The Gift Of Memoir: Show Up, Open Up, Write

by Diane Taylor

The Gift of Memoir is Diane Taylor's gift to writers of every kind, but especially those with a personal or family story to tell. In words that are themselves a stellar example of literary craftsmanship, Taylor shows writers how to show up, open up, and write. Her short chapters, full of practical advice and inspiring examples, cover such topics as:

The all-importance of reading to writing
Establishing a writing ritual
Why write memoir?
The importance of joining a writing community
Telling the truth when you aren't sure
Journaling as a kind of personal writing workshop
Four strategies to retrieve memories
How to use anecdotes and establish themes
How to write through the five senses
How to choose a form that fits your writing
The revision process

236 pages, Paperback

Expected publication January 6, 2105

About the author

Various authors.

Reviews

[Heidi]

Just spent a satisfying and intensive day absorbing the wisdom and exercises in this instructive and generous guide to writing a memoir, resulting in eight closely written journal pages comprising instructions and reminders to myself, and tons of ideas and caveats.

Diane Taylor has done that magical thing: written a guide to inspire both new and seasoned writers. I soaked up the basics and relished the "aha" insights: the excavations she suggests that can elevate a memoir from the everyday to the extraordinary. She laid to rest questions that have been working in cooperation with my inner critic to stop me from getting started (e.g. where to begin, what format, theme, truth), sent me away with sharp-edged digging tools to find family gold, and gave me grist to design my own nine-point checklist to keep my writing fresh and vital.

Not only that, but the book was a pleasure to read--warm, humorous, anecdotal, encouraging--and left me feeling as if I have a friend and fan in the wings, cheering me on. (Take that, fool critic.)

Amazon and Indigo will be happy I read this book, too. Lots of juicy examples of effective writing and recommendations for additional reading.

[Wendy Macdonald]

Diane writes beautifully and engagingly so that I'm inspired to take the next step. The Gift of Memoir lives up to its subtitle: Show up, open up, write. Her book is the hand I needed to hold as I begin the journey of sharing my own story. It's the how-to book and nudge I needed. She goes over everything one should consider before, during, and after writing a personal memoir.

[Becca Metauro]

I have to say that this is one of the best books on writing that I’ve read. Not only was it very instructional, it had a lot of suggestions, quotes from other memoirs that applied to her text, and her own personal opinions and experiences that applied to the instructions/suggestions she was giving.