http://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheproseBehind the Prose explores and illuminates the craft of writing and its process through interviews with emerging and established writers. The podcast is released weekly and hosted by Keysha Whitaker. Visit behindtheprose.com for upcoming guests, news, and essays on writing. Listen. Learn. Write.enCopyright Keysha Whitaker (C/O Blogtalkradio)Sun, 16 Jun 2019 03:00:00 GMTTue, 16 Oct 2018 09:00:00 GMTWritingBlogTalkRadio Feed v2.0https://dasg7xwmldix6.cloudfront.net/hostpics/6416cf47-d125-471f-b143-9efe84fe4dec_behindtheprosecover.jpghttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheproseBehind the Prose explores and illuminates the craft of writing and its process through interviews with emerging and established writers. The podcast is released weekly and hosted by Keysha Whitaker. Visit behindtheprose.com for upcoming guests, news, and essays on writing. Listen. Learn. Write.feeds@blogtalkradio.comBlogTalkRadio.comwriting,writing advice,creative nonfiction,writers,writing tips,how to write nonfiction,how to write an essay,how to write fiction,how to write a novel,writing craftBehind the ProsenoBehind the Prose explores and illuminates the craft of writing and its process through interviews with emerging and established writers. The podcast is releasedepisodichttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2018/10/16/playing-on-all-88-keys-phillip-lopate-part-2Writinghttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2018/10/16/playing-on-all-88-keys-phillip-lopate-part-2/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2018/10/16/playing-on-all-88-keys-phillip-lopate-part-2Tue, 16 Oct 2018 09:00:00 GMTPlaying on All 88 Keys: Phillip Lopate, Part 2What writing advice can one mine from a two-hour interview with prolific essayist, author, and professor Philip Lopate? If you read the July 2018 issue of The Writer, you learned about Lopate's overall approach and philosophy in "Playing on all 88 keys: The prose playbook of Phillip Lopate" who was my former grad school writing teacher. In part two, we go further into that philosophy, and you'll hear tips that didn't make the article. I love this episode because it starts with the question, "Out of the books that you've written, is there a book that you feel you've learned the most about yourself from as a writer?" 00:22:00Behind the Prosenowriting advice,phillip lopate,how to be a writer,how to write essays,brooklyn writersPlaying on All 88 Keys: The prose playbook of Phillip Lopate, Part 279182dfa-607c-4866-a6b9-9bf3f5b7b4b3350fullhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2018/08/20/episode-49-playing-on-all-88-keys-with-phillip-lopateWritinghttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2018/08/20/episode-49-playing-on-all-88-keys-with-phillip-lopate/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2018/08/20/episode-49-playing-on-all-88-keys-with-phillip-lopateMon, 20 Aug 2018 19:30:00 GMTEpisode 49: Playing on all 88 keys with Phillip LopateYou might recognize the title of this podcast if you picked up the July 2018 issue of The Writer.  In it, you'll find my article on my former grad school writing teacher Phillip Lopate.  I interviewed Lopate last December about his career and in the next two episodes, I'm sharing some of our chat with you. In it, we talk about his latest book, A Mother's Tale, the usefulness of code-switching, the importance of anticipating the readers' objections, and much, much more! 00:44:00Behind the Prosenophillip lopate,how to write nonfiction,a mothers tale,essay writing,how to write an essayA two-part episode with Phillip Lopatehttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2018/01/05/episode-48-engineering-the-short-story-with-author-and-engineer-nick-arvinWritinghttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2018/01/05/episode-48-engineering-the-short-story-with-author-and-engineer-nick-arvin/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2018/01/05/episode-48-engineering-the-short-story-with-author-and-engineer-nick-arvinFri, 05 Jan 2018 21:00:00 GMTEpisode 48: Engineering the short story with author (and engineer) Nick ArvinIn April 2017, I invited author and engineer Nick Arvin to the school where I work. Over two days, he gave several talks on writing, and I recorded one of them: “Nick Arvin and The Short Story.” In this episode, I'm giving you that recording!  Nick discusses his short story “Along the Highways.” He gives one of the most thorough, honest, and humorous sessions that I’ve ever heard on writing. He talks about his career in engineering and as an author and how each informs his work in the other. He cracks a lot of jokes (with good comedic timing) and even shares how much he got paid for optioning one of his novels. Head over to the show-page on Behind the Prose for the full description and links! 01:14:00Behind the Prosenonick arvin,writers,how to write fiction,short stories,how to write short storiesNick Arvin, author of four novels, shares how he wrote a short story that was published in The New Yorkerhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2017/11/27/episode-47-the-novel-the-novella-and-scott-alexander-hessWritinghttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2017/11/27/episode-47-the-novel-the-novella-and-scott-alexander-hess/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2017/11/27/episode-47-the-novel-the-novella-and-scott-alexander-hessMon, 27 Nov 2017 23:00:00 GMTEpisode 47: The Novel, the Novella, and Scott Alexander HessWelcome to this special episode of Behind the Prose. Special, because I bet you didn't think it was coming! More special, because it features former guest, literary historical fiction writer and fellow New School Creative Writing MFA Grad Scott Alexander Hess. This time, I talk to him about how he wrote his latest novella, Skyscraper, while he was in the middle of writing a novel. In this episode, besides hearing me butcher the name of his publisher, Lethe Press, you’ll learn why I disappeared and why I’m back! 00:54:00Behind the Prosenoscott alexander hess,literary fiction,how to write fiction,how to write a novella,lethe pressThis episode features a second interview with Scott Alexander Hess. He discusses his novella Skyscraper which he - get this - wrote while he was writing another7c259407-36ae-4aff-a08a-3fd3a91470bchttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2017/06/27/episode-46-memoirists-mandy-len-catron-and-bob-brodyWritinghttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2017/06/27/episode-46-memoirists-mandy-len-catron-and-bob-brody/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2017/06/27/episode-46-memoirists-mandy-len-catron-and-bob-brodyTue, 27 Jun 2017 23:30:00 GMTEpisode 46: Memoirists Mandy Len Catron and Bob BrodyToday's episode is brought to you by: coincidence. It's how I met both of these great writers. Last year, I covered Bob Brody's essay panel at the American Society of Journalists and Authors for The Writer Magazine. His book Playing Catch with Strangers came out on Father's Day this June on Heliotrope Books. This year, I interviewed Mandy Len Catron for my book proposal on Modern Love essays. Her new book How to Fall in With Anyone comes out on June 27 on Simon and Schuster. Listen below or subscribe on iTunes. 01:26:00Behind the Prosenomandy len catron,bob brody,memoirists,how to write a memoir,writing tipsEpisode 46: Memoirists Mandy Len Catron and Bob Brodyhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2017/05/15/episode-45-a-discussion-with-humor-writer-adam-rotsteinWritinghttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2017/05/15/episode-45-a-discussion-with-humor-writer-adam-rotstein/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2017/05/15/episode-45-a-discussion-with-humor-writer-adam-rotsteinMon, 15 May 2017 03:30:00 GMTEpisode 45: A discussion with humor writer Adam RotsteinHey Prosers, I know. I know.  Let's not talk about that lil' missing in action thing. The important thing is that I'm here now and so are you! This episode features a humor writer that I discovered earlier this year on McSweeney's. Adam Rotstein has an undergraduate degree in - get this - neuroscience - but he abandoned the field to pursue his love of comedy and humor writing and now he's in LA working on a pilot. In this show, which was recorded in March but fell victim to my unbalanced work schedule, we talk about Adam's writing process, his experience writing for Reductress, and how his degree helps his writing. Humor writer Adam Rotstein   ABOUT ADAM ROTSTEIN Adam Rotstein is a writer who likes to bridge the gap between branded content and plain ol' content. As a copywriter, he has written for 72andSunny, Code&Theory, and VaynerMedia. As a comedy writer, his work has been published in McSweeney's, Reductress, Funny or Die, and CollegeHumor. Follow him on Twitter. 00:30:00Behind the Prosenoadam rotstein,humor writers,how to write humor,mcsweeney's writer,reductressEpisode 45: A discussion with humor writer Adam Rotstein about his McSweeney's and Reductress writinghttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2017/03/13/episode-44-geeta-kothari-author-of-i-brake-for-mooseWritinghttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2017/03/13/episode-44-geeta-kothari-author-of-i-brake-for-moose/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2017/03/13/episode-44-geeta-kothari-author-of-i-brake-for-mooseMon, 13 Mar 2017 01:30:00 GMTEpisode 44: Geeta Kothari, author of "I Brake For Moose"In this episode, I talk to Geeta Kothari, an English professor and author of the new short story collection I Brake For Moose, out now on Braddock Avenue Books.      00:54:00Behind the Prosenogeeta kothari,nonfiction,nonfiction editor,kenyon review,short story writersA new episode of BTP featuring Kenyon Review Editor Geeta Kotharihttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2017/03/01/episode-43-gilli-messer-shares-how-she-landed-her-first-clip-on-mcsweeneysWritinghttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2017/03/01/episode-43-gilli-messer-shares-how-she-landed-her-first-clip-on-mcsweeneys/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2017/03/01/episode-43-gilli-messer-shares-how-she-landed-her-first-clip-on-mcsweeneysWed, 01 Mar 2017 05:00:00 GMTEpisode 43: Gilli Messer shares how she landed her first clip on McSweeney'sIn this episode, we’re venturing into the land of humor. I discovered actress, singer, and writer Gilli Messer during my daily reading. I loved her piece on McSweeney’s: "Young Couple Shares Vows Amidst State Sponsored Chaos." Listen to learn how she landed her first clip on a major humor site and nailed the voice of New York Times’ wedding beat writers. In this episode you’ll also learn: How an anthropology degree at Barnard College helped Gilli become a better writerThe great new term for your day jobHow to use the question “what if” to write a humor pieceHow to wrangle inspiration onto the page   Listen below or subscribe on iTunes. 00:36:00Behind the Prosenogilli messer,how to write humor,writing tips,writing adviceListen to learn how she landed her first clip on a major humor site and nailed the voice of New York Times’ wedding beat writers.http://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2017/02/19/episode-42-from-the-page-to-the-stage-with-writer-alyssa-sorressoWritinghttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2017/02/19/episode-42-from-the-page-to-the-stage-with-writer-alyssa-sorresso/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2017/02/19/episode-42-from-the-page-to-the-stage-with-writer-alyssa-sorressoSun, 19 Feb 2017 03:30:00 GMTEpisode 42: From the page to the stage with writer Alyssa SorressoI met Alyssa Sorresso at the Creative Nonfiction Writer’s Conference in 2015 (not 2014 as I think I said in the podcast). Alyssa’s essay had just been published in Creative Nonfiction, and she approached me after the magazine’s founder and the “Godfather of Creative Nonfiction” Lee Gutkind announced that I was looking for people to interview. Though one of her websites uses the word “tactless” (ironically paired with her middle name, Grace), that’s not the word that comes to mind when she introduced herself (poised and confident) or when I read her essay later (deliberate and intense). I asked Alyssa to be a guest on Behind the Prose, and she agreed. Finally, in October 2016, I scheduled the interview. Alyssa was almost a month into a self-funded sabbatical and she Skyped with me from a London flat. In this episode you’ll hear us discuss: what’s it like to work with Hattie Fletcher, managing editor of Creative Nonfiction;When personal is too personal for a personal essay; andWhy performing “live lit” may help your writing practice.00:52:00Behind the Prosenoalyssa sorresso,creative nonfiction,most notable essays,how to write,how to write an essayFrom the page to the stage with writer Alyssa Sorresso. Alyssa Sorresso discusses her essay in Creative Nonfiction and performing live lit.http://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2017/02/08/episode-41-how-to-be-an-editor-with-plumes-kate-napolitanoWritinghttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2017/02/08/episode-41-how-to-be-an-editor-with-plumes-kate-napolitano/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2017/02/08/episode-41-how-to-be-an-editor-with-plumes-kate-napolitanoWed, 08 Feb 2017 15:30:00 GMTEpisode 41: How to be an editor with Plume's Kate NapolitanoPlume Senior Editor Kate Napolitano recorded this in October 2016, right before my schedule went to hell in a Coach bag, but I'm happy to finally share it with you. A graduate of The College of New Jersey, Kate's got a girl-next-door vibe and she gives us an honest look at working your way up the ranks in the world's oldest apprenticeship style career. (Not sure if it's actually the world's oldest, but it has to be close.) Kate purchased Phoebe Robinson's debut book "You Can't Touch My Hair and Other Things I Still Have To Explain." Robinson is a comedian, actress, writer, and one half of 2 Dope Queens, the popular WNYC podcast. Here are some highlights from the show: Kate’s Publishing Journey 5:17Middle-age career change into publishing? 8:15I can’t believe I have this job! 10:29Phoebe “Culture Tastemaker” Robinson 11:50What can writers learn from Phoebe’s book? 16:0300:21:00Behind the Prosenohow to be an editor,how to work in publishing,how to get a publishing job,plume editor,penguin imprintHow to be an editor at a mainstream house with Plume editor Kate Napolitanohttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2016/09/03/get-your-book-life-right-wliz-pryor-writing-advice-from-the-life-advice-guruWritinghttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2016/09/03/get-your-book-life-right-wliz-pryor-writing-advice-from-the-life-advice-guru/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2016/09/03/get-your-book-life-right-wliz-pryor-writing-advice-from-the-life-advice-guruSat, 03 Sep 2016 23:00:00 GMTGet your book life right w/Liz Pryor: Writing advice from the life advice guruLiz Pryor, author of the new memoir Look At You Now, kicks off season two of Behind the Prose. In this episode, I interview Liz with one of my new interns, associate producer and co-host Sarah Lorish. If you don't feel like you can write a book and get it published after you listen to this, then listen to it again. The feeling is bound to surface. Check out the season two debut of Behind the Prose below or subscribe to Behind the Prose on iTunes to make sure you get every episode. Read the full show page on Behindtheprose.com. Also, pick up Liz Pryor's book through my Amazon link and you'll help keep Behind the Prose on the air. CHECK LIZ'S BIO AND THE FULL SHOW PAGE ON BEHINDTHEPROSE.COM. 01:17:00Behind the Prosenoliz pryor,how to write a memoir,nonfiction,look at you now,life advice guruAuthor of the memoir Look At You Now, Liz Pryor, explains how to write nonfiction and believe in yourself as a writerhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2016/05/29/write-this-way-find-and-develop-a-niche-in-your-writing--live-from-cnfwc-2016Writinghttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2016/05/29/write-this-way-find-and-develop-a-niche-in-your-writing--live-from-cnfwc-2016/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2016/05/29/write-this-way-find-and-develop-a-niche-in-your-writing--live-from-cnfwc-2016Sun, 29 May 2016 18:00:00 GMTWrite This Way: Find and Develop a Niche in Your Writing - LIVE from CNFWC 2016Write This Way: How to Find and Develop a Niche in Your Writing, A Roundtable Discussion Writers are an eclectic group of people and often have a range of interests. This roundtable discussion, moderated by Keysha Whitaker, explores whether writers should clarify and narrow their interests to develop a personal brand and gives advice on how to develop their own beats. The roundtable features writers Jason Bittel, Kristina Marusic, and Shannon Reed. Jason Bittel writes about weird animals for a living. Beautiful animals. Intelligent animals. Animals that eat the eyeballs of other animals. You can find his read his work at Slate, Fast Company, National Geographic News, onEarth Magazine, and Smithsonian Magazine. In another lifetime, he trapped wild boars for the federal government. Follow him on Twitter (@bittelmethis) or visit his website: www.bittelmethis.com Kristina Marusic is a freelance journalist focusing on stories related to LGBT equality, feminism, food politics, social and environmental justice, and the 2016 presidential election. Her reportage and first-person essays have been featured in Slate, Women's Health, AfterEllen, the Advocate, Creative Nonfiction, Flyway and others, and she formerly worked as a full-time staff writer for MTV News. She holds an MFA in Creative Nonfiction from the University of San Francisco and is at work on a memoir. Follow her on Twitter (@KristinaSaurusR) or visit his website: www.kristinamarusic.com/ Shannon Reed writes monthly for The New Yorker's "Shouts and Murmurs" department and is a frequent contributor to McSweeney's Internet Tendency. Other credits include the Washington Post, BuzzFeed, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Narratively, Guernica, Kweli Journal, the Glassblock, Poets & Writers, and many more. She is at work on her first novel. 00:27:00Behind the Prosenoshannon reed,kristina marusic,jason bittel,Writers,writers blockWrite This Way: How to Find and Develop a Niche in Your Writing is a roundtable discussion live from the 2016 Creative Nonfiction Writers' Conference.http://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2016/05/28/ask-an-editor-panel-moderated-by-ellen-ayoob-live-from-cnfwc-2016Writinghttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2016/05/28/ask-an-editor-panel-moderated-by-ellen-ayoob-live-from-cnfwc-2016/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2016/05/28/ask-an-editor-panel-moderated-by-ellen-ayoob-live-from-cnfwc-2016Sat, 28 May 2016 18:00:00 GMTAsk an Editor Panel moderated by Ellen Ayoob live from CNFWC 2016Ask an Editor Panel moderated by In Fact Books Associate Publisher, Ellen Ayoob. The panel features Hattie Fletcher, Creative Nonfiction’s own managing editor, and editors Jessica Bylander and Geeta Kothari. Get an insider’s view—our panel of editors answers your questions about the revision and editing process. Learn how pieces change in revision with an editor's help, and how you can apply these guidelines to your own work.  Hattie Fletcher has been the managing editor of Creative Nonfiction since 2004 and is the co-editor, with Lee Gutkind, of True Stories, Well Told: from the First 20 Years of Creative Nonfiction Magazine. Geeta Kothari is the nonfiction editor of the Kenyon Review. She is a two-time recipient of the fellowship in literature from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and the editor of ‘Did My Mama Like to Dance?’ and Other Stories about Mothers and Daughters. Her fiction and nonfiction have appeared in various journals and anthologies, including The Kenyon Review, Massachusetts Review, Fourth Genre, and Best American Essays. In 2004, she received the David and Tina Bellet Award for Teaching Excellence. In addition to teaching in the undergraduate program, Geeta also directs the Writing Center at the University of Pittsburgh. Jessica Bylander is a senior editor at Health Affairs and editor of the journal’s "Narrative Matters" section of health policy narratives. She also contributes reported pieces to the journal. Prior to joining Health Affairs, she was a reporter covering the medical technology industry for “The Gray Sheet.” Previously, she worked at Dickinson College. She is a playwright and writes frequently for the Washington Post Express. She studied writing and journalism at Johns Hopkins University and Northwestern University. 00:28:00Behind the Prosenojessica bylander,hattie fletcher,ask an editor,writers conferences,creative nonfictionAsk an Editor Panel moderated by In Fact Books associate publisher, Ellen Ayoob. The panel features Hattie Fletcher Creative Nonfiction’s own managing editor, ehttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2016/05/27/structure-for-longform-nonfiction-presented-by-lee-gutkind--live-from-cnfwc-16Writinghttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2016/05/27/structure-for-longform-nonfiction-presented-by-lee-gutkind--live-from-cnfwc-16/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2016/05/27/structure-for-longform-nonfiction-presented-by-lee-gutkind--live-from-cnfwc-16Fri, 27 May 2016 18:00:00 GMTStructure for Longform Nonfiction presented by Lee Gutkind - LIVE from CNFWC '16Last year Creative Nonfiction Magazine and Behind the Prose teamed up to bring you special excerpts from the amazing 2016 Creative Nonfiction Writers’ Conference (CNFWC).  (Remember Lee Gutkind’s feature panel on how Law and Order teaches story structure to creative nonfiction writers?) This year, if you couldn't join us in Pittsburgh, PA from May 27 – 29, we hooked you up with the chance to listen live via a special Behind the Prose episode. Here is an excerpt from the master class Structure for Longform Nonfiction presented by Lee Gutkind. Whether you’re writing a memoir, a journalistic book, or a longform essay or article, this class will explore options for structure in longer works.   ABOUT LEE GUTKIND Lee Gutkind is the founder and editor of Creative Nonfiction and a professor in the School for the Future of Innovation in Society at Arizona State University. Even before he was spotlighted in Vanity Fair in 1997 as “the Godfather behind creative nonfiction,” he was the genre's most active advocate and practitioner. He has written and edited nonfiction books about subjects as varied as motorcycle subculture, child and adolescent mental illness, baseball umpires, veterinary medicine, and organ transplantation. His most recent book is You Can’t Make This Stuff Up: The Complete Guide to Writing Creative Nonfiction—from Memoir to Literary Journalism and Everything in Between.   01:26:00Behind the Prosenolee gutkind,creative nonfiction,live conferences,livestream writers events,how to write nonfictionThis was a live broadcast from the Creative Nonfiction Writers' Conference 2016 of the master class presented by Lee Gutkind "the Godfather of creative nonfictihttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2016/05/18/episode-36-erik-deckers-and-the-house-that-jack-built-kerouac-that-isWritinghttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2016/05/18/episode-36-erik-deckers-and-the-house-that-jack-built-kerouac-that-is/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2016/05/18/episode-36-erik-deckers-and-the-house-that-jack-built-kerouac-that-isWed, 18 May 2016 01:00:00 GMTEpisode 36: Erik Deckers and The House That Jack Built (Kerouac, that is)Interviews with Erik Deckers, humor writer, author, and resident #60 of The Kerouac ProjectGeoff Binge of The Kerouac Project 00:32:00Behind the Prosenojack kerouac,writers residency,kerouac house,geoff bingeErik Deckers discusses his residency at The Kerouac Project in Orlando, Floridahttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2016/04/12/episode-35-salon-editor-kim-brooks-discusses-her-debut-novel-the-houseguestWritinghttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2016/04/12/episode-35-salon-editor-kim-brooks-discusses-her-debut-novel-the-houseguest/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2016/04/12/episode-35-salon-editor-kim-brooks-discusses-her-debut-novel-the-houseguestTue, 12 Apr 2016 00:00:00 GMTEpisode 35: Salon editor Kim Brooks discusses her debut novel The HouseguestIf you’ve ever wondered how to write an alternating point-of-view historical novel with prose that wields similes like samurai swords, then Kim Brooks’ second appearance on Behind the Prose is for you. Brooks graces the virtual studio a second time to discuss her debut novel The Houseguest, out on April 12, 2016 on Counterpoint Press. (Her first time here featured a candid chat on her work at Salon as the personals essays editor.) I enjoyed The Houseguest because I was completely enchanted with the characters and their perspectives. I have no idea how she kept all those storylines together (“Good editing,” she says in the interview) but I’m amazed and inspired. She confirms the magic of fiction that I began to uncover over the last year, starting with my interview of Natalie Baszile’s and her book Queen Sugar and she unknowingly confirmed the method acting theory of writing that Scott Alexander Hess broke down.  00:47:00Behind the Prosenokim brooks,counterpoint press,how to write fictionKim Brooks, personal essays editor at Salon, discusses her debut novel The Houseguesthttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2016/04/01/episode-34-elana-rabinowitz-talks-bylines-in-the-new-york-times-and-moreWritinghttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2016/04/01/episode-34-elana-rabinowitz-talks-bylines-in-the-new-york-times-and-more/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2016/04/01/episode-34-elana-rabinowitz-talks-bylines-in-the-new-york-times-and-moreFri, 01 Apr 2016 02:00:00 GMTEpisode 34: Elana Rabinowitz talks bylines in The New York Times and moreFor full show details, visit www.behindtheprose.com 00:55:00Behind the Prosenoelana rabinowitz,writers,how to write,how to write an essay,writing adviceAn interview with essayist Elana Rabinowitz about her workhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2016/02/29/episode-33-jacki-skole-merges-memoir-and-investigative-journalism-in-new-bookWritinghttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2016/02/29/episode-33-jacki-skole-merges-memoir-and-investigative-journalism-in-new-book/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2016/02/29/episode-33-jacki-skole-merges-memoir-and-investigative-journalism-in-new-bookMon, 29 Feb 2016 21:00:00 GMTEpisode 33: Jacki Skole merges memoir and investigative journalism in new bookFor full show page, visit www.behindtheprose.com Jacki Skole is an award-winning journalist and adjunct professor of communication. She launched her journalism career at CNN, first as a news writer, then as a producer in the network’s documentary unit; she’s also produced programs for Animal Planet and HGTV. Jacki has taught at La Salle University, Rider University, and Raritan ValleyCommunity College.   00:54:00Behind the Prosenojacki skole,dogland,dog shows,writing shows,how to write nonfictionJacki Skole merges memoir and investigative journalism in new book Dogland: A Journey to the Heart of America's Dog Problemhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2016/01/30/episode-32-salon-editor-kim-brooks-goes-behind-the-prose-of-life-essaysWritinghttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2016/01/30/episode-32-salon-editor-kim-brooks-goes-behind-the-prose-of-life-essays/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2016/01/30/episode-32-salon-editor-kim-brooks-goes-behind-the-prose-of-life-essaysSat, 30 Jan 2016 05:00:00 GMTEpisode 32: Salon editor Kim Brooks goes behind the prose of “Life” essaysKim Brooks is the new personal essays editor at Salon, a baton passed on to her from Sarah Hepola. I met Kim (virtually) after I interviewed Sharisse Tracey who had an essay published in Salon. Oh, and by the way, Sharisse Tracey just had another piece published on Yahoo! Parenting - "Why I Moved Out of State and Didn't Take My Children With Me." I recorded this interview with Kim in November, but due to several issues (see last podcast for update), I’m just bringing it to you. Nevertheless, it’s right on time! It’s a new year and you’ve got twelve months to land a clip in the “Life” section of Salon, and if you listen to this interview and read some of the column's essays, I’m pretty sure you can do it. Listen below to this show (or read the transcript) and you’ll learn: One of the most important decisions a writer can makeThe type of work that catches her attentionHow Salon’s personal essays differ from other outletsThe best way to end an essay After you finish, go write that personal and maybe provocative piece. 00:57:00Behind the Prosenokim brooks,salon,how to write an essay,writing advice,the houseguestHow to write and publish on Salon.com with advice from Personal Essays Editor Kim Brookshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2016/01/12/episode-31-washington-post-reporter-jessica-contrera-schools-future-journalistsWritinghttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2016/01/12/episode-31-washington-post-reporter-jessica-contrera-schools-future-journalists/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2016/01/12/episode-31-washington-post-reporter-jessica-contrera-schools-future-journalistsTue, 12 Jan 2016 04:30:00 GMTEpisode 31: Washington Post reporter Jessica Contrera schools future journalistsHappy 2016 Prosers! We've been rocking for almost a year now! Check out the very first Behind the Prose with essayist Tavonne Carson. I'm kicking off 2016 with two great episodes. Today's show features reporter Jessica Contrera who works at The Washington Post. She talks reporting and writing in this episode recorded live with students at Penn State Berks.  In two weeks, you'll get an interview with Kim Brooks, Life Editor at Salon. Jessica discusses her new  job and how she crafted an award-winning story about a hometown Waffle House.  (You can also read the transcript.) If you're in the New York City area on Friday, make sure you go to Susan Shapiro's SECRETS OF PUBLISHING PANEL. You know Sue. If you don't, you should. Meet her and other great writers and editors on Friday,  January 15, 7-8:30 p.m. at The Strand Bookstore (12th and Broadway). The event features author Judy Batalion and her debut memoir White Walls: A Memoir about Motherhood, Daughterhood, and the Mess In Between. Admission is either a copy of White Walls or a $15 gift card to The Strand. 00:59:00Behind the Prosenojessica contrera,washington post reporter,writing,Writers,journalismEpisode 31: Washington Post reporter Jessica Contrera schools future journalists on career and crafthttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/11/20/episode-30-author-dinty-w-moore-talks-process-persistence-and-proseWritinghttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/11/20/episode-30-author-dinty-w-moore-talks-process-persistence-and-prose/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/11/20/episode-30-author-dinty-w-moore-talks-process-persistence-and-proseFri, 20 Nov 2015 06:00:00 GMTEpisode 30: Author Dinty W. Moore talks process, persistence, and proseI recorded this episode in September when Dinty W. Moore’s latest book, Dear Mister Essay Writer Guy: Advice and Confessions on Writing, Love, and Cannibals hit the stands. We talk about that book and his classic memoir Between Panic and Desire. In this interview you’ll learn how to: Craft universality in memoir,Create “character” in nonfiction, andTrust your ear in the drafting process. Plus, I’ve got the Writers' Check-In and a great giveaway for THE INTROVERT ENTREPRENEUR: Amplify Your Strengths and Create Success on Your Own Terms (Perigee/ Penguin Random House; November 3, 2015), a book Publisher’s Weekly said it's  “{A} winning business manual…a thoughtful, kind and helpful guide for all those who are looking to strike out on their own, but are concerned that their need for alone time may get in the way.” Listen, learn, and write. **Transcripts have been suspended until Thanksgiving Break.** 01:07:00Behind the Prosenodinty w. moore,how to write nonfiction,creative nonfiction,dear mister essay writer guy,roxanne gayEpisode 30 – The Unconventional Nonsequential Writer: Author and professor Dinty W. Moore talks process, persistence, and prosehttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/11/04/ep29-sharisse-tracey-reveals-how-she-got-bylines-on-the-new-york-times-and-moreWritinghttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/11/04/ep29-sharisse-tracey-reveals-how-she-got-bylines-on-the-new-york-times-and-more/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/11/04/ep29-sharisse-tracey-reveals-how-she-got-bylines-on-the-new-york-times-and-moreWed, 04 Nov 2015 06:00:00 GMTEp#29 Sharisse Tracey reveals how she got bylines on The New York Times and moreThis week’s episode goes behind the prose of Sharisse Tracey, a fellow New School Creative Writing Program alum. Sharisse recorded this show in the middle of one of her best writing weeks ever! If you’re not on the email newsletter - why not? - here’s a reminder of why that week in early October was so amazing. (And I do mean amazing. Listen to the show and you’ll get it.) In an email, Sharisse wrote: "Last week was the best week of my writing career. I published four pieces back to back starting with the Salon piece. Over the next three days Yahoo Parenting ran three pieces of mine for their #NoShameParenting series. Then, on Friday while I was happily fooling around on Twitter I see my own words. The New York Times had posted my piece from July, An Adult Stepson Moves Back In. And then I get a mention later that night that The NY Times editor has shared my Ebony.com piece from January, Don't Read The Comments talking about some of the racist comments I read while participating in a Cut.com video talking to kids about sex. So, yeah, last week was bananas!" I enjoyed talking to Sharisse because her excitement about writing is infectious. I wanted some of her go-get-em pitch-a-palooza attitude to rub off on me. I wish I’d dug deeper into why she said she loves pitching, but I’m sure she’ll be back on a future episode very soon, so I’ll promise I’ll ask her then. Once you hear the interview, you’ll be convinced she’ll be back on the BTP faster than you can say accepted. In this interview, you’ll also hear about: Why she chose to get an MFA Six Degrees of Susan Shapiro Strikes Again How to write a cover letter to an editor Using emotions to fuel your drafting process The coolest rejection letter I ever got -GET THE FULL SHOW PAGE ON BEHIND THE PROSE- 01:27:00Behind the Prosenosharisse tracey,new york times,how to write essays,creative nonfiction,writing adviceLearn how to get published on mainstream outletshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/10/27/humor-and-the-house-of-kerouac-with-author-and-columnist-erik-deckersWritinghttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/10/27/humor-and-the-house-of-kerouac-with-author-and-columnist-erik-deckers/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/10/27/humor-and-the-house-of-kerouac-with-author-and-columnist-erik-deckersTue, 27 Oct 2015 05:30:00 GMTHumor and the House of Kerouac with author and columnist Erik DeckersWhat do you get if you cross a syndicated newspaper columnist with a business book author on a Pearson imprint with an entrepreneur who owns Pro Blog Service and novelist who's the Spring 2016 writer-in-residence at the Jack Kerouac House in Orlando, Florida? Erik Deckers, this week’s guest of Behind the Prose. I interviewed Erik in August, just before he relocated to Florida. (Ironically, he was already planning a move there just before learning that he won the coveted residency). By now, I’m sure he’s settled in and enjoying the “vibrant literary community” of Orlando that he talks about in this episode. But before we get to the Kerouac Project, we go through his decades long career as a humor columnist and his book deals on Que Publishing. In this interview you’ll also learn: The rhetorical move he started using in his humor and now can’t stop How travel writing led him to making an activist move that sent one of his posts viral and cost him a job His trick to churning out content on a weekly basis There’s also some discussion of Pluto. And if you listened to Sean Ennis’ episode, you might find this kinda spooky. Well, it is Halloween week. Or maybe I’m just subconsciously drawing this Pluto stuff to me. (Remember the Reading-Updike-Keillor thing?) Either way, like Erik’s buddy Karl the Curmudgeon, I’m still kinda mad about Pluto too. Get show links at behindtheprose.com.         00:57:00Behind the Prosenoerik deckers,jack kerouac,writing residencies,the laughing stalk,syndicated newspaper columnistsInterview on writing with author and humorist Erik Deckershttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/10/12/episode-27-chasing-down-the-narrative-with-short-story-writer-sean-ennisWritinghttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/10/12/episode-27-chasing-down-the-narrative-with-short-story-writer-sean-ennis/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/10/12/episode-27-chasing-down-the-narrative-with-short-story-writer-sean-ennisMon, 12 Oct 2015 02:30:00 GMTEpisode 27: Chasing down the narrative with short story writer Sean EnnisLet me just start off by saying that after transcribing writer Sean Ennis' interview (Yeah, I'm back on that again!), I've decided that he's the most conscious self-editor I've interviewed this year. As soon as the words leave his mouth, he’s already assessed whether it’s actually what he means, whether it’s “a dumb pun” or “too dramatic.” He often doesn’t retract what he says, just adds a disclaimer and keeps going. Somehow, the listener sees actually what he meant initially and what he means now. The result? An interview that is thoughtful, humble, and personable. Sean's short story collection, Chase Us, fuels our discussion as we meander through the a narrative that is both engaging and mysterious. In this episode, you'll find out: - How the people you surround yourself with can help or impede your writing journey - What one detail can do for an entire story - What's Sponge Bob Got To Do With It - The best writing advice Sean ever got - The rhetorical move that made Sean “wiggle in his seat” when he wrote it - The "Tom and Jerry Pitch" that landed his agent RENÉE ZUCKERBROT The “pleasures of a good short story?” BONUS: This is the first episode that the guest insults me! Listen to find out how. Then, learn something about writing. After, go write. 01:23:00Behind the Prosenosean ennis,renee zuckerbrot,short story,how to write fiction,chase usHow to write a short story collection with author Sean Ennishttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/09/27/episode-26-how-to-write-literary-fiction-with-author-scott-alexander-hessWritinghttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/09/27/episode-26-how-to-write-literary-fiction-with-author-scott-alexander-hess/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/09/27/episode-26-how-to-write-literary-fiction-with-author-scott-alexander-hessSun, 27 Sep 2015 05:00:00 GMTEpisode 26: How to write literary fiction with author Scott Alexander HessIn this meta-writing hour, author and fellow New School alum Scott Alexander Hess, dissects his use  and balance of language to create scene and character in his latest book, a historical novel, The Butcher’s Son (a literary fiction hell-of-a-work if I do say so mahself.) The author of three books, Hess masters juxtaposing elements of nature to “aggravate and propel things that are already happening” in the plot. The novel, set in 1930s in New York City, gains its viscosity from something Hess calls “method writing” as well as immersion research. “When I’m writing a book, I basically live in a world,” Hess says. “So for a year and a half, I’m living in the 30s.” The result? For a day and half, the time it took me to read The Butcher’s Son, I too lived in the 30s in a Hell's Kitchen tenement with three brothers taking divergent paths that eventually lead Hess right onto my bookshelf of “writers I want to be when I grow up.” But in the words of the first book reviewer I ever knew, “Don’t take my word for it.” Listen. Learn. Write. 01:03:00Behind the Prosenoscott alexander hess,writing,writing advice,chats with authors,fictionDissecting literary historical fiction with author of The Butcher's Sonshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/09/11/episode-25-bestselling-author-susan-shapiro-goes-behind-her-genre-crossing-proseWritinghttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/09/11/episode-25-bestselling-author-susan-shapiro-goes-behind-her-genre-crossing-prose/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/09/11/episode-25-bestselling-author-susan-shapiro-goes-behind-her-genre-crossing-proseFri, 11 Sep 2015 04:00:00 GMTEpisode 25 Bestselling author Susan Shapiro goes behind her genre crossing proseIn this Behind the Prose exclusive, I interview Shapiro, who was my thesis mentor while I was an MFA student in the Creative Writing Program at The New School, where she's taught writing since 1993 and won a Distinguished Teaching Award. The first time I took her highly popular "Instant Gratification Takes Too Long" Journalism course, I - like many of the other students -published a personal essay (on the website The Frisky.) I have to credit Shapiro with guiding my foray into the world of creative nonfiction. Once you listen to this interview, you’ll know exactly why I call her New York City’s Writer-in-Residence. I’m not the only student whose writing life has been changed by her insight. More than 85 of her students have landed book deals over the last 10 years. The latest is Aspen Matis whose memoir Girl in the Woods is out this month from HarperCollins. Shapiro's students’ successes are reflective of a philosophy she lives by: publishing karma. You can benefit from Sue's good publishing karma tomorrow at her open-to-the-public free Secrets of Publishing Panel at The New School, 63 Fifth Avenue, Starr Foundation Hall, UL 102, Lower Level, University Center. Joining Shapiro will be Aspen Matis, her literary agent Ryan Harbage, Heliotrope book editor Naomi Rosenblatt, and Daniel Jones, the editor of what might be the personal essayists’ holy grail, the “Modern Love” column in The New York Times. 00:42:00Behind the Prosenosusan shapiro,aspen matis,heliotrope books,how to write essays,publishing karmaGreat writing interview with New York Times Bestseller Susan Shapirohttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/09/09/part-two-how-to-write-a-for-dummies-book-with-gwen-hernandezWritinghttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/09/09/part-two-how-to-write-a-for-dummies-book-with-gwen-hernandez/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/09/09/part-two-how-to-write-a-for-dummies-book-with-gwen-hernandezWed, 09 Sep 2015 02:30:00 GMTPart Two: How to write a For Dummies book with Gwen HernandezHey Behind the Prosers, I know you've been waiting for part two of the awesome interview with Gwen Hernandez, and here it is! In this episode we talk about crafting introductions, how the writing software Scrivener helps "plotters" and "pantsers" - (listen to find out which one you are), how Hernandez uses Scrivener to structure her books with four parts, and what about self-publishing appealed to her and how she's done so successfully with her romantic suspense novels. I've got many great authors cued up for you in the next several episodes including: Dinty W. Moore's Creative Nonfiction Writers' Conference Presentation (Dinty has a great new book out by the way! If you write, you should def add it to your library.) Scott Hess, author of the historical novel, The Butcher's Sons Sean Ennis, author of Chase Us, a collection of short stories Susan Shapiro, New York Times Bestselling author of What's Never Said, a novel  You know what to do next: Listen. Learn. Write. 00:55:00Behind the Prosenogwen hernandez,how to write a novel,writing software,writing tips,writing adviceGreat advice on publishing mainstream and independently from writer and teacher Gwen Hernandezhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/08/12/how-to-write-a-for-dummies-book-with-gwen-hernandez-scrivener-for-dummiesWritinghttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/08/12/how-to-write-a-for-dummies-book-with-gwen-hernandez-scrivener-for-dummies/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/08/12/how-to-write-a-for-dummies-book-with-gwen-hernandez-scrivener-for-dummiesWed, 12 Aug 2015 03:30:00 GMTHow to write a For Dummies book with Gwen Hernandez, Scrivener For DummiesMany writers might covet a byline on one of the most popular educational, instructional series ever, the For Dummies line published by Wiley.  But not many can snag that gig. For Gwen Hernandez, her story shows how a writer follows a passion that puts her in the “right place at the right time” to compete for a contract on Wiley. In other words, it’s the magic of the universe and Gwen’s quite familiar with the serendipity of things. In this candid interview, which will be released in two parts, we break down how Gwen matched the witty and quick voice that is trademark to the stories, how she organized a 400-page book (hint, hint), and whether landing a For Dummies book deal means she’s hit the big time. For show links – visit Behindtheprose.com 00:35:00Behind the Prosenogwen hernandez,for dummies,scrivener,writing software,romance writersAn interview featuring how Gwen Hernandez got her For Dummies contract and analysis of her crafthttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/07/28/episode-22-how-to-write-a-novel-when-you-dont-know-how-with-neil-smithWritinghttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/07/28/episode-22-how-to-write-a-novel-when-you-dont-know-how-with-neil-smith/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/07/28/episode-22-how-to-write-a-novel-when-you-dont-know-how-with-neil-smithTue, 28 Jul 2015 03:00:00 GMTEpisode 22: How to write a novel when you don't know how with Neil SmithHere's the craft-packed episode you've been waiting for - the exciting and extended episode featuring the award-winning international-selling humble and personable Neil Smith. Neil is the author of Bang Crunch, a wildly successful book of short stories. A few weeks ago, he stopped by the virtual Behind the Prose studio to discuss his new novel Boo, a captivating and imaginative Young Adult whodunnit. In this interview, which promises to show you how he wrote a novel when he didn't know how, you'll learn how stumbling upon voices can help your writing, what makes young adult narrators come more alive, and how one can become a more serious writer. Though I tried to do the interview without spoilers, we just couldn't really talk craft without some of them. If you've read Boo and want to learn about writing YA, you should pull up a chair and your annotated copy because this show is for you. Get the full episode and show links on behindtheprose.com   01:39:00Behind the Prosenoneil smith,boo,bang crunch,young adult novels,how to write a novelListen for the secret to writing a novel with a killer plot when you've never written a novel!http://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/07/12/lee-gutkinds-creative-nonfiction-law-and-order-yellow-test-writers-promptWritinghttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/07/12/lee-gutkinds-creative-nonfiction-law-and-order-yellow-test-writers-prompt/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/07/12/lee-gutkinds-creative-nonfiction-law-and-order-yellow-test-writers-promptSun, 12 Jul 2015 04:00:00 GMTLee Gutkind’s Creative Nonfiction Law and Order Yellow Test Writers’ PromptIn May, nearly 200 folks descended on the historic city of Pittsburgh to rub writing elbows with authors, essayists, journalists, and editors at the 2015 Creative Nonfiction Writers’ Conference. Maybe you were there. Maybe you weren’t. If you find yourself in the latter, shame on you. Your penance is to listen to this great episode of Behind the Prose featuring an amazing structure analogy by the “Godfather of Creative Nonfiction” Lee Gutkind. If you’ve ever struggled with how to pull together the narrative in a nonfiction piece, this excerpt of his opening presentation has got your name all over it. Plus, some folks in Michigan are giving away houses to writers. The innovative and perhaps pioneering initiative by Write A House takes the concept of a writers’ residency quite literally. And of course, I’ve got the check in for you and my web find of the week. Listen below or subscribe on iTunes. 01:00:00Behind the Prosenocreative nonfiction,how to write an essay,creative nonfiction conference,writers conference,how to write nonfictionLee Gutkind shares the formula to writing creative nonfiction.http://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/06/27/episode-20-writing-intimacy-pain-and-hope-with-memoirist-kate-walterWritinghttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/06/27/episode-20-writing-intimacy-pain-and-hope-with-memoirist-kate-walter/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/06/27/episode-20-writing-intimacy-pain-and-hope-with-memoirist-kate-walterSat, 27 Jun 2015 04:30:00 GMTEpisode 20: Writing intimacy, pain, and hope with memoirist Kate WalterSerendipity. Noun: the occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way: a fortunate stroke of serendipity, a series of small serendipities When I interviewed writer and teacher Kate Walter in the second week of June, I’d already delayed the recording at least a week or two. Then, after a great interview about her memoir, Looking for a Kiss: A Chronicle of Downtown Heartbreak, a story about her struggle to understand a mysterious breakup after a 26-year relationship and frustrating and often fruitless efforts to re-enter the dating world, I became overwhelmed with life and decided to change the production schedule and release her episode in two weeks. Today, which at the time of writing this post, is Friday, June 26. Is it serendipity that today, the American landscape on marriage equality has changed forever? And that Kate’s memoir is about her decades-long relationship with a woman who ultimately walked off with more than just pieces of her heart? With the retirement savings they’d promised to share leaving Kate broke with a box of memories and a worthless piece of domestic partnership paper. There were no laws to protect Kate as she tried to right herself.  No split assets. No alimony. No you can’t build a home with me, then bounce and not have to answer to . . . someone. And now, though it’s too late to have made Kate’s situation any more tolerable, the Supreme Court’s decision ruling that people can marry who the hell they want, is right on time. Kind of like that old church saying about God . . . “He may not come when you want him, but he always right on . . . Serendipity. Listen. Learn. Write. 00:58:00Behind the Prosenonew memoirs,kate walter,looking for a kiss,heliotrope books,a chronicle of downtown heartbreakSerendipity. Noun: the occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way: a fortunate stroke of serendipity, a series of small serendhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/06/14/ep19-memoir-meet-poetry-kira-lynne-allen-crafts-debut-book-in-two-genres-1Writinghttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/06/14/ep19-memoir-meet-poetry-kira-lynne-allen-crafts-debut-book-in-two-genres-1/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/06/14/ep19-memoir-meet-poetry-kira-lynne-allen-crafts-debut-book-in-two-genres-1Sun, 14 Jun 2015 17:00:00 GMTEP#19 Memoir meet Poetry: Kira Lynne Allen crafts debut book in two genresIn May, I interviewed author Kira Lynne Allen about her new book Write This Second out now on Prashanti Press. In this episode, Kira explains how she used various strategic moves to recreate voice and pace in her work. She tells you what she thinks of the publishing process (as opposed to self-publishing) and whether it helped or hurt her work. You'll also hear what obsession fueled her desire to finish the book by October 2014. Kira is an artist in the most robust sense of the word. In the interview part that is on my editing floor through no fault of its own, we talk about her collage work which she's been doing for years. Actually, her mother also had the talent. In this image which accompanies her blog post, "You Call It A Book, I Call It A Movement or 7 Reasons Why I Founded: Write This Second," we see a young compilation Kira - a mix of real photos and sketch work which she drew herself. I absolutely loved this book and would read it again, so I advise you to check it out. But in the words of the first book reviewer I knew, "don't take my word for it."  “Kira Lynne Allen’s first full length book of poetry is so gorgeous, so rich in honesty, truth, pain and healing, beauty and rage and humanity, that it is going to change lives. It gives permission, and that means that it gives life. It gives off heat and fresh air. It exposes, encourages, challenges, delights. I found it thrilling.” —Anne Lamott, New York Times bestselling author of, Small Victories: Spotting Improbable Moments of Grace; and Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life   Visit Behindtheprose.com for the full show page! 00:26:00Behind the Prosenokira lynne allen,write this second,poetry,poetry and memoir,hybrid literatureIn May, I interviewed author Kira Lynne Allen about her new book Write This Second out now on Prashanti Press. In this episode, Kira explains how she used variohttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/05/24/episode-18-get-your-grown-writer-on-with-founder-of-full-grown-people-jenniferWritinghttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/05/24/episode-18-get-your-grown-writer-on-with-founder-of-full-grown-people-jennifer/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/05/24/episode-18-get-your-grown-writer-on-with-founder-of-full-grown-people-jenniferSun, 24 May 2015 04:00:00 GMTEpisode 18: Get your grown writer on with editor of Full Grown PeopleHello from Pittsburgh, PA! I'm way past my bedtime and I still have homework to do for Dinty W. Moore's Master Class at the Creative Nonfiction Writers Conference 2015. But the show must go on. And boy is it a show. Jennifer Niesslein, a founder of Brain, Child Magazine, discusses her latest venture, an online literary journal, Full Grown People and anthology of the same name. I interviewed on of Jennifer's essayists, Andrew Bomback in February, then pitched her myself. She accepted! In this interview, she explains how her life experiences fuel her entrepreneurial ventures and what makes a compelling essay about "the other awkward age." Plus, a Behind the Prose bonus interview with Alyssa Sorresso (the spelling of her name is so symmetrical; I love it) who had her first major break in the issue of Creative Nonfiction that hit the stands in June 2014. She's got great energy and I suspect it will ride the airwaves right to you if you need a boost.  ABOUT JENNIFER NIESSLEIN Jennifer is a writer and editor in living in Charlottesville, Virginia. Her latest project is Full Grown People, a web magazine of essays.  She's the author of Practically Perfect in Every Way and the co-founder of  Brain, Child magazine, where she worked for thirteen years. Her writing has appeared in The Washington Post, Salon, and The Morning News, among other places. She's a regular contributor to the Virginia Quarterly Review online and a contributor to The Nervous Breakdown. She sometimes leads workshops at WriterHouse, and she offers individual writing coaching for essayists.       00:58:00Behind the Prosenojennifer niesslein,full grown people,literary magazine,alyssa sorresso,teaching artistHello from Pittsburgh, PA! I'm way past my bedtime and I still have homework to do for Dinty W. Moore's Master Class at the Creative Nonfiction Writers Conferehttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/05/17/episode-17-running-across-genres-with-rachel-toor-part-twoWritinghttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/05/17/episode-17-running-across-genres-with-rachel-toor-part-two/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/05/17/episode-17-running-across-genres-with-rachel-toor-part-twoSun, 17 May 2015 04:00:00 GMTEpisode #17: Running across genres with Rachel Toor, Part TwoIt's the most anticipated podcast episode of the season . . . Part Two of Rachel Toor's amazing interview which aired in April. I interviewed Rachel a few weeks ago and we had a great conversation about the magic of fiction. Though On the Road to Find Out is her first novel, the mystical experience she recounts jives with what I've heard other fiction writers say, including Natalie Baszile, author of Queen Sugar, in episode 7 of Behind the Prose. To borrow Baszile's words, "it's magic." In this episode, Rachel's got the wand and she knows how to use it.     00:48:00Behind the Prosenorachel toor,how to write fiction,new fiction writers,chronicle columnist,young adult novelsIt's the most anticipated podcast episode of the season . . . Part Two of Rachel Toor's amazing interview which aired in April. I interviewed Rachel a few weekhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/05/04/an-intimate-conversation-with-lee-gutkind-godfather-of-creative-nonfictionWritinghttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/05/04/an-intimate-conversation-with-lee-gutkind-godfather-of-creative-nonfiction/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/05/04/an-intimate-conversation-with-lee-gutkind-godfather-of-creative-nonfictionMon, 04 May 2015 04:00:00 GMTAn intimate conversation with Lee Gutkind, "Godfather" of Creative NonfictionYes, you read it right. The legendary Lee Gutkind graces the Behind the Prose virtual studio for a chat with yours truly.  In this interview, we discuss everything from what time he goes to bed to how he crafted an overall narrative in a collection of stand-alone essays in his book Forever Fat: Essays by the Godfather. Plus, you get the scoop on what he's working on now and hear the answer to a question that he's never been asked before! Here's a preview of some of the great lessons he gives in this show: "The overall story determines the _______ and the __________ that you____________."  "Good advice to writers is to start with ________ __________."   If you can't fill in those blanks now, you will be able to after you listen to the show. After you've done all your good listening, head over to the Creative Nonfiction website and buy your passes to the 2015 Creative Nonfiction Writers' Conference featuring tons of amazing writers ready to share their wisdom with you. I will be there too. Come say hello!   01:14:00Behind the Prosenolee gutkind,cnf,how to write nonfiction,creative nonfiction,godfather of creative nonfictionYes, you read it right. The legendary Lee Gutkind graces the Behind the Prose virtual studio for a chat with yours truly.  In this interview, we discuss everythhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/04/29/episode-15-songwriting-101-with-gandhi-a-musician-with-a-missionWritinghttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/04/29/episode-15-songwriting-101-with-gandhi-a-musician-with-a-mission/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/04/29/episode-15-songwriting-101-with-gandhi-a-musician-with-a-missionWed, 29 Apr 2015 13:30:00 GMTEpisode 15: Songwriting 101 with Gandhi, a musician with a missionThis episode of Behind the Prose is more like Behind the Lyrics. Indiana-born, New York-based singer/songwriter Gandhi takes us on a journey that starts when he taught himself how to play the guitar and write songs. That was 15 years ago. Today, like prose writers, Gandhi says through an process of experimentation and practice, he’s found his voice and is preparing for the release of Rebel On, an EP that reflects the musician with a mission he’s become. In this interview, you’ll learn there are many parallels between penning lyrics and writing prose, including a surprising discovery about the role of the producer. We listen to some of Gandhi’s song’s, dissect his lyrics, and invite you out to Brooklyn on May 1, where Gandhi will perform a collaboration show with writer and photographer Abigail Ekue. The Darker Side of Lust Private Reading and Concert features Ekue’s erotic poetry and Gandhi’s acoustic melodies and vocals. Go ahead. Listen. Learn. Write songs. Visit Behind the Prose for links and bios. 01:03:00Behind the Prosenogandhi,how to write a song,songwriting tips,nimesh gandhi,new york acoustic musicThis episode of Behind the Prose is more like Behind the Lyrics. Indiana-born, New York-based singer/songwriter Gandhi takes us on a journey that starts when hehttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/04/21/episode-14-rachel-toor-author-of-on-the-road-to-find-outWritinghttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/04/21/episode-14-rachel-toor-author-of-on-the-road-to-find-out/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/04/21/episode-14-rachel-toor-author-of-on-the-road-to-find-outTue, 21 Apr 2015 02:30:00 GMTEpisode 14: Rachel Toor, author of On the Road to Find OutThough she hesitates to call herself a “writer” (she thinks it sounds self-important), author and columnist Rachel Toor has written her way into a new Young Adult novel and onto my list of writers I want to be when I grow up. You’ll remember I blogged about her wise but rude writing advice, and as soon as I hit publish, I emailed her to invite her to the show. Not only does she write monthly and bi-monthly columns for The Chronicle of Higher Education and Running Times Magazine respectively, she’s published three nonfiction books. Her latest work and first novel, On the Road to Find Out, dropped in 2014 on Farrar, Straus, and Giroux. In this two-part interview, you’ll learn about Rachel’s career (she’s been a publishing house editor and an admissions counselor at an Ivy League school) and how authors lose some creative control at commercial houses versus university presses. Plus, she tells us what exactly fiction writers mean when they say they can’t wait to see what their characters do next. Also, in the Writer’s Check In, I give you a tidbit about my experience with submitting to The Reject Pile, which was featured in episode 13.   00:54:00Behind the Prosenorachel toor,on the road to find out,chronicle of higher education,running times magazine,books about runningThough she hesitates to call herself a “writer” (she thinks it sounds self-important), author and columnist Rachel Toor has written her way into a new Young Aduhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/04/14/episode-13-a-candid-convo-with-washington-post-reporter-soraya-n-mcdonaldWritinghttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/04/14/episode-13-a-candid-convo-with-washington-post-reporter-soraya-n-mcdonald/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/04/14/episode-13-a-candid-convo-with-washington-post-reporter-soraya-n-mcdonaldTue, 14 Apr 2015 01:30:00 GMTEpisode 13: A candid convo with Washington Post reporter Soraya N. McDonaldThis week’s episode features a candid conversation with Washington Post reporter Soraya McDonald. In this interview, you’ll recognize right away the wit that shades much of her prose.  Soraya is a graduate of Howard University and began covering the high school sports desk as an college intern. After traveling across the country completing journalism fellowship, internships, and eventually employment, Soraya returned to the Washington Post where she eventually became a staff reporter. I discovered her work last year when I read an article about a female gamer who had received death threats. Soraya had been covering the story for some time, and I wanted her to speak to my article writing class. That didn’t happen, but I’m glad this did! I’ll release her bonus material which includes a how-to make the most out of your college experience, a segment particularly helpful for students. In this show, you also get the 411 on a new daily humor site, The Reject Pile. Founded by writer Joel Miller, the site wants your unwanted work. Thank goodness somebody finally does! Visit the SHOW PAGE on Behind the Prose for Show Notes and links! 00:40:00Behind the Prosenosoraya mcdonald,washington post,how to be a journalist,howard university grad,journalism schoolThis week’s episode features a candid conversation with Washington Post reporter Soraya McDonald. In this interview, you’ll recognize right away the wit that shhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/04/05/episode-12-chelsey-clammer-author-of-bodyhomeWritinghttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/04/05/episode-12-chelsey-clammer-author-of-bodyhome/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/04/05/episode-12-chelsey-clammer-author-of-bodyhomeSun, 05 Apr 2015 03:30:00 GMTEpisode 12: Chelsey Clammer author of BodyHomeThis week's episode has all kinds of literary good stuff: - a Q&A with Lisa Cron, the author of Wired for Story - a feature interview with writer and editor Chesley Clammer - The Writer's Check-In Visit BehindtheProse.com for the episode show page that includes links and transcripts for this episode.         00:56:00Behind the Prosenochelsey clammer,lisa cron,how to write,how to revise,writing tipsThis week's episode has all kinds of literary good stuff: - a Q&A with Lisa Cron, the author of Wired for Story - a feature interview with writer and editor Chttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/03/29/episode-11-kenny-porpora-author-of-the-memoir-the-autumn-balloonWritinghttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/03/29/episode-11-kenny-porpora-author-of-the-memoir-the-autumn-balloon/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/03/29/episode-11-kenny-porpora-author-of-the-memoir-the-autumn-balloonSun, 29 Mar 2015 03:00:00 GMTEpisode 11: Kenny Porpora, author of the memoir The Autumn BalloonIn this week's episode, I talk to author and journalist Kenny Porpora about his debut memoir The Autumn Balloon.  The show also features: An interview with Emily Griffin, Kenny's editor at Grand Central Publishing Writers on Writing Radio Show  My New School MFA classmate Erin Harris Writer's Psych with Dr. Ike Listen on demand or download on iTunes. ABOUT KENNY PORPORA Kenny Porpora’s work can be found in The New York Times, New York Daily News, Newsday, and The Huffington Post, and is an associate editor and part-owner of Man About World magazine. He graduated magna cum laude from Hofstra University, where he studied philosophy and holds an M.S. from Columbia in investigative journalism. He wrote his master’s thesis on professional wrestling. He’s reported on some of the biggest national news stories of the last decade, including the New York Yankees’ World Series win, the 2008 presidential primaries, the John Gotti, Jr. trial, and the ‘Miracle on the Hudson’ plane crash.   The Autumn Balloon is his first book. He lives in Los Angeles. 01:25:00Behind the Prosenokenny porpora,the autumn balloon,emily griffin,new memoir,writers on writingIn this week's episode, I talk to author and journalist Kenny Porpora about his debut memoir The Autumn Balloon.  The show also features: An interview with Emhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/03/22/bad-sentences-beware-of-washington-post-nonfiction-book-critic-carlos-lozadaWritinghttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/03/22/bad-sentences-beware-of-washington-post-nonfiction-book-critic-carlos-lozada/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/03/22/bad-sentences-beware-of-washington-post-nonfiction-book-critic-carlos-lozadaSun, 22 Mar 2015 04:00:00 GMTBad sentences beware of Washington Post nonfiction book critic Carlos LozadaWoe be unto you writer, should you land in a Washington Post article titled “The five worst sentences I read in January.” When I read that post written by the new nonfiction book critic Carlos Lozada, I knew two things. First, I needed to interview Lozada. Second, I was afraid to write him an email. Lozada’s voice engaged me because in addition to rhetorical smarts, he’s pretty funny. Though he’s been at the paper for several years, he began his new role at Book Party in January.  I’m proud to announce the March 22 episode of Behind the Prose will feature an interview with Lozada. In classic Behind the Prose fashion, I’ll learn how he approaches his own writing craft and process and what it’s like to read and write for a living. Besides the five worst sentences he read in January, we’ll discuss his Book Party posts including the hilarious book review “Reggie Love on life as Obama’s “chief of stuff” and the ballooning list of journalism cliches forbidden in the The Post’s Sunday Outlook section. Oh, and if you do find yourself in one of Lozada’s worst sentences articles,  don’t be upset. He just shames your offending sentence, not your entire book. Unless, I suppose, it needed it. Carlos Lozada is associate editor and nonfiction book critic at the Washington Post, where he has worked since 2005 in various capacities, including economics editor, national security editor and Outlook editor. Previously, he was managing editor of Foreign Policy magazine and a Knight-Bagehot fellow in economics and business journalism at Columbia University. A native of Lima, Peru, he is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and Princeton University. 00:57:00Behind the Prosenocarlos lozada,book party,nonfiction books,washington post,washington post editorsWoe be unto you writer, should you land in a Washington Post article titled “The five worst sentences I read in January.” When I read that post written by the nhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/03/15/npr-best-books-2014-author-cameron-conaway-talks-poetry-and-proseWritinghttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/03/15/npr-best-books-2014-author-cameron-conaway-talks-poetry-and-prose/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/03/15/npr-best-books-2014-author-cameron-conaway-talks-poetry-and-proseSun, 15 Mar 2015 03:30:00 GMTNPR Best Books 2014 author Cameron Conaway talks poetry and proseAuthor Cameron Conaway is a triple threat. He writes. He teaches. He fights. The latter was literal several years ago when he stepped into the ring as a Mixed Martial Artist but now his battles are on the world stage, raising awareness for preventable diseases like malaria through poetry and prose. His latest book, Malaria, Poems, is born of that call to advocacy. NPR selected the book, which is “spliced” (his science-influenced word) with facts about malaria, as a “Best Books of 2014.”  In February, Newsweek published Cameron’s article, “A Working Malaria Vaccine that Can’t Get Money.” In the midst of touring for Malaria, Poems, teaching classes at Penn State Brandywine, and getting ready to travel overseas, I caught up with Cameron at a reading at Penn State Berks.In our interview which will be released on March 15, Cameron discusses the craft in his Newsweek article and in his poem, “Silence, Anopheles,” as well as what martial arts taught him about writing, how he broke into Newsweek, and whether a poet can retain his voice in prose. In this episode, I also talk about my obsession with McSweeney's Internet Tendency and in a new segment called Writer's Psych with Dr. Ike, I find out if it's healthy or not! 01:00:00Behind the Prosenocameron conaway,npr best books,mcsweeneys,how to edit,newsweekAuthor Cameron Conaway is a triple threat. He writes. He teaches. He fights. The latter was literal several years ago when he stepped into the ring as a Mixed Mhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/03/08/live-your-best-literary-life-writer-joan-dempsey-shares-how-on-behind-the-proseWritinghttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/03/08/live-your-best-literary-life-writer-joan-dempsey-shares-how-on-behind-the-prose/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/03/08/live-your-best-literary-life-writer-joan-dempsey-shares-how-on-behind-the-proseSun, 08 Mar 2015 22:00:00 GMTLive your best literary life: Writer Joan Dempsey shares how on Behind the ProseBesides having one of the best writer’s websites I’ve ever seen, Joan Dempsey has successfully merged the craft she loves with a business model that helps others reach their writing goals. On March 8 at 6 PM EST, she joins me on the Behind the Prose Radio Show to tell us how she lives the literary life oh-so-well. There are things I want to know like: what is a "writing shed” and how does one get one? How do writers decide which genre to focus on? And can you really teach an old writer dog new cut-clutter-from-your sentences-tricks? Besides delving into her original course, Improve Your Writing: Ten Essential Tools for Streamlining Your Sentences, we’ll focus on the craft of her short story, “Wild Swan” which appeared in The Adirondack Review. Joan will take your questions live on the air via my studio call-in phone number 347-857-2225. Tweet your questions or SKYPE in by clicking the button on the live show! #noexcuses Let's listen, learn, and write! 00:59:00Behind the Prosenojoan dempsey,writers radio,writing advice,behind the prose,wild swanBesides having one of the best writer’s websites I’ve ever seen, Joan Dempsey has successfully merged the craft she loves with a business model that helps otherhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/03/01/natalie-basziles-queen-sugar-picked-up-by-own-baszile-talks-craft-on-31Writinghttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/03/01/natalie-basziles-queen-sugar-picked-up-by-own-baszile-talks-craft-on-31/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/03/01/natalie-basziles-queen-sugar-picked-up-by-own-baszile-talks-craft-on-31Sun, 01 Mar 2015 23:00:00 GMTNatalie Baszile's Queen Sugar picked up by OWN; Baszile talks craft on 3/1It is with great Behind the Prose pride that I share awesome news about Natalie Baszile's first novel. Queen Sugar is moving to Oprah Winfrey's OWN network under the helm of "Selma" director Ava DuVernay.  I am proud, but I'm not surprised. Days before the news broke, I wrote "If there ever was a novel that surely will be a movie, Queen Sugar is it." I met Natalie at the 2012 VONA Voices Workshop. In a nonfiction workshop taught by Faith Adiele, I had the pleasure of reading excerpts of Natalie's memoir in progress. The same rhetorical qualities that endeared me to her writing are earning her praise in a number of reviews: eloquence, description, and confidence. But in the words of the first book reviewer I knew, "Don't take my word for it." Listen to Behind the Prose on Sunday, March 1 at 6 p.m. EST! 01:10:00Behind the Prosenoqueen sugar,natalie baszile,oprah winfrey,selma director,ava duvernayIt is with great Behind the Prose pride that I share awesome news about Natalie Baszile's first novel. Queen Sugar is moving to Oprah Winfrey's OWN network undehttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/02/22/sarah-gerard-juxtaposes-chaos-and-control-to-craft-narrative-in-first-novelWritinghttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/02/22/sarah-gerard-juxtaposes-chaos-and-control-to-craft-narrative-in-first-novel/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/02/22/sarah-gerard-juxtaposes-chaos-and-control-to-craft-narrative-in-first-novelSun, 22 Feb 2015 23:00:00 GMTSarah Gerard juxtaposes chaos and control to craft narrative in first novel*** UPDATE #2 - AFTER THE SHOW *** This episode is filled to capacity with awesomeness. First, you'll hear the rest of Associate Senior Editor Roxanne K. Young's interview about her work at the Journal of the American Medical Association and Dr. Andrew Bomback's essay "Errands" which ran in the "A Piece of My Mind Column" in JAMA. (BTW: His episode was named most popular writing episode by BlogTalkRadio. JAMA generously has made Andrew's episode available at no cost of a limited time.)  Next, we go behind the prose with Sarah Gerard, MFA whose novel Binary Star is blazing through the literary universe. SARAH GERARD WAS NAMED TO EIGHT BEST BOOKS AND WRITERS LISTS FOR 2015!!! Finally, her publisher and editor, Eric Obenauf of Two Dollar Radio, talks book numbers and how his company keeps on picking winners. 01:59:00Behind the Prosenosarah gerard,first novels,Authors,first time authors,new school*** UPDATE #2 - AFTER THE SHOW *** This episode is filled to capacity with awesomeness. First, you'll hear the rest of Associate Senior Editor Roxanne K. Younhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/02/15/physician-and-writer-andrew-bomback-discusses-writing-craft-and-commitmentWritinghttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/02/15/physician-and-writer-andrew-bomback-discusses-writing-craft-and-commitment/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/02/15/physician-and-writer-andrew-bomback-discusses-writing-craft-and-commitmentSun, 15 Feb 2015 23:00:00 GMTPhysician and writer Andrew Bomback discusses writing craft and commitmentUPDATE ---- JAMA PROVIDED FREE ACCESS TO BOMBACK'S ESSAY FOR A LIMITED TIME!! --- THANK YOU JAMA! Think you don't have time to write? Andrew Bomback is a physician and writer (with toddlers and a wife) but he's still managed to write a novel, a textbook, many academic papers, and first-person essays. On Sunday, February 15, we'll discuss his two nonfiction essays, "I Know That Elmo is Not a Child Molester" and "Errands" published on Full Grown People and in JAMA, respectively. "Errands" reached an audience of 300,000 readers and received an amazing response. In both essays, I get a strong sense of Andrew's voice and we'll talk about how he conveys that voice in different genres.  If you'd like to get a copy of "Errands," here is the citation info: Bomback A. Errands. JAMA. 2006; 295(7):731-733. doi:10.1001/jama.295.7.731. Download the essays, read them, and be ready to call in with your questions about writing, life, and the writing life! ANDREW BOMBACK is a physician and writer. He is the author of You’re Too Wonderful To Die, a novel, and Chronic Kidney Disease and Hypertension Essentials, a textbook. His essays have recently appeared or are forthcoming in Hobart, Essay Daily, Harlequin, For Every Year, Pharos, New England Journal of Medicine, and Journal of the American Medical Association. Follow Andrew on Twitter at @asbomback. 01:00:00Behind the Prosenoandrew bomback,writing craft,physician writers,i know that elmo is not a child molester,first person essaysUPDATE ---- JAMA PROVIDED FREE ACCESS TO BOMBACK'S ESSAY FOR A LIMITED TIME!! --- THANK YOU JAMA! Think you don't have time to write? Andrew Bomback is a physihttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/02/08/this-monstrous-narrative-writer-aimee-baker-weaves-three-story-lines-in-essayWritinghttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/02/08/this-monstrous-narrative-writer-aimee-baker-weaves-three-story-lines-in-essay/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/02/08/this-monstrous-narrative-writer-aimee-baker-weaves-three-story-lines-in-essaySun, 08 Feb 2015 23:00:00 GMTThis Monstrous Narrative: Writer Aimee Baker weaves three story lines in essayI've never read Frankenstein. And honestly, I never wanted to. But then I found "This Monstrous Heart" by Aimee Baker. By the time she finished weaving in and out of three narratives in the creative nonfiction essay, I not only wanted to read Mary Shelley's legendary tome and every autobiography about her messy life, I wanted to devour anything Baker wrote, including her grocery lists and text messages. On February 8, 2015, Aimee will join me on my Behind the Prose Radio Show to discuss her writing life and craft. Make sure you read "This Monstrous Heart" which ran in the December 2014 issue of New Delta Review and tune into the show on Sunday at 6 PM EST. Aimee will take your questions on the air! *** Aimee Baker is an adjunct instructor in English for Clinton Community College and SUNY Plattsburgh, both located in rural, upstate New York. She holds an MFA in Fiction from Arizona State University. She is currently working on a poetry project about missing women in the United States as well as a series of essays about her brother's struggle with mental illness. Her work appears in journals such as The Southern Review, Gulf Coast, and The Massachusetts Review. 00:59:00Behind the Prosenoaimee baker,new delta review,creative nonfiction,nonfiction,writingI've never read Frankenstein. And honestly, I never wanted to. But then I found "This Monstrous Heart" by Aimee Baker. By the time she finished weaving in and ohttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/02/01/location-voice-and-tone-in-creative-nonfiction-with-writer-soo-na-pakWritinghttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/02/01/location-voice-and-tone-in-creative-nonfiction-with-writer-soo-na-pak/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/02/01/location-voice-and-tone-in-creative-nonfiction-with-writer-soo-na-pakSun, 01 Feb 2015 23:00:00 GMTLocation, voice, and tone in creative nonfiction with writer Soo Na PakThis episode of Behind the Prose features an interview with writer and artist Soo Na Pak.  Soo Na Pak lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her essays and prose appear in The Butter; TheRumpus.net; AlterNet.org; “Outsiders Within: Writing on Transracial Adoption” (South End Press); Hamilton Stone Review; and Digital Artifact Magazine. On Sunday’s show, we’ll analyze her two pieces “Woman” - a tribute to Amy Winehouse and “Osiris.” We will discuss Soo Na's use of voice and tone in her narrative. She's also skilled at adeptly mixing abstract and concrete elements in nonfiction, and we'll get to the bottom of how she does it!  Or at least close to somewhere in the middle. 01:00:00Behind the Prosenosoo na pak,woman,osiris,the rumpus,the butterThis episode of Behind the Prose features an interview with writer and artist Soo Na Pak.  Soo Na Pak lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her essays and prosehttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/01/25/go-behind-the-prose-with-jennifer-genest-fiction-and-nonfiction-writerWritinghttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/01/25/go-behind-the-prose-with-jennifer-genest-fiction-and-nonfiction-writer/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/01/25/go-behind-the-prose-with-jennifer-genest-fiction-and-nonfiction-writerSun, 25 Jan 2015 23:00:00 GMTGo Behind the Prose with Jennifer Genest, fiction and nonfiction writer On Sunday, January 25, 2015, Jennifer Genest, MFA will join me on Behind the Prose to discuss two of her recent publications in the genres of fiction and creative nonfiction. We will be close reading and discussing her flash fiction story "Ways to Prepare White Perch" and her creative non-fiction essay "Her Fighting Weight - A Postpartum Experience," published in New Delta Review and The Doctor T.J. Eckleburg Review. Genest holds and MFA from Antioch University Los Angeles and was a Peter Taylor Fellow for the 2013 Kenyon Review Writers Workshop. Currently, she is shopping her literary novel, The Mending Wall. Listen at 6 PM EST / 3 PM PST this Sunday on BlogTalkRadio.     00:40:00Behind the Prosenojennifer genest,flash fiction,creative nonfiction,postpartum,ways to prepare whtie perchOn Sunday, January 25, 2015, Jennifer Genest, MFA will join me on Behind the Prose to discuss two of her recent publications in the genres of fiction and creathttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/01/17/the-writing-process-with-essayist-tavonne-carsonWritinghttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/01/17/the-writing-process-with-essayist-tavonne-carson/#commentshttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/behindtheprose/2015/01/17/the-writing-process-with-essayist-tavonne-carsonSat, 17 Jan 2015 19:00:00 GMTThe Writing Process with essayist Tavonne CarsonIn the pilot episode of Behind the Prose, I interview writer Tavonne Carson who has her MFA from The New School. Tavonne's essay "Closer," which features her unique ability to convey details with rich description, was published in Gastronmica, The Journal of Critical Food Studies. She lives and writes in New York City and is pitching her first manuscript of essays. Today's instrumental, Rusty Trees, was written and produced by Redvers West-Boyle.      00:35:00Behind the Prosenothe writing process,how to write essays,creative nonfiction,writing craft,writing helpIn the pilot episode of Behind the Prose, I interview writer Tavonne Carson who has her MFA from The New School. Tavonne's essay "Closer," which features her un