Write About Now

“Writing is my happy place,” says this week’s guest, bestselling mystery writer J.A. Jance. With 70 books under her belt, she’s spent a lot of time typing with a smile on her face. (That makes one of us) Her latest novel, Den of Iniquity, features the return of beloved private investigator J.P. Beaumont. How did this former high school teacher, who was told by her teachers, her ex-husband, and publishers that she couldn’t be a writer have such a prolific and successful career? That, my friends, is the mystery that we solve in this interview.   Order my new book, Write About Now @ bit.ly/BackStories

William Cope Moyers, son of famed journalist Bill Moyers, thought he conquered his addiction demons after hitting rock bottom. But 20 years into recovery, prescribed painkillers triggered a relapse that challenged everything he knew about the path to sobriety. In this revealing conversation, Moyers opens up about his new book, Broken Open, sharing this experience with substance abuse and how it threatened to derail his life for a second time. His journey offers hope to those struggling with addiction and pushes for a more inclusive approach to treatment, even in the face of resistance from recovery traditionalists. Sign up for my new masterclass on Writing Articles that Sell @ bit.ly/smallmasterclass Send a clever headline for this podcast and enter a chance to win a free copy of my new book, Write About Now. Submit titles to jonathan@writeaboutnowmedia.com

Conspiracy theories such as QAnon have had devastating political consequences as they’ve exploded in popularity. But what’s often overlooked is their heartbreaking effect on families. In her new book The Quiet Damage, investigative journalist Jesselyn Cook tells the stories of five American families shredded by true believers whose journey down the rabbit hole caused them to be alienated, suicidal, and often completely different people. Jesselyn shares fascinating insights from her three-year deep dive into the world of conspiracy theories, revealing: The surprising economic and educational diversity of QAnon believers The psychological needs that conspiracy theories fulfill Social media's role in spreading misinformation Why fact-checking and ridicule are ineffective in combating beliefs Effective strategies for reaching loved ones, including setting boundaries  

Love it or hate it, AI is here to stay. Writers ignore it at their own peril, especially when it comes to marketing their work. Guest Gini Dietrich, a marketing and PR expert, has been proactive in her embrace of artificial intelligence, using it to enhance her work and its reach. Gini's media company and blog 'Spin Sucks' is a go-to source for staying up-to-date on the ever-changing PR landscape. In this interview, she breaks down effective tips for content marketing in the age of AI, including the importance of E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authority, and Trust), the use of LinkedIn as a powerful platform for content distribution, and the evolution of SEO strategies in the era of AI and Google's changing algorithms.  Order my new book, Write About Now: bit.ly/BackStories

Dive into the inspiring journey of turning a podcast into a book! Discover the challenges and triumphs of compiling origin stories from successful authors. Explore the perks of indie publishing, like creative freedom and direct reader connections. Learn about effective promotional strategies and how to engage with an audience through storytelling. Hear anecdotes of mentorship, overcoming self-doubt, and the vibrant community of writers showcased throughout this enlightening discussion!

Will Selber is a former Middle East Foreign Area Officer with 20 years of experience in the intelligence community. He served for nearly 1500 days in Iraq and Afghanistan during heavy combat operations. How retired, his life's mission is to shed light on the current situation in Afghanistan and help many of the U.S.'s allies escape the country and the Taliban. It’s grueling and heart-breaking work that requires him to make Sophie's Choice-like decisions about who lives and dies. He now writes about his experiences for such publications as The Bulwark. In our interview, we touch on why he joined the Air Force, the horrors he saw in Iraq and then Afghanistan, the mental heath challenges he’s had to face, how writing has become therapy, his upcoming trip to Israel, what we don’t understand about groups such as the Taliban and Hamas, and his hope for the future of Afghanistan.  Sign up for Jonathan Small's Six-Week Non-Fiction Writing Course @ https://bit.ly/46fnKae Subscribe to Will Selber's substack @ https://substack.com/@willselber  

Boys are in a crisis. They're "isolated, emotionally repressed, and adrift," says guest Ruth Whippman. The research bears her out. Boys are four times more likely than girls to commit suicide, three times more likely to be addicts, and they're dropping out of high school and not going to college at record rates. Whippman, a journalist, cultural critic, and mother of 3 boys, has written a must-read new book on this essential topic called BoyMom: Reimagining Boyhood in the Age of Impossible Masculinity. In our interview, we talk about: Boys' difficulty forming deep emotional connections The role of nature vs nurture in this crisis The educational disparities between men and women. The lack of role models for boys. The surprising things Ruth learned about incels How sexisms cuts both ways Ruth's suggestions for working toward solving many of these issues.   Subscribe to my newsletter SmallTalk @ substack.com/jonsmalltalk Our sponsor is AG1. Order and get freebies @ drinkag1.com/writeaboutnow

Culture writer Anne Helen Petersen has spent years researching and writing about burnout —that feeling of chronic stress and exhaustion that plagues so many in our always-working culture. On this special replay edition of the show, Anne explains how burnout differs from regular stress, why millennials seem particularly susceptible to it, and how we can start to overcome it both individually and systemically.    Subscribe to Anne's substack Culture Study @ annehelen.substack.com Subscribe to Jonathan Small's substack @ jonsmalltalk.substack.com

Fifty years ago, The New York Times Magazine featured Joyce Maynard on its cover for an essay she wrote entitled “An 18-Year-Old Looks Back on Life.” That story would catapult her to national prominence but also mark a traumatic beginning to a celebrated career as a prolific novelist and memoir writer. Unwittingly, Maynard became part of a MeToo scandal with iconic novelist J.D. Salinger long before male predatory behavior was in the news. She survived that affair to become an acclaimed, prolific author— penning 13 novels and 5 works of non-fiction, two of which were adapted for film. On the pod, she talks about her newest masterpiece, How the Light Gets In, getting canceled in the 90s, returning to Yale as a middle age mom to get a degree, reading and writing with ADHD, and the best writing advice she was ever given.  Follow Joyce on Facebook: joycemaynardauthor Sign up for my online Writing Masterclass on June 27 @ https://bit.ly/smallmasterclass  

Guest Steve Almond has written a terrific new book called Truth is the Arrow, Mercy is the Bow: A DIY Manual for the Construction of Stories. In it, he shares the insights he gleaned over three decades as a teacher, mentor, and author of 12 books of fiction and non-fiction. He also talks about his strategy for confronting the all-too-commom fear of failure. Some topics we dive into: Steve's transition from journalism to creative writing. Mastering plot, chronology, and creating a chain of consequences How he draws characters from real-life observations, personal experiences, and sometimes characters that emerge from his artistic unconscious. Co-hosting the podcast Dear Sugar with writer Cheryl Strayed Listen in as we try to demystify the writing process. Sign up for my online Writing Masterclass on June 27. https://bit.ly/smallmasterclass Subscribe to my substack newsletter to get all the latest writing news. substack.com/jonsmalltalk Order AG1 using this special address and get five free travel packs with your first purchase. www.drinkAG1.com/writeaboutnow