The Enduring Qualities of Myth Publishing Without An Agent With Elizabeth Tammi

Today's guest on the podcast is Elizabeth Tammi, author of Outrun the Wind which released from Flux  in 2018, and the forthcoming The Weight of a Soul, coming in December of 2019. Elizabeth studies creative writing and journalism at Mercer University, where she works for her college’s newspaper and literary magazine.

Elizabeth joined me today to talk about landing a publishing deal without an agent and achieving publication as a teenager, the enduring qualities of mythology, and how modern perspectives can open up old tales, as well as the different skills at work in both journalism and creative writing.

Writing From A Place of Pain & How Process Can Change For Each Project With Anica Mrose Rissi

Today’s guest is Anica Mrose Rissi the author of the Anna, Banana chapter-book series, the picture books Watch Out for Wolf! and The Teacher’s Pet, as well as a YA novel, Always Forever Maybe. Her essays have been published by The Writer and the New York Times, and she plays fiddle in and writes lyrics for the band Owen Lake and the Tragic Loves. Anica grew up in Maine and spent many years in New York City, where she worked as an executive editor in children’s book publishing.

Anica joined me today to talk about writing from a place of pain, and methods to redirect the endless feedback loop of anxiety towards something creative and productive, as well as how process can change from project to project and across age categories. Also covered: considering the performance of reading aloud versus the narrative that is meant to be read silently, writing for other writers, and how essays can both remind of your own authority on the subject, as well as open yourself up to vulnerability.

Poetry, Typewriters & How A Slower Process Can Boost Your Creativity with Sean Petrie

Today's guest is Sean Petrie, a founding member of the poetry group Typewriter Rodeo and co-author of Typewriter Rodeo: Real People, Real Stories, Custom Poems (Andrews McMeel Universal 2018). He has six short children's books coming out in 2019-20 for Fountas & Pinnell / Houghton Mifflin. Sean teaches poetry workshops, has an MFA in Writing for Children from Vermont College of Fine Arts, and types his poems on a 1928 Remington Portable typewriter.

Sean joined me today to talk about writing poems on the spot, how slowing your process down can boost your creativity, the difficulty of making money as a poet, and the closeness of the children's lit community.