In this episode, Maxine Rae discusses embracing YA, what comes after the agent, publication timelines, spacing errors, and what the teens are saying these days.   Maxine Rae https://northstareditions.com/product/cold-girls/ https://www.instagram.com/maxinerae_author/   Stories Matter Foundation https://www.storystudiochicago.org/

In this episode, Juan Martinez discusses growing up with horror, Vegas inspiration, revision through cutting, sensations versus story, writing by hand, and cutting your story in half.   Juan Martinez http://www.fulmerford.com/about   Stories Matter Foundation https://www.storystudiochicago.org/

In this episode, author Gayle Brandeis discusses knowing what we're doing, writing when you can, listening to your body, breathing, engaging with emotionally difficult material, and drafting for yourself, revising for others.   Gayle Brandeis https://gaylebrandeis.com/   Stories Matter Foundation https://www.storystudiochicago.org/

In this episode, author Michael Leali discusses middle grade novels, low-residency MFAs, resonating with young readers, using notecards for developmental edits, tackling big topics in books for kids, staying true to the voice of young people, the importance of humor, what young readers are interested in, how to battle book bans and protect communities, and valuing your own story.   Michael Leali https://michaelleali.com/   Stories Matter Foundation https://www.storystudiochicago.org/

In this episode, Julia Fine, author, discusses getting started, research, following the call of your work, preparing your concept, revisions, developmental edits, working on projects over the course of multiple years, taking breaks, writing as the reward, and making choices through a goal.   Julia Fine https://www.julia-fine.com/   Stories Matter Foundation https://www.storystudiochicago.org/

In this episode, Sarah Terez Rosenblum, author, discusses using teaching to learn craft, developmental editors, figuring out when to share work, listening, giving yourself permission to say 'I don't know,' the right reasons to take a class, and why you should always wear black when teaching.   Sarah Terez Rosenblum https://www.sarahterezrosenblum.com/   Stories Matter Foundation https://www.storystudiochicago.org/

In this episode, we talk with Rebecca George, co-owner of Volumes Bookcafe, about running a bookstore, the staying power of physical books, crunching the numbers, backlist sales, Tik Tok's influence on a book's success, how to be a better sales ally as a writer, why short books rock, and why authors shouldn't call a bookstore on a weekend.   Volumes https://www.volumesbooks.com/   Stories Matter Foundation https://www.storystudiochicago.org/

Recommendations for your TBR pile:   Greg's Picks Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin Last Summer on State Street by Toya Wolfe Mount Chicago by Adam Levin Groundskeeping by Lee Cole I Have Some Questions For You by Rebecca Makkai   Michael's Picks Book of Extraordinary Tragedies by Joe Meno Beyond Measure by James Vincent How to Build a Home for the End of the World by Keely Shinners Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel From Dusk to Stardust by Kathleen Rooney   Rachel's Picks All This Could Be Different by Sarah Thankam Mathews Bliss Montage by Ling Ma Consolation by Deborah Shapiro Nobody's Magic by Destiny O. Birdsong Exalted by Anna Dorn Jerks by Sara Lippmann   StoryStudioChicago.org

Jeremy Owens, writer and performer, on live lit, putting together a show, newsletters, and the chaos that is trying to hold onto an online writing community in this day and age.   Find Jeremy online at https://linktr.ee/JeremyAshleyOwens   Stories Matter Foundation https://www.storystudiochicago.org/

In this episode, Jen and Fraser Coffeen, hosts of the Creepy History Podcast, stop by to talk about all things scary stories - telling them, lessons writers can take from them, and what keeps us up at night.   Creepy History Podcast https://creepyhistory.buzzsprout.com/   Stories Matter Foundation https://www.storystudiochicago.org/