Cindy

Cindy asked Cheryl Strayed:

Can you give us some idea of how long it took you to craft your essay The Love of my Life? It's one of my favorite essays ever and I just wonder how much editing, reworking, time it took. Thank you!!!

Cheryl Strayed Thank you, Cindy! That was the second essay I ever wrote. I wrote it over the course of a very intense week or two in November of 2000, when I was a graduate student at Syracuse University. My husband was out of town so I was alone for days in my house, writing and rewriting that essay. I shed so many tears writing it and I learned a lot too. I appreciate you reading it.

More Answered Questions

Cammie Basseri

Cammie Basseri asked Cheryl Strayed:

Were you disappointed when you had to hike off the PCT due to seasonal impacts and missed coming through Yosemite? I grew up in YNP and am a huge fan of Wild; I felt I could really visualize your steps along the way. Thanks for all your words!

Ginger Calem

Ginger Calem asked Cheryl Strayed:

How much of your mother is with you as your raise your own children? For instance, do you do the 'How much do I love you?' with your arms wide like your mother did with you?

Michele Roland

Michele Roland asked Cheryl Strayed:

Wow. This is weird synchronicity--I was just emailing you this question when this post popped up on my FB page! Have you ever thought of mentoring other young (rookie) memoir writers that had unique life stories to tell? WILD and Elizabeth Gilbert's Eat, Pray, Love were my two inspirations to finally be "Brave Enough" to write my own harrowing tale of breaking out of a religious cult. Oh shoot--Out of space to write!

All answers from Cheryl Strayed…

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