The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience

How NY Times Bestselling Author Ann Napolitano Writes: Redux

Dec 27, 2024

In this engaging discussion, Ann Napolitano, a New York Times bestselling author known for her poignant novels like 'Hello Beautiful,' reflects on her journey through grief and rejection. She shares how personal loss has deeply influenced her writing, offering insight into her creative process. Ann delves into adapting her work for screen and discusses the transformative power of storytelling during challenging times. With practical advice for aspiring writers, her candid anecdotes illuminate the path of navigating both creativity and emotional resilience.

46:41

Episode guests

Ann Napolitano

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Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Experiencing significant illness shifted Ann Napolitano's perspective, compelling her to pursue writing as a crucial necessity for fulfillment.

Overcoming numerous rejections taught Napolitano the value of resilience in writing, emphasizing the need for intrinsic motivation rather than external validation.

Deep dives

The Transformative Power of Illness

Experiencing a long-term illness can drastically change one's perspective on life and priorities. The speaker reflects on how being sick with Epstein-Barr virus led to a profound clarity about pursuing writing despite previous fears of inadequacy. This period of reflection emphasized the fragility of life, reinforcing the desire to embrace dreams and passions without hesitation. The realization that time is limited galvanized a commitment to writing, transforming it from a mere aspiration to a necessity for personal fulfillment.

Intro

2min

Navigating Rejection and Transformation in Writing

3min

Winter Reflections: A Writer's Journey

10min

The Transformative Journey of Writing Through Grief

4min

Navigating Grief and Creativity

10min

Navigating Personal Milestones

9min

Exploring Creativity and Connection

6min

Exploring Connections and New Podcast Ideas

2min

NOTE: Repost of our second most popular episode of the year, Happy Holidays!

New York Times bestselling author, Ann Napolitano, spoke with me about overcoming rejection early on, how grief transformed her writing process, and getting that fateful call from Oprah about Hello Beautiful.

Ann Napolitano is the New York Times bestselling author of Hello Beautiful which was selected as Oprah’s 100th Book Club pick; Dear Edward, an instant New York Times bestseller, a Read with Jenna selection, and an Apple TV+ series; A Good Hard Look, and Within Arm’s Reach.

Hello Beautiful has been called a “powerfully affecting” (People) family story that asks: Can love make a broken person whole? The Washington Post said of the book, “Another tender tearjerker . . . Napolitano chronicles life’s highs and lows with aching precision.”

It was named Chicago Public Library’s Ten Best Books of the Year and a Best Book of the Year by The New York Times Book Review, NPR, The Washington Post, Time, Vogue, Glamour, Harper’s Bazaar, New York Post, She Reads, and Bookreporter.

Ann was the associate editor of the literary magazine One Story for seven years, and she received an MFA from New York University.

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In this file Ann Napolitano and I discussed:

Her long and rocky road to success

How an illness early in life helped her realize she was a writer

Why her first published book felt like a proving ground

The nine-month approach to planning your next novel

How to write the truest sentence possible

Why you need to string together as many Xs as you can

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

AnnNapolitano.com

Hello Beautiful (Oprah's Book Club): A NOVEL By Ann Napolitano (Amazon)

Ann Napolitano Amazon Author Page

Ann Napolitano on Twitter

Ann Napolitano on Instagram

Kelton Reid on Twitter

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