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Episodes
Dec 26, 2022
Dec 26, 2022
16 min
Nicole and Mary unpack the possibilities of what "solito" means as a title that encapsulates this harrowing story about love and yearning, risk and danger, fear and hope...
Dec 19, 2022
Dec 19, 2022
23 min
Can "world building" apply to memoir if a story revisits a world the author no longer inhabits? Mary + Nicole discuss how Zamora creates a full immersion experience in Solito.
Dec 12, 2022
Dec 12, 2022
18 min
Ever wondered how to re-capture the voice of childhood in your memoir? Nicole + Mary recount the ways Zamora invites us into the mind and heart of his 9-year-old self.
Dec 5, 2022
Dec 5, 2022
17 min
From waves to Magic Eye, this novel is full of recurring images and metaphors. In this final episode discussing Zevin's novel, Mary and Nicole identify these motifs and how she uses them to deepen our reading experience.
Nov 28, 2022
Nov 28, 2022
19 min
Writing a story within a story is tricky (Mary knows, she did it in her first novel When You Read This), but Gabrielle Zevin not only writes about gamers, she creates truly genius game concepts inside her story. In this episode, the hosts unpack how she does it so well.
Nov 21, 2022
Nov 21, 2022
14 min
When Nicole and Mary met up to record this episode, they were both wiping away tears from having just re-read this one chapter. The death scene of Marx is a masterpiece. Why? Why does it work so well? They discuss.
Nov 14, 2022
Nov 14, 2022
25 min
"Is this an omniscient point of view?" Nicole asks Mary at the top of this episode. What a journey in point of view this novel was! Mary and Nicole dissect Zevin's point of view choices and admire her bold moves.
Nov 7, 2022
Nov 7, 2022
15 min
Who doesn't love a book that entertains AND makes you feel smarter? One of the things Mary and Nicole enjoyed most about Lost & Found is its glimpse into the author's scholarly mind, from her interest in the ideas of William James to the poetry of Elizabeth Bishop. Whose writings would you reference to add depth and texture to your memoir?
Oct 31, 2022
Oct 31, 2022
22 min
Think in order to write memoir you have to spill your secrets? Think again! Nicole and Mary identify the ways Schulz is in full control of her story, choosing what to reveal—and when—for maximum impact. Tune in to learn how to create delight for your reader while maintaining boundaries around your privacy.
Oct 24, 2022
Oct 24, 2022
15 min
One of the biggest challenges for memoir writers is figuring out what to cut and what to keep. In part 2 of our discussion of Lost & Found, Nicole and Mary highlight how Schulz uses structure to narrow her scope and shape the story she wants to tell.