How To!: How To Write a Bestseller with Taffy Brodesser-Akner

Slate Culture

Slate Podcasts

Arts, Tv & Film, Music

4.4 • 2K Ratings

🗓️ 30 June 2020

⏱️ 34 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Lauren already knows the plot of her bestselling novel—the problem is she hasn’t written a word. Paralyzed by self-criticism and an earlier rejection, this former English major has spent years journaling instead of attempting the scary, difficult work of creative writing. On this episode of How To!, we turn to writer Taffy Brodesser-Akner, whose debut novel Fleishman Is in Trouble, was one of the hottest books of the year. Can she help Lauren finally put pen to paper? The first thing Lauren needs to do, Taffy says, is stop journaling, and start writing. And then keep writing: “You can't get to the good sentences if you don't write the bad ones first.” Next, find a trusted reader, not a cheerleader, to give you honest feedback. And when doubt begins to creep in again, look at the writers you admire and simply ask, “Why them and not me?” Do you have a problem that needs a solution? Send us a note at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Hey how to listeners before we get to this week's episode. I want to let you know that
0:04.7	starting today how to will be on our summer schedule which means we'll be appearing every
0:08.9	other week. That does not mean however we are slowing down inside how-to's headquarters.
0:13.6	We are still trying to solve your problems as fast as we can.
0:17.1	So if you have a question or something we can help with,
0:19.3	send it to us at how-to at slate.com
0:22.4	and look for us every other week in your feed.
0:27.0	If you are in your 40s like I am and you're a woman you have earned a head full of
0:32.1	stories in which someone better than you out there is doing this
0:36.0	Why should you even do this when there's dinner to be made when you already have a good job when your children need you to write a book right now, there are so many forces that are at work
0:49.0	that the first thing I want to say is congratulations for overcoming all of the fear because I already
0:57.2	know that you should be writing a book.
1:00.3	Welcome to How-Toe, I'm Charles Doohick. If you remember back at the beginning of the
1:06.8	pandemic, remember back then? There were all these articles about how we should
1:11.0	make the most of this time at home.
1:13.3	We should get in shape and learn to cook sourdough and take up the guitar.
1:18.0	And while you're at it, why not write the great American novel?
1:22.4	Well, we've gotten a lot of questions from listeners
1:24.9	asking some version of that last one
1:26.6	about writing a book, including this woman.
1:29.4	My name is Lauren, and I work as a
1:35.0	I work as a translator. I translate from Spanish into English.
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Slate Podcasts, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Slate Podcasts and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.