Write About Now

What is the process behind writing great poetry? Guest Dr. Joshua Bennett takes us into the world of a working poet. He's a professor of English and Creative Writing at Dartmouth College and the author of three books of poetry, including Owed, which was released earlier this year. A recipient of the NAACP Image Award, Dr. Bennett has also recited his original works at the Sundance Film Festival and the White House. On the pod, we talk about his background growing up in a black working-class family while attending mostly white elite institutions, how he has mastered his craft, and his advice to aspiring writers. 

Ken Follett has sold more than 170 million copies of his books worldwide, making him one of the most successful novelists working today. But his books aren't just bestsellers; they're masterful works of historical fiction. I count Pillars of the Earth as one of my favorite books of all time—and I'm not alone. Now Follett's written a prequel to that book called The Evening and the Morning. In this episode, he talks about the three-year process researching, writing, and rewriting the book, offering his sage advice to all aspiring novelists. 

Legendary drummer Chris Frantz talks about his fascinating new memoir called Remain In Love , which chronicles his once-in-a-lifetime experiences with the Talking Heads and Tom Tom Club. He shares stories from his college days as RISD, where he meets the love of his life, bassist Tina Weymouth, and quirky frontman David Byrne, their years opening for the Ramones and Blondie at CBGBs, and how he became the Genius of Love, co-writing one of the most iconic dance records of all time. 

On the morning of December 30, 1999, a trailer home in rural Oklahoma went up in flames. Of the four people inside, two were shot dead, and the other two—16-year-old best friends—vanished. Writer Jax Miller, a former junkie, spent four years embedded in the tiny town investigating the case. Her experience is captured in a gripping and dark new true crime book called Hell in the Heartland. We talk about why she learned about the mystery and about herself. 

In 2018, Katie Hill shocked the nation when she flipped the historically red 25th district of California, becoming its first Democratic congresswoman in decades. Katie, now 32, was also the first woman to hold the seat, and the first openly LGBTQ woman to be elected to Congress from California. But when her abusive ex-husband released comprising photos of Katie to a right-wing website, she was forced to resign just six months into her term. Katie joins the show to talk about the new memoir and political manifesto, She Will Rise. She opens up about what she's had to endure and learn over this trying period, and the inspiring message she wants to pass on to women everywhere about how to achieve change and equal rights for women.  

In her latest book, Make your Mess Your Memoir, writer Anna David tells her compelling story of addiction and coming out on the other side. She also gives excellent advice on turning your own personal difficulties into great copy. I've known Anna for a while but it wasn't until this interview that I really learned her fascinating story. Anna talks about how she dated Matt Damon, her addiction to cocaine, the time Tom Berenger threw a book at her head, and the secret to writing a book people want to read. 

Debra Jo Immergut talks about her captivating new novel, You Again, in which the protagonist keeps seeing a younger version of herself on the New York City streets. Immergut is a former magazine editor and a writing teacher. She shares her backstory, the valuable lessons she learned in the famed Iowa University writer's program and the sometimes brutal NYC publishing world, and her tactics for becoming a successful writer. 

A recent poll found that a quarter of Americans think COVID-19 might have been planned. Twenty-one percent think Big Foot is real. President Trump tweets conspiracy theories daily. Have we all lost our minds? Guest Colin Dickey helps us understand where conspiracy theories come from and why people often believe them. He is the author of the new book: The Unidentified: Mythical Monsters, Alien Encounters, and Our Obsession with the Unexplained. 

Does talking about your personal accomplishments make you uncomfortable? Do peers who shamelessly promote themselves om social media annoy you? This week's guest, Meredith Fineman, thinks you need a new mindset. In her new book Brag Better: Master the Art of Fearless Self-Promotion, Fineman argues that sometimes we need to unapologetically advocate more for ourselves to be heard. She offers tips and tricks for how to get there without being a total blowhard. 

Medium.com has become a go-to alternative platform for writers looking to gain a following and get paid for their work. My guest Anthony Moore is one of their most popular writers, with over 45K subscribers, a six-figure income, a massive mailing list, and a book entitled What Extraordinary People Know. Anthony talks about why he turned to Medium, how it turned his lackluster writing career around, and how it might help you get your work discovered, too.