Old Friend from Far Away: The Practice of Writing Memoir

This is such a treasure of exercises and invitations into the spirit of writing your own life. It's got the trademark “just write 10 minutes, go!” of Natalie's practice. Yes, she really does urge you on like that in person, something I got to experience at a workshop with her at Kripalu. Highly recommended, full of the kinds of suggestions a great coach will nudge you along with. Easy language, and her examples show how writing at a 7th grade level is most inclusive, while preserving rich meaning and vivid images.

Another book I picked up because the author is beloved. Goldberg's Writing Down the Bones was the first book I read about writing that inspired me. I've read all her books since then (including one very disappointing novel) but nothing's clicked with me like Bones. This book was close; I felt a click here and there. Old Friend is fundamentally an expanded Bones. It has lots of fun exercises for those who are suffering from writer's block. I'd like to keep it a little longer and try more of the exercises.

Second Read:
I'm taking a memoir writing class this semester, and this book is perfect for the class. Happily, I now have this book on my Kindle.