My guest this week is Kerry Malawista, a psychoanalyst and writer who uses writing to heal. She’s the co-director of the New Directions in Writing project, which offers programs in writing from a psychological perspective. Her publication credits include the Washington Post, New York Times, and Delmarva Review, which nominated her for a Pushcart Prize. Her first novel, Meet the Moon, focuses on a young teen after the loss of her mother. Kerry talks with me about how she came to writing later in life, creating a writing program—The Things They Carry Project—to help healthcare workers cope with the pandemic, how she turned her own story of loss into a novel, how we perceive memory and truth, and more.
Episode breakdown:
00:00 Parents' encouragement led to unexpected creativity.
04:40 First published piece inspired by Costa Rica trip.
09:33 Overcame challenges, found success, inspired others.
12:09 Email testimonials show positive impact on frontline workers.
15:57 Led groups for teachers, immigrants, college-bound youth.
20:32 Reading shapes perception and understanding of truth.
22:59 Realization of an impossible event from memory.
24:34 Using writing to process powerful personal experiences.
30:25 Struggling writer finds inspiration to use imagination.
32:17 Fiction captures therapist's view on loss and resilience.
34:58 Conveying ideas in a novel can be challenging.
38:48 Memoir vs novel: finding the right structure.
43:39 Humorous movie turns into husband's choking ordeal.
47:07 Effective writing balances trauma with humor.
50:29 Use all 5 senses to describe experiences.
Check out the full show notes at fycuriosity.com, and connect with me and fellow creatives on Substack.
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Want more? Here's a handy playlist with all my previous interviews with guests in writing.
Art and Commerce with Domenic Sciortino
CPT #79: Other People's Opinions
Celebrating Five Years of FYC with Nancy Norbeck
CPT #78: Lapsed Creativity
Finding Fulfillment in Writing with Raquel Drosos
CPT #77: Embrace Normal
The Crossroads of Conflict and Creativity with Alex Poppe
Replay: CPT #36: Start Where You Are
CPT #76: Recognize Your Creativity
Revision, Rejection, and Perseverance with Kevin Carey
CPT #75: Let Yourself Be Happy
The Transformative Power of Play with Tim J. Myers
CPT #74: Structure
Comedy and Teamwork with Marc Kaye
CPT #73: Resolutions and Expectations
Professional Fandom with Gary Russell
Replay: CPT #65: Mr. Twinkletoes
Replay: Rediscovering the Human with Kate Powers
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