Writing It! podcast

47:02

When Mary Dearborn finished her doctorate at Columbia University she knew she wanted to write biography. She went on to a forty-plus year career in writing biographies whose subjects including Peggy Guggenheim, Norman Mailer, Henry Miller, Ernest Hemingway, Anzia Yezierska, and most recently Carson McCullers. We talk about the challenges of writing biography for trade press publications; writing the trade press book proposal; changes in the publishing industry; reaching a broader readership; struggling with self-promotion and changing social media norms; and why it’s invigorating to remember that presses actually need good writers. Don't forget to rate and review our show and follow us on all social media platforms here: https://linktr.ee/writingitpodcast Contact us with questions, possible future topics/guests, or comments here: https://writingit.fireside.fm/contact…

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Episode 47: Historian-turned-Playwright (With a little help from real estate good luck!) 34:05

28 days ago34:05

34:05

We’re talking with historian-turned-playwright Andy Heinze about leaving academia to begin a different kind of writing career. We talk about how he made this decision, what other factors helped, and why this new path has led to the most fun kind of writing. We talk about how academia prepares writers for failure and the joys of becoming a beginner and a student again. Don't forget to rate and review our show and follow us on all social media platforms here: https://linktr.ee/writingitpodcast Contact us with questions, possible future topics/guests, or comments here: https://writingit.fireside.fm/contact…

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Episode 46: Cold-calling works! 48:05

6 weeks ago48:05

48:05

In this episode, we’re talking with Amy Reading, author of The World She Edited: Katharine S. White at The New Yorker, about why a PhD is helpful background for writing literary non-fiction, and how that background helps us skillfully cold-call agents; the importance of understanding how your book fits in with comparable works; how and why she ended up writing a bigger book than she expected; finding a writing community; why a biography always takes longer than we think; and why it’s worthwhile to reach out to the writers we admire. Don't forget to rate and review our show and follow us on all social media platforms here: https://linktr.ee/writingitpodcast Contact us with questions, possible future topics/guests, or comments here: https://writingit.fireside.fm/contact…

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Episode 45: “Before there was therapy, there was religion” 48:31

8 weeks ago48:31

48:31

We’re speaking with Professor Michael Alexander, professor of religious Studies and Jewish Studies at U.C. Riverside, about writing about the history of human spirituality. Alexander’s recent book, Making Peace With the Universe: Personal Crisis and Spiritual Meaning is very different from his previous book, Jazz Age Jews, in part because it includes an honest examination of his own life. We talk about moving from book one to book two; the challenges of including the personal in scholarly writing; and why it’s important follow our curiosity in our writing. Don't forget to rate and review our show and follow us on all social media platforms here: https://linktr.ee/writingitpodcast Contact us with questions, possible future topics/guests, or comments here: https://writingit.fireside.fm/contact…

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Episode 44: What AI can do for us academics (and what it can’t do for us without sucking the joy from life) 59:22

10 weeks ago59:22

59:22

We’re speaking with writing teacher, John Warner, author most recently of More Than Words: How to Think about Writing in the Age of AI, about where AI can be an ally (it’s great a alphabetizing, as a tool for jogging our memory, generating lists and first drafts of abstracts and summaries), and where to steer clear of it. We talk about teaching and learning in the age of AI, and how to remind students of the pleasures of writing and reaching those “can’t be better” writing moments. John talks about developing a writers practice (the subject of one of his books), how to create compelling “learning outcomes/objectives” for our courses, and the tricks and pleasure of moving between different kinds of writing, effectively. Don't forget to rate and review our show and follow us on all social media platforms here: https://linktr.ee/writingitpodcast Contact us with questions, possible future topics/guests, or comments here: https://writingit.fireside.fm/contact…

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Episode 43: “Filling the gaps of history… with fiction!” with Lauren Willig 54:33

12 weeks ago54:33

54:33

NYT bestselling author of historical fiction, Lauren Willig, talks about shifting from a history dissertation to writing historical novels. Willig talks about how she discovered she has “fiction brain”; figuring out when and how to use fiction to fill the gaps in historical understanding; finding co-authors; and what makes collaborative writing work. We also talk about competition and envy between writers, writing regrets, and why luck is such an important ingredient in a successful career. Don't forget to rate and review our show and follow us on all social media platforms here: https://linktr.ee/writingitpodcast Contact us with questions, possible future topics/guests, or comments here: https://writingit.fireside.fm/contact…

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Episode 42: “Two Years Ago I Quit My Life” with scholar and writer, Anne Boyd 1:09:56

14 weeks ago1:09:56

1:09:56

Less than a decade ago, Anne Boyd was a tenured literature professor and her book, Meg, Jo, Beth, Amy: The Story of Little Women and Why It Still Matters received a rave NYT review from Francine Prose. We talk with Anne Boyd about leaving academia and buying a one-way ticket to Paris. She has been traveling around Europe ever since, writing and exploring new genres, including fiction. We talk about the factors that led her to leave academia; NEH grants; how tenure changes job prospects; how she made her exit from academia work financially; getting those first ten pages ready for a literary agent; writing biography; creating a fanbase on Substack and making it into a community; drawing the attention of Elizabeth Gilbert; and why it all works even when it doesn’t work perfectly. Don't forget to rate and review our show and follow us on all social media platforms here: https://linktr.ee/writingitpodcast Contact us with questions, possible future topics/guests, or comments here: https://writingit.fireside.fm/contact…

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Episode 41: Finding your form… and voice 51:32

16 weeks ago51:32

51:32

We’re speaking with Distinguished Professor James Goodman, of Rutgers University, Newark, where he teaches history and creative writing. Our conversation focuses on what Goodman teaches his graduate students about writing, and how these lessons about form, voice, and pacing are rooted in his own writing experiences. Goodman has received fellowships and awards from NYU, Princeton, Rutgers, and the Guggenheim Foundation, and his book, Stories of Scottsboro, was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. Don't forget to rate and review our show and follow us on all social media platforms here: https://linktr.ee/writingitpodcast Contact us with questions, possible future topics/guests, or comments here: https://writingit.fireside.fm/contact…

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Episode 40: Finding courage to write the broader story 51:12

18 weeks ago51:12

51:12

In this episode we talk with history professor Robin Judd of the Ohio State University about writing her most recent book, Between Two Worlds: Jewish War Brides After the Holocaust. Figuring out how to write up her research as a book appealing to a broader audience was a challenge that required new skills and a willingness to edit, while staying true to her sources’ voices. Don't forget to rate and review our show and follow us on all social media platforms here: https://linktr.ee/writingitpodcast Contact us with questions, possible future topics/guests, or comments here: https://writingit.fireside.fm/contact…

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Episode 39: How to Write a Lot: A Practical Guide to Productive Academic Writing 47:22

20 weeks ago47:22

47:22

We’re speaking with University of North Carolina-Greensboro psychology professor and author of How to Write a Lot: A Practical Guide to Productive Writing, Paul Silvia. We humanities folks tend to overthink things, including about the reasons that writing isn’t going well. But what if the solutions to our writing problem are more simple than we realize? Silva studies the psychology of creativity and motivation, and he shares some excellent insight and advice for moving forward when we’re feeling some despair or frustration about our academic writing. Don't forget to rate and review our show and follow us on all social media platforms here: https://linktr.ee/writingitpodcast Contact us with questions, possible future topics/guests, or comments here: https://writingit.fireside.fm/contact…

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Episode 38: Relationships and Writing 1:17:30

22 weeks ago1:17:30

1:17:30

Today’s episode is with Samira Mehta, associate professor of women and gender studies and of Jewish studies at the University of Colorado Boulder. We speak about the way our relationships feed our writing. The conversation focuses on fellowships, writing groups, writing coaches, and friends and colleagues with whom we exchange writing. Don't forget to rate and review our show and follow us on all social media platforms here: https://linktr.ee/writingitpodcast Contact us with questions, possible future topics/guests, or comments here: https://writingit.fireside.fm/contact…

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Episode 37: How a great elevator pitch can make a difference 36:16

24 weeks ago36:16

36:16

A conversation with Professor Lori Harrison-Kahan (Boston College) about edited volumes and writing while in a non-tenure track position. Harrison-Kahan shares ideas for creating successful edited volumes, including her own experiences with having a good elevator pitch and creating conference panels that show potential editors a good fit between papers. Harrison-Kahan explains how to involve undergraduates in the creation of volumes; how edited volumes can be a source of community for scholars; and how she and her co-editors actually write an introduction together. With her co-editors, Harrison-Kahan recently published two edited volumes: The Case of Lizzie Borden and Other Writings, a Penguin Classics edition of Elizabeth Garver Jordan's writings, and Matrilineal Dissent: Women Writers and Jewish American Literary History. Don't forget to rate and review our show and follow us on all social media platforms here: https://linktr.ee/writingitpodcast Contact us with questions, possible future topics/guests, or comments here: https://writingit.fireside.fm/contact…

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Episode 36: What do book publicists do for academic authors? 49:16

26 weeks ago49:16

49:16

We’re speaking with Leah Paulos, founder and director of the Brooklyn-based book publicity firm, Press Shop PR about what publicists do for academic writers: primarily, helping readers find your book! We talk about why an academic might hire a book publicist; at what stages of writing a book it makes sense to hire a publicist; publicist pricing; what authors can do on their own to create more of a buzz around their book. Don't forget to rate and review our show and follow us on all social media platforms here: https://linktr.ee/writingitpodcast Contact us with questions, possible future topics/guests, or comments here: https://writingit.fireside.fm/contact…

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Episode 35: GETTING THE READER FROM BEGINNING TO END, WITH MERVE EMRE 59:20

28 weeks ago59:20

59:20

A conversation with Shapiro-Silverberg Professor of Creative Writing and Criticism at Wesleyan University and contributing writer to The New Yorker magazine, Merve Emre. We talk about the work and goals of a book critic; what it means to think about the reader’s experience of our writing; creating a community of readers; and what it’s like to be edited at the New Yorker. Don't forget to rate and review our show and follow us on all social media platforms here: https://linktr.ee/writingitpodcast Contact us with questions, possible future topics/guests, or comments here: https://writingit.fireside.fm/contact…

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Episode 34: When Writing Becomes Like Painting 43:29

30 weeks ago43:29

43:29

Harvard Divinity School Professor Shaul Magid began his undergraduate education as a painter. Over time, as he became an academic and a professor, Magid found that writing took the place of painting – that is, writing is his artistic and creative expression, and the thing that he’s basically always doing. We speak about how changing one’s institutions – Magid has taught at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, Indiana University, Dartmouth, and Harvard Divinity School—has changed his writing and for whom he wants to write. We speak about the appeal of biography, the value of writing for a broader audience and why the editorial feedback can be difficult to take, but ultimately worthwhile. Don't forget to rate and review our show and follow us on all social media platforms here: https://linktr.ee/writingitpodcast Contact us with questions, possible future topics/guests, or comments here: https://writingit.fireside.fm/contact…

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Episode 33: Psychedelics & Writing 46:44

32 weeks ago46:44

46:44

We speak with historian Ben Breen (UC Santa Cruz) about the writing of his recent book, Tripping on Utopia: Margaret Mead, the Cold War, and the Troubled Birth of Psychedelic Science, We discuss how to think about chapter organization; writing about individuals’ lives without writing biography; discovering our main characters through the writing process; books that have served as models for writing; the wonderfulness of Terry Gross; not getting caught up in the apparatus of writing tools; and why it’s most important to just get the ideas down. Don't forget to rate and review our show and follow us on all social media platforms here: https://linktr.ee/writingitpodcast Contact us with questions, possible future topics/guests, or comments here: https://writingit.fireside.fm/contact…

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Episode 32: 5,000-10.000 Downloads of a Conversation about Your Book 36:06

34 weeks ago36:06

36:06

We’re speaking with Caleb Zakarin, the Editor of the New Books Network, about what NBN is and what it does for academics. You’ve probably heard about the New Books Network, because so many academics are either interviewed about their books on this podcast, or interview other academics for NBN. We wanted to understand what NBN does for academics and their books; what makes for a good author interview; what makes it a “network”; and why academics might consider interviewing other academics for NBN (short answer: it’s a really good way to network). Don't forget to rate and review our show and follow us on all social media platforms here: https://linktr.ee/writingitpodcast Contact us with questions, possible future topics/guests, or comments here: https://writingit.fireside.fm/contact…

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Episode 31: Being Open to Collaboration 28:48

36 weeks ago28:48

28:48

We’re speaking with Professor Anna Peterson (Religion, University of Florida). She received her PhD from the University of Chicago Divinity School and her AB from the University of California at Berkeley. Her research focuses on religion and social change, especially in Latin America; environmental and social ethics; and animal studies. Professor Peterson has decades of experience in something that is rare among humanities scholars: collaborative writing. What are the benefits and drawbacks of co-authored publications? We talk about why and when scholars might choose to collaborate with academics from other disciplines, as well as how a professor or a graduate student might signal interest in collaborative work. Don't forget to rate and review our show and follow us on all social media platforms here: https://linktr.ee/writingitpodcast Contact us with questions, possible future topics/guests, or comments here: https://writingit.fireside.fm/contact…

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Episode 30: What is the magic that happens when you work with a Developmental Editor? 35:22

38 weeks ago35:22

35:22

We speak with Megan Pugh about her work as a developmental editor: how she helps academics improve their books and find their voice. Making writing less lonely is a big part of her job as a DE, as is expressing her belief in the power of good writing. Megan also offers advice for those thinking about taking on the work of a DE, and what makes this work a good fit for an academic who is considering editing work. You can find out more about Megan and her work here at her website: http://www.meganpugh.com Don't forget to rate and review our show and follow us on all social media platforms here: https://linktr.ee/writingitpodcast Contacts us with questions, possible future topics/guests, or comments here: https://writingit.fireside.fm/contact…

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Episode 29: Are “writing spurts” a thing? 39:54

40 weeks ago39:54

39:54

We speak with Princeton Professor Laura Arnold Leibman about how a scholar’s approach to writing might change over time, with different stages of an academic career, and what might be happening when it looks like a scholar is having a “writing spurt.” Leibman shares with us the shifts over time, in her thinking about writing; sharing writing; and perfectionism. We also talk about getting writing done while holding leadership positions, the pomodoro technique, and figuring out how to break down the writing of academic journal articles. Don't forget to rate and review our show and follow us on all social media platforms here: https://linktr.ee/writingitpodcast Contacts us with questions, possible future topics/guests, or comments here: https://writingit.fireside.fm/contact…

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Episode 28: An Editor's Perspective: Sandra Korn 40:02

42 weeks ago40:02

40:02

In our conversation with Wayne State University Press editor Sandra Korn we address a number of interesting questions on the minds of our listeners: 1) What does it mean when an editor replies to your submissions with, "This isn't a good fit for us"? 2) What's the best way to approach an editor? In the book exhibit hall, during a conference? Through an email? 3) What parts of my manuscript does a university press editor actually read? 3) What does an editor do differently for her writers who are part of the trade division of an academic press? 4) What does an editor think of book publicity events? 5) What excites an acquisitions editor? Don't forget to rate and review our show and follow us on all social media platforms here: https://linktr.ee/writingitpodcast Contacts us with questions, possible future topics/guests, or comments here: https://writingit.fireside.fm/contact…

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Episode 27: Turning points in our academic writing 43:47

44 weeks ago43:47

43:47

We speak with Elesha Coffman, Associate Professor of History at Baylor University about writing a book that takes its shape from turning points in history. Coffman is the author of Turning Points in American Church History: How Pivotal Events Shaped a Nation and a Faith. Baker Academic, 2024; Margaret Mead: A Twentieth-Century Faith. Spiritual Lives Series, Timothy Larsen, series editor. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2021; and The Christian Century and the Rise of the Protestant Mainline. New York: Oxford University Press, 2013. We talk about changing academic institutions and changing our writing priorities; the ways tenure and promotion requirements influence our writing; the advantages of books that allow you to “write short”; and the benefits that come with creating writing groups. Don't forget to rate and review our show and follow us on all social media platforms here: https://linktr.ee/writingitpodcast Contacts us with questions, possible future topics/guests, or comments here: https://writingit.fireside.fm/contact…

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Episode 26: “Modern Love” in the Academic Life 34:12

46 weeks ago34:12

34:12

We speak with Associate Professor of English Jennifer Glaser (University of Cincinnati) about her writing life. When she was in graduate school, Glaser wrote an essay that was published in the NYT’s “Modern Love” section, and which affected her understanding of the kinds of writing she wanted to do as both a scholar and a writer. We talk about being a “serious academic” who finds satisfaction in a variety of writing genres. We talk about writing into uncomfortable subjects and the kind of risks involved in writing more personally, as well as the many benefits of having a more creative and personal writing profile, in addition to a scholarly writing profile. Don't forget to rate and review our show and follow us on all social media platforms here: https://linktr.ee/writingitpodcast Contacts us with questions, possible future topics/guests, or comments here: https://writingit.fireside.fm/contact…

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Episode 25: The Book Seminar with Sam Freedman 57:18

48 weeks ago57:18

57:18

Today, we’re speaking with the award-winning author, columnist, and professor Sam Freedman, of Columbia Journalism School, and the author, most recently, of Into the Bright Sunshine: Young Hubert Humphrey and the Fight for Civil Rights (winner of the 2024 Hillman Prize for Book Journalism), about his class at Columbia School of Journalism, The Book Seminar. We talk about what Sam teaches his lucky students (this very successful Columbia seminar has been offered for over 30 years, and has resulted in over 100 published books), and about his own decades-long career as an author, and the view of the publishing industry it has provided him. We address what it means to craft a good book proposal; the importance of making the case for your book’s readership; the benefits of landing in an academic press, even if you were aiming for a trade press; how to think about the “comp. titles/authors” section of your proposal; pre-publication blurbs; pitching an agent; planning your own book promotion; and finally, why timing is sometimes everything. Don't forget to rate and review our show and follow us on all social media platforms here: https://linktr.ee/writingitpodcast Contacts us with questions, possible future topics/guests, or comments here: https://writingit.fireside.fm/contact…

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Episode 24: The Joy of Editing 37:40

50 weeks ago37:40

37:40

We’re speaking with the editor of the Journal of the American Academy of Religion, Andrea Jain, who is professor of religious studies at Indiana University, Indianapolis, and the author of Peace Love Yoga: The Politics of Global Spirituality (2020) and Selling Yoga: From Counterculture to Pop Culture. 2014. Jain tells us about her own path to her editorial position, and speaks about what academics can do to position themselves for journal editor roles. Jain talks about the importance of taking initiative in approaching editors, how to be considered for an editorial board, and how respond to readers reports. We also speak about the importance of taking time off. Don't forget to rate and review our show and follow us on all social media platforms here: https://linktr.ee/writingitpodcast Contacts us with questions, possible future topics/guests, or comments here: https://writingit.fireside.fm/contact…

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Episode 23: From writing about a Chicago heat wave to writing about 2020: A conversation with NYU Sociologist and New Yorker writer Eric Klinenberg 40:50

52 weeks ago40:50

40:50

Today we talk to NYU Professor Eric Klinenberg about how his academic career led to other kinds of writing—and what he's learned from writing a book about a time that many people would rather forget. Don't forget to rate and review our show and follow us on all social media platforms here: https://linktr.ee/writingitpodcast Contacts us with questions, possible future topics/guests, or comments here: https://writingit.fireside.fm/contact…

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Episode 22: Maurice Samuels on the Challenges of writing Biography 38:21

1 year ago38:21

38:21

We speak with Yale Professor Maurice Samuels about writing biography, and the importance of finding stories we feel compelled to tell. Samuels talks about finding the right writing voice; when to share writing with colleagues and friends; potential benefits and consequences of publishing with a trade press; creating a table of contents that helps readers; the importance of footnotes; and how our career stage might influence the kind of books we write. Don't forget to rate and review our show and follow us on all social media platforms here: https://linktr.ee/writingitpodcast Contacts us with questions, possible future topics/guests, or comments here: https://writingit.fireside.fm/contact…

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Episode 21: What’s the deal with academics writing for "The Conversation"? 25:39

1 year ago25:39

25:39

If you’re like us, you’ve probably noticed that many academics write for The Conversation media outlet. The site does not pay writers, so why is it such a popular site for academics to publish their research? To find out what The Conversation offers, we’re speaking Beth Daley, the site’s Executive Editor. Daley explains that since 4-5 million readers visit The Conversation website every week, the site provides an unusual opportunity for academics to engage with the public. As Creative Commons stories, The Conversation stories can be republished by other publications, including The Washington Post, LA Times, Yahoo News, and local news sites. Daley explains why you don’t need to have a fully formed article to pitch to The Conversation, and what kinds of skills and opportunities writers have received through as a result of publishing in The Conversation. Don't forget to rate and review our show and follow us on all social media platforms here: https://linktr.ee/writingitpodcast Contacts us with questions, possible future topics/guests, or comments here: https://writingit.fireside.fm/contact…

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Episode 20: Would Nahmanides have had a beard? Creating a graphic history with historian Nina Caputo and illustrator Liz Clarke 34:56

1 year ago34:56

34:56

In this episode we speak with historian Nina Caputo and illustrator Liz Clarke about their book, Debating Truth: The Barcelona Disputation of 1263, A Graphic History, published in the Oxford University Press Graphic History Series. We talk about the particular kind of research and writing required for a graphic history; how collaboration between academic and illustrator works; how graphic histories figure into tenure and promotion; what academics can learn about writing from working on a graphic history; why graphic history can be a worthwhile medium for a scholar to reach broader audiences; and what kinds of details illustrators need from academics to create a beautiful book. Don't forget to rate and review our show and follow us on all social media platforms here: https://linktr.ee/writingitpodcast Contacts us with questions, possible future topics/guests, or comments here: https://writingit.fireside.fm/contact…

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Episode 19: The pitch is the start of a relationship 56:53

1 year ago56:53