Meghan Conley author of “Jungled Bus Stop”. Winner in the 2020 San Diego Memoir Showcase. Interview by Laura Engel, SDMWA Board President
LE: Congratulations Meghan! In a nutshell – tell us about your winning memoir piece for the 6th Annual San Diego Memoir Showcase.
MC: Jungled Bus Stop is about facing your fears, overcoming your fears, and going for it. Believing in yourself, trusting your gut, and mind over matter. If you think you can do something, you can, you just have to take the chance!
LE: What has been your experience taking classes/workshops and writing memoir in San Diego?
MC: It has been fantastic, one of the best educational experiences I’ve ever had, I’m learning so much. And I can’t say enough about the wonderful teachers, Marni and Tracy, and the entire San Diego Memoir writing community. Everyone has been an absolute joy to work with and learn from.
LE: This year has been unsettling in so many ways. How do think that has affected your writing?
MC: Ironically because of Covid, and having to stay at home, it actually kind of built in more time for me to contemplate life, learn new things, and work at this craft of writing. Learning how to write and going through the Memoir Certification program this year has been a wonderful thing to work on while being stuck at home.
LE: What are you excited about when it comes to participating in the 6th Annual Memoir Showcase?
MC: I’m so excited about the entire experience. As a new writer, I couldn’t even believe I am a part of this! I had no idea how editing really worked, and this was my first time at a table read. I really had no idea how acting out a 5 page story would work either. I’m excited to see the Showcase performances and honored to be a part of such an amazing collection of work. I also can’t wait until the Shaking the Tree book is available for people to read the stories as well.
LE: What advice would you give new memoir writers?
MC: If you have a story to tell, this is an amazing way to tell it, through a memoir. It will take on a life of its own, even though it is about your life. And it’s a wonderful way to relive and remember big moments in your life. It’s been much harder than I thought, since I had no idea how hard it is to actually write well, but it has also been very enlightening and an ongoing process that I look forward to having a finished book at the end of it!