"Elissa Altman's marvelous, passionate and charming new book, Permission , is going to breathe freedom into your life. It is a clarion call for writers to tell their hard, lifelong truth, no matter how many decades they have agreed to stay silent. Lies and cover-ups won't save you. This book just might." -- Anne Lamott , author of Somehow "Altman shares what she's learned about overcoming shame and fear to write boldly about what's at the heart of one's life. A writing guide, yes -- but this book goes well beyond craft advice into the realm of life lessons." -- Boston Globe "I can't think of a better book on the craft of memoir. Erudite, wise and deeply personal, Permission burrows into the complexity of telling our own stories.

This is a masterclass." -- Katherine May , author of Wintering "An engaging guide to the often rewarding, sometimes risky work of writing the stories that make us who we are." -- Portland Press Herald "Life-affirming and reflective, the writer's guide Permission explores concepts of creative validity and emergence." -- Foreword Reviews "Full of stories drawn from Elissa Altman's life and other authors' experiences, Permission is an inspirational guide to defusing shame through self-disclosure and claiming the time and focus to write." -- Shelf Awareness "With Permission , Elissa Altman has given us a profound and generous gift. She candidly addresses the slipperiest questions behind making art from life: Can I tell my story? What are the risks and rewards? How do I care for myself--and others--in the process? There are only a handful of books I recommend every time I teach, without fail, and Permission will be one of them. This insightful, empowering book should be on every writer's shelf." -- Maggie Smith , author of You Could Make This Place Beautiful.