Rachel Cusk “It takes a particular kind of courage to write memoir. All writing – all creativity – involves self-exposure, but in memoir the exposure is twofold. The self is both subject and author, and as authors we are duty-bound to treat our subjects with the greatest possible objectivity. Is it possible, or even desirable, to be truly objective about oneself? And what value does that objectivity, if achieved, have for the reader?”
[Rachel Cusk, in an interview at ‘Mslexia’ magazine]

I’ve always been too intimidated to attempt memoir, though I have used my experiences in my fiction particularly for setting. But I do agree that all creativity must involve self-exposure, or be weaker for the omission. Surely in order to write, we have to be self-aware and with that self-awareness comes objectivity?

If you agree with Rachel Cusk, perhaps you will agree with:-
Lizzie Enfield – on women’s revenge
Antony Gormley – everybody says what does it mean, but what does life mean?
Joanne Harris – I’ve always read, and I’ve always written

 

‘Outline’ by Rachel Cusk [UK: Thorndike]

Read my review of Outline.

And if you’d like to tweet a link to THIS post, here’s my suggested tweet:
All writing involves self-exposure: I agree with… Rachel Cusk http://wp.me/p5gEM4-gs via @SandraDanby #amwriting