Part 1, Writing, Section 1 Getting Started Summary and Analysis

According to Anne, writing is about telling the truth. This is the first lesson she shares with her writing students and with the reader. Students come to her class idealistic in their pursuit of publication. Their one and only goal is to be recognized as brilliant writers, validated through publication. Anne's goal is to turn the students into writers. The two goals often cause students to be disillusioned by the actual work required to write and write well.

Getting started with telling the truth and expressing it well is the first and most formidable challenge. Anne advises her students to start with childhood memories. There are huge amounts of material in one's childhood. Look to the details of dress, mannerisms and activities Anne teaches. Next, Anne says to write about events and holidays...