THE MEMOIR BOOK

We all have a story to tell – whether it is a story of a migrant childhood, a difficult past, adopting a child, riding a bike across India, or simply a contemplative year in a garden. With these stories we make sense of ourselves and the world around us.

Memoir – writing about an aspect of a life rather than a whole life – expresses and shapes these stories within us so that the writing becomes more than a record, it becomes a creative journey.

Drawing on Patti’s extensive teaching and writing experience, and using examples and exercises, The Memoir Book provides invaluable insight on how to find your topic, develop narrative voice, find a balance between factual truth and vivid story-telling, explore creative ways of structuring memories, and helps identify the best form for your writing – whether it be literary memoir, narrative non-fiction, sojourn and travel writing, or even the personal essay.

Written in Patti’s warm, clear and conversational style, this book is an essential guide for anyone who wants to write memoir or extend the possibilities of autobiography and non-fiction. The Memoir Book, a companion volume to her highly successful guide Writing Your Life, provides inspiration and practical advice for both new and experienced writers exploring the popular genre of memoir.