Author Coco Mellors chats about jet lag vs depression, wifi issues on a flight, and watching Yellowstone. They discuss her book being read by Carrie Bradshaw, her vacation style, bicoastal humility, and her decision to stop partying. They also touch on her relationships, the onscreen adaptation of her book, and the underrated man in his forties who plays Cleo.
Coco Mellors' book gained popularity after being featured on a TV show, highlighting the impact of media exposure on book sales.
The journey to success for Coco Mellors' book involved facing rejection from publishers and undergoing a complete rewrite, emphasizing the resilience and determination required in the publishing industry.
Coco Mellors' writing style is influenced by her attention to language and her ability to express universal themes in unique ways, showcasing the importance of literary craftsmanship.
Deep dives
Coco Maller's Book Makes an Appearance on a TV Show
During an episode of a TV show, the main character is seen reading Coco Maller's book, which gives the book a boost in popularity.
Coco Maller's Journey to Publishing Her Book
Coco Maller's book went through a challenging journey, including rejection from publishers and a complete rewrite. However, it eventually found success through word-of-mouth marketing.
Coco Maller's Writing Style and Grad School Experience
Coco Maller's writing style is heavily influenced by her attention to language and finding unique ways to express universal themes. She also shares her experience in grad school, where she learned a lot and found value in receiving feedback.
The Challenges of Being a Published Writer
Being a published writer comes with its own challenges, including the pressure to be successful, the long process of writing a book, and the fear of rejection. Many writers also have to balance writing with other responsibilities in life.
A Reflection on the Party Lifestyle and Rejection
In this podcast episode, the host and guest discuss their experiences with the party lifestyle and the feelings of rejection that can come with it. The guest initially didn't feel the weight of rejection because they weren't actively putting their work out there, but later realized the reality of facing rejection from agents. They reminisce about their experiences during their 20s, attending clubs, and engaging in partying. However, they also highlight the loneliness and shame that often accompanied their partying lifestyle. The guest emphasizes their desire to depict the grittiness and loneliness beneath the surface of partying in their work, rather than glamourizing it.
Writing Novels and Dealing with Feedback
The conversation then shifts to the guest's experience as a novelist. They express the challenges of the novel writing process and the self-doubt that can arise during the journey. However, they also describe the joy of reading their own work and feeling proud of certain sections. They touch on the lengthy process of developing a TV adaptation of their novel and the fluctuating journey of selling and making a TV show. The host explains how instant feedback from their podcast is intoxicating, even if it includes negative comments, while the guest shares that they prefer avoiding negative feedback and focusing on the privacy and imaginative possibilities that come with reading. They echo the sentiment that if someone doesn't enjoy a particular work, they can simply move on to something else.
Coco Mellors is an author living in New York. Her current book, Cleopatra and Frankenstein, is available now. We chat about jet lag or depression, wifi was down on his flight, so Chris watched Yellowstone, is her name real? Dancing with countertop drugs, Carrie Bradshaw read her book, was SATC better than AJLT? A recent holiday in Italy, her vacation style, bicoastal humility, she makes a good case for going to school, her indie sleaze phase, why she stopped partying, her drunk meal of choice, how her relationships have changed, dealing with her onscreen adaptation, the famously underrated man in his forties, who plays Cleo, and her top three dry goods.
