This summer, I took a mediabistro class. My writing had been on hold for too long, and I needed to see if I still had it in me. I settled on a memoir course taught by Lizzie Simon, whose book Detour I had read and loved.

One week into class, I realized that writing a memoir was no easy task. The experience was raw and emotional, but I knew I was in safe hands right away. "I want everyone to know that I am not a therapist," Lizzie told us. "I am a writing coach who will help you in any way I can, but I am not here to diagnose you or judge you. I am here to make you feel safe and be a better writer."

I had a chance to ask Lizzie about her writing process and what it was like to tackle a difficult subject.

What made you want to write a book about bipolar disorder?

When I was diagnosed at the age of seventeen, there weren't any books available that came from a youth perspective and that communicated that you could not only survive mental illness, but also lead a healthy life. Mine was the first memoir about bipolar disorder by anyone under forty. I was 23 when I wrote it.

Being bipolar, was it hard to write this book? How did you deal with any emotions it stirred up?

Therapy, yoga, silent meditation, good friendships, good mentors. But writing feels good to me. I get into a zone and I write from a very free and safe place. Even when I get stirred up it feels good, and right.

Did you ever worry about what your family would think? Your friends? Did you worry about how people would perceive you?

Yes, I did worry, but everybody was so supportive. I've found that being transparent is much easier and much more powerful than having secrets or believing you can somehow control how other people perceive you.

A lot of your book includes interviews with others who are suffering from bipolar disorder. How did you find these people? Was it hard to get them to open up on this topic?

I found people to interview through support groups and doctors across the country. It has never ever been difficult to get people to open up. At least in my experience, people want to share themselves and their stories.

Did you receive a positive or negative reaction from people when the book came out? Was it what you expected?

The book was enormously well received and its success went way beyond my expectations. Detour was excerpted in TIME, optioned by
MTV and HBO, and led to dozens of speaking engagements over the last five years across the country.

Any other projects in the works?

Yes, I'm working on another memoir. Stay tuned!

Lizzie is teaching a memoir writing workshop this Sunday, November 4.

—Jessica Eule, Associate Director of Education