What does it actually take to develop a craft? In this conversation with Alice Sudlow and Kim Kessler of Novel Atelier, we’ll dig into the Renaissance workshop model they follow, why psychological safety is a prerequisite for growth, and how we can survive this algorithmic digital dark age together. This is a bit longer than our usual episodes here, and it’s clearly my first run at a video format. I do hope you’ll stick with us, though, because we’re unpacking so much more than the ins and outs of a fiction space. The story under the story is that Kim and I met when she was new to Scribe Media but a year+ into her time at Story Grid just as I was new to Story Grid and well-worn in my time at Scribe. If you aren’t knee deep in writing industry gossip, both of those companies have now had very public meltdowns (public to this niche, anyway). But we were never in those spaces for those spaces. Not really. We were there for the authors. The stories. The art of story. The people who had gathered for similar reasons. The nerdy analysis. The power and potential. We were there for each other. And we stayed that way, zooming endlessly all throughout COVID, and eventually bringing Alice into our “Epic Work Sesh” or “Big Ol’ Zoom Session” lines for, honestly, most hours of the day. The more we showed up for each other, the more we grew as practitioners and as people. The more we grew, the clearer our purpose became, the less any of the other stuff mattered. Though, let’s be clear: it has been the challenge of my life to survive getting kicked out of the nest when Scribe collapsed, and it is a grief-riddled mess to watch Story Grid go through a similar shake-up. It hasn’t been easy. But it has always been clear that our work is far bigger than the containers we first found it in. And the work itself is what this conversation is about. You’ll hear very little about the drama, the meltdowns, the inside scoops that any of us could give you at any moment. Just like I remind my authors (looking VERY closely at you, Magentas and Yellows), the salacious details aren’t what matters. Not only do we not owe a single person the hardest parts of our stories—often, those aren't the parts that a person needs anyway. Instead, you’ll see what we’ve forged from that fire. You’ll hear our passion for the authors, the art of story, the nerdy analysis, and each other. You’ll hear what we’re building out of the ashes, alongside each other, for you. And you’ll be reminded, once again, that there is a space for you. Fiction or nonfiction. Polished or messy. Career author with a stack of book ideas to wade through or reluctant drafter with a brilliant life to protect as you write. You’ve got this. And we’ve got you. I believe we’re already in a digital dark age, and I believe even harder in our ability to reimagine our own renaissance. Learn more about what’s possible for nonfiction with me and fiction with the Novel Atelier. And as always, you are welcome to subscribe to B is for Book Coach right here, on Substack, or wherever your podcasts are found—now (finally!) available on YouTube, as well. Get full access to B is for Book Coach at bisforbookcoach.substack.com/subscribe
