Join us for an insightful episode of the Working Writer Podcast! Today's guest is Shannon TL Kearns, the first openly transgender man ordained to the old Catholic priesthood.
Tia and Shannon discuss his journey from evangelical fundamentalism to becoming a pioneering figure in the Catholic Church, his transition, and how his unique experiences inform his writing and work.
Shannon also shares his thoughts on the importance of authentic storytelling, playwriting, screenwriting, and navigating the creative life through fellowships and gig work. This episode is rich with valuable insights for writers and anyone interested in spirituality and LGBTQ+ advocacy.
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In this episode of the Working Writer Podcast, host Tia Levings sits down with Allison K Williams, a prolific writer, editor, and former circus performer.
They delve into the journey of creating sustainable careers in writing, emphasizing the importance of multiple drafts for polished work. Allison shares her unique experiences traveling globally, hosting writing retreats, and the significance of teaching and mentoring other writers.
They also discuss practical advice for writers, such as the necessity of retyping drafts and embedding research directly into scenes. With stories of her extensive travels, including retreats in Tuscany, Portugal, and plans for the Queen Mary 2, Allison provides invaluable insights for writers at any stage of their career.
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Join us for a compelling episode of the Working Writer Podcast! Today we are joined by Katie Rose Guest Pryal, a speaker and author known for her work on mental health and neurodiversity.
Katie shares her journey from being a non-tenure-track college professor to a published author and speaker. The discussion covers the importance of embracing one's neurodivergence, the evolving language around mental health, and the significance of finding alignment between passion and work. Katie also delves into her career's transition from academia to writing textbooks and trade books, emphasizing the need to focus on what truly matters.
This episode is rich with insights for writers and anyone interested in mental health and neurodiversity.
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Welcome to another episode of the Working Writer Podcast! Today we are joined by guest Lisa Cooper Ellison, an expert in trauma-informed writing. In this discussion, we explore the importance of a trauma-aware approach in writing, particularly for personal stories and memoirs.
Lisa shares insights from her writing journey, highlighting the transformational power of storytelling and writing's therapeutic benefits. We discuss the developmental editing process, emphasizing patience, humility, and self-compassion. The conversation also covers practical advice for emerging writers, including starting with shorter pieces and considering fiction to maintain distance from personal trauma.
Don't miss this captivating conversation packed with golden nuggets for writers at every level. Discover the revolutionary impact of trauma-aware writing and editing, and learn how trauma-informed coaching can be your secret weapon in conquering the emotional Everest of personal narratives.
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• Website: Lisa Cooper Ellison
Join us for a brand-new installment of the Working Writer Podcast! Today, we're excited to feature Trinity McFadden, a distinguished senior literary agent with a deep commitment to promoting diverse and underrepresented voices in the publishing industry.
Trinity shared her journey from her early love of literature, through various roles in publishing, to her current impactful role in agenting where she champions innovative and untested authors.
This episode is packed with invaluable advice for both authors and industry professionals. Don't miss it!
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The Anti-Fundamentalist : tialevings.substack.com
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Welcome to another episode of The Working Writer Podcast! I had the fantastic opportunity to speak with Cait West, author of Rift: A Memoir of Breaking Away from Christian Patriarchy. We explored how our religious backgrounds impact our writing, touching on themes like horror in literature and the balance between creativity and darker story elements.
Cait shared her journey of faith deconstruction and finding her voice amidst patriarchal pressures. We discussed the emotional and technical sides of book publishing, the challenges of recounting personal tales, and the importance of managing emotional energy during the creative process.
Tune in to hear compelling stories of confronting past traumas, embracing healing, and the ongoing journey of personal and professional growth. Whether you’re a writer, a reader, or navigating your own path, this episode offers enlightening perspectives on harnessing your narrative amidst life's complexities.
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• Rift : A Memoir of Breaking Away from Christian Patriarchy
Bethny Ricks is the author of the memoir, FACE FORWARD : RECLAIMING HOPE WHEN EVERYTHING FALLS APART.
Face Forward is the story of how Bethny navigated failure and setbacks with unwavering faith. We talked about the importance of finding an agent who truly believes in your work and the impact of personality traits on creativity. Bethany shared her powerful journey from corporate HR to becoming a published poet, emphasizing the value of solitude, self-advocacy, and the freedom writing brings.
We also explored maintaining boundaries, the need for rest, and prioritizing genuine connections over social media metrics. Don't miss this episode; it's packed with insights on resilience, creativity, and living authentically.
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The Anti-Fundamentalist : tialevings.substack.com
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• Face Forward : Reclaiming Hope When Everything Falls Apart
You may want to start ironing your pajamas after this episode! Topics include: opening creative space, building more brain, time management, anchor clients, productive rest, and a quantum leap for writing.
Yi Shun Lai, author of A Suffragist’s Guide to the Antarctic, joins us to discuss her novel about an American suffragist who embarks on an Antarctic expedition during the Golden Age of exploration. Her journey evolves from a quest for equality to a fight for survival after their ship is crushed in ice.
Our conversation covers the disparities faced by writers of color, the lack of ADHD research in girls, and Yi Shun's upcoming books set in the Antarctic and Death Valley. We also delve into productivity tips, the power of a "second brain," and the impact of cultural conditioning on creativity. Don’t miss this enriching discussion—tune in to hear more!
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• A Suffragist’s Guide to the Antarctic
Mentioned Resources:
Athena Dixon is a poet, essayist, and editor. And today is a HUGE day for her--her latest book, THE LONELINESS FILES, releases today! Happy launch day, Athena!
Additionally, her work is included in the anthology The BreakBeat Poets Vol.2: Black Girl Magic and her craft work appears in Getting to the Truth: The Craft and Practice of Creative Nonfiction. Athena is an alumna of VONA, Callaloo, and Tin House and has received a prose fellowship from The Martha’s Vineyard Institute of Creative Writing. Born and raised in Northeast Ohio, Athena now resides in Philadelphia.
Our convo explores the realities of being a working writer on a single income, how to find clearings in a calendar year to focus on deep writing and maintain project diversity. I hope you enjoy listening.
Connect with Athena:
On Instagram: @the_muse_paper
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The Anti-Fundamentalist: tialevings.substack.com
Instagram: **@tialevingswriter**
TikTok : **@tialevingswriter**
Book with Me for Content Coaching: Tia's 1 on 1 Calendar
Author Melanie Brooks recently released her memoir of growing up forced to hide her father's painful secret-- his HIV/AIDS diagnosis after a blood transfusion. Join us for this broad conversation that shares the journey of writing A HARD SILENCE, as well as:
Connect with Melanie:
@MelanieJMBrooksWriter on social media
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The Anti-Fundamentalist : tialevings.substack.com
Instagram: @tialevingswriter
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Book with Me for Content Coaching: Tia's 1 on 1 Calendar
Ryan G. Van Cleve is an award-winning author, keynote speaker, teacher, and writing coach. They run the creative writing major at the Ringling College of Art and Design which has an annual free-to-enter creative writing contest for high school students. They serve as Editor at Bushel & Peck, which publishes exciting titles for kids, tweens, and teens.
They're also not-so-secretly known as the Picture Book Whisperer™–the industry’s go-to person to help celebrities and high-profile clients write and sell children’s books.
In this episode, Ryan shares a lifetime of hard-earned wisdom for every writer's practical challenge: how to pay the bills as a writer. We discuss maintaining multiple streams of income, setting realistic goals and expectations, and how writing opportunities you may not have considered can empower your overall career.
Find Ryan at the links above or at RyanGVanCleve.com
Writing Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Horror for Dummies
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The Anti-Fundamentalist : tialevings.substack.com
Instagram: @tialevingswriter
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Book with Me for Content Coaching: Tia's 1 on 1 Calendar
Laura Cathcart Robbins is the author of the "quitlit" memoir, STASH: MY LIFE IN HIDING. Stash is Laura’s story of addiction, motherhood, imposter syndrome, being a woman of color, divorce, and privilege. Our conversation digs into her book journey and we had some frank and honest dialog about book promotion and the hard work of publishing well.
We also delved into writing and relationships, what it means to be a writer, and the power of a great query letter––which in Laura's case, was a powerful portal to success.
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The Anti-Fundamentalist : tialevings.substack.com
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TikTok : @tialevingswriter
Book with Me for Content Coaching: Tia's 1 on 1 Calendar
Connect with Laura Cathcart Robbins :
Alycia Ripley is an actor novelist, screenwriter, and director with over 20 years of experience in PR and brand marketing. In the months since we recorded this, Alycia directed a film she also wrote, currently in final production. In our chat, we cover a ton of working-writer topics, from industry trends to favorite software. One of my favorite things about Alycia is that she shares the insider tips! Support her projects through her patreon and I hope you enjoy the podcast!
Using a pen name seemed like a good idea...
In this bonus episode of The Working Writer Podcast, I share the backstory of why I decided to use a pen name –– and why I changed my mind.
Author Tim Gilmore.
Good stories, investigations, and literary projects all start from the same seed: wonder. Curiosity is essential to writing. In episode 9, I bring you the most curious writer I know: Tim Gilmore.
We meander through a variety of topics, including creative obsessions, launching a book during lock-down, suffering artists, and more. Tim's living literary project, jaxpsychogeo.com, gets much of our focus as we deep dive into process, poetry and passion for art.
A fun behind-the-scenes factoid: as a professor, novelist, and non-fiction writer, Tim's breadth of work was the inspiration for The Working Writer Podcast. I wondered how he did it--worked and wrote prolifically--and I wondered how other writers did it. And so the show was born, out of wonder and curiosity.
My favorite part of this episode is where I can hear Tim's curiosity perk up. He's the author of The Devil in the Baptist Church and Murder Capital, among several others. Check out his site!
Photo credit: Bob Self of the T-U
Iowa Short Fiction Award winner Sohrab Homi Fracis shares how contests and competitions helped shape his writing career. In addition to the Iowa, Sohrab's work has been shortlisted and decorated by a long list of festivals and associations, including the South Asia Literary Association. He is warm, gracious, and intelligent and I appreciated the insight he shared on how novels and scripts can have much longer "legs" than just publication.
Sohrab's timely novel on the immigrant experience, Go Home, is a perfect example of such long legs: it was recently shortlisted by Stanford for the William Saroyan International Prize.
I'm excited to share my friend and his wisdom with you, my fellow working writers!
A review of Go Home from Sohrab's website:
"At the heart of Sohrab Homi Fracis's poignant new novel, Go Home, is the question of one's place in the world, the answer never more ambiguous or fragile than for the immigrant or exile, when a person's condition of homelessness is in transition, neither here nor there. Given the cultural moment, I'm grateful to Fracis for his highly topical reexamination of the American Dream, a still reliable but never easy remedy for all those yearning to reinvent themselves beyond the constrictions of tribe and nation. And in Go Home, assimilation, sometimes a wretched exercise, can also be a hilarious and uplifting affair."
- Bob Shacochis, author of The Woman Who Lost Her Soul (Dayton Literary Peace Prize) and Easy in the Islands (National Book Award)
Photo credit: Madison Gross
Misty Wagner gets real, real quick. Direct, warm, experienced, and connective, Misty’s authentic social engagement sets her apart from the fluff. She’s an entertainment writer, memoirist, and writing group facilitator, as well as a podcaster. Here’s a quick list of some of the topics we explored:
Freelance writer and editor Bethany Miller shares her experience over the years, touching on the nitty-gritty realities of freelance life. We discuss pricing and finding gigs, dealing with difficult clients, and geek-out in general about our lives as writers.
How do you know your writing is good? How can you fix what's broken in your work?
Writing coach Jamie Morris chats with podcast host (and client) Tia Lindstrom on how working with a coach can make you a better writer.
The Companion Guide Series includes the title for this episode is called Get Feedback On Your Writing. The ebook expands the feedback topic to include alpha and beta readers, editors, and that pesky of all writers' problems: what to do about unsolicited feedback?
Team Little Quotes is in the house to share how a virtual team made a real book!
In this interview with the editors behind Little Quotes by Little Folks, we share how a virtual team made a real book, and explore how collaboration can increase your success as a published author.
This topic is covered further in the Companion Guide. Write as a Team is available on Amazon, and is a short read with big content, full of insight on team writing and tips to make it work. Check out the Little Quotes by Little Folks book at https://littlequotesbook.com