Chicago Writers Podcast

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   Fi...

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 Chicag...

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 @...

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   Chic...

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...

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. ...

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...

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 Pod...

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...

In this episode of the Chicago Writers Podcast Isabella Rotman discusses working as an independent artist, making comics, what zines are, and how to come up with ideas for merchandise.    Check out Isabella Rotman's work and purchase her books and Tarot deck at  https://www.isabellarotman.com/   The Chicago Writers Podcast can be found on Twitter at @ chiwripodcast and online at chicagowriterspodc...

In this episode, I talk with Chicago author Abby Geni about developing rich settings, her unique process, teaching, and the creatures that inhabit her novels and stories.  Abby Geni's novels are the Wildlands and the Lightkeepers . Her short story collection is The Last Animal. Information about her classes can be found at StoryStudio Chicago . You can check out her website for more details.