The Memoir Method Podcast

This episode is the kickoff for a new series on The Memoir Method podcast where I examine already published memoir with an editorial eye: what works, what doesn't, and why. Our first memoir on the examination docket is Careless People by Sarah Wynn Williams, a behind-the-scenes, tell-all memoir about working for Facebook and Meta. This is part 1 of 2.

Buy your copy of Careless People here.

If you want to refine your own editorial eye and apply these principles to your memoir manuscript, check out my free, private podcast series...

This episode is for the writer who looks at the headlines and freezes. The world is overwhelming and scary and uncertain. It can be hard to know what your role is, because there seems to be so much that we could do but sometimes we wonder if any of it actually makes a difference. This episode is your reminder that what you bring to the table matters, especially with your writing. Let’s get into it.

Listen to my free, private podcast series, Published.

Enroll in The Memoir Method program, the complete st...

This episode is for the writer who is ready to be an author. The writers who find themselves in my world do not just want to write a book, they want to be a published author. I’m here to show you that what happens with writers in my spaces goes beyond the manuscript and invites them into a whole new identity as an author. The work of The Memoir Method is transformational in every way, and I’m excited to invite you into the process.

Jump into The Memoir Method here.

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This episode is for the writer who dreads the querying process. You know how things are supposed to go when it comes to traditional publishing, and you believe that traditional publishing is the only legitimate way to get your work out there. But secretly, you hate the hoops you have to jump through with traditional publishing. You hate the rejection and feel that there has to be a better way. The good news? There is. In today’s episode I’m taking you through Andrea’s story and how her work with The Memoir Method transformed not just her manusc...

This episode is for the writer who is afraid to call herself a writer. If I had a magic wand, she'd want me to use it to make her feel like who she wants to be. She's looking outward to find that validation as an author that she deeply desires, but the secret that we're going into today is that no one can give you that identity except yourself. We're going deep today, friend. Let's go.

Instantly access my free, private podcast series, Published.

Ready to make the real...

This episode is for the writer who is ready to reimagine memoir. There's a lot about the publishing industry, about memoir, about storytelling, about creative nonfiction that doesn't necessarily serve us. And there are a lot of rules that we feel are a part of the publishing industry, and you're not wrong. And so this episode is for the writer who is ready to challenge those rules, who's ready to challenge how the industry works, who is ready to play the game of publishing instead of having the game play you. Let's get into it.

This is an episode for the writer who thinks they just need more time to figure out their book. I get it, you’re a perfectionist. You’re waiting for everything to be just right. Just one more beta reader, one more editing pass, one more read-through—and wait! You can change that and rework that and move those scenes around. Your writing time is beginning to feel more like a groundhogs day (and when you’re honest with yourself, you’re kind of sick of it). What you need isn’t more time, it’s more clarity. Let’s get into it.<...

This is an episode for the writer who wonders if their story is even worth telling. We’ve been talking a lot over the past few episodes about clarity and purpose in your memoir, but what happens when that imposter syndrome creeps in. While I like to keep Tuesday episodes specifically about writers that I work with, today I want that writer to be YOU. I speaking directly to and about you today, and I’m looking forward to the breakthroughs that you’re going to be having.

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This is an episode for the writer who keeps rewriting the same chapters—without getting anywhere. I’ve talked a little bit about the memoir rewrite cycle, where you slip into overwriting and overediting, because you think that one more pass will magically make things click. Today I want to go deeper into this concept and talk about how to use your clarity to support your manuscript. Let’s spend some time exploring what it actually looks like to have clarity in your memoir manuscript.

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This episode is for the writer who is over-complicating the process. I'm going to share a bit about my own writing process and projects and show you how what I teach actually works and how I apply it to my own work. Publishing is a weird industry with a lot of smoke and mirrors to it, and I want to help you see the craft of writing differently so that you can interact with your writing in a refreshed, empowered way.

Check out my free memoir clarity quiz here.

You...

This is an episode for the writer who keeps searching for the perfect structure. You have rewritten the same sections over and over. You've worked on flow. You've adjusted pacing. You've been rewriting and rewriting and rewriting, but you still don't feel finished. You still don't feel like you're ready to move on to the next stage. So this episode is for you, my friend. Let's get into it.

Take my memoir clarity assessment here.

And don't forget to hop on my email list to be the first to...

This episode is about a writer who was worried about the wrong things when it came to her memoir. She thought that her writing was the problem, when really the vision behind her manuscript was foggy. I want to take you behind the scenes of my high-level editing work and show you how to figure out what your actual problem is (because it’s not that you’re a bad writer).

Take my free memoir quiz here!

You can find me on Instagram @charlottejanewrites, Facebook, and YouTube.

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This episode is for the writer who stares at their computer screen wondering what to do next. You scroll through your manuscript document and feel at a loss for how you actually need to be spending your time. You’re at the stage where everything about your manuscript feels messy—and it is. Today we’re going to decode that for you and give you your next right step when it comes to your writing and editing. Let’s get started.

Take my memoir quiz here.

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This episode highlights a writer’s experience applying the principles I teach and implement with my writers. It is for the writer who has written a LOT. Like, thousands and thousands and thousands of words. Writing that much material can eventually feel crippling, and then you’re sitting there, staring at your computer with no idea what to actually do with it. Today I’m sharing a story of a writer I worked with, and we took her 150K-word manuscript and halved it.

You can find me on Instagram @charlottejanewrites, Facebook, and YouTube.

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This episode is for the writer burned out on Google searches. You’ve Googled “memoir advice” so many times that you know what to expect in that first page of search results. You may have even found this podcast through a search like that! Before you waste any more time combing through free memoir content, I want you to take a step back and assess what is actually helping you. That’s what this episode is all about, and I’m excited to dive into with you.

Dive into the Memoir Strategy Series here.

This episode highlights a writer’s experience applying the principles I teach and implement with my writers. I’m talking today about a writer who had tapped into every free piece of content she could find—and it kind of backfired on her. I’ll show you what she was doing, what mindsets and perspectives we shifted, and how that impacted her memoir manuscript.

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You can find me on Instagram @charlottejanewrites, Facebook, and YouTube.

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This episode is for the writer who doesn’t know what she doesn’t know. If you are feeling stuck, feeling that block, but can’t put your finger on why, then you’re probably right in the middle of a blindspot. And the hard thing about blindspots is that they can sabotage your memoir without you even realizing it. I want to dig into that today and shine some light on what you might not know you don’t know. Let’s get into it!

Jump into the Memoir Strategy Collection here.

You...

This episode highlights a writer’s experience applying the principles I teach and implement with my writers. I’m talking about a writer who, like many of you, came to me with tens of thousands of words but no direction for them. I want to tell you about how she took those words and used an editorial strategy to make sense of the draft that she’d already written.

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This episode is for the writer who has what novelist Ann Lamott has coined the “shitty first draft.” You’ve written thousands and thousands of words, and truth be told, it’s not that great. But what do you actually do with a shitty first draft? That’s what I want to talk about today.

Unlock instant access to the Memoir Strategy Collection here.

This Memoir masterclass collection is a series of four actionable, high-impact mini masterclasses designed to shine a light on what you don't know you don't know as a m...

This episode highlights a writer’s experience applying the principles I teach and implement with my writers. I’m talking to the writer who wants to be an author, holding their published book in their hands and connecting with real readers on the other side. I’ll share insights and breakthroughs a past writer of mine had when we worked together when she came to me frustrated that her completed manuscript wasn’t getting any takers, from readers or agents.

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This episode is for the writer who is operating under the misconception that every single detail and story has to be included in her manuscript for her memoir to be true. This is a common misunderstanding about memoir, and the truth of this is that if you can create an editorial strategy or filter for your manuscript, it will be clear which stories belong in your memoir and which ones don’t. I’ll explain more in the episode. Let’s get into it!

Unlock instant access to all four mini masterclasses inside the Memoir...

This episode is for the writer who has received some lackluster feedback. Maybe she’s already invested in an editor, but they didn’t tell her how to fix any of the manuscript’s problems. This episode is all about the importance of developing an author’s perspective and how that will translate into the work you do in revisions. Let’s get into it.

So, after I recorded this episode I actually changed the title to our next mini masterclass! Memoir vs. Autobiography is now Thinking Like an Author: The Mindset Shift to Unlock You...

This episode is for the writer who is over-editing and over-writing (you know who you are!). You look at the same paragraphs over and over and think if you just tweak it a little more you’ll find the sweet spot. But what ends up happening is that you actually just spend your time in the same passages not making any real progress at all. This episode is for you.

Enroll in Memoir Clarity for just $37.

Or enroll in all of the mini masterclasses here.

Memoir Clarity wi...

This episode is for the writer who has too much story. She’s starting the year with a burst of energy and motivation, but when she sits down to open her draft she freezes. She can’t find the focus of her story, and that feeling of being lost is quickly crowding out any motivation she had at the beginning of the month. This episode is for you. Let’s get started.

Register for Find the Focus here.

Enroll in all four mini masterclasses here.

Find the Focus...

This episode is for the writing terrified of her revisions. She’s looking down the barrel of what she’s written with no idea how to make sense of it. I know exactly what she’s missing, and this puzzle piece will create a domino effect in the revisions process that makes everything make sense.

Unlock instant access to my memoir fundamentals course.

Book a free 30-minute call to map out your editorial needs.

You can find me on Instagram @charlottejanewrites, Facebook, and YouTube.

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This episode is for the writer who wants more from her editor. She wants not just someone who can smooth her prose and correct her commas; she wants an editor who  is a partner throughout the writing and revisions process. She wants an editor with whom she can have a relationship, not just someone she sends her manuscript to in one email and receives it back in the next. There are many ways to experience an editor, and today I’m talking about mine.

Check out The Cornerstone to Memoir (free masterclass).

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This episode is for the writer who feels passionately about her story but feels overwhelm creeping in, because she doesn't know what she doesn't know. She knows that something is off in her manuscript but can't pinpoint what she needs to fix. She's new to the editorial process and wants to know more about what she's getting into. She wants to feel supported and empowered throughout the entire editing experience. This episode is for you.

Book a free call to talk more about working with me 1:1. (And anyone who books a free call in...

This episode is for the writer ready to write smarter, not harder. She’s Googled all the things, watched all the YouTube videos, and knows that she’s missing something. What she doesn’t realize yet is that she has all the information she needs—she just needs a new way of looking at it. I’m really excited for this episode, so let’s go!

Book a free call here to talk about private editorial work.

Grab the Memoir Map Expansion Pack (my one Black Friday 2024 deal!)

This episode is for the writer who has stalled out. She’s made some progress, is committed to the process, but doesn’t know why writing has felt so hard lately. She needs something different, but she isn’t sure what that needs to be. This episode is for you. Let’s get into it.



Jump into the Memoir Map Expansion Pack, my one Black Friday deal this year!

Or, if 1:1 word is more your speed, go ahead and schedule a free call with me here.

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This episode is for the writer who feels stuck and overwhelmed. You want to work on—and even finish!—your memoir. But you're feeling blocked and don't know how to move through it. In my years of working with writers, I've noticed a few self-sabotaging patterns that keep you in frustrating writing loop. In today's episode, I'll break that down and also go over how to choose the right editor (because that can be harder than you think!).

✅ Download your Choosing the Right Editor Checklist

Dive into my writing routine workshop IDENTITY.

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This episode is for the memoir writer trying to understand memoir writing and the revisions process a little bit better. This is for the writer who wants to be strategic in how she uses her time and energy in writing her story. Let's get into it!

Enjoy discounted enrollment and instant access to my memoir fundamentals course North Star.

Learn more about 1:1 editing.

Book a free 30-minute call to go into your personal editing needs.

You can find me on Instagram @charlottejanewrites, Facebook, and YouTube.

This episode is for the writer who feels stuck in her memoir and doesn't know how to move forward. In this episode, I'll breakdown three ways this stagnation shows up and three tools you can apply right now to kickstart your momentum.

For even deeper support in restarting your memoir momentum, you'll want to join my 30-day Memoir Incubator.

We kick off on October 22 with an exclusive training all about crafting your own custom memoir roadmap so that you know exactly what steps you need to take to progress...

This episode is for the writer who wants to feel connected, who wants to be led by someone who knows her journey. Before I was an editor, I was a writer (and before that I was a reader!). The path you’re walking is one that I’m familiar with, and I want to extract every ounce of wisdom, perspective, and commiseration from my own experience as a writer to help you. Let’s get into it.

Hop into my free masterclass The Cornerstone to Memoir.

Enjoy 37 percent off the Memoir Mindset Bundle...

This episode is for the writer who feels a disconnect between what she wants and how she feels. She wants to be a writer, but she has a hard time feeling like one. She tries to do the things she thinks she’s supposed to, but it’s not producing the results she wants. She’s still not writing regularly and not adding to her word count. This episode will help you tap deeper into who you actually are as a writer so that you can create both the manuscript and the writing life you desire. Let’s go.

This is for the writer who believes that memoir writing is hard. She feels overwhelmed, and that weight has started to take the joy out of writing. She’s not sure if she’s any good, which makes it hard to have fun when she does show up. This writer wants to love writing and love what she writes. Today I’m going to dive into what “good writing” really is and highlight elements of good writing that I look for in the manuscripts I read. Let’s get into it.

Enroll in North Star here.<...

This episode is for the writer who has a hard time remembering what it feels like to love what she does, who either doesn’t know or can’t remember what it can feel like to be a writer. Today I’m going into what’s going on in your mind and in your heart as you try to write but can’t. The more I’ve resurrected my writing life, the more I’ve realized that this goes so much deeper than the words you put on the page. Let’s get into it.

Watch the free...

This episode is for the writer who feels lost. She wants to be a writer, but doesn’t feel like one. In fact, feeling like a writer feels wildly far away. Last week, in episode 39, we talked about what I call inspiration paralysis: a more surface-level block having to do more with writing processes, rhythms, and discipline. But writer’s block is a completely different beast; writer’s block touches how you see yourself and your writing and affects the root of how you show up to your writing. It’s time to talk about it. Let’s go.

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This episode is for the writer who is feeling stuck but not blocked. She knows why she’s writing and why her story matters, but she keeps putting off writing because she doesn’t know what to write. This isn’t as deep as writer’s block but no less frustrating. In today’s episode I want to help you reframe inspiration and the role it plays in the writing process and the writing life.

Learn more about the memoir cornerstone mentioned in the episode.

Read Ariel Lawhon's SubStack about insp...

This episode is for the writer who wants to feel like a writer. She wants to create and write and really tap into the message of her story—but she doesn’t know how, because life keeps getting in the way. That desire to write and create, though? That goes soul deep. The trick comes into cultivating a creative life, one where creativity and writing is woven effortlessly throughout your day. I have three ways you can start to integrate this today, right now. Let’s get into it.

Join the writing workshop Identity here.<...

This episode is a repost of episode 3, an episode many of you may not have listened to before! The show has grown so much in just the nine months since I started it, and this concept is truly the heartbeat behind Bookish Edits and how I interact with stories and my writers.

At the end I pop back in to share The Memoir Mindset Handbook with you. This digital download is a perfect accompaniment to this episode and is for the writer ready to take themselves seriously and actually think and act like a...