Innehållsförteckning för August 2019 från The Writer

When we write creative nonfiction about our lives, we immediately take center stage in the narrative. We must feel confident and comfortable in that role. After all, it’s our experiences, our memories, our confessions that propel the story forward; shyness need not apply here. Yet the problem with being “onstage on the page” is that it can be far too easy to forget your audience when you’re standing up there, blinded by the bright lights. When a narrative is so author-centric that it fails to provide any takeaway for the reader, the writer transforms from the star in the spotlight to the bore who cornered you at a party. Without room to contribute to the conversation, the audience fidgets, loses interest, and looks for any excuse to leave. Because that’s…

Write about… The first snowfall you can remember A memorable birthday dinner or cake A moment when you realized your parents were human, not gods One of the first times you stood up for yourself Your favorite (or least-favorite) Independence Day The worst road trip of your life A time when you received an unexpected gift The first time you ate a dish or cuisine you never ate at home A fight with one of your friends Your favorite memory involving water (lakes, oceans, pools, sprinklers…) A toy you fiercely wanted Your most memorable first day of school An album you were obsessed with An outfit you loved but your family (or friends) hated An especially bad haircut A time you got lost (or felt lost) A vivid memory involving…

My mother-in-law for years would ask my wife if I had worked today. Like anyone else who works, freelance writers don’t have a choice. Dabbling in the arts does not excuse anyone from acting like a functional adult. I’m happy to explain what I do, because few people understand the realities. I figured keeping a week-long diary would work best. But when I started writing about Day 1, I had more than enough material. Wednesday, April 17, 2019 Our federal income tax refund arrives this morning. Immediately, I write checks to my accountant and the person who is transcribing interviews for my book. The rest of the money, I immediately budget. It’s a sizable amount, but with the first part of the book advance gone, living expenses take priority. I…

When I announced I was writing Running: A Love Story, my family assumed the memoir would be in the same vein as what I wrote about running in newspapers and magazines at the time: that it’s a ridiculous thing to do, and that I loved it, with a lot of humor and possibly complaining about heat thrown in. Then an excerpt ran in the New York Times just before the book came out. The excerpt was about how a horrible relationship with an alcoholic fueled my insecurities and led to an eating disorder (and how that played into my early days in the sport). It wasn’t until then that they realized the book might not be all jolly and that they’d learn a few things about me at the same…

Expert quotes provide authority in articles. But how do you get an expert to speak candidly? How do you get them to talk to you, a stranger, at all? When I started writing for magazines 20 years ago, I had no answer for these questions. I bumbled through interviews until I learned the myriad things an interviewer should (and should not) do. In the course of my freelance career, I developed a process honed through trial and error with many hundreds of interview subjects, ranging from Nobel Laureates to roller derby jammers. And all of them provided great quotes. The American mile record-holder, Alan Webb, confessed he sometimes ran without socks in high school because, “I was lazy, and it was just one less thing to worry about.” Miss USA…

“In a memoir, feelings are more important than facts, and to write honestly, I have to confront my demons.”—Isabel Allende The Art of Memoir by Mary Karr Legendary memoirist Mary Karr – author of best-selling books The Liars’ Club, Cherry, and Lit – shares what she’s learned in 30-plus years of teaching and writing the form with her signature wit and brutal honesty. Writing the Memoir by Judith Barrington Originally published in 1997 and now in its second edition, award-winning memoirist Judith Barrington’s book is a classic for a reason: From legal issues and ethics to voice and memory selection, Barrington covers it all – and provides a wealth of helpful writing prompts in the process. Let it Bleed: How to Write a Rockin’ Memoir by Pamela Des Barres Pamela…

Sonya Larson believes diversity at writing conferences is crucial. As the director of The Muse & the Marketplace, a three-day event hosted by Boston’s famed GrubStreet creative writing center, she’s committed to highlighting a diverse lineup of presenters, agents, and editors. “This reflects the world we live in, and it’s so important for the art we’re making,” she explains. “The feedback and perspectives that a varied community of writers can give one another on their work is essential and will continue to produce fantastic books.” Every April, 800 participants gather at the Park Plaza Hotel near Boston Common to attend over 130 interactive sessions focusing on both the craft and business of writing. With best-selling author attendees that have included Celeste Ng, Morgan Jerkins, Jabari Asim, and Li Yun Alvarado,…

“When it comes to memoir, we want to catch the author in a lie. When we read fiction, we want to catch the author telling the truth.”—Tayari Jones I wish I’d known a writer can fix anything but a blank page. I wish I’d known the best writing comes from the gut and not from the head. I wish I’d known that, to find your voice, you have to write every day, read every day, and get out of your comfort zone. Find a different route to the market. Find a different market. Walk a new street. Visit a new city. I wish I’d known that all those people who say you have to write a million words before you can call yourself a writer are wrong. It’s closer to…

I get lost in the writing weeds regularly. I have a lot of ideas, and that creates a certain amount of paralysis. I’ve tried many different techniques to shake this paralysis, but there’s really only one tried and true solution for me: I go look at some pieces of visual art. I do this for a few reasons: First, it usually gets me out of the house; second, it gives me a reprieve from thinking too much about what’s happening in the story I’m trying to write; third, it allows me to immerse myself in the story of what’s happening in the painting. What I’m referring to is the magic of ekphrasis. ••• Aside from the fact that I’ve just this morning learned I’ve been mispronouncing the thing my whole…

Are you an older writer considering writing a memoir for the first time? If so, you’re not alone: Perhaps you wish to pass down stories of your life to children or grandchildren. Perhaps you long to make sense of painful experiences you’ve lived through. Maybe you simply wish to rekindle a lifelong dream of writing, and focusing on lived experiences feels like the best entry into the world of literature. Maybe you hope to be widely published, or maybe you hope no one other than a few trusted friends and family members will read your stories. Regardless of the reasons that lead you to the starting line, there are several myths about writing a memoir that can deter older writers from sharing their stories. In my six years of teaching…

Pioneertown, near Joshua Tree National Park in Southern California, is a strange and magical place. Founded by Hollywood investors just after World War II as a working town with Old West false-front facades, it’s now an attraction for tourists content to walk around the rickety buildings, catching the occasional mock gunfight or concert at Pappy and Harriet’s restaurant. Pioneertown is also a 4-year-old online literary journal founded by Brenna Kischuk, who grew up in a suburb of Los Angeles. It features fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, and hybrid works. “The name of the publication works on a literal level because the work that I want to publish is all about taking risks and exploring and discovering and forging ahead,” she explains. Visitors to the journal’s website will find a wealth of…