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.
Aiming for Excellence with Dr. William Payn
Chasing Curiosity with Vicky Cook
Singing a Different Tune with Amber Petty
Making Mischief with David Spencer
Being "Good Enough" with Lela Rohrer Stech
Going Home Again with Adam Dietz
Transcending Creative Boundaries with Nina Hart
The Soul of Creativity with Dawn Kotzer
Modeling Disease Outbreaks with Robert Smith?
Coaching Call: Maggie B.
Valuing Every Attempt with André Jackson
My Own Creative Journey with Nancy Norbeck
Art's What's Gonna Save Us with Domenic Sciortino
Coaching Call: Jamie W.
Reclaiming Our Time with Maria James-Thiaw
Coaching Call: Emily T.
The Gifts of Creativity with Kelly Flanagan
Asking Ourselves "Why Not?" with Robert Shearman
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