Encore: Navigating Complex Relationships and Writing Through Trauma with Lara Lillibridge

Send us Fan Mail If you have a complicated relationship with someone, how do you write about them? Should you craft a linear memoir that reads more like a journey or write something that mirrors your experience? Join me and Lara Lillibridge, author of Girlish, Mama, Mama, Only Mama, and The Truth of Unringing Phones, as we explore the impact of estrangement on the memoir writing process, how to protect your heart as you write about painful experiences, the power of publishing your story, as well as the a-ha Lara had about which part of the writing process actually heals you. Lara’s Bio: Lara Lillibridge (she/they) is the author of The Truth About Unringing Phones: Essays on Yearning; Mama, Mama, Only Mama: An Irreverent Guide for the Newly Single Parent, and Girlish: Growing Up in a Lesbian Home,. Lara is a Creative Nonfiction Editor for HeartWood Literary Magazine. She holds an MFA from West Virginia Wesleyan College and is a mentor for AWP’s Writer to Writer. In this episode: When can non-linear storytelling play a role in writing about fragmented relationships? Advice for balancing dark and light moments in memoir writing to present a full picture of the relationship. The importance of audience connection and feedback as a source of resilience during the book launch period. The healing power of revision. Tips for organizing and structuring non-linear memoirs. Resources Mentioned During This Episode: The True Meaning of Success with Courtney Maum Where Rivers Part: A Story of My Mother’s Life by Kao Kalia Yang New York Times article on Consent by Jill Cement Episode Highlights COVID’s Impact on Our Creativity Structuring an Estrangement Story Crafting a Nonlinear Memoir Protecting Your Heart as You Write How Estrangement Impacts Us The Healing Power of Publishing Your Story Lara’s Best Writing Advice Connect with Lara Website: http://laralillibridge.com/ Twitter: https://x.com/Only_Mama Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lara.lillibridge Instagram/Threads: https://www.instagram.com/LaraLillibridge Visit https://lisacooperellison.com/yourdesign/ and use promo code RESILIENCE to get 30% off your foundational report. Visit https://lisacooperellison.com/yourdesign/ and use promo code RESILIENCE to get 30% off your foundational report. Building Better Memoir Scenes: https://janefriedman.com/building-better-memoir-scenes-with-lisa-cooper-ellison/ Connect with your host, Lisa: Get Your Free Copy of Ditch Your Inner Critic: https://lisacooperellison.com/subscribe/ Website | Instagram | YouTube | Facebook | LinkedIn Produced by Espresso Podcast Production