George Saunders

George Saunders, an award-winning author and creative writing teacher, shares his eclectic path from roofer to literary giant. He discusses the importance of rough drafts and feedback in honing one's craft. The conversation dives into how kindness fuels creativity and the significance of aligning personal values with professional endeavors. Saunders also reflects on the art of crafting compelling endings and the challenges posed by AI in storytelling, stressing the enduring power of the human touch in writing.

George Saunders, an award-winning author celebrated for his short stories and the bestselling Lincoln in the Bardo, shares insights from his unconventional path to writing success. He discusses the importance of kindness in storytelling and how accepting feedback can elevate rough drafts. Saunders delves into navigating uncertainty in writing, emphasizing the value of constructive criticism. He also explores the significance of endings in narratives and the challenges of addressing uncomfortable ideas, all while considering AI's limitations in capturing human experience.

George Saunders, author of the acclaimed novel 'Lincoln in the Bardo' and the recent 'Liberation Day,' discusses the concept of 'holy befuddlement' as a remedy for rigid thinking. He dives into how reducing dogmatism can help us be less self-righteous. The conversation covers managing expectations, the impact of meditation on creativity, and the importance of moral ambiguity in storytelling. Saunders highlights that even small acts of kindness can ignite change and emphasizes the complexities of forgiveness and empathy in both life and art.

Join George Saunders, celebrated author of *Lincoln in the Bardo*, as he delves into the creative process intertwined with kindness and Buddhism. He shares insights on writing as a meditative practice and the emotional journey of drafting. The conversation touches on the troubling impact of social media on identity and communication, alongside reflections on political discourse and economic disparity. Saunders emphasizes the importance of vulnerability in creativity and the search for deeper understanding in our ordinary lives.

George Saunders joins Deborah Treisman to read and discuss “So Late in the Day,” by Claire Keegan, which was published in The New Yorker in 2022. Saunders is the author of the novel “Lincoln in the Bardo,” and five story collections, including “Tenth of December” and “Liberation Day,” which came out last year. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

George Saunders is the author of eleven books including, Tenth of December, which was a finalist for the National Book Award and won the inaugural Folio Prize in 2013 (for the best work of fiction in English) and the Story Prize (best short story collection). He has received MacArthur and Guggenheim Fellowships, the PEN/Malamud Prize for excellence in the short story, and is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. George also teaches in the Creative Writing Program at  Syracuse University.In this episode, Eric and George discuss his book, A Swim in a Pond in the Rain.But wait – there’s more! The episode is not quite over!! We continue the conversation and you can access this exclusive content right in your podcast player feed. Head over to our Patreon page and pledge to donate just $10 a month. It’s that simple and we’ll give you good stuff as a thank you!Registration for the Spiritual Habits Group Program is open now! Visit spiritualhabits.net to learn more about how to bring forth real transformation in your life!  In This Interview, George Saunders and I discuss Writing and Transformation and…His book, A Swim in a Pond in the RainThat we are not powerless to decide what kind of person we’ll becomeSome key Cognitive Distortions from which we all sufferThe Darwinian Confusions that we haveLiving with the Ego while also renouncing the EgoThe question of can people change and if so, how?How and why small adjustments do matter in the grand scheme of thingsThe exponential impact of setting an intentionThe way he maintains a beginners mind amidst repetitionThe “urgent patience” he’s cultivated within himselfThe “cousins” of meditationValuing and blessing our own reactions to what we readHow to know when we should trust ourselvesGeorge Saunders Links:George’s WebsiteFacebookTwitterBiOptimizers: Just 2 capsules of their Magnesium Breakthrough taken before bed gives you all 7 forms of magnesium so that you sleep better at night. Go to www.magbreakthrough.com/wolf and use the promo code WOLF10 at checkout to save 10%.Skillshare is an online learning community that helps you get better on your creative journey. They have thousands of inspiring classes for creative and curious people. Sign up via www.skillshare.com/feed and you’ll get a FREE trial of Skillshare premium membership.If you enjoyed this conversation with George Saunders on Writing and Transformation, you might also enjoy these other episodes:Improvising in Life with Stephen NachmanovitchTodd HenrySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

George Saunders, a celebrated writer, reflects on the profound impact of classic Russian literature in shaping his approach to storytelling. He discusses how short stories by Chekhov and Tolstoy serve as miniature models of life's complexities, urging readers to explore universal themes like love and loss. Saunders also highlights the transformative power of teaching these narratives, connecting personal insights and the importance of engaging deeply with literature. He candidly notes the surprising lessons in character development and the absurdity found in Gogol's work.

George Saunders, author and Buddhist, discusses kindness, writing as meditation, the impact of social media, fame, politics, and exploring good and evil in fiction. He shares insights on training the mind, the creative process, and the importance of love in everyday interactions.

A couple of days after I interviewed George Saunders for the first episode of this podcast, I caught up on some of his recent posts on Story Club, his writing-focused Substack. In “A Lost Speech, Found,” he wrote about rediscovering the script for a graduation speech he had given many years ago. The speech would earn him a reputation as “The Kindness Guy.”  “If the question ‘How should I live’ can be answered: ‘Live so as to minimize your regrets,’” he had said in that speech, “then I have to tell you: What you actually regret, when you’re older, is very simple: You regret the times you could have been kind, and weren’t.”Saunders, one of the world’s greatest short story writers and winner of the 2017 Booker Prize for his first novel, Lincoln in the Bardo, was certainly kind to me. We sat together at a lunch table under a tree in a Santa Monica park for an hour and half. George patiently answered my questions about how to live a good life as a writer when so many social and economic forces make it so complicated. We talked about modes of thinking and how to negotiate with one’s ego, and how he writes to tame his “monkey brain.” We talked about the trope of the starving artist, and what it takes to make a living as a modern-day writer. And we talked about the corrosive effects of social media, which in so many cases encourages and rewards the opposite of kindness. I can’t think of a better first guest for this podcast than The Kindness Guy. After the interview, George texted me to say, “Feel free to edit out any stupidity.” I couldn’t find any.Show notes*Story Club with George Saunders*Liberation Day: Stories, A Swim in a Pond in the Rain, Tenth of December: Stories, and Lincoln in the Bardo*Reporting on Trump rallies*[5:15] Reading comments and reviews*[8:07] Artistic pride and ambition*[11:25] The social media self *[16:13] Becoming a short story writer*[21:00] Life at 60*[27:55] Online personas and the act of writing*[37:57] The craft of story*[46:48] Story Club on Substack*[50:10] Juggling writing and life*[55:04] On Liberation Day*[1:00:39] Trying to be happyThe Active Voice is a new podcast hosted by Hamish McKenzie, featuring weekly conversations with writers about how the internet is affecting the way they live and write. It is edited and produced by Hanne Winarsky, with content production by Hannah Ray and production support by Bailey Richardson. All artwork is by Joro Chen, and music is by Phelps & Munro. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit post.substack.com

George Saunders reads his story “Thursday,” which appeared in the June 12, 2023, issue of the magazine. Saunders won the Booker Prize in 2017 for his novel “Lincoln in the Bardo.” He is the author of five story collections, including “Tenth of December” and “Liberation Day,” which came out last year.  Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices