Listen to That Voice


A year out from publication and Iโve just gotten the news that my memoirย When She Comes Backย is a Finalist in the International Book Awards and the National Indie Excellence Awards! Iโm very pleased that my debut has now placed as a Finalist in this competition as well as in the Independent Authors Network Book of the Year Awards and the American Book Fest Best Book Awards. This type of recognition is so gratifying, especially for a debut author with an indie press.
Phillip Lopate

Iโm thrilled to share my latest episode of Letโs Talk Memoir featuring the one and only Mr. Phillip Lopate, a central figure in the revival of the American essay. We talk about the integral role the divided self plays in memoir, how knowing your own flaws and defects helps build trust with the reader, why the intelligent narrator needs to be present from page one, and so much more.
Please click here to listen to the episode.

I had a conversation with a friend recently who wasnโt sure whether or not their memoir was one that the world needed. They were questioning whether or not, with so many other people with lived experiences my friend felt were harder, or more pressing, theirs actually needed telling.
I understand this feeling. Before I began writing my memoirย When She Comes Back, I definitely told my writing teacher that lots of people had it worse than me and my experience wasnโt that important; that I survived and whoโd want to read my story.
But as I began to write and create the narrative, see the connections I missed when I was going through that time in my life, had the opportunity to reflect on my experience through this lens of who I am now, my life shifted a bit. My empathy for my parents, for all kids who grow up with insecure attachment, and for who I used to be grew. And when my memoir came out and I got messages from readers, I realized how much telling our stories matters.
Itโs not easy and it takes time and there are so many reasons we can find to keep them to ourselves. But if you have a little voice inside of you telling you that you want to share your experience, consider listening to it. I promise you will learn, grow, and discover something new about yourself and your lived experience.
As always, thank you so much for being here. Iโm grateful to be able to connect with you and share these conversations about memoir and how we all grow stronger when we share stories.
My best,
Ronit
My best,
Ronit
ABOUT RONIT

Hi there! I’m Ronit. Iโm a writer, podcaster, teacher, and storyteller. I love the way storiesโwhether fiction or nonfiction or interviewsโbridge vastly different lived experiences and help connect those who might not otherwise have found each other.


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