This week, host June Thomas talks to Katherine Howe, a writer of both historical fiction and nonfiction books. In the interview, Katherine starts by discussing her upcoming novel A True Account, which tells a fictional story about the very real Golden Age of Piracy. Then she talks about her work collaborating with CNN anchor Anderson Cooper on historical nonfiction books. Their latest is called Astor: The Rise and Fall of an American Fortune.  
 After the interview, June and co-host Kristen Meinzer discuss the challenges of juggling multiple projects and the use of “storytelling habits.”  
 In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Katherine shares some of her favorite works of historical fiction. She also explains her fascination with witches.    Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. 
 Podcast production by Cameron Drews. 
 If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get an ad-free experience across the network and exclusive content on many shows—you’ll also be supporting the work we do here on Working. Sign up now at slate.com/workingplus to help support our work.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Writing Bestsellers With Anderson Cooper

Hosts Isaac Butler, Ronald Young Jr., and June Thomas interview creative people about how they write, compose, paint, and more.

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This week, guest-host Kristen Meinzer talks to Stephen Seals, an actor and historical interpreter at Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia. In the interview, Stephen breaks down his process for researching and portraying Revolutionary War double-agent James Lafayette, a notable Black American whose story is seldom told. Stephen explains what it’s like to write for his character on the fly, to answer audience questions, and to add meaning and texture to an important historical figure.  
 After the interview, Kristen and co-host Isaac Butler talk about how to handle harsh audience feedback.  
 In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Stephen describes a philosophy of “social history” which centers individual experiences instead of dry data alone. He also shares which historical figures he would like to play in the future.  
 Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. 
 Podcast production by Cameron Drews. 
 If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get an ad-free experience across the network and exclusive content on many shows—you’ll also be supporting the work we do here on Working. Sign up now at slate.com/workingplus to help support our work.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How a Colonial Williamsburg Actor Humanizes History

For this week’s episode of Working Overtime, hosts June Thomas and Ronald Young Jr dive into the work of PKM (Personal Knowledge Management) and the different means of gathering one's thoughts. June, a PKM evangelist, breaks down some of the many apps and processes for collating one’s notes into an organized web of insights and connections. She also explains German scholar Niklas Luhmann’s system of capturing and regenerating ideas with a zettelkasten. Both hosts agree that while new systems of organization can be wonderful tools, obsessing over them can eat away some of your creative time. Do you have questions or advice of your own about the creative process? Reach out at (304) 933-9675 or email us at working@slate.com.   
 Podcast production by Kevin Bendis and Cameron Drews.   Hosts: Ronald Young Jr. and June Thomas   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Working Overtime: Storing and Revisiting Your Old Ideas

This week, host Ronald Young Jr. talks to writer Emma Copley Eisenberg about her new novel Housemates, which features a burgeoning friendship between two artists who decide to road trip across Pennsylvania together. In the interview, Emma explains how her nonfiction writing and her interest in history influenced this new work of fiction. She also talks about her “feast or famine” approach to productivity, her desire to document her community, and her belief that physical descriptions of people are crucial to good fiction writing.  
 After the interview, Ronald and co-host June Thomas ponder why the most difficult projects can be the most exciting. They also talk about how rare it is to see good depictions of fat people in fiction.  
 In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Emma talks about a toxic mentor character in Housemates and why it’s so troubling when teachers of the arts abuse their positions of power.    Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. 
 Podcast production by Cameron Drews. 
 If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get an ad-free experience across the network and exclusive content on many shows—you’ll also be supporting the work we do here on Working. Sign up now at slate.com/workingplus to help support our work.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A Master Class in Character Description

This week on Working Overtime, host Isaac Butler talks to AJ Ayers, a personal finance expert who specializes in helping creative people manage their money better. In the interview, AJ offers tips on everything from retirement accounts and taxes to homeownership and family planning.  
 Do you have questions or advice of your own about the creative process? Reach out at (304) 933-9675 or email us at working@slate.com. 
 Podcast production by Cameron Drews.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Working Overtime: Money Advice for Freelancers

This week, host Isaac Butler talks to Justin Peck, a dancer and choreographer who helped create the hit Broadway show Illinoise, which is based on a classic album with a similar name by Sufjan Stevens. In the interview, Justin breaks down how he adapted Sufjan’s album into a narrative dance piece, with clear characters and storylines. He also talks about his process for feeling out dance moves with his body, teaching those moves to other dancers, and then tweaking them based on the strengths of the performers.  
 After the interview, Isaac and co-host Ronald Young Jr. talk about the thrill of live performances and what it means to define success for a project.  
 In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Justin explains how the show varied in previous iterations before Broadway. Then he talks about his biggest dance influences.  
 Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. 
 Podcast production by Cameron Drews. 
 If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get an ad-free experience across the network and exclusive content on many shows—you’ll also be supporting the work we do here on Working. Sign up now at slate.com/workingplus to help support our work.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Writing Bestsellers With Anderson Cooper

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