
Hosted by Kate Hanley · EN

This week I'm talking with Cynthia Weiner, author of “A Gorgeous Excitement,” a coming of age novel set in 1980s New York City. “A Gorgeous Excitement” is inspired by Cynthia's own 80s upbringing on the Upper East Side of New York, as well as the infamous Preppy Killer, a former prep school student who killed a girl in Central Park in the summer of 1986 and who frequented a bar called Dorian's, where Cynthia spent many nights drinking with friends.Her work has won the Pushcart Prize and been anthologized in the Coolest American Stories. Cynthia is also the assistant director of the writer's studio in New York City where, fun fact, I took classes with her in the early 2000s.We covered:- The award she won in second grade that hooked her on the writing life- How she stumbled into teaching writing- Writing as a “weird compulsion”- The plus sides of working on a novel for nearly 10 years- The daily rituals that help her write- The time management technique that helps her get unstuck- Why catching up with a friend helps her write- How living a boring life leaves more space for the workConnect 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

As we come up on the end of the year AND this podcast's one-year anniversary, I wanted to share the things from the last six months of interviews that are still sticking with me--a little tour of the a-ha moments and insights that have made a lasting impression. It's a little walk down memory lane, a little like re-reading your journal well after the fact.I also have some news to share and a teeny tiny but very meaningful request to make.PLUS, if you have a writer you'd like me to interview--maybe it's you!--you can message me on Substack (search for Finding the Throughline) or email me at kate@katehanley.com.Thank you as ever for listening!And, this is your last chance to take advantage of my discount code on AirDoctor air purifiers, which work amazingly well at filtering out all kinds of icky things so your lungs don't have to and are whisper quiet. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

These August days are about as quiet as it gets on the work front (except for, perhaps, the week between Christmas and New Year's). Let's take this opportunity to restore our ability to focus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices