---
product_id: 29945485
title: "Why We Write About Ourselves: Twenty Memoirists on Why They Expose Themselves (and Others) in the Name of Literature"
price: "NT$1329"
currency: TWD
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 11
url: https://www.desertcart.tw/products/29945485-why-we-write-about-ourselves-twenty-memoirists-on-why-they
store_origin: TW
region: Taiwan
---

# Why We Write About Ourselves: Twenty Memoirists on Why They Expose Themselves (and Others) in the Name of Literature

**Price:** NT$1329
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- **What is this?** Why We Write About Ourselves: Twenty Memoirists on Why They Expose Themselves (and Others) in the Name of Literature
- **How much does it cost?** NT$1329 with free shipping
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## Description

desertcart.com: Why We Write About Ourselves: Twenty Memoirists on Why They Expose Themselves (and Others) in the Name of Literature: 9780142181973: Maran, Meredith: Books

Review: Great Writing Advice from the Pros - Wow--like many other reviewers here, I really loved WHY WE WRITE ABOUT OURSELVES. It sounds strangely narcissistic, doesn't it? Cringe worthy, even to think that we writers like to write about ourselves. Why not write about someone else? Well, then...that sounds voyeuristic. Alas, we are a society fascinated with people and ourselves, but that's not what I got out of WHY WE WRITE ABOUT OURSELVES. Here's what I did get: we share our stories to make sense of the insensible, we tell our stories to give new meaning to tragedy, to shape others, and ultimately to help others. But doing all of that is a hell of a lot of work. Not only does the aspiring memorist have to delve deep into the human psyche, dust off distant (often forgotten for a reason) memories, make them shiny and new, but he or she needs to also shape them into a beautiful story with a plot, character arc, and more. Might as well give up, right? Wrong. Through twenty amazing writers, we learn the ins and outs of doing such a seemingly impossible task. I love Maran's introduction of each writer and also the "vital stats," including age, social media handles, notable notes, etc. and then...the meat of the "advice" begins as each writer shares insights that inspire the writer to push up her sleeves and get writing. Many of my pages of this title are dog-eared for future reference and inspiration. Plus, I have a much better understanding of the art and craft of memoir, one that has helped me get over the stigma of being a potential navel-gazer. For all of my reviews, including author interviews, please see: [...]
Review: Inspiring book - Wonderful to read the experiences and perspectives of professional writers. I also like the fact that each author's works were listed. I picked off quite a few, which are now on my bucket list.

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| Best Sellers Rank | #376,416 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #198 in Creative Writing Composition #584 in Fiction Writing Reference (Books) #8,438 in Memoirs (Books) |
| Customer Reviews | 4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars (130) |
| Dimensions  | 5.31 x 0.62 x 8 inches |
| ISBN-10  | 0142181978 |
| ISBN-13  | 978-0142181973 |
| Item Weight  | 7.5 ounces |
| Language  | English |
| Print length  | 272 pages |
| Publication date  | January 26, 2016 |
| Publisher  | Penguin Publishing Group |

## Images

![Why We Write About Ourselves: Twenty Memoirists on Why They Expose Themselves (and Others) in the Name of Literature - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61DG-GThUzL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Great Writing Advice from the Pros
*by L***Y on February 23, 2016*

Wow--like many other reviewers here, I really loved WHY WE WRITE ABOUT OURSELVES. It sounds strangely narcissistic, doesn't it? Cringe worthy, even to think that we writers like to write about ourselves. Why not write about someone else? Well, then...that sounds voyeuristic. Alas, we are a society fascinated with people and ourselves, but that's not what I got out of WHY WE WRITE ABOUT OURSELVES. Here's what I did get: we share our stories to make sense of the insensible, we tell our stories to give new meaning to tragedy, to shape others, and ultimately to help others. But doing all of that is a hell of a lot of work. Not only does the aspiring memorist have to delve deep into the human psyche, dust off distant (often forgotten for a reason) memories, make them shiny and new, but he or she needs to also shape them into a beautiful story with a plot, character arc, and more. Might as well give up, right? Wrong. Through twenty amazing writers, we learn the ins and outs of doing such a seemingly impossible task. I love Maran's introduction of each writer and also the "vital stats," including age, social media handles, notable notes, etc. and then...the meat of the "advice" begins as each writer shares insights that inspire the writer to push up her sleeves and get writing. Many of my pages of this title are dog-eared for future reference and inspiration. Plus, I have a much better understanding of the art and craft of memoir, one that has helped me get over the stigma of being a potential navel-gazer. For all of my reviews, including author interviews, please see: [...]

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Inspiring book
*by G***K on July 17, 2019*

Wonderful to read the experiences and perspectives of professional writers. I also like the fact that each author's works were listed. I picked off quite a few, which are now on my bucket list.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ We're all just looking for truth, aren't we
*by F***6 on March 31, 2016*

This is a quick, wonderful and highly informative read! I love memoirs and stumbled upon this book by accident. Not only did it actually bring to light so many things I don't actually think of when I'm reading memoirs but it inspired me to look up every single memoirist I read about and I've added nearly 10 new books that I want to read to my Wish List. That's the power of a good book and excellent writing-- it allows you to want more. I recommend this book wholly for anyone who loves reading memoirs, anyone who simply loves to read and anyone who may need a little nudge as they work on their own personal memoir.

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*Product available on Desertcart Taiwan*
*Store origin: TW*
*Last updated: 2026-03-13*