Synopsis
A show about writing, reading, and getting (some) things done. Jessica Lahey writes the Parent-Teacher Conference column for the New York Times' Well Family and is the author of "The Gift of Failure: How the Best Parents Learn to Let Go So Children Can Succeed." KJ Dell'Antonia is a columnist and contributing editor for the New York Times' Well Family. In their podcast, they talk about writing short form, long form and book length, give tips for pitching editors and agents and constantly revise how they tackle the ongoing challenge of keeping your butt in the chair for long enough to get the work done.
Episodes
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68: #HireAPublicist
18/08/2017 Duration: 45min...in which Jess and KJ weigh whether it may be time for you to hire a publicist, whether you might just need an assistant and other solutions.
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67: #MysteryWriting
11/08/2017 Duration: 39min…in which Jess and KJ speak with mystery writer Sarah Stuart Taylor about what make a good mystery, and the dangers of passwords and four-year olds.
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66: #CrunchedForTime
04/08/2017 Duration: 29min…in which Jess and KJ touch base briefly about moving the needles on a couple of projects, while feeling a little pinched by too many others.
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65: #SummerWriting
28/07/2017 Duration: 42min...in which Jess, KJ and Sarina compare notes about addressing notes, the perils of “summer brain,” and what makes for a productive writing environment.
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64: #PubDay
21/07/2017 Duration: 32min...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.
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63: #Priorities
14/07/2017 Duration: 43min...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.
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62: #WhatIsADraft
07/07/2017 Duration: 33min...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.
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61: #AcademicStuff
30/06/2017 Duration: 41min...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.
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60:#CheckingIn
23/06/2017 Duration: 36min...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.
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59: #BeginnersFiction
16/06/2017 Duration: 36min...in which Jess and KJ share their anxieties about writing outside their comfort zone...fiction! Also tips on how to survive a writers group.
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58: #ChangingSeasons
09/06/2017 Duration: 39min...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.
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57: #WritingIsHard
01/06/2017 Duration: 40min...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.
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56: #TravelWriting
26/05/2017 Duration: 37min...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.
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55: #HumorWriting
19/05/2017 Duration: 39min...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.
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54: #ListenerQuestions
15/05/2017 Duration: 41min...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?
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53: #BookProposals
05/05/2017 Duration: 41min...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.
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52: #WritingAdvice
28/04/2017 Duration: 42min...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.
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51: #BeingAnonymous
21/04/2017 Duration: 32min...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.
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50: #WriteMore
14/04/2017 Duration: 34min...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.
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49: #BooksForWriters
07/04/2017 Duration: 40min...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.