How To! | Write Your Memoir

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Arts, Tv & Film, Music

4.4 • 2K Ratings

🗓️ 25 March 2025

⏱️ 48 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

To some, the act of writing a memoir might seem daunting, invasive, or navel-gazing. But excavating memories, noticing patterns, and revisiting events from other points of view can lead to healing—regardless of whether your work gets published. On this episode of How To!, Carvell Wallace brings on Melissa Febos. Melissa is the bestselling author of five books, including Girlhood—winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award in Criticism—and a forthcoming memoir, The Dry Season. She teaches us how to create our own narrative in ways that are safe for you and empathetic of others. If you liked this episode check out: Carvell Wallace on Another Word for Love, How To Start Writing (with Anna Quindlen and John Dickerson), and How To Get Your Book Published Do you have a problem that needs solving? Send us a note at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show. Subscribe for free on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen. The show is produced by Rosemary Belson, with Kevin Bendis. Our technical director is Merritt Jacob and our supervising producer is Joel Meyer. Want more How To!? Subscribe to Slate Plus to unlock exclusive bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of the How To! show page. Or, visit slate.com/howtoplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	This episode is brought to you by Vanta.
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0:28.9	Today's episode is sponsored by Smart Travel, a new podcast from NerdWallet. You know that feeling
0:34.0	when you're trying to book a trip, and there's just too many choices, too much fine print to read, no real way to know if you're actually getting the best deal.
0:41.1	Smart Travel is designed to help you skip all of that stress and make the right booking.
0:45.7	Nerdwallets travel journalists break down the pros and cons of travel decisions, like when lounge access is worth paying for and which hotel loyalty programs give you the best value.
0:55.6	So before you book, learn how to get the most out of your travel dollars.
0:59.7	Follow smart travel on your favorite podcast app.
1:02.6	And stay tuned later in the show for a special segment on travel.
1:06.2	Hey folks, it's Courtney Martin from How To.
1:09.2	Before we get into the show, a little invitation for you.
1:13.0	We're planning episodes for the next few months, and we genuinely want your questions.
1:18.2	What do you need advice on? What is the conundrum that you're facing right now? It can be serious,
1:24.4	it can be silly, it can be an amorphous relationship issue, we love those,
1:28.5	or something very practical involving money, your career, an aspirational hobby.
1:33.9	What is keeping you up at night?
1:36.2	What is on your bucket list that we can help you with?
	...

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