323: The Importance of Composting in the Writing Process — Interview with Helen Zuman

Hey there word nerds!

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Helen Zuman.

Helen Zuman is the author of Mating in Captivity, a memoir of her five years, post-Harvard, at Zendik Farm, a neo-hippie cult with a radical take on sex and relationships. Her memoir has received many honors. It got a starred review from Kirkus and was named Kirkus Best Indie Memoir of 2018, and it was a finalist in Creative Nonfiction for the Community of Literary Magazines and Presses’ 2019 Firecracker Award. Today we’ll be talking about the craft and process behind Mating in Captivity.

In this episode Helen Zuman and I discuss: How blogging and memoir classes got her the feedback she needed to develop her manuscript. What is healing about writing a memoir and how it can help you cope with confusing, painful, and difficult personal experiences. Why she didn’t always use pseudonyms for her characters. Plus, her #1 tip for writers.

For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/323