Getting Unstuck – Cultivating Curiosity 400: How Do Observing and Deep Listening Help Shape Strong Writing?
In this, my 400th episode, I sit down with writer Heather Lende to talk about how she approaches her craft and what it means to write from, and for, a real community. Living in the small town of Haines, Alaska (pop ~2000), Heather sees writing less as performance and more as an act of careful observation, listening, and responsibility.
Our conversation touches on her long-running obituary column, which requires her to listen carefully, get the details right, and tell people's stories with humility and care. She sees herself as "an observer of life," while her careful attention to people and their details has earned her the label of "story catcher." We talk about what changes when you write about people you know—or at least know of. We explore what I call Heather's nonlinear writing process, her discomfort with neat conclusions, and how grief, memory, and daily observation shape her work. We also explore doubt, discipline, and the tension between creative ambition and ordinary life. Throughout the conversation, writing emerges as a way of staying connected—to place, to people, and to the small, meaningful moments that make up a life.
We dive deeply into the story "Alaskans Dear" from her book, If You Lived Here, I'd Know Your Name, to understand her writing process and what it means to live in a small town.
The Essential PointStorytelling for Heather is not just creative work, but a relational act that binds her to the community she serves.
Social MediaWebsite:https://www.heatherlende.com/
ReferencedSee the audio file of what Heather is reading in the show notes for this episode at https://www.queticocoaching.com/blog