Memoirists wonder if their lives are interesting enough for a story, but all good stories begin with desire and obstacle, and we’ve all got plenty of those.
What the Fly in Walter White’s Meth Lab Tells Us About Storytelling
Browsing Category School of Nonfiction
The art and craft of nonfiction writing.
Want Your Reader to Care? Learn the 3D of ‘Unusual.’
How do you make your reader care about your story? By finding the unusual in one of three dimensions: character, subject, or style.
What Exactly Do You Mean By Memoir Anyway?
The power of memoir is not in its “realness” or because the events are “true.” Its power is in the writer’s willingness to go where others won’t.
Effective Storytelling: Finding the Narrative Needle in Your Life’s Haystack
What the one-line joke can teach you about effective storytelling.
THE MEMOIR SERIES: Start Here
A full list of topics in School of Nonfiction’s flagship “Memoir Series.” Find what’s already published and see what is forthcoming.
“School of Nonfiction,” Wha–?
Fresh ideas. A new community. An ending and a beginning.
Can Writing Be Taught — Or Must it Always Come Naturally?
Memoir writing is a craft, with techniques and practices that can be learned. And whatever can be learned, can be taught.
Top 5 Writing Books For Every Memoirist
We all have our favorites. These are mine — from the essential to the light-hearted to the deep and comprehensive.
My Top Ten Rules for Memoir Writing
Some rules for memoirists to live and write by. These are mine — and should be yours, too, I think. Some are obvious. Others aren’t, but should be.
Your Reader is Not Your Therapist: And other thoughts on memoir writing
Some people confuse memoir writing with therapy. Here’s why they’re wrong.