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Daily Inspiration: Meet Ronit Plank

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Ronit Plank.

Hi Ronit, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I never imagined I’d be a writer or a become a memoir instructor. I used to be an actor in NY and LA and got to train with Uta Hagen, Alfred Molina, and Tim Robbins. All I wanted was to be on stage performing. I did a few independent films, a special on cable ,and a commercial or two. When I left LA for Seattle with my husband and first child I stopped pursuing acting but found myself drawn to writing. I began taking classes at local writing schools and at the University of Washington and soon I was crafting short stories and essays and getting them published. In 2017 I completed an MFA in Nonfiction Writing at Pacific University and wrote the first draft of my memoir. In 2021 When She Comes Back my memoir about the loss of my mother to Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, the guru at the center of the Netflix docuseries Wild Wild Country and our eventual reconciliation was published. In 2023 my short story collection Home is a Made-Up Place was published and I began speaking about memoir writing and I launched my podcast Let’s Talk Memoir. My podcast now has hundreds of episodes featuring interviews with beloved writing teachers and memoirists about their writing life and creative process, and I have been able to keep learning and growing as a writer and teacher. I’m working on my next book and am teaching in more venues and coaching emerging memoirists. I never would have predicted that I would one day steep myself in a writing life but I am so satisfied and inspired by this work.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I essentially learned a brand new skill when I chose to become a writer and spent many hours, late nights over coffee and black tea writing, revising, and carving out time for this discipline while raising my children, taking care of our home, and teaching part time. The challenge was and is trying to get what I see and feel and mean on the page so readers will understand. When you’re a newer writer you may know what you want to see in your work but have a harder time expressing that. Writing can still be hard and still takes time, but I am more confident in my tools and voice and I want to continue to put work into the world.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am all about memoir writing and teaching and offer writing workshops, editing, and coaching for writers working on their memoirs. I also host a weekly podcast called Let’s Talk Memoir featuring interviews with memoirists and writing teachers. I’m surprised I became so involved in this genre when 15 years ago I didn’t even like memoir that much. But I am drawn to help writers tell their stories and get to the heart of what they need to express; to nurture their voices and remind them their experience matters.

Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Spending time with my family and dogs, creating work I’m proud of, seeing good friends who I’ve known throughout different stages of my life, watching my children grow into the young adults that I’m so proud of, spending an evening cozy on the couch watching a movie with my husband, hot baths with a book, time to write and discover what I mean and want to express, presenting at writing conferences, being able to teach engaged and generous writers, seeing my students publish their work, meeting new people and learning from them, staying open and curious.

Contact Info:

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Woman with curly hair holding a red book titled 'When She Comes Back' smiling, wearing a cream blouse and jeans, against a plain background.

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