Ease Lessons for Writers
In your writing life, no matter how hard you work or how well you plan, things won't always unfold the way you'd hoped. In Ease Lessons for Writers, we explore what gets in the way of our writing, why that happens, and why it matters. Together we learn how to make our writing easier and more joyful. I'm your host, Monna McDiarmid, a writer and coach based in Japan and Nova Scotia. Website: monnamcdiarmid.com/ | Newsletter: monnamcdiarmid.com/subscribe/ | Instagram: @monnamcdiarmidwrites/ | Patreon: @MonnaMcDiarmid
Ease Lessons for Writers
Megan Sunstrum (Episode 2/3)
About today's conversation:
Megan Sunstrum is writing a memoir about depression, anxiety, being a badass and moving across the country during a pandemic to start a new life. She has a wild imagination, a knack for story-telling, and a deep love of talking to strangers, green things and furry things. She lives in rural Nova Scotia with her husband and beautiful menace of a cat.
Thanks for this conversation, Megan.
A note to the listener: This episode contains references to anxiety and depression as these issues are central to Megan’s memoir. I am not a therapist so I am not coaching Megan through these issues and, as always, I encourage people to seek out a therapist for support with their mental health.
References from today's conversation:
- Fast-Draft Your Memoir: Write your Life Story in 45 Hours by Rachael Herron
- Holy Heathen: A Spiritual Memoir by Katherine North
- Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience by Brene Brown
- Hourglass: Time, Memory, Marriage by Dani Shapiro
- Expecting Adam: A True Story of Birth, Rebirth, and Everyday Magic by Martha Beck
- These Precious Days: Essays by Ann Patchett
- This Messy Magnificent Life: A Field Guide by Geneen Roth
- A Life in Stitches: Knitting My Way through Love, Loss, and Laughter by Rachael Herron
- Quote: “You own everything that happened to you. If people wanted you to write warmly about them, they should have behaved better.” ~ Anne Lamott
Upcoming Poetry Course | Collected: Creating a tiny book of your poetry
This course is for people who want to write poetry and create a small collection of their poetry for themselves, loved ones, or to publish on their website or elsewhere. What would happen if you saw yourself as the gatekeeper of your own poetry?
Check out the course at monnamcdiarmid.com/collected
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About Ease Lessons:
Music: “Meekness” by Kai Engel, used under Creative Commons Attribution license
Editor: Damien Pitter
Host: Monna McDiarmid (pronounced Mona McDermid) | Coach, Writer and Counselor
Website: MonnaMcDiarmid.com
Newsletter: The Sunday Reader
Patreon: where I share monthly excerpts from my writing memoir in progress
