If the memoirist is borrowing narrative techniques from fiction, shouldn't the novelist borrow a few tricks from successful non-fiction? Darin Strauss borrowfictionmemoirist Change image and share on social
The main thing is to think strategically about what will engage your readers. Trust me when I tell you that few people are eager to read a story whose opening lines sound like a dissertation on giant bugs. Darin Strauss bugdissertationeager share on social
You can work really hard and well on something, and someone you respect might hate it; worse, they're not empirically wrong for doing so. This is scary, especially for people who haven't been published. Darin Strauss badlyempiricallyhard share on social
My prayer is improvised - though like some standard jazz performance, the improv happens within pretty strict parameters - and asks for nothing. Darin Strauss askimprovimprovise Change image and share on social
It's a very performative thing, grief. As with so much in modern life, I think there's a whole performative layer to what we do because we feel like there's a private TV show viewing our lives. Darin Strauss feelgrieflayer Change image and share on social
I'm no fan of jam bands. You can take your Gov't Mule, your Phish, your Rusted Root. But Derek Trucks is a special musician - perhaps the greatest slide guitarist who ever lived. Darin Strauss bandderekfan Change image and share on social
I guess when you write a personal story, people feel compelled to share their own stories. Darin Strauss compelfeelguess Change image and share on social
A tragedy's first act is crowded with supporting players, policeman scribbling in pads and making radio calls, witnesses crimping their faces, EMS guys folding equipment. Darin Strauss actcallcrimp Change image and share on social
In the worst memoirs, you can feel the author justifying himself - forgiving himself - in every paragraph. In the best memoirs, the author is tougher on him- or herself than his or her readers will ever be. Darin Strauss authorbadfeel share on social
Constant rejection. No security. Career paths being dictated by freelance reviewers. And of course, the terror of the writing desk, of the blank page. Why is it so hard for our non-writer friends to understand this - that it's a job? Darin Strauss blankcareerconstant share on social