Everybody has something to say. In an age when Twitter, blogs, and Tumblrs give millions the chance to write whatever is on their minds, it seems that we're finding plenty of avenues in which to share it. How, then, do we write what is worth saying? How do we record our important memories so they'll be remembered? How do we tell our personal stories the way they deserve to be told?In keeping with successful earlier editions of Writing from Within,...

Many writing instructors and workbooks make basic assumptions about writing-that you need to have a good grasp of grammar, to read widely, and to write objectively-before you can tell a story. These assumptions are wrong. They invoke fear in would-be writers, who are afraid of being judged and criticized for what they say and how they say it. Bernard Selling, author of Writing from Within and a writing instructor for over 30 years, helps people get...

Can you imagine a topic more important, compelling, or familiar to you than your own life story? It's the perfect subject with which to develop fundamental writing skills, tap into your creative reservoir, and discover your voice as a writer.