Podcast Summary: "How the Whiting Awards Have Discovered New Literary Talent for 40 Years"

Podcast Information:

• Title: All Of It
• Host: Alison Stewart
• Episode: How the Whiting Awards Have Discovered New Literary Talent for 40 Years
• Release Date: April 11, 2025
• Description: In this episode, Alison Stewart explores the 40th anniversary of the Whiting Awards with Courtney Hodel, the Director of Literary Programs at the Whiting Foundation. They delve into the significance of the awards, the selection process, and the impact on emerging writers.

Introduction to the Whiting Awards

[00:38] Alison Stewart:
Alison Stewart opens the episode by highlighting the 40th anniversary of the Whiting Awards, a prestigious literary prize awarded annually to 10 emerging writers across fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and drama. She underscores the award's reputation for identifying literary talent before these authors become widely recognized.

• Notable Past Winners: Colson Whitehead, David Foster Wallace, Susan Lori Parks, Tobias Wolff, Jonathan Franzen, Tony Kushner, Victor LaValle, Tracy K. Smith.

[00:38] Alison Stewart:
"The Whiting Awards have a remarkable track record of identifying emerging literary talent before they become household names."

Guest Introduction: Courtney Hodel

Alison introduces Courtney Hodel, describing her as a "literary truffle hunter," emphasizing her role in discovering and nurturing new writers.

[00:38] Alison Stewart:
"Courtney Hodel is the director of Literary Programs at the Whiting Foundation. She has described herself as a literary truffle hunter, and she joins me now to discuss what the hunting process entails."

The Selection Process

Background and Role Transition

[01:43] Courtney Hodel:
Courtney shares her journey from being a literary editor to her current role at the Whiting Foundation since 2013. Her editorial background honed her ability to identify promising writers by reading "deeply and omnivorously."

[02:21] Courtney Hodel:
"I found my heart going to this other place where I thought, you know, the writers have it increasingly hard now... A lot of what we do at the foundation is trying to help them with that work and give them the space and resources to do it."

Selection Criteria

[06:17] Courtney Hodel:
The selection process involves seeking "freshness, surprise, beauty on the page, and striking architecture to the work." The panel of six anonymous judges, experts in their fields, meticulously debates and reviews submissions over the course of a year.

[06:17] Courtney Hodel:
"We're looking for something that makes our breath catch in our throats."

Judge Composition

[07:02] Courtney Hodel:
The judges are renowned figures in the literary world, though their identities remain confidential. They are required to be versatile, engaging with multiple genres to foster dynamic discussions.

[07:02] Courtney Hodel:
"They might be really expert in one field... but they also have to read poetry and nonfiction and novels and have strong considered opinions about those as well."

Significance of the Whiting Award

Recognition and Future Promise

[04:02] Courtney Hodel:
Winning a Whiting Award is not just about past achievements but also about the promise for future contributions. The $50,000 prize provides writers with financial support to pursue more ambitious projects.

[04:02] Courtney Hodel:
"The Whiting Awards signify not just great work that's already been done, but promise for the future."

Industry Impact

[05:04] Courtney Hodel:
The awards are seen as indicators for industry professionals to identify and support emerging talent. The publication of chapbooks featuring new work helps editors and publishers discover and champion these writers.

[05:04] Courtney Hodel:
"Editors look to the Whitings for the writers that they should be paying attention to next."

Examples of Impact

Ocean Huang

[08:39] Courtney Hodel:
Ocean Huang, a 2016 Whiting Award winner in poetry, utilized his prize money to buy a house for his mother, demonstrating how the award can have profound personal and professional impacts. This support enabled him to write his acclaimed novel, Earthly Possessions.

[08:39] Courtney Hodel:
"Buying her this house... allowed his sense of possibility to expand."

Emil Ferris

[10:26] Courtney Hodel:
Emil Ferris published her debut graphic novel, My Favorite Thing Is Monsters, in her late 50s. The Whiting Award provided essential support, leading to critical acclaim and a Pulitzer Prize for her memoir.

[10:26] Courtney Hodel:
"Her book was hailed immediately as a masterpiece... supporting a writer at that point is wonderful."

Trends in Modern Literature

Cross-Genre Writing

[08:05] Courtney Hodel:
A notable trend among the 2025 winners is the fluidity between genres. Writers are no longer confined to a single genre but are experimenting across fiction, poetry, memoir, and drama to best express their ideas.

[08:05] Courtney Hodel:
"Writers are feeling much more emboldened to choose the form that fits the project and let their ideas expand into it."

Impact on Literary Forms

This cross-genre approach enriches the literary landscape, fostering innovation and broadening the scope of storytelling.

Supporting Award Winners Beyond the Prize

Networking Opportunities

[15:28] Courtney Hodel:
Post-award, winners attend an industry lunch, connecting with editors and journalists to commission works and gain media coverage. This effectively "speed dates" them with key industry players.

Financial Literacy

[15:28] Courtney Hodel:
A three-hour financial literacy seminar is provided to help writers manage their prize money, addressing concerns like taxation, debt, savings, and retirement. This support ensures that the financial aspect of their careers is sustainable.

[15:28] Courtney Hodel:
"It's all about trying to help writers keep writing... we want people to be in that chair facing that blank page or screen as long as they can do it."

Reflecting on 40 Years of Whiting Awards

Historical Impact and Memorable Moments

Courtney reminisces about past winners who have gone on to achieve significant success, emphasizing the awards' long-term influence on their careers. She shares anecdotes, such as discovering Anne Boyer's groundbreaking prose poetry collection, which later won a Pulitzer Prize.

[11:34] Courtney Hodel:
"Anne Boyer's 'Garments Against Women' was unlike anything I had ever read... she later won a Pulitzer for her memoir."

Evolving Selection Processes

Courtney discusses the evolution of the award process since its inception in 2015, highlighting the challenges and triumphs in maintaining the award's prestige and integrity.

[14:31] Courtney Hodel:
"We dove into the archives to understand how prizes are selected and tried to carry on the legacy with the same level of excellence."

Conclusion and Further Information

Alison Stewart wraps up the conversation by directing listeners to the Whiting Foundation's website and NPR for more information on the 2025 winners and access to their works.

[17:03] Courtney Hodel:
"You can go to our website, www.whiting.org, or listen to NPR for excerpts and to find their books in your local bookstore."

[17:22] Alison Stewart:
Alison thanks Courtney for her insights and participation.

Key Takeaways:

• The Whiting Awards have a 40-year legacy of identifying and nurturing emerging literary talent.
• The selection process emphasizes originality, beauty, and potential for future contributions.
• The awards provide significant financial support and industry connections, fostering writers' careers.
• Modern literary trends include cross-genre experimentation and boundary-pushing narratives.
• Continued support post-award ensures writers can sustain their creative endeavors.

Notable Quotes:

• Courtney Hodel [02:21]:
  "A lot of what we do at the foundation is trying to help them with that work and give them the space and resources to do it."

• Courtney Hodel [04:02]:
  "The Whiting Awards signify not just great work that's already been done, but promise for the future."

• Courtney Hodel [08:05]:
  "Writers are feeling much more emboldened to choose the form that fits the project and let their ideas expand into it."

For more details on the Whiting Awards and the 2025 winners, visit www.whiting.org or tune into NPR broadcasts featuring excerpts from the winning works.