AS A MEMOIR COACH, I hear and read lots of stories and, as a result, I love to listen. I do it all day for storytellers as part of my job. I do it for my family, to the dog (of course) and to my students, whose tales need shaping, and whose work always begins with someone listening to their pitch.
On my own, all alone, I continue listening, and podcasts are my instruction of choice. Don’t yet podcast? Let me help you by giving you a list of places to go and things to listen to that will guide, shape, and heighten your memoir writing.
Of all the best places to get help, you can do no better than listening to Shawn Coyne’s Story Grid podcast. I met Shawn, and heard him speak recently at Jeff Goins’ remarkable Tribe Conference where I, too, was a speaker. Simply put, Story Grid is a tool, including a book, a podcast, a forum and much more. But listen in as Shawn Coyne and Tim Grahl, struggling writer, discuss the highs and lows of writing in this marvelous format.
But don’t trust me when it comes to writing podcasts. Trust TheWriteLife’s list of 15 Inspiring Writing Podcasts To Subscribe To Right Now.
What else do I listen to when writing? I listen weekly to the following three podcasts, all of which enrich my sense of what is going on in the world.
Here they are:
Why do I listen to podcasts about art and culture? Because artists react, and to do so you must have something to react to. In my opinion, these are the three best podcasts for bringing yourself up to date on all things in art and culture. So get your buds on, folks.
Jeffrey Pillow says
Gonna add one to your list. “Otherppl with Brad Listi.” Hands down my favorite podcast for writers. You can download it on iTunes or listen online at http://otherppl.com.
Brad’s a great guy, in general, and while not a memoirist necessarily, is a writer of semi-biographical fiction, and really puts in the work to help writers of all stripes, from the well known to the unknown. His first novel Attention.Deficit.Disorder came at the perfect time in my life, and it’s still the only book I’ve read more than twice. I’ve read it five or six times now. In full disclosure, I used to write for his online literary and culture magazine The Nervous Breakdown. But that doesn’t sway my feelings on his podcast Otherppl. It’s just a great listen for writers, no matter the genre.
marion says
Thank you, Jeffrey.
How generous and kind.
I am delighted to know about this and will listen up.
Please come back soon.
Best,
Marion
Barbara Beaton says
Thank you for sharing these podcasts. It is great to have a multitude of resources to nudge me along the writing journey.
marion says
I’m delighted, Barbara.
Write on.
Christine says
One other suggestion for podcasts to listen to is “The Moth”. These are true stories told by people on stage. There is the Moth Story Hour on NPR too. Thanks for sharing your list.
marion says
Yes, of course. I love The Moth. Thank you, Christine. Lovely of you to remind me.
Susan Kayne says
<3 Story Grid … listening to importance of 'middle build' on SG podcast. I am relishing a cyber-crush on Shawn Coyne <3 … Marion, in memoir it seems the hero is birthed by within the author by his/her transcending victimhood. Can you offer any specific tips on how to best, and contextually portray transcendence/maturation to satisfy transaction with reader.