Memoir Nation

On the heels of Mother’s Day, tune into Memoir Nation this week for a conversation about *mother as character*—among many other potential characters any one of us might be on the page. Guest Nicole Graev Lipson explores the idea of where fiction ends and truth begins when you’re a woman through this fascinating conversation prompted by her recent memoir-in-essays Mothers and Other Fictional Characters. If you’ve ever thought about the boundaries between truth and fiction as a writer or a reader, or the confines certain roles limit women to or within—girl, mother, wife—you won’t want to miss this episode. Nicole Graev Lipson is the author of the memoir-in-essays Mothers and Other Fictional Characters. Her writing has been awarded a Pushcart Prize, selected for The Best American Essays anthology, and shortlisted for a National Magazine Award. Her work has appeared in The Sun, Virginia Quarterly Review, The Gettysburg Review, Creative Nonfiction, Fourth Genre, River Teeth, Alaska Quarterly Review, LA Review of Books, The Millions, Nylon, The Washington Post, and The Boston Globe, among other publications. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Memoir Nation, Jill Ciment joins us to talk about what it means to reconsider a previously written memoir, and what that says about the nature of truth. We’re diving into the unreliability of truth, how we see things differently over time, and the nature of memoir as a flawed container for our stories. We’re also two weeks into the rebrand of this podcast, and Brooke and Grant invite you to check out Memoir Nation at www.memoirnation.com and sign up to join us at any level of membership—including free. We’re excited for what’s in store! Jill Ciment is the author of several acclaimed novels, including The Body in Question, Heroic Measures, and The Tattoo Artist, as well as two memoirs—Half a Life and her most recent, Consent. Born in Montreal and based in both Brooklyn and Gainesville. Her work has been adapted for film and widely anthologized, and she has received fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts. Jill is Professor Emerita of English at the University of Florida. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The hosts reveal the exciting rebranding to Memoir Nation, igniting a passion for storytelling. They introduce the Jan Your Story event, encouraging daily writing and community engagement. Discussing the transformative power of memoirs, they highlight their ability to foster empathy and preserve personal legacies. Listeners can expect a refined focus on personal narratives while the essence of the show remains intact. With upcoming classes and support initiatives, there's a fresh energy for writers of all levels!

Writers, authors, you do not want to miss these great insights about reading on stage, taking up space, and generally being yourself—only amplified—when you read your work in public. Guest Jorah LaFleur brings a wealth of encouragement and permission, along with some great tips to improve your presence when you perform or read aloud. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join author Betsy Lerner, a publishing veteran with over 30 years of experience, as she dives into her debut novel, *Shred Sisters*. She discusses the blend of personal experiences and fiction, noting how Freud would enjoy analyzing her inspirations. Betsy offers pragmatic marketing strategies for aspiring authors and reflects on how mental health and familial ties influence storytelling. With insights into the publishing industry, she encourages writers to embrace their narratives, proving that authenticity is at the heart of compelling storytelling.

A few weeks back, Grant suggested Write-minded dedicate a whole episode to All Fours, by Miranda July—and we decided to do it. This week Brooke and Grant explore All Fours as a novel of a generation, and talk about who Miranda July is, why the book has hit such a zeitgeist moment, and whether publishers can anticipate or make these kinds of successes. Brooke has suggested that All Fours is the Fear of Flying of this generation, and we’re diving into why the book matters, some of its controversies and uncomfortable moments, and why we think you should read it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Write-minded delves into publishing again in this week’s show, specifically focused on traditional publishing and the feelings that are part of the journey. Brooke and Grant connect with literary Kate McKean about her new book, Write Through It, which really is a roadmap to everything you want to know about how to stay the course on your publishing journey, and how to work through your feelings. There’s tons of good advice and cheerleading and straight-shooting in this book to help you understand and to demystify the whole publishing process. Kate is a generous guest, and whether you’ve published, want to publish, or feel daunted by publishing, you’ll benefit tons from her wisdom! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we invite one of our favorite authors, Lidia Yuknavitch, back to Write-minded to discuss her new book, Reading the Waves, as well as how we can re-envision and reimagine our past experiences through the practice of asking questions and reconsidering what we think we know. “Shapeshifting” is Lidia’s word, and the book (as well as this conversation) considers ways we can re-enter our own memories and rearrange the pieces so that we might change and grow. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week’s episode tells the story of a dramatic and traumatic story, and how writing played a central role in recovery and changing the outcome of one author’s life. This week’s episode is an epic tale as much as it is interview, and it will change the way you think of the power of writing to charge your neurons and heal your mind—not to mention the way you think about willpower, writers’ block, and why writing is both personally and universally life-changing and life-saving. This week’s harrowing and fascinating story-episode is not to be missed.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If part of why you write is because you have some things to share from a life well- or hard- or fully lived, then you’re in good company. Personal writing is about connection, and making sense of our experience, and this week’s guest, Sari Botton, knows a thing or two about what brings writers to the page. She is a champion of personal writing and memoir, and is going to share about contributing, about her own writing process and why it’s hard to put personal things into the world, and so much more—including how to stay the course during these insane times we’re living in and through. To read Sari’s piece that's part of Writing Co-Lab's 100 Days of Creative Resistance, visit here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices