Writing as Survival: Sue William Silverman on Trauma, Truth, and the Power of Memoir

In one of the most courageous and profound conversations on Literary Lines, host GiGi Meier sits down with acclaimed author and teacher Sue William Silverman. A winner of the Association of Writers & Writing Programs (AWP) Award in Creative Nonfiction, Sue opens up about the difficult genesis of her writing career: her therapist’s suggestion to write about being molested by her father as a child, which became the award-winning memoir Because I Remember Terror, Father, I Remember You.Sue discusses the transformative relief of bringing secrets to light and how her subsequent memoir, Love Sick, navigated the delicate balance of writing about sex addiction in recovery—without glamorizing the past. She shares the profound impact her work has had, giving countless women the language to understand their own pain.This episode is a lesson in turning trauma into art. Sue delves into her writing process, the reality of a decade-long journey to publication, and the craft of the flash essay. She also touches on her later, lighter works, proving that not every piece must dwell in darkness. For writers, survivors, and anyone who believes in the redemptive power of story, this conversation is an essential listen. Find Sue here:Website:https://www.suewilliamsilverman.com/ How to find GiGi:Website: https://www.gigimeier.com/ Free Bonus and Deleted Scenes: https://www.gigimeier.com/freebies Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorgigimeier Substack: https://gigimeier.substack.com The Cougar Den Facebook Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/authorgigimeier YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@gigimeier