Best Jesse Lahey Podcasts (2025)

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443: Booklab: First Pages (a bite of sci-fi/fantasy action-adventure and Conditioned, a memoir) 41:06

3 days ago41:06

41:06

Hey listeners: This week, everyone gets a taste of what paid supporters will get more regularly—a special Booklab: First Pages episode. Each month (and sometimes more often), we’ll choose two “first pages” to review. A first page, for our purposes, is the first 350 words of your book—fiction, non-fiction or memoir. We will read the page aloud on th…

1
Booklab: First Pages (a bite of sci-fi/fantasy action-adventure and Conditioned, a memoir) 41:07

3 days ago41:07

41:07

Hey listeners: This week, everyone gets a taste of what paid supporters will get more regularly—a special Booklab: First Pages episode. Each month (and sometimes more often), we’ll choose two “first pages” to review. A first page, for our purposes, is the first 350 words of your book—fiction, non-fiction or memoir. We will read the page aloud on th…

1
442: A.I. Training and Piracy: What You Need to Know 27:03

10 days ago27:03

27:03

Social media is all aflutter over an article by Alex Reisner in The Atlantic: The Unbelievable Scale of A.I.’s Pirated Books Problem. In this episode, Jess and Sarina cover the news and its ramifications for authors. You won’t want to miss this discussion about the lawsuits against Meta and OpenAI. We discuss problems and remedies, and the formatio…

1
A.I. Training and Piracy: What You Need to Know 27:03

10 days ago27:03

27:03

Social media is all aflutter over an article by Alex Reisner in The Atlantic: The Unbelievable Scale of A.I.’s Pirated Books Problem. In this episode, Jess and Sarina cover the news and its ramifications for authors. You won’t want to miss this discussion about the lawsuits against Meta and OpenAI. We discuss problems and remedies, and the formatio…

1
441: Creativity, Compromise, and Commercial Viability 53:20

16 days ago53:20

53:20

Michael Dante DiMartino graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design with a BFA in Film and Animation. His directing credits include the primetime animated series King of the Hill, Family Guy, and Mission Hill. DiMartino is the co-creator of the award-winning animated Nickelodeon series Avatar: The Last Airbender and its sequel, The Legend of K…

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Creativity, Compromise, and Commercial Viability 53:20

17 days ago53:20

53:20

Michael Dante DiMartino graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design with a BFA in Film and Animation. His directing credits include the primetime animated series King of the Hill, Family Guy, and Mission Hill. DiMartino is the co-creator of the award-winning animated Nickelodeon series Avatar: The Last Airbender and its sequel, The Legend of K…

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How (and Why) to Submit to Literary Mags and Small Presses 40:37

24 days ago40:37

40:37

Let me start with this: if you have any interest at all in literary magazines or small presses, you want this book: How to Submit: Getting Your Writing Published with Literary Magazines and Small Presses. It’s a wonderful book and a great guide, and will lead you into this world and help you feel good about your journey without your getting lost in…

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440: How (and Why) to Submit to Literary Mags and Small Presses 40:36

24 days ago40:36

40:36

Let me start with this: if you have any interest at all in literary magazines or small presses, you want this book: How to Submit: Getting Your Writing Published with Literary Magazines and Small Presses. It’s a wonderful book and a great guide, and will lead you into this world and help you feel good about your journey without your getting lost in…

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A Peek Inside a Hybrid Publisher 45:24

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about a year ago45:24

45:24

There are many misconceptions about what a hybrid publisher does or doesn’t do, and why it may or may not be a good choice for a writer. I thought hearing from a hybrid publisher directly would be educational for our audience, so I’m pleased to be speaking in this episode to Dr. Nick Courtright, CEO of Atmosphere Press. Check out Atmosphere Press h…

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439: A Peek Inside a Hybrid Publisher 45:23

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about a year ago45:23

45:23

There are many misconceptions about what a hybrid publisher does or doesn’t do, and why it may or may not be a good choice for a writer. I thought hearing from a hybrid publisher directly would be educational for our audience, so I’m pleased to be speaking in this episode to Dr. Nick Courtright, CEO of Atmosphere Press. Check out Atmosphere Press h…

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438: The Outer World of Publishing 40:37

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about a year ago40:37

40:37

Hey ho, Jess here. This week, all four of us discuss some of the happenings out there in the publishing world. First up: Super Bowl Sunday is apparently a great reading day. Sarina sent us a screenshot of her sales (she was tipped off by another author) and found out what many people are reading during the game: So that’s fun. Next up, Sean Manning…

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The Outer World of Publishing 40:38

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about a year ago40:38

40:38

Hey ho, Jess here. This week, all four of us discuss some of the happenings out there in the publishing world. First up: Super Bowl Sunday is apparently a great reading day. Sarina sent us a screenshot of her sales (she was tipped off by another author) and found out what many people are reading during the game: So that’s fun. Next up, Sean Manning…

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How to Have a Thick Skin, with Lauren Blakely 29:35

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about a year ago29:35

29:35

Hi listeners! Sarina here, with a topic that has been on my mind for years. When I began my career, everyone told me I had to develop a “thick skin” to do this job. But it turns out that a “thick skin” is one of the only things you can’t buy on Amazon. Today I invite my friend Lauren Blakely onto the podcast for a frank discussion of all that we’ve…

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437: How to Have a Thick Skin, with Lauren Blakely 29:34

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about a year ago29:34

29:34

Hi listeners! Sarina here, with a topic that has been on my mind for years. When I began my career, everyone told me I had to develop a “thick skin” to do this job. But it turns out that a “thick skin” is one of the only things you can’t buy on Amazon. Today I invite my friend Lauren Blakely onto the podcast for a frank discussion of all that we’ve…

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436: Writing Partnerships with Rebecca Winthrop and Jenny Anderson 40:58

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about a year ago40:58

40:58

“If the language isn’t there, I have difficulty showing up for the idea” - Jenny Anderson Jess here. Rebecca Winthrop, Director of the Center for Universal Education at the Brookings Institution, and Jenny Anderson, award-winning journalist, paired up to write one of my favorite education and parenting books in recent memory: The Disengaged Teen. W…

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Writing Partnerships with Rebecca Winthrop and Jenny Anderson 40:59

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about a year ago40:59

40:59

“If the language isn’t there, I have difficulty showing up for the idea” - Jenny Anderson Jess here. Rebecca Winthrop, Director of the Center for Universal Education at the Brookings Institution, and Jenny Anderson, award-winning journalist, paired up to write one of my favorite education and parenting books in recent memory: The Disengaged Teen. W…

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Wrangling the Doubt Monster with Amy Bernstein 37:11

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about a year ago37:11

37:11

Do you have a Doubt Monster? (Doesn’t everyone?) Amy Bernstein is an Author Accelerator certified writing coach, an #AmWriting Blueprint Challenge coach, a writer, a creative coach and many other things—but for our purposes, the author of Wrangling the Doubt Monster—a delightful book that you can open on any page for help wrangling your own doubts …

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435: Wrangling the Doubt Monster with Amy Bernstein 37:10

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about a year ago37:10

37:10

Do you have a Doubt Monster? (Doesn’t everyone?) Amy Bernstein is an Author Accelerator certified writing coach, an #AmWriting Blueprint Challenge coach, a writer, a creative coach and many other things—but for our purposes, the author of Wrangling the Doubt Monster—a delightful book that you can open on any page for help wrangling your own doubts …

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Consider the Sweep of Your Whole Writing Career 41:16

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about a year ago41:16

41:16

One of the things I think we do well with on this podcast is addressing the long game of writing. It’s not just about writing a good book or pitching one or selling one, but about the work of doing it over and over again, of succeeding and failing, of PERSISTING. That’s why I love this conversation with Tiffany Yates Martin, who is an author hersel…

1
434: Consider the Sweep of Your Whole Writing Career 41:15

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about a year ago41:15

41:15

One of the things I think we do well with on this podcast is addressing the long game of writing. It’s not just about writing a good book or pitching one or selling one, but about the work of doing it over and over again, of succeeding and failing, of PERSISTING. That’s why I love this conversation with Tiffany Yates Martin, who is an author hersel…

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Social Media: What Happens Now? 46:25

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about a year ago46:25

46:25

“I put my effort into building trust, showing up, and being present for people who have opted into my universe.” A slight paraphrase of Jennie Nash On the day we recorded this episode, no one really knew what was going to happen to TikTok (Jess thinks it’s going away, everyone else doubts her) and Sarina was attempting to manage all the emails from…

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433: Social Media: What Happens Now? 46:24

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about a year ago46:24

46:24

“I put my effort into building trust, showing up, and being present for people who have opted into my universe.” A slight paraphrase of Jennie Nash On the day we recorded this episode, no one really knew what was going to happen to TikTok (Jess thinks it’s going away, everyone else doubts her) and Sarina was attempting to manage all the emails from…

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Treat your writing like a business in 2025 9:34

about a year ago9:34

9:34

I’m Sarina, and I’m a business nerd. Hi, my name is Sarina, and I’m a business nerd. I was born this way. I can’t help it. I realize that not everyone gets excited about spreadsheets, but if you have any writerly income at all, I’m begging you to make 2025 the year you treat your writing as a business. There are actually two reasons to do this: * F…

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432: Treat your writing like a business in 2025 9:33

about a year ago9:33

9:33

I’m Sarina, and I’m a business nerd. Hi, my name is Sarina, and I’m a business nerd. I was born this way. I can’t help it. I realize that not everyone gets excited about spreadsheets, but if you have any writerly income at all, I’m begging you to make 2025 the year you treat your writing as a business. There are actually two reasons to do this: Fir…

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431: The Making of a Workbook 50:17

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about a year ago50:17

50:17

Hi #AmWriters, Jess here. I’ve been wanting to do an episode on workbooks forever - on any form of companion text that pairs with nonfiction books, really. How do you propose them, write them, format them? You know me, I like the granular details. Fortunately, Ned Johnson and Dr. William Stixrud are publishing The Seven Principles for Raising a Sel…

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The Making of a Workbook 50:18

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about a year ago50:18

50:18

Hi #AmWriters, Jess here. I’ve been wanting to do an episode on workbooks forever - on any form of companion text that pairs with nonfiction books, really. How do you propose them, write them, format them? You know me, I like the granular details. Fortunately, Ned Johnson and Dr. William Stixrud are publishing The Seven Principles for Raising a Sel…

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A People Pleaser Learns to Write the Book She Wants to Write 49:43

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about a year ago49:43

49:43

Essay collections—readers love them, but publishers and editors are often unconvinced. Jennie and KJ talk to Amy Wilson about getting that contract, finding the through line and writing a book about pleasing people while also remembering to please yourself. Links from the pod Mary Karr The Art of Memoir Wendi Aarons Listen to Your Mother (Essay per…

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430: A People Pleaser Learns to Write the Book She Wants to Write 48:46

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about a year ago48:46

48:46

Essay collections—readers love them, but publishers and editors are often unconvinced. Jennie and KJ talk to Amy Wilson about getting that contract, finding the through line and writing a book about pleasing people while also remembering to please yourself. Links from the pod Mary Karr The Art of Memoir Wendi Aarons Listen to Your Mother (Essay per…

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#AmWriting podcast bonus episode with Jess 36:50

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about a year ago36:50

36:50

Hi #AmWriters and subscribers to Jess’ content, Jess here, looking out my office window over a beautiful, snowy Vermont Sunday and thinking of you. We do these things called “Lahey Cafe” days in the Lahey household and we have one coming up this afternoon. Back when my husband and I were in graduate school and never got to spend time together away …

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429: Using the Blueprint for Revision 31:23

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about a year ago31:23

31:23

Find Meghan at meghanpbrowne.com or check out her book The Bees of Notre-Dame Booklab episode Redacted Kitty-Cat and Welcome to Heaven If you have big goals for 2025 that include writing, finishing or revising a book, you’ll want to join us for the Winter 2025 Blueprint Challenge. Starting January 5, we’ll be walking you through the 14 steps of the…

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Using the Blueprint for Revision 31:24

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about a year ago31:24

31:24

This episode is about a #amwriting win! Meghan P. Browne wrote to us a while ago to share her happy news: her debut middle-grade novel that she revised in the Blueprint Challenge of 2022 and that we reviewed in one of our First pages episodes had just gone under contract! Welcome to Heaven was acquired by Liz Szabla at Feiwel & Friends (Macmillan),…

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428: What's your word for 2025? We review 2024 goals and set up 2025 in Episode 428 51:07

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about a year ago51:07

51:07

We cover last years’ goals, and which of us feel great and which feel… less great. (And the audio is also less great, because 3 of us gathered in our local library and the acoustics/HVAC system noise were less than ideal.) We end up talking about the ways we feel we need to be as women (supported by some great men) in the coming year and years, the…

1
What's your word for 2025? We review 2024 goals and set up 2025 in Episode 428 51:07

Play Pause

about a year ago51:07

51:07

We cover last years’ goals, and which of us feel great and which feel… less great. (And the audio is also less great, because 3 of us gathered in our local library and the acoustics/HVAC system noise were less than ideal.) We end up talking about the ways we feel we need to be as women (supported by some great men) in the coming year and years, the…

1
From #FamilyStory to Fiction 47:19

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about a year ago47:19

47:19

Today, I'm so excited to talk to my friend, Rosa Kwon Easton, about her debut novel, White Mulberry. Rosa holds a very special place in my heart and my history because she was at the first ever workshop where I taught my Blueprint framework, which is a method of inquiry for getting a book out of your head and onto the page before you start to write…

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427: From #FamilyStory to Fiction 47:18

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about a year ago47:18

47:18

Today, I'm so excited to talk to my friend, Rosa Kwon Easton, about her debut novel, White Mulberry. Rosa holds a very special place in my heart and my history because she was at the first ever workshop where I taught my Blueprint framework, which is a method of inquiry for getting a book out of your head and onto the page before you start to write…

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Introducing the Winter Blueprint Challenge Coaches 52:44

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about a year ago52:44

52:44

Do The Blueprint With Us This Winter! Starting January 5, we’ll be walking you through the 14 steps of the Blueprint over 10 weeks. Some of the steps are very short and we combined them into one episode. Every episode speaks to fiction writers, memoir writers, and nonfiction writers. There are workbooks, and you will get a link to the digital downl…

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425: Booklab: First Pages-- a work of nonfiction (Hippodrome) and a novel (Mermaid Diner) are put to the test 32:41

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about a year ago32:41

32:41

Hey listeners: This week, everyone gets a taste of what paid supporters get more regularly—a special Booklab: First Pages episode. Each month (and sometimes more often), we’ll choose two “first pages” to review. A first page, for our purposes, is the first 350 words of your book—fiction, non-fiction or memoir. We will read the page aloud on the pod…

1
Ep 424: How a Blueprint Can Keep Your Book on Course 25:39

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about a year ago25:39

25:39

Regular listeners will recognize the Blueprint for a Book—a method of inquiry Jennie Nash developed to lay a strong foundation for books in any genre that’s not about the craft of writing or building an author platform or any of the steps that come later in the writing life. It’s about understanding what you are doing and why you are doing it so th…

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424: Ep 424: How a Blueprint Can Keep Your Book on Course 25:39

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about a year ago25:39

25:39

Regular listeners will recognize the Blueprint for a Book—a method of inquiry Jennie Nash developed to lay a strong foundation for books in any genre that’s not about the craft of writing or building an author platform or any of the steps that come later in the writing life. It’s about understanding what you are doing and why you are doing it so th…

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#Writer Gift Extravaganza 42:00

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about a year ago42:00

42:00

Jess here, hosting my entire extended family for the holiday weekend and sending love to you and yours. Enjoy this #WriterGift flashback! It’s the gifts episode! Here are the links you’re looking for: KJ: Redbubble ❄️ Stamp blocks ❄️ Stamp blanks and stencils ❄️ Frixion Pens ❄️ Leuchterm planner Jess: Sarina’s Socks ❄️ Half Broke by Ginger Gaffney …

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From Substack Serial to Trad Novel with... 41:40

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about a year ago41:40

41:40

It is of course the inimitable, the unconquerable, the inexhaustible Jo Piazza, all of whose adjectives require me to use spell check. I am a long time fan of Jo, and she’s been on the pod before—see also Episode 393, I Want to Sell Books, But I’m Also Writing What I Want to Write. She is the author of, most recently, The Sicilian Inheritance and c…

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423: From Substack Serial to Trad Novel with... 41:40

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about a year ago41:40

41:40

It is of course the inimitable, the unconquerable, the inexhaustible Jo Piazza, all of whose adjectives require me to use spell check. I am a long time fan of Jo, and she’s been on the pod before—see also Episode 393, I Want to Sell Books, But I’m Also Writing What I Want to Write. She is the author of, most recently, The Sicilian Inheritance and c…

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422: #AnxietyInducing. A Candid Discussion on A.I. 43:16

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about a year ago43:16

43:16

The Anxiety is Real You can’t swing a Blackwing pencil without hearing another creator worrying about generative A.I. And we get it—the ubiquity of generative A.I. tools has soared over the last two years. In this episode we aim to take a deep breath and discuss the topic from a candid but calm position: why authors are worried, why we should be wo…

1
#AnxietyInducing. A Candid Discussion on A.I. 43:16

Play Pause

about a year ago43:16

43:16

The Anxiety is Real You can’t swing a Blackwing pencil without hearing another creator worrying about generative A.I. And we get it—the ubiquity of generative A.I. tools has soared over the last two years. In this episode we aim to take a deep breath and discuss the topic from a candid but calm position: why authors are worried, why we should be wo…

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#Resilience Over the Long Haul 55:48

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about a year ago55:48

55:48

Today we’re talking about the need for a writer to be resilient over the long haul of a career and my guest is A.S. King A.S. King has been called “One of the best Y.A. writers working today” by The New York Times Book Review and is one of YA fiction's most decorated. She is the only two-time winner of the American Library Association's Michael L. …

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421: #Resilience Over the Long Haul 55:47

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about a year ago55:47

55:47

Today we’re talking about the need for a writer to be resilient over the long haul of a career and my guest is A.S. King A.S. King has been called “One of the best Y.A. writers working today” by The New York Times Book Review and is one of YA fiction's most decorated. She is the only two-time winner of the American Library Association's Michael L. …

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The Longest, Most Public MFA Ever 47:57

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about a year ago47:57

47:57

I couldn’t resist the subtitle, kids, sorry. It’s not that shocking—but Tim’s journey was definitely only for the bold. I’ve known Tim Grahl—or known of him—for more than a decade. I watched him help writers like Dan Pink launch their non-fiction books onto the best seller list, and devoured and followed his excellent advice about launching my own …

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420: The Longest, Most Public MFA Ever 47:56

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about a year ago47:56

47:56

I couldn’t resist the subtitle, kids, sorry. It’s not that shocking—but Tim’s journey was definitely only for the bold. I’ve known Tim Grahl—or known of him—for more than a decade. I watched him help writers like Dan Pink launch their non-fiction books onto the best seller list, and devoured and followed his excellent advice about launching my own …

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419: Ep. 419 What's a "Comp?" 34:46

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about a year ago34:46

34:46

Hi all! Jess here. When I wrote my first book proposal (for The Gift of Failure), I had a foggy idea of what a “comp” was. A book just like the book you want to publish, right? Not exactly. Comps are a really important part of pitching any book - nonfiction or fiction - because it helps an editor understand your vision for the book and consequently…

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