Memoir Nation
Brooke Warner and Grant Faulkner
Memoir Nation: Weekly Inspiration for Writers is an extension of the Memoir Nation community hosted by Brooke Warner and Grant Faulkner, two friends and colleagues who bring a community-minded sensibility to the writing journey. Originally launched as Write-minded in 2018, this is a weekly writing podcast that focuses on memoir and personal writing, as well as industry trends and tips and resources for writers and authors. Memoir Nation features a segment called Book Alley at the end of each episode to talk about recent memoirs that authors have sent Brooke and Grant, or memoirs they've discovered that are thought provoking or have sparked inspiration. Brooke and Grant bring to this weekly podcast their deeply held belief that everyone is a writer, and everyone’s story matters. Discover more about Memoir Nation at memoirnation.com.
Episodes
Mentioned books
7 snips
Apr 28, 2025 • 23min
Grant Faulkner and Brooke Warner present: Write-Minded Is Now Memoir Nation
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!
Apr 21, 2025 • 45min
How to Read in Public, featuring Jorah LaFleur
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
13 snips
Apr 14, 2025 • 44min
Write What You Know, featuring Betsy Lerner
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.
Apr 7, 2025 • 33min
Brooke & Grant on Miranda July’s All Fours
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
Mar 31, 2025 • 42min
You’re Going to Have Feelings About Publishing, featuring Kate McKean
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
Mar 24, 2025 • 42min
Shapeshifting, featuring Lidia Yuknavitch
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
Mar 17, 2025 • 39min
Writing to Save Your Life, featuring Samina Ali
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
Mar 10, 2025 • 44min
Hard-Won Wisdom, featuring Sari Botton
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
Mar 3, 2025 • 49min
The Suburban Novel, featuring Tom Perrotta
There’s a caveat out the gate here, which is that in this week’s interview, Tom Perrotta stipulates that he writes about people and communities and the dramas that unfold—in places that just happen to be the suburbs. That said, we’re bringing you a great and often funny conversation with Perrotta about his decades of work, how his character Tracy Flick got caught up in the backlash of #MeToo, how he thinks about recurring characters, and his reminiscences about early books on tape when they used to be ten or more cassettes in a giant plastic case. Lots to sink your teeth into in this week’s show. Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 24, 2025 • 42min
Infusing Mystery into Literary Fiction, featuring Jean Kwok
This week's guest is Jean Kwok, a writer known for writing literary thrillers, which is the blending of literary writing and mystery, resulting in tension-filled books with exciting twists. Jean brings fantastic insights into complex literary structures and the importance of knowing what you’re doing. A fun listen for anyone who loves their mysteries and thrillers wrapped up in a literary package. And this week’s episode comes with a dose of Agatha Christie on the side, for reasons that will become clear when you listen! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
