The Working Writer Podcast

Tia Levings
  • 5.0 (5)
  • BOOKS
The Working Writer Podcast

The Working Writer explores the many ways there are to make a sustainable living with words. Featuring interviews with authors, agents, and publishing professionals across the industry.

  1. Demystifying the Agent Process

    12/17/2024

    Demystifying the Agent Process

    Join us for a brand-new installment of the Working Writer Podcast! Today, we're excited to feature Trinity McFadden, a distinguished senior literary agent with a deep commitment to promoting diverse and underrepresented voices in the publishing industry. Trinity shared her journey from her early love of literature, through various roles in publishing, to her current impactful role in agenting where she champions innovative and untested authors. This episode is packed with invaluable advice for both authors and industry professionals. Don't miss it! Order A Well-Trained Wife!  Free Fundie Cheatsheet⁠ ⁠ The Anti-Fundamentalist : tialevings.substack.com⁠⁠  Instagram: @tialevingswriter⁠⁠  TikTok : @tialevingswriter⁠⁠ Connect with Trinity McFadden: • Website: Trinity McFadden  • Instagram: @trinityjmcfadden

    36 min
  2. Bringing a Memoir to Life

    12/10/2024

    Bringing a Memoir to Life

    Welcome to another episode of The Working Writer Podcast! I had the fantastic opportunity to speak with Cait West, author of Rift: A Memoir of Breaking Away from Christian Patriarchy. We explored how our religious backgrounds impact our writing, touching on themes like horror in literature and the balance between creativity and darker story elements. Cait shared her journey of faith deconstruction and finding her voice amidst patriarchal pressures. We discussed the emotional and technical sides of book publishing, the challenges of recounting personal tales, and the importance of managing emotional energy during the creative process. Tune in to hear compelling stories of confronting past traumas, embracing healing, and the ongoing journey of personal and professional growth. Whether you’re a writer, a reader, or navigating your own path, this episode offers enlightening perspectives on harnessing your narrative amidst life's complexities. Order A Well-Trained Wife! Free Fundie Cheatsheet ⁠⁠ The Anti-Fundamentalist : tialevings.substack.com⁠⁠ Instagram: @tialevingswriter ⁠⁠ TikTok : @tialevingswriter ⁠⁠  Connect with Cait West:  • Rift : A Memoir of Breaking Away from Christian Patriarchy  • Website: Cait West  • Instagram: @caitwestwrites  • Twitter: @caitwestwrites

    39 min
  3. Powerhouse Mindset

    07/23/2024

    Powerhouse Mindset

    Bethny Ricks is the author of the memoir, FACE FORWARD : RECLAIMING HOPE WHEN EVERYTHING FALLS APART. Face Forward is the story of how Bethny navigated failure and setbacks with unwavering faith. We talked about the importance of finding an agent who truly believes in your work and the impact of personality traits on creativity. Bethany shared her powerful journey from corporate HR to becoming a published poet, emphasizing the value of solitude, self-advocacy, and the freedom writing brings. We also explored maintaining boundaries, the need for rest, and prioritizing genuine connections over social media metrics. Don't miss this episode; it's packed with insights on resilience, creativity, and living authentically.  Pre-order ⁠A Well-Trained Wife⁠!  Free Fundie Cheatsheet ⁠⁠ The Anti-Fundamentalist : tialevings.substack.com  ⁠Instagram: @tialevingswriter ⁠⁠ TikTok : @tialevingswriter ⁠⁠ Connect with Bethny Ricks: • Face Forward : Reclaiming Hope When Everything Falls Apart  • Website: Bethny Ricks  • Instagram: @bethnyricks

    50 min
  4. Anchor Clients & Antarctic Expeditions

    07/22/2024

    Anchor Clients & Antarctic Expeditions

    You may want to start ironing your pajamas after this episode! Topics include: opening creative space, building more brain, time management, anchor clients, productive rest, and a quantum leap for writing. Yi Shun Lai, author of A Suffragist’s Guide to the Antarctic, joins us to discuss her novel about an American suffragist who embarks on an Antarctic expedition during the Golden Age of exploration. Her journey evolves from a quest for equality to a fight for survival after their ship is crushed in ice. Our conversation covers the disparities faced by writers of color, the lack of ADHD research in girls, and Yi Shun's upcoming books set in the Antarctic and Death Valley. We also delve into productivity tips, the power of a "second brain," and the impact of cultural conditioning on creativity. Don’t miss this enriching discussion—tune in to hear more! Pre-order A Well-Trained Wife!  Free Fundie Cheatsheet ⁠⁠ The Anti-Fundamentalist : tialevings.substack.com⁠⁠ Instagram: @tialevingswriter ⁠⁠ TikTok : @tialevingswriter ⁠⁠ Connect with Yi Shun Lai: • A Suffragist’s Guide to the Antarctic  • Website: Yi Shun Lai  • Instagram: @yishunlai  • Twitter: @gooddirt  Mentioned Resources: • Building A Second Brain  • Tiago Forte

    58 min
  5. The Loneliness Files: Athena Dixon

    10/03/2023

    The Loneliness Files: Athena Dixon

    Athena Dixon is a poet, essayist, and editor. And today is a HUGE day for her--her latest book, THE LONELINESS FILES, releases today! Happy launch day, Athena! Additionally, her work is included in the anthology The BreakBeat Poets Vol.2: Black Girl Magic and her craft work appears in Getting to the Truth: The Craft and Practice of Creative Nonfiction. Athena is an alumna of VONA, Callaloo, and Tin House and has received a prose fellowship from The Martha’s Vineyard Institute of Creative Writing. Born and raised in Northeast Ohio, Athena now resides in Philadelphia. Our convo explores the realities of being a working writer on a single income, how to find clearings in a calendar year to focus on deep writing and maintain project diversity. I hope you enjoy listening. Connect with Athena: AthenaDixon.com On Instagram: @the_muse_paper Connect with Tia: Free Fundie Cheatsheet : ⁠⁠Fundie Cheatsheet⁠⁠ The Anti-Fundamentalist: ⁠⁠tialevings.substack.com⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠**@tialevingswriter**⁠⁠ TikTok : ⁠⁠**@tialevingswriter**⁠⁠ Book with Me for Content Coaching: ⁠⁠Tia's 1 on 1 Calendar⁠⁠

    41 min
  6. Breaking the Silence: Melanie Brooks

    09/26/2023

    Breaking the Silence: Melanie Brooks

    Author Melanie Brooks recently released her memoir of growing up forced to hide her father's painful secret-- his HIV/AIDS diagnosis after a blood transfusion. Join us for this broad conversation that shares the journey of writing A HARD SILENCE, as well as: narrative medicine and how it uses storytelling to lead to better healthcare what it means to "do many things" as a working writer book launch perspectives WRITING HARD STORIES, Melanie's other book Connect with Melanie: MelanieBrooks.com @MelanieJMBrooksWriter on social media Free Fundie Cheatsheet : ⁠⁠Fundie Cheatsheet⁠⁠ The Anti-Fundamentalist : ⁠⁠tialevings.substack.com⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠@tialevingswriter⁠⁠ TikTok : ⁠⁠@tialevingswriter⁠⁠ Book with Me for Content Coaching: ⁠⁠Tia's 1 on 1 Calendar⁠⁠

    47 min
  7. Paying the Rent with Words: Ryan G. Van Cleve

    09/19/2023

    Paying the Rent with Words: Ryan G. Van Cleve

    Ryan G. Van Cleve is an award-winning author, keynote speaker, teacher, and writing coach. They run the creative writing major at the Ringling College of Art and Design which has an annual free-to-enter creative writing contest for high school students. They serve as Editor at Bushel & Peck, which publishes exciting titles for kids, tweens, and teens. They're also not-so-secretly known as the Picture Book Whisperer™–the industry’s go-to person to help celebrities and high-profile clients write and sell children’s books. In this episode, Ryan shares a lifetime of hard-earned wisdom for every writer's practical challenge: how to pay the bills as a writer. We discuss maintaining multiple streams of income, setting realistic goals and expectations, and how writing opportunities you may not have considered can empower your overall career. Find Ryan at the links above or at RyanGVanCleve.com Writing Memoir for Dummies The Weekend Book Proposal Writing Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Horror for Dummies Free Fundie Cheatsheet : ⁠Fundie Cheatsheet⁠ The Anti-Fundamentalist : ⁠tialevings.substack.com⁠ Instagram: ⁠@tialevingswriter⁠ TikTok : ⁠@tialevingswriter⁠ Book with Me for Content Coaching: ⁠Tia's 1 on 1 Calendar⁠

    39 min
  8. You Had Me at the Query: Stash Author, Laura Cathcart Robbins

    09/12/2023

    You Had Me at the Query: Stash Author, Laura Cathcart Robbins

    Laura Cathcart Robbins is the author of the "quitlit" memoir, STASH: MY LIFE IN HIDING. Stash is Laura’s story of addiction, motherhood, imposter syndrome, being a woman of color, divorce, and privilege. Our conversation digs into her book journey and we had some frank and honest dialog about book promotion and the hard work of publishing well. We also delved into writing and relationships, what it means to be a writer, and the power of a great query letter––which in Laura's case, was a powerful portal to success. Free Fundie Cheatsheet : Fundie Cheatsheet The Anti-Fundamentalist : tialevings.substack.com Instagram: @tialevingswriter TikTok : @tialevingswriter Book with Me for Content Coaching: Tia's 1 on 1 Calendar Connect with Laura Cathcart Robbins : Stash : My Life in Hiding theonlyonepod.com instagram.com/lauracathcartrobbins twitter.com/lauracrobbins

    45 min
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The Working Writer explores the many ways there are to make a sustainable living with words. Featuring interviews with authors, agents, and publishing professionals across the industry.

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