Conversations with Writers Braver Than Me: Elisa Albert
Albert, who is at work on her second novel, describes both books as “personal” as opposed to autobiographical, although they are rooted in her own experiences.
Posts by tag
Conversations With Writers Braver Than Me
19 posts
From 2010-2017, writer and editor Sari Botton ran an interview series at The Rumpus called “Conversations with Writers Braver Than Me.”
From the intro to Sari’s first interview in this series (with Vivian Gornick): “As a writer of first-person nonfiction, I have lately been paralyzed with fear, mostly about hurting other people through the stories I tell.
Every time I publish a personal essay, someone close to me freaks out – sometimes because I’ve revealed something about myself they’re not comfortable with, but more often because I’ve revealed too much about them, and in a way they find unflattering.
In an effort to embolden myself to move past this crippling fear and go on writing–or give up altogether–I’ve begun interviewing memoirists I admire. I ask them their philosophy about writing about others; how they have handled writing about their parents, siblings, husbands, wives, partners, exes, and everyone in between; and what kind of consequences they’ve suffered as a result.”
Conversations with Writers Braver Than Me: Heather Havrilesky
I wasn’t surprised to find that I enjoyed Havrilesky’s book and really related to it. There is so much overlap in our stories, I should probably hate her for beating me to the finish line by miles – thousands of them.
Conversations with Writers Braver Than Me: Nick Flynn
Flynn and I discussed his approach to writing the memoirs—as well as the advantages of having Protestant parents—over coffee in the West Village.
Conversations with Writers Braver Than Me: Jillian Lauren
I wrote the book with a tremendous suspension of disbelief; I wrote it as if no one was ever going to read it. I know that sounds like a cliché.
Conversations with Writers Braver Than Me: Stephen Elliott
“We all think we’re retaliating,” Elliott writes. “We all think our actions are justified by someone else’s actions. But actually we’re responsible for what we do.”
Conversations with Writers Braver Than Me: Shalom Auslander
As someone who was raised with reform Judaism, my negative experiences with religion pale next to Auslander’s.
Conversations with Writers Braver Than Me: Vivian Gornick
In an effort to embolden myself to move past this crippling fear and go on writing – or give up altogether – I’ve begun interviewing memoirists I admire.