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Description
Writing Hard StoriesBy: Melanie Brooks Some of the countrys most admired authorsincluding Andre Dubus III, Mark Doty, Marianne Leone, Michael Patrick MacDonald, Richard Blanco, Abigail Thomas, Kate Bornstein, Jerald Walker, and Kyoko Moridescribe their treks through dark memories and breakthrough moments and attest to the healing power of putting words to experience. What does it take to write an honest memoir? And what happens to us when we embark on that journey?
By: Melanie BrooksSome of the country’s most admired authors—including Andre Dubus III, Mark Doty, Marianne Leone, Michael Patrick MacDonald, Richard Blanco, Abigail Thomas, Kate Bornstein, Jerald Walker, and Kyoko Mori—describe their treks through dark memories and breakthrough moments and attest to the healing power of putting words to experience.
What does it take to write an honest memoir? And what happens to us when we embark on that journey? Melanie Brooks sought guidance from the memoirists who most moved her to answer these questions. Called an essential book for creative writers by Poets & Writers, Writing Hard Stories is a unique compilation of authentic stories about the death of a partner, parent, or child; about violence and shunning; and about the process of writing. It will serve as a tool for teachers of writing and give readers an intimate look into the lives of the authors they love.
Authors profiled in Writing Hard Stories: Andre Dubus III, Sue William Silverman, Michael Patrick MacDonald, Joan Wickersham, Kyoko Mori, Richard Hoffman, Suzanne Strempek Shea, Abigail Thomas, Monica Wood, Mark Doty, Edwidge Dantict, Marianne Leone, Jerald Walker, Kate Bornstein, Jessica Handler, Richard Blanco, Alysia Abbott, and Kim Stafford
Insights from Writing Hard Stories
“Why we endeavor collectively to write a book or paint a canvas or write a symphony...is to understand who we are as human beings, and it’s that shared knowledge that somehow helps us to survive.”—Richard Blanco
“Here’s what you need to understand: your brothers [or family or friends] are going to have their own stories to tell. You don’t have to tell the family story. You have to tell your story of being in that family.”—Andre Dubus III
“We all need a way to express or make something out of experiences that otherwise have no meaning. If what you want is clarity and meaning, you have to break the secrets over your knee and make something of those ingredients.”—Abigail Thomas
“What we remember and how we remember it really tells us how we became who we became.”—Michael Patrick MacDonald
“The reason I write memoir is to be able to see the experience itself...I hardly know what I think until I write...Writing is a way to organize your life, give it a frame, give it a structure, so that you can really see what it was that happened.”—Sue William Silverman
“After a while in the process, you have some distance and you start thinking of it as a story, not as your story...It was a personal grief, but no longer personal...[It’s] something that has not just happened to me and my family, but something that’s happened in the world.”—Edwidge Danticat
“Tibetan Buddhists believe that eloquence is the telling of a truth in such a way that it eases suffering...The more suffering that is eased by your telling of the truth, the more eloquent you are. That’s all you can really hope for—being eloquent in that fashion. All you have to do is respond to your story honestly, and that’s the ideal.”—Kate Bornstein
“You can never entirely redeem the experience. You can’t make it not hurt anymore. But you can make it beautiful enough so that there’s something to balance it in the other scale. And if you understand that word beautiful as not necessarily pretty, then you’re getting close to recognizing the integrative power of restoring the balance, which is restoring the truth.”—Richard Hoffman
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4.5 ★★★★★
Based on 24 reviews
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Product Reviews
★★★★★ 5
Exceptional
Format: Kindle
I think this an exciting entertaining story different from other fantasy reverse harmen story. I love the 1st book in this series and hope it continues to weave a story of friendship, love and disappointment as well as sadness. The cliffhanger was gripping and held you in suspense that waiting until the next book was released was almost too much. I’m so glad I waited to read this series until the majority of the books were released. Katie May and Quinn Arthur’s are wonderful writers and I’m looking forward to reading more from both of them.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2025
★★★★★ 3
I don’t mind a cliffhanger,
Format: Kindle
but I dropped at least one star because of the obnoxious gloating of the author after the cliffhanger.
Seriously - I don’t understand making your readers angry because you’re smug and expecting them to keep reading your books.
I was very definitely enjoying the series. Now I have a bad taste in my mouth and mixed feelings about continuing the series.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 9, 2025
★★★★★ 4
The series as a whole so far 5/25
Format: Kindle
I read reviews before going into this book and I don't agree with one of the more harsh ones on the main trigger she had. It is stated clearly in the forward and it wasn't as blase as it was made out to be. It definitely is touched on more and hasn't just been brushed off as the series goes
I definitely would recommend reading it. It's a good series just be for-warned
I like the series as a whole. The characters are awesome I adore the fmc shes cute and adorable but also a badass. Though there are a bunch of holes for her that I feel like just got left out.
The guys are interesting and shout out to yall for not making Gage a dragon. I'm tired of the broody ones who don't wanna talk aboit what they are being Dragons. Ki is my favorite
You can definitely tell if is written by 2 different people though because the phrasing just doesn't match up and wouldn't be something people that age says. And it flip flops between them.
I feel like there's substance without substance. We are 4 books in and we don't really know much back story on literally anyone more than right under surface deep.
There are definitely favorite MMCs which is kind of disappointing since some get shoved to the wayside. Specifically both of the best friends. They're basically useless and it's made obvious as the books go on. As well as all the men are ungodly self deprecating.
I enjoy the plot line for the most part like I said I enjoy the series its different and refreshing.
I do feel like the series is being dragged out though unfortunately. And the latest cliff hanger was just meh. So hopefully the next book is the last one.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 8, 2025
★★★★★ 5
Wow!
Format: Kindle
This book was awesome! Seraphina and her family have moved to a new town. Her family is a bit... odd. She grew up learning how to protect herself from people who might hurt her. Bloodshed is a daily occurrence with her brothers and parents during their practice sessions, and it’s all fun and games unless you need to hide a body.
Sera’s family is very close, and she’s been homeschooled most of her life. But in this new town she is going to start regular school as a senior at the local high school. Unfortunately, things at her school aren’t all they seem to be. Or perhaps more than they seem to be. Sera has her own demons to deal with, and she’s terrified her new friends will learn about her weird family and other issues and drop her like a rock. It turns out they have their own secrets as well.
This story ends on a bit of a cliffhanger and I can’t wait to read the next one! This book is well written and well edited. The heroine is spunky and has a great heart and wicked sense of humor.
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Reviewed in the United States on November 12, 2021
★★★★★ 5
A Fox Amongst the Wolves
Format: Kindle
Collette has been forgotten about her whole life. Her parents don't bother with her, others don't try either once they realize she uses sign language to speak, and she's a shifter surrounded by humans that hate her kind. On her 18th birthday, she runs away. She takes the train and then bus wherever it can get her as far from home as possible. A missed bus brings her and a mysterious but kind man to Willowdale. What happens next is a story of fated mates, shifters, magic, new best friends and found family, and a stolen child. I'm sad this was a shorter read but only because of how much I loved Collette, Dylan, Hunter, Luca, Lena, and the others in their community. I love how detailed the characters are even with the shorter story. You can tell their characteristics easily, and the lead in to book two is done so well. I loved this insta love book with just the right amount of drama.
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Reviewed in the United States on July 10, 2025
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