Interview: Memoirist Alexis Grant
I’ve been meeting some amazing writers lately, in person as well as through Twitter and various blogs. One of those writers is Alexis Grant, a journalist turned solo traveler of Africa turned memoirist. She’s currently working on turning her travel stories into a memoir, and she’s agreed to share more about her experience with us.
Write Out Loud: For those who don’t already know you, tell us a little about your memoir.
Alexis Grant: It’s a travel memoir about backpacking solo through French-speaking Africa, what it was like to travel there alone as a woman. I’ve got a dry sense of humor, so I use that to tell stories of adventure – getting stuck at a Malagasy bus station by myself at night, traveling by boat to Timbuktu, accidentally becoming part of a drug deal in Ghana – while giving readers a sense of life and culture in Africa. One of the most engaging parts of the book recounts my visit to a rural village in Cameroon, where I grow close with a grieving polygamous family.
WOL: What made you decide to write about your trip to Africa?
AG: I’ve always wanted to write a travel memoir, but it wasn’t until near the end of my six-month journey through Africa that I realized I actually had enough of a story to tell. I vetted short tales on my travel blog – http://allonsy.wordpress.com – and through readers’ responses, realized this was something people wanted to read about.
WOL: You’ve been a journalist and freelance writer in the past. How does writing for a publication differ from writing your memoir?
AG: In more ways than I expected! Most notably, this project feels like it’s taking forever (I’ve been working on it for six months). I’m used to cranking out a story on deadline and seeing my byline the next day in the paper. Now I’m self-imposing deadlines several months away, and constantly reminding myself that I can use more than one descriptive phrase to set a scene. Writing this memoir reminds me of my marathon training: It’s grueling. But there’s something satisfying about making progress on such a personal project, learning to write about myself instead of others.
WOL: Why did you decide to become a writer?
AG: I consider myself more of a journalist than a writer. But I chose journalism as a career largely because it requires writing, and that’s something I’ve always been good at. The challenge now is to transform myself from journalist to writer, to turn my short, choppy, factual sentences into prose with voice.
WOL: You’re writing your memoir full-time. What does your writing routine look like? Do you schedule your writing or do you write when inspiration strikes?
AG: I write every day, whether I feel like it or not. Since I’m writing the manuscript out of order – following an outline – I give myself flexibility to write whatever scene I feel like on a particular day. Right now the story is in little pieces, with just a few chapters written all the way through, and I’m putting scenes and chapters together like a puzzle.
WOL: What portion of your time is spent writing/editing and what portion would you say is spent doing other related work (e.g., research, querying, etc.)?
AG: I spent the first two or three months writing a proposal, researching agents and learning about queries. But now that I feel like I know what I’m doing – as much as a first-timer can, anyway – almost all my time is spent writing.
WOL: For anyone else considering writing their memoirs, what is the most important lesson you’ve learned so far about the process of writing a memoir?
AG: The most difficult part for me is figuring out what to leave out. When I look at a story as a journalist, it’s easy for me to pinpoint what’s important, what the reader will care about, what pieces of background are necessary to make the story work. But examining my own experiences is more difficult. I’m constantly asking myself, Is this scene or detail really vital to the story? Will it make the tale more compelling? In the end, what’s important to me may not be important to the reader.
WOL: Where is your favorite place to write?
AG: In a newsroom, with an editor peering over my shoulder asking when the story I began an hour ago will be done. Kidding. Well, sort of. I actually do miss the hustle and bustle of a newsroom, and I get lonely in my home office, so a few times a week I take my laptop to a coffee shop to write.
WOL: Writers are often known for their vices. What’s your biggest writers’ vice?
AG: My Aspiring Author blog. Whenever I’m stuck on a scene, I write a post. It keeps me on track, since I’m reporting progress and challenges, and allows me to procrastinate and produce at the same time.
WOL: Thanks so much, Alexis. It’s been great getting to know more about your process.
If you’re a memoir writer, I highly recommend checking out the Aspiring Author blog. When Alexis publishes a new post, it’s one of the highlights of my day. And if you want to get to know more about Alexis, you can also visit her website.
Posted in the writing life, vip interviews
August 6th, 2009 at 8:59 am
Hi Ami and Alexis,
It’s nice to get a few more details about your process and how your piecing together your memoir. This is one example of how the writing on a blog lets you know you’re in for a treat when the memoir comes out.
Karen Walker
August 6th, 2009 at 10:07 am
Thanks for having me, Ami! It’s great to learn from one another.
August 6th, 2009 at 11:28 am
Excellent interview, Ami. It’s nice to get to know Alexis a little better. I’m looking forward to reading her memoir.
August 6th, 2009 at 11:39 am
Alexis, the more I read about your memoirs, the more I really want to buy the book once it hits the book stores. This sounds really fresh and exciting. That’s what people are looking for. Fresh and new. Not the same ol’ rehashed, recycled, and repackaged stories.
Stephen Tremp
August 6th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
Karen – Thanks for stopping by and commenting on this interview. I agree–Alexis certainly makes us want to read that book through her other writing.
Alexis – Thank you for playing along. I really enjoyed getting to know you and your process better.
Patricia – Thanks for your comment. I’m looking forward to it, too!
Stephen – I agree. Her memoir really sounds fresh and interesting. Something we haven’t seen before. Thanks for stopping by!
August 6th, 2009 at 2:53 pm
another great interview and even additional insight on alexis even though i read her blog :)
i can tell she really enjoys being a journalist, whereas i am so glad i took a journalism class as an undergrad so i could discover, very quickly, it wasn’t the right fit for me!
looking forward to reading the complete travel memoir when it is done.
August 6th, 2009 at 5:13 pm
Alexis – I’ve heard (and seen movies) of horror stories when tourists become involved in accidental drug deals – I’m glad yours had a good ending (at least I’m assuming it did because you are back in the states). Like Steve, I am looking forward to the book. Enjoyed the interview, Ami.
August 7th, 2009 at 12:22 am
Thank you for the interview. I’ve had the honor of a sneak peak at some of the chapters in progress, and have no doubt that this book will be on the shelves one day. (I want to say “soon” but I know the process isn’t quick!) It’s always interesting to read how other writers organize their days. Keep up the good work, Ami and Alexis!
August 7th, 2009 at 8:01 am
Jessie – Glad the interview provided something new, even for people who know Alexis. I think you’re right–she certainly likes being a journalist, and seems very good at it!
Jane – Thanks for visiting and leaving a comment, Jane!
Peggy – I really like reading about other writers’ processes, too, which is why I love doing these interviews! Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
August 7th, 2009 at 9:01 am
Great interview!
August 18th, 2009 at 1:30 am
Great interview! I actually just recently stumbled across Alexis’ blog so this was especially fun to read.
August 20th, 2009 at 7:44 am
Hi, Nicole! Happy to “see” you here and glad you enjoyed my interview with Alexis. She’s a great inspiration and motivator! Thanks for commenting.
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