How to Write Your Memoir, 'Invisible Kingdom', Elvis Costello

Everyone has a story to tell. Whether it was some crazy life adventure, a family history, or a personal reflection, memoir writing is a great way to make sense of the world and our place in it. Maybe you've even started writing yourself. But it's not easy to write personal stories. The process can be intimidating, vulnerable, and uncomfortable. Cullen Thomas, a teacher at Gotham Writers, and Briallen Hopper, an associate professor at Queens College, both teach memoir writing to aspiring writers, and they join us to talk about the basic skills needed to write creative and narrative-driven non-fiction, how to dig deeper into your own story, and take calls from listeners for any writing questions or to give advice on your own memoir ideas.

[REBROADCAST FROM May 12, 2022] Navigating the nebulous world of chronic illness can be frustrating for patients, especially when their illness is not outwardly visible. Roughly six out of ten Americans suffer from at least one chronic illness, and many of these illnesses are poorly understood, and difficult to diagnose and treat. And now, with the emergence of "long-COVID," more people are grappling with what it might mean to live with chronic illness. A new book by Meghan O'Rourke, The Invisible Kingdom: Reimagining Chronic Illness, investigates the history of Western notions of "health" versus "illness," what it means to be "ill," and how we might reimagine these definitions to create a world where navigating the uncertainty of chronic illness is less frightening. O'Rourke joins us to discuss.

[REBROADCAST FROM January 14, 2022] Elvis Costello's new album, The Boy Named If, will appeal especially to fans of the singer-songwriter's Attractions-era rock and roll records. Costello also recently released a Spanish-language version of his 1978 album, This Year's Model. Costello joins us for a Listening Party, and to read some short stories from the book that accompanies the new album which he will perform songs from at Pier 17 tonight.