We’re so excited to have Melanie Brooks, author of Writing Hard Stories, returning to HippoCamp this year. This will be Melanie’s second time at HippoCamp and second time speaking. In line with her book, her breakout session this year will focus on something many memoirists and essays grapple with when it comes to writing about others: “Isn’t it their story, too?”
To get us ready for this year’s event, we asked Melanie a few questions about her participation.
HM: Tell us a little about your involvement in HippoCamp this year. What are you most excited to share during your session?
MB: I’ll be running a break-out session on the challenges of navigating family relationships when writing memoir and claiming our voices in the telling of our stories when there are others who stake a claim in the experience.
Some of the themes we’ll discuss include: unlocking family secrets, trusting personal memories when others want to contradict them, writing honestly when it risks alienating others, writing with compassion and empathy for others and ourselves, navigating family relationships on and off the page, and the importance of securing support for our work from people outside of the family. There is not one right answer when approaching these tricky topics, and I believe it’s good to hear varying viewpoints. I’m looking forward to an engaging discussion!
Why do you love true stories?
Life can be messy and hard and complicated and unpredictable and surprising and endlessly fascinating. True stories offer us the gift of companionship along the way. I love fiction, too, but when I read a true story, there’s a deeper level of intimacy. I lean in to that person’s experience and feel invited to connect something of myself, of my own experience, to theirs. When I feel hopelessly alone, those intersections feed and soothe my soul.
What made you decide to participate in HippoCamp this year as a speaker? If you’re a returning speaker, how did your past experiences encourage to want to come back?
I read and spoke as part of the debut authors’ panel last year, and I was given such a wonderfully warm reception by the HippoCamp attendees and my fellow presenters. I made some wonderful connections and was inspired by the enthusiasm of everyone there. I jumped at the opportunity to return as a speaker this year.
Attendees can learn more about you on our speaker’s page, of course, but there’s more to you than that 50-word bio! Share a fun fact with us, something we may be surprised to know.
I’m a proud Canadian. I grew up in the Canadian Maritimes, and everyone in my family still lives in Canada. My son is heading off to the University of Toronto this fall, and I’m excited for him to explore the other side of his dual citizenship.
Aside from preparing for HippoCamp 2018 (of course!), what are you working on?
The right answer is: I’m working on my nearly completed memoir.
The real answer is: I’m organizing closets, baking cookies, planning graduation parties, binge-watching Netflix, and finding every excuse possible not to show up to the page because I’m trying to claw my way out of the purgatory of having my proposal on submission and dealing with the inevitable rejection that goes along with it.
Since you’ll also be attending the conference, what are you most looking forward to learning or doing when you’re not wearing your “speaker hat?”
There are so many speakers I admire presenting at this year’s HippoCamp, and I plan on taking in as much wisdom I can from these amazing writers. I’m also really excited to connect with dear friends I haven’t seen in a while.
Anything else you want to share?
When I arrive at HippoCamp, my son will have just left for college, so I’ll be looking for some sage and comforting words from any of you who have walked ahead of me on this path. And chocolate. I’ll be needing some chocolate.
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Wow, Melanie! It sounds like you’ll have a busy summer already before you head our way. We wish you and your family lots of luck in dropping your first-year college student off! We’ll be waiting with chocolate.
Reader, what about you? Want to join us? Registration ends August 10.
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