Living The Next Chapter – E681: Lisa Cheek – Twenty-Five Years Editing Film & TV, Memoir Writing, and The Big Day

Podcast Host: Dave Campbell
Guest: Lisa Cheek, memoirist and veteran film editor
Date: March 2, 2026

Episode Overview

In this lively and inspiring episode, Dave Campbell welcomes Lisa Cheek—celebrated memoirist and former feature film and TV editor—to “Living The Next Chapter.” The conversation delves into Lisa’s 25-year career in film editing, her leap into writing, her unique storytelling style, and her latest memoirs: "Sit, Cinderella, Sit" and the upcoming "The Big Day." The discussion is rich with practical advice for aspiring authors, memorable anecdotes from the world of film and literature, and Lisa’s upbeat wisdom about building community as a creative.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Lisa’s Creative Journey: From Editing to Authorship

• Career Pathway
  • Lisa spent 25 years as a film editor, working across cities like New York, Montreal, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. She specialized in commercials, which shaped her approach to concise storytelling.
  • Lisa describes her editing career as both “fun” and sometimes “lonely,” depending on the format and team size.

    “It was 30 seconds where I had to get your attention... I needed to get my point across.” (02:16)

• Transition to Writing
  • Lisa reveals how writing became a natural extension of her editing skills, especially the process of “polishing and refining.”
  • She shares, “Writing is all about editing. The hardest part for me is filling the page; once there are words, it’s all in the editing.” (18:42)

The Power and Challenge of Storytelling in a Noisy World

• Conciseness and Impact
  • Dave suggests Lisa write a “30-second book” or provide tips for podcasters and speakers—reflecting on Lisa's skill at grabbing attention fast.
  • Lisa references flash fiction and Hemingway’s six-word story (“For sale: baby shoes, never worn”) as examples of brevity with emotional resonance. (05:55)

  • “...how do we capture the room in 30 seconds? I would love to learn that from you.” – Dave (03:37)
    “Both of my memoirs are shorter than the average bear because it’s just what I know to do.” – Lisa (04:47)

• The Reality of Publishing
  • Lisa shares surprising industry stats: with nearly 2.7 million books released yearly, selling 100 copies can place an author in the top 20% of booksellers (07:00).

    “Most authors don’t sell 100 books.” (07:54)

Building Community and ‘Building in Public’

• Lisa emphasizes the value of connecting with real communities (writers, dancers, etc.) over simply building social media followings:

  “Just because they’re following you doesn’t mean they want to read your book.” (08:26)

• Importance of sharing your process publicly to bring readers along for the journey—and not waiting until the book is done to engage your audience (10:24).

  “If you build in public and bring people along... when it comes time to talk about the book, they’re ready to support you at the finish line.” – Dave (09:44) “I love being in a class, stimulating my brain, and surrounding myself by the people who do what I want to do.” – Lisa (10:40)

Standing Out (Literally): Pink Hair and Personal Branding

• Lisa’s choice to dye her hair bright pink at a writers’ conference helped her stand out (13:36):

  “I knew they were all going to be blonde, so I went really bright pink so I would stand out... people came up and said, ‘I need to know who you are.’” (13:36) “I was born pink.” (14:04)

Lisa Cheek’s Books and Writing Insights

"Sit, Cinderella, Sit" [15:01 – 20:27]

• Summary: Chronicles four transformative months in Lisa’s life at age 45, when she left commercial editing behind and embarked on a film shoot in China—without speaking the language, living with a non-English-speaking crew, and rescuing two dogs along the way.
• Inspiration: Sparked by a psychic’s advice after the death of her father, who had been a voracious reader (“Heaven has the best library…”).

  “I knew it would be the experience of a lifetime... I had no idea I was going to write a book about it.” (17:11)

• Cinematic Writing Style
  • Lisa’s background translates into visual, immersive prose:

    “The book felt very cinematic. People felt they were there on location with me… I could move the camera throughout the room and tell you exactly what was going on.” (20:52)

Translating Editing Skills into Writing

• The editing mindset supports her revision process and attention to sensory detail:

  “It’s all in the details... the hunt for the right word, the hunt for telling a better story… I knew story structure coming in, having edited feature films and 30-second spots.” (19:32)

• Lisa enjoys being the “set dresser, the dialogue writer, the wardrobe person, the cameraman… I’m all of it.” (23:30)

"The Big Day" [23:53 – 26:06]

• Premise: Focuses on Lisa's wedding day at age 49, exploring her journey toward intimacy and partnership after years of independence and previous relationship mishaps.
• Hook: A wedding mishap threatens the legality of the ceremony:

  "When a 49-year-old first-time bride discovers she’s not married during her wedding reception, she must decide whether to run while she can or stay for the man she thought she married.” (24:17)

• Tone: Described as “super sweet,” funny, and honest, filled with backstories about her past relationships.
• Fun Fact: The book’s cover features her real cake topper, custom-made to match Lisa and her husband.

Building Author Community: Advice for Writers [28:15+]

• Lisa’s Tactics for Community Building:
  • Attend retreats, classes, and conferences—prioritizing real-life interaction and collaboration.
  • Frequent local bookstores, participate in readings/events, and support independent shops:

    “It takes nothing for you to just show up and be in the audience... You’re not going to build community on Amazon.” (28:15)

• On Substack:
  • Lisa’s newsletter, “One Minute Thoughts from a Pink Head,” offers bite-sized essays. She prefers brevity for both her own writing and her readers’ busy lives.

    “If I have a good happy thought to share with you, I do it. If I don’t, I’m not going to take up your time.” (26:53)

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Standing Out:

  “I went really bright pink so I would stand out. And I actually did have people come up and say, you know, I need to know who you are.” —Lisa (13:36)

• Advice to Aspiring Writers:

  “Build in public. Bring people along with you… When it comes time to talk about the book, they’ve watched you through the hard times and the good times...” —Dave (09:44)

• On Editing vs. Writing:

  “Writing is all about editing… You just keep polishing and polishing. So many people get bored with that, but I’m really…I love doing it.” —Lisa (19:32)

• On Creative Community:

  “There’s more than enough to go around for everybody. I’m here to share and help you, and if you can help me in any way, that’s great. If you can’t, I’ve just enjoyed meeting you, and I’m happy that you’re along for the ride.” —Lisa (10:40)

• On Author Platform vs. Community:

  “Just because they’re following you doesn’t mean they want to read your book.” —Lisa (08:26)

• On Memoir Writing:

  “With memoir, the one good thing is you are an expert on your own life.” —Lisa (09:38)

Notable Timestamps

• 02:16 – Lisa describes the rush of commercial editing and its influence on conciseness.
• 05:55 – Discussion on flash fiction and Ernest Hemingway’s six-word story.
• 07:00 – Statistics on book publishing and why selling 100 books is a big deal.
• 10:24 – The power of building in public and community support at launch.
• 13:36 – Lisa’s pink hair as a branding and social tool at a conference.
• 15:01 – Diving into “Sit, Cinderella, Sit” and the China adventure.
• 18:42 – The parallels between editing film and editing manuscripts.
• 20:52 – Feedback on the cinematic feel of Lisa’s writing.
• 24:17 – Introducing “The Big Day” and its wedding mishap premise.
• 26:53 – Explaining Lisa’s Substack philosophy and approach.
• 28:15 – Community building advice: go where your people are.

Conclusion

This episode is a rich resource for writers and readers alike. Lisa Cheek’s journey provides practical insight into the creative process, the transition between different storytelling mediums, and the real importance of community and authenticity in an author’s journey. Her infectious enthusiasm for life, literature, and building relationships is a throughline that will inspire anyone dreaming of “living the next chapter.”

Links:

• Lisa Cheek’s Website & Substack
• “One Minute Thoughts from a Pink Head” on Substack
• Lisa’s Books: “Sit, Cinderella, Sit” (2025) | “The Big Day” (coming soon)