Genealogy Books - Writing Life Stories

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Summary: very comfortable introduction to writing personal essays
Comment: I have found this book tremendously useful when teaching the personal essay, especially since
Roorbach combines a laid-back conversational demeanor (akin to, but more grounded than Anne Lamott's
in "Bird by Bird") with subtle authority on the real work of writing. The type of nonfiction he
guides readers through here is more personal and literary than 'new/literary journalism'; one of
the handful of students who appear as characters is a retired journalist, and Roorbach uses him to
illustrate, among other things, the differences between the two approaches to 'real life.' This
genre calls upon writers to sharpen their narrative, to leap and make connections like poets, to be
honest and sensitive like journalists, and to be thoughtful and articulate, sagelike. This is a lot
to ask of students who assume (most of them--I've asked) that writing about oneself is easier than
writing about Nietzsche, or globalization, when really it's at least as hard, and in ways they've
not usually been asked to try. I've taught with and without this book, and the Roorbach definitely
helps keep panic to a minimum (theirs and mine).

I have to admit I've made a bit of a nuisance
of myself to the folks teaching other sections of personal essay; they ask, "what's that book you
like again?" And I'm always thrilled to remind them.

Customer Rating:

Summary: Thanks !!
Comment: I am impressed by the knowledge I could gain from this wonderful book. I am totally a novice in the
field of writing. I am feeling more confident about writing, after reading this book.Ofcourse I will
have to do my home work.Author definately made me open my dictionary several times.Job well done!!

Customer Rating:

Summary: A Great Book By a Great Teacher
Comment: As one of Bill Roorbach's former students, I can assure readers that his is, indeed, a fantasic
teacher of literature and creative writing; Writing Life Stories is true to Bill's teaching style
and spirit. WLS offers aspiring writers of all experience levels the practical lessons and
exercises that will help to uncover the depth and beauty in the life stories of everyday people.

Customer Rating:

Summary: Do It Yourself Creative Non-fiction Writing Class
Comment: Bill Roorbach, through this book, has been my early morningcompanion for a month now. .... If you
have in mind to write your memoirs,you must have this book. Physically it is a short, easily read
lessonplan, but intellectually and spiritually it is massive. Some of theexercises you can complete
in 10 minutes, some may take months- or alifetime. Roorbach has found the way to "get you
going"instead of sitting there in front of the monitor with a blank screenstaring back. How does he
do it? He is a great teacher; he providesclassmates for you through examples from his real-time
classes; hegives you permission to write really bad stuff- one of the exercisesis to write yourself
an all-purpose disclaimer; he gives you startingpoints which in turn give you wings. Even the
accomplished (as inpublished) author would benefit from having this book on his shelf toturn to in a
writing crisis. ....

Customer Rating:

Summary: Helpful, specific instruction and funny too
Comment: Bill Roorbach is a terrific teacher. WRITING LIFE STORIES is a clear, step-by-step writing class
with excellent exercises, covering all the elements of good writing, including characters,
description, details, metaphor, and some basic considerations about doing research. It offers
suggestions for overcoming hesitation about writing personal material as well as explanations of
typical beginning writing errors, which are often made by experienced, published writers. The
examples from people who participated in his memoir classes are encouraging and touching.

Roorbach
knows how hard it is to write about those parts of our lives that are most embarrassing, those
family secrets we were warned not to tell to anyone. He says, "Are we going to write the sanitized
versions with which we and our families face the world, or are we going to write the truth? Are we
going to flinch when the subtle stuff arrives in the course of writing? Or are we going to stare it
down? Probably, if you're like me, you're going to flinch. At least in the first drafts. And
those places where you do so will be the places that hold your essay back, the places where your
essay is dying to teach you something."

This book is organized and indexed (thank you!) and the
author reminds us of the importance of regular reading. A list of suggested titles to inspire and
challenge you is at the end of the book.

Sprinkled with humor and wit, WRITING LIFE STORIES is an
excellent addition to any writer's library and makes a wonderful text for any basic writing class,
including fiction. Buy this book and do the course on your own, letting your words flow before you
allow your inner editor to review the work critically.

~~Joan Mazza, author of DREAM BACK YOUR
LIFE; DREAMING YOUR REAL SELF; WHO'S CRAZY ANYWAY; THINGS THAT TICK ME OFF; and EXPLORING YOUR
SEXUAL SELF (May 2001) in The Guided Journal Series with Writer's Digest Books.

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