How to Write Your Memoir

Everyone’s got a story — especially you! The tricky part is writing about it. Telling your own story might just be the hardest story to tell, but this webinar from author and Columbia adjunct professor, James G. Robinson will help.

Robinson wrote the deeply personal memoir More Than We Expected, which chronicles the wondrous life and tragic death of his five year old son. Combining his own experience writing and selling his book, his work teaching expository writing, and even his experience at The New York Times, Robinson will give you a solid foundation upon which to write your own memoir. In this event, we’ll cover topics such as:

• What personal elements do you reveal, and which do you keep?
• How do you develop a narrative thread?
• What is a realistic expectation for selling your memoir?

This event promises to be filled with actionable insight to get your story out of your head and on to the page.

About the Speaker

James G. Robinson has spent nearly two decades at The New York Times, where he helps the company use data to better understand its audience. He has taught expository writing at NYU and is currently an adjunct professor at Columbia Journalism School.

In 2017, his article “Road to Recovery” was featured on the front page of the Times’ Sunday Travel section. Describing a road trip his family took after the death of his five-year-old son, the piece was selected as a notable essay in The Best American Travel Writing 2018 and inspired him to write his debut memoir, More Than We Expected, published by Post Hill Press in November 2023.

A native New Yorker, James lives in Brooklyn with his wife, Tali, and their two surviving sons.

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