Andre Dubus III, acclaimed author of the 2011 memoir Townie, once said, “You don’t have to tell the family story. You have to tell your story of being in that family.” How, then, do memoir writers claim their voices to authentically tell their stories without getting sidetracked by the influence—either blatant or perceived—of family members who also stake claim in the experience? In this session, I’ll explore the challenges of writing family memoir and exposing experiences and memories that intersect with the lives of others close to us.
