Erin Chack is a senior editor at BuzzFeed and the author of “This Is Really Happening”, a profoundly transparent collection of essays written in a sharply observant voice that’s refreshingly candid. Erin describes her book as “an essay collection about the best, the worst, and the weirdest moments” of her life so far.
We kick off our discussion by talking about how Erin uses comedy to point out the realities of life. She also shares the story of a life-changing email that paved the way to writing her memoir.
Further into our conversation, we unpack why it’s crucial for memoir writers to write with honesty and confidence, and how to prevent self-doubt from holding you back in telling your story. We also talk about the steps Erin took to hone her craft of writing.
I am so excited for you to hear this episode. Erin is one of those down-to-earth, effortlessly funny, and honest peeps you immediately want to become fast friends with after meeting for the first time. I can’t wait for you to form a new friend-crush after hearing her episode.
Happy listening!
Xo
Yin
PS. Do you know anyone who would love our conversation? Please share this episode to help spread the word!
“My biggest mistake was ever thinking that my stories aren’t worth telling.”
-Erin Chack
“Just start writing because there is no reason to not just dive right in.”
-Erin Chack
“It’s about the journey and the way that people can relate to the story.”
-Erin Chack
What You’ll Learn From This Episode:
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- How Erin uses comedy to talk about the realities of life
- The steps Erin took to hone her writing craft
- Why honesty and confidence are vital characteristics to have as a memoir writer
- How to prevent self-doubt from holding you back in telling your story
- How to truthfully write about loved ones while also writing about them in a positive light
BuzzFeed senior writer Erin Chack hits you in the guts, the feels, and the funny bone all at once with this collection of personal essays that reads like Sloane Crosley for the Snapchat generation.
In turns hysterically funny and heartbreakingly poignant, Erin recounts everything from meeting her soulmate at age 14 to her first chemotherapy session at age 19 to what really goes on behind the scenes at a major Internet media company.
She authentically captures the agony and the ecstasy of the millennial experience, whether it’s her first kiss (“Sean’s tongue! In my mouth! Slippery and wet like a slug in the rain.”) or her struggles with anxiety (“When people throw caution to the wind, I am stuck imagining the poor soul who has to break his back sweeping caution into a dustpan”).
Yet Erin also offers a fresh perspective on universal themes of resilience and love as she writes about surviving cancer—including learning of her mother’s own cancer diagnosis within the same year and her attempts to hide the diagnosis from friends to avoid “un-normaling” everything.
Perfect for fans of Jenny Lawson, Amy Poehler, and Kelly Williams Brown, this sharply observed memoir introduces Erin Chack as a strikingly original new voice.
Learn More About Erin Chack
Erin Chack is a senior editor at BuzzFeed who lives in New York. This is Really Happening is her debut title. Follow her on Twitter and keep up with her BuzzFeed posts here.
Books & Resources Mentioned in Erin’s Episode:
‘Ten Times I Knew I Loved You” by Erin Chack
“21 Signs Being Ladylike is Not Your Forte” by Erin Chack (My personal favorite Buzzfeed post of Erin’s that cements the following statement: We were destined to be friends.)
Bossypants by Tina Fey
Yes Please by Amy Poehler
Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling
Why Not Me? By Mindy Kaling
