#AmWriting

...in which Jess, KJ and Sarina compare notes about addressing notes, the perils of “summer brain,” and what makes for a productive writing environment.

...in which guest host Sarina Bowen joins KJ to discuss how to celebrate the day your writing goes public. From panicking to practicalities, how to spend your day of jubilation.

...in which Jess and KJ discuss how best to make hay whilst the sun shines, and the importance of balancing work with leisure and sleep.

...in which Jess and KJ dig into the nuances and vagaries of knowing when a draft is finished enough to submit. KJ’s having trouble settling into the summer and Jess has a new research org tip.

...in which Jess and KJ welcome author Tim Lahey and discuss the traps and tricks of jumping from the annals of academic literature to the popular press.

...in which Jess and KJ take stock; everything from the daily word goal, daily routine v. summer hours and their words of the year is under the microscope. Also some tips on staying on top of your growing mountain of research.

...in which Jess and KJ share their anxieties about writing outside their comfort zone...fiction! Also tips on how to survive a writers group.

...in which Jess and KJ celebrate the arrival of summer by changing up their work schedules. And it’s a good time to take stock of your writing goals.

...in which Jess and KJ compare notes about when your writing takes you in unexpected directions; they also have tips on writing and submitting for anthologies.

...in which Jess and KJ sit down with travel writer Heather Greenwood Davis; Davis offers tips about getting started in this field, and shares her experiences about her year traveling with her family.

...in which Jess and KJ sit down with award-winning humor writer Wendi Aarons and dig in to her career and her craft. Tips on becoming a humor writer, selling that funny stuff, and rules of the comedy road.

...in which Jess and KJ field listener questions; like how and whether to move forward in the face of rejection? How to become a blog contributor? How do you construct a social media strategy?

...in which Jess and KJ walk us through the devils in the details of a book proposal, KJ turns in her manuscript and finds herself adrift, and Jess gamifies her writing with stickers.

...in which Jess and KJ digest really good bits of writing advice from other writers (like King and Vonnegut) and editors; they also argue the merits of semicolons and other punctuation.

...in which Jess and KJ consider when you can or when you should use a nom de plume or no nom at all. They also debate the pros and cons of anonymizing your sources.

...in which Jess and KJ compare notes about time management tools and share parts of the job they’re tiring of; Jess rethinks speaking agents and KJ contemplates strategies for writing away from home.

...in which Jess and KJ recommend many and sundry books to get you or the aspiring writer in your life excited about writing, some inspiring, some practical.

...in which Jess and KJ confess to not playing hooky as much as it might sound. KJ updates us on her Burn Chart and her looming May 1st deadline, and Jess shares some tools for working with editors. Also the dangers of cooking with wine, and where do dogs come from?

...in which Jess and KJ have more tips on fostering a speaking career. Jess explains the true purpose of the green M&M contract rider, and shares many other things she’s learned on the Speaking Circuit...the hard way.

...in which Jess and KJ grapple with the challenge of not getting things done, and that’s OK! KJ’s on a media diet as her manuscript deadline looms, and Jess is repurposing work and taking naps.

..in which Jess and KJ talk with Meghan Walbert about Foster Parent Diary, her column about foster parenting from the New York Times. They discuss the many perils that come with writing about real people, especially your family, like how to share without over-sharing, how to write about your kids and the need for editors who have your back.

...in which Jess and KJ emphasize the importance of good research. They explains the many facets of conducting primary research, from hiring a pollster to interviewing a source; otherwise read everything you can and keep your research straight (see episode 7)!

...in which Jess and KJ talk through turning a writing career into a speaking career. Jess has tips on how much to charge, how and who to pitch and other ways to jump-start your speaking career. And KJ updates us on her book progress, including that famous burn chart.

...in which Jess and KJ welcome Sarina Bowen back to the show to discuss piracy, and what writers can do about it. Sarina makes fighting back easy, offers up some helpful courses of action, and Jess and KJ talk about their reading this week..

...in which Jess and KJ talk about that ephemeral thing, the craft of writing with authority. Tips on keeping out the wishy-washy and examples of good voices.