In this episode, James Klise, author, discusses opening pages, writing for teens, leaving behind a manuscript, reading strategies, revealing character through action, and using cause and effect to build a plot. James Klise https://jamesklise.com/ Stories Matter Foundation https://www.storystudiochicago.org/
We talk with Emily Maloney, author, about making beautiful sentences, the personal essay, building a better essay collection pitch, swamp driver vs polishing diamonds, how writing needs time, maintaining 2 notebooks - one for the draft, one for feelings about the draft, working by hand, and going to therapy to be a better writer. Emily Maloney http://www.emilymaloney.net/ Stories Matter Foundation/StoryStudio Chicago https://www.storystudiochicago.org/ Find us at https://chicagowriterspodcast.li...
In this episode, Steve Almond, author, on building plot, writing the social novel, placing a story in time, giving the reader the information they need, finding the right amount of research, and scorpions. Steve Almond https://stevealmondjoy.org/ Chicago Writers Podcast https://chicagowriterspodcast.libsyn.com/ Stories Matter Foundation and StoryStudio Chicago https://www.storystudiochicago.org/...
Vincent Francone, author and editor, discusses different Chicagos, organizing a collection, Windy City cliches, the deep dish myth, live lit, submitting work to anthologies, and parking in Wrigleyville. Find Vincent online at: http://www.vincentfrancone.com/ Stories Matter Foundation https://www.storystudiochicago.org/ Chicago Writers Podcast https://twitter.com/ChiWriPodcast...
In this episode, we're talking all things mystery with Sisters in Crime Chicago! Michelle Falkoff, Mia P. Manansala, and Jen Collins Moore all join us to discuss what makes a great whodunit. Michelle Falkoff http://michellefalkoff.com/ Mia P. Manansala www.miapmanansala.com Jen Collins Moore https://www.jennifercollinsmoore.com/ Stories Matter Foundation https://www.storystudiochicago.org/ Chicago Writers Podcast https://chicagowriterspodcast.libsyn.com/ https://twitter.com/ChiWriPodcast...
In this episode, author Christie Tate discusses discovering non-fiction, writing groups, saying thank you in a query, going deeper with memoir, inoculation against shame, making boundaries after publishing, and sharing a risqué scene you wrote with your therapy group. Christie Tate https://christietate.com/ Stories Matter Foundation https://www.storystudiochicago.org/ Chicago Writers Podcast https://chicagowriterspodcast.libsyn.com/ https://twitter.com/ChiWriPodcast...
In this episode, author Kathleen Rooney discusses writing in multiple genres, the start of Poems While You Wait, contemporary sources for historical fiction, finding the perspective of an animal character, outlining before writing, giving a manuscript time, breaking revision into manageable tasks, and big new developments in the Cher Ami community. Kathleen Rooney http://kathleenrooney.com/ https://twitter.com/KathleenMRooney Stories Matter Foundation https://www.storystudiochicago.org/ Chicago ...
Grab hold of your heat levels and check how open those doors are, because it's time for the Romance Roundtable with authors Chandra Blumberg, Sonali Dev, Melonie Johnson, and Kate Meader, hosted by Jennifer Coffeen. We talk everything the publishing process to how many sex scenes a story might need. Chandra Blumberg https://chandrablumberg.com/ https://twitter.com/chandrablumberg Sonali Dev https://sonalidev.com/ https://twitter.com/Sonali_Dev Melonie Johnson https://meloniejohnson.com/ohabout-m...
For the last episode of 2021, Adam Morgan and Sara Cutaia talk about all things Chicago literature, past and present, plus, for some reason, You Got Mail. Partial list of books and authors mentioned: The Wrong Way to Save Your Life by Megan Steilstra The Upstairs House by Julia Fine Mitchell S. Jackson Electric Arches by Eve L Ewing The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai The Coast of Chicago by Stuart Dybek Selected Poems by Gwendolyn Brooks The Jungle by Upton Sinclair The House on Mango Street ...
In this episode, Kenyatta Rogers discusses the puzzle of poetry, doing the work, finding inspiration, seeking out places to send work, the difference between poetry and narrative, playing with constraints, reading work out loud, patience, starting with couplets, and writing at the supermarket. ChicagoWritersPodcast.com Find us on Twitter at @chiwripodcast Stories Matter Foundation StoryStudioChicago.Org...
Joseph Scapellato, author, on placing a novel in Chicago, following a work's intentions, making a sentence do more than one thing, emotional grounding and escalation, finding humor outside dialogue, and having your mom fill in the blanks. You can find Joe online at https://www.josephscapellato.com/ and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/Joe_Scapellato Stories Matter Foundation https://www.storystudiochicago.org/ Chicago Writers Podcast can be found at https://chicagowriterspodcast.libsyn.com/ and...
In this episode, Melissa Febos talks about creative non-fiction, learning to love memoir, following curiosity, the most common fear among non-fiction writers, listening to your own standards as a reader, protecting yourself when publishing, letting your art take its own time, and to learning trust your psyche. Check out Melissa Febos at https://www.melissafebos.com/ and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/melissafebos Find us at https://chicagowriterspodcast.libsyn.com/ and Stories Matter Foundati...
In this episode, Ines Bellina, author and storyteller, discusses all things networking, including how to be a human being, where to start, being a good literary citizen, conferences, and not being weird on social media. Check out Ines' newsletter at https://crankyguide.substack.com/ and find her on Twitter @ibwrites Find us at https://chicagowriterspodcast.libsyn.com/ https://www.storystudiochicago.org/...
Sheree L. Greer, author, discusses writing mom an apology poem, MFA programs, becoming a writer, Chicago winters, building a community, the personal essay, journaling, going outside your comfort zone, writing for art instead of function, and starting out with submissions. You can find Sheree online at https://www.shereelgreer.com/ and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/shereelgreer Follow us at ChicagoWritersPodcast.com and at https://www.storystudiochicago.org/...
Megan Stielstra, Author, discusses finding courage with oral storytelling, discovering a theme, inviting people to your practice, exercises for generating personal essay material, asking books specific questions, and disregarding MLA style. You can find Megan Stielstra online at https://www.meganstielstra.com/ and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/meganstielstra Follow us at ChicagoWritersPodcast.com and at https://www.storystudiochicago.org/...
In this episode, Sahar Mustafah discusses her journey to becoming an author, being a pandemic debut, the querying process, writing at 4am, novel vs short story revisions, advice for authors leading workshops for the first time, working on mutliple projects, and taking risks like a teenager. saharmustafah.com Story Studio Summer Youth Programs at https://www.storystudiochicago.org/youth-creative-writing-summer-camps/ ChicagoWritersPodcast.com Twitter @ChiWriPodcast...
In this episode, Jill Pollack, founder of the Stories Matter Foundation, talks about the creation of StoryStudio Chicago, how to build your own writing community, balancing business and creativity, teaching writing, and keeping your own counsel. Jill Pollack can be found online at https://instorymode.com/ https://www.storystudiochicago.org/ and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/jill_pollack Find the Chicago Writers Podcast online at chicagowriterspodcast.com and on Twitter at https://twitter.com...
In this episode of the Chicago Writers Podcast, Julie Halpern, author, and Matthew Cordell, author and illustrator, discuss meeting via zines, creating great picture books, writing a novel through letters, seeking inspiration from childhood, and winning a Caldecott. Find Julie Halpern and Matthew Cordell online at: https://www.juliehalpern.com/ https://www.matthewcordell.com/ Find the Chicago Writers Podcast on Twitter at @chiwripodcast and online at chicagowriterspodcast.com...
In this episode of the Chicago Writers Podcast, author Dipika Mukherjee discusses research, dealing with controversial topics, universal stories, avoiding preachiness, starting with character, Southeast Asian literature, and writing on a dare. Website: https://www.dipikamukherjee.com/ Twitter: @DearDipika Find us at chicagowriterspodcast.com and on Twitter at @chiwripodcast
In this episode, author Jac Jemc discusses her path to publication, writing short stories, working in bookstores, picking a small press, taking risks with short form pieces, finding a schedule, and the importance of reading. Jac Jemc Website http://www.jacjemc.com/ Twitter @jacjemc False Bingo https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780374538354 Check out the Chicago Writers Podcast on Twitter at @chiwripodcast...
Adam Morgan, Founder of the Chicago Review of Books, and Todd Van Luling, Incoming Editor-in-Chief, on writing great book reviews, bylines, getting started with cultural criticism, and how good can be better than perfect. Chicago Review of Books https://chireviewofbooks.com / Adam Morgan on Twitter https://twitter.com/adamm0rgan Todd Van Luling on Twitter https://twitter.com/toddvanluling ChicagoWritersPodcast.com...
In this special live episode, StoryStudio's Jen Coffeen and I talk with author Michael Zapata about exiles, finding inspiration in oral and Latin American traditions, writing books within books, publishing unconventional work, and throwing a manuscript into a volcano. Purchase THE LOST BOOK OF ADANA MOREAU at https://bookshop.org/books/the-lost-book-of-adana-moreau/9781335010124 and find Michael Zapata at http://www.michaelzapata.com / and on Twitter @mikezapata01 You can find Jen Coffeen on Twi...
In this episode we talk with Adam Shafer, author, and Emily Victorson, editor and publisher, about small presses, historical fiction, finding a home for your manuscript, and Allium Press rescuing Chicago from Capone. Adam Shafer can be found at https://www.adamjshafer.com/ and Alium Press can be found at https://alliumpress.com/ as well as on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter as alliumpress. Follow the Chicago Writers Podcast on Twitter @ChiWriPodcast...
In this episode, we talk with Suzy Takacs, founder of the Book Cellar, about indie bookstores, choosing what to sell, how authors can work with their local shops, deciding what stays on the shelf, and how to have a great launch event. You can find the Book Cellar and information about their online events at https://www.bookcellarinc.com/ Follow the Chicago Writers Podcast on Twitter @ChiWriPodcast
In this episode, we talk with Ian Belknap, performer and essayist, on compelling yourself to write, founding Write Club, why you should speak your work aloud, respecting time, finding humor in the darkness, and being kind to yourself You can find Ian Belknap online at ianbelknap.com and on Twitter @writeclubrules Follow the Chicago Writers Podcast on Twitter @ChiWriPodcast
In this episode, we talk with local legend Rebecca Makkai about networking, building a career as an author, the role of plot in literary fiction, and why everyone should read out loud to a room full of unruly ten-year-olds. Rebecca Makkai can be found online at http://rebeccamakkai.com/ and on Twitter at @rebeccamakkai Follow the Chicago Writers Podcast on Twitter @ChiWriPodcast
In this episode, we chat with Dr. Amina Gautier, author of three short story collections as well as over one hundred published stories. We discuss defying tropes in character descriptions, using images for inspiration, form following function, choosing scene over summary, and keeping your promises to the reader. The Loss of All Lost Things https://bookshop.org/books/the-loss-of-all-lost-things-stories/9781932418569 You can find Dr. Gautier and all her other books and stories at https://aminagaut...
This episode features a conversation with Chicago author Amelia Brunskill about the road to publication, pacing, building mysteries, selecting advice, and how to make sure this time it's (actually) personal. Find Amelia Brunskill online and order her book THE WINDOW at https://ameliabrunskill.com/
This episode features a conversation with Scott Whitehair about storytelling in Chicago, vulnerability, daydreaming, and what writers can learn from performing on the stage. Scott’s Website http://www.scottwhitehair.com/ This Much is True http://www.thismuchistruechicago.com/ Story Lab http://www.storylabchicago.com/ Do Not Submit http://www.donotsubmitchicago.com/ The Chicago Writers Podcast can be found at chicagowriterspodcast.com and on Twitter at @ChiWriPodcast....
In this episode, Michelle Falkoff, author of Playlist for the Dead, Pushing Perfect, and Questions I Want to Ask You discusses writing YA, the need for persistence in building a career, and how to find a quality support network. Michelle’s website is http://michellefalkoff.com/ and her books can be ordered at the links below: Questions I Want to Ask You https://bookshop.org/books/questions-i-want-to-ask-you/9780062680235 Playlist for the Dead https://bookshop.org/books/playlist-for-the-dead/9780...
