Episode 145: A New Year’s Nightmare

On today’s episode, we’re bringing you an old episode that’s still relevant and awesome, in case you missed it back in season one.

You’ll meet a bunch of students from Season 1: Frenchie, Tobi Ash, Cynthia Castillo, Bo, and Nicki Post. You’ll also hear a brief interview with each and the epic talent of Patricia Carlin, aka Frenchie, singing, playing piano, and whistling the tune of Auld Lang Syne. 

For the in-class prompt, Andrea played Auld Lang Syne. Listen to this episode to see what our students came up with and how important writing and sharing is to the psyche. This is also a fascinating look at the development of our podcast. We’ve been at this seven years and 145 episodes. We’re about to hit 1 million downloads!

Stay tuned to find out what Auld Lang Syne actually means and to get a list of the best of Writing Class Radio 2022. Happy New Year!

 

Episode 144: When Is a Gift More than a Gift?

In this episode, we bring you a story by Emily Henderson titled After Our Son Died, My Husband Gave Me The Most Meaningful Christmas Gift Of My Life. Emily workshopped this essay in our Final Draft class and then the Huffington Post published it on December 25, 2021.

This story is an excellent example of using an object to convey emotion, details, and telling in addition to showing. Emily tells us how she’s feeling the entire story which intensifies her vulnerability. To hear another of Emily’s stories, listen to Episode 103: Writing the Same Story Over and Over. 

Emily Henderson is a runner and writer living in Santa Barbara, California. Her essays have appeared in Scary Mommy, the Santa Barbara Independent, Huffington Post, and Writing Class Radio. Emily is currently writing a memoir about processing the loss of her son while running every street in her city. You can follow her on Instagram at @emilykathleenwrites or visit emilykathleenwrites.com.

 

Episode 143: Cutting Needless Words

Today on our show, we’re sharing another story by Corey Devon Arthur. This essay is titled Choices.

Corey wrote Choices for this episode in response to our callout for men’s abortion stories and it came in at 3,000 words. Allison loved the entire story, because she pretty much loves everything Corey writes. She made a few edits, asked Corey a bunch of questions, and the story got longer. She sent it to Andrea, sure she would love it. Only, Andrea was like, What is all this? Andrea whittled it down to 1,113 words. So today we’re talking about omitting needless words and why that is important.

Corey Devon Arthur has served 25 years on a life sentence for robbery and murder and is currently housed at Otisville Correctional Institution in New York. Corey is an artist and writer who has been published on Writing Class Radio and The Marshall Project. Corey’s stories have been aired on Episode 120: My Pen Uncovers the Real Me and Episode 128: My New Manifesto. To read more Corey, check out his Medium page.

 

Episode 142: Beginnings and Endings

Today on our show, we’re talking about beginnings and endings. What is an effective way to begin a story and a satisfying way to end? Shawna Kenney submitted the essay you will hear today and we were blown away. Her story, called Words with Mom, is an amazing example of how to start with appropriate grounding and how to land/end the essay like a gymnast. The narrator isn’t just a beginning and ending genius, she also uses lingo associated with her theme. This style is effective, because the reader feels more drawn in. Another example of that same type of inclusive linguistic style was discussed on Episode 110: How to Write About Death: Use an Obsession. Jackie Ashton told the story of her best friend’s cancer by using the situation of a Golden State Warriors obsession and basketball lingo throughout. 

Shawna Kenney is the author of four books, the latest being Live at the Safari Club: A History of HarDCore Punk in the Nation’s Capital 1988-1998. Kenney is a Contributing Editor with Narratively and her work has appeared in The New York Times, Playboy, Creative Nonfiction, Vice, Bust, Rock the Bells and more. She teaches memoir writing with the UCLA Extension Writers Program. 

 

Episode 141: Where Does Your Brain Go When You’re Given a Writing Prompt?

Today on our show, we bring you a story by Webber, a 7th grade student at Ransom Everglades Middle School. His story is called The Bossa Nova.

Webber’s essay was completely written on his own. Allison did nothing. Not one thing. And what’s cool about this essay and many essays that are created from a writing prompt, is that Webber played the piano and let his mind wander, something electronics seems to have wiped out: time without stimulation and distraction.

 

Episode 140: One Man's Abortion Story

Today on our show, we bring you the story we’ve been searching for since June 24, 2022 when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade. We put a call out for men’s abortion stories and waited months. In Episode 138: There’s Always More to the Story, we talked about why only three men submitted stories, none of which fit our guidelines. We called men cowards. Matt Cundill, our audio producer, was in the greenroom listening. He heard the lashing we gave all the men out there who have a story they refuse to share. After the recording, Matt expressed his anger. Andrea said, “Let’s hear your story.” Today, he is sharing his story One Man’s Abortion Story with you. 

Sharing his story brought up some issues for the narrator and for many writers of memoir. How do you tell your story when the story involves others who may not want their story shared? On this episode, the hosts discuss how they handle this issue.

He mentioned an episode from Degrassi High in his story. You can see the episode as it appeared in Canada for free here. (The episode ran edited on PBS in the USA)

Matt Cundill has been voicing radio ads and voice-overs for film and television since the 90s. Matt is now president of The Sound Off Media Company which offers audio solutions and podcast creation. 

 

Episode 139: This is What Mania Looks Like

Today’s episode showcases a story by student Danielle Huggins.

Danielle’s story shows what happened when she got off her medication for bipolar disorder. This essay is the best example of show and tell EVER!

Danielle told a story on Episode 105: Teach Us Something We Don’t Know. That episode was about her experience with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). If you haven’t listened to that episode, definitely check it out.

Danielle Huggins is a former middle school math teacher with a masters degree in literacy. She is currently a stay-at-home mom, a student of Writing Class Radio, and an avid kickboxer. Danielle has a Facebook page called My Life As a Bipolar Mom. You can also find her on Instagram @bipolardanielle. She lives in New Jersey with her husband and two children.

 

Episode 138: There Is Always More to the Story

Today’s episode revisits the subject of abortion but is about much more. We put a call-out for men’s abortion stories and received several abortion stories by women and very few (only three) by men.

We selected this essay by past student Melanie Merriman because it is brilliantly written and deeply vulnerable. Melanie’s story shows how even someone who is a badass scientist can be manipulated and emotionally coerced into having sex when she doesn’t want to. Melanie's story also shows how there is so much more to every abortion story--every story.

Dr. Melanie P. Merriman, PhD was a research scientist. Now she’s a non-profit grant evaluator. She’s the author of Holding the Net: Caring For My Mother on the Tightrope of Aging. She’s written for The Washington Post, ThirdAge.com, Guideposts, and NextAvenue.org. She is also the co-author of Merriman’s Hawaii: The Chef, The Farmers, The Food, The Islands. You can find Melanie at www.melaniemerriman.com or on Twitter at https://twitter.com/authormerriman 

In the wake of the Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, please support The National Network of Abortion Funds. These funds, provide practical, logistical, and financial support for anyone who needs help obtaining an abortion. 

 

Episode 137: How to Fight with Your Co-Host and Win a Writing Contest

Today on our show we share a story by our own Allison Langer. Her essay is called Writing Class Helped Me Break Down My Fascade. You will hear about the fight hosts Allison and Andrea had that prompted this episode. We’ll talk about trying to make money as a writer, revisiting the same theme, and how to win a writing contest. 

If you think you are the only one writing about the same thing over and over, this episode is for you. See how themes can change over time and how you can win a contest when you least expect it. Writing class is more than just writing and trying to get published. It is about growth, connection, healing and everything in between. 

Allison Langer is a Miami native, University of Miami MBA, writer, and single mom to three children, ages 12, 15 and 17. She is a podcast producer and host, a private writing coach, taught memoir writing in prison and has been published in The Washington Post, Mutha Magazine, Scary Mommy, Modern Loss, and NextTribe. Allison wrote a novel about wrongful conviction and is actively looking for an agent. Currently, she is teaching middle school English and working on a memoir with her friend and inside student Clifton Jones (2-Tall).

 

Episode 136: What Makes You Weird in the World?

Today on our show, author and overall cool woman, Allison Landa reads an excerpt from her new memoir coming out October 4, 2022 called Bearded Lady (Woodhall Press). Andrea read an advance copy and this story–this book–is one of Andrea’s all time favorites.

This essay, the whole memoir, is a lesson in guts out vulnerability. Andrea believes Allison Landa is the next Joan Didion.

The part we bring you is a perfect example of the use of a container and it’s also an elegant lesson in the importance of being vulnerable. Cheryl Strayed, author of Wild, said, “Don’t lift your skirt just to lift your skirt.” Allison Landa lifts her skirt for all the right reasons. We also talk about how to pull an excerpt from a memoir and make it work as a stand-alone piece.

Allison Landa is a Berkeley, CA-based writer who’s written for Parents Magazine, Business Insider, The Guardian, The Washington Post, and HuffPost Personal. She teaches at The Writing Salon in San Francisco and earned an MFA in fiction from St. Mary's College of California. She is represented by Marisa Zeppieri of Strachan Literary Agency. You can find Allison Landau at the following places: www.facebook.com/matzohbrei, Twitter: @allisonlanda, Instagram: @adlanda or www.allisonlanda.com. Cover photo by Maya Blum Photography.

 

 Episode 135: In Praise of Complaining

Today on our show we share a story by Cheryl E. Klein, author of the soon to be released memoir Crybaby. Cheryl takes an unusual subject, complaining, and makes a case for it. She even goes so far as to say complaining is noble. 

We discuss her voice and commitment to what some people, most people, probably think is an obnoxious quality. NOT US! We love her even more for complaining. Cheryl also uses dialogue really well, which we will also explore.

Cheryl E. Klein is the author of CRYBABY (Brown Paper Press), a memoir about wanting a baby and getting cancer instead. She also wrote a story collection, THE COMMUTERS (City Works Press) and a novel, LILAC MINES (Manic D Press). Cheryl is a Senior Editor and columnist for MUTHA Magazine, where she often writes about adoption, fear, and her hatred of LEGOs. Her stories and essays have appeared in Entropy, The Normal School, Blunderbuss, and several anthologies. By day, she works for a nonprofit youth writing organization in Los Angeles.. Follow her on Twitter (@CherylEKleinLA) and Instagram (@CherylEKleinStories).