115: #TellingStories
...in which Jess and KJ discuss the importance of stories in non-fiction, and absolve you for taking some time for yourself this summer.
37m Jul 13, 2018
37m
114: #AudioBooks
...in which Jess and KJ talk us through some of the ins and outs of recording your audiobook.
38m Jul 06, 2018
38m
113: #DestinyThief
...in which Jess and KJ chat with Pulitzer Prize winner Richard Russo in a bustling bookstore about writerly life, inspiration and the work.
51m Jun 29, 2018
51m
112: #KeepingOrganized
...in which Jess and KJ answer a question from the FB group about how to stay organized while writing a book, from research to emails to your physical workspace.
38m Jun 22, 2018
38m
111: #TheHeadshot
…in which Jess and KJ welcome Sharona Jacobs, a professional portrait photographer, to discuss the value of the headshot, and the logistics of getting yours.
40m Jun 15, 2018
40m
110: #CockyGate
...in which Jess and KJ are again joined by Sarina Bowen with a case study from the romance fiction world about the difference between copyright and trademark.
33m Jun 08, 2018
33m
109: #SedarisSerendipity
…in which Jess and KJ speak with bests-selling author and superstar essayist David Sedaris about letting people help you.
33m Jun 01, 2018
33m
108: #GoalReview
...in which Jess and KJ review the goals they set themselves in January, and how are their words of the year holding up?
42m May 25, 2018
42m
107: #FourTendencies
...in which Jess and KJ chat with Gretchen Rubin about hacking your work routine and your writing using the four tendencies.
44m May 18, 2018
44m
106: #FirstTimerMistakes
…in which Jess and KJ are again joined by book coach Jennie Nash, this time to discuss the three most common pitfalls made by new novelists.
40m May 11, 2018
40m
105: #ConferenceGoing
…in which Jess and KJ share tips about getting the most out of a conference from craft to marketing.
38m May 04, 2018
38m
104: #TheFullProposal
...in which Jess is finally able to talk about her new book deal and unpacks the arduous task of writing a full proposal! And KJ finds the internet distracting.
39m Apr 27, 2018
39m
103: #DeepWork
...in which Jess and KJ share new inspiration and tips for digging in, muscling through those times when the writing gets hard.
41m Apr 20, 2018
41m
102: #HomelessPieces
...in which Jess and KJ consider your options when your piece loses its publisher, or never had one at all. Also, Jess on poor deadline choices, and KJ weighs publicists, promotions and limits.
45m Apr 13, 2018
45m
101: #SerialWriting
...in which Jess and KJ are again joined by Sarina Bowen as she details the particular particulars an author faces when she decides to write serially.
42m Apr 06, 2018
42m
100: #DrivingTwoCars
...in which Jess and KJ shift gears and mix metaphors in an effort to breakdown how they move from one project to another, and bring the required skills with them...and celebrate 100 episodes.
50m Mar 30, 2018
50m
99: #ImposterSyndrome
...in which Jess and KJ confront the voices in their heads second guessing their work, and have some tips on how you can do the same.
41m Mar 23, 2018
41m
98: #Checklists
...in which Jess and KJ, inspired by Celeste Headlee, discuss some of the things you should do before you send off that final draft.
39m Mar 16, 2018
39m
97: #TheLongJourney
...in which Jess and KJ welcome columnist turned novelist Anna Quindlen and chat with her about the long road a writer must take when traveling from non-ficton to fiction.
50m Mar 09, 2018
50m
96: #GettingCoached
...in which Jess and KJ are in uncharted waters with their fiction projects, so KJ hires someone to help navigate. Also, dealing with rejections through work and occasionally food.
37m Mar 02, 2018
37m
95: #PitchingandPromotion
...in which Jess and KJ discuss the advantages of face-time (IRL not the app) when pitching an idea, and things to do to promote your book.
37m Feb 23, 2018
37m
94: #SelfPromotionForIntroverts
...in which Jess and KJ chat with Morra Aarons-Mele about getting over your fear of asking for favors and managing your network to help market your work.
54m Feb 16, 2018
54m
93: #BooksNotYogurt
...in which Jess and KJ are spoiled for choice, but what happens when too many pitches are accepted? And they remind us to consider the long tail of book sales.
41m Feb 09, 2018
41m
92: #HowToBeABadass
...in which Jess and KJ talk about sticking to your guns, even as a new author, with Jennifer Weiner.
50m Feb 02, 2018
50m
91: #Co-WritinginHollywood
...in which Jess and KJ speak with fellow writers and podcasters Liz Craft and Sarah Fain about writing for screens both big and little, and how it works writing with someone else.
36m Jan 26, 2018
36m
90: #NotJustStuntJournalism
...in which Jess and KJ speak with journalist AJ Jacobs. He discusses his version of immersion journalism and how he might be related to you.
41m Jan 19, 2018
41m
89: #StructureIsGood
...in which Jess and KJ get back to the basics add structure to their writing lives. Now that you’ve got your goals set for the year, how do you stay on track. Jess learns to keep better records and KJ has rec for a useful app.
40m Jan 12, 2018
40m
88: #OrganicStory
…in which Jess and KJ are joined by Sarina Bowen as they speak with novelist Kristan Higgins about how she got her start, learned to grapple with the work of writing, and managed to successfully transition from one genre to another.
42m Jan 05, 2018
42m
87: #ReadySetGoals3
...in which Jess and KJ share their words of the year, as well as their goals for 2018.
31m Dec 29, 2017
31m
86: #GoalReview
...in which Jess and KJ...wait for it...review their goals and their words of the year for 2017 (see episode 34). Might be worth reviewing yours.
36m Dec 22, 2017
36m
85: #BookCoach
...in which Jess and KJ talk with book coach Jennie Nash. How a book coach supports writers, and how to find one for yourself.
48m Dec 15, 2017
48m
84: #WritersGifts 2
…in which Jess and KJ, eventually, share their (and listener) ideas about the perfect items for your gift list or for the writer in your life.
43m Dec 08, 2017
43m
83: #NaNoWriMoWrap
...in which Jess and KJ close out National Novel Writing Month, find out how they fared, and what they dropped from their routines to make time to write all their extra words.
40m Dec 01, 2017
40m
82: #ATouchofthePoet
...in which Jess and KJ discuss with their guest, poet Lauren Halderman, how one gets started in poetry...and keeps it going. And is it really like writing code?
43m Nov 24, 2017
43m
81: #AcademicPress
….in which Jess and KJ speak with Devorah Heitner about the nature of academic presses, and her...unique experience as she shepherded her first book to print.Academic presses, prices and audience, speaking career - building an audience; and her ...unique experience in publishing.
52m Nov 17, 2017
52m
80: #NaNoWriMo3
….in which Jess and KJ update us on their word counts after week 1 of NaNoWriMo. Jess gets lots done in the airport and KJ comes clean about the voices in her head.
34m Nov 10, 2017
34m
79: #NaNoWriMo2
…in which Jess and KJ are psyched for the beginning of November, discuss final prep like clearing the decks and the dining room table. And if you’re not doing NaNoWriMo, make November a “make your goal” month!
34m Nov 03, 2017
34m
78: #NaNonFiWriMo
...in which Jess and KJ share tips about surviving (and succeeding) NaNoWriMo whether your writing fiction or non.
40m Oct 27, 2017
40m
77: #GhostWriting
...in which Jess and KJ welcome Meg Lukens Noonan, who walks us through some of the ins and outs of the ghost writing business; she also tells the tale of her own book.PRODUCER'S NOTE: Sorry folks, I mistakenly uploaded last week's episode! Download this episode again to listen to this week's episode.
42m Oct 20, 2017
42m
76: #FaceTime
...in which Jess and KJ laud the value of meeting and learning from your colleagues. KJ updates us on progress with her edits, and Jess needed a change of scenery.
40m Oct 13, 2017
40m
75: #NovelPreparations
...in which Jess and KJ grill superstar guest Sarina Bowen about what you need before you sit down to write your novel next month.
44m Oct 06, 2017
44m
74: #ListenerQuestions 2
...in which Jess and KJ open the mailbag and answer your questions, like how do you know when you’re finished with research? And how to do all this with a day job?
44m Sep 29, 2017
44m
73: #OpenYourMouth
...in which author/illustrator Katherine Roy tutors Jess and KJ on the process of pitching and selling an illustrated book; and the power of talking to people about your project.
41m Sep 22, 2017
41m
72: #NaNoWriMoPrep
...in which Jess and KJ begin putting their affairs in order ahead of National Novel Writing Month. Jess is finishing up her sample chapter and KJ doesn’t know what her next project is.
37m Sep 15, 2017
37m
71: #YouAndYourBookstore
...in which Jess and KJ chat with Mary Laura Philpott about the advantages of cultivating a relationship with your local bookseller, before you even have a book!
46m Sep 08, 2017
46m
70: #Fresh Fall Starts
...in which Jess and KJ celebrate the third new year of the year with a cathartic re-org and prep for the last productive time of year before the holidays.
36m Sep 01, 2017
36m
69: #FromAtoBook
...in which Jess and KJ chat with Catherine Pearlman about the entire process from creating a platform, to finding an agent, to writing the proposal, and building an audience.
37m Aug 25, 2017
37m
68: #HireAPublicist
...in which Jess and KJ weigh whether it may be time for you to hire a publicist, whether you might just need an assistant and other solutions.
45m Aug 18, 2017
45m
67: #MysteryWriting
…in which Jess and KJ speak with mystery writer Sarah Stuart Taylor about what make a good mystery, and the dangers of passwords and four-year olds.
39m Aug 11, 2017
39m
66: #CrunchedForTime
…in which Jess and KJ touch base briefly about moving the needles on a couple of projects, while feeling a little pinched by too many others.
30m Aug 04, 2017
30m