The Secret Library Podcast

The idea of an emotional outline is one of the greatest discoveries I've had while recording an episode.Speaking with Meg Wolitzer was fantastic, as she's not only a successful novelist, but also on the faculty for an MFA program. I love writers who are able to discuss the process from multiple viewpoints, as it is this overlap that often brings huge insight.Of course, we all have thought about making outlines for plot and to lay out the major moments in the story. But it was new to me in this conversation that, at a certain stage in the writing, Meg Wolitzer likes to make an emotional outline as well, where she lays out the arc of the story and the impact and goals she has for a book on that level.In addition, we get into things that can go awry in the middle of the writing process, what it's been like for her to experience a huge upswing in her visibility as a writer, and the impact it's had on her writing. We also get into writing about hot-button topics and how to be certain you write a book that matters to you and the reader.I couldn't have asked for a better interview to wrap this season up with before our final solo episode before the break next week. You're going to learn so much from this conversation!Happy listening. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thetattooedgoverness.com/subscribe

I had read many of Ruth Reichl's books by the time she came on the show.I adored Tender at the Bone and remembered it from years ago. My husband and I count the recipe for grilled cheese in My Kitchen Year among our very favorites. I had wanted to interview Ruth about her incredible ability to draw the reader into the story as if you were sitting at the same table with her, listening.So imagine my delight upon hearing about the release of Save Me the Plums. I devoured the book and knew it was the perfect one to discuss. Many students and clients ask about a tricky part of writing -- when real life and real people appear in your writing. As this book included a huge number of living people, we went deep into how it felt to write the book, find a story that worked, and the reactions the people in her life had once it came out. I was honored to hear such deep sharing about why Save Me the Plums was the hardest book she ever had to write.I'm beyond thrilled to share this one. Enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thetattooedgoverness.com/subscribe

Greta Solomon found an amazing writing technique the last place she expected: in training to be a songwriter.In her new book, Heart Sass and Soul, Greta shares a vast array of incredible journaling techniques to help you connect to your true writing voice, but my favorite of them all was called Object Writing. Greta and I go through it in detail and explore how this method - well known to songwriters - helped her reconnect to joy in the writing process. I was ready to rush out and try it the minute we finished recording, and I'm sure you will be, too.In addition, we explored how Greta published Heart, Sass and Soul through a fantastic new platform that combines crowdfunding and traditional publishing. We go step by step through her campaign and what it took to reach the finish line with multiple offers and a deal with her dream publisher. If you are starting to think about a home for your manuscript, this is definitely required listening!For full show notes and links: https://www.secretlibrarypodcast.com/greta-solomon-154 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thetattooedgoverness.com/subscribe

When people kept asking me about joining writing groups, I knew who needed to come on the show.Judy Reeves has been leading writing groups, online and off, for decades. In this episode, we talk about setting your intentions for a group, the pros and cos of various formats and how the find a group that will help take your writing forward.We were both so excited after recording that we were ready to leap into action and join a new group right away-I’m sure you will be too. Happy hunting!For full show notes and links: https://www.secretlibrarypodcast.com/judy-reeves-153 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thetattooedgoverness.com/subscribe

Anna Pitoniak has the ultimate inside experience: she was a big five editor before publishing her first novel.Now that she's back with a second novel, it was so helpful to talk to Anna about how knowing how editing works behind the scenes impacted her writing. Many of us fear editing, and worry that someone else reading our work will result it it getting torn apart. Anna had first-hand experience of a productive collaborative editing experience with her authors, so she looked forward to editing, and even was better able to embrace the shitty first draft process knowing there was plenty of time for her writing to get better.I found this incredibly reassuring: that someone who had worked as an editor was LESS afraid of the criticism her work would receive than someone who'd never done the job. Food for thought for all of us, for sure.For full show notes and links: https://www.secretlibrarypodcast.com/anna-pitoniak-152 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thetattooedgoverness.com/subscribe

Allison Pataki never planned to write a memoir.As a successful historical fiction author, Allison was very happy researching the worlds of people from the past and staying far from her personal life when writing. But when her husband experienced a sudden stroke in his early 30s, leaving her his caregiver as well as a new mother in the span of a few months, everything changed.Allison began this book just for her husband. She wrote him a letter every day the first year of his recovery so that he would have a record of that time. She never planned on the letters or the story expanding beyond the family circle. But as she and her husband Dave benefited from the support of the community around them, Allison realized that the experience she had gained might provide comfort and hope to someone else. Beauty in the Broken places has since inspired many readers, resulting in countless letters to the author and much more emotional book signings.In this episode, Allison shares about the process of writing this incredibly personal book, as well as how it has changed her writing life forever. You won't want to miss this one!Full show notes with links: https://www.secretlibrarypodcast.com/allison-pataki-151 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thetattooedgoverness.com/subscribe

In the first draft of his novel, Cape May, Chip Cheek made a beautiful mess.Chip wasn't sure what era he wanted his novel to be set in, so during his first draft, he wrote the book in all of them. How might he do that, you may ask. As he explained it, he started the first chapter in one time period, then tried another option in the next chapter and then so on through the whole book.He checked in with how each time felt, took the options to his writing group, and then decided based on which time had the most to offer the story. Brilliant! If you have one element of your book you're unsure of, try writing as many options as you can in the first draft. Let it be messy and see how each option feels on the page. Then upon revision, choose the best one and revise to match.This and many more groundbreaking ideas in this week's episode of the podcast. I've been buzzing ever since we recorded- I know you will be to when you listen.Full show notes with link here: https://www.secretlibrarypodcast.com/chip-cheek-150 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thetattooedgoverness.com/subscribe

When I heard the words "encrypted diary" I knew I had to speak to Anne Choma about Anne Lister.I could not put Anne Choma's book down. So many times, when I've seen a film or show about a historical figure and I get hooked, I immediately run to whatever source material to dive deeper and find out more about the person in real life. How often I have wished for a book like this, which goes deep into the real life of a historical figure portrayed on the screen.As the show wasn't yet out, I was reading this book on its own and was fascinated. Anne Lister, for those just learning about her in this episode, was the first woman to marry another woman and she did so hundreds of years before legalization of gay marriage was on anyone's radar. It was even before the idea of gay marriage was in social discourse at all. She broke conventions by living as a landowner, refusing to follow the rules of her time and place if they didn't suit her, and by following her heart. As a prolific diarist, she wrote about her life in detail, and kept information she didn't want available to any prying eyes secret through her own code. Anne Choma, historian and researcher, is my guest on this episode and talks about Anne's life and the process that has been undertaken by a whole community to crack the code and transcribe the millions of words Anne wrote about her life, a process that is still underway now.One of my favorite conversations about working with historical material to date on the show. I know you will adore hearing from Anne Choma, who lives in the land of the Brontës, just a short walk away from where Anne Lister once lived. Enjoy!Full show notes with links here: https://www.secretlibrarypodcast.com/anne-choma-149 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thetattooedgoverness.com/subscribe

Often, the way you treat sex in a book determines where it is shelved in the shop.If the sex is too exciting, or strays outside the usual fare your book could be moved to the Erotica section or even find itself excluded from your neighborhood bookshop.I have always found this fascinating, as no matter how violent your book is, or how graphic a murder your include, there isn't the same risk as with representing a wider range of sexual experiences. For this reason, I was eager to have Saskia Vogel on to discuss her novel, Permission, a novel that centers around a dominatrix and her world. This novel has been included in the literary fiction category, and rightly so, I believe.What does it mean to include sex, sexual experiences, and more fringe lifestyles in literature? How can you do this respectfully and promote a positive conversation on the topic? What is an author's responsibility when including life experiences that haven't been widely written about in literature before?Saskia and I went deep into this topic and I enjoyed the conversation so much. We honestly could have talked for another several hours, so I hope very much that we'll have the chance to have her on again to speak about this and other topics.I look forward to your thoughts and comments. The discussion continues in the show notes comments and on Twitter and Instagram, where I can be found at @carodonahue. Reach out there and tag #permissiontoconnect to be a part of Saskia's tour and conversation.Show notes with links and full transcript: https://www.secretlibrarypodcast.com/saskia-vogel-148 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thetattooedgoverness.com/subscribe

What happens when your editor asks you to change a major plot point? Martine Fournier Watson was faced with a curveball late in the publishing process with her first novel, The Dream Peddler. Even after selling the manuscript to a major publishing house, her editor had notes that involved changing an important part of the plot. She wasn't sure if she'd be able to pull off what they were asking, but decided to trust their instincts and go for it. In this conversation, we go behind the scenes and review the impact that the rewriting had on Martine, and on her book. Thankfully, she was up to the challenge and realized that undertaking it has made her a stronger writer. Most of us believe that a book is virtually set in stone once it's sold, but that's not the case. I hope this conversation sheds light on one way things can unfold inside the publishing process and how the collaboration between writer and editor can open up entirely new possibilities. Fans of L.M. Montgomery will be particular fans of this episode- Martine has a real soft spot for her writing, which was a central source of inspiration for the Dream Peddler. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thetattooedgoverness.com/subscribe