The Art of Memoir, featuring Rebecca Carroll and Jeannine Ouellette
Aug 28, 2023
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Rebecca Carroll and Jeannine Ouellette, authors of memoirs with exceptional craft, discuss emotional aspects of writing about family, the structure and themes of their books, and the process of organizing and structuring their memoirs.
Memoirists Rebecca Carroll and Janine Ulette will be teaching a fall memoir course with Brooke, offering valuable lessons on good writing, storytelling, and creating a lasting experience.
Rebecca Carroll highlights the challenges and complexities of writing honestly about her family and explores the impact of race and privilege in memoir writing.
Janine Ulette discusses the unconventional structure of her memoir and shares insights into her creative process, including the use of different writing styles and guiding readers through time and aboutness.
Deep dives
Craft Essentials Course Announcement
The podcast episode begins with an announcement about a new craft course for writers focusing on personal stories and memoir. The course, called Craft Essentials, aims to provide a deeper dive into various topics requested by students. The episode invites interested individuals to visit the website for more information on the topics covered and the lineup of teachers.
Featuring Memoirists Rebecca Carroll and Janine Ulette
The podcast host introduces the two featured guests, Rebecca Carroll and Janine Ulette, who are both memoirists. The host expresses admiration for their memoirs and invites listeners to learn from their teaching in the upcoming craft course. They discuss the importance of personal connection with authors and the lessons they can bring to teaching memoir writing.
Rebecca Carroll's Memoir: Surviving the White Gaze
The podcast shifts focus to the discussion with Rebecca Carroll, the author of the memoir 'Surviving the White Gaze.' She talks about the considerations and costs of writing honestly about her family, including the challenges of revealing difficult experiences and dealing with the response from her adoptive family. She also explores the complexities of race and privilege in memoir writing and the impact it has on readers.
Janine Ulette's Memoir: The Part That Burns
The podcast then moves to a conversation with Janine Ulette, author of 'The Part That Burns.' They discuss the unconventional structure of the memoir and its use of different writing styles, including vignettes, essays, and non-chronological ordering. Janine shares insights into her creative process, the use of present and past tense, and how she guides readers through time and aboutness in her writing.
Two of our favorite memoir episodes from last year revisited, with guests whose memoirs showcase exceptional craft—so much so that they’ll be teaching a fall memoir course with Brooke that starts next month. We’re revisiting these two authors whose memoirs have so much to teach writers about good writing, storytelling, and creating an experience that has real staying power. Tune in or relisten—and we’re back next week with fresh episodes and a brand-new season.