Read and Write

Writing a first novel comes with a lot of reading, as well as research.
 
Five years ago, I began researching memoir writing. I wanted to write the story of my younger years, particularly those I spent in Australia. The richness of the research and my background in education resulted in a memoir writing class I teach at the local senior center. I still teach two eight week sessions each year between January and May. The class meets for two hours each Friday.

While my own story has been put on hold, my life has been enriched by the memoir classes and hearing other’s stories. It’s also been enriched by the wonderful stories I’ve encouraged my students to read. Some of those include:

RECOMMENDED MEMOIR

·       Angela's Ashes: A Memoir by Frank McCourt (Simon and Schuster, 1996)

·       The Glass Castle  by Jeannette Walls (Scribner 2005)

·       Growing Up by Russell Baker (Signet, 1982)

·       The Liars' Club: A Memoir by Mary Karr (Penguin, 1998)

·       This Boy's Life by Tobias Wolff (Grove Press, 1989)

·       Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia by Elizabeth Gilbert (Penquin Books, 2006)

The historical novel I’m writing about my father, Webster Warren Bateman’s life in the 1920’s and 30’s titled Cat Skinner is somewhat different from memoir. My novel is based on his life experiences, but as the narrator (omniscient voice) in the story, I have to imagine my Dad’s motivation, his emotion and his actions to a great degree. Books that have helped steep me in his youth include:

RECOMMENDED HISTORICAL NOVELS

·       The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown (Penguin 2013)

·       Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen (Algonquin 2006)

·       Two Wheels North by Evelyn McDaniel Gibb (Oregon State University Press 2000)

·       The Eleventh Man by Ivan Doig (Mariner Books 2009)

·       And most of the books above

Those who are long time writers may feel I’m stating the obvious, but for those of us who are novices, the importance of reading great examples can’t be stressed enough. Read and write.