how to move around in time, and Chapters 7 and 8, which cover use of descriptive details and concrete names to ground a memoir. The book concludes with a discussion of points to consider when writing about others, backed up by an appendix that contains relevant laws that apply to non-fiction writing, namely defamation and invasion of privacy.
Each chapter is followed by suggested writing exercises which tie together the concepts presented in that chapter. Altogether a very useful book for anyone interested in writing memoir.
Rating: 5 / 5
The author has inspired me to continue my taking classes and writing my memoir, started a few years ago. She gives valuable ideas to critique classmates manuscripts. I wish I had them earlier.
A worthy book to have in my library.
Bev
Rating: 4 / 5
This is truly a practical guide to writing your personal memoirs. It even cover leagal aspecs of items you might include in you book. Separating truth from fiction and much, much more. I recommend this book to anyone who is trying to write about their experiences in life.
Rating: 5 / 5