FREE NOT QUITE WHAT I WAS PLANNING: SIX-WORD MEMOIRS BY WRITERS FAMOUS AND OBSCURE PDF Larry Smith | 304 pages | 13 Feb 2008 | HarperCollins Publishers Inc | 9780061374050 | English | New York, NY, United States 27 Rare Words Every Writer Should Know If you're a writer, you know how bad it can feel when you hit a dead end to a story you've been working on so hard, or when you finally finish that piece you're proud of but it keeps getting rejected. All writers have been there, and even though it's a mandatory a part of the writerly process, it still never exactly feels good. A writer's life isn't all bad, though: there are the uplifting moments when stories get published, and inspiration strikes like a thousand lightning bolts, too. One of my writing teachers described the writer's life to be similar to a roller coaster, full of build ups, terrifying drop offs, and a lot of tangled twists and turns to watch out for. Famous authors you love and adore have said similar thingsand fortunately for us, many Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six-word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure down their best advice in books that you can keep and read as many times as you wish. And in a world full of rejections, rewrites, and endless nights, writers need all the helpful advice we can get. This list of memoirs has been especially like medicine for my writer's soul. Each one is full of wisdom, hilarious anecdotes to help the writer in you feel better, and a journey that's relatable on different levels. So, for writers out there who are searching for great stories, grab a warm cup of coffee or tea and get cozy with these amazing memoirs. You need to read these:. After owning a pen and piece of paper, this book is the first thing every aspiring writer needs near her desk. Rich in detail and full of honest realities every writer faces, Stephen King's On Writing offers just about everything and anything you'll want to know about writing and the life that comes with it. Although his methods writing an entire book in a few months can be a little extreme, his thoughtful advice is like having a writing coach at your side. He's also lived a pretty incredible life worth reading about. This memoir isn't focused on writing, but it will show you how to convey a true story while making it sound as voluminous as any fictional narrative. The powerful emotions Jeanette Walls conveys through her unconventional upbringing that included homelessness, alcoholic parents, and learning independence at a young age is unforgettable. It doesn't matter that you might not be able to relate to the story Walls tells Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six-word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure you'll be able to identify with the emotions she renders, which is her greatest feat. Told through the captivating voice Joyce Carol Oates is known for, this is the story of her farm-life childhood and the moments she discovered her passion for reading and writing. If you're more of a fan of story collections, then this is the memoir for you. Each of her stories will inspire you and bring you back to your own childhood and the moments you first realized you wanted to become a writer. Alice Hoffman, one of the queens magical realism, has written the guide to life when terrible things come barging through. When her breast cancer diagnosis hit in the midst of her writing career, Hoffman couldn't seem to find the inspiring words she needed to hear. So she did what every great writer does: she wrote what was missing from the world. For any writer going through a tough time — which could range from illness to life obstacles — this book will bring you back on your feet, ready to write and live to the fullest you possibly can. This memoir will give you that extra push you know you need. With her wisdom and insight on the writing life, Annie Dillard just might change your perspective on writing and get you inspired to a point you didn't know was possible. Sure, there are Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six-word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure of books on how to write better, but Dillard will teach you how to have faith in your creativity in her intricate and beautifully written memoir. This book does so much more than inspire. At some point in your life, you might find out that your dream life, dream career, or dreamy significant other isn't everything you'd hoped it to be. That was the case for Elizabeth Gilbert, and in her brave and witty memoir, Gilbert goes on worldly adventure to rediscover herself again. This book is the perfect example of how unpredictable and crazy a writer's life can be — and what it means to take risks to do something meaningful. With only his trusted dog, Charley, and an RV, John Steinbeck set out on an all-American journey to rediscover his country and fall in love with the world around him again in this timely memoir. This may not include a ton of insight on writing, but it will remind you where the best stories come from: by taking in the world around you and telling an honest story from the heart. By Alex Weiss. Results for:. Famous Last Words of the US Presidents Whether uttered unintentionally or with the full expectation of death, a person's last words are those that people will often remember and quote as if they somehow represent the core of who that person was. This is especially true of historical figures for which final words both humanize them and add to their mythology. Sometimes profound, sometimes mundane, here is a collection of famous last words spoken by some of our U. The first President of the United States was quoted as saying:. After serving two terms as the nation's first president, Washington retired to his Virginia plantation in In mid-December ofafter enduring harsh winters on horseback while inspecting his property, Washington developed a severe sore throat and breathing difficulties. In an effort to cure him, Washington's doctors are believed to have drained too much blood in the then-common practice of bloodletting, contributing to his death at age Acute bacterial epiglottitis the inflammation of the flap at the back of the throat is also frequently cited as the cause of death. The second President of the United States was quoted as saying:. Interestingly—and almost poetically—both Adams and Thomas Jefferson died July 4,the date of the 50th anniversary of the final draft of the Declaration of Independence. Adams is said to have uttered the words about his longtime rival, unaware that Jefferson had expired just a few hours earlier. Congestive heart failure is believed to have been the cause of Adams' death. In his final moments, the last recorded words of the third President of the United States were:. Jefferson's last words are often cited as "Is it the Fourth? While Jefferson did, in fact, utter those words on his deathbed, they were not his last. Jefferson was reported to have died of complications of kidney failure accompanied by pneumonia. The sixth President of the United States was quoted as saying:. But I am composed. The second eldest child of John Adams died of a stroke in Washington, D. Earlier that day, Adam, a staunch opponent of the Mexican-American War, apparently rose up to protest a bill in front of the U. House of Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six-word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure meant to honor war veterans and immediately collapsed to the floor of the chambers. Before his death, the 11th President of the United States reportedly said:. For all eternity, I love you. Polk is reported to have said this to his wife who was at his side when he died of cholera at the age of The 12th President of the United States was quoted as saying:. Taylor died of complications from gastroenteritis at the age of The 16th President of the United States was quoted as saying:. Some say his last words were, "It doesn't really matter. He was shot a short time later. The 17th President of the United States was quoted as saying:. I need no doctor. I can overcome my own troubles. Johnson died of a stroke soon after at the age of The 18th President of the United States was quoted as saying:. Grant was suffering from throat cancer at the time of his death at age The 26th President of the United States was quoted as saying:. The 29th President of the United States was quoted as saying:. Go on, read some more. Harding was reported to have said this to his wife, Florence, as she read a complimentary news piece from the "Saturday Evening Post" about him Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six-word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure an official trip to the West Coast. Harding is believed to have died of congestive heart failure. The 32nd President of the United States was quoted as saying:. Roosevelt was reported to have died of a stroke or intracerebral hemorrhage shortly after. Much in the same way that Roosevelt's polio had been hidden from the public, his failing health during his fourth term had also been glazed over, leaving the nation shocked.