WMFA

Enlarging People’s Perception of Sylvia Plath w. HEATHER CLARK Oct 20, 2021

Heather Clark is the author of Red Comet: The Short Life and Blazing Art of Sylvia Plath, a 2021 Pulitzer Prize finalist now out in paperback from Knopf. She and Courtney discuss how biography is like archeology, the "hysterical woman writer" stereotype, and the "profound and bottomless optimism" needed to undertake a large writing project.

In the bonus segment, Heather talks about finding joy in the writing process and how the joy she found writing Red Comet influenced the book's structure. Bonus segments are available to Patreon subscribers at patreon.com/wmfapodcast.

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WMFA ARCHIVES: Creating Reassuring Writing Frameworks w. KRISTEN ARNETT Jun 16, 2021

Kristen Arnett's latest novel, WITH TEETH, is out now from Riverhead. In this conversation from 2019, she and Courtney talk about queer writing beyond the coming-out narrative, creating supportive frameworks for getting the work done, and, of course, taxidermy.

In the bonus segment, Kristen talks about writing about her home state of Florida. Listen to this and other bonus segments by visiting Patreon.com/wmfapodcast and pledging just $2 a month.

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Turning Your Past into Narrative w. ELISSA WASHUTA Apr 28, 2021

Elissa's new essay collection, White Magic, is out now from Tin House. She and Courtney discuss reckoning with your past selves, time loops, and giving up control over the process. We also discuss one of Courtney's and the book’s favorite subjects: Twin Peaks.

In the bonus segment, Elissa—who has received fellowships and awards from numerous institutions, including Creative Capital and the National Endowment for the Arts—shares some great advice on successfully applying for grants and other funding. Bonus segments are available to Patreon subscribers at patreon.com/wmfapodcast.

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WMFA ARCHIVES: Fictionalizing Real Life w. LISA KO Mar 24, 2021

In this conversation from 2018, Courtney and Lisa Ko, author of The Leavers, discuss complicating the notions of motherhood, why working on your characters is working on yourself, and keeping the faith through seven years of novel drafts.

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Not Coddling Your Characters w. DANTIEL W. MONIZ Mar 10, 2021

Dantiel W. Moniz's debut collection, Milk Blood Heat, is out now from Grove Atlantic. She and Courtney discuss not protecting your characters, the inextricableness of place and identity, and deciding to take your writing seriously.

In the bonus segment, Dantiel talks about endings and death, and what makes for a good short story ending. Bonus segments are available to Patreon subscribers at patreon.com/wmfapodcast.

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Examining Extremely Online Life w. LAUREN OYLER Feb 24, 2021

Lauren Oyler's debut novel, FAKE ACCOUNTS, is out now from Catapult. She and Courtney discuss social media, autofiction, and our various efforts to be understood online and on the page.

In the bonus segment, Lauren talks about how she approaches her reading habit, especially as a critic, and we talk about books we’re excited about. Bonus segments are available to Patreon subscribers at patreon.com/wmfapodcast.

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WMFA ARCHIVES: Keeping Faith in the Process w. R.O. KWON Feb 10, 2021

R.O. Kwon is the co-editor, with Garth Greenwell, of KINK, a new anthology of literary short fiction exploring love and desire, BDSM, and interests across the sexual spectrum. She is also the author of THE INCENDIARIES. In this episode from 2019, we talk about keeping faith in the writing process, holding characters at a distance, and thinking not just about who is telling the story but also why it's being told.

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Rethinking Craft and Workshops w. MATTHEW SALESSES Jan 27, 2021

Matthew's latest book is Craft in the Real World: Rethinking Fiction Writing and Workshopping. He and Courtney discuss what's wrong with the way we talk about our work, how we can do better, and the most ill-used terms in craft discussions—some of which Matthew has banned from his own workshops.

In the bonus segment, Matthew talks about the workshop experience that led Matthew down a two-year dead end for his own novel in progress, and how he got himself turned back around. Bonus segments are available to Patreon subscribers at patreon.com/wmfapodcast.

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Keeping Writing Fun w. MATEO ASKARIPOUR Jan 13, 2021

Mateo Askaripour's debut novel, Black Buck, is out now. He and Courtney talk about the intimacy of first-person POV, managing plausibility, and what we learn from the novels we don’t sell. (NOTE: There are some Black Buck plot spoilers between 40:30-45:15.)

In the bonus segment, Mateo discusses point of telling and addressing the reader in your work. Bonus segments are available to Patreon subscribers at patreon.com/wmfapodcast.

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Flipping Received Narratives w. DANIELLE EVANS Dec 16, 2020

Danielle Evans' latest book is The Office of Historical Corrections, out now from Riverhead Books. She and Courtney talk about flipping received narratives, reckoning with the past, and the relationship between a work's active and emotional plots.

In today's bonus segment, Danielle and Courtney talk about race and the craft of writing. Bonus segments are available to WMFA Patreon subscribers at patreon.com/wmfapodcast.

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Exploring the Quiet Moments w. SIMON HAN Dec 02, 2020

Simon Han's debut novel is Nights When Nothing Happened, out now from Riverhead Books. He and Courtney discuss the tricky label of universality, turning a short story into a novel, and how writing is like the Fast & Furious franchise.

In today's bonus segment, Simon and Courtney talk about the value of writing the suburbs. Bonus segments are available to WMFA Patreon subscribers at patreon.com/wmfapodcast.

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Contextualizing Research into Prose w. ANNE HELEN PETERSEN Nov 11, 2020

Anne Helen Petersen's latest book is Can't Even: How Millennials Became the Burnout Generation. She and Courtney talk about the difficulty behind advice about "doing what you love," what freelance writing careers look like now, and how she synthesizes research into prose.

In today's bonus segment, Anne and Courtney talk about burnout and writing. Bonus segments are available to WMFA Patreon subscribers at patreon.com/wmfapodcast.

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Writing Into Contradictions w. DEESHA PHILYAW Oct 28, 2020

Deesha Philyaw's fiction debut, The Secret Lives of Church Ladies, is a National Book Award finalist. She and Courtney talk about creating complex characters, writing Black women, and staying true to your vision even in the face of rejection.

In today's bonus segment, Deesha and Courtney talk about what makes good sex writing. Bonus segments are available to WMFA Patreon subscribers at patreon.com/wmfapodcast.

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WMFA ARCHIVES: Fighting Perfectionism w. CELESTE NG Aug 05, 2020

Originally airing on November 8, 2017, Courtney and Celeste Ng—author of Little Fires Everywhere and Everything I Never Told You—do a deep dive into process: what makes a good beginning, finding the voice, reverse outlining and more. They also discuss writing about identity and the other, and the importance of multiple narratives.

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WMFA ARCHIVES: Being Patient and Indulgent w. GARTH GREENWELL Jul 22, 2020

Garth Greenwell is the author of What Belongs to You and Cleanness, and a 2020 Guggenheim fellow. In 2017, he and Courtney talked about being a poet novelist, the language of desire, and why he writes first drafts by hand.

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WMFA ARCHIVES: Storytelling as an Act of Love w. WAYÉTU MOORE Jul 08, 2020

Courtney and Wayétu Moore, author of She Would Be King, discuss diasporic literature, the trouble with magical realism, and how to preserve your relationship with your craft. Wayétu's latest book is the memoir The Dragons, The Giant, The Women. (original air date 10/24/18)

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Inventing Complex Characters w. GENEVIEVE HUDSON Jun 24, 2020

Genevieve Hudson's debut novel, BOYS OF ALABAMA, is out now from Liveright. They and Courtney talk about developing complicated characters, writing the supernatural, and exploring "capital-T truth" in fiction.

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Minisode: Transformation Jun 17, 2020

What in your creative process are you ready to say goodbye to?

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Capturing Grief and Collective Memory w. CARTER SICKELS Jun 10, 2020

Carter Sickels latest novel, THE PRETTIEST STAR, is out now from Hub City Press. He and Courtney talk about activist art, writing poignancy without sentimentality, and documenting queer rural narratives.

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WRITERS-IN-RESIDENCE: Book Tour Edition May 20, 2020

In the second quarantine call-in episode, writers with new releases share their favorite moments from a very different kind of book tour than they’d expected. Plus they shout out the new releases they’re reading!

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Minisode: Paying Attention May 13, 2020

On being with our surroundings—and our creative work—in a new way during quarantine.

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Mining for Character in Verse w. ELIZABETH ACEVEDO May 06, 2020

Elizabeth Acevedo's latest book, the novel-in-verse CLAP WHEN YOU LAND, is out now from Quill Tree Books. She and Courtney talk about creating character while working in verse, discovering the container that each story needs, and the "secret projects" she has as an author.

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Writing For Your Characters w. C PAM ZHANG Apr 22, 2020

C Pam Zhang's debut novel, How Much of These Hills Is Gold, is out now. She talks with Courtney about writing a book for the characters in it, capturing nuanced performances of gender, and reinventing the myth of the American West.

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Minisode: Aloneness, Or How I’m Learning to Love Solitude Apr 15, 2020

Writers should be great at solitude, right? I’m not. Today I'm talking about how isolation is forcing me to confront that.

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Capturing Contradictory Truths w. EMMA COPLEY EISENBERG Apr 08, 2020

Emma Copley Eisenberg's first book, The Third Rainbow Girl: The Long Life of a Double Murder in Appalachia, was released in January. She and Courtney discuss the complicated nature of truth and how she wrote a complex narrative that weaves first-person reportage with memoir.

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Minisode: A Conversation Across Time Apr 01, 2020

I'm reading excerpts from the diary of one of my literary idols, Virginia Woolf, that resonate with our current moment.

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Writers-in-Residence Mar 25, 2020

Welcome to this experimental episode of WMFA, featuring messages from writers around the country about how they’re handling creative life in quarantine. Let me know if you liked this episode—I might do more as this surreal reality continues!

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Minisode: Where We're At Now Mar 18, 2020

A check-in during unstable times.

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Surviving the Publishing Process w. COURTNEY MAUM Mar 11, 2020

Courtney Maum's most recent book is the indispensable writers' guide Before and After the Book Deal. She and Courtney talk about navigating everything from contracts to marketing to what to pack on book tour. They also talk about Courtney's latest novel, Costalegre. In the Patreon bonus segment, Courtney talks about the advice she most wishes she'd received as a debut author.

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Minisode: Gratitude Nov 27, 2019

On the last episode of the season, I'm reflecting on gratitude for our work, and how often (or rarely) we feel it.

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Returning to Your Humanity w. ALEXANDER CHEE Nov 20, 2019

Alexander Chee's latest book is the essay collection How to Write an Autobiographical Novel. He and Courtney discuss the process of becoming real to yourself, staying accountable to the work, and how to keep a novel journal.

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Minisode: Constraint Nov 13, 2019

Building containers for creative freedom.

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Playing to Your Strengths w. JAMI ATTENBERG Nov 06, 2019

Jami Attenberg's latest novel, All This Could Be Yours, is out now from HMH Books. She and Courtney discuss writing family narratives, identifying and playing to your strengths, and keeping the work fun for the reader.

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Minisode: The Future Oct 30, 2019

Are we acting for our future selves?

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Crafting a Compelling Voice w. BRIAN ALLEN CARR Oct 23, 2019

Brian Allen Carr's novel Opioid, Indiana is out now from Soho Books. He and Courtney discuss finding a character's voice, writing fast, and why he loves writing prompts.

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Minisode: A Tiny (and in Retrospect Totally Obvious) Epiphany Oct 16, 2019

The important piece of writing advice that finally sunk in.

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Minisode: Rest Oct 02, 2019

How good are you at letting yourself (and your work) just be?

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Cultivating Patience w. MARY RUEFLE Sep 25, 2019

Poet and essayist Mary Ruefle's new collection, Dunce, was just long-listed for the National Book Award. She and Courtney discuss boredom, uncertainty, and letting go of expectations.

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Minisode: Isolation Sep 18, 2019

Keeping ourselves connected in the solitary work of writing.

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Keeping Faith in the Process w. R.O. KWON Sep 11, 2019

R.O. Kwon's novel THE INCENDIARIES was one of last year's biggest debuts, and it was 8 years in the making. We talk about keeping faith in the writing process, holding characters at a distance, and thinking not just about who is telling the story but also why it's being told.

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FROM THE ARCHIVES | Minisode: On Fear Sep 04, 2019

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Defining Your Writing Identity w. MARGINALLY PODCAST Aug 28, 2019

It's a special crossover episode with Olivia and Meghan from Marginally Podcast! We talk about defining your own identity as a writer, our works in progress, and how we make writing and podcasting sustainable.

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Minisode: Writing Needs Aug 21, 2019

What do you need—and how do you figure out what you need anyway?

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Growing Into Your Practice w. MICHAEL PARKER Aug 14, 2019

Author Michael Parker's latest novel, Prairie Fever, follows the fraught relationship of two sisters in early 1900s Oklahoma. He and Courtney talk about writing crackling dialogue, how he thinks about plot, and growing into your creative practice.

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Minisode: Rewriting Our Stories Aug 07, 2019

What aspect of your creative life needs a new narrative?

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Finding Writerly Courage w. SAVANNAH SIPPLE Jul 31, 2019

Appalachian poet Savannah Sipple wrote her piercing debut collection, WWJD and Other Poems, during a period in which she was also coming out of the closet. She and Courtney talk about the long journey of claiming her voice and finding the courage to use it.

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Minisode: Healthier Harvests, or Another Kind of Flow Jul 24, 2019

What kale, checks, and writing have in common.

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Creating Reassuring Writing Frameworks w. KRISTEN ARNETT Jul 17, 2019

Queer fiction writer Kristen Arnett wrote her debut novel, the eccentric and darkly hilarious Mostly Dead Things, while working full-time as a librarian. We talk about the framework she developed to keep writing, and why she wanted to write a book that looks at day-to-day queer life.

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Minisode: Why Do You Write? Jul 10, 2019

Why it's helpful to check in with our whys—plus a special request.

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Knowing What You Need as a Writer w. CASEY CEP Jul 03, 2019

Journalist Casey Cep—author of Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud, and the Last Trial of Harper Lee—is on the show discussing the mysteries of Harper Lee, knowing what you need as a writer, and the lines that can be drawn and erased between invention and reality.

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Minisode: Goody Two Shoes Writing Jun 26, 2019

When you're showing up but not really showing up.

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Writing More Diverse Narratives w. TOMMY ORANGE Jun 19, 2019

Tommy Orange—author of last year's fantastic There There—visits WMFA to talk about being a messy writer, creating diverse narratives, and how parenthood made him take writing more seriously.

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Minisode: Agent Anxiety Jun 12, 2019

Welcome to the first listener-request minisode! We’re talking about finding the right agent for you.

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Developing an “Occult Sensibility” of Your Writing w. KAREN RUSSELL Jun 05, 2019

The fantastic Karen Russell is on the show discussing her new short story collection, Orange World, and developing an "occult sensibility" for shaping your work.

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Minisode: Patience May 29, 2019

Slowing down to speed up.

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Crafting Narratives from History w. DAVID K. RANDALL May 22, 2019

Journalist David K. Randall's new book, Black Death at the Golden Gate, is a gripping work of literary nonfiction about the race to stop the bubonic plague from spreading through San Francisco and beyond in the early 20th century. He and Courtney discuss bring real (dead) people to life, organizing all that research, and why creative constraint can be a good thing.

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Minisode: Writing Without Writing May 15, 2019

A mini mini from my artist residency (👋) on expanding our ideas of process. Tell me how you write without writing by tagging @cfbalestier and using the hashtag #wmfawrites.

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Writing Into the Darkness w. SUSAN CHOI May 08, 2019

Susan Choi's explosive and riveting new novel, Trust Exercise, is out now from Henry Holt. She and Courtney discuss the manipulative qualities of storytelling, the slipperiness of memory, and the advice Susan would give to her younger self as a debut novelist.

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Minisode: Choosing Your Mindset May 01, 2019

How do you approach your practice?

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Reimagining Narrative Structure w. JANE ALISON Apr 24, 2019

Jane Alison's new book about narrative structure, Meander, Spiral, Explode, is out now from Catapult. She and Courtney discuss breaking narrative convention and how the traditional dramatic arc is and isn't like sex.

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Minisode: Accepting Your Process Apr 17, 2019

How do you feel about the way you get writing done?

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Building a Narrative Labyrinth w. SUMMER BRENNAN Apr 10, 2019

Journalist Summer Brennan's new book, High Heel, is out now from Bloomsbury's Object Lessons series. She and Courtney discuss her fragmented meditation on feminism and the patriarchy, organizing an extensive research collection, and creating a narrative labyrinth.

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Minisode: Taking Yourself Seriously Apr 03, 2019

It's foundational to writing—and it's not always easy.

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Telling the Hard Truths w. MORGAN PARKER Mar 27, 2019

Morgan Parker's poetry collections include There Are More Beautiful Things Than Beyoncé and Magical Negro, out now from Tin House. Morgan and Courtney talk about representation and misrepresentation, writing into the vastness of black identity, and how hard it is to tell the truth.

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Minisode: Being a Student Mar 20, 2019

On always learning and the wisdom of beginner's mind for writers.

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Should You Get an MFA? w. ERICA DAWSON & LEAH HAMPTON Mar 13, 2019

Should you get an MFA? Courtney talks with special guests Erica Dawson (poet, author, MFA program director) and Leah Hampton (writer, editor, current MFA fellow) about one of the biggest—and most mystifying—decisions a writer can make. Erica Dawson is the author of When Rap Spoke Straight to God, The Small Blades Hurt, and Big-Eyed Afraid. Her work has appeared in three editions of Best American Poetry, The Believer, Virginia Quarterly Review, and other journals and anthologies. She is an associate professor of English and Writing at University of Tampa, where she directs the low-residency MFA program. Leah Hampton is a fellow at the Michener Center for Writers and Editor in Chief of Bat City Review. Her work has appeared in Ecotone, storySouth, Appalachian Heritage, McSweeney's Internet Tendency, and elsewhere. Her first book, Bodies, will be released by Henry Holt in 2020.

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Season 4 Teaser Feb 13, 2019

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How to Not Always Be Working w. MARLEE GRACE Dec 19, 2018

Courtney and Marlee Grace, author of How to Not Always Be Working, discuss inner critics, inspirational women, and turning our creativity into money.

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Minisode: Jealousy Dec 12, 2018

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Turning Family Members into Characters w. NICOLE CHUNG Dec 05, 2018

Courtney and Nicole Chung, author of the memoir All You Can Ever Know, discuss the missing perspective in adoption narratives, re-examining familial truths, and writing through grief.

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Minisode: Voices Nov 28, 2018

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Holding Yourself Accountable w. HEATHER HAVRILESKY Nov 21, 2018

Courtney and Heather Havrilesky, author of What If This Were Enough?, discuss cultivating “weird aunt vibes,” owning the artist identity, and finally reaching the place where you write to please yourself.

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Minisode: Centeredness, or Surviving Creative Adolescence Nov 14, 2018

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Finding Creative Freedom w. LIANA FINCK Nov 07, 2018

Courtney and Liana Finck, artist and author of the graphic memoir Passing for Human, discuss the work of finding your artistic path, how comics are like poetry, and how Instagram grants her creative freedom.

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Minisode: Writing as Relationship Oct 31, 2018

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Storytelling as an Act of Love w. WAYÉTU MOORE Oct 24, 2018

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Minisode: Priorities Oct 17, 2018

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Writing While Parenting w. KAT GARDINER Oct 10, 2018

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Minisode: On Shame Oct 03, 2018

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Being a Steward of Others’ Stories w. LINDA KAY KLEIN Sep 26, 2018

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Minisode: On Fear Sep 19, 2018

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Taking Control of Your Narrative w. ERICA DAWSON Sep 12, 2018

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Listening to Your Inner Voice w. MARGARET WILKERSON SEXTON Jul 25, 2018

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Fictionalizing Real Life w. LISA KO Jul 11, 2018

Courtney and Lisa Ko, author of The Leavers, discuss complicating the notions of motherhood, why working on your characters is working on yourself, and keeping the faith through seven years of novel drafts.

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Engaging Your Characters w. ROBIN MACARTHUR Jun 27, 2018

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Getting the Writing Done w. NATALIE GOLDBERG Jun 13, 2018

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Writing the Book You Want to Read w. SILAS HOUSE May 30, 2018

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Catching History Before It's Forgotten w. ELIZABETH CATTE May 16, 2018

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Keeping Tabs on Your Characters w. ROBERT GIPE May 02, 2018

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Solving the Puzzle of Fiction w. KARAN MAHAJAN Apr 18, 2018

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Presenting Women Characters w. LENI ZUMAS Apr 04, 2018

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Writing Desire and Faith w. JAMIE QUATRO Mar 21, 2018

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Making Art and Podcasts w. MIKE SAKASEGAWA & COURTNEY BALESTIER Dec 06, 2017

In this special joint episode, Courtney and Mike Sakasegawa—photographer, writer, and host of the arts podcast Keep the Channel Open—talk about podcasting and what they're working on off the air.

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Figuring Out the Book You Want to Write w. JOANNA SCUTTS Nov 22, 2017

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Fighting Perfectionism w. CELESTE NG Nov 08, 2017

Courtney and Celeste Ng—author of Little Fires Everywhere and Everything I Never Told You—do a deep dive into process: what makes a good beginning, finding the voice, reverse outlining and more. They also discuss writing about identity and the other, and the importance of multiple narratives.

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Cutting Away the Obvious w. ZINZI CLEMMONS Oct 25, 2017

What We Lose author Zinzi Clemmons on writing grief, experimental literature and the author who changed her life.

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Coaxing Out Your Subconscious w. CARMEN MARIA MACHADO Oct 11, 2017

Carmen Maria Machado's debut short story collection, Her Body and Other Parties, is short-listed for the National Book Award. She joins Courtney to talk about how short stories are like algebra (in a good way), processing life through narrative, and why she also loves writing erotica.

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Rewriting And Rewriting More w. MATTHEW NEWTON Sep 27, 2017

Matthew Newton—author of Shopping Mall, part of Bloomsbury's Object Lessons series—talks with Courtney about the mall's place in our culture and his life, balancing memoir and reportage, and the question to ask before starting your next project.

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Writing Your Way to a Theory w. NICK RIGGLE Sep 13, 2017

Season two is here! Nick Riggle—skater, philosopher and author of the new book On Being Awesome—talks about his theory of awesomeness, how hard it is to write clearly, and how some of his favorite projects have been reactions to creative dissatisfaction.

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Special Episode: Readings by Glenn Taylor, Jeremy B. Jones & Rebecca Gayle Howell Aug 30, 2017

I had an incredible experience at my first Appalachian Writers' Workshop this summer, and I'm excited to bring you three readings recorded live at AWW: novelist Glenn Taylor, nonfiction writer Jeremy B. Jones and poet Rebecca Gayle Howell. WMFA is back with season two in September!

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Season Two Announcement Aug 16, 2017

Here's what's coming up for WMFA—and how you can help.

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Writing as Empathizing w. JENNIFER HAIGH Aug 02, 2017

Jennifer Haigh's novel Heat and Light won a 2017 Literature Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. She and Courtney discuss writing about Appalachia, how writing a novel is an exercise in empathy, and why no one knows where her writing studio is.

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Discovering and Deep Editing w. RACHEL KHONG Jul 19, 2017

Rachel Khong is a writer and former Lucky Peach editor whose debut novel, Goodbye, Vitamin, was just released by Henry Holt. She and Courtney discuss Rachel's fascination with memory, when to go to grad school and the weird world of ambient sound recordings.

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Learning to Trust Your Work w. HANIF ABDURRAQIB Jul 05, 2017

Hanif Abdurraqib is a poet, essayist, and cultural critic whose work bridges personal experience and popular culture, covering everything from Ric Flair to the erasure of memory. He and Courtney discuss the deeper meanings of pop culture, writing as a physical act, and why Hanif believes the best poets are in black barber shops.

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Starting with Voice and Fragmenting Structure w. JULIE BUNTIN & GABE HABASH Jun 21, 2017

Married writers Julie Buntin and Gabe Habash have both just released their debut novels, Julie's Marlena and Gabe's Stephen Florida. We talk about how they created these works, what drew them to their protagonists, and what it's like to live with another writer.

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Being Patient and Indulgent w. GARTH GREENWELL Jun 07, 2017

Garth Greenwell, author of What Belongs to You, discusses being a poet novelist, the language of desire, and why he writes first drafts by hand.

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Writing Down All Your Sh*t w. YESENIA MONTILLA May 24, 2017

New York-born Afro-Caribbean poet Yesenia Montilla talks about writing the immigrant and the American experience, walking around with your two-weeks’ notice in your pocket, and why poetry is like a puzzle.

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Editing Our Own Narratives w. JACK CHENG May 10, 2017

The author of See You in the Cosmos, a middle-grade novel, talks about editing our own narratives, presenting complex issues to kids, and how he raised $24,000 on Kickstarter to publish his first book.

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Career Up-Leveling w. ESMÉ WEIJUN WANG Apr 26, 2017

Esmé Weijun Wang, author of The Border of Paradise: A Novel, discusses writing with limitations, career "up-leveling," and that time she tossed an entire novel draft.

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Finding the Helpfulness in Failure w. JASON DIAMOND Apr 12, 2017

Jason Diamond, author of the memoir Searching for John Hughes, discusses the helpfulness of failure, visiting famous authors' graves and analyzing your past.

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BONUS Mini Episode: Talking Class + Art with Rebecca Gayle Howell Apr 05, 2017

In this bonus mini episode, we discuss class and art—and the attitudes about both that we bring to creative work—with last week's guest, Rebecca Gayle Howell.

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Accessing Your Nighttime Mind w. REBECCA GAYLE HOWELL Mar 29, 2017

Rebecca Gayle Howell is on this week's episode to discuss the art of listening, writing and faith, and creation as resistance.

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Exfoliating Fear From Your Mind w. TANAÏS Mar 15, 2017

This week, we talk to Tanwi Nandini Islam, author of Bright Lines, about exfoliating fear from your mind, giving yourself permission, and claiming your authority as a voice of your culture.

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Writing Cultural Criticism w. JUAN VIDAL Mar 01, 2017

This week, we talk to Juan Vidal, author of the forthcoming book Rap Dads, about being a creative loner who loves collaboration, using music to tap into the subconscious, and never giving up on the ideas that move you.

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Writing From the Gut w. TAYLOR LARSEN Feb 15, 2017

This week, we talk to author Taylor Larsen about writing without ego, engaging with your characters, and the surreal experience of debut authorship.

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Taking the Preciousness Out of Writing w. EMILY ST. JOHN MANDEL Feb 01, 2017

Before the huge success of Station Eleven—which was a finalist for the National Book Award and the PEN/Faulkner Award and won the 2015 Arthur C. Clarke Award and the Toronto Book Award—Emily St. John Mandel wrote three novels published with small presses. In this episode, we discuss book discoverability, taking the preciousness out of writing, and the difficulty of knowing when to quit your day job.

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