#183. From Screenwriter to Award-Winning Memoirist: Michael Jamin's Indie Publishing Journey

Fiction Writing Made Easy

Savannah Gilbo

Education, Fiction, Writing Tips, Arts, Bestseller, Writing, How To, Author, Writing Community, Books, Novel, How To Write Fiction, Writing Fiction, Writer, How To Write A Book

4.9 • 1.5K Ratings

🗓️ 4 March 2025

⏱️ 32 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Curious about what it’s like to make the switch from writing for TV to writing books? Or maybe you want to learn writing tips from a screenwriter with decades of experience? Either way, you’re going to love this episode with Michael Jamin. Michael is a TV writer turned author who just published his collection of personal essays, A Paper Orchestra, in 2023. Since then, his book has won a Reedsy Discovery Editor’s Choice Award and has been named one of Vulture’s “Best Comedy Books of 2024.” Mic...

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0:00.0	The thing is that validation from a publisher comes with a giant asterisk anyway.
0:05.5	If they buy a book, it doesn't mean you're a great writer.
0:08.0	And if they turn down your book, it doesn't mean you're not a great writer.
0:10.9	It just means they don't think they can sell it.
0:12.6	They're out for the money.
0:13.4	That's what they want.
0:14.1	It's any good.
0:21.2	It just means people are curious about their lives. I just had to give myself that validation,
0:26.5	or at least let it come from the people who actually read the books.
0:32.0	Welcome to the Fiction Writing Made Easy Podcast.
0:35.1	My name is Savannah Gilbo, and I'm here to help you write a story that works.
0:39.1	I want to prove to you that writing a novel doesn't have to be overwhelming. So each week,
0:43.7	I'll bring you a brand new episode with simple, actionable, and step-by-step strategies that you
0:48.6	can implement in your writing right away. So whether you're brand new to writing or more of a
0:52.9	seasoned author looking to improve your craft, this podcast is for you. So pick up a pen and let's get started.
1:01.1	In today's episode, I'm sharing a conversation with Michael Jammann, who is a screenwriter
1:06.3	turned memoirist and whose book, a paper orchestra, not only debuted at number one in six different
1:12.3	categories on Amazon, but was also just named one of Vulture's best comedy books of 2024.
1:18.6	And you're in for a real treat today because Michael doesn't hold anything back.
1:22.8	He shares both the highs and lows of writing this book, including what it was like to have his book
1:28.1	die on submission, why he chose to self-publish it despite having an agent, and how he made the
1:33.9	transition from writing for TV to writing a book. He also talks about how difficult it was to find
	...

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