The Drunken Odyssey with John King: A Podcast About the Writing Life
John King
Join author John King for eclectic interviews with writers from a variety of genres, including fiction writing, poetry, memoirs, and journalism. From literature to genre writing to the movies, all writing is up for discussion. In particular, The Drunken Odyssey features discussion of all aspects of the writing process—not just the published manuscript, pristinely presented to the entire literate world, but also the scrawled notes and tortured drafts that lead writers there. In long-form interviews, writers discuss their process and the way that writing has influenced their lives. Besides this interview, each episode also features a short memoir essay from a writer about a beloved book, plus John King responds to listener's questions and observations about the writing (and the drinking) life.
For more information, see our website at www.thedrunkenodyssey.com.
For more information, see our website at www.thedrunkenodyssey.com.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Mar 7, 2020 • 1h 4min
409: Shane Hinton!
This week, I speak to fiction writer Shane Hinton about his poetic, spooky apocalyptic novel, Radio Dark.
Feb 29, 2020 • 53min
408: A Discussion of Paul Fussell's Class with Vanessa Blakeslee!
Episode 408 of The Drunken Odyssey, your favorite podcast about creative writing and literature is available on Apple podcasts, stitcher, spotify, or click here to stream (right click to download, if that's your thing.) This week, my occasional co-host, Vanessa Blakeslee, and I discuss Paul Fussell's entertaining treatise, Class: A Guide Through the American Status System. While this is clearly not a craft book, a sociological understanding of the American class system can add layers to your characterization, or so John found when he discovered this gem back in the early 1990s. Paul Fussell (1924-2012) possessed a gorgeously sardonic wit when not hiding in academia. Someday John will own a sailboat, and become truly, deeply, fatally lost, and happy.
Feb 22, 2020 • 1h 30min
407: Nathan Holic!
This week, I talk to my friend and colleague Nathan Holic about his new novel that is a true epic of our hometown (Orlando), Bright Lights, Medium-Sized City. Nathan Holic at an undisclosed location in Orlando, without a beer. This is Nathan's 8th appearance on TDO!
Feb 15, 2020 • 1h 15min
406: Amy Watkins!
This week, I talk to my friend and colleague Amy Watkins about becoming more systematic about submitting work, and about conceiving of book-length projects of poetry. TEXTS DISCUSSED NOTES TDO Listeners can get 20% of a premium subscription to Scribophile. After using the above link to register for a basic account, go here while still logged in to upgrade the account with the discount.
Feb 8, 2020 • 1h 31min
405: Corwin Moore on Richard Pryor!
This week, I talk to my friend Corwin Moore, who is a comic and comedy writer. Our proposed topic of discussion was the greatness of Richard Pryor, which we cover at length in a conversation that took many turns. NOTES This episode is sponsored by the excellent people at Scribophile. TDO Listeners can get 20% of a premium subscription to Scribophile. After using the above link to register for a basic account, go herewhile still logged in to upgrade the account with the discount.
Feb 1, 2020 • 1h 9min
404: Susan Lilley!
This week, I talk to my friend, and Orlando's poet laureate, Susan Lilley! TEXT DISCUSSED
Jan 25, 2020 • 1h 10min
403: Jericho Brown & Richard Blanco!
This week, I talk to two poets. First, I speak with the joyous Jericho Brown about his complex relationship to poetic tradition, identity, and music. Frankly, I kept making tangents to music. Perhaps too many. But this was one of my favorite interviews from Miami Book Fair International. Second, I speak with Richard Blanco about the poetry of we, and the importance of giving an audience an entertaining performance, and writing poetry that makes me cry in yet another of my favorite interviews from MBFI. TEXTS DISCUSSED NOTES This episode is sponsored by the excellent people at Scribophile. TDO Listeners can get 20% of a premium subscription to Scribophile. After using the above link to register for a basic account, go herewhile still logged in to upgrade the account with the discount.
Jan 18, 2020 • 1h 12min
402: A Craft Discussion of T.S. Elliot's "Tradition and the Individual Talent" and "Hamlet and Its Problems"!
This week, Vanessa Blakeslee and I assail more essays on the craft of literature, this time two by T.S. Eliot. TEXTS DISCUSSED "Hamlet and Its Problems" can be found here; "Tradition and the Individual Talent" can be found here.
Jan 11, 2020 • 58min
401: Steve Almond and Carolyn Forché!
This week, I offer another round of conversations from Miami Book Fair International, in which I talk to Steve Almond about his favorite novel, Stonerby John Williams, plus I speak with poet Carolyn Forché about her memoir, All You Have Heard is True. TEXTS DICSUSSED
Jan 4, 2020 • 53min
400: Nathan Englander!
This week, I talk to fiction writer Nathan Englander about the pressurized form of fictional worlds, giving the reader something worth their time and money, getting to the pain as soon as possible, continuing to learn about one's craft deep into one's career, Judaism in literature, and the wisdom of our friend Darin Strauss. Nathan Englander and your humble host in The Confucius Institute at Miami Dade College.[/caption] Books Discussed
