Writing Stories
Each episode of Writing Stories features an interview with a contemporary author about how her book went from an idea in her head to an object on a shelf. Join us on Writing Stories for honesty, struggle, and triumph, for writing community, publishing insight, and inspiration to persist in whatever difficult but meaningful journey you've chosen for yourself.
- Update frequency
- every 6 days
- Average duration
- 30 minutes
- Episodes
- 78
- Years Active
- 2023 - 2025
"You Don't Suck" — Lidia Yuknavitch tells the story of Reading the Waves
In this episode, Lidia talks about
-story-telling space as a magical shape-shifting place of healing and growth
-how to talk to yourself when your writing is lousy
- pillow forts
- creati…
"It Took 8 Years To Write" — Susan Barker Tells the Story of Old Soul
Why write 'bad' characters? Why write 'bad' female characters?
Being patient and having faith
The line between good and evil exists within every man
Stephen King and kinds of fear
It Fo…
"Please Stop Me if This Is Going Terribly" — Erika Swyler tells the story of We Lived on the Horizon
Along the way, Erika covers:
Pacing
Best moment of the book making process
Editing that works with an author's vision
Adrian Tchaikovsky and Service Model
Atria (publisher)
Michelle Browe…
"Making art is a lot like making a kid—It is just this really intense expression of being alive"
RERELEASE! A Major Problem with Publication
In this episode, Yael Goldstein-Love talks about The Possibilities.
We cover:
Heretic barbies
Putting away ten years of work on a manuscript (possibly the best thing you've ever written)
'A…
RERELEASE! The most hardcore writing hack ever
Elle Everhart talks about Hot Summer. Along the way, Elle covers:
Hinge
A particular kind of single parenting experience
The most dangerous writing app
Writing as a way to try on alternat…
RERELEASE! Shannon Sanders talks about her award-winning story collection Company
In this episode, I talk to Shannon Sanders about her linked short story collection, Company. We talk about:
- writing your own murder mystery parties
- writing through your feelings abou…
RERELEASE! Letting Go of What You Can't Control
In this episode, I talk to Christina Consolino about her most recent novel, The Weight We Carry.
We discuss:
- NaNoWriMo
- Prioritizing writing
- The oozing guts of dead things
- Controlling…
"The Blank Space Became the Book" — Amy Wilson Tells the Story of Happy To Help
'Burn charts' for writing
Linking essays the way one links chapters in a novel
Writing and mom guilt
Boundaries (and the lack thereof) as they relate to gender socialization
Letting a man…
RERELEASE! "I Had to Do Whatever Was Necessary to Communicate"
Elizabeth Hilborn tells the story of her memoir Restoring Eden. Along the way she covers:
Moving from scientific writing to memoir
Notes and research for nonfiction
Honey bees, pesticides,…
"Traditional Publishing Industry Bullshit" — Amanda Fields tells the story of My Caesarean
Editing an essay collection
Organizing an essay collection
Literary Mama
C-sections
Blurbs
Working with mothers
Julie Stevenson (agent)
Labor Day (collection of birth stories including one…
"If You're Not Getting the Dopamine Boost, Then Why Bother?" — Terese Svoboda tells the story of Roxy and Coco and The Long Swim
The key to being able to write a lot
YADDO and writing 50 pages a day (????)
What makes a 'real' writer
Writing groups that last 40 years
In-person author events and signings
"The sad wilde…
This Very Sacrificial Thing — Jaclyn Gilbert Tells the Story of Late Air
In this episode Jaclyn tells the story of Late Air.
Along the way she covers:
goal orientation
Running
Driftless Literary
upcoming course on navigating the indie publishing landscape
David…
"What If We Free Ourselves?" — Vera Blossom Tells the Story of How To Fuck Like A Girl
In this episode Vera Blossom tells the story of How To Fuck Like A Girl.
Along the way she covers:
Gender/genre crossover
Diary writing
Dopamine Press
Queer zine culture
Building a queer …
"Too Many Emotions and No Tranquility" — Jessica E. Johnson Tells the Story of Mettlework
In this episode, Jessica E. Johnson tells the story of Mettlework. Along the way she covers:
Agent troubles
Her poetry collection Metabolics
A need for more poetry about motherhood
Connec…
"A Dream Come True" — Polly Rosenwaike tells the story of Look How Happy I'm Making You
In this episode Polly tells the story of Look How Happy I'm Making You.
Along the way she covers:
- When your conversation partner for your book launch cancel at the last minute
- Bathtt…
Writing From Post-Election Anxiety — Danny Goodman Tells the Story of Amerikaland
In this episode, Danny Goodman tells the story of Amerikaland.
Along the way he covers:
- Anxiety as writing fuel
- how sports can be literary, romantic, uniting, and a useful literary to…
Wonderful and Terrible — Jazmina Barrera Tells The Story of Linea Nigra
In this episode, Jazmina Barrera tells the story of Linea Nigra. Along the way she covers:
World-altering experience of becoming a parent
Gendered double-standards in terms of what topi…
"No One Can Read It If It Doesn't Get Published" — Kate Brody tells the story of RABBIT HOLE (Paperback out Tuesday!)
Kate Brody tells the story of Rabbit Hole.
Along the way she covers:
Choosing a genre container to move her plot along
Selling fast in one country and slow in another
Selling a book while…
"Nobody Can Write A Book Everyone Loves" — Brittany Means Tells the Story of Hell If We Don't Change Our Ways
In this episode Brittany tells the story of Hell If We Don't Change Our Ways.
Along the way she covers:
- Taking care of yourself when writing hard things
- The best way to protect your…