The Writing Show

In Episode 2 of "Getting Published, with Janice Ballenger," Janice explained what sorts of responses she got to her agent query letters. In this episode, Janice's search ends.

It may come as no surprise that most published authors don't understand the economics of their industry. This week's guest offers some enlightenment for those of us who are still in the dark. Please join Carolyn Hayes Uber and Paula B. as they explore: Where the money comes from when publishers start up What sources of income publishers have What publishers spend their money on How much booksellers and wholesalers pay for books How Amazon affects publishers and authors What industry practice makes her tear her hair out What she considers the most astonishing fact of publishing economics.

If George Costanza of "Seinfeld" tickles your funnybone, you'll love Rollo Hemphill. Please join Gerald Everett Jones and host Paula B. as they explore: What boychik lit is (and how other genres can be mistaken for it) What first-person narration does for boychik lit How he handles back story in his comic novels What he does with first sentences of chapters (and why it's so easy for him) How his character names relate to the genre Whether boychik lit is a passing fad.

If you've ever wondered how to begin your short story, this show is for you! Please join Melissa Palladino, Randall Brown, and Paula B. as they explore: What a short story beginning should achieve What sorts of beginnings there are Which sorts of beginnings work and don't work How beginnings and endings are related.

Alretha Thomas' plays have received rave reviews. In this high-energy interview, we focus on two of them: a comedy, Reddie Maid Wife, and a drama, Sacrificing Simone. Please join Alretha and host Paula B. as they discuss: What she writes about and why Where she starts when she sets out to write a play Why she uses mistaken identity in her work, and what challenges she faces in using that device Why her works include so many characters What she's learned in directing her own work (and that of others) How her acting background has affected her writing What her overall approach to playwriting is.

With this podcast, we launch our new makeover series. In this fascinating and fun hands-on set of programs, our editors will critique and help you polish your work while The Writing Show community looks on. We start with writer Jim Nevling and the first chapter of his novel Burned. Editor Ann Paden critiques.

On our March 16th show, I explained the importance of the writer's voice and read 14 examples of distinctive voices from well-known authors. Now I reveal the identities of the mystery authors and the names of their works.

Since September of 2006, we've been following Jean as she attempts to find an agent to represent her intergenerational novel Karaoke Nights at the Twilight Lounge. In episode 8, we hear what Jean is going to do about Karaoke Nights, which has not garnered interest from agents. We find out how her children's picture book turned out and learn that she's changed her mind about self-publishing (something she never thought she'd do).

Many people think science is irrelevant to their daily lives. This week's guest has a surprise for them. Please join Diandra Leslie-Pelecky and Paula B. as they explore: Why anyone should care about the physics of auto racing What kinds of science she covers Why she inserted herself into the book How she keeps readers engaged How she documented everything she saw as she did her research How it felt to drive a race car Whether she financed her own travel How being on the front page of The New York Times has changed her life.

This week's guest has been so inspired by the life and accomplishments of one man that he wrote a book about him. Courage to Heal is the fictionalized account of the life of Dr. Sidney Garfield, who changed medicine forever. Please join Paul Bernstein and host Paula B. as they discuss: Why he wrote Sidney Garfield's true story as fiction Why he wrote it in the first person How he did his research Whether he stayed perfectly true to the facts Why most of the book is dialogue What U.S. medicine was like in the 1940s and why Dr. Garfield had to fight so hard to change it.

This show came about in an unconventional way. Journalist Michelle V. Rafter had posted an open question on business network LinkedIn: "For freelancers, reporters and other non-fiction types: how do you write short?" The answers she got were so impressive that we thought, "This would make a great show!" And it does. Michelle's commentary and her responders' tips comprise this brief but pithy podcast full of great techniques for writing short.

If you've ever wondered how to end your short story, this show is for you. Please join Randall Brown, Melissa Palladino, and Paula B. as they explore the possibilities, including: What sorts of short story endings there are What the pros and cons of each choice are Whether particular types of endings are best suited to certain genres or types of stories What sorts of endings don't work How short story endings differ from those of novels and films How short story endings have changed over time.

This week's guest believes there's a vital connection between the self and the story one tells and explains why each writer must make a personal journey. Please join Catherine Ann Jones and Paula B. as they explore: How stories and the self are connected How writers can journey into the self How story is important to people who don't write What determines the success of a story How memory helps writers What the role of the writer in society is.

Benjamin Ajak, Benson Deng, and Alephonsion Deng were all under the age of seven when they were driven from a war-ravaged country. In this deceptively understated memoir, the three boys recall in their own words their harrowing journey to safety. Please join Judy Bernstein and host Paula B. as they ponder: How the three learned to write so well How much editing was involved How Judy integrated their disparate stories How writing the book affected all of them What's next for Benjamin, Alepho, Benson, and Judy.

In our first show on dialogue, we looked at the importance of character agenda. This time we'll examine at a structural issue: interweaving dialogue with narrative. Using examples from Ian Rankin's A Question of Blood and advice from Dialogue: Techniques and Exercises for Crafting Effective Dialogue by Gloria Kempton, we'll test the proposition "When the story is moving too slowly, add dialogue to speed it up."