( This is cross-posted in a couple related tribes, to hopefully inspire perspectives from many different people. )
After years of having numerous friends, acquaintances and other people suggest I write a book(s) at least about some of my specific life experiences, their advice is taking hold in me.
So recently I've started reading books about writing non-fiction books & articles, and very recently to just put some rough thoughts down onto paper.
Am experiencing some indecisiveness about how personal & specific I want to be about some things and people, in consideration of actually publishing it for anyone to read. In deference to my own & others privacy as well as simple readability.
Anyone here have experience writing & publishing autobiographical books or articles? I would love to learn of different peoples' experiences & choices in choosing what to print & what to keep private, as well as how you crafted a truthful, biographical experience into a creative & pleasureably readable story?
Also, does anyone know of friendly, mixed level writing / writers groups, gatherings or informal get-togethers ( even if simply sharing company with one other writer for inspiration & empathy occasionally ) in the San Francisco east bay area, or surrounding areas,, where a newbie writer like myself would be welcome.?
After years of having numerous friends, acquaintances and other people suggest I write a book(s) at least about some of my specific life experiences, their advice is taking hold in me.
So recently I've started reading books about writing non-fiction books & articles, and very recently to just put some rough thoughts down onto paper.
Am experiencing some indecisiveness about how personal & specific I want to be about some things and people, in consideration of actually publishing it for anyone to read. In deference to my own & others privacy as well as simple readability.
Anyone here have experience writing & publishing autobiographical books or articles? I would love to learn of different peoples' experiences & choices in choosing what to print & what to keep private, as well as how you crafted a truthful, biographical experience into a creative & pleasureably readable story?
Also, does anyone know of friendly, mixed level writing / writers groups, gatherings or informal get-togethers ( even if simply sharing company with one other writer for inspiration & empathy occasionally ) in the San Francisco east bay area, or surrounding areas,, where a newbie writer like myself would be welcome.?
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SF Bay Area
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Re: Writing creative autobiographical (non-fiction) book? Bay area writing get-togethers? (X-post.)
Sat, July 5, 2008 - 1:06 AMMy gut feeling as a writer and editor . . . write it completely true and honest for first draft. That will be the best and most passionate. Then, go over it once yourself, and change or elide any details that you think might be too harmful to someone you love. Then have a completely dispassionate outsider read it, someone who knows none of the people involved, and have them flag the things that seem actionable, or overly cruel. Finally, if you can, have the people involve read those specific passages--not necessarily to give them eo power, but to get their feedback, and so they're not sideswiped when it comes out.
Read wonderful, deep, difficult first-person writing. If you haven't read Augustyn Burrough's "Running with Scissors" and "Dry," read them. Yes, they're popular best-sellers, but they're also deeply honest, passionate, and difficult works--difficult in the emotional work that went into them, not in the reading. I gulped each of them down in a day. I'd also recommend Jim Carroll's "Basketball Diaries" and "Forced Entries." Very true, very real, very painful in places. Whenever I'm getting read to write a type of piece, I steep myself in the best of that type of literature, to learn form it. David Sedaris is a good example too--he's funny as hell, but unsparing with his family, and they apparently still lvoe him!
