390: Idea to Premise to Story: Crafting a Dynamic Short Story - Interview with Charlie Jane Anders

12/29/21 • 50 min

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Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Charlie Jane Anders.

Charlie Jane is the author of the essay collection Never Say You Can’t Survive along with the short story collection Even Greater Mistakes.

Her other books include The City in the Middle of the Night and All the Birds in the Sky. Her fiction and journalism have appeared in the New York Times, the Washington Post, Slate, McSweeney's, Mother Jones, the Boston Review, Tor.com, Tin House, Teen Vogue, Conjunctions, Wired Magazine, and other places.

Her TED Talk, "Go Ahead, Dream About the Future" got 700,000 views in its first week. With Annalee Newitz, she co-hosts the podcast Our Opinions Are Correct.

In this episode Charlie Jane Anders and I discuss:

What makes something an “idea” versus a “story” and how to tell the difference.
How to keep short stories contained while making them rich and deep.
Why she believes endings are hard and what she does to cross the finish line.

Plus, her #1 tip for writers.

For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/390

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Charlie Jane Anders.

Charlie Jane is the author of the essay collection Never Say You Can’t Survive along with the short story collection Even Greater Mistakes.

Her TED Talk, "Go Ahead, Dream About the Future" got 700,000 views in its first week. With Annalee Newitz, she co-hosts the podcast Our Opinions Are Correct.

In this episode Charlie Jane Anders and I discuss:

What makes something an “idea” versus a “story” and how to tell the difference.
How to keep short stories contained while making them rich and deep.
Why she believes endings are hard and what she does to cross the finish line.

Plus, her #1 tip for writers.

For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/390

Previous Episode

389: A Master Class on Short Fiction, Voice, and Opening Lines - Interview with J.L. Torres

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing J.L. Torres.

J.L. is the author of a novel, The Accidental Native, as well as the short collection The Family Terrorist and Other Stories, a collection of poetry, Boricua Passport, and Migrations, a short story collection that won the inaugural Tomás Rivera Book Prize.

He has published stories and poems in numerous journals and magazines including The North American Review, Denver Quarterly, Hayden’s Ferry Review, Eckleburg Review, Puerto del Sol, Las Americas Review, and the anthology Growing Up Latino.

Born in Puerto Rico, raised in the South Bronx, he currently lives in Plattsburgh, New York. In addition to the Ph.D., he also holds an M.F.A. in creative writing from Columbia University.

He co-founded the Saranac Review and served as its Editor for many years. On a more personal note has no known hobbies, has never been in prison or any gangs, has never had quirky and funky jobs and is notoriously inept with tools.

In this episode J.L. Torres and I discuss:

Writing for two audiences and how world building plays a major role in that process.
What factors he considers when selecting the order of stories for a collection.
His definition of “voice” and why it is so important in keeping readers engaged.

Plus, his #1 tip for writers.

For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/389

Next Episode

391: The Medium and the Message: How Poetry Communicates a Deeper Truth - Interview with Ashanti Anderson

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Ashanti Anderson.

Ashanti Anderson (she/her) is a Black Queer Disabled poet, screenwriter, and playwright. Her debut short poetry collection, Black Under, is the winner of the Spring 2020 Black River Chapbook Competition at Black Lawrence Press. Her poems have appeared in World Literature Today, POETRY magazine, and elsewhere in print and on the web.

In this episode Ashanti Anderson and I discuss:

How being an overthinker influences her poetry and the messages she wants to share.
Why setting clear boundaries helps her guide the conversation around her writing.
When she turns to prose poetry and why she thinks it defies hard and fast craft rules.

Plus, her #1 tip for writers.

For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/391