Chicago Writers Podcast Dan Finnen

In this episode, author Cyn Vargas discusses emotion, the novella, discovering the length of a story, trusting the process, family dynamics in fiction, young perspective, providing for the reader, residencies, finishing your story, and finding what is not being said between characters.
 
https://www.cynvargas.com/
 
https://www.storystudiochicago.org/

In this episode, Rowan Beaird discusses having two agents at once, the debut novel, revision, reducing character count, copyedits, timelines, a scene's purpose, elements of great short stories, and the importance of community.
 
https://www.rowanbeaird.com/
 
https://www.storystudiochicago.org/ 

In this episode, YA and middle grade author Kat Falls discusses worldbuilding, reading aloud, what first person POV can do for your story, how screenplay writing connects to middle grade, loving your genre, and the power of awe.
 
https://www.katfalls.net/

In this episode, Dionna Griffin-Irons discusses improv, curiosity, how we're all characters, being comfortable with the unknown, and finding truth.
 
Dionna Griffin-Irons
http://dionnagriffinirons.com/
 
Stories Matter Foundation
https://www.storystudiochicago.org/

Rachel
I Done Clicked My Heels Three Times by Taylor Byas (and here's the interview I mentioned: https://chireviewofbooks.com/2023/08/24/navigating-form-and-structure-in-i-done-clicked-my-heels-three-times/)
Brother & Sister Enter the Forest by Richard Mirabella (and here's the essay I mentioned: https://chireviewofbooks.com/2023/03/29/writing-my-novel-wasnt-therapy/)
Solito by Javier Zamora
A Country You Can Leave by Asale Angel-Ajani
The In-Betweens by Davon Loeb
Company by Shannon Sanders
I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai (and here's the interview I mentioned: https://chireviewofbooks.com/2023/03/02/getting-into-the-gray-area-in-i-have-some-questions-for-you/)
 
Michael
Who is the City For? By Blair Kamin
I Done Clicked My Heels Three Times by Taylor Byas
Open Throat by Henry Hoke
The Rabbit Hutch by Tess Gunty
Enough to Lose by R.S. Deeren
The Quail Who Wears the Shirt by Jeremy T. Wilson
Veniss Underground by Jeff VanderMeer
I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai
And then a few I didn't get to talk about but want to throw out there:
Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward
Dr. No By Percival Everett
The New Naturals by Gabriel Bump
 
Greg
Wellness, by Nathan Hill
I Could Live Here Forever, by Hannah Halperin
Bliss Montage, by Ling Ma
Sun House, by David James Duncan
From Dust To Stardust, by Kathleen Rooney
Here are two more Chicago novels I loved this year:
Good Night, Irene, by Luis Alberto Urrea
Hot Springs Drive, by Lindsay Hunter

Signups are open for the Novelist's Toolkit online class with Rebecca Makkai! Check it out at https://www.storystudiochicago.org/classes/classes/the-novelists-toolkit-six-lessons-on-craft-structure-and-tenacity-with-rebecca-makkai/
 
Rebecca Makkai
https://rebeccamakkai.com/
 
Stories Matter Foundation
https://www.storystudiochicago.org/