41. Living in Gratitude Special: Liberate yourself from your story with memoir writing coach Alison Wearing

Welcome back to Too Young To Be Old, the podcast that empowers women over 50. In today's episode, our host, the queen of jeans herself, Diane Gilman, delves into the world of memoirs writing with the insightful Alison Wearing, a seasoned memoir writing coach. Alison discusses how writing a memoir is much more than just writing a book. It is a journey of self discovery helping writers see their past from a different perspective. This episode is part of our Living in Gratitude series out every Thursday in December. 

Discovering the Power of Memoirs

Diane kicks off the conversation by sharing her personal journey as an author and how writing her two books transformed her understanding of herself. She reflects on the profound realization that she not only survived her own life but thrived through the process.

Memoir Material

Alison, with over 30 years of writing experience and 15-18 years doing memoir coaching, describes how she stumbled into the world of memoir coaching. She mentions the idea that everyone who has survived their childhood possesses enough material for a compelling memoir.

Crafting a Well-Done Memoir

Alison introduces the concept that a well-done memoir is not just a collection of stories but a narrative that charts a significant shift, often in perception. She emphasizes the importance of offering readers a gift through this transformative journey, whether it's learning to live with grief or making peace with a difficult past.

Navigating the Writing Process

Diane queries Alison about the challenges of selecting the right elements for a memoir. Alison shares that the difficulty lies in deciding what to omit rather than what to include, highlighting the importance of universal experiences that connect us as human beings.

Empowering Through Writing

Alison details how memoir writing provides individuals with power over their stories and lives. She underscores that while we can't change what happens to us, we can change how we perceive it. Diane echoes this sentiment, expressing how her writing her own books liberated her from childhood traumas.

Course Creation and Coaching

Transitioning from one-on-one coaching, Alison reveals she has developed a comprehensive course to guide aspiring memoirists through the writing process. Diane interjects with a fascinating tidbit about her ghostwriter uncovering surprising family revelations during the creation of her book.

Alison emphasizes that writing our stories liberates us from them, allowing us to embody experiences with a fresh perspective. Diane concurs, expressing gratitude for the liberation she found through her memoir.

Memoir vs. Journal Writing

Drawing a distinction between memoirs and journals, Alison notes that memoirs are crafted for others to read, fostering connection and shared experiences. Meanwhile, journals serve as personal reflections.

Favorite Moments and Writing Retreats

Alison shares her favorite aspect of her work – witnessing individuals, whether seasoned writers or novices, discover and share their voices. She continues to run in-person writing retreats, catering especially to women in their sterling years who now seek the time and space to explore their own narratives.

Alison’s details

Website: https://www.alisonwearing.com/ 

Retreats: https://www.alisonwearing.com/memoir-writing-ink 

Connect with Diane

Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok and Youtube: @thedianegilman

Website: thedianegilman.com