You: The Story: A Writer's Guide to Craft Through Memory

Sepetys, Ruta. You: The Story: A Writer's Guide to Craft Through Memory. 2023. 224p. 9780593524381.

Accomplished writer Ruta Sepetys shares her advice and tricks for successful writing. You: The Story is a valuable resource for aspiring writers, encouraging them to delve into their own memories and experiences to find authentic voices and compelling narratives. Sepetys, renowned for her historical fiction, masterfully weaves personal anecdotes into her writing advice, illustrating key concepts like plot development and character creation. Filled with insightful quotes, engaging prompts, and exercises, You: The Story inspires readers to explore their own stories.

Moreover, it is not just a technical guide; it's a deeply personal journey. Sepetys shares her own triumphs and setbacks, demonstrating that writing is a process of self-discovery and requires courage and perseverance. She emphasizes the importance of preserving memories and finding your unique voice. The book's accessible style and insightful reflections make it a valuable companion for writers at all levels, whether they are just starting out or seeking to refine their craft. You: The Story is a captivating read that encourages introspection and inspires action. It reminds readers that their life experiences are unique and have value. By exploring these experiences, they can unlock their own creative potential.

Flung Out of Space: Inspired by the Indecent Adventures of Patricia Highsmith

 Ellis, Grace and Hannah Templer. Flung Out of Space: Inspired by the Indecent Adventures of Patricia Highsmith. 2022. 208p. ISBN 9781419744334.

Patricia Highsmith is a writer who finds herself working for a publishing house writing comic book texts. She's been shopping her novel around, but her agent is not very diligent about finding a buyer, as there is some animosity there. Patricia is the only woman working in an office full of men, and her attraction to other women in an era where good girls are expected to marry and have children adds to her conflicting relationship with herself and with others. In therapy to "solve" her rampant lesbianism, Patricia is not sure she actually wants to be cured.

Meeting Stan Lee, Patricia begins writing comics for a competitor. And just when things feel like they can't get any worse, her novel sells, and she suddenly becomes a successful writer. Her next novel, however, is what would be considered a LGBTQ story today, and publishers don't want to touch it. One daring publisher agrees to do so, but as a paperback, and Patricia will have to use a different name. That book too becomes wildly popular, but she's not able to enjoy the success as no one knows she actually wrote it.

A conflicted individual who was angry with the world and struggled to find a place where she could belong, Patricia Highsmith remains famous for her mystery books such as The Talented Mr. Ripley. Flung Out of Space accurately describes her life as a struggling writer at the beginning of her career, and emphasizes her efforts to become a writer.