Natalie Lue (@natlue) and Hattie Crisell (@hattiehattie) are writers who have forged successful portfolio careers. We explore their adventures in journalism, blogging, podcasting and publishing. We dive into the reality of forging a portfolio career and they give us advice for how they might start today.*ABOUT NATALIE LUE Natalie Lue is behind the incredibly popular Baggage Reclaim Blog. Nat’s self-published books, including Mr Unavailable and the Fallback Girl, The No Contact Rule and Love, Care, Trust & Respect, have sold 150K+ copies, and her podcast, The Baggage Reclaim Sessions, has over 3 million downloads. Earlier in 2023, her book The Joy of Saying No was published by Harper Horizon.*RESOURCESFollow Natalie Lue:Instagram:@natlueTwitter: @NataliemlueSubstack: On Knowing YourselfWebsite: Natalielue.comPodcast: The Baggage Reclaim SessionsLatest Book: The Joy Of Saying NoNatalie’s Book Store: here*ABOUT HATTIE CRISELL Hattie Crisell is a freelance writer and journalist. In her popular podcast In Writing with Hattie Crisell, Hattie interviews writers of all kinds in their studies, and she's a contributing editor of Grazia magazine. She has written for publications including The New York Times, Style Magazine, The Cut, The Telegraph and Vogue. In 2022 she launched her Substack newsletter,  In Writing and in March 2023, she announced her book deal with Granta, to be based on her podcast.*Follow Hattie Crisell:Instagram:@hattiecrisellTwitter: @hattiehattieSubstack: In WritingWebsite: hattiecrisell.comPodcast: In Writing with Hattie CrisellFor show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.comFor free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALONTwitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalonIf you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! 

Madeleine Dore, author of ‘I Didn’t Do The Thing Today’ on rethinking writing routines and ruts, how to rid ourselves of the pressure to do more, embracing imperfection in the creative process, and her unique approach to her Substack newsletter.*ABOUT MADELEINE DORE Madeleine Dore is a writer, interviewer and author of I Didn’t Do The Thing Today'. As a labour of love, Madeleine spent over five years exploring how we can broaden the definition of a day well spent in her popular blog Extraordinary Routines and podcast Routines & Ruts. She continues to write, speak and explore themes of creativity and connection—but mostly tries to hold things lightly.*Follow Madeleine:Instagram: @madeleine__dore)Madeleine's Substack: On ThingsMadeleine’s blog Extraordinary RoutinesLinks & Resources Discussed:📄 Transcript (unedited)Madeleine’s book I Didn’t Do The Thing TodayMadeleine's quote shared at Writers' HourKatherine May’s book WinteringRilke quote on "Living The Questions"Walt Whitman quote: “Write in the gush"Milanote - a notes app for creative workFor show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.comFor free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALONTwitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalonIf you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show!

Steven Pressfield on what it means to have a creative calling, overcoming rejection and resistance, how faith in something bigger than ourselves can play a role in our creative lives, his experience writing across multiple genres, and his latest memoir, Govt Cheese.*ABOUT STEVEN PRESSFIELDSteven Pressfield (@SPressfield) is the author of The War of Art which has sold over a millions copies globally and been translated into multiple languages. He is a master of historical fiction with Gates of Fire being on the required reading list at West Point and the the recommended reading list of the Joint Chiefs. His other books include A Man at Arms, Turning Pro, Do the Work, The Artist's Journey, Tides of War, The Legend of Bagger Vance, Last of the Amazons, Virtues of War, The Afghan Campaign, Killing Rommel, The Profession, The Lion's Gate, The Warrior Ethos, The Authentic Swing, An American Jew, Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t, and The Knowledge. *RESOURCESFollow Steven Pressfield:Website: https://stevenpressfield.com/Twitter: @SPressfieldInstagram: @steven_pressfieldOther links mentioned:📄 Transcript (unedited)Govt CheeseThe Art of WarPut Your Ass Where Your Heart Wants to BeNobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t"This Might Not Work" – Seth GodinThe Writers' Journey by Christopher VoglerSteve's 'passage through the wilderness' series on InstagramThe Creative Act by Rick RubinThe Foolscap Method Instagram videosJohn Keats's concept of 'Negative Capability'Joanna Penn*For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.comFor free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALONTwitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalonIf you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show!

Literary Agent and writer Abigail Bergstrom on her publishing career (Simon & Schuster, Gleam Titles, Bergstrom Studios) choosing to leave editing for agenting, facing and recovering from burnout and her advice for authors developing their brand. Also, her advice for finding an agent, and tips for how to ask the right questions to your marketing and publicity team. We also dive into  her journey of writing and pitching her debut novel: What a Shame.*ABOUT ABIGAIL BERGSTROMAbigail Bergstrom is a Welsh writer who has worked in publishing for over a decade. She's edited some of Britain's most prominent feminist voices, was nominated for Literary Agent of the Year 2020, and was listed in 'The Bookseller 150.’ She is the founder of Gleam Titles and Bergstrom Studio, a publishing consultancy. She is the author of What a Shame.*QUOTES[On Author Brand]  “I don't think it needs to be gimmicky. I think it could be nuanced and complex. Consider what three things you’re interested in talking about - think of them as your core pillars. *RESOURCESFollow Abigail Bergstrom:Instagram: @abigailbergstromTwitter: @AbigailBergstrmWebsite: Bergstrom StudioOther links and authors mentioned:Article in The Times: ‘AT 32, MY BURNOUT HIT ME HARD’Abigail’s book: What a ShameLaura BatesLotte JeffsFor show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.comFor free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALONTwitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalonIf you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show!

Short story writer Jonathan Escoffery on his process for writing his linked short story collection, If I Survive You, how he thinks about world building, managing reader anticipation, how questions of identity influence his work, and tips for writing dynamic, moving short stories.*ABOUT JONATHAN ESCOFFERYJonathan Escoffery is the author of the linked story collection, If I Survive You, a New York Times and Booklist Editor's Choice, an IndieNext Pick, and a National Bestseller. His stories have appeared in The Paris Review, Oprah Daily, Electric Literature, Zyzzyva, AGNI, Pleiades, American Short Fiction, Prairie Schooner, Passages North, and elsewhere.*RESOURCESFollow Jonathan Escoffery:TwitterInstagramWebsiteOther links mentioned:Goblins in the Castle by Bruce CovilleR.L. Stine's Goosebumps seriesThe Hardy BoysGrub Street writing classes and community in BostonBoston Writers of Color GroupIf I Survive You by Jonathan Escoffery*For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.comFor free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com *FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALONTwitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalonIf you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show!