[Allegra Goodman, Practical Matters]: Why Her Advice Is To “write 100 Words A Day” + Why–and How–to Protect Your Screen-free Time Ep 1188 Finding The Throughline With Kate Hanley podcast

17:06

In this final installment of my talk with Allegra Goodman, author of the newly released novel, “Isola,” a historical novel about a young French woman purposefully marooned on an island off the coast of Quebec inspired by true 16th century events, we find out what's currently brewing for Allegra and what she knows at this moment about where her personal through line is leading her next, as well as what kinds of things she's been reading, watching, and listening to lately. We talked about: - The nonfiction book she currently stayed up too late reading - An amazing story about how her mother stood up for herself in the 1970s–and how that example inspires Allegra to this day - A sneak peek at her next book, which is currently in the copy editing phase - Her dreams for her work in the next ten years (super inspiring!) - The historical novel she carried around with her so she could read whenever she had a few quiet minutes - The very specific snack that keeps her going - The Maggie Rogers song that she feels captures the essence of Isola Connect with Allegra on Instagram @allegragoodmanwriter. For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com . Thank you for listening! And thanks to this week’s sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

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[Allegra Goodman, Inner stuff]: Thinking of writing as being a performer “in the theater of the reader’s imagination” + the joys of genre-hopping Ep 1189 20:25

7 days ago20:25

20:25

Welcome to part two of my interview with Allegra Goodman, author of the recent Reese's Book Club selection, “Isola” as well as “Sam,” “The Chalk Artist,” “Intuition,” “The Cookbook Collector,” “Paradise Park,” and “Katterskill Falls.” Today, I'm talking with Allegra about what I call inner stuff, the thoughts, ideas, and beliefs that influence your work, even if you're not fully conscious of it. - How she thinks of being a writer like being a performer “in the theater of a reader’s imagination” - Why starting a new project is the hardest part–and how she gets herself through it - How she trusts her inner critic to offer constructive criticism - The one part of the writing process that really makes her nervous - How she got past being pigeon-holed as a writer of a certain genre and built a career on writing many different types of stories - Making the shift from being intimidated by studying the great works of literature to being inspired by them - Why now is the best time of her career - How living to be older than her mother was when she died influences Allegra’s work and her life - How it’s OK to have multiple different voices as a writer Connect with Allegra on Instagram @allegragoodmanwriter. For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com . Thank you for listening! And thanks to this week’s sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

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[Allegra Goodman, Practical matters]: Why her advice is to “write 100 words a day” + why–and how–to protect your screen-free time Ep 1188 24:13

9 days ago24:13

24:13

This week I’m thrilled to be talking with Allegra Goodman, author of numerous novels including her newest, “Isola,” which was a Reese's book club selection, and her first, “Katterskill Falls,” which was a National Book Award finalist. Allegra also wrote two story collections, “The Family Markowitz” and “Total Immersion,” as well as a novel for younger readers, “The Other Side of the Island.” Allegra's fiction has appeared in “The New Yorker” and has been anthologized in “O. Henry Awards” and “Best American Short Stories.” She was raised in Honolulu and now lives with her family in Cambridge, Mass. We covered: - Getting published for the first time as a freshman in college by an encouraging editor who “discovered” her - How it’s a love of writing, and not a drive to be published, that will sustain you over the long-term - Learning to build patience and endurance when going from writing short stories to writing novels - Her case for setting very low daily writing goals - Why she doesn’t ascribe to the “shitty first draft” school of thought - Her daily and weekly writing routines - How having grown children makes those routines possible - Why she only works on shorter pieces one day per week - The specific times when she’ll listen to a podcast—and when she’ll choose to keep her ears podcast-free - The nightly ritual that helps her get started on work the next day - How non-digital activities feed her creative process - The benefits and mechanics of writing two books at the same time Connect with Allegra on Instagram @allegragoodmanwriter. For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com . Thank you for listening! And thanks to this week’s sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

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[Jane Roper: What’s coming up]: That moment when you can clearly see the recurring themes in your creative work–heck, in your life Ep 1187 16:15

26 days ago16:15

16:15

Welcome back to the final installment of the Finding the Through Line interview with Jane Roper, author of the novel “The Society of Shame,” which is a finalist for the Thurber Prize in American Humor, and a memoir, “Double Time: How I Survived and Mostly Thrived Through the First Three Years of Mothering Twins.” I discovered Jane through her Substack newsletter called Jane's Calamity, where she writes about being a writer, aging, failing at mindfulness and having too much Tupperware among other things. Today, we're going to find out what's currently brewing for Jane and what she knows at this moment about where her personal through line is leading her next, as well as what kinds of things she's been reading, watching, and listening to lately. - Moment of respect for creatives who are doing work in multiple genres - The beauty of a personal writing retreat - Figuring out the recurring themes in your work (which can only happen when you continue to produce work!) - The link between majoring in anthropology and becoming a novelist - Preparing mentally for her twins to leave home and go to college - The (perhaps unlikely) dream: Letting go of the copywriting work - The Netflix series she devoured - An ode to half-caff coffee - The 10,000 calorie meal she’d request if someone wanted to dazzle her tastebuds Connect with Jane at janeroper.com . For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com . Thank you for listening! And thanks to this week’s sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

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[Jane Roper, inner stuff]: Permission to screw up + feeling like the worst person in the MFA program Ep 1186 19:11

28 days ago19:11

19:11

Here’s part two of my interview with Jane Roper, author of the novel “The Society of Shame,” which is a finalist for the Thurber Prize in American Humor, and a memoir, “Double Time: How I Survived and Mostly Thrived Through the First Three Years of Mothering Twins.” Today I'm talking with Jane about what I call inner stuff, the thoughts, ideas, and attitudes that affect your work. - How reading her own work used to be embarrassing, and how she got over it - Feeling like the worst person in the MFA program - When your inner critic tells you your work is shallow - The quotes she’s written on Post-It notes that are hanging above her desk and help talk her through crises of confidence - Feeling like the silliest person in the room - Letting go of the idea that one day you’ll “make it” and then everything will flow - Realizing there’s no award for doing things perfectly and letting go of that drive to be a super-achiever - How letting go of some body issues also freed up her work self Connect with Jane at janeroper.com . For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com . Thank you for listening! And thanks to this week’s sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

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[Jane Roper, practical matters]: Taking rejection personally even though you know it’s unavoidable and subject to luck Ep 1185 22:31

4 weeks ago22:31

22:31

My guest today is Jane Roper, author of a novel, “The Society of Shame,” which is a finalist for the Thurber Prize in American Humor, and the memoir “Double Time: How I Survived and Mostly Thrived Through the First Three Years of Mothering Twins.” Jane's essays and humor have appeared in places like Salon, McSweeney's, Poets and Writers, The Rumpus, and elsewhere. And it's been included in the anthology, “Labor Day: True Birth Stories by Today's Best Women Writers.” Jane is also a freelance copywriter and brand strategist. A graduate of the Iowa Writers Workshop, Jane currently lives just north of Boston in a drafty Victorian with her husband, teenage twins, and two cats. We covered: - Figuring out that humor was part of her writing skillset - Finding the right mix of copywriting work and more creative writing - Why hiking and indoor rock-climbing are key parts of her writing practice - Her plug for writing every day (even for 12 minutes) - Resisting the urge to beat yourself up after your writing is rejected - Why she doesn’t check social media or email in the morning - Getting to the point in parenting where family time is more joy, less hustle Connect with Jane at janeroper.com . For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com . Thank you for listening! And thanks to this week’s sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

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[Paula Whyman, what’s coming up]: The upside of winter + learning how to roll with setbacks Ep 1184 18:38

6 weeks ago18:38

18:38

Welcome to the final installment of my interview with Paula Whyman, author of the new book, “Bad Naturalist: One Woman's Ecological Education on a Wild Virginia Mountaintop.” Paula's first book is “You May See a Stranger,” an award-winning, linked collection of short stories. Her work has been supported by fellowships from McDowell, Yaddo, and other residencies in Grants, and she was a Tennessee Williams scholar in fiction at the Sewanee Writers Conference. Today we find out what's currently brewing for Paula and what she knows at this moment about where her personal through line is leading her next, We covered: - The upside of winter - Why she’s looking for American kestrels (a small raptor) every morning - A longing for sheep - Getting less frustrated by setbacks - The books she stays up late reading with a flashlight so as not to wake her husband Connect with Paula at paulawhyman.com . There are new Finding the Throughline episodes roughly every other week–hit “subscribe” so you know when the next ones drop! For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com . Thank you for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

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[Paula Whyman, inner stuff]: Why “writing what you know” is misguided advice Ep 1183 32:03

6 weeks ago32:03

32:03

This is part two of my interview with Paula Whyman, author of the new book, “Bad Naturalist: One Woman's Ecological Education on a Wild Virginia Mountaintop,” in which she documents her attempt to restore 200 acres of retired farmland while wearing the wrong footwear, getting conflicting advice, and having essentially no idea what she's gotten herself into, but finding her way through it anyway. Today I'm talking with Paula about what I call inner stuff, trying to bring the thoughts, ideas, and attitudes that affect your work out into the light. We unpacked: - Making the switch from fiction to non-fiction–and how that changes the conversations you have with readers to be less about the work, and more about you - How working as an editor can make writing harder - Allowing yourself to blurt, stare off into space, meander, and walk away - Editing and revising as procrastination - How writing about failure is more interesting than writing about success - Staying active and strong as you get older - A love letter to scientists - Why planting native plants in your yard is so impactful - Her favorite cheesy 70s songs Connect with Paula at paulawhyman.com . There are new Finding the Throughline episodes roughly every other week–hit “subscribe” so you know when the next ones drop! For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com. Thank you for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

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[Paula Whyman, practical matters]: Guidance for knowing whether you really want to turn that idea into a book Ep 1182 29:51

6 weeks ago29:51

29:51

This week my guest is Paula Wyman, author of the new book, “Bad Naturalist: One Woman's Ecological Education on a Wild Virginia Mountaintop.” Paula's book is a blend of memoir, natural history, and conservation science, and it's a chronicle of her attempts to restore 200 acres of farmland long gone to seed in the Blue Ridge Mountains, despite the fact that she never excelled at gardening. Paula's first book is “You May See a Stranger,” an award-winning, linked collection of short stories that won praise from “The New Yorker” and a starred review in “Publishers Weekly.” Paula's stories have appeared in “McSweeney's Quarterly,” “Ploughshares,” and “The Southampton Review,” and her nonfiction has been featured on NPR, in “The Washington Post”, and “The Rumpus,” among other places. We covered: - How having a pet praying mantis as a kid is directly related to her naturalist exploits - In praise of doing deep dives into random subjects - How a manageable dream of restoring a small meadow to its natural state ballooned into rehabbing a 200-acre mountaintop - The novel she was writing that she can’t even remember what it was about now - How hearing a young Howard Stern shaped her career path - The power of doing deep dives - Turning scribbles and bad doodles into a book - A plug for using the writing software Scrivener Connect with Paula at paulawhyman.com . There are new Finding the Throughline episodes roughly every other week–hit “subscribe” so you know when the next ones drop! For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com . Thank you for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

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[Cynthia Weiner, what’s coming up]: Fast food, diet soda, and Eddie Vedder Ep 1181 16:42

8 weeks ago16:42

16:42

Welcome to the final installment of my interview with Cynthia Weiner, author of the brand new book “A Gorgeous Excitement,” a coming of age novel set in 1980s New York City that is inspired by both Cynthia's own upbringing on the Upper East Side during the 80s and the infamous Preppy Killer. Cynthia is also the assistant director of the writer's studio in New York City and her short fiction has been published in “Open City,” “Ploughshares,” and “The Sun,” has earned a Pushcart Prize and been anthologized in Coolest American Stories 2024. We covered: - The 90s soundtrack that’s helping Cynthia get into her next project (which is set in the 90s) - The three writers whose example inspires Cynthia on her own path - Her burning desire to have a house with a yard and, most importantly, a tree - The Max show she’s bingeing, her elaborate daily diet soda ritual, the best day of the week, and the fast food meal she’s craving Connect with Cynthia on Instagram at @cynthiaweiner There are new Finding the Throughline episodes roughly every other week–hit “subscribe” so you know when the next ones drop! For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com . Thank you for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

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[Cynthia Weiner, inner stuff]: Learning to tolerate the discomfort that comes from “airing your dirty laundry” aka, writing anything remotely personal Ep 1180 22:37

8 weeks ago22:37

22:37

In part two of my interview with Cynthia Weiner, author of a hot-off-the-presses coming-of-age-novel, “A Gorgeous Excitement,” we cover what I call inner stuff, the thoughts, ideas, and attitudes that affect your work, even if you're not fully conscious of it. We unpacked: - Learning how to tolerate the discomfort of sharing your work - And how to ignore the voice that tells you nobody cares what you have to say - How she came to imagine that inner critical voice as a “shit bird” - Why she could work on one sentence for years - Why she’d rather stay home than travel some place new - How getting older has made her a better writer (and a worse sleeper) - How she’s re-wired the idea that it’s bad to draw attention to yourself Connect with Cynthia on Instagram at @cynthiaweiner There are new Finding the Throughline episodes roughly every other week–hit “subscribe” so you know when the next ones drop! For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com . Thank you for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

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[Cynthia Weiner, practical matters]: How living a boring life helped her write a novel titled, ironically, “A Glorious Excitement” Ep 1179 25:24

8 weeks ago25:24

25:24

This week I'm talking with Cynthia Weiner, author of “A Gorgeous Excitement,” a coming of age novel set in 1980s New York City. “A Gorgeous Excitement” is inspired by Cynthia's own 80s upbringing on the Upper East Side of New York, as well as the infamous Preppy Killer, a former prep school student who killed a girl in Central Park in the summer of 1986 and who frequented a bar called Dorian's, where Cynthia spent many nights drinking with friends. Her work has won the Pushcart Prize and been anthologized in the Coolest American Stories. Cynthia is also the assistant director of the writer's studio in New York City where, fun fact, I took classes with her in the early 2000s. We covered: - The award she won in second grade that hooked her on the writing life - How she stumbled into teaching writing - Writing as a “weird compulsion” - The plus sides of working on a novel for nearly 10 years - The daily rituals that help her write - The time management technique that helps her get unstuck - Why catching up with a friend helps her write - How living a boring life leaves more space for the work Connect with Cynthia on Instagram at @cynthiaweiner There are new Finding the Throughline episodes roughly every other week–hit “subscribe” so you know when the next ones drop! For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com . Thank you for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

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Finding the Throughline ep. 1176: My biggest takeaways from the last 6 months of interviews + news! And a tiny request. 19:22

13 weeks ago19:22

19:22

As we come up on the end of the year AND this podcast's one-year anniversary, I wanted to share the things from the last six months of interviews that are still sticking with me--a little tour of the a-ha moments and insights that have made a lasting impression. It's a little walk down memory lane, a little like re-reading your journal well after the fact. I also have some news to share and a teeny tiny but very meaningful request to make. PLUS, if you have a writer you'd like me to interview--maybe it's you!--you can message me on Substack (search for Finding the Throughline) or email me at kate@katehanley.com. Thank you as ever for listening! And, this is your last chance to take advantage of my discount code on AirDoctor air purifiers, which work amazingly well at filtering out all kinds of icky things so your lungs don't have to and are whisper quiet. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

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[Laura Belgray, what’s next]: How a distaste for planning and goalsetting has worked out pretty great + the author who most inspires her Ep 1175 19:37

15 weeks ago19:37

19:37

Welcome back to the Finding the Throughline interview with Laura Belgray, author of the national bestseller Tough Titties, a collection of essays that is essentially a permission slip to be a dork, a sometimes-unspiritual slacker, a late bloomer and, ultimately, unapologetically you. Laura is the founder of Talking Shrimp and co-creator of The Copy Cure with Marie Forleo. She has been featured in Elle, Fast Company, and Business Insider, and has written for Bravo, HBO, Nick at Nite, VH1, and more. Today, we find out what’s currently brewing for Laura and what she knows at this moment about where her personal throughline is leading her next, as well as what kinds of things she’s been reading, watching and listening to lately We covered: • Crawling out of a pit of despair after the election results • Continuing to build her email list in the modern world where there are so many more things vying for our attention • How she is not a visionary or planner—yet has achieved many amazing things anyway • David Sedaris as the author who first introduced her to a genre/structure of book that is a collection of essays and also memoir. • Her love of fiction and lack of confidence she will be able to write one someday, though she would love to • How she would love to win Powerball so she could write whatever she wants • How she wouldn’t have written a fraction of what she’d written if she didn’t write as a way to eat and make money • Margot's Got Money Troubles by Rufy Thorpe--the last book that she could not put down. • Spaghettini pomodoro at Scarpetta, with plenty of extra butter Connect with Laura at talkingshrimp.com . For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com . Thank you for listening! And thanks to this week’s sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

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[Laura Belgray, inner stuff]: When an editor gives you comments that make you want to cry and shut down all your creativity + crawling out of writer’s block Ep 1174 27:04

15 weeks ago27:04