WorkWhile

Samantha Burns & Stacy Boe Miller
  • 4.7 (14)
  • BOOKS
  • WEEKLY SERIES

WorkWhile is a podcast run by us, Sam Burns and Stacy Boe Miller. The two of us have done all kinds of work in our lives--office jobs, parenting, raft guiding--while also trying to be writers. And we're not only trying to fit in writing, but as emerging writers, we're also submitting our writing to journals as well as trying to apply for opportunities that will help us move forward with our writing. So we thought, all these conversations we're having--let's make a podcast about it! Let's talk to other writers who are also doing this kind of work and fitting it into all of the cracks of their lives and see what they have to say about the whole process. Together, we interview writers who inspire us and ask them how they're fitting in writing with full-time employment. The week after, we have an episode where we talk about what we learned from our guest as well as go over our "notes from the slog." The "slog" represents the parts of writing that aren't writing--submission, rejections, acceptances, and all the ups and downs that the writing life entails. If you are a person who is trying to fit in writing, whether for publication or just for fun, this might be the podcast for you.

  1. EPISODE 1

    Oscar Oswald and the Spreadsheet of Doom

    Oscar Oswald, author of Irredenta from Nightboat Books, talks to Sam and Stacy about experimental poetry, the pastoral, and how growing up in Santa Fe, New Mexico, informed how he writes about place. When he isn't at work on his poetry or submission spreadsheets of doom, Oscar is employed as an instructor in the English Department at the University of Idaho.   Learn more about Oscar's work at his website: https://oscaroswald.com/.  You can buy his book directly from Nightboat books: https://nightboat.org/book/irredenta/   Links . . . WorkWhile website   WorkWhile Instagram   WorkWhile Facebook   Stacy's website   Sam's website

    42 min

  2. EPISODE 2

    Slog Notes: Stealing Poems from Seven-Year-Olds

    On this inaugural Slog Notes episode, Sam and Stacy talk about what they learned from their conversation with Oscar, how they're currently balancing their sloggy activities with their corporate jobs, personal rejections, stealing poems from seven-year-olds, and why two bathrobes are always better than one. This episode was recorded in March, 2023.   Links . . . WorkWhile website   WorkWhile Instagram   WorkWhile Facebook   Stacy's website   Sam's website

    43 min

  3. EPISODE 3

    Michael McGriff and the Language of Imagination

    Michael McGriff, author of Eternal Sentences, which was selected as the winner of the Miller Williams Poetry Prize from University of Arkansas, talks to Sam and Stacy about his childhood in rural Oregon, finding inspiration in Pablo Neruda's surreal imagery as a young poet, and why the language of logging is the language of his imagination. Mike serves as Associate Professor and Co-Director of the Creative Writing Program at the University of Idaho, where he was both Sam and Stacy's mentor in the MFA program.   This is Part 1 of Sam and Stacy's conversation with Mike. Part 2 will be released in two weeks.   You can learn more about Mike at his website, https://michaelmcgriff.com/. He is the author of the poetry collections Early Hour, Black Postcards, and Dismantling the Hills in additon to translating Tomas Traströmer's The Sorrow Gondola. Mike is also the editor of a volume of David Wevill's essential writing, To Build My Shadow a Fire, and alongside J.M. Tyree, the co-author of their linked short story collection Our Secret Life in the Movies, which was selected as one of NPR's Best Books of 2014.   Mike has two poetry collections forthcoming, Angel Sharpening Its Beak from Carnegie Mellon University Poetry Press Series and Inquest, winner of the White Pine Press Poetry Prize.    You can order Eternal Sentences directly from the University of Arkansas Press: https://www.uapress.com/product/eternal-sentences/   Links . . . WorkWhile website   WorkWhile Instagram   WorkWhile Facebook   Stacy's website   Sam's website

    56 min

  4. EPISODE 4

    Slog Notes: Sam's Giant Meltdown

    On this Slog Notes episode, Sam and Stacy talk about what they learned from their conversation with Mike, Sam's two writing wins, Stacy's event in Moscow where she wrote poems on the fly for townspeople, and why writing an artistic statement made Sam have a giant meltdown. This episode was recorded in June, 2023.   Links . . . WorkWhile website   WorkWhile Instagram   WorkWhile Facebook   Stacy's website   Sam's website

    44 min

  5. EPISODE 5

    Michael McGriff on the Choice to be Unguarded

    In Part 2 of Sam and Stacy's conversation with Michael McGriff, he talks about his choice to be unguarded instead of hiding behind his own pyrotechnics in Eternal Sentences, how his writing process has changed since becoming a parent, and why it's important to keep reading all the books that give you the most meaning when the world is saying "no" to your work. Mike serves as Associate Professor and Co-Director of the Creative Writing Program at the University of Idaho, where he was both Sam and Stacy's mentor in the MFA program.   This is Part 2 of Sam and Stacy's conversation with Mike.   You can learn more about Mike at his website, https://michaelmcgriff.com/. He is the author of the poetry collections Early Hour, Black Postcards, and Dismantling the Hills in additon to translating Tomas Traströmer's The Sorrow Gondola. Mike is also the editor of a volume of David Wevill's essential writing, To Build My Shadow a Fire and alongside J.M. Tyree, the co-author of their linked short story collection, Our Secret Life in the Movies, which was selected as one of NPR's Best Books of 2014.   Mike has two poetry collections forthcoming, Angel Sharpening Its Beak from Carnegie Mellon University Poetry Press Series and Inquest, winner of the White Pine Press Poetry Prize.    You can order Eternal Sentences directly from the University of Arkansas Press: https://www.uapress.com/product/eternal-sentences/   Links . . . WorkWhile website   WorkWhile Instagram   WorkWhile Facebook   Stacy's website   Sam's website

    58 min

  6. EPISODE 6

    Slog Notes: A Sad-Girl Dip in a Creek

    In this Slog Notes episode, Sam and Stacy talk about what they learned from their conversation with Mike, their wardrobe goals and deadlift goals, Sam's ups and downs from her experiences at Lit Camp and Community of Writers, and Stacy's thoughts about being an emerging writer at midlife. This episode was recorded July, 2023.   Links . . . WorkWhile website   WorkWhile Instagram   WorkWhile Facebook   Stacy's website   Sam's website

    46 min

  7. EPISODE 7

    Daniel Orozco: Fueling Creativity Through a Healthy Sense of Boredom

    Daniel Orozco, author of Orientation, talks to Sam and Stacy about temp jobs, being mesmerized by the Scholastic book fair, the highs and lows of sending out his work earlier in his career, and how a healthy sense of boredom is an essential part of his creative practice. Daniel is Associate Professor Emeritus in the English Department at the University of Idaho.   You can buy Orientation directly from Macmillan or order it from your local book store.   Links . . . WorkWhile website   WorkWhile Instagram   WorkWhile Facebook   Stacy's website   Sam's website

    1h 4m

  8. EPISODE 8

    Slog Notes: Writing Success, Paranormal Romance, and Other Literary Considerations

    In this Slog Notes episode, Sam and Stacy talk about what they learned from their conversation with Daniel, how Stacy is thinking about the definition of success during this stage of her creative practice, and Sam's sci-fi writing revelation. And! Stacy discovers the title of the sexy paranormal romance novel she needs to write. This episode was recorded November, 2023.   Links . . . WorkWhile website   WorkWhile Instagram   WorkWhile Facebook   Stacy's website   Sam's website

    41 min

  9. EPISODE 9

    Sayantani Dasgupta on Following Her Characters, Writing Difficult Women, and Celebrating with Pepsi

    Sayantani Dasgupta, author of Women Who Misbehave, talks to Sam and Stacy about writing her first short story, working as an editor at a publishing house, moving to the U.S. to pursue an MFA, and why reading about a character smashing a mirror always makes Sayantani wonder whose job it is to clean it up. Sayantani is an Associate Professor of Creative Writing at the University of North Carolina, Wilmington. You can learn more about Sayantani at her website, https://www.sdasgupta.com/. She is also the author of a memoir, Firegirl, from Two Sylvias Press as well as a short story collection, Women Who Misbehave from India Viking. Sayantani also recently published her newest essay collection, Brown Women Have Everything: Essays on Discomfort and Delight, from The University of North Carolina Press. You can buy Brown Women Have Everything: Essays on Discomfort and Delight here, her short story collection Women Who Misbehave here, and Firegirl here.   Links . . . WorkWhile website   WorkWhile Instagram   WorkWhile Facebook   Stacy's website   Sam's website

    1h 2m

  10. EPISODE 10

    Season 1 Final Slog Notes: Incorporating Writing Advice and Eating Humble Pie, the Sam Burns and Stacy Boe Story

    In this Slog Notes episode, Sam and Stacy talk about what they learned from their conversation with Sayantani, how Sam has found success incorporating Sayantani's writing advice, and why the #therapy is working. This episode was recorded January, 2024.   Also, dear listener--this is the last episode of Season 1! We hope you enjoyed this podcast as much as we enjoyed making it. Thank you for listening. Your Co-Scribblers, Sam & Stacy    Links . . . WorkWhile website   WorkWhile Instagram   WorkWhile Facebook   Stacy's website   Sam's website

    48 min
See All Season 1 (10)

Trailer

4.7
out of 5
14 Ratings

About

WorkWhile is a podcast run by us, Sam Burns and Stacy Boe Miller. The two of us have done all kinds of work in our lives--office jobs, parenting, raft guiding--while also trying to be writers. And we're not only trying to fit in writing, but as emerging writers, we're also submitting our writing to journals as well as trying to apply for opportunities that will help us move forward with our writing. So we thought, all these conversations we're having--let's make a podcast about it! Let's talk to other writers who are also doing this kind of work and fitting it into all of the cracks of their lives and see what they have to say about the whole process. Together, we interview writers who inspire us and ask them how they're fitting in writing with full-time employment. The week after, we have an episode where we talk about what we learned from our guest as well as go over our "notes from the slog." The "slog" represents the parts of writing that aren't writing--submission, rejections, acceptances, and all the ups and downs that the writing life entails. If you are a person who is trying to fit in writing, whether for publication or just for fun, this might be the podcast for you.

Information

  • Creator
    Samantha Burns & Stacy Boe Miller
  • Episodes
    12
  • Seasons
    1
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2024
  • Show Website
    WorkWhile