54 min listen
Steve Almond, author of “Truth is the Arrow, Mercy is the Bow”
FromWriters on Writing: A Weekly Podcast for Writers, Readers, & Book Lovers
Steve Almond, author of “Truth is the Arrow, Mercy is the Bow”
FromWriters on Writing: A Weekly Podcast for Writers, Readers, & Book Lovers
ratings:
Length:
66 minutes
Released:
Apr 8, 2024
Format:
Podcast episode
Description
Steve Almond is the author of twelve books of fiction and nonfiction, including the New York Times bestsellers Candyfreak and Against Football. You can check those out here.
His recent books include the novel All the Secrets of the World, which has been optioned for television by 20th Century Fox, and William Stoner and the Battle for the Inner Life.
For four years, Steve hosted the New York Times Dear Sugars podcast with his pal Cheryl Strayed. He is the recipient of a 2022 NEA grant in fiction, and his short stories have been anthologized in the Best American Short Stories, The Pushcart Prize, Best American Erotica, and Best American Mysteries series. He also publishes crazy, DIY books.
His latest is Truth is the Arrow, Mercy is the Bow: A DIY Manual for the Construction of Stories. He joins Marrie Stone to talk about it, including what this book adds to the conversation of craft. Steve also shares several of the books he’s found useful in his own creative endeavors including A Burning by Megha Majumdar, The Wife by Meg Wolitzer, Wild by Cheryl Strayed and Memorial Drive by Natasha Trethewey.
They talk about why childhood experiences consistently provide writers their material, and how to recognize when you’re being authentically true to your story versus performing for your audience. They also discuss elements of plot, character, managing time in fiction, writers block, and more.
For more information on Writers on Writing and extra writing perks, visit our Patreon page. To listen to past interviews, visit our website. Support the show by buying books at our bookstore on bookshop.org. We’ve stocked it with titles from our guests, as well as some of our personal favorites. You’ll support independent bookstores and our show by purchasing through the store. Finally, on Spotify listen to an album’s worth of typewriter music like what you hear on the show. Look for the artist, Just My Type. Email the show at writersonwritingpodcast@gmail.com. We love to hear from our listeners.
(Recorded on April 1, 2024)
Host: Barbara DeMarco-Barrett
Host: Marrie Stone
Music and sound editing: Travis Barrett (Stream his music on Spotify, Apple Music, Etc.)
His recent books include the novel All the Secrets of the World, which has been optioned for television by 20th Century Fox, and William Stoner and the Battle for the Inner Life.
For four years, Steve hosted the New York Times Dear Sugars podcast with his pal Cheryl Strayed. He is the recipient of a 2022 NEA grant in fiction, and his short stories have been anthologized in the Best American Short Stories, The Pushcart Prize, Best American Erotica, and Best American Mysteries series. He also publishes crazy, DIY books.
His latest is Truth is the Arrow, Mercy is the Bow: A DIY Manual for the Construction of Stories. He joins Marrie Stone to talk about it, including what this book adds to the conversation of craft. Steve also shares several of the books he’s found useful in his own creative endeavors including A Burning by Megha Majumdar, The Wife by Meg Wolitzer, Wild by Cheryl Strayed and Memorial Drive by Natasha Trethewey.
They talk about why childhood experiences consistently provide writers their material, and how to recognize when you’re being authentically true to your story versus performing for your audience. They also discuss elements of plot, character, managing time in fiction, writers block, and more.
For more information on Writers on Writing and extra writing perks, visit our Patreon page. To listen to past interviews, visit our website. Support the show by buying books at our bookstore on bookshop.org. We’ve stocked it with titles from our guests, as well as some of our personal favorites. You’ll support independent bookstores and our show by purchasing through the store. Finally, on Spotify listen to an album’s worth of typewriter music like what you hear on the show. Look for the artist, Just My Type. Email the show at writersonwritingpodcast@gmail.com. We love to hear from our listeners.
(Recorded on April 1, 2024)
Host: Barbara DeMarco-Barrett
Host: Marrie Stone
Music and sound editing: Travis Barrett (Stream his music on Spotify, Apple Music, Etc.)
Released:
Apr 8, 2024
Format:
Podcast episode
Titles in the series (100)
Legal Thriller Novelist Scott Turow, author of “Suspect”: Scott Turow, author of Suspect, talks with Marrie Stone about his new novel, creating enduring characters, writing from the first person POV of a young, bisexual female, creating compelling settings, and so much more. Scott will appear at the Miami Book Fair on Saturday, November 19 in conversation with Craig Johnson and Brad Meltzer. The Miami Book Fair is the nation's largest gathering of writers and readers of all ages. It takes place Sunday, November 13 through Sunday, November 20. Please visit www.miamibookfair.com. For more information on Writers on Writing and additional writing tips, visit our Patreon page (www.patreon.com/writersonwriting). To listen to past interviews, visit our website (www.writers-on-writing.com). (Recorded in November 2022) Host: Barbara DeMarco-Barrett Co-Host: Marrie Stone Music and sound design: Travis Barrett by Writers on Writing: A Weekly Podcast for Writers, Readers, & Book Lovers