Theme: The Unifying Throughline of Your Story
Brooke Warner writes about the essential role of theme in memoir writing, distinguishing it from “aboutness” by positioning it as the deeper meaning beneath the surface story. She outlines three key ways to think about theme: 1) Theme is your North Star; 2) Theme is seeing your story through theme-colored glasses; 3) Theme is the air the reader breathes.
Listening as a Pathway to Your Story
A lyrical piece from Grant Faulkner about the profound connection between listening and writing, urging writers to practice deep, receptive, and curious listening—not just to others, but to the world and themselves.
Memoir as Kuleana
Brooke Warner uses Sara Goo’s memoir Kuleana as a springboard to talk about the concept of the Hawaiian word, Kuleana, which means “responsibility,” or “stewardship,” and how the writing we’re putting into the world is or can be our personal kuleana.
A Memoir Manifesto
Grant Faulkner’s manifesto is a passionate call to honor your creative self by committing to writing your story—because storytelling is how we stay alive, make meaning, and reclaim our lives from daily distractions. He invites you, too, to write your own manifesto for the journey ahead.
Why Aboutness Matters
Brooke Warner introduces a simple but powerful memoir exercise—repeating the sentence: “My book is about _______” until you arrive at a clear, distilled line of aboutness that captures your memoir’s central focus.
Beginnings
Grant Faulkner writes Memoir Nation’s inaugural post to introduce our community to a new creative community born from Grant’s personal loss and a long-held vision. Memoir Nation celebrates the transformative power of memoir, and we welcome you to our community and thank you for joining us on this adventure.