31: Caroline Peterson: On Memoir, Travel, and Finding Your Own Way
While you'll hear from plenty of author-entrepreneurs who have finished their books, I'm also committed to sharing real-life stories of women behind the scenes who are in the middle of the writing process.
I had the pleasure of chatting with Caroline Peterson, a phenomenal (and hilarious) writer, traveler, and former advertising copywriter who's editing her memoir.
Caroline shared her fascinating journey from the corporate ad agency world to starting her own creative business as a writer and travel advisor.
I thought it was super cool to hear about her early love for journaling, which eventually led her to write a memoir. A case for saving those old journals, for sure! As a professional copywriter, she found writing the easy part, and the editing part the most challenging.
She's currently in the middle of editing her memoir, which centers on her healing 84-mile (mostly solo) hike across Hadrian's Wall Path in England.
You'll appreciate her honest reflection on the emotional toll of editing her memoir and revisiting the difficult bits. But there's also the joy of seeing her own growth in her words.
Takeaways from this episode:
It's okay if the exact topic or outline of your memoir isn't clear from the start — let yourself wander through your journals and memories and allow the themes to emerge.
Balancing a sense of presence during an intense hike when you're working on a book.
"Writing in the cracks" — those 20-minute snippets of time can prove to be super productive.
Writing a memoir is a healing journey — make sure you give yourself hefty doses of self-compassion (and take plenty of breaks). Your writing will also show you how brave and resilient you are.
As a creative service business owner, it's essential to put your writing first—it actually fuels your professional creative work and can even prevent burnout.
Community while writing is invaluable for accountability and emotional support.
Trust your writing process—writing a book takes time, and everyone's journey is unique.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:41 Caroline's Writing Journey
02:32 Memoir Writing Process
04:49 Hiking 84-Miles Across England
07:43 Challenges and Reflections in Memoir Writing
12:20 Balancing Writing and Life
24:04 Managing a Writing Schedule
24:25 Finding Creative Inspiration
27:20 Writing on the Go
32:14 Editing Challenges and Deadlines
About Caroline Peterson:
Caroline Peterson cut her teeth in the ad agency world, leaving it as a Senior Copywriter to open her own creative business as a writer and travel advisor. She lives in Hawaii with her ER doctor husband and two wily cats, and is slowly learning the art of savoring life—which means she’s probably in Japan or planning her next trip there. Brave enough to travel alone, Caroline believes in sincere, sustainable adventures and sharing those experiences through her writing.
Follow along on Caroline’s adventures:
Website: carolinepeterson.com
Brave Enough to Try Newsletter: carolinepeterson.substack.com
Instagram: @iamcarolinepeterson
