The Memoir Land Author Questionnaire #118: Lisa Smith

"When I got home from detox, sober, I started waking up at 5am and waiting for my recovery meeting to start at 7:30 before I went to work, so I had newfound time on my hands to write..."

Since 2010, in various publications, I’ve interviewed authors—mostly memoirists—about aspects of writing and publishing. Initially I did this for my own edification, as someone who was struggling to find the courage and support to write and publish my memoir. I’m still curious about other authors’ experiences, and I know many of you are, too. So, inspired by the popularity of The Oldster Magazine Questionnaire, I’ve launched The Memoir Land Author Questionnaire.

Here’s the 118th installment, featuring Lisa Smith, author of Girl Walks Out of a Bar: A Memoir. -Sari Botton

P.S. Check out all the interviews in The Memoir Land Author Questionnaire series.

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Lisa Smith. Photo by Ann Landstrom.

Lisa Smith is a writer, podcast host, and public speaker. She is the author of the award-winning memoir, GIRL WALKS OUT OF A BAR, which recounts her descent into and recovery from “high-functioning” alcohol and cocaine addiction in the world of big New York City law firms.

She co-hosts the podcast, Recovery Rocks, an intergenerational, inclusive discussion of issues affecting people in all kinds of recovery. The show received a Signal Award in 2023. She and her co-host, Tawny Lara, are the creators of THE SOBRIETY DECK, a 50-card deck with tips, insights, and encouragement for anyone evaluating their relationship with alcohol.

A former practicing lawyer and law firm executive, Lisa was previously named one of The New York Law Journal’s “Trailblazers.” Her story launched her into the forefront of the movement to advance well-being in the legal profession. She is a frequent speaker at law firms, law schools, bar associations, and other organizations.

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How old are you, and for how long have you been writing?

I’m 58 and I began writing 20 years ago, when I was fresh out of a New York City psychiatric hospital’s locked-down detox unit.

What’s the title of your latest book, and when was it published?

Girl Walks Out of a Bar, published in 2016.

What number book is this for you?

This was my first and only book, so far.

How do you categorize your book—as a memoir, memoir-in-essays, essay collection, creative nonfiction, graphic memoir, autofiction—and why?

Girl Walks Out of a Bar is the story of my descent into and recovery from “high-functioning” alcohol and cocaine addiction in the world of big New York City law firms. Raw and darkly humorous, it covers everything that led to my bottom, what it was like, and everything that helped me dig out.

My book is memoir because it’s my first-person account of addiction and recovery.

What is the “elevator pitch” for your book?

Girl Walks Out of a Bar, is the story of my descent into and recovery from “high-functioning” alcohol and cocaine addiction in the world of big New York City law firms. Raw and darkly humorous, it covers everything that led to my bottom, what it was like, and everything that helped me dig out.

What’s the back story of this book including your origin story as a writer? How did you become a writer, and how did this book come to be?

I always loved writing and did a ton of it throughout my legal career, albeit on far less interesting subjects. It was only when I got out of detox that I felt I had a story to tell, though. The book came about largely because the day I checked myself into the hospital, my friends and family were (almost) all shocked. I wanted to explain to them what happened.

Also, two big factors were 1) when I got home from detox, sober, I started waking up at 5am and waiting for my recovery meeting to start at 7:30 before I went to work, so I had newfound time on my hands, and 2) the story of my hospital stay was so crazy, I knew I had to put it in writing. I didn’t start writing with a book in mind.

Order the book…

What were the hardest aspects of writing this book and getting it published?

Once I decided to try to turn my writing into a book, I realized I knew nothing about writing narrative nonfiction. I started taking night classes at NYU’s continuing education program. Then I worked my way into a really great weekly writing workshop at The Writer’s Room. It was tough because a few months after I got sober, I was able to take a next-level law firm job. That meant working about 60 hours per week. It took me 10 years of writing in the mornings and when I could find free time to complete the manuscript.

My publishing story is different than most. Through the workshop, I heard about a book deal competition for a contract with a small, indie NYC publisher. I decided to enter and ended up winning. So, I never went through the normal process of finding an agent, etc.

How did you handle writing about real people in your life? Did you use real or changed names and identifying details? Did you run passages or the whole book by people who appear in the narrative? Did you make changes they requested?

My friends and family have always been a key part of my recovery, so I kept them informed throughout. The exception was my mom, who was fully supportive of my writing, but didn’t want to read. As I went along, I sent scenes to the people in them, to make sure their recollections matched with mine, which they really did. A couple of them were interested in reading the full draft, so of course I shared it with them.

I asked everyone in the book if they wanted their names changed. A few did, but most didn’t. The only person who didn’t review the book was my ex-husband, who I’m not in touch with. I changed his name, city, and as many identifying characteristics as possible.

Who is another writer you took inspiration from in producing this book? Was it a specific book, or their whole body of work? (Can be more than one writer or book.)

Mary Karr is my favorite memoirist and her entire body of work inspires me. I love what she suggests about writing other people—basically that if anyone’s going to be an asshole in the book, it’s going to be me. That really helped me. Also, Augusten Burroughs’ Dry taught me that it’s OK to write about addiction with a healthy dose of dark humor. And everything

Anne Lamott

writes teaches me something.

I always loved writing and did a ton of it throughout my legal career, albeit on far less interesting subjects. It was only when I got out of detox that I felt I had a story to tell, though. The book came about largely because the day I checked myself into the hospital, my friends and family were (almost) all shocked. I wanted to explain to them what happened.

What advice would you give to aspiring writers looking to publish a book like yours, who are maybe afraid, or intimidated by the process?

Just write the book like no one’s going to read it (except those you want to read it). The thing that really let me write all the raw details and be fully honest was that I had no plan to get published. For years, I was writing as catharsis for myself and to help my family and friends understand what happened.

What do you love about writing?

I’ve always loved getting lost in reading and hearing stories, both nonfiction and fiction. As I writer, I love getting lost in being the one telling the story. I love visualizing a scene in my head and then translating it into words on a page.

What frustrates you about writing?

When I feel like I’m not capturing a scene well. Sometimes, I can see it clearly in my head, but that just doesn’t come across in the writing.

What about writing surprises you?

Revising work and realizing that a scene I thought totally worked really doesn’t. And when a scene I’m least sure of including becomes significant. I always think, “how did I not see this when I wrote it?”

Does your writing practice involve any kind of routine, or writing at specific times?

I don’t work for a law firm anymore, so I can be a lot more flexible with when I do it. But I always feel like my best thinking is early in the morning. I also love starting the day having accomplished something, even if it’s just a couple of sentences.

Once I decided to try to turn my writing into a book, I realized I knew nothing about writing narrative nonfiction. I started taking night classes at NYU’s continuing education program. Then I worked my way into a really great weekly writing workshop at The Writer’s Room. It was tough because a few months after I got sober, I was able to take a next-level law firm job. That meant working about 60 hours per week. It took me 10 years of writing in the mornings and when I could find free time to complete the manuscript.

Do you engage in any other creative pursuits, professionally or for fun? Are there non-writing activities do you consider to be “writing” or supportive of your process?

Both the podcast and creating the card deck have been creative pursuits for me, which I’ve loved. After 30 years in corporate law firms, pretty much anything else feels creative, even figuring out how to talk to a specific audience I’m speaking in front of.

What’s next for you? Do you have another book planned, or in the works?

About two years ago, I started working on a novel because my brain came up with a story I wanted to tell, just for fun. Having never written fiction, I started at the beginning again, learning how to create and structure a made-up story. So different from memoir! I’ve been back in my writing workshop (now on Zoom) for about a year. It’s great because it keeps me accountable for pages every week and I love the women in whose work I get to hear and talk about. I have no expectations that this will go anywhere, but I love having it as a creative project to focus on in these upsetting political times. It keeps me away from the news for a little bit, at least. I take that as a win.

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Check out all the interviews in The Memoir Land Author Questionnaire series.