Inventing the Truth: The Art and Craft of Memoir

I had to order this for a Memoir class, but I actually enjoy this book quite a bit. We didn't get to review and examine the whole thing, so I am doing that now. I am pleased with the digital copy that I got. It is easy to follow and the bookmarks are incredibly convenient.

Perhaps the best book on memoir writing I have ever read, or that has ever been written, since I go back to it each time I start again...NOthing like it anywhere. Even with the new writers added, it has only been improved. A few books are like this one, EB Whites book on language is like it. And some few others. I would simply add that this is a must read for anyone who think he or she wants to write about her or his life...DONT until you have read the lessons that you will glean from this wonderful little book. It won't steer your wrong. It cannot. What one writer says that doesn't speak to you, another will fully make up for. And then you go back and reread the ones you didn't like at first and you find that AH they too have something to say to you!

I recommend this if you like reading about memoir craft. It’s pretty darn lovely. Good thinks. Good writing. Helpful for studying how and why people write memoir.

In INVENTING THE TRUTH, several memoirists offer their viewpoints on writing about one's life. Each author talks about the process of discovering different ways to tell their own stories and then subjecting their stories to a critical analysis, understanding that it might be told differently. They consider how the author knows too much and must distill this glut of information into a dramatic, readable narrative that will hold a reader. That means using many of the techniques of fiction, but also being true to the events. The examples prompted me to buy several of the memoirs discussed. This book would be very helpful for anyone considering writing a memoir and it's a terrific cross-section of the genre for anyone wanting to read some of the best. ~Joan Mazza, author of DREAM BACK YOUR LIFE, DREAMING YOUR REAL SELF, and 3 books in The Guided Journal Series with Writer's Digest.

I've read most of these authors and now enjoyed a different view of their lives. Interesting! Bibliographies are very useful.

As a writer, there is no one on the how-to scene quite like William Zinsser. If I were teaching writing, all of his books would be on the reading list. Highly recommend this, even though it is mostly in the words of other writers, because it was Zinsser's vision that made this book possible for all of us interested in learning how to write in the memoir genre.

Found this mother lode of memior writing In the midsit of rewriting the final draft of the of my concluding memoir of the" Mother Lode" trilogy. The thoughts and machinations of their own memoir stories. The agony of soul searching, what to put in and what sensitive stuff to leave out. The humor of people and situations of family and friends from the perspective of the past. The importance of the time gap to distance themselves form the events in their past lives Ten successful writers, with ten different viewpoints and methods provided an priceless insights in how I should tackle my own story. As I complete my own memoir; "My Mad Mother" I definitely plan on augmenting my work by reading the memoir of these reverse and wonderful writers; William Zinsser, "Introduction", Russell Baker; "Life With Mother", Jill Ker Conway; "The Road from Coorain", Frank McCourt, "Angela's Ashes" a reread, Eileen Simpson; "Poets in Their Youth", Henry Louis Gates Jr., "Colored People", Alfred Kazin; "A Walker in the City", Annie Dillard; "An American Childhood", Ian Frazier: "Family", Toni Morrison; "The Site of Memory". All these authors have enriched my craft of writing the memoir.

It is filled with at advice from other memoirists. Each person talking about their own experence writing memoir.

Excellent. Very useful book on how different authors write their memoir/ biographies; how they structure their work to make it of universal relevance ; why they choose to focus on one particular theme; what is their personal view on what are memories.

I received my book today and was immediately unimpressed. The paper quality is very poor and the font size varies to keep the page count of some previous edition. If I saw this version in a book store, I would not buy it.(A good reason to try a Kindle format)I haven't read any content yet but hope it is not affected. I may change my rating upon book completion.

The book was a little disappointing, but generally was interesting in that some well-known authors wrote about their memoir-writing process. Even just the chapter written by Frank McCourt about writing Angela's Ashes was worth the cost of the book.