Since Writing the Memoir came out in early 1997 it has sold roughly 20,000 copies and is consistently praised as "the best book on memoir out there." It is thought-provoking, explanatory, and practical: each chapter ends with writing exercises. It covers everything from questions of truth and ethics to questions of craft and the crucial retrospective voice. An appendix provides information on legal issues.
Judith Barrington, an award-winning memoir writer and acclaimed writing teacher, is attuned to the forces, both external and internal, that work to stop a writer; her tone is respectful of the difficulties and encouraging of taking risks. Her nimble prose, her deep belief in the importance of this genre, and her delight in the rich array of memoirists writing today make this book more than the typical "how-to" creative writing book. In this second edition the author has added new material and reflects on issues raised since Writing the Memoir was written, early in the memoir boom.
"No student of memoir writing could fail to learn from this wise, pragmatic, and confiding book. One hears on every page the voice of an intelligent and responsive teacher, with years of thinking about memoir behind her."-Vivian Gornick
Judith Barrington is the author of Lifesaving: A Memoir and numerous individual memoirs which have been published in literary magazines and anthologies. She is the author of three volumes of poetry: Trying to Be an Honest Woman, History and Geography, and Horses and the Human Soul (forthcoming in 2002). She has taught creative writing for the past twenty years.
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Also available by by Judith Barrington
Lifesaving: A Memoir
TP $13.95, 0-933377-44-4 o CUSA
TC $22.95 0-933377-45-2 o CUSA
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
A must-read for those writing a memoir:
An excellent book answering FAQs that you didn't know you had or if you did, you didn't know how to ask them. As I was crafting my own memoir, this book helped guide me on the path. I kept going back to it again and again as a reference, a reminder and as encouragement. Note that it has writing exercises to help you learn by doing.
Best of the Lot:
During the past year, I've read half a dozen books similar to, but not as worthwhile as this one. Judith Barrington is a fine poet, and the poetry of her thoughts and language, both, strike something much deeper than a 'how to' on the subject of memoir. If you are a writer looking for a guide in spirit as much as in craft, buy the book.
Writing Memoirs:
"Writing a Memoir" by Judith Barrington is the text used for an on-line class I am currently taking. It is a practical guide for discerning the elements of the memoir. This book, coupled with an excellent teacher, is responsible for improving my writing as well as giving me a clear picture of the differences between a memoir, an essay, and a short story. I highly recommend this book for people interested in writing their life stories.
Comprehensive guide for serious memoirists:
For memoirists working alone or with a group, Barrington is an insightful and skillful guide. She gives excellent advice on how to maintain the delicate balance between the demands of accuracy and of engaging readers. And she offers solutions to the challenge of protecting yourself and others in your story from painful public exposure without compromising your tale.
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