Your Life as Story: Discovering the 'New Autobiography' and Writing Memoir as Literature » (1ST TRADE)

Blending literary scholarship with practical coaching on how to craft short or long life narratives, Rainer traces the history of autobiography from Egyptian inscriptions through its recent evolution on the bestseller lists. Aided by examples from such writers as Maya Angelou, Russell Baker, Richard Rodriguez, Maxine Hong Kingston, Mikal Gilmore, and Carolyn See, among others, Rainer demonstrates how to write character portraits, how to remember what you thought you had forgotten, how to unify a story with thematic conflict, how to write scenes with dialogue and employ other fictional devices, how to use humor and perspective, and how to move through time. The author shares her remarkable techniques for finding the essentials of story structure within your life's scattered experiences. She also shows that autobiography need not be a linear, heroic quest, but may be assembled like a quilt, the pattern gradually emerging.

Publishers Weekly

Rainer (The New Diary) claims that this is the "most complete and advanced book" on writing autobiography, and yes, she backs it up. While it bypasses the most basic questions of craft-which would-be autobiographers must also master-this book includes a sophisticated mix of analysis, examples and exercises. The "New Autobiography," according to Rainer, borrows the techniques and structure of the novel-though purists may blanch at her acceptance of nonliteral truth and her inclusion of Pam Houston and other autobiographical fictioneers. Still, Rainer seems to know storytelling, and she analyzes the varieties and elements of story structure as well as showing how to vary chronology. She suggests that the search for an individual voice must precede any attempt to speak for a larger group. Rainer offers good suggestions on casting characters in a life story, sorting episodes into themes and writing realistic dialogue. She includes examples from classes she teaches in Southern California, advising other teachers that such work must be critiqued with great sensitivity. Finally, she provides sensible advice about the publishing world and how to form a memoir group. For those willing to do the work, Rainer is an excellent guide. (Apr.)