The Anthology Is Out! 🎉 (Plus Book Club Recap + Upcoming Events)

We’ll be celebrating the launch together on January 17 with a special Zoom event. Some of the anthology contributors will be reading from their pieces, and we’ll toast to everything this community has created.

In our latest book club discussion, we began with discussing whether or not David Sedaris’s Me Talk Pretty One Day could actually be classified as a memoir. Our collective verdict was that it is missing the introspection, growth, container, and narrative arc that we associate with memoir. While it definitely delivered on humor, this collection of autobiographical essays was often lacking the depth we’ve come to appreciate in truly memorable memoirs.

As we compared Sedaris’s style to other memoirists, a common thread emerged: the challenge and necessity of genuine self-examination. The group found that, despite the laughs, Sedaris tends to avoid digging into his own internal world, often hiding behind wit or focusing the narrative outward on family members. This prompted us to reflect on what draws us into a memoir—character development, honesty, emotional impact, and a sense that the author is willing to “go there” with their own vulnerability.

Then the conversation took an unexpected turn. Inspired by our frustrations with superficial storytelling, we opened up about the difficulties of writing the “hard things” in our own lives. We shared honest accounts of writing about trauma, family secrets, and deeply personal memories—how sometimes you write around the edges until you are ready, or how sometimes we just need time and have to set the story aside until we are ready. The group offered concrete strategies: writing in short bursts, taking breaks when emotions surface, or telling stories from a different perspective. There was a recognition that, for many of us, writing the truth is a long process that often brings greater self-compassion and understanding, even as it demands courage to face our own stories and the possible reactions of others.

Ultimately, what we learned is that vulnerability in memoir not only forges a connection between reader and writer, but also fosters personal growth. Sometimes, the stories that are the hardest to write are the ones that resonate most deeply with others. Our discussion affirmed that in memoir, as in life, it’s worth pushing through the fear—using the tools and support of our community to tell the stories that matter most.

❤️ A special thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and strategies for tackling tough stories—you made this an especially meaningful session.

Her revolutionary studies of Tanzania’s chimpanzees forever altered our definition of “humanity.” Now, intriguing as always, Jane Goodall explores her deepest convictions in a heartfelt memoir that takes her from the London Blitz to Louis Leaky’s famous excavations in Africa and then into the forests of Gombe. From the unforgettable moment when a wild chimpanzee gently grasps her hand to the terror of a hostage-taking and the sorrow of her husband’s death. Here, thoughtfully exploring the challenges of both science and the soul, she offers an inspiring, optimistic message as profound as the knowledge she brought back from the forests, and that gives us all… reason for hope.

Book club questions can be found here (When I get around to posting them): https://memoirmentors.com/book-club-questions/

In this year-end workshop, we’ll use guided journaling prompts to uncover what motivates your writing, and what’s been getting in the way. From there, we’ll turn those insights into clear, realistic goals and milestones using the Pen Your Masterpiece Accountability Hub.

This session will walk you through how to set realistic, motivating writing goals for early 2026 and introduce you to the Pen Your Masterpiece Accountability Hub: a system that helps you stay consistent, track progress, and get gentle reminders when life inevitably gets in the way.

You’ll get a sense of how the Hub works, meet some of the writers who use it, and leave with a clear plan (and a spark of excitement) for the new year.

Plus! You’ll leave with a free planning tool pre-populated with your goals.

We’ll be relaunching the next 12-week program in January. If you’ve been craving structure and gentle community pressure to keep your writing on track, this might be the program for you!

Reply to this email and let me know or reach out directly at: xtina.howell@memoirmentors.com