The Arvon Book of Life Writing: Writing Biography, Autobiography and Memoir

by Sally Cline

Fascinating, wide-ranging, hugely knowledgeable - an indispensable guide and a beguiling education William BoydPacked with insights and advice - just the inspiration to start writing! Jenny UglowEveryone has a story. This book shows how the best writers tell them, and offers advice on how to tell them yourself. Biographers Sally Cline and Carole Angier teach life writing - an area of creative writing that is exploding in popularity - at the world-famous Arvon Foundation. They have distilled the essence of their popular course on memoir, autobiography and biography into this wide-ranging book. "The Arvon Book of Life Writing" offers three fascinating ways into the genre. First, reflections on their trade by the authors, exploring its special challenges: truth, memory, ethics, evidence and interpretation. Second, personal tips and tales from 32 top British and American life writers - autobiographers and memoirists, literary, sports and celebrity biographers; plus a critic, an agent, a literary editor, two novelists, and a ghost writer. Third, a practical guide, complete with exercises, designed for use in creative writing courses or by individual writers at home.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction, Reference

288 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 2010

Reviews

[Jessica Bell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative, but not all that inspiring. Was like reading a biography about biography. I still enjoyed it though.

[Molebatsi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Arvon Book of Life Writing is an indispensable and profoundly encouraging guide for anyone drawn to the art of memoir and autobiography. More than a simple manual, it functions as a masterclass between covers, distilling the wisdom of experienced tutors and renowned authors into accessible, thoughtful chapters. The book brilliantly balances practical advice on structure, voice, and ethics with inspiring reflections on memory’s fluidity and the transformative power of giving shape to personal experience. Its greatest strength lies in its compassionate tone; it acknowledges the emotional challenges of revisiting the past while providing the technical tools to do so with clarity and creativity. For both tentative beginners and seasoned writers, this volume is not just a guide to life writing, but a compelling companion for the journey itself.

[Eva Lehmann-Bauer · Rating 3 out of 5]

wasn't that great in comparison to the Everything Guide to writing Non Fiction.