Retire the phrase push through

When your memoir feels stuck, the advice you’ll often hear is to push through. Sit down, force the words, meet the deadline, keep going no matter what. But for memoir writers, that advice can make the work harder—and the book weaker.

In this episode, we’re talking about memoir writer’s block, why “pushing through” often backfires, and what to do instead. We’ll look at why a better writing process leads to a better finished book, how accountability can turn into self-bullying, and why joy still matters even when you’re writing about painful or traumatic experiences.

🔗 Most memoirs don’t stall because of lack of time. Most memoirs stall because of lack of clarity. That’s why I put together the Memoir Method Checklist. It gives you every step in the process from idea to finished book, so you can see what comes next and keep moving without forcing your way through. Download it free at pageandpodium.com/checklist.

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Timestamps:

0:00-Intro

2:45 "Pushing through" is antithetical to good work

4:38 Excellent memoirs come from excellent processes

6:15 Why a better process produces a better product

10:47 Pushing through is for things we don't want to do

13:17 Pushing through often leads to abandoning the project

14:05 Instead of pushing through, dig deeper and heal the root

14:44 Where is the urge to push through coming from?

16:22 Accountability without kindness is just bullying

18:00 Use your deadlines as long as they work, then set new ones

19:07 Big goals are important but not usually urgent and not as important as allowing creative expression

21:42 Keep your eyes on your own paper

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