The Challenges of Writing Coming-of-Age Memoirs

Send us Fan MailThis week, you'll hear from Laila Rall, a writer working on a memoir about her chaotic, bicultural childhood with an unstable mother. We will explore two of the biggest challenges writers of coming-of-age memories grapple with: when does my story really begin and how do I gracefully insert my wisdom into scenes that involve very young narrators?Episode Highlights2:25 Exploring the Scope of Your Book3:15 Feedback on the Childhood Voice5:43 Are You Starting in the Right Place7:15 The Importance of Beat Sheets18:15 Maintaining the MysteryResources Mentioned During This EpisodeSuzette Mullen InterviewThe Glass Castle by Jeannette WallsThis Boy’s Life by Tobias WolffAutobiography of a Face by Lucy GrealyThe Liar’s Club by Mary KarrLaila’s Bio: Laila found her most meaningful work as a teacher after pursuing a B.A. in English and an M.A. in Education from UC Berkeley. She’s currently writing a memoir about her chaotic, bicultural childhood that included a murder trial, misattributed paternity, an outing to exhume a dead relative, transatlantic smuggling, and a life-changing promise to a pig. She lives in Santa Cruz, California, and loves cave diving, close encounters with sharks, and dark espresso.Connect with LailaSubstack: https://lailacoryrall.substack.comBuilding 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 | LinkedInProduced by Espresso Podcast Production