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This week, you’ll hear from Meredith Master, a writer working on her memoir who is deciding on its structure. In this episode, we discuss writing a braided memoir, writing with a disability, telling the story of someone who has passed away, and how to write about the parts of someone’s life you weren’t present for.

Meredith’s Bio: Meredith Master is a blind writer living in New York City, where she shares a small space with her guide dog, Ivan and mostly unhelpful Boston Terrier, Jelly Roll. She is currently working on three book projects, including a memoir about adult onset disability and addiction as told through the stories of herself and her partner, Michael. She is also working on a collection of humorous essays and an anthology of personal stories of resilience told by writers who went blind and lived to tell about it.

Resources Mentioned During This Episode:

The Fact of a Body by Alex Marzano-Lesnevich

Acetylene Torch Songs: Writing True Stories That Ignite the Soul by Sue William Silverman

After the Eclipse by Sarah Perry

My Interview with Sarah Perry

My Interview with Sue William Silverman

Episode Highlights

3:06 Braiding Two Lives Together

8:45 Deciding on the Best Form

12:00 Telling Someone Else’s Story

20:30 Meredith’s Best Writing Advice

Connect with Meredith

Email: meredithmaster@gmail.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/meredith.master/

Connect with your host, Lisa:
Get Your Free Copy of Write More, Fret Less
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Sign up for Camp Structure: 14 Weeks to Find and Refine Your Memoir’s Narrative Arc: https://lisacooperellison.com/camp-structure-find-your-memoirs-narrative-arc/

Produced by Espresso Podcast Production

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Have you ever felt the need to write your story and share it with others? What if you believed breaking the silence would heal you, but family members want you to keep certain stories private? Could you find a way to respect their wishes while honoring your truth?

In this episode, I am joined by Stephanie Shafran, a writer who’s spent a lifetime being silenced and is now experiencing just this situation. We talk about writing what you need to write, deciding whether to publish, and respecting a family member’s need for privacy while still expressing yourself.

Stephanie’s Bio: Stephanie Shafran’s poetry chapbook Awakening was released in 2020. Stephanie contributed to the 2021 anthology, A 21st Century Plague: Pandemic Poetry, edited by Elayne Clift. A member of Straw Dog Writers Guild and Florence Poetry Society, Stephanie resides in Northampton, Massachusetts. You can read her monthly blog posts at stephanieshafran.com. In 2017, Stephanie retired from a teaching and counseling career. Her degrees include a Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, from Smith College, Master in the Art of Teaching from the University of Vermont, and Master of Counseling Education from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

Resources Mentioned During This Episode:

It’s Not You: Identifying and Healing from Narcissistic People

Embracing Our Grief

Episode Highlights

2:50 Discovering You’re Not the Main Character

4:04 Disenfranchised Grief

7:00 Navigating Other’s Privacy with Our Need to Speak the Truth

13:40 Identifying Your Audience

17:00 Deciding Whether to Publish

23:09 Stephanie’s Best Writing Advice

Connect with Stephanie

Website: stephanieshafran.com

Email: stephanieshafran@gmail.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shafranstephanie/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stephanie.shafran.1

Connect with your host, Lisa:
Get Your Free Copy of Write More, Fret Less
Website
Instagram
YouTube
Facebook
LinkedIn
Sign up for Camp Structure: 14 Weeks to Find and Refine Your Memoir’s Narrative Arc: https://lisacooperellison.com/camp-structure-find-your-memoirs-narrative-arc/

Produced by Espresso Podcast Production

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Before you send your book to beta readers, listen to this episode!

In it, you’ll meet Melissa Macomber, another Camp Structure alumni who’s working on her memoir. During this episode, we explore how to know when your book is ready for beta readers, the three types of beta readers you’ll need, how to choose beta readers wisely, and questions to ask them before sending out your work.

Melissa’s Bio: Melissa is a writer currently working on a memoir about how to recognize your soulmate(s). You can find more of her short pieces and research on love, commitment and betrayal on her website.

Resources Mentioned During This Episode:

Crafting the Personal Essay and Resilient Editing Tips with Andrea Firth

Bianca Maris’s Beta Reader Matchup

Writers Digest Article About Sensitivity Readers

Writing Diversely

The Shit No One Tells You About Writing Podcast

Crafting the Personal Essay and Resilient Editing Tips with Andrea Firth

Hidden Potential by Adam Grant

Official Transcript

Episode Highlights

1:20 Maintaining Your Stamina

2:59 Preparing Mentally for Beta Reader Feedback

4:09 Working with Writers

9:30 Should I Send Them All or Part of My Manuscript

11:55 Working with Members of Your Audience

15:06 Finding Beta Readers

16:05 Working with Sensitivity Readers

19:52 Mistake allowances

Connect with Melissa:

Website: melissamacomber.com

Connect with your host, Lisa:
Get Your Free Copy of Write More, Fret Less
Website
Instagram
YouTube
Facebook
LinkedIn
Sign up for Camp Structure: 14 Weeks to Find and Refine Your Memoir’s Narrative Arc: https://lisacooperellison.com/camp-structure-find-your-memoirs-narrative-arc/

Produced by Espresso Podcast Production