Memoir Nation

Happy New Year! On this week’s Write-minded, Brooke and Grant take stock of last year’s resolutions and hold their own feet to the fire on what was cast out for resolutions, and what was accomplished (or not). We’re probing the resolution, therefore, as we head into 2024—assessing its pros and cons, musing about who we’d be without a goal, and considering whether all the resolution really needs is not to be bound by such a tight timeline. Tune in to probe, explore, turn over, and consider your own relationship with resolutions as we head into a new year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Author Baron Wormser, known for his memoir 'The Road Washes Out in Spring,' discusses the power of writing as a form of meditation, the concept of attunement in writing, constructing a memoir, the success of small publishers in winning awards, and the impact of money on publishing.

This week on Write-minded we’re coming back to a well-loved topic: Community! Only we’re tackling it from some new angles, like the notion that not every community will be the right community for you, and the fact that there are shadow sides to community, and how we and others behave in community. Guest Alexa Bigwarfe talks about her experience in the community of writers and within the publishing community—what it was like to be new to this space, how she grew into her leadership role, and why it’s so meaningful to take advantage of what publishing has to offer authors, from trade shows, to industry events, to writing and publishing conferences. Tune in to start to think about one event you might attend in 2024! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join Grant and Brooke for a conversation about truth in storytelling. Jamila Minnicks discusses her novel, Moonrise Over New Jessup, and its powerful protagonist and sense of place. The hosts also explore the power of fiction in promoting critical thinking and empathy, the importance of authentic language in historical fiction, and the impact of categorization in book publishing.

This week's guests are the coeditors (and contributors to) Letters to a Writer of Color. Listen in to hear the profound insights and inspirational origin story that led to Deepa Anappara and Taymour Soomro’s collaboration on their powerful anthology. Contributors to this collection include Kiese Laymon, Myriam Gurba, Madeleine Thien, Ingrid Rojas Contreras, and others. Our conversation this week circles how writers of color write and talk about and translate their experiences, the ways writers can get hemmed in and how they refuse to be hemmed in, and also the power of commonalities across experiences, even when those experiences are so varied. Not to be missed! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Grant Faulkner and Brooke Warner discuss strategies for staying on track during NaNoWriMo, including breaking through the Muddy Middle. They talk about the benefits of accountability, writing prompts, and writing in community. They emphasize the power of working in groups and the limitations of online platforms. A pep talk for writers feeling the strain.

This week Brooke shares an interview she recorded with Allison Gilbert about her new book, Listen World!, a biography of the most famous woman writer you’ve never heard of. If you’re any writer, but particularly a woman writer, knowing about Elsie Robinson (1883-1956) will bring you needed inspiration during this NaNoWriMo season. She models how to believe in yourself, how to face rejection and keep going, and how perseverance is the most necessary skillset when it comes to getting our work out into the world. You’ll marvel at what she was able to do—way pre-Internet. For reference, find Allison’s CNN article about the reparative efforts underway to retag history so that gender is included/searchable. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Happy Halloween Week and Happy Start of NaNoWriMo. This week’s episode is a twofer because we’re bringing you a little dose of horror through our exploration of gothic stories with this week’s guest Isabel Cañas, who also happens to be a ten-year veteran of NaNoWriMo. Watch magic happen as Write-minded intertwines these two cultural events—one spooky-scary and the other downright inspiring. We’re kicking you off with some great advice and a big high-five—and if you’re still on the fence about whether you’re doing NaNoWriMo, get off and join the November writing craze.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With her new memoir, You Could Make This Place Beautiful, guest Maggie Smith provides an example of how to break conventional form to gorgeous results. This interview covers narration, structure, and Maggie’s process of constructing this memoir, as well as how her background as a poet informed her approach to the writing. Join us for a wide-ranging conversation mostly about narration, but we also touch upon writing about others and Maggie confesses she’s surprised by the gigantic success of this book. You’ll want to tune in to hear why. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bestselling author Rainbow Rowell joins the podcast to discuss the power and significance of fanfiction, exploring its history, community, and impact. They delve into fanfiction sites and the benefits for writers, and the growing trend of publishing fanfiction stories. They also touch upon finding time to write, writing fantasy, and the value of permission in writing. Tune in for an appreciation of fanfiction's presence in the literary world.