Listen:
Mapping Your Memoir + New Podcast Episode on Going Viral
I’m excited about today’s podcast episode, but before we get there, I want to share something special for memoir writers.
Writer’s Digest Live Webinar – October 9th
Mapping Your Memoir: How to Find the Heart and Shape of Your Story
Memoir isn’t just what happened—it’s how you shape what happened. The most powerful memoirs don’t unfold as a diary dump of events, but as purposeful narratives with emotional arcs, structural intention, and thematic resonance.
In this live webinar, I’ll show you how to turn a tangle of memories into a cohesive, compelling story. We’ll explore popular memoir structures (linear, mosaic, braided), learn how to identify your emotional throughline, and make smart decisions about what to include, what to leave out, and how to layer scenes for maximum impact.
You’ll see examples from memoirists I’ve interviewed—Cheryl Strayed, Ann Hood, Kelly McMasters, Nicole Graev Lipson, Athena Dixon, Joanna Rakoff—as well as craft insights from Kiese Laymon and Michelle Zauner. You’ll leave with:
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Practical tools
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Mapping exercises
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Sample structures
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A blueprint for shaping your memoir with clarity, confidence, and voice
This is an interactive session with Q&A.
Sign up here – I hope to see you there!
New on Substack
My latest post is up: When Writers Are the Ones Blocking the Page: 6 Ways to Move Forward (and an Offer).
For paid subscribers, I’m offering a special editorial perk: I’ll review either a query to a publisher or a one-page pitch for an article or essay. It’s a great way to get professional feedback and move your project forward.
Read & Upgrade Here
New Podcast Episode – Going Viral
When a piece of writing goes viral, it can feel like you’ve been strapped into a rollercoaster you didn’t even know you’d boarded. One minute you’re at your desk, the next your phone is buzzing nonstop, strangers are tagging you, and your work is on national TV.
I’ve been there more than once—my essays have gone viral in The New York Times, The Washington Post, HuffPost, and more. In this episode of Freelance Writing Direct, I share what really happens behind the scenes—the exhilarating, the overwhelming—and the strategies I use to protect my energy and make the most of that rare spotlight.
Watch on YouTube
Related Article
When to Reply on Social Media—And When Not To (Wired)
Other Updates:
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One spot left for my September/October 6-week fiction Zoom class. Email freelancewritingdirect@gmail.com with Zoom fiction class in the subject line.
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If you haven’t yet—watch my TEDx Talk: 🎥 How to Get Noticed in Your Writing and Beyond and check out episode #145 where I share how to shape a TEDx Talk.
✨ Explore More:
📚 Writing That Gets Noticed – Buy the Book | Listen to the Audiobook
📬 Subscribe on Substack – Craft tips, pitch advice & exclusive podcast extras. How to Get Published in Cosmopolitan or Seventeen
🎧 Freelance Writing Direct – Interviews, insights & behind-the-scenes publishing tips
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