Podcast Summary: Lauren Groff, "Brawler: Stories" (Riverhead, 2026)

New Books Network | Host: Emily Everett (The Common) | Guest: Lauren Groff
Date: February 27, 2026

Overview

This episode of New Books Network features a rich and candid conversation between host Emily Everett and acclaimed author Lauren Groff about Groff’s forthcoming short story collection, Brawler. The episode explores the art of the short story, the formation of Groff’s literary sensibility at Amherst College, the influence of mentors and agents, and the intensely personal and universal themes that underpin her work—including motherhood, time, and the cycles of life. Listeners gain insight into Groff’s writing process, her philosophy on storytelling, and what she’s working on next.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Lauren Groff’s Literary Beginnings and Amherst Roots

• Amherst’s Long Literary Influence
  • Groff credits her alma mater, Amherst College, as foundational in her development as a writer, particularly Professor Judy Frank’s fiction class, which introduced her to living writers.
  • "Every step of the way, being an Amherst grad meant that I was taught how to think on a high level. And I have no skills whatsoever, but I can think, which is really amazing." – Groff (04:57)
• Shift from Poetry to Fiction
  • Originally a poet, Groff’s study-abroad year in France and exposure to poetry classes eventually led her to fiction after realizing poetry wasn’t quite her calling. Judy Frank’s class was a turning point.

The Art and Architecture of the Story Collection

• Time and Process
  • Stories in Brawler span decades, with some stories originating in Groff’s teenage and Amherst years.
  • She describes her approach to story-writing as poetic and intuitive, waiting for ideas to mature in her subconscious before writing.
  • "The way that I think about short stories is as poetry... there's an initial glimmer that I leave well alone. I don't touch it for a very long time. It stays in the back of my mind...And then finally, for me, I wait and wait and wait... until one day the story sort of comes to the fore, and it needs to be... put onto the page." – Groff (07:22)
• Stories as Conversations
  • Emphasizes the importance of curating the collection so the stories “speak to one another” rather than being a “hodgepodge.”
  • "I like to have the stories speaking under the surface to one another..." – Groff (09:23)

Craft, Completion, and Satisfaction

• On When a Story is 'Done'
  • Groff avoids thinking about the reader until a piece is finished, keeping her ego out of the story's way to let the text develop organically.
  • "I'm trying with all my might to keep myself out of the story as much as I possibly... The story, which is its own living creature...needs to have its own space, its own time, its own silence..." – Groff (15:11)
• Quiet vs Dramatic Stories
  • Whether tackling domestic violence (as in “The Wind”) or capturing subtler emotional moments, Groff describes the process for both as equally urgent and deep.
  • "They don't, actually. It's weird that they feel just as urgent, you know, the quiet ones, the long scale ones..." – Groff (18:00)
• The Value of Stillness
  • Groff reflects on the natural need for fallow periods—both in writing and life—and on the artist’s challenge to recognize depth in quieter moments.
  • "There is no such thing as an uninteresting moment. Right? There's no such thing as a place that's not fascinating. It's really dependent on our ability to be open and vulnerable and awake and aware." – Groff (19:27)

Dedications, Agent Relationships, and Story Notes

• On Her Agent, Bill Clegg
  • Groff describes Clegg as her “work husband” and an invaluable force in her career, dedicated to keeping her standards high.
  • "He is one of the great readers and he will fight for you so hard. That's what a good agent does—they're not just business people. Like, a really good literary agent is someone who is a friend to your work..." – Groff (10:44)
• Story Notes and Reader Curiosity
  • Inspired by editing anthologies, Groff decided to include playful notes at the end of Brawler, giving fans a glimpse into her stories’ origins.
  • "There's a little imp in me that wants to play, right, and wants to especially play with the titration of distance between reader and writer..." – Groff (12:53)

Themes of Motherhood and Change

• Evolving Motherhood
  • Later stories reflect changes in perspective as her children grow, moving from early fears to more complex emotions about letting go.
  • "I think you might actually one might be able to see in my early mother stories, abject fear and anxiety. Right... But you know, I think, I think the relationship gets more complex as they become more complex as adults..." – Groff (20:18)
• Writing as Discovery (Not Catharsis)
  • "It's not cathartic. It's not. Writing isn't meant to sort of be my psychotherapy, but it does, it does exist in some ways and it is fueled in some ways by what's going on deep inside." – Groff (21:39)

Looking Ahead: What’s Next for Lauren Groff

• Current Projects
  • Working on two novels (“can’t talk about”) and a creative project with Florida painter Burnette Lawson—writing micro-stories inspired by her paintings.
  • "I'm writing little tiny mini short stories for each of her paintings and I'm loving, loving the hell out of it...it's very Florida coded, but it's very satirical." – Groff (22:28)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Story Creation:
  • “Every time it happens, it feels, you know, miraculous.” — Groff, on ideas becoming finished stories (08:29)
• On Artistic Mentorship:
  • “That’s the value of an incredible professor. Right. Someone who sort of is with you for the rest of your life. It’s really magnificent.” — Groff (05:05)
• On Motherhood and Change:
  • “My older son is going to leave in about six months and there's this really intense grief, bittersweetness and grief that I think is in everything that I’ve written in the past year or so.” — Groff (21:21)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:52] — Lauren Groff reads from “Between the Shadow and the Soul”
• [03:29] — Amherst College’s influence and Judy Frank’s pivotal class
• [06:33] — The long timeline and organic process of assembling a story collection
• [09:00] — How Groff knows when it’s time to assemble and publish a collection
• [10:12] — Relationship with agent Bill Clegg and book dedication
• [12:53] — Inclusion of story notes and reflections on author-reader distance
• [15:07] — How Groff determines when a story is finished and the role of the reader
• [18:00] — Writing dramatic vs. quiet stories; urgency in both
• [19:48] — Themes of motherhood across stages of life
• [22:21] — What Groff is working on now and upcoming creative projects

Tone, Style, and Atmosphere

The episode is conversational, generous, and reflective—balancing humor and depth. Groff’s voice is honest and unguarded, often playfully self-effacing yet always thoughtful about her craft, her influences, and her family life. The dialogue is intimate but approachable, providing a real sense of the person behind the acclaimed work.

Takeaway

This conversation is essential listening for fans of Lauren Groff, aspiring writers, and anyone interested in contemporary fiction, the creative process, or the inner life of a great storyteller. Groff shares not only the mechanics of her art but also the vulnerability, joy, and wonder that fuel her enduring literary contributions.