Guest Steve Almond has written a terrific new book called Truth is the Arrow, Mercy is the Bow: A DIY Manual for the Construction of Stories. In it, he shares the insights he gleaned over three decades as a teacher, mentor, and author of 12 books of fiction and non-fiction. He also talks about his strategy for confronting the all-too-commom fear of failure. Some topics we dive into:

• Steve's transition from journalism to creative writing.
• Mastering plot, chronology, and creating a chain of consequences
• How he draws characters from real-life observations, personal experiences, and sometimes characters that emerge from his artistic unconscious.
• Co-hosting the podcast Dear Sugar with writer Cheryl Strayed

Listen in as we try to demystify the writing process.

Sign up for my online Writing Masterclass on June 27. https://bit.ly/smallmasterclass

Subscribe to my substack newsletter to get all the latest writing news. substack.com/jonsmalltalk

Order AG1 using this special address and get five free travel packs with your first purchase. www.drinkAG1.com/writeaboutnow