Chicago Writers Podcast

We return to the fantastic Stuart Dybek short story collection COAST OF CHICAGO to cover the second half of the volume. This episode is part of our ongoing celebration of all things Chicago for the 10th anniversary of the Chicago Review of Books.   

To celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Chicago Review of Books, this year we're reading and discussing some of the best literature the Windy City has to offer! To start out, we're covering Mike's absolute favorite short story collection COAST OF CHICAGO by the legendary Stuart Dybek. Jessica Keller joins the conversation as we cover the first half of the book. We'll be covering the second half...

Adrienne Gunn drops by the podcast to discuss the script for the legendary film WHEN HARRY MET SALLY...  storystudiochicago.org https://chireviewofbooks.com/  

Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube at https://youtu.be/cLOQDDyrPIo?si=RAdOkyNxx4KE41J_ Michael Welch goes head-to-head with Greg Zimmerman at Roscoe Books to see who can find the top picks for some very silly categories. Shenanigans ensue.     

Jessica Keller drops by the podcast to discuss the short story 'Nocturnal Creatures' by Saïd Sayrafiezadeh.  storystudiochicago.org https://chireviewofbooks.com/  

Author Anna Sortino stops by the podcast to discuss Ted Chiang's 'Story of Your Life.'  https://annasortino.com/ https://chireviewofbooks.com/ https://www.storystudiochicago.org/  

Megan Stielstra and Sara Cutaia join the pod to discuss Megan's essay 'Here is My Heart' from THE WRONG WAY TO SAVE YOUR LIFE.  https://bsky.app/profile/chicagowriterspod.bsky.social https://www.storystudiochicago.org/

Jen Coffeen drops by the podcast to discuss the prologue and chapter 1 of BUSMAN'S HONEYMOON by Dorothy Sayers and all the complex romance hidden in this classic detective series.  https://www.storystudiochicago.org/ https://chireviewofbooks.com/  

Rachel's Recommendations Favorite 2024: What's Not Mine by Nora Decter Non-2024 book: Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez 2024 book no one read: Dead in Long Beach, California by Venita Blackburn Most anticipated 2025 by a Chicago author: Original Sins by Eve L. Ewing Most anticipated by an author with a long gap since last book: Dream Count by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Small press titles: The Glo...

Sara Cutaia joins us to discuss a story from A VISIT FROM THE GOON SQUAD by Jennifer Egan.  https://www.storystudiochicago.org/ https://chireviewofbooks.com/   https://arcturus.chireviewofbooks.com/  

YA author James Klise joins the first episode of season two to discuss the first chapter of THE PRIME OF MISS JEAN BRODIE.  https://www.storystudiochicago.org/ https://chireviewofbooks.com/  

It's a mid-year check in with the Chicago Review of Books!  Rachel: Shayla Lawson's How To Live Free in a Dangerous World: A Decolonial Memoir Lindsay Hunter's Hot Springs Drive Nora Decter's What's Not Mine Ananda Lima's Craft: Stories I Wrote for the Devil Kaveh Akbar's Martyr! Gianni Washington's Flowers From the Void   Greg: Martyr!, by Kaveh Akbar Hello, Beautiful, by Ann Napolitano Perris, C...

In this episode, author Claire Lombardo discusses throughlines, visualizing a story, outlining after drafting, pacing, working on multiple projects, and how the second book is the hardest you'll write.   https://www.clairelombardo.com/   https://www.storystudiochicago.org/  

In this episode, Ian Endsley talks writing for video games, player choice, dialogue, constraints, examples of great writing in games, and the feeling of space.   Turnfollow's Games  https://www.turnfollow.site/   Stories Matter Foundation https://www.storystudiochicago.org/

In this episode Ananda Lima joins us to discuss poetry, framing short stories, what is horror, great editors, the texture of magical elements, finding a project that fits, and having fun.   https://www.anandalima.com/   https://www.storystudiochicago.org/  

In this episode, author Cyn Vargas discusses emotion, the novella, discovering the length of a story, trusting the process, family dynamics in fiction, young perspective, providing for the reader, residencies, finishing your story, and finding what is not being said between characters.   https://www.cynvargas.com/   https://www.storystudiochicago.org/

In this episode, Rowan Beaird discusses having two agents at once, the debut novel, revision, reducing character count, copyedits, timelines, a scene's purpose, elements of great short stories, and the importance of community.   https://www.rowanbeaird.com/   https://www.storystudiochicago.org/  

In this episode, YA and middle grade author Kat Falls discusses worldbuilding, reading aloud, what first person POV can do for your story, how screenplay writing connects to middle grade, loving your genre, and the power of awe.   https://www.katfalls.net/

In this episode, Dionna Griffin-Irons discusses improv, curiosity, how we're all characters, being comfortable with the unknown, and finding truth.   Dionna Griffin-Irons http://dionnagriffinirons.com/   Stories Matter Foundation https://www.storystudiochicago.org/

Rachel I Done Clicked My Heels Three Times by Taylor Byas (and here's the interview I mentioned:  https://chireviewofbooks.com/2023/08/24/navigating-form-and-structure-in-i-done-clicked-my-heels-three-times/ ) Brother & Sister Enter the Forest by Richard Mirabella (and here's the essay I mentioned:  https://chireviewofbooks.com/2023/03/29/writing-my-novel-wasnt-therapy/ ) Solito by Javier Zamora A...

Signups are open for the Novelist's Toolkit online class with Rebecca Makkai! Check it out at https://www.storystudiochicago.org/classes/classes/the-novelists-toolkit-six-lessons-on-craft-structure-and-tenacity-with-rebecca-makkai/   Rebecca Makkai https://rebeccamakkai.com/   Stories Matter Foundation https://www.storystudiochicago.org/

In this episode, author Idra Novey discusses inspiration through imagery, asking what you don't know, translation, deciding what becomes a novel, subtext, taking risks, and allowing for monstrosity.   Idra Novey https://www.idranovey.com/   Stories Matter Foundation https://www.storystudiochicago.org/

In this episode, Grant Faulkner, author and Executive Director of NaNoWriMo, discusses 100 word stories, what is National Novel Writing Month, writing as running, making creativity a priority, writing on your phone, and time confetti.   Find Grant online at Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram .   Stories Matter Foundation https://www.storystudiochicago.org/  

In this episode, Maxine Rae discusses embracing YA, what comes after the agent, publication timelines, spacing errors, and what the teens are saying these days.   Maxine Rae https://northstareditions.com/product/cold-girls/ https://www.instagram.com/maxinerae_author/   Stories Matter Foundation https://www.storystudiochicago.org/

In this episode, Juan Martinez discusses growing up with horror, Vegas inspiration, revision through cutting, sensations versus story, writing by hand, and cutting your story in half.   Juan Martinez http://www.fulmerford.com/about   Stories Matter Foundation https://www.storystudiochicago.org/