Reading to Learn About Memoir Writing 

The value of reading in order to write is well established.  Reading to write memoirs is even more important because of the opportunities to see how others approach narratives stylistically.  So often, successful writers have moments to write about that match what novice memoir writers need to include.  Reading how others tackle writing puzzles well--or not--can help new memoirists make decisions about their own writing.

In addition to the annotated bib of memoirs included with this project, Bill Roorbach's book includes a lengthy bibliography of personal writing.

Re-Seeing Reading:  (Possible group activity.) Learn from the masters by selecting the first lines of a variety of memoirs.  Type up 10 or 20.  (Type rather than scan them in order to get the tactile experience of wording and pacing.)   What strategies are the authors using? What works well? What doesn't work for you?

Do the same with closings.

--Roorbach, 16

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Reading for Style:  (Good paired or group activity) Read a passage from a favorite writer out loud.  Tap your feet as you go in order to feel the rhythm the writer is creating.  Look at the rise and fall of sentences, the stops and pauses.  What is the role of paragraph lengths in creating the rhythm?  What is the role of the appearance in creating the rhythm?

--Roorbach, 152

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Reading for Structure:   A very simplified description of the classical structure of stories consists of rising action, climax, falling action.  Read other narratives, looking for this structure as you do. Examine your own work for indication of these elements of structure..

--Roorbach, 169

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I:  Read an article that uses a strong "I" out loud in order to learn the strength of I.