Category: David W. Berner
Author of the memoir Accidental Lessons
-
Thoughts are the Soundtrack of a Memoir
Occasionally one of Berner’s two sons says or does something that triggers a round of musing. Within each of these reveries, time moves more fluidly, leaping from one generation to another, like the point-counterpoint of jazz riffs, in which motifs intertwine, never going too far into one before the other intervenes, giving endless opportunities for…
Written by
-
Two-Memoir Series about Youth, Midlife, and Responsibility
Within the container of the road trip, Berner is able to ponder the rebelliousness of his youth, and place those youthful impulses within the context of his mid-life crisis. With each passing mile, he moves farther and farther into his commitment to his children. Instead of renewing his commitment to self-indulgence, the way mid-life crises…
Written by
-
Two Midlife Memoirs: A Sequel Shows Command of Structure
Jack Kerouac’s book, On the Road, published in 1957, foreshadowed the counterculture of the 1960s and inspired many young men to hit the road and find their truths somewhere other than home. In Any Road Will Take You There, David Berner tries to pass this literary inspiration to his sons. So the outer story is…
Written by
-
Interview: Developing the craft of memoir writing
I had to work a bit on sensory language and internal dialogue. But broadcast writing is about getting to the point; it’s not flowery. It’s also about pulling it together quickly. My editor on Accidental Lessons could not believe I was able to do my rewrites so quickly. My experience with deadline pressure came in…
Written by
-
Finding Meaning in the Second Half of Life
Children are not the only beginners. Adults often find themselves starting over. Will readers cheer for older beginners, the way they do for young ones? David Berner’s memoir suggests that the answer is “yes.” His place at the bottom of the totem pole contrasts sharply with his success in broadcasting. And yet, as he bumbles…
Written by