Now that we've listened to Episode 20: Steve Starring Grant from the University of Iowa's Sad Me of the Past , let's talk about what we learned, breakdown some of the lessons and do some writing of our own!

1. Origins + Roots: Start Your Story Here

Grant’s early life was full of storytelling: he talks about his grandmother’s vivid recollections of epidemics and riverboats to his father’s inventive campfire tales. These formative experiences directed his narrative instincts toward an understanding of story as not only communal, but evolving.

Exercise

Dig Into Your Family History

• Start with research: Ask a relative or family member for a stories about their lives. Record or write down any anecdotes, legends, or even tall tales that you found interesting. Look for the universal themes and emotional truths.
• Choose one story to focus on for this assignment.
• Take what you have learned from your research and practice retelling the chosen story aloud. This can be with an audience or by yourself. Think about how repetition, suspense and humor can guide your written work. How would you tell these stories to your own kids on day?
• Next, record yourself telling the story aloud with a computer, phone or recording device.
• Now turn this recording into a short story. You can do this several ways:
  • Transcribe the audio that you recorded. Edit the transcribed text to add in more details and structure to your piece.
  • Listen to the audio and write new text from that.
  • Write the story from you own memory of telling it.

Requirements

Keep this exercise to 300 - 1,000 words. Think about other ways you could use this story - a comic? A performed monologue? You could even make several of these pieces and combine them together into a longer story!

2. Turn Crisis into Creativity: Writing Through Adversity

In the interview, Grant talks in depth about his struggles: the pandemic, a cancer diagnosis, and job loss. Take note though that this period, though challenging, became the crucible for his memoir. He also emphasizes not to wait for the “perfect” time to write. Sometimes, crisis provides the urgency and clarity you need to blast off into an unexpected treasure.

Exercise

• First, find a small moment of solitude. Seek out a quiet, repetitive task (walking, doodling, doing the dishes) that help free your mind for creative thought. In a classroom setting, this could mean a 10-minute silent walking period. No podcasts or music! You need to be alone with your thoughts.
• Return to your writing desk or location. Now you will free-write for 5 minutes. Do not worry about punctuation, spelling or sentence structure. Let the writing flow without stopping.
• Once you have those pages of free writing, begin to edit the text. You can now decide whether this is a poem, a flash fiction story, a narrative, a comic, etc. 

Requirements

This exercise can be any length and in any form. Consider trying several genres and see what happens. Remember to take breaks if the work becomes too emotional for you. Take care of yourself first.

3.  "Voice" vs "Pilot" Brain 

Grant talks about the difference between his “voice brain” and “pilot brain” in this way: the “voice brain” creates a compelling, authentic narrator, and the “pilot brain” manages structure and plot. He discovered that he needs a mix of both "brains" for a story to succeed. He discusses how he switches between the two, often letting one lead without the other one stepping in. It is a balance that every writer works to perfect.

Exercise

Write a "Day in the Life" story for a character that you create.

• Start with "Voice Brain." Who is you speaker? Really focus on character and dialectical flow, here. Is your speaker confident? Distracted? Are they shy, or bombastic? Are they trustworthy?
• Write 3 paragraphs of them introducing themselves in their very distinct voice
• Next, move to "Pilot Brain." Map out a single day for your character, and give them a goal. This goal can be concrete (ex: deliver a package, find a lost key) or abstract (ex: get over a broken heart, make a big decision.) What gets in their way?
• Draw an actual map or timeline of the plot points on a piece of paper.
• Next, write a story steeped deep in your character's voice, making sure to structure it according to your map.

Requirements

This story should be a bit longer. Aim for 1,000 - 3,000 words. It should be able to stand on its own as a single short story.

Conclusion

• Keep Telling Your Story: 

  Steven Starring Grant’s journey from aspiring astronaut to successful memoirist is a detailed reminder that the path to becoming a writer is winding and long. Whether you’re just starting out or finding your way back, the exercises created from this episode offer a roadmap for embracing your story, honing your craft, and finding meaning in the act of writing.

• Set Manageable Goals: 

  Write a little bit, every single day. It doesn't have to be much, just a paragraph or a tiny note will do. Use a mini daily journal that isn't too intimidating -- if you are only writing 3-5 sentences on a small page, you are more likely to continue the habit. All of those words add up over time!

• Stay Curious: 

  Weave writing, research and inspiration into your daily life. Read books of all genres and subjects, both within and outside your interests. Notice language on menus, in advertising, in museums, in instruction manuals. Attend readings, workshops, or literary events, either online or in person. When life pulls you away from writing, return without guilt. The page is always waiting.

For more insights and inspiration, listen to the full episode of “Sad Me of the Past” featuring Stephen Grant, and check out his memoir, Mailman.