Podcast
Finding the Throughline with Kate Hanley
Hosted by Kate Hanley · EN
Finding the Throughline: Conversations about the Creative Process invites you into the minds of writers and other creatives as they open up about their process, their doubts, and what kinds of changes they’re thinking about making. The questions are mildly invasive, honestly, and the answers are unvarnished…and so refreshing!
Whether your creative work is writing, painting, making music, parenting, or simply living, Finding the Throughline can help you get—and stay—inspired. Invigorated, even.
For detailed show notes on each interview, visit katehanley.substack.com. And if you’d like to hear these interviews in one ad-free episode (as opposed to broken up into three shorter episodes with a few ads sprinkled in to keep the lights on), become a paid subscriber once you’re there.
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54episodes
Episodes
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[Crystal King, inner stuff]: Falling in love with your story cures a lot of writing ills Ep 1246
Jan 2800:19:11Tap to summarizeWelcome back to part two of my interview with Crystal King, author of the bestselling food-laden novels, “In the Garden of Monsters,” “The Chef’s Secret,” and “Feast of Sorrow.” Her newest novel, “The Happiness Collector,” is a contemporary fantasy novel about an American historian who lands a dream job in Rome--and may or may not be an unwitting pawn in battle of the gods.In today’s interview we cover:- How she comforts herself when impostor syndrome kicks in- The inner critic narrative that’s unique to mystery writers (I hadn’t considered this one before)- The uncanny experience of listening to the audiobook version of your book- How a brush with breast cancer has changed her writing–and life–goals- The gender norms she’s done with- The tools she’s learned from reading the StoicsVisit Crystal at crystalking.com or on Substack @crystalking.For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com.Thank you for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →[Crystal King, practical matters]: The two ways to make it in publishing Ep 1245
Jan 2600:26:37Tap to summarizeMy guest this week is Crystal King, author of the novels “In the Garden of Monsters”--a retelling of the Hades and Persephone myth–“Feast of Sorrow”--about an ancient Roman gourmand–”The Chef’s Secret”--about the pope’s private chef during the Renaissance--and the brand new “The Happiness Collector,” about a modern-day history professor who lands her dream job in Rome where it slowly becomes apparent that ancient forces are still very much in play.Crystal is a Pushcart Prize–nominated poet and former co-editor of the (now defunct) online literary arts journal Plum Ruby Review. She has taught writing, creativity and social media at UMass Boston, Boston University, Mass College of Art, Harvard Extension School, and Grub Street.In today’s episode, we cover:- Why she’s obsessed with Italy- Her master’s degree in the coolest subject I never realized was an area of study: critical and creative thinking- The master’s thesis she was sure could be a book (until agents told her, no actually, it can’t)- How teaching writing led to her writing her first novel- The two ways to make it in publishing (and the path she’s chosen)- Her one regret in life- How her day job in marketing, social media, and AI helps her as a writer- A frank talk about the financial side of being an author- The cool ways she comes up with ideas- How she writes a book in six months, with a full-time day job- Her plug for writing every dayVisit Crystal at crystalking.com or on Substack @crystalking.For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com.Thank you for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →[Jane Roper: What’s coming up]: That moment when you can clearly see the recurring themes in your creative work–heck, in your life Ep 1187
Mar 7, 202500:16:15Tap to summarizeWelcome back to the final installment of the Finding the Through Line interview with Jane Roper, author of the novel “The Society of Shame,” which is a finalist for the Thurber Prize in American Humor, and a memoir, “Double Time: How I Survived and Mostly Thrived Through the First Three Years of Mothering Twins.” I discovered Jane through her Substack newsletter called Jane's Calamity, where she writes about being a writer, aging, failing at mindfulness and having too much Tupperware among other things.Today, we're going to find out what's currently brewing for Jane and what she knows at this moment about where her personal through line is leading her next, as well as what kinds of things she's been reading, watching, and listening to lately.- Moment of respect for creatives who are doing work in multiple genres- The beauty of a personal writing retreat- Figuring out the recurring themes in your work (which can only happen when you continue to produce work!)- The link between majoring in anthropology and becoming a novelist- Preparing mentally for her twins to leave home and go to college- The (perhaps unlikely) dream: Letting go of the copywriting work- The Netflix series she devoured- An ode to half-caff coffee- The 10,000 calorie meal she’d request if someone wanted to dazzle her tastebudsConnect with Jane at janeroper.com.For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com.Thank you for listening!And thanks to this week’s sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →[Jane Roper, inner stuff]: Permission to screw up + feeling like the worst person in the MFA program Ep 1186
Mar 5, 202500:19:11Tap to summarizeHere’s part two of my interview with Jane Roper, author of the novel “The Society of Shame,” which is a finalist for the Thurber Prize in American Humor, and a memoir, “Double Time: How I Survived and Mostly Thrived Through the First Three Years of Mothering Twins.”Today I'm talking with Jane about what I call inner stuff, the thoughts, ideas, and attitudes that affect your work.- How reading her own work used to be embarrassing, and how she got over it- Feeling like the worst person in the MFA program- When your inner critic tells you your work is shallow- The quotes she’s written on Post-It notes that are hanging above her desk and help talk her through crises of confidence- Feeling like the silliest person in the room- Letting go of the idea that one day you’ll “make it” and then everything will flow- Realizing there’s no award for doing things perfectly and letting go of that drive to be a super-achiever- How letting go of some body issues also freed up her work selfConnect with Jane at janeroper.com.For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com.Thank you for listening!And thanks to this week’s sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →[Jane Roper, practical matters]: Taking rejection personally even though you know it’s unavoidable and subject to luck Ep 1185
Mar 3, 202500:22:31Tap to summarizeMy guest today is Jane Roper, author of a novel, “The Society of Shame,” which is a finalist for the Thurber Prize in American Humor, and the memoir “Double Time: How I Survived and Mostly Thrived Through the First Three Years of Mothering Twins.” Jane's essays and humor have appeared in places like Salon, McSweeney's, Poets and Writers, The Rumpus, and elsewhere. And it's been included in the anthology, “Labor Day: True Birth Stories by Today's Best Women Writers.” Jane is also a freelance copywriter and brand strategist. A graduate of the Iowa Writers Workshop, Jane currently lives just north of Boston in a drafty Victorian with her husband, teenage twins, and two cats.We covered:- Figuring out that humor was part of her writing skillset- Finding the right mix of copywriting work and more creative writing- Why hiking and indoor rock-climbing are key parts of her writing practice- Her plug for writing every day (even for 12 minutes)- Resisting the urge to beat yourself up after your writing is rejected- Why she doesn’t check social media or email in the morning- Getting to the point in parenting where family time is more joy, less hustleConnect with Jane at janeroper.com.For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com.Thank you for listening!And thanks to this week’s sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →[Paula Whyman, what’s coming up]: The upside of winter + learning how to roll with setbacks Ep 1184
Feb 21, 202500:18:38Tap to summarizeWelcome to the final installment of my interview with Paula Whyman, author of the new book, “Bad Naturalist: One Woman's Ecological Education on a Wild Virginia Mountaintop.” Paula's first book is “You May See a Stranger,” an award-winning, linked collection of short stories. Her work has been supported by fellowships from McDowell, Yaddo, and other residencies in Grants, and she was a Tennessee Williams scholar in fiction at the Sewanee Writers Conference.Today we find out what's currently brewing for Paula and what she knows at this moment about where her personal through line is leading her next,We covered:- The upside of winter- Why she’s looking for American kestrels (a small raptor) every morning- A longing for sheep- Getting less frustrated by setbacks- The books she stays up late reading with a flashlight so as not to wake her husbandConnect with Paula at paulawhyman.com.There are new Finding the Throughline episodes roughly every other week–hit “subscribe” so you know when the next ones drop!For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com.Thank you for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →[Paula Whyman, inner stuff]: Why “writing what you know” is misguided advice Ep 1183
Feb 19, 202500:32:03Tap to summarizeThis is part two of my interview with Paula Whyman, author of the new book, “Bad Naturalist: One Woman's Ecological Education on a Wild Virginia Mountaintop,” in which she documents her attempt to restore 200 acres of retired farmland while wearing the wrong footwear, getting conflicting advice, and having essentially no idea what she's gotten herself into, but finding her way through it anyway.Today I'm talking with Paula about what I call inner stuff, trying to bring the thoughts, ideas, and attitudes that affect your work out into the light.We unpacked:- Making the switch from fiction to non-fiction–and how that changes the conversations you have with readers to be less about the work, and more about you- How working as an editor can make writing harder- Allowing yourself to blurt, stare off into space, meander, and walk away- Editing and revising as procrastination- How writing about failure is more interesting than writing about success- Staying active and strong as you get older- A love letter to scientists- Why planting native plants in your yard is so impactful- Her favorite cheesy 70s songsConnect with Paula at paulawhyman.com.There are new Finding the Throughline episodes roughly every other week–hit “subscribe” so you know when the next ones drop!For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com.Thank you for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →[Paula Whyman, practical matters]: Guidance for knowing whether you really want to turn that idea into a book Ep 1182
Feb 17, 202500:29:51Tap to summarizeThis week my guest is Paula Wyman, author of the new book, “Bad Naturalist: One Woman's Ecological Education on a Wild Virginia Mountaintop.” Paula's book is a blend of memoir, natural history, and conservation science, and it's a chronicle of her attempts to restore 200 acres of farmland long gone to seed in the Blue Ridge Mountains, despite the fact that she never excelled at gardening.Paula's first book is “You May See a Stranger,” an award-winning, linked collection of short stories that won praise from “The New Yorker” and a starred review in “Publishers Weekly.” Paula's stories have appeared in “McSweeney's Quarterly,” “Ploughshares,” and “The Southampton Review,” and her nonfiction has been featured on NPR, in “The Washington Post”, and “The Rumpus,” among other places.We covered:- How having a pet praying mantis as a kid is directly related to her naturalist exploits- In praise of doing deep dives into random subjects- How a manageable dream of restoring a small meadow to its natural state ballooned into rehabbing a 200-acre mountaintop- The novel she was writing that she can’t even remember what it was about now- How hearing a young Howard Stern shaped her career path- The power of doing deep dives- Turning scribbles and bad doodles into a book- A plug for using the writing software ScrivenerConnect with Paula at paulawhyman.com.There are new Finding the Throughline episodes roughly every other week–hit “subscribe” so you know when the next ones drop!For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com.Thank you for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →[Cynthia Weiner, what’s coming up]: Fast food, diet soda, and Eddie Vedder Ep 1181
Feb 7, 202500:16:42Tap to summarizeWelcome to the final installment of my interview with Cynthia Weiner, author of the brand new book “A Gorgeous Excitement,” a coming of age novel set in 1980s New York City that is inspired by both Cynthia's own upbringing on the Upper East Side during the 80s and the infamous Preppy Killer.Cynthia is also the assistant director of the writer's studio in New York City and her short fiction has been published in “Open City,” “Ploughshares,” and “The Sun,” has earned a Pushcart Prize and been anthologized in Coolest American Stories 2024.We covered:- The 90s soundtrack that’s helping Cynthia get into her next project (which is set in the 90s)- The three writers whose example inspires Cynthia on her own path- Her burning desire to have a house with a yard and, most importantly, a tree- The Max show she’s bingeing, her elaborate daily diet soda ritual, the best day of the week, and the fast food meal she’s cravingConnect with Cynthia on Instagram at @cynthiaweinerThere are new Finding the Throughline episodes roughly every other week–hit “subscribe” so you know when the next ones drop!For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com.Thank you for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →[Cynthia Weiner, inner stuff]: Learning to tolerate the discomfort that comes from “airing your dirty laundry” aka, writing anything remotely personal Ep 1180
Feb 5, 202500:22:37Tap to summarizeIn part two of my interview with Cynthia Weiner, author of a hot-off-the-presses coming-of-age-novel, “A Gorgeous Excitement,” we cover what I call inner stuff, the thoughts, ideas, and attitudes that affect your work, even if you're not fully conscious of it.We unpacked:- Learning how to tolerate the discomfort of sharing your work- And how to ignore the voice that tells you nobody cares what you have to say- How she came to imagine that inner critical voice as a “shit bird”- Why she could work on one sentence for years- Why she’d rather stay home than travel some place new- How getting older has made her a better writer (and a worse sleeper)- How she’s re-wired the idea that it’s bad to draw attention to yourselfConnect with Cynthia on Instagram at @cynthiaweinerThere are new Finding the Throughline episodes roughly every other week–hit “subscribe” so you know when the next ones drop!For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com.Thank you for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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