Writing Poetry, Writers and Procrastination, Plus True Crime Novels and a Smoky Mountain Family Saga
Podcast: Download (Duration: 3:16:02 — 179.5MB)
In this episode 306, we explore how writers can defeat procrastination–or harness it for good. Plus we talk about how to write poetry, and why; we encounter some amazing true crime stories; and we feature a Smoky Mountains saga.
Today’s Featured Authors:
Avery Caswell Time Stamp: 29:32
Salvation is based on the true story of two young sisters who were kidnapped by a traveling evangelist outside Charlotte, North Carolina, what one award-winning author called a “harrowing novel about delusion and determination, faith and grit, good and evil….a stunning debut by an important talent.”
Kenneth Chamlee Time Stamp: 1:02:52
We feature Kenneth Chamlee’s blog post, “Squeezing the Excess Out of a Poem.”Kenneth’s poetic biography of 19th-century American landscape painter Albert Bierstadt, The Best Material for the Artist in the World, is forthcoming from Stephen F. Austin University Press in 2023, and his new book of poems, If Not These Things, will be published by Kelsay Books in the fall of 2022.
Sheila Myers Time Stamp: 1:56:35
The Truth of Who You Are is a story inspired by actual events and the people who once lived in the Smoky Mountains before it became a National Park, where people use stories to hide uncomfortable truths to protect their home and family, what one author calls “a sweeping family saga full of love, heartbreak, hard times, and the sustaining power of family.”
Benjamin Gilmer Time Stamp: 2:10:53
The Other Dr. Gilmer: Two Men, A Murder, and an Unlikely Fight for Justice tells the true story of what happened when Dr. Benjamin Gilmer took over the rural NC clinic of another Dr. Gilmer, who was beloved and respected until he strangled his ailing father. The ensuing investigation into mental health and our justice system became the basis for one of the most popular This American Life episodes of all time.
Host Updates With Links: Time Stamp: 2:30
Sarah: I just got the next round of studio notes on a romantic comedy feature I’m writing, so I’m back into the writing trenches! I’ve got an event coming up on September 14th with Charlotte Lit where I’ll be talking with author Patrice Gopoabout writing in different forms. And as of the time of recording, I’m looking forward to chowing down on some birthday cake next week!
Hannah: I have an induction date scheduled, so I’m counting down to the arrival of my daughter! In the meantime, I’m fitting in a lot of reading and client work, and as many podcast interviews as I can record.
Landis: I had a great time at the Final Draught discussion and book signing for Deadly Declarations, which benefited the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library Foundation. And I’ve got another book event coming up at a retirement community in Fort Mill.
Book Recommendations: Time Stamp: 11:32
Hannah recommends:
When We Were Bright and Beautiful by Jillian Medoff
Sarah recommends:
All the Colors We Will See by Patrice Gopo
Landis recommends:
Death in the Sunshine by Steph Broadribb
Fore Play by Linda Sheehan
Shades of Fear by Susan Mills Wilson
Mark West, Storied Charlotte Blog, recommends:
The Grand Design by Joy Callaway
Alyssa Pressler, That’s Novel Books, recommends:
The Trouble with Hating You by Sajni Patel
Atonement by Ian McEwan
2-Minute Tip: Time Stamp: 55:10
Don’t miss Charlotte Lit co-founder and creative director Kathie Collins’ tip about the difference between mystery and confusion in poetry.
Writing Tips–Poetry: Time Stamp: 1:02:52
How does a writer distill a poem to its strongest essence?
From Kenneth Chamlee’s blog post “Squeezing the Excess Out of a Poem” we get these tips:
- Think of your poem as a backpacker–it should travel light! You may need to take a poem through multiple rounds of revision to cut extraneous language and thoughts.
- Even if your poem is based on personal experience, it doesn’t need to contain all of the details of the lived experience, and it’s okay to fictionalize. You’re looking for the essence of the experience.
- You should guide your reader towards meaning, but don’t overdirect them. Let them take their own steps on the journey.
Sarah Archer’s Poetry Reading: Time Stamp: 1:18:53
We also checked out some work from Sarah’s poetry chapbook (read online for free!) Weird Women.
Writing Tips–Procrastination: Time Stamp: 1:36:40
How do writers procrastinate, and how can they avoid procrastination, or use it for good?
- Procrastination in one form or another is a writer universal!
- You can look at procrastination as a villain, giving you obstacles to overcome, but it can also assist in your writing journey by forcing space between writing sessions, allowing your subconscious to formulate ideas.
- If you procrastinate by doing something productive, at least you can feel accomplished by checking work off your list!
- Writers can always fill that procrastination space with other writerly tasks: networking, reading, researching, maintaining a website or social media presence, etc.
Landis and his grandfather find some humor in procrastination in his blog post “Procrastination: A Novelist’s Friend or Foe?”.
Thank you to listeners Scott Swoope, Bryan Mitchell, Abagail Summers, and Christine Arvidson for sharing their own procrastination stories!
Takeaways:
We reflected on finding meaning and connection with others through true stories and poetry. And we connected with listeners over the shared experience of procrastination! Give yourself the time and space you need to be creative.
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