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
22 snips
Dec 2, 2024 • 42min
Bringing Attention, Playfulness, and Surprise to Your Writing, featuring Jeannine Ouellette
Jeannine Ouellette, author of the lyric memoir "The Part That Burns" and the popular Substack "Writing in the Dark," shares her insights on enhancing the writing experience. She stresses the importance of attention, playfulness, and surprise in storytelling. Ouellette encourages writers to embrace spontaneity, grounding their narratives in vivid details to create deeper connections. The discussion also covers how community engagement through platforms like Substack can elevate a writer's journey while fostering a playful and transformative creative process.
Nov 25, 2024 • 41min
Drug Stories, featuring Emily Witt
This week’s Write-minded delves into our cultural and literary relationship with drugs, examining the role drugs play in creativity and among creatives. We also look at novels and memoirs that center drugs and alcohol, and talk to author Emily Witt about her own foray into this territory with her latest memoir, Health and Safety. Join us for this inquiry into the intersections between drugs and art. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 18, 2024 • 40min
Embracing Contradiction, featuring Carvell Wallace
This week’s episode is a deep conversation that covers love, embracing contradiction, and guest Carvell Wallace’s journey to and through memoir. This is an enlightening interview for anyone who’s ever contemplated paradox, or how to tackle big, tangly ideas in your writing. Writing a memoir is an ambitious act of the heart, and we honor that journey this week in all its complexity and bigness. On Substackin’, we’re pleased to be sharing some of our favorite memoir writers’ Substacks, and hope you’ll take a look. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 11, 2024 • 48min
The Art of Listening, featuring Elizabeth Rosner
Elizabeth Rosner, a best-selling novelist and poet, joins to discuss the transformative practice of listening in our writing and daily lives. She explores its significance in parent-child dynamics, emphasizing the need for deep, meaningful communication. The conversation dives into 'third-ear listening' and its connection to memory and trauma. Rosner shares insights from her multilingual upbringing that shaped her as a listener and writer. Through metaphors like 'wound wood,' they highlight resilience in creativity and the importance of learning from rejection.
Nov 4, 2024 • 40min
Centering Marginalized Characters in Your Fiction, featuring Barbara Ridley
Barbara Ridley, author of the novel Unswerving, dives into the vital need for authentic representation of marginalized characters, particularly those who are disabled and LGBTQ+. She shares her experiences facing critiques for her protagonist's identity and discusses the importance of sensitivity reads. The conversation covers the challenges of navigating fiction and reality while promoting a book without traditional backing. Ultimately, Ridley advocates for the empathy fostered by centering stories that often go untold, enriching the literary landscape.
Oct 28, 2024 • 36min
How Being Fascinated and Daunted Can Drive Your Writing, featuring Edwidge Danticat
It could be said of this week’s guest that she, like the title of this week’s show, is fascinating and daunting. And that this is a pull toward the things we’re interested in, that we want to dive more deeply into, is the subject of this week’s show. Edwidge Danticat is a powerhouse in the literary world who’s written about immigration and poverty, exile and political upheaval, and so much more. There’s much to learn from the wisdom of a writer like Danticat who has been well and widely published for three decades, and who offers up insights across form—from memoir, to fiction, to essay. Tune in to hear from a literary force of nature. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 21, 2024 • 46min
Optimism and Pessimism in Book Publishing—Because It’s Always Both, featuring Michael Castleman
As Write-minded is wont to do, we bring you another tell-it-like-it-is reality bites episode about book publishing. And while the news isn’t all good, it’s also not all bad—and guest Michael Castleman is living, breathing proof that it’s worth it, as long as you’re ready to do the work and understand what you’re getting yourself into. Join us on this journey from the Gutenberg Press to modern-day publishing. Whether you’re a reader, writer, author, or industry person, you’re bound to learn something new from this week’s show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 14, 2024 • 49min
Writing as a Way to Champion People and Causes, featuring Maggie Tokuda-Hall
This week’s Write-minded is a thoughtful conversation about where writers’ values meet public persona and the writing life. Guest Maggie Tokuda-Hall treats us to her thinking about career, ambition, and why she writes what subjects and characters she writes, and why she doesn’t write for adults. We get into the important topic of what’s at stake when writers speak up and out—touching upon the tensions that exist between standing up for what you believe in and a literary world that doesn’t always make those choices easy. Substackin’ this week takes a look at Brooke’s post about genre and category, “Your Story Is More Important Than Your Category.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 7, 2024 • 42min
Don’t Let Your Comfort Zone Become Your Doom Zone, featuring Joshua Mohr
A rocking ride through punk influence on prose and story, this interview with guest Joshua Mohr is, more than anything, about pushing your limits and getting out of your comfort zone. In his new book, Saint the Terrifying, Josh does a few things he’s never tried—and he walks us through why that’s been so invigorating, and how it’s pushed his limits as a writer. We delve into not outlining and the power of alternative histories, and get to hear about why Josh wrote this book wanting it to feel like it might fall apart at any moment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
4 snips
Sep 30, 2024 • 45min
How to Be Compulsively Readable, featuring Anne Lamott
Anne Lamott, celebrated author known for her candid and relatable style, discusses her writing journey and timeless insights from her book 'Bird by Bird.' She shares her approach to killing her darlings and why first drafts can be messy gems. The conversation delves into the importance of vulnerability and authentic storytelling, contrasting it with today's social media narratives. Lamott emphasizes the value of feedback, collaboration, and creating a supportive writing community, inviting listeners to embrace both the struggle and joy of writing.
