London Writers' Salon

• #151: Melissa Febos — The Art of Memoir: Turn Life Into Art, Undoing Shame, and Choosing The Artist’s Life

  Celebrated writer and memoirist Melissa Febos on the art of the memoir,  the alchemy of personal experience and literary craft, and how to turn the raw material of life into art. We also her latest book, The Dry Season,  where she examines the solitude, freedoms, and feminist heroes Febos found during a year of celibacy.We also talk about:- Writing the unspeakable and undoing shame.- The role of research and personal obsession in memoir.- Finding structure through inventory, list-making & reflection.- Balancing vulnerability with privacy on the page.- How Melissa decides what’s hers to tell—and when.- Her advice on discouragement, creative play & sustaining the practice. ABOUT MELISSA FEBOSMelissa Febos is the nationally bestselling author of four books, including Girlhood, which won the National Book Critics Circle Award in Criticism, and Body Work: The Radical Power of Personal Narrative. She has received fellowships and awards from the Guggenheim Foundation, NEA, LAMBDA Literary, the British Library, and more. Her essays appear in The Paris Review, The New York Times Magazine, The New Yorker, and Best American Essays. She is a full professor at the University of Iowa and lives in Iowa City with her wife, poet Donika Kelly. RESOURCES & LINKS:📑 Interview Transcript (forthcoming)Order a Signed Copy of The Dry SeasonPre Order The Dry SeasonThe Dry SeasonMelisa’s WebsiteWhip SmartAbandon MeBody Work“Living Like Weasels” by Annie DillardBelgian Beguines For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com.For 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!

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• #150: Seth Godin – How To Build A Thriving Creative Writing Practice In the Age of AI. Plus, Stop Seeking Validation, Find Your Audience And Overcome Obscurity (From the Vault)

  Legendary Seth Godin, bestselling author of Linchpin, Purple Cow, The Dip, Tribes, and The Practice on wrestling with creative resistance, getting past self-doubt, and how to build a resilient creative practice that thrives—even in an age of AIWe talk about:Why writing isn’t about talent—but about creating the conditions for skillWhy “Do you like it?” is the wrong question to askAnd how to build a resilient creative practice that thrives—even in an age of AIHow to keep going when there’s no map and no promise of success*About Seth GodinSeth Godin is the author of 21 bestselling books that have reshaped the way people think about marketing, leadership, and creative work. His books have been translated into 39 languages and include Linchpin, Purple Cow, The Dip, Tribes, and The Practice. He’s also the founder of altMBA, the Carbon Almanac, and multiple pioneering ventures in the online business world. Seth writes one of the most popular blogs in the world and continues to inspire millions of creators to make and ship work that matters.*Resources and Links:📄 Interview Transcript (unedited)The Song of Significance by Seth Godin The Practice by Seth Godin altMBAHow to Decide by Annie Duke The War of Art by Steven PressfieldThe Carbon AlmanacElizabeth Gilbert on Hobby, Job, Career & VocationA History of Rock Music in 500 Songspurple.space  For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com.For 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!

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• #149: Tim Duggan – You Can Make Your Work More Meaningful, Plus How to Ideate And Write Bestselling Nonfiction Books

  How can you make your life and work more meaningful? Bestselling author Tim Duggan on ideating and writing bestselling non fiction books, creating killer opening lines and plotting. We also talk about how to unclog our creativity, find meaning in our work and life through a simple hack. We discuss:Tim’s outlining and editing process for non-fictionFinding the “anchor points” that define your personal valuesHow to identify and shape a powerful book questionThe case for working less, but more meaningfullyBuilding your Substack and ecosystem of trust with readersLessons from the happiest country on Earth*About Tim DugganTim Duggan is a bestselling author, entrepreneur, and former media executive with a passion for meaningful work and big ideas. He co-founded Junkee Media, one of Australia’s leading independent publishers, and served as Chair of the Digital Publishers Alliance. His books Cult Status and Killer Thinking became celebrated guides for purpose-driven businesses and creatives, and his latest, Work Backwards, explores how we can redesign work and life around what truly matters. Tim also writes on his Substack OUTLET, lives in Mallorca with his husband, and speaks globally about creativity, optimism, and the future of work.Resources and Links:📑Interview TranscriptCult Status by Tim DugganDoppleganger by Naomi KleinScrivenerThe Work Backwards SoundtrackOUTLET - Tim’s SubstackAtomic Habits by James ClearThe Book Publicist Perplexity AIGetting Things Done by David Allen For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com.For 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!

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• #148: Mark Haddon — The Writing Habit That Changed Everything: Lessons from 18 Books, Creative Doubt & Writing Without A Map

  Mark Haddon, bestselling author of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, A Spot of Bother, and The Red House on his process writing 18 books, including his latest book Dogs & Monsters, plus how he approaches success and failure.We discuss:Why writing begins before you start writingCreating strong beginningsHow poetry can expand your creative rangeWriting without a mapOn self-doubt, impostor syndrome & trusting your instinctsThe value of conflict, myth, and compression in storytellingPublishing realities, artistic risk, and protecting your creative sparkAbout Mark HaddonMark Haddon is the author of the internationally bestselling novels The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, A Spot of Bother, and The Red House. His debut novel won the Whitbread Book of the Year Award and inspired a Tony Award–winning play. A multidisciplinary artist, Mark has also written award-winning poetry, radio dramas, children’s books, and TV screenplays. He teaches creative writing for the Arvon Foundation and lives in Oxford, England.*Resources and Links:📑Interview TranscriptMark’s InstagramMark’s booksDogs and Monsters by Mark HaddonOrigins of the Universe by Albert HinkelbeinThe Evolution of Man - Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Evolution of Man by J. JelinekConflict and Compassion Poems About WarThe Horses by Edwin Muir Poems by RS ThomasJackanoryHelm by Sarah HallTithonus| Greek MythologySappho FragmentsPaul Farley PoetEverything Ravaged, Everything Burned by Wells TowerGarnons-Williams & James SpackmanArvon’s courses*About Arvon:Arvon is the UK’s leading creative writing charity. For over 55 years, Arvon’s creative writing courses have been linking aspiring writers with successful authors, and they are a significant and celebrated part of the British literary landscape. Arvon passionately believes that everyone can benefit from the transformative power of creative writing. It hosts residential, online and community-based writing courses and events, embracing over 6,000 people each year, tutored by some of the most respected writers in the UK today. * For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com.For 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!

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• #147: Jane Friedman — The Publishing Industry is Changing. Here’s What Writers Should Know About Pitching, Platforms & Protecting Their Work

  What does it take to craft a pitch that truly grabs attention in today’s publishing world? In this conversation, Jane Friedman—publishing industry expert and author of The Business of Being a Writer shares her journey into the publishing world and she shares her advice for writers looking to perfect their submission materials and navigate the ever-changing publishing landscape.We discuss:How to craft a compelling pitch that stands outThe balance between art and business for writersCommon myths about pitching and the publishing industrySelf-publishing vs. traditional publishing: What to knowProtecting your writing in the age of AIHow to adapt to the evolving publishing landscape and stay realistic about successUnderstanding the real costs and considerations of hybrid publishing*Resources and Links:📑Interview TranscriptRoxane Gay - World of WakandaMonica ByrneKate McKean SubstackJane’s WebsiteSubmissions materialsJane’s Website - publishing paths -  traditional vs alt publishingCreated By HumansJane’s books*JANE FRIEDMANJane Friedman has over 25 years of experience in publishing and is a trusted voice in the industry. She is the author of The Business of Being a Writer and publishes The Hot Sheet and The Bottom Line newsletters, which are read by over 40,000 writers and publishing professionals. Jane’s expertise has been featured in major outlets like The New York Times, NPR, and BBC. She’s an educator, speaker, and a leading authority on the business of writing. For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com.For 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!

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