Replay: Matthew Specktor shares Five Things He's Learned about Writing the Self in Memoir and Fiction
Check out the first five minutes of his recent class.
“I aim to teach this class towards beginning and experienced writers alike (and nonwriters too!) because the work of creating the self on the page, and elsewhere, is the work of a lifetime, and because creating a truly interesting presence on the page—creating a lively and engaging storyteller and protagonist—is the soul of what writing is. It’s what binds the reader, and it’s the most joyful and exhilarating part of the process.”
– Matthew Specktor, Five Things I’ve Learned about Writing the Self in Memoir and Fiction
On March 30th, Matthew joined us to share Five Things He’s Learned about the powerful ways that imagination can operate in nonfiction writing – and how reality can ballast fiction in ways that make it more persuasive.
Matthew is a writer and editor known for his memoirs The Golden Hour and Always Crashing in the Same Car, as well as novels like American Dream Machine. His acclaimed work—featured in top outlets like The Atlantic, The New York Times, and The Paris Review—has earned honors including best-of-the-year picks and a Folio Prize longlisting. A founding editor of The Los Angeles Review of Books and former screenwriter and studio executive, Specktor’s latest book, The Golden Hour, blends personal and cultural history with a deep dive into the film industry.
Matthew’s Five Things I’ve Learned about Writing the Self in Memoir and Fiction explores how to write the self in both memoir and fiction, balancing truth with imagination to create compelling, authentic narratives. Through close readings, craft discussions, and a deep dive into voice and structure, Matthew helps writers navigate personal material while shaping stories that resonate on the page.
Thanks for being part of Five Things I’ve Learned on Substack. Visit myfivethings.com to view personal video invitations from more than 120 more writers, thinkers, and artists we admire – and to get special discounted pricing with our Five Things I’ve Learned Multi Pass.