12. Making Your Manuscript Shimmer featuring Laura Davis

Laura Davis joins Let’s Talk Memoir for a conversation about creating tension, writing for ourselves versus an audience, moving from the personal to the universal, trusting your reader, and the gift of self-discovery on the page.

Also in this episode:

-self-care when writing about trauma

-using correspondence in manuscripts

-the power of beta readers

Memoirs mentioned in this episode:

Expecting Adam by Martha Beck

Half the House by Richard Hoffman

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

Laura Davis is the author of The Burning Light of Two Stars, the riveting memoir about her tumultuous yet loving relationship with her mother, and six other non-fiction books, including The Courage to Heal, Allies in Healing, I Thought We‘d Never Speak Again, and Becoming the Parent You Want to Be. Her groundbreaking books have been translated into 11 languages and sold 1.8 million copies. In addition to writing books that inspire and change people’s lives, the work of Laura’s heart is to teach. For more than twenty years, she’s helped people find their voices, tell their stories, and hone their craft. Laura loves creating supportive, intimate writing communities online, in person, and internationally. You can learn about Laura’s books and workshops, read the first five chapters of her memoir, and receive a free ebook: Writing Through Courage: A 30-Day Practice at www.lauradavis.net.

For Let’s Talk Memoir Listeners:

You can also read the opening chapters for free here: http://www.lauradavis.net/chapters

Direct links to buy The Burning Light of Two Stars:

Audiobook version of The Burning Light of Two Stars (Laura is the narrator):

On Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Burning-Light-of-Two-Stars-Audiobook/B09G8WJQP7

And on Libro.fm for independent stores: https://libro.fm/audiobooks/9781950144471

Independent Bookstores:

Get Signed Copies Through Bookshop Santa Cruz:

https://www.bookshopsantacruz.com/burning-light-two-stars-get-it-signed)

Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/books/the-burning-light-of-two-stars-a-mother-daughter-story-9781954854161/9781954854161

Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1954854161

amzn.com/B08XZMFH46

Want to Order Internationally with Free Worldwide Delivery?

https://www.bookdepository.com/The-Burning-Light-of-Two-Stars-Laura-Davis/9781954854161

Attention Writers:

If you’re a writer or want to use writing as a tool for healing or self-discovery, you can learn about Laura’s online writing workshops and in-person domestic and international retreats here: www.lauradavis.net

And if you want to go on a magical creative vacation to Tuscany with Laura in June of 2022, check out some serious eye candy here!

Social media links:

FB: https://www.facebook.com/thewritersjourney

IG: https://www.instagram.com/laurasaridavis

Twitter: https://twitter.com/laurasaridavis

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/laurasaridavis/

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Ronit’s essays and fiction have been featured in The Atlantic, The Rumpus, The New York Times, The Iowa Review, The Washington Post, Writer’s Digest, American Literary Review, and elsewhere. Her memoir WHEN SHE COMES BACK about the loss of her mother to the guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh and their eventual reconciliation was named Finalist in both the 2021 Best Book Awards and the 2021 Book of the Year Award and a 2021 Best True Crime Book by Book Riot. Her short story collection HOME IS A MADE-UP PLACE won Hidden River Arts’ 2020 Eludia Award and will be published in 2022. She is host and producer of the podcasts And Then Everything Changed and The Body Myth.

More about Ronit: https://ronitplank.com

More about WHEN SHE COMES BACK, a memoir: https://ronitplank.com/book/

Sign up for monthly podcast and writing updates: https://bit.ly/33nyTKd

Follow Ronit:

https://www.instagram.com/ronitplank/

https://twitter.com/RonitPlank

https://www.facebook.com/RonitPlank

Background photo credit: Photo by Patrick Tomasso on Unsplash

Headshot photo credit: Sarah Anne Photography

Theme music: Isaac Joel, Dead Moll’s Fingers