On Good Writing is a conversation on craft, art, and good work. We consider quotes from writers who have mastered their craft to learn from their art. If you've found this podcast meaningful, please consider becoming a patron.

You can also find more on our Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Cy.press.⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠

Bret Lott is the bestselling author of fifteen books, including the novels ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ancient Highway⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Hunt Club⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠A Song I Knew by Heart⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jewel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (an Oprah’s Book Club selection). Formerly editor of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Southern Review⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Lott was appointed to the National Council on the Arts in 2006. He taught creative writing for nearly forty years at the College of Charleston. He and his wife, Melanie, live in the country outside Charleston, South Carolina.

The music in this episode is "Haven" by Lawrence Walther / Musicbed.com.

On Good Writing is a conversation on craft, art, and what makes for a meaningful life. This episode is a remembrance of Wendell Berry (1934-2026). Included are quotations from Wendell Berry's works:

“How to Be a Poet (to remind myself)” originally appeared in Poetry January 2001

“The Real Work” originally appeared in Standing by Words, Counterpoint Press, 1983.

Jayber Crow, Counterpoint Press, 2000.

For more, subscribe to our Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Cy.press.⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠

Bret Lott is the bestselling author of fifteen books, including the novels ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ancient Highway⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Hunt Club⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠A Song I Knew by Heart⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jewel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (an Oprah’s Book Club selection). Formerly editor of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Southern Review⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Lott was appointed to the National Council on the Arts in 2006. He taught creative writing for nearly forty years at the College of Charleston. He and his wife, Melanie, live in the country outside Charleston, South Carolina.

The music in this episode is "Forty Panes" by Kerry Muzzey/ Musicbed.com.

Become a member of our community and join the long conversation On Good Writing. This is a project of the Cypress Writers Workshop, a nonprofit literary art institute striving the preserve and advance our cultural tradition of writing. On Good Writing is a conversation on craft, art, and what makes for a meaningful life. This week, we share a quote in Flannery: A Life of Flannery O’Connor by Brad Gooch.

For more, subscribe to our Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Cy.press.⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠

Bret Lott is the bestselling author of fifteen books, including the novels ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ancient Highway⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Hunt Club⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠A Song I Knew by Heart⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jewel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (an Oprah’s Book Club selection). Formerly editor of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Southern Review⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Lott was appointed to the National Council on the Arts in 2006. He taught creative writing for nearly forty years at the College of Charleston. He and his wife, Melanie, live in the country outside Charleston, South Carolina.

The music in this episode is "Where You Gonna Go" by Drew and Ellie Holcomb / Musicbed.com.

For more, subscribe to our Substack: ⁠⁠⁠Cy.press.⁠⁠⁠ On Good Writing is a pocket podcast on creative writing. We look to writers and artists who have mastered their craft for the instruction they give in the long work of becoming better writers. This week, we share a quote from Middlemarch by George Eliot.

Bret Lott is the bestselling author of fifteen books, including the novels ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ancient Highway⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Hunt Club⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠A Song I Knew by Heart⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jewel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (an Oprah’s Book Club selection). Formerly editor of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Southern Review⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Lott was appointed to the National Council on the Arts in 2006. He taught creative writing for nearly forty years at the College of Charleston. He and his wife, Melanie, live in the country outside Charleston, South Carolina.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠On Good Writing is produced by Cy.press Studios, a project of the Cypress Writers Workshop. We are a nonprofit literary art institute striving to preserve and advance our cultural tradition of writing.

The music in this episode is "The Four" by GÅEL / Musicbed.com

On Good Writing is a kind of conversation on creative writing and art. We hope it will speak to anyone who wants to make true, good, and beautiful work. This week Bret Lott shares a quote from Franz Kafka on self-revelation and solitude in the writing life.

For more, subscribe to ⁠Cy.press.⁠

Bret Lott is the bestselling author of fifteen books, including the novels ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ancient Highway⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Hunt Club⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠A Song I Knew by Heart⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jewel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (an Oprah’s Book Club selection). Formerly editor of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Southern Review⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Lott was appointed to the National Council on the Arts in 2006. He taught creative writing for nearly forty years at the College of Charleston. He and his wife, Melanie, live in the country outside Charleston, South Carolina.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠On Good Writing is produced by Cy.press Studios, a project of the Cypress Writers Workshop. We are a nonprofit literary art institute striving to preserve and advance our cultural tradition of writing.

The music in this episode "Charleston" by Kino / musicbed.com.

On Good Writing is a podcast for writers, artists, and anyone serious about good work. In teaching ourselves from the wisdom of creators who have mastered their craft, we hope to encourage others in creating things that are lasting and real. Each week, Bret Lott shares a quote from creators about making things that are true and good and beautiful. As a bestselling writer and having taught creative writing for over 40 years, he shares his thoughts on these words by masters who have come before us. In this first episode of season 2, we share a quote from Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn’s Nobel Prize lecture. For more, subscribe to Cy.press.

Bret Lott is the bestselling author of fifteen books, including the novels ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ancient Highway⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Hunt Club⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠A Song I Knew by Heart⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jewel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (an Oprah’s Book Club selection). Formerly editor of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Southern Review⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Lott was appointed to the National Council on the Arts in 2006. He taught creative writing for nearly forty years at the College of Charleston. He and his wife, Melanie, live in the country outside Charleston, South Carolina.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠On Good Writing is produced by Cy.press Studios, a project of the Cypress Writers Workshop. We are a nonprofit literary art institute striving to preserve and advance our cultural tradition of writing.

The music in this episode "Snow" by Kerry Muzzey / musicbed.com.

This quote from William Stafford unlocked something in me. It relieved the heavy weight that hindered my writing. I hope you will listen. Perhaps it will open up something for you too.

Bret Lott is the bestselling author of fifteen books, including the novels ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ancient Highway⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Hunt Club⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠A Song I Knew by Heart⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jewel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (an Oprah’s Book Club selection). Formerly editor of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Southern Review⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Lott was appointed to the National Council on the Arts in 2006. He taught creative writing for nearly forty years at the College of Charleston. He and his wife, Melanie, live in the country outside Charleston, South Carolina.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠On Good Writing is produced by Cy.press Studios, a project of the Cypress Writers Workshop. We are a non-profit literary art institute striving to preserve and advance our cultural tradition of writing. We depend on supporters like you to continue in this work. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠cy.press⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

The music in this episode "Ghosts - Campfire Version" by The National Parks / musicbed.com.

“It Hurts” is a kind of vignette of personal memoir Bret Lott shares on rejection. I think you’ll find it touches a deep place. Perhaps you will also hear an example of what it takes to keep at your craft, listening to rejection and receiving it as an essential form of instruction.

Bret Lott is the bestselling author of fifteen books, including the novels ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ancient Highway⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Hunt Club⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠A Song I Knew by Heart⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jewel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (an Oprah’s Book Club selection). Formerly editor of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Southern Review⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Lott was appointed to the National Council on the Arts in 2006. He taught creative writing for nearly forty years at the College of Charleston. He and his wife, Melanie, live in the country outside Charleston, South Carolina.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠On Good Writing is produced by Cy.press Studios, a project of the Cypress Writers Workshop. We are a non-profit literary art institute striving to preserve and advance our cultural tradition of writing. We depend on supporters like you to continue in this work. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠cy.press⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

The music in this episode “A View of His Own Choosing” by Kerry Muzzey / Musicbed.com.

We write to express in words what we feel so deeply and want to share. But are we willing to face what is required to find a home for our work? Are we willing to get rejected? Bret Lott shares a quote from a rejection letter he received, just one of the 629 rejections he has accumulated over a long writing life.

Bret Lott is the bestselling author of fifteen books, including the novels ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ancient Highway⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Hunt Club⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠A Song I Knew by Heart⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jewel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (an Oprah’s Book Club selection). Formerly editor of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Southern Review⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Lott was appointed to the National Council on the Arts in 2006. He taught creative writing for nearly forty years at the College of Charleston. He and his wife, Melanie, live in the country outside Charleston, South Carolina.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠On Good Writing⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is a Cy.press Studios production. Cy.press Studios is a project of the Cypress Writers’ Workshop, a creative writing program supporting writers who seek to master their craft and cultivate the unity between art and reverence. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠cy.press⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

The music in this episode is " Never Stop" by Tyler Brown Williams / Musicbed.com.

This week, Bret Lott invites us to consider the mysterious process of creating in the face of self-doubt. He quotes the 20th century artist, Alberto Giacometti.

Bret Lott is the bestselling author of fifteen books, including the novels ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ancient Highway⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Hunt Club⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠A Song I Knew by Heart⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jewel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (an Oprah’s Book Club selection). Formerly editor of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Southern Review⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Lott was appointed to the National Council on the Arts in 2006. He taught creative writing for nearly forty years at the College of Charleston. He and his wife, Melanie, live in the country outside Charleston, South Carolina.

⁠⁠⁠⁠On Good Writing⁠⁠⁠⁠ is a Cy.press Studios production. Cy.press Studios is a project of the Cypress Writers’ Workshop, a creative writing program supporting writers who seek to master their craft and cultivate the unity between art and reverence. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠cy.press⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

The music in this episode is " The Bible Belt" by John Lucas /Musicbed.com.