Let’s Talk Memoir

Let’s Talk Memoir is a podcast for memoir lovers, readers, and writers, featuring interviews with memoirists about their writing process, their challenges, and what they’ve learned about sharing the most personal of narratives. Hosted by writer, editor, and teacher Ronit Plank, each episode highlights different aspects of the memoir-writing experience, and offers writing tips and inspiration. Ronit is the author of the award-winning story collection Home is a Made-Up Place and the memoir When She Comes Back about the loss of her mother to the guru at the center of Netflix’s docuseries Wild Wild Country and their eventual reconciliation. For more memoir advice, workshops, and encouragement find Let’s Talk Memoir and Ronit on Substack, Instagram, and at ronitplank.com

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Episodes

5. Doing Whatever it Takes to Get Yourself to Write featuring Andrea Ross

Andrea Ross joins Let’s Talk Memoir for a conversation about battling memoir imposter syndrome, choosing scene over exposition, doing whatever it takes to get yourself to write, and how she used the wilderness to help tell her story and convey the particular brand of loneliness that adopted people experience. Also in this episode: -what new writers sometimes forget -promoting your book -publishing with a small press Memoirs in this episode: Unnatural Selection by Andrea Ross Wild by Cheryl Stray...

Apr 05, 2022•32 min

4. Finding the Thread featuring Ellen Blum Barish

Ellen Blum Barish joins Let’s Talk Memoir for a conversation about becoming a memoirist after a career as a journalist and how that deepened her love of writing, the power of working on smaller pieces as we craft our memoir, and finding the themes and structure in our story. Also in this episode: -Ellen’s Eight Essential Elements of Essay -Writing about the people we love -Knowing where to begin and where to end Memoirs mentioned in this episode: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou T...

Mar 29, 2022•33 min

3. Putting it All on the Page: The Good, the Bad, and the Heartwrenching featuring Christie Tate

Christie Tate joins Let’s Talk Memoir for a conversation about the ethics of writing about groups therapy and ex-boyfriends, navigating writing anxiety, becoming a full-time writer, and why she never leaves a page blank. Also in this episode: -networking with other writers -sex scenes -what it’s like to be picked for Reese Witherspoon’s book club Memoirs mentioned in this episode: Heavy by Kiese Laymon The Chronology of Water by Lidia Yuknavitch Love and Trouble by Claire Dederer Priestdaddy by ...

Mar 22, 2022•33 min

2. The Transformation of Trauma featuring Jeannine Ouellette

Jeannine Ouellette joins Let’s Talk Memoir for a conversation about the power of literary constraints, why the how can be just as important as the what, writing about childhood sexual abuse, believing in your project when publishing gatekeepers don’t seem to, and why sad stories can make us happy, Also in this episode: -poetic technique -mother wounds -finding your voice Memoirs/Books mentioned in this episode: We the Animals by Justin Torres Safekeeping by Abigail Thomas Heavy by Kiese Laymon B...

Mar 15, 2022•43 min

1. Who Am ”I”?--Character vs. Narrator featuring Debra Gwartney

Debra Gwartney joins Let’s Talk Memoir for a conversation about the difference between character and narrator in memoir, navigating writing about loved ones, why memoirists need to hold their own feet to the fire, and what question every memoir asks. -Visit the Let's Talk Memoir Merch store: https://www.zazzle.com/store/letstalkmemoir Also in this episode: -memoir and essay recommendations -craft book suggestions -tips for avoiding common pitfalls when writing memoir Memoirs/Work mentioned in th...

Mar 15, 2022•35 min

Trailer: Let’s Talk Memoir

Let’s Talk Memoir is a podcast for memoir lovers, readers and writers, featuring interviews with memoirists about their writing process, their challenges, and what they’ve learned about sharing the most personal of narratives. Hosted by writer, speaker, and memoirist Ronit Plank, each episode of this limited series highlights different aspects of the memoir writing experience, writing tips, and inspiration. Ronit’s essays and fiction have been featured in The Atlantic, The Rumpus, The New York T...

Mar 02, 2022•2 min

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