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The Easy Chair
This week marks the return of "Mightier Than the Sword," the advice podcast for writers. Co-host Stephanie Spaulding and I field a great question from Eric, an astrophysicist/aspiring writer Stephanie met recently. Something is holding Eric back from taking the writing plunge: he finds the challenges of character development and believable dialog intimidating. Stephanie and I reveal our personal go-to strategies for creating believable characters who use authentic dialog, some orthodox, some decidedly less so. Some might be a little freaked out about a few of our borderline stalker methods, but that’s okay. Just like love and war, when it comes to writing, we figure all’s fair. Tune in! Next week: it’s a short story. I’m not sure what it will be about or even where it’s coming from, but I have no doubt you’ll love it. And please, keep those writing questions coming. Email me and Steph at [email protected] with “Mightier Than the Sword” in the subject line. On-line daters with stories to tell me and Hannah, same email address, but “Shoulda Swiped Left” in the subject line. We ALL look forward to hearing from you! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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The Easy Chair
This week’s episode: Shoulda Swiped Left, with Hannah and Jake. It has been a busy month in lots of ways and believe me when I tell you Hannah’s got stuff to talk about. The news is not all bad, but human relationships are never without complications. Jake and Hannah have different approaches to dealing with guys who go M.I.A.. You’ll see what I mean when you tune in to this interesting and enlightening episode. Next week: it’s a return to Mightier Than the Sword, the advice podcast for writers! Co-host Stephanie Spaulding has a question from an astrophysicist who hopes to try his hand at writing but is challenged by the prospect of creating character through dialogue. (One of our less orthodox suggestions: eavesdropping). We also have some slightly more socially acceptable strategies. As always, if you have dating stories or are seeking writing advice or the chance to add your two cents on either subject, send an email to [email protected], with either “Shoulda Swiped Left” or “Mightier Than the Sword” in the subject line. We ALL want to hear from you! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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The Easy Chair
This week, I pass the microphone to Stephanie Spaulding, who guest hosts “Safe in the Black Sand,” by author Danny Stone. (Actually, I wind up taking the mic back because Danny’s story and the conversation it sparked were impossible to resist). In Danny’s lyrical and haunting novella, protagonist Jax’s transgender sister Angelica is the victim of a brutal hate crime. To save Angelica, Jax must descend into the chaotic miasma of his father’s hallucinatory brain, to a place where profound, necessary, and all but forgotten truths are buried. "To forget is not to delete". Trust me: you will not want to miss this story. Next week, It’s Shoulda Swiped Left, with Hannah and Jake touching base on dating developments. The week after that, it’s another episode of Mightier Than the Sword, where Steph and I offer tips and insights to writers. Stories for Shoulda Swiped Left and questions for Mightier Than the Sword go to [email protected]. Be sure to put the intended podcast in the subject line. We want to hear from you! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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The Easy Chair
This week, Stephanie Spaulding and I are back with Mightier Than the Sword, the bi-monthly advice podcast for writers. In this episode we welcome our first guest: author, essayist, and poet Cameron Gearen. Cameron joins us remotely from her hometown of Chicago with insightful, practical advice on how to deal with the bane of every writer’s existence: writer’s block. Whether the case is chronic or acute, Cameron, Stephanie, and I offer up our go-to prescriptions. A useful takeaway for every writer suffering from this frustrating affliction is guaranteed. Cameron’s brilliant collection of poetry, Some Perfect Year, was recently published, so she knows what she's talking about. It’s a fun and enlightening conversation. And, if you have any writing questions, please send them our way at [email protected] with “Mightier Than the Sword” in the subject line. Stephanie and I would love to feature them on an upcoming episode. Next week: new writer, new story! I’ll be joined by writer Danny Stone. He’s got a great story to share. Shoulda Swiped Left is up after that. Hannah and Jake will be checking in to tell of on-line dating developments in Hannah’s life. Do you have a dating story you’d like to share? Send it along to [email protected] with “Shoulda Swiped Left” in the subject line. We want to hear from you! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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The Easy Chair
This week’s episode: Blog Jam. I picked some of my favorite posts from my nearly eight-year-old blog, Lolliblog, ranging from funny to reflective. My blog isn’t thematic or even consistent, just the daily musings of a woman who lives to write and is trying her best to put into words the three Es- experience, emotion, and existence. How did I feel about my daughter Eliza's penchant for dressing like her brother? Is it true that the best piece of prose I ever read was written by some high school student on her college application? Do I think that Lizzie Borden ax murdered her parents? And what, or whom, comprises a playdate from hell? Tune in. You will be surprised, but you won’t be disappointed. Promise. Daters: Email me and Hannah at [email protected]. com to have your dating story shared (anonymously) on the next episode of Shoulda Swiped Left, with “Shoulda Swiped Left” in the subject line. Writers seeking or offering insights: write to me and Steph Spaulding, same email address, with “Mightier Than the Sword” in the subject line. We ALL want to hear from you! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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The Easy Chair
This week, it’s Mightier Than the Sword #3! Co-host Stephanie Spaulding and I have a question from a new writer about blogging. Does vetting- something artists in every form turn to, before launching their creative work into the world- have a critical place in the blogger’s universe? Stephanie and I weigh in. Our fears, insecurities, and tendencies to wear our hearts on our pens might surprise you. What makes for a successful blog post? How do we feel when our message is overlooked but our grammar is nitpicked? Find out. This is a freewheeling episode. I go off on tangents, and Steph reins me in. I think this is what they call co-hosting chemistry. Writers out there- ask us questions! Give us your opinions! Stephanie and I are here for you. Write in to [email protected], with Mightier Than the Sword in the subject line. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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The Easy Chair
It’s Shoulda Swiped Left #17, and it’s totally THE BEST. So much gets discussed: the virtues and rewards of being your true self. Breaking up, both badly and less so. Guilt. Ghosting. An earnest email from a fan with a link to …porn? Maybe we’re just confused. Join me, Hannah, and Jake for a super long, even more super worth it Shoulda Swiped Left episode that’s funny, real, and surprising. Next week: “Mightier Than The Sword” with Stephanie Spaulding. We’d love to take on your writing related questions! Send them to [email protected], with Mightier Than the Sword in the subject line. Daters out there: same email address, with “Shoulda Swiped Left” in the subject line. We want to hear from you. This Easy Chair episode is brought to you by none other than Blue Apron. It’s the #1 fresh food delivery service for a reason! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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The Easy Chair
This week’s episode: “Learning to Dress My Mother” by Australian writer Rosemary Jones. Rosemary has written a moving micro-memoir about the shift in roles between her mother- a former word-loving historian, now an octogenarian with Alzheimer’s- and her. Guaranteed, tears will mix with laughter as Rosemary recounts the assumption of her new role: handmaiden. She wasn’t raised to be one. Unless, perhaps, she was. Next week, it’s Shoulda Swiped Left Episode 17! Hannah and Jake came home for the holidays where they got a chance to really catch up on any number of things, from relationship status to real estate investment. Stuff is happening. It’s a great, high-energy episode. If you have a dating story, send it along to [email protected] with Shoulda Swiped Left in the subject line, and we will happily share it (anonymously, of course!). If it’s writing advice you seek from me and Stephanie Spaulding, just put Mightier Than the Sword in the subject line. We’d love to hear from you! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
