I read this as a memoir not as a writing manual. I say that because as a memoir I really liked the author's voice, but the tips on the writing life are so general it's hard to think those would be tremendously helpful (although the free writing topics listed at the end of the book did send me into a reverie).

When I used to watch Michelle Shocked at McCabes or whenever I read Anne Lamott I always think I would like them to come to Bad TV night -they are just such great people and it's hard to separate them from their art. I felt the same way with this book - it is reflection very focused on how she balanced her writing life to make it work for her, her shame over being a housekeeper (she says she isn't ashamed, but she seemed to put her own negative value on the job and herself - although she ends up in a much different place)and her strong ties to places where she's lived and worked. She doesn't spill the rest of her life out on the floor - she does provide details about the state of the lives and homes of the people she's cleaned houses for (it's hard to believe people can be that obnoxious).