Memoirs of difficult lives, or difficult parts of lives, help the writers both clarify their experiences for themselves and connect with others. This sentence, spoken by poet and memoirist Richard Blanco towards the end of Melanie Brooks’ book about writing memoirs, in some ways sums up the message many of the writers Brooks interviews convey.

“It’s that shared knowledge that somehow helps us to survive.” 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, the book will serve as a tool for teachers of writing and give readers an intimate look into the lives of the authors they love.'

It features some of the country s most admired writers discussing their treks through dark memories and breakthrough moments, and it demonstrates the healing power of putting words to experience. 'Writing Hard Stories' encourages all writers as they work through their challenging stories.

In her attempt to write a memoir about her father s death from a secret AIDS infection in 1985, Melanie Brooks was left with some painful questions: What does it take to write an honest memoir? And what happens to us when we embark on that journey? Would she manage it? Brooks sought guidance from the memoirists who most moved her including Andre Dubus III, Joan Wickersham, Mark Doty, Marianne Leone, Richard Hoffman, Edwidge Danticat, Michael Patrick MacDonald, Richard Blanco, Abigail Thomas, Sue Silverman, Kate Bornstein, Jerald Walker, and Kyoko Mori to answer these questions. Acclaimed memoirists describe the process of writing their most painful memories

Brooks is known for writing about