Post #24 – Women’s Memoirs, Author Conversations – Kendra Bonnett and Matilda Butler
In the first of our fall interviews for Women’s Memoir Author Conversations, memoirist Hope Edelman provides suggestions, details, insights, and a few of her teaching tools as she responds to your questions about memoir writing. Two areas received considerable attention:
1. The opening to your memoir comes with its own reason and season. This included what is the goal of an opening; when do you finally know you have found the right opening; what opening sentences can do to bring a reader into your story and hold her there. In addition to a number of illuminating comments, Hope read the opening paragraph to her new memoir: The Possibility of Everything and described the multiple levels of meaning she put into those words.
2. Creative non-fiction is not an oxymoron. In response to several questions, Hope described how the techniques of fiction can be used to enhance the writing of a memoir. Included in her discussion were suggestions for story structure and plotting.
Other areas covered in our interview were writing tips, writing prompts, the difference between non-fiction writing and memoir writing, and stripping away the non-essential so that the essence of a story can shine through.
We’re sure you’ll not only enjoy listening to Hope but also learn ways to improve the craft of your memoir writing.
If you missed Hope’s women’s memoir writing prompt, CLICK HERE.
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