Welcome to a tool deep dive episode, where we highlight the features and the challenges of a tool we think you’ll find helpful as a writer. And the tool we’ll be talking about today is writing retreats! These structured environments dedicated to focused writing can be used like a tool to offer writers significant benefits, but also unique challenges for authors of all levels.

Picks of the Week:

BJ: The Risen Empire by Scott Westerfeld

H: Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo

Today, we’ll be talking to writer and teacher Luke Burkbauer. She’s an instructor with Duke’s Thompson Writing program with a wealth of knowledge about writing of all kinds. We’ll discuss academic and nonfiction writing in depth in this episode, exploring how to build confidence as an academic writer, how to develop your writerly identity, and how to use artificial intelligence ethically and creatively within academia. This episode will be a great fit for anyone currently studying or working in higher education, from a college freshman to professors grappling with how to teach writing skills, but any curious writer will benefit.

Mentioned in the Podcast:

Luke’s Scholars at Duke Profile

Luke’s Courses (page 21 and 29)

Luke’s Pick of the Week: Eye of the World (in the Wheel of Time series) by Robert Jordan, narrated by Rosamund Pike

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, narrated by Rosamund Pike

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen, narrated by Rosamund Pike

Have any “sliding doors” or alternative life paths books, movies, poems, or other media that Luke could use for her course? Send us your suggestions at writingwithfriendspodcast@gmail.com.

We’ll be talking about how to use time jumps to add an interesting twist to your writing project! A time jump is when you shift the story forward or backwards in time, often with little or no explanation for why this jump has occurred. It can be as simple as skipping from one day to five years later, or jumping back in time to revisit an event that happened earlier on. Time jumps can be used to add a twist, create suspense, and even reveal new character information. But writing a great time jump can be tricky, so join us as we discuss the pros and cons of using time jump in your writing.

Picks of the Week:

BJ: Source Code (movie) directed by Duncan Jones

H: Arrival (movie) directed by Denis Villeneuve and Interstellar (movie) directed by Christopher Nolan

Mentioned in the Episode:

Aeon Timeline

Welcome to a tool deep dive episode, where we highlight the features and the challenges of a tool we think you’ll find helpful as a writer. And the mindset tool we’ll be talking about today is increasing your luck surface area.

Picks of the Week:

BJ: Wherever You Go, There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn

H: The Flatshare by Beth O’ Leary

Mentioned in the Episode:

Chelsea Mae Cullen Podcast Episode: How to Become The Hero of Your Own Story

James Clear Quote on Luck Surface Area

We’ll be gathering around our metaphorical fireplace for a fireside chat– an honest conversation about how we’re applying a craft topic or tool to our own writing practices, and how you might incorporate this topic or tool into your writing life as well. And the craft topic we’ll be discussing today is how to conquer the dreaded first draft.

Picks of the Week:

• Bad Therapy by Abigail Shrier

• Awakening the Heroes Within: Twelve Archetypes to Help Us Find Ourselves and Transform Our World by Carol Pearson

Mentioned in the Episode:

• S4MINI1: Why Rewrite?
  

We’ll be talking about how to introduce characters effectively and with style! One reason why writing the first draft of a new manuscript can feel so daunting is because you have so many characters to introduce to your reader. How can you communicate to your reader who these characters are and what they care about without derailing the plot or boring them to tears? Our episode today can help!

Picks of the Week:

H: Lies and Weddings by Kevin Kwan

BJ: Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

Mentioned in the Episode:

Writing and Selling Your Mystery Novel by Hallie Ephron

The Sentence is Death by Anthony Horowitz

Welcome to a tool deep dive episode, where we highlight the features and the challenges of a tool we think you’ll find helpful as a writer. And the tool we’ll be talking about today is Grammarly. Grammarly is an AI-powered writing assistant that helps with grammar, spelling, punctuation, and even some style suggestions. It’s like having a personal editor at your fingertips! But there are some downsides to using Grammarly, too. We’ll discuss both the pros and cons of this tool for writers on today’s episode.

Picks of the Week:

H: The Word is Murder by Anthony Horowitz

BJ: Jumper by Steven Gould

Mentioned in the Episode:

Grammarly

Show Notes

Today, we’ll be talking to writer Dr. Alexandra Middleton. She’s an Assistant Professor of medical anthropology at the University of Copenhagen, creative nonfiction writer and essayist, runner, swimmer, and more! Tune in to hear about her career as well as her advice for aspiring writers.

Mentioned in the Episode:

Alexandra’s Work

• https://www.liminalliety.com/ (Alexandra's Website)

• https://therumpus.net/2023/04/11/terra-incognita/

Other Works Mentioned

• https://1000wordsofsummer.substack.com/about

• https://www.oprah.com/spirit/writing-every-day-writers-rules-aimee-bender/all

• https://www.accountabilityworkshops.com/

• https://pod.link/1623390096

• https://lidiayuknavitch.net/

• https://www.melissafebos.com/

• http://www.jordankisner.com/thresholds

• http://link.chtbl.com/tcahp

Craft Books

• Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott

• Steering the Craft by Ursula K. LeGuin

• How to Write an Autobiographical Novel by Alexander Chee

Essays and Books on Motherhood (from The Liminal Substack)

• “The Birth of My Daughter, The Death of My Marriage” by Leslie Jamison

• My Work by Olga Ravn

• “I Shock Myself” from The Ann Friedman Weekly newsletter