I am starting a new feature - Guest Posts. Today’s inaugural Guest Post talks about varying approaches to writing (and reading) memoirs - a genre that appears to be increasingly popular both to write and to read. I have found myself reading/guest reviewing a number of memoirs lately on behalf of LuxuryReading.com (a pediatrician’s journey into and out of medicine, which posted recently and is available here, and a CIA agent couple’s journey through and out of the Agency, post forthcoming (noticing a trend yet?)). A well-written memoir - like well-written history - turns non-fiction on its head, combining storytelling with catharsis, and provides a singular opportunity to learn and be entertained. I hope you enjoy this guest post, and that you will take a minute to visit Steve’s site as well. Thanks again for the post Steve!

My Favorite Memoirs

When I took a personal writing course from Tom Larson a few years ago, I learned that memoir focuses on a single phase of the author’s life (as opposed to, say, autobiography, which starts with the author’s birth and hits all the highlights from there on). Memoir, as it’s conceived these days (or as Tom presented it anyway, and he should know), involves reflection about how just one piece of life has changed the writer.

Reflection and change are the key words.
Continue reading Guest Post: My Favorite Memoirs