S11 E12 Finding a "Narrative Perch" for Your Memoir: An Interview with Greg Marshall, Part 2
This is part two of my conversation with memoirist Greg Marshall. In our conversation, we cover how to write a better paragraph, a technique Greg calls "literary Mad Libs," and how nonfiction writers should use all the same tools that fiction writers do. About Greg: Greg Marshall is the author of Leg: The Story of a Limb and the Boy Who Grew from It (2023) and The Book Incubator's current memoirist-in-residence. He's a National Endowment for the Arts Fellow in Prose and a graduate of the Michener Center for Writers, and his work has appeared in The Best American Essays and been supported by MacDowell and the Corporation of Yaddo. Greg grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah, and now lives in Austin, TX, with his husband, novelist Lucas Schaefer (author of The Slip, winner of the Kirkus Prize), their son, and their dog. Love the show? Share it with a fellow writer or leave a review! For more resources, visit thebookincubator.com. Want to watch the video episodes? Visit https://www.youtube.com/@maryadkins Let's connect! Come say hi on Instagram: @book.incubator Happy writing! — Mary ======================== RESOURCES: + Ready to write your dream book? Apply for The Book Incubator with no obligation to enroll and get my free training HOW TO WRITE AN (ACTUALLY) GOOD BOOK IN 45 MINUTES A DAY: https://www.thebookincubator.com/ + A Novel in 52 Prompts - A scene-by-scene blueprint for writing your novel: https://www.thebookincubator.com/novel-in-52-prompts ======================== Hi, I'm Mary! I'm the author of the novels When You Read This (Indie Next Pick and “Best Book of 2019” by Good Housekeeping), Privilege (Today.com “Best Summer Read”), and Palm Beach (New York Post “Best Book of 2021” and “like a sandy beach, equal parts beautiful and uncomfortable” according to the Associated Press). My memoir, You Might Feel A Little Pressure, was released by Third Rail Press in 2025. My books have been published in 13 countries, and I've written for the New York Times, The Atlantic, Slate, and more. I founded an MFA-alternative, The Book Incubator, which has now helped hundreds of writers finish their books over 12 months and continues supporting them through publication (yes, forever!). When I’m not writing, I’m probably building a fort with my 7-year-old son Finn or bathing with an overpriced Lush bath bomb. I live in Dallas, where I spend my free time trying to domesticate a stubborn tabby and shamelessly watching reality TV. ======================== Social: + Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/book.incubator