“Why are you telling me this?” is the question that is front and center in my mind when reading memoirs, or, for that matter, English 1 essays written by my students. Zinsser says writers should aim high. When you look for your own humanity and the humanity of others, readers will connect with you. With characteristic bluntness, Zinsser adds, “What they won’t connect with is whining. Dispose of that anger somewhere else.” Like most good advice, this sounds obvious . . . and yet it’s terribly difficult. Identifying your motivation requires courage, clarity, and a great deal of self-awareness.
Zinsser, William. Writing About Your Life: A Journey into the Past, DaCapo, 2004, p. 173.