Write About Now

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Write About Now features in-depth interviews with successful writers of all types and stripes—journalists, screenwriters, novelists, ghostwriters, and more. Host, Jonathan Small, takes a deep dive into how writers master their craft, offering tips, inspiration, and laughs for both aspiring and professional scribes.

  1. 26/03

    How This Writer Found Freedom in a Tell-All Memoir

    Courtney Kocak grew up a small-town girl in Jackson, Minnesota, dreaming of becoming an actress. But her path to Hollywood led through some unexpected territory: seven weeks on the Girls Gone Wild tour, abusive relationships, an abortion, and eventually OnlyFans. During that time, she also became a celebrated writer, podcaster, and teacher. It's all laid bare in her new memoir, Girl Gone Wild, which chronicles how she transformed experiences she thought defined her shame into a writing career built on radical honesty. In our juicy conversation we talk about: Witnessing the exploitation tactics on the Girls Gone Wild bus  Raising over $32,000 for Black Lives Matter by offering topless photos to donors How you can be an exhibitionist but not an extrovert Writing dick reviews on OnlyFans as a creative writing exercise The difference between sexploitation and empowerment when it comes to monetizing your looks

    49 min

  2. 2/03

    A Hip Hop Historian on the Records That Started It All

    Jeff Chang, author of Can't Stop Won't Stop, joins the pod to reminisce about when hip hop moved from park jams to mainstream America in the 1980s. From "Rapper's Delight" to Run-DMC's crossover moment to Rakim changing the flow entirely and Public Enemy making it political, Jeff breaks down the turning points. We revisit the so-called golden era debate, why the 80s deserve more respect, and our nomintations for the best rappers of this time.  For more content like this, subscribe to Small Talk  Wanna go to Gen X Con? Sign up

    1 h 17 min

  3. 25/01

    Joyce Maynard on J.D. Salinger, Survival, and Writing Through ADHD

    Joyce Maynard has been writing for 53 years. At 18, she landed on the cover of the New York Times Magazine, caught the eye of J.D. Salinger, and disappeared into a relationship that would define her for decades—until she finally told her story and was called a "predator" by Maureen Dowd. In this conversation, Joyce talks about being canceled before canceling was a thing, surviving as a Me Too survivor before Me Too became a movement, and why she returned to Yale at 65 only to discover she reads in the 17th percentile.  TIMELINE: 00:35 Being canceled before it was a thing 01:47 The New York Times Magazine cover story at 18 03:29 JD Salinger's letter and the beginning of their relationship 04:30 Moving in with Salinger and giving up Yale 05:39 Keeping the secret for 25 years 06:22 Writing "At Home in the World" and the backlash 08:26 When 18-year-olds dating 53-year-olds was "romantic" 09:41 The Charlie Rose interview (and what happened after) 10:27 Why the culture turned against her in 1998 11:23 Can you separate the artist from the art? 13:25 Teaching memoir to women in Guatemala 15:45 Writing family sagas and "How the Light Gets In" 16:31 Growing up in a problematic family 17:00 Mother's writing bootcamp from age 3 22:23 Including real-world events (Trump, January 6th) in fiction 24:09 Writing is not therapy or catharsis 29:43 Throwing away manuscripts that aren't good enough 30:08 Discovering ADHD at Yale at age 65 32:08 The D-minus French exam that changed everything 34:22 Reading in the 17th percentile 36:39 The gift of ADHD 40:39 "You cannot be a writer if you're not a reader" - and why that's wrong 41:48 Character-first vs. plot-first writing 43:33 Never knowing where the story will end (vs. John Irving) 44:18 No outlines - "outline is for a term paper" 46:22 Finding inspiration in news headlines 47:49 Why some stories are memoir and others are fiction 50:48 On sensitivity readers and the transgender character 51:44 When characters display "politically incorrect" attitudes 52:57 Fear of cancellation from the left 53:29 Trigger warnings at Yale and the softening of everything

    1 h 14 min

  4. 2/01

    Inside the Pluribus Writers' Room

    Since its debut on Apple TV Plus, Pluribus has sparked an unusually intense response. Viewers not only watch it, they debate it and project onto it. Executive Producer Alison Tatlock talks about why the series has connected so deeply with audiences. We dig into the emotional problem at the center of the show, how skepticism shapes its characters, and why discomfort is doing more of the storytelling than plot twists or spectacle. We also talk about writing restraint, trusting viewers, and building a world that feels strange but uncomfortably familiar.  Subscribe to my newsletter @jonsmalltalk.substack.com

    53 min

  5. 02/12/2025

    The Money Conversation Writers Can No Longer Avoid

    People in their 50s are confronting a financial reality nobody prepared us for. We grew up assuming steady careers, pensions, and a clear path to retirement. Instead, we're juggling layoffs, credit card debt, college tuition, aging parents, and rising healthcare costs, all while wondering what "retirement" even means anymore. Kerry Hannon and Janna, co-authors of Retirement Bites: A Gen X Guide to Securing Your Financial Future, break down how our generation ended up here and offer practical steps we can take now to build a future that feels possible, not panicked. Even if you're not Gen X, there is practical and useful advice for you here.  Subscribe to my Small Talk substack for more conversation like this

    58 min

  6. 24/11/2025

    3 Keys to Building a Seven-Figure Writing Business

    Former Hollywood TV writer Amy Suto walked away from Hollywood to build a seven-figure freelance writing business. She talks about the 3 pillars that got her there, the Substack tweaks that added $100,000 in value, and why self-publishing can earn more than traditional book deals. Amy's new book is Write for Money and Power: The Anti-Starving Artist's Guide to Becoming a Seven-Figure Writer. Follow us on Substack: Amy Suto Jonathan Small

    1 h 4 min

  7. 17/11/2025

    The Magazine Traditional Media Refuses to Make

    Lili Zarghami spent decades working in women's magazines before realizing none of them were speaking to women like her anymore. After turning 40 and getting laid off, she decided to create Jenny Mag—a digital magazine for Gen X women who don't fit the cookie-cutter mold of traditional women's media. In this conversation, we discuss why dating stories outperform health content, the complicated relationships Gen X women have with their Boomer mothers, what it's like running a magazine on nights and weekends with zero budget, and why owning your platform matters when you've been disposable to corporate publishers one too many times. Lili also opens up about empty nesting with twins, being back in the dating world after 25 years of marriage, and creating content that makes readers say "I thought it was just me."  This episode originally aired on my new podcast Small Talk. Subscribe to Small Talk Podcast Small Talk Substack Jenny Mag

    1 h 3 min

  8. 11/11/2025

    Elizabeth George: Inside the Mind of a Master Crime Writer

    The legendary crime writer talks about how she builds characters, steals voices, mines real communities for detail, and turns dark human behavior into bestselling fiction. We also get into real police sources in London, writing about Nigerian communities and FGM in a way that doesn't get you canceled, and the piece of advice PD James gave her that changed her life forever. Follow me @ jonsmalltalk@substack.com Try AG1 and get a FREE bottle of Vitamin D3K2 AND 5 free AG1 Travel Packs with your first purchase @ drinkAG1.com/writeaboutnow

    53 min
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Sobre

Write About Now features in-depth interviews with successful writers of all types and stripes—journalists, screenwriters, novelists, ghostwriters, and more. Host, Jonathan Small, takes a deep dive into how writers master their craft, offering tips, inspiration, and laughs for both aspiring and professional scribes.

Informação

  • Canal
    Small Talk Media
  • Autoria
    Jonathan Small
  • Anos em atividade
    2017 - 2026
  • Episódios
    100
  • Classificação
    Explícito
  • Copyright
    © 2024
  • Site do programa
    Write About Now

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