The Autobiographer's Handbook: The 826 National Guide to Writing Your Memoir

by Jennifer Traig and Janice Erlbaum

Book Overview

At last--the contemporary masters of memoir have come together to reveal their strategies and impart their advice. This book contains an unprecedented wealth of knowledge in one place.In The... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0805087133
• Release Date: September 2008
• Publisher: Holt Paperbacks
• Length: 242 Pages
• Weight: 0.62 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.5" x 0.6" x 5.5"

Customer Reviews

Autobiographers, this is the book for you!

If you are looking to write your memoir/autobiography, buy this book! I bought it for a class I was taking in college, and I found myself wanting to highlight something on every page. I'm one of those people that hates marking up books, but there were so many pieces of good advice that could be applied to memoir specifically, or just writing in general, that I wanted to be able to go back and find them easily. The book offers perspectives from lots of different authors, so there is something for everyone, I feel. Some of the advice from some of the writers wouldn't necessarily work for me, but I move on to the next perspective and, what do you know? I feel like the next author is speaking directly to me. This book was so well put together that even had I not been writing a memoir, I would have enjoyed reading it. I highly recommend this to memoirists, or just writers in general.

Very Pleased

I was very pleased with this purchase, both with the condition of the book and the time frame in which it arrived. I would recommend this vendor.

A roundtable discussion makes for interesting takes on memoir writing

I'm one of these people who devoir memoirs, autobiographies, and biographies. I lke the idea of gatheing 38 contemporary memoirists to give their advice on writing memoirs. Having written two memoirs and a pictorial history (Don Edgers), I can appreciate this book and the variety of opinions presented as there's no one formula fits all in writing in this genre. Dave Eggers writes the introduction. I've read his heart-wrenching "A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius" which left me depressed. But this kind of writing appeals to a pretty large audience. I've got all of Frank McCourt's books And have read Tobias Wolf's tomes, but was treated to the views of 36 other authors - which I liked. If you want a spectrum of views on writing a memoir, this book might give you the inspiration needed to get going. I don't think the list price is worth it, though. Have your library order it.

A must for someone who wants the world to read their story

It has been said that everyone has one good book in them. "The Autobiographer's Handbook: The 826 National Guide to Writing Your Memoir" is a collection of tips and advice from masterful writers on putting down one's life story onto paper, and in a format that would be appealing to read for your audiences. A basic writing course with a focus on memoirs, "The Autobiographer's Handbook" is a must for someone who wants the world to read their story.

"I write myself into existence."

This is a particularly focused book, a perfect addition to a writer's library, unique in structure and intent, not limited to one author's perspective, but a collaboration, useful, specific suggestions for the writing process. Staring at a blank sheet of paper, or more likely, a blank computer screen, anyone writing a memoir is faced with daunting decisions: where to start, what to include, appropriate editing, the direction of the narrative. Concept is critical and the concept behind this guide is specific. Co-founded by Dave Eggers, "826 National" is a non-profit, tutoring, writing and publishing organization that encourages one-on-one attention to developing writing skills. "826" provides a network of volunteers for tutoring sessions, workshops and related programs for adults and children. This handbook condenses the goals of the organization, arranged by subject: "Meeting Your Muse"; "You vs. Page One"; "Writing Through Pain"; and "Getting It Out There", fourteen chapters in a round table format, including a bonus chapter, "From the Mind, to the Internet, to the Book, to You." Some of the authors participating in this effort to "write oneself into existence", discussions of the memoir by those who do it best, include Jonathan Ames, Paul Collins, Stephen Elliott, Nick Flynn, Elizabeth Gilbert, Maxine Hong Kingston, Frank McCourt, Anthony Swofford and Tobias Wolff. The chapters address common problems, from inspiration to polished voice, assorted viewpoints offering perspectives and insights from every aspect of life. There is also a section on recommended reading, the history of the memoir and "history's strangest memoirs". (Exercises to complement the specific chapters are available online.) Today there is unprecedented interest in translating personal experience into a finished memoir, a unique personal way to share life problems and solutions, the convoluted journeys from challenging situations to survival, the writer often the wiser for the experience. Not limited to one perspective, these voices represent a wide variety of experiences, giving birth to the personal narratives we share, sometimes harrowing, sometimes humorous diaries of the human condition. As a resource, this handbook is an important addition to a writer's working reference library, as a source of inspiration, it is invaluable. Luan Gaines/ 2008.