Q&A with James Brown discussion

Please post questions/comments on memoir writing or the writing process in general.

Jim..how hard is it to really "expose" yourself in writing a memoir...there are alot of really judgemental people out there when it comes to addictions...esp. in your career at this time..did it concern you?

Hey Naomi,

It's risky. But the nature of memoir requires that the writer be truthful, and so that's what I did. I tried to tell it like it happened, knowing, yes, that I'd be judged. My colleagues at the university, as well as the administrators, were actually kind, and praised me for being honest (the university President actually took me out to lunch). I'm lucky. But, you're right, I'm sure there are plenty others who have and will continue to judge me, and it does concern me, but I don't let it get to me.

Were you concerned about the reactions of you family and friend included in your memoir? Did you go to them in advance for their ok or input?

Yes, I was concerned about friends and family, and for friends I changed names and sought their input. For my own immediate family, most had passed by the time I wrote LA Diaries, and my mother was aged and didn't read the book (she too has since passed on). But there was fall-out. My niece and brother-in-law no longer speak to me, and I've written them both. There's a cost to everything, and the price of writing about your life as you see and understand it can be high.

How have your kids responded to it?? Have you been able to use it as a teaching opportunity with them or were they already pretty knee deep?? Sorry, I love looking at familial reaction to recovery.

Hey Naomi,
My oldest at 26 now, who saw the worst of me, read both books and is a forgiving and loving son. We have a great relationship. My middle boy at 22 also is forgiving and doesn't begrudge me my shortcomings(actually he believes I left out a lot of his mother's story where he contends she played a larger role in our troubles), and thank God my youngest at 15 saw his father sober far more than under the influence. I love all my children dearly, and I'm extremely lucky that they all love me. I'm a lucky man and doing my best to put my life together and keep it that way. And, yes, I do use my past as an opportunity to warn them of the insidious nature of drug addiction and alcoholism (both the same in my book, as alcohol is indeed a drug, too).

That is funny...you knew exactly where I was heading...It is amazing how many recovering parents I see embarassed by their addictions that they don't use it as learning opportunities with their children, who for multiple reasons are at a higher risk for addiction.

While I think your best writing has come from your two memoirs, do you have any thoughts about writing another novel?

Follow up question: Are you working on any writing?

Hey Martin,
Nice to hear from you. Actually I have plans to write a third memoir, this one focused on recovery, and staying recovered, and the wonderful relationship I'm building with my youngest son, Nate, in training for wrestling, and, more importantly, life. Father/son will be the central focus, but it'll be about much more, as you know I try to make stories work on several levels simultaneously.