Plot twist—I’m the guest this week. And there’s no one I’d rather hand the reins to than my BFF (and producer of this podcast), Jenna. We get into the details of my writing process—from early research to finding the right title—and talk about the kinds of fantasy I’m drawn to, and why. We explore how setting functions as a character in my stories, the balance between realism and the fantastical, and the logic behind how my worlds work. Also, yes, we talk about mermaids. Because the ocean is stil...
May 28, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Season 3Ep. 13
This week, we summon Laura Steven, author of The Exact Opposite of Okay and Our Infinite Fates , for a thoughtful and refreshingly frank conversation. She walks us through the slow-burn nature of her creative process, opens up about the very real highs and lows of life in publishing, and reminds us that believing in yourself can be its own kind of survival skill. It’s a deep dive into persistence, perspective, and the long game of storytelling.
May 21, 2025•49 min•Season 3Ep. 12
This week marks a first—we’re summoning two authors at once! The powerhouse writing duo Christina Lauren (yes, they of the swoony romance bestsellers) joins me for a conversation that’s equal parts craft deep dive and master class in creative friendship. We talk about their ever-evolving writing process, the magic of knowing you don’t have to be good at the same things to make something great, and the puzzle-piece partnership that fuels their stories. They share lessons learned—like how you can’...
May 14, 2025•53 min•Season 3Ep. 11
SWOON ALERT! This week, we summon Tia Williams, bestselling author of Seven Days in June and A Love Song for Ricki Wilde . We dive into her writing process and why every new book begins in her Notes app (because once that laptop’s open, it’s real ), the tricky art of writing middles (think chicken that looks done until you cut in and find it’s still pink), and how she finished her first novel before she even hit double digits.
May 07, 2025•43 min•Season 3Ep. 10
Sharpen your pencils (and maybe your swords) —this week, we summon Brandon Sanderson, bestselling author of Mistborn , The Stormlight Archive , and the expansive Cosmere universe. He shares how he kept writing draft after draft (maybe even a dozen or more) before selling his first novel, the secret stash of stories he hid behind a painting as a kid, and why staying sharp in revision is one of the most important skills a writer can develop. We dive into worldbuilding, resilience, and the stubborn...
Apr 30, 2025•52 min•Season 3Ep. 9
Ever wonder what taxidermy, a giant metal chicken, and a collection of haunted dolls have in common? This week, we summon Jenny Lawson—aka The Bloggess, bestselling author of Let's Pretend This Never Happened and Furiously Happy —to talk about her one-of-a-kind creative journey. We dive into the cozy chaos of her writing process (including a surprisingly mathematical notecard system), the difference between writing personal stories and fiction, and what it means to create from joy (because, as J...
Apr 23, 2025•57 min•Season 3Ep. 8
What comes after the end of the world? This week, I sit down with Veronica Roth, the bestselling author of Divergent and Poster Girl , for a conversation full of laughter, layered craft talk, and a few surprises. We dig into her love of outlining (yes, multiple outlines!), how she lets story lead the way—without starting from plot or character—and why she believes bold choices make for better writing than careful ones. Oh—and she spills just enough about a wild (and very exciting) deal she made ...
Apr 16, 2025•45 min•Season 3Ep. 7
Stop scrolling for a sec because this week we summon Lauren Roberts, the bestselling author of Powerless . We talk about her journey from writing childhood stories—starting with an owl wielding a baseball bat—to becoming a bestselling author, do a deep dive into how she crafts characters that shape the worlds around them, and explore how both terrifying and beautiful it is to grow as a writer while readers watch in real time....
Apr 09, 2025•58 min•Season 3Ep. 6
Get ready for a plot twist—this week, we summon Jesse Q. Sutanto! The bestselling author of Dial A for Aunties and Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers shares how she traded marathon writing sessions for focused 15-minute sprints—and still gets just as much done. She unveils the surprisingly luxurious way she tackles the dreaded saggy middle of a book (hint: it involves a special WhatsApp butler) and commiserates with me about the mean little voices that live in our heads. (Don't worry, ...
Apr 02, 2025•48 min•Season 3Ep. 5
Ever wondered what it takes to wrangle a team of spy cats? This week, we summon John Scalzi, the bestselling author of Starter Villain and Old Man’s War . We chat about chipping away at the boundaries of what’s possible in the genre, how his brain holds so much information that he doesn’t even need to outline, and how he decided which genre to write in by flipping a freakin’ coin.
Mar 26, 2025•57 min•Season 3Ep. 4
DFTBA, buttercups, because this week, we summon John Green! The beloved author of The Fault in Our Stars and Turtles All the Way Down joins me to talk about the writing process—starting with the shocking amount of words in his first drafts that never see the light of day. We also dive into how storytelling helps him search for “good news,” why dread might just be another form of wonder, and his belief that death is “the weirdest thing we do as people.”...
Mar 19, 2025•44 min•Season 3Ep. 3
Buckle your seatbelts, buckaroos! This week, we summon Chuck Tingle, the delightful author behind Bury Your Gays and Camp Damascus . We chat about the differences between crafting his signature short-form erotica and tackling full-length novels, his love of message-driven storytelling, and how wearing a pink sack on his head has given him both creative freedom and personal comfort—all while staying true to his punk approach to writing.
Mar 12, 2025•51 min•Season 3Ep. 2
Welcome to Season 3! Ever wonder what you’d use to summon Olivie Blake? This week, I chat with the bestselling author of The Atlas Six and Alone With You in the Ether . We commiserate over the maddening reality that writing somehow feels impossible every single time we start a new book, no matter how many we've written. She pulls back the curtain on how her stories take shape, and we dive into the chaos and creativity of juggling multiple projects at once....
Mar 05, 2025•1 hr•Season 3Ep. 1
It’s the end of Season 2, so here is a bonus episode! This week, I chat with Alex Edelman, the comedian and writer behind the Tony and Emmy-winning show Just for Us . Alex gives us a behind-the-scenes look at how he crafts long-form shows, shares the tricky balance of blending humor with grief, and talks about the challenges and joys of being the subject of his own work.
Oct 23, 2024•48 min•Season 2Ep. 16
This week, I chat with the legendary R.L. Stine, the mastermind behind over 300 books, including the iconic Goosebumps series. Known for his spine-tingling plot twists, R.L. shares a surprising twist of his own—none of what’s happened in his extraordinary career was ever really his idea. From spooky tales to unexpected turns in his journey, we explore the quirky moments that shaped the author who continues to delight and thrill new generations of readers.
Oct 16, 2024•22 min•Season 2Ep. 15
This week, I chat with Cassandra Clare, author of the beloved Shadowhunter Chronicles series and Sword Catcher . Cassandra dives into the intricate world-building that defines her fantasy novels, shares her thoughts on crafting compelling character relationships, and talks about the surprising places she finds seeds of inspiration.
Oct 09, 2024•43 min•Season 2Ep. 13
This week, I chat with the bestselling Sabaa Tahir, author of All My Rage and her latest, Heir . Sabaa discusses the big, thought-provoking questions she explores through her stories, weaving powerful themes of identity and connection. She also shares how she discovers the best version of a story and delights us with a peek at her unexpected talent of mimicking animal sounds.
Oct 02, 2024•46 min•Season 2Ep. 13
This week, I chat with Isaac Fitzgerald, the author of Dirtbag, Massachusetts and Pen & Ink , known for his compelling non-fiction and memoir writing. As we chat about the fascinating differences (and similarities) between writing fiction and non-fiction, Isaac shares his heartfelt insights on the art of personal storytelling, and even gives a step-by-step guide to creating the perfect mixtape—because storytelling isn't just for the page. :)
Sep 25, 2024•57 min•Season 2Ep. 12
This week, I chat with Margaret Owen, the author of The Merciful Crow and (a personal favorite) Little Thieves. As we bond over our feline companions, Margaret shares her approach to crafting vivid, character-driven stories, delves into the nitty-gritty of her zero-draft process, and reveals the one word she can never seem to spell correctly.
Sep 18, 2024•49 min•Season 2Ep. 11
This week, I chat with Rebecca Roanhorse, the author of Black Sun and her latest, Mirrored Heavens . Rebecca shares her unique approach to weaving Indigenous mythology into modern fantasy, discusses the differences between writing personal projects, working within established franchises, and writing for TV, and reflects on the important realization that her memory isn’t terrible—it’s just not great at paying attention to reality.
Sep 11, 2024•48 min•Season 2Ep. 10
This week, I chat with T. J. Klune, the beloved author of The House in the Cerulean Sea and Under the Whispering Door . T.J. reflects on his journey through both self-publishing and traditional publishing, shares his heartwarming approach to blending fantasy with deep emotional resonance, and talks about the simple joy he's found in realizing he can eat ice cream whenever he wants.
Sep 04, 2024•54 min•Season 2Ep. 9
This week, I chat with Saara El-Arifi, the author of The Final Strife and Faebound . Saara shares her whimsical approach to 'finding her way' through her intricate stories, discusses the importance of diverse voices in fantasy, and reveals the delightfully unexpected place where she does most of her writing.
Aug 28, 2024•45 min•Season 2Ep. 8
This week, I chat with Travis Baldree, the author of the cozy fantasy darlings Legends & Lattes and Bookshops & Bonedust . Travis shares his journey from audiobook narrator to novelist, offers practical advice for writers looking to carve their own path, and shares with us his most “useless” skill.
Aug 21, 2024•42 min•Season 2Ep. 7
This week, I chat with Martha Wells, the celebrated author of many favorites, including The Murderbot Diaries and her newest book, Witch King . We discuss the evolution of her beloved characters, get a glimpse into the world-building techniques that make her stories so immersive, and learn about her surprising relationship with the arcade classic skee ball.
Aug 14, 2024•49 min•Season 2Ep. 6
This week, I chat with the multi-talented Julia Whelan, author of My Oxford Year and Thank You for Listening , as well as a prolific audiobook narrator, actor, and the creator of Audiobrary - a platform dedicated to human storytelling. Join us as we delve into her writing and narration process, insights from both her literary and acting experiences, and the intriguing concept of "intimacy kink."
Aug 07, 2024•44 min•Season 2Ep. 5
This week, I’m chatting with the ever enchanting Sarah Rees Brennan, the mind behind The Demon’s Lexicon, In Other Lands , and her latest, Long Live Evil . We explore her journey from her initial path to starting over, delve into the nuances of personal projects versus writing for hire, and discuss the most important topic- deliberate narrative tits.
Jul 31, 2024•43 min•Season 2Ep. 4
This week, I chat with a writer who shares my love for making the world a little bit stranger—Alix Harrow, the brilliant author of The Once and Future Witches , Starling House , and more. Join us as we explore her unique writing rituals, the origins of her ideas, and the interesting “treasures” she discovered in an old teapot.
Jul 24, 2024•44 min•Season 2Ep. 3
This week, I chat with the incomparable S. A. Cosby, author of the acclaimed “southern noir” crime novels Blacktop Wasteland , All The Sinners Bleed , and more. We delve into character development, the importance of knowing backstory, and learn about his unique favorite smell.
Jul 17, 2024•44 min•Season 2Ep. 2
Welcome to the first episode of No Write Way, season 2, where I delve into how "Writing is like a Road Trip" with author Fonda Lee. We also talk through her creative process, unique hurdles, and the surprisingly strange item hanging in her bedroom.
Jul 10, 2024•51 min•Season 2Ep. 1
Welcome to No Write Way!
Jul 09, 2024•47 sec
