When you are writing a memoir you are writing a story. A story is a narrative-driven by action, drama, conflict, strong characters, and an arc of gradual transformation for the main character (you). The best stories enlarge you as you…
It was my pleasure to work with Sadeqa Johnson when she attended Hurston/Wright Writer’s week several years ago. Sadeqa was a star writer in a strong class of writers. Her new novel Yellow Wife is a historical novel inspired by…
Writing a memoir forces you to take ownership of the story of your life. Ownership means claiming your life and all its false starts and final reckonings. There are no half measures, no second-guessing in a memorable memoir. This is…
How to Write A Memoir Part One I launched my career with a memoir, Migrations of the Heart, published when I was 33 years old. Carol Mann a Manhattan literary agent had read a draft of my first attempt at…
I love reading short stories. A finely crafted short story haunts the reader with the same power as a deeply affecting novel. Rion Amilcar Scott is one of my favorite short story writers. If you have not yet read his…
