How I Write

Rob Henderson: How To Write A Memoir

86 snips
Aug 14, 2024
Rob Henderson, author of the best-selling memoir "Troubled," shares his journey from foster care to Yale and the intricacies of memoir writing. He discusses the importance of honesty, emotional resonance, and how to balance personal truths with empathy. Henderson delves into navigating childhood trauma, overcoming coping mechanisms, and the emotional toll of revisiting painful memories. He emphasizes the significance of maintaining authenticity, simplicity in storytelling, and the hard work that fuels creativity in memoir writing.
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ADVICE

Thematic Focus

  • Center your memoir around specific themes and use them as filters during editing.
  • It's easier to cut excess material than to expand limited content; write more than needed initially.
ANECDOTE

Cutting the Heroic Story

  • Henderson cut a story about saving a drowning girl, realizing its inclusion was ego-driven, not theme-related.
  • This shows his commitment to thematic integrity over self-aggrandizement in memoir writing.
ADVICE

Vulnerability is Key

  • Include stories that evoke strong emotions, especially vulnerability or fear of judgment.
  • The more scared you are to share something, the more you should include it in your memoir.
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