Write About Now

Was a bestselling romantasy novel stolen from someone else's unpublished book? New Yorker staff writer Katy Waldman investigates a fascinating case of alleged plagiarism rocking the publishing world—the first novel copyright infringement to reach trial in a century. The case raises profound questions about creative ownership in publishing, while exposing the way books in this red-hot genre are written. You'll never look at enemies-to-lovers werewolf sexcapades the same way again. Read Katy's story @ https://bit.ly/4hyxLUP Subscribe to Small Talk @ jonsmalltalk.substack.com  

Stuck in a creative rut? Need some fresh ideas? The solution isn't staring harder at your screen – it's getting up from your desk and walking. This simple activity has been the secret weapon of history's most brilliant minds, from Charles Dickens to Virginia Woolf, Aristotle to Steve Jobs. Science backs this up: walking increases creative output by 60% compared to doom scrolling. But not all walks are created equal. Award-winning author Abbs Streets shares insights from her book "52 Ways to Walk,"  breaking down exactly when, where, and how to walk for maximum creative benefit.

The devastating wildfires in Los Angeles have destroyed 12,000 structures and taken at least 25 lives. In an intimate conversation, guest Lee Ann Daly shares her harrowing experience of evacuating her Pacific Palisades home with just minutes to spare, managing to save three cats and only a few documents. Lee Ann is a creative executive and former head of marketing at ESPN, Reuters, and the Game Show Network. In our conversation, she brings her unique perspective to processing tragedy. We discuss the true character of the Pacific Palisades that you won't hear in the news, details of her traumatic escape, the challenges of navigating California's complex fire insurance system, and how she's coping with the uncertainty of this unprecedented tragedy. To donate to families affected by the fire: Mutual Aid Los Angeles Network To help animals in need: Pasadena Humane Society

Two years ago, most people had never heard of generative AI tools like ChatGPT or Claude. Now, they're an integral part of our workflow. But what astonishes and impresses us about the technology also scares the living bejesus out of us. Will AI eventually replace us as writers? Will our profession become obsolete? How do we make this rapidly evolving technology our assistant, not our adversary? Tech expert Christoper S. Penn joins the show to demystify the technology and offer tips on making AI a productive collaborative partner. Topics include understanding how generative AI works, writing effective prompts using his RAPPEL framework, comparing top AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini, tackling thorny ethical questions, and practical strategies for using AI in your work. Whether you're excited or anxious about AI's impact on your profession, this episode gives you a roadmap to embracing the technology's awesome power.    Follow us at: Small Talk substack:  https://jonsmalltalk.substack.com/ Christoper S Penn's Almost Timely Newsletter: https://almosttimely.substack.com/

In this year-end episode, we look back at some of the most memorable moments from the show, featuring intimate discussions with some of the literary world's most fascinating voices. You'll hear the writing origin stories of JA Jance, Joyce Maynard, and Richard Osman, how Kristin Hannah overcomes her fear of failure, writing through writer's block with Steve Almond, the best writing advice linguist Valerie Fridland ever received, Todd Boyd on the global appeal of hip hop, and how Molly Roden Winter endured 50 rejections of her manuscript before getting a yes. To listen to the interviews in full, click the links below.  JA Jance Joyce Maynard Kristin Hannah Richard Osman Steve Almond Valerie Fridland Todd Boyd Molly Roden Winter Support the show by subscribing to the Small Talk substack @ https://jonsmalltalk.substack.com/    

Douglas Vigliotti is the author of the new book "Aristotle for Novelists: 14 Timeless Principles on the Art of Story." He says everything you need to know about storytelling can be found in the Ancient Greek philosopher's great treatise "Poetics," written over 2300 years ago. In this episode, Vigliotti breaks down Aristotle's tried-and-true principles that have been used since antiquity to tell great stories, including the real difference between tragedies vs. comedies, the importance of the three-act structure, why every character needs both external and internal obstacles, how a character's fatal flaw drives the story, why plot solutions must arise from within the story itself, how consistency in style and point of view shapes the narrative, the critical difference between plot-driven versus character-driven stories. Vigliotti also hosts the terrific podcast Books for Men and recommends his must-reads for 2025. 

Guest Taylor Lorenz is one of journalism's most notable and controversial voices. She covers tech and online culture as a reporter, podcaster, and internet personality. After leaving prime jobs writing for The New York Times and The Washington Post, she has launched her own media company called User Mag that covers "tech from the user side." In this spirited conversation, Lorenz explains why she's done with traditional media, how legacy companies fail miserably to understand internet culture, and why Democrats are losing the battle for online influence. She also discusses the challenges she's faced from right-wing nutjobs like Tucker Carlson, and why she believes the future of journalism lies outside traditional media.  Looking for the perfect gift for an aspiring writer? Check out my new book Write About Now @ https://amzn.to/41ARP3R

Liz Mugavero, a bestselling cozy mystery writer known for her Cat Cafe series, discusses her journey into crime writing, inspired by her grandfather, a detective. She shares tips on crafting compelling characters and settings in cozy mysteries, emphasizing their charm compared to darker genres. Liz opens up about the psychological aspects of crime that captivate writers and readers alike, and also highlights the importance of community support and mindfulness in the writing process. Listeners are encouraged to embrace their creativity and navigate the publishing landscape.

In August 2020, during the depths of the pandemic, an unlikely TV show about a clueless American football coach taking over an English soccer team became a cultural phenomenon. In this episode, we're joined by New York Times television editor Jeremy Egner, whose new book "Believe" takes us behind the scenes of Ted Lasso's journey from a commercial to an Emmy award-winning, hit series. Through extensive interviews with the cast, creators, and crew, Jeremy uncovers how a show filled with mostly unknown actors and led by a mustachioed nice guy became exactly what the world needed then and now - a story about decency, friendship, and the power of believing. As someone who covered the show from its inception and survived his own harrowing battle with early COVID, Jeremy brings both journalistic insight and personal connection to this definitive account.

It's hard enough writing a novel, try writing one on your cell phone. Nifemi Aluko wrote his new book Musta's Mixtape with his thumbs. He says the process was liberating, allowing him to write whenever and wherever he wanted, including at the Parisian cafes Ernest Hemingway frequented. Nifemi joins the podcast to talk about his unique approach to writing, marketing, and funding his book, including using blockchain technology and NFTs to raise money and AI as a collaborative partner. Take my Writing with AI masterclass  Subscribe to my Substack   My first interview with Nifemi is here