Writing for the Lay Public: Rosanne Leipzig and Louise Aronson

So you want to write a book.

So you want to write a book! 

So…you want to write a book?!?

Today we talk with two geriatricians: Rosanne Leipzig, author of Honest Aging: An Insider's Guide to the Second Half of Life; and Louise Aronson, author of Elderhood: Redefining Aging, Transforming Medicine, and Reimagining Life. (You can hear our prior podcast on Louise’s book here).  We talk with them about writing for the lay public, including:

• Why write a book for the lay public?

• Why write about aging? Was there pushback from publishers (hint: hell yes)

• What terms to use to describe the “old age” time period?

• How did they start writing a book?

• How do you find time to write and also be doctors and academic professors?

• Revisions and working with editors

• Writing an Op Ed - how to start, what to write, where to send it 

• TheOpEdProject as a resource for learning more

We look forward to the books and op-eds our listeners will write!  

In all seriousness, you don’t actually have to want to write a book to be interested in this podcast.  You don’t have to want to play professional basketball to appreciate The Last Dance, which documents the final season of Michael Jordan with the Chicago Bulls.  These are inherently interesting interviews because the motivations, process, and struggle of monumental undertakings are interesting in and of themselves.

Enjoy!

-@AlexSmithMD