Old Friend from Far Away: The Practice of Writing Memoir

Why I recommend it

Goldberg offers prompts and short reflections that help us find a way into memory. There’s an invitation to begin with what we can recall, instead of waiting until we understand the whole story.

What stayed with me

A small detail can open up a much larger memory. Paying attention to a taste, a room, or a familiar object gives us somewhere concrete to start writing.

Who it’s useful for

Anyone exploring memoir or personal essays, especially writers who want a regular practice and a little help getting started.

A tension or limitation

Prompts can uncover material, but they won’t organize a manuscript for us. Finding the shape of a book is another stage of the work.