Writing the Memoir
by Judith Barrington · Judith Barrington
Barrington, a poet and memoirist, treats memoir as a literary form: finding a voice, handling truth and family exposure, structuring scenes, and revising. Includes writing exercises, so readers can draft and critique their own personal narratives.
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More resources on Memoir Writing
creativenonfiction.org
creativenonfiction.org is the official hub for the craft of Creative Nonfiction, featuring craft essays, author interviews, and guidance for writers. The site also provides submission guidelines, contests, and publishing opportunities in CNF.
National Association of Memoir Writers
Membership association led by memoir author and coach Linda Joy Myers, offering craft articles, recorded author interviews, a virtual book club, and paid workshops. Useful mainly for structure, deadlines, and contact with other writers rather than systematic instruction.
Memoir Writing MasterClass
Write your life story! Learn memoir writing from bestselling author Mary Karr in this comprehensive MasterClass.
Memoir and Personal Essay
Wesleyan University's four-module Coursera class with novelist Amy Bloom on writing personal essays: finding the idea worth telling, structuring the piece, selecting concrete detail, and revising. Peer-reviewed assignments produce a finished draft in roughly seven hours.
The Memoir Project
Marion Roach Smith's short craft guide argues memoir starts from a single argument rather than a whole life. It covers finding that intent, choosing which memories serve it, and cutting the rest, with exercises drawn from her writing classes.
writersdigest.com
WritersDigest.com is a comprehensive resource for writers, featuring craft articles, writing prompts, market guides, contests, and publishing tips to help aspiring and established authors improve their craft and get published.