Laura Whitfield’s Memoir Uncovers a Journey of Faith and Healing
“If you bring that emotion and you’re passionate about it, it doesn’t matter what it is, and you bring that to the page, then it will resonate with people.” — Laura Whitfield
One of the most difficult parts of writing a memoir for an author is being vulnerable and honest on the page. We worry about how many details to add and whether our story will hurt others, so we tend to edit ourselves. I was impressed with how vulnerable and open Laura Whitfield is in her memoir.
In this episode of “Authors Who Lead,” I talk to Laura Whitfield about her journey writing her memoir, Untethered: Faith, Failure, and Finding Solid Ground, and how to be vulnerable on the page.
Advice to Authors:
Start writing and keep writing. Whether you’re a young aspiring writer or someone who’s been dreaming of writing for years, the important thing is to start! Don’t let fears or self-doubt hold you back. Trust your story and take the plunge.
Embrace vulnerability. Writing a memoir requires baring your soul and taking risks. Be completely honest in your writing and don’t hold back. Readers can sense when you’re being authentic, and it’s this vulnerability that creates a deep connection with your audience.
Trust the process. Writing a book is not about getting it perfect, but rather about getting it down. Trust that your story will evolve and improve through edits and revisions. Remember that writing is a team sport, and having support from editors and other professionals can make a world of difference.
In this podcast, Laura also shares with us:
- To just keep going, knowing that your book still has to be edited.
- That your book has a life and an emotional life. When we sit down with a book we love, we enter into this world.
- These beautiful memoirs let us reconnect to our own persona and our own shortcomings
- Writing can be cathartic
What was your biggest takeaway from this episode? Are you writing a memoir? Share in the comments below!
That’s all for this week. If you have a message inside of you that needs to be written, today is the day to start. Don’t delay — take action.