Chicago Writers Podcast

In this episode, author Gayle Brandeis discusses knowing what we're doing, writing when you can, listening to your body, breathing, engaging with emotionally difficult material, and drafting for yourself, revising for others.   Gayle Brandeis https://gaylebrandeis.com/   Stories Matter Foundation https://www.storystudiochicago.org/

In this episode, author Michael Leali discusses middle grade novels, low-residency MFAs, resonating with young readers, using notecards for developmental edits, tackling big topics in books for kids, staying true to the voice of young people, the importance of humor, what young readers are interested in, how to battle book bans and protect communities, and valuing your own story.   Michael Leali h...

In this episode, Julia Fine, author, discusses getting started, research, following the call of your work, preparing your concept, revisions, developmental edits, working on projects over the course of multiple years, taking breaks, writing as the reward, and making choices through a goal.   Julia Fine https://www.julia-fine.com/   Stories Matter Foundation https://www.storystudiochicago.org/

In this episode, Sarah Terez Rosenblum, author, discusses using teaching to learn craft, developmental editors, figuring out when to share work, listening, giving yourself permission to say 'I don't know,' the right reasons to take a class, and why you should always wear black when teaching.   Sarah Terez Rosenblum https://www.sarahterezrosenblum.com/   Stories Matter Foundation https://www.storys...

In this episode, we talk with Rebecca George, co-owner of Volumes Bookcafe, about running a bookstore, the staying power of physical books, crunching the numbers, backlist sales, Tik Tok's influence on a book's success, how to be a better sales ally as a writer, why short books rock, and why authors shouldn't call a bookstore on a weekend.   Volumes https://www.volumesbooks.com/   Stories Matter F...

Recommendations for your TBR pile:   Greg's Picks Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin Last Summer on State Street by Toya Wolfe Mount Chicago by Adam Levin Groundskeeping by Lee Cole I Have Some Questions For You by Rebecca Makkai   Michael's Picks Book of Extraordinary Tragedies by Joe Meno Beyond Measure by James Vincent How to Build a Home for the End of the World by Keely S...

Jeremy Owens, writer and performer, on live lit, putting together a show, newsletters, and the chaos that is trying to hold onto an online writing community in this day and age.   Find Jeremy online at https://linktr.ee/JeremyAshleyOwens   Stories Matter Foundation https://www.storystudiochicago.org/

In this episode, Jen and Fraser Coffeen, hosts of the Creepy History Podcast, stop by to talk about all things scary stories - telling them, lessons writers can take from them, and what keeps us up at night.   Creepy History Podcast https://creepyhistory.buzzsprout.com/   Stories Matter Foundation https://www.storystudiochicago.org/

In this episode, Lindsay Hunter, author, discusses flash fiction, accepting your voice, making the most of your time, making reasonable writing goals, spreadsheets for editing, community as motivation, if you should go to grad school, and what makes Chicago special.   Lindsay Hunter https://lindsayhunter.tumblr.com/   I'm a Writer But Podcast https://lindsayhunter.tumblr.com/   Stories Matter Foun...

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 Found...

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....

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/...

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...

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/ http...

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 h...

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...

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 StoryStudioC...

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.story...

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://twi...

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.storystudioc...

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...

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 ChicagoWritersPodc...

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-...