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.
Learning by Doing with Desiree Argentina
Good Grammar with Curtis Honeycutt
Living an Intuitive Life with Kelly Abanda
Happily Homeless with Alison Miller
Replay: Modeling Disease Outbreaks with Robert Smith?
Giving Ourselves Permission with Sam Kimberle
Music, Mathematics, and Code with Michael Smith
Harnessing Your Brain Power with Katy-Rose Bye
From Tech to Theatre with Rupert Goodwins
"Yes, and..." with Jennifer Nasta Zefutie
Off to a Good Start with Kate Hutcheson
Replay: The Gifts of Creativity with Dr. Kelly Flanagan
Happy Accidents with Anthony Wilson
Replay: Art's What's Gonna Save Us with Domenic Sciortino
Crushing Classical with Tracy Friedlander
Bringing Death into Life with Tara Sroka
"There Is No Magic Path" with Kristen Good
Finding a True Path with Michelle Ward
The Power of Ritual with Cat Kessler
Conservatory vs. College with D'Anna Fortunato
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