THREE WEEKS out of college, I went to work for The New York Times. Four books and countless magazine and radio essays later, the lessons learned at that great newspaper – getting it right and making it short – inform every piece I write. Most of my work is now in the form of memoir writing, including my most recent book, The Memoir Project, A Thoroughly Non-Standardized Text on Writing & Life, which came out with Grand Central Publishing in 2011.
For fifteen years I’ve taught what I call Writing What You Know, since that’s what memoir writing requires; it’s as simple – and as complicated – as that. Want to learn to write memoir of any length, and on every platform? You’ve come to the right place. Take an online seminar or writing class — all of which are live. Hire me to edit your work, or as a writing coach. Perhaps you’d like to listen to my audio book. There are many ways in which I can help you. Just ask.
Much of my work includes a large helping of memoir, including my books The Roots of Desire: The Myth, Meaning and Sexual Power of Red Hair, (Bloomsbury, 2005) and Another Name for Madness, (Houghton Mifflin, 1985) and my commentaries for National Public Radio’s All Things Considered. I have written for The New York Times Magazine, Prevention, Vogue, Good Housekeeping, The Los Angeles Times, and elsewhere.
- Marion Roach Smith on Twitter: @mroachsmith
- The Memoir Project on Facebook