In this episode of Words on a Wire, host Will Rose sits down with author Lauren D. Woods to discuss her debut short story collection, The Great Grown-Up Game of Make-Believe—a book that moves fluidly between realism and the surreal, blending sharp emotional insight with inventive, often unexpected forms.

Woods talks about the long and winding path to publishing her first collection, including stories that span decades of her life as a writer—from early work written in college to more recent pieces shaped through years of revision. She reflects on learning to trust her instincts, the discipline of writing in small windows of time, and how balancing a demanding career outside of writing has influenced both her process and her voice.

The conversation also explores the unique possibilities of short fiction—why it can be such a powerful form for capturing intense, fleeting moments—and how Woods approaches everything from flash pieces to longer, more layered stories. Along the way, she discusses the role of imagination in her work, her blend of the familiar and the strange, and the writers who have shaped her along the way.