How To!

How To Write Your Memoir


Listen Later

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

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

How To!By Slate Podcasts

  • 4.3
  • 4.3
  • 4.3
  • 4.3
  • 4.3

4.3

1,918 ratings


More shows like How To!

View all
Slate Culture by Slate Podcasts

Slate Culture

1,877 Listeners

Hang Up and Listen by Slate Podcasts

Hang Up and Listen

989 Listeners

Slate Debates by Slate Podcasts

Slate Debates

2,851 Listeners

TED Radio Hour by NPR

TED Radio Hour

22,021 Listeners

Care and Feeding | Slate's parenting show by Slate Podcasts

Care and Feeding | Slate's parenting show

1,016 Listeners

Death, Sex & Money by Slate Podcasts

Death, Sex & Money

7,712 Listeners

Slate Money by Slate Podcasts

Slate Money

1,001 Listeners

Whistlestop: Presidential History and Trivia by Slate Podcasts

Whistlestop: Presidential History and Trivia

1,377 Listeners

Hidden Brain by Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam

Hidden Brain

43,343 Listeners

Optimal Living Daily - Personal Development and Self-Improvement by Justin Malik

Optimal Living Daily - Personal Development and Self-Improvement

3,080 Listeners

10% Happier with Dan Harris by 10% Happier

10% Happier with Dan Harris

12,548 Listeners

Slate News by Slate Podcasts

Slate News

5,662 Listeners

Something You Should Know by Mike Carruthers | OmniCast Media

Something You Should Know

4,228 Listeners

Slate Health by Slate Podcasts

Slate Health

53 Listeners

Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia by Slate Podcasts

Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia

2,019 Listeners

What Next: TBD | Tech, power, and the future by Slate Podcasts

What Next: TBD | Tech, power, and the future

239 Listeners

Slow Burn by Slate Podcasts

Slow Burn

23,955 Listeners

The Science of Happiness by PRX and Greater Good Science Center

The Science of Happiness

1,882 Listeners

Slate Presents: One Year by Slate Podcasts

Slate Presents: One Year

1,283 Listeners

Life Kit by NPR

Life Kit

4,323 Listeners

Life Kit: Money by NPR

Life Kit: Money

442 Listeners

Life Kit: Health by NPR

Life Kit: Health

394 Listeners

One Year by Slate Podcasts

One Year

1,189 Listeners

This Is Uncomfortable by Marketplace

This Is Uncomfortable

3,505 Listeners

The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos by Pushkin Industries

The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos

14,589 Listeners

Culture Gabfest by Slate Podcasts

Culture Gabfest

414 Listeners

The Best Advice Show by Zak Rosen

The Best Advice Show

355 Listeners

How to Be a Better Human by TED

How to Be a Better Human

1,389 Listeners

A Slight Change of Plans by Pushkin Industries

A Slight Change of Plans

1,882 Listeners

How to Age Up by The Atlantic

How to Age Up

1,371 Listeners

Hear Me Out by Slate Podcasts

Hear Me Out

59 Listeners

Well, Now by Slate Podcasts

Well, Now

46 Listeners

Navel Gazing by John Dickerson

Navel Gazing

94 Listeners

The Queen by Slate Podcasts

The Queen

7 Listeners

The Law According to Trump by Slate Podcasts

The Law According to Trump

7 Listeners