More to the Story Podcast with Janna Maron

Today on More to the Story Podcast: Writing, Energy, and the Creative Life with Susie PrattOn essay collections, self-doubt, literary community, and following the energy of your workToday I’m joined by my client Susannah (Susie) Pratt, author of More or Less: Essays from a Year of No Buying, a prize-winning essay collection that explores what it means to raise a family inside consumer culture and how our identities are shaped by what we own—and don’t.In this conversation, Susie and I talk about the evolution of her essay collection, the structural challenges she faced early on, and the mindset shift that helped her move from feeling stuck to finishing her book. We also go beyond craft and into something a little more unexpected—energy, attention, and what it means to follow your creative instincts rather than force your way through the work.We talk about self-doubt, the writing life after publishing a book, and how community and environment can make all the difference in sustaining a creative practice.About SusieSusannah Pratt is the author of, More or Less: Essays from a Year of No Buying (EastOver Press, February 2022). More or Less, Pratt’s debut collection, reflects on the challenges of raising a family in a consumer society, and seeks to understand the degree to which we are defined or confined by what we own. The book won the 2021 EastOver Prize for Nonfiction.Pratt’s writing has appeared in a variety of print and online publications including Literary Mama, Essay Daily, The Mindful Word, Motherwell, The Week and bioStories, among others. She has also served as a regular contributor to The Waking, the blog at Ruminate Magazine.Pratt has a Masters in Social Work from the University of Chicago, but her writerly roots can be traced to her degree in English Literature from Colgate University, and even more deeply to taking first place the Young Authors contest in second grade. Pratt, her husband, three sons, two dogs and a tortoise make their home – still full of too much stuff – in Evanston, IL.In today’s episode:* how Susie came to identify as a writer—and why that felt difficult at first* the origin of More or Less and the “year of no buying” as a framework for exploring consumer culture* why the book isn’t really about not buying things—but about meaning, value, and entanglement in consumerism* the early structural struggle: trying to organize the book chronologically and how the collection ultimately took shape around theme instead of timeline* the concept of “problem essays” vs. “foothold essays” and how that became the organizing structure of the book* why writers often feel stuck if they don’t know where a piece belongs—and why you don’t actually need to know* the importance of continuing to write before the structure is clear* how coaching supported her not just with editing, but with confidence and momentum* the difference between being edited vs. being coached—and why both matter* navigating the “slush pile,” rejection, and the emotional toll of submission culture* how proactive pitching (inspired by the book Pitchcraft) can shift a writer’s sense of agency* the challenge of consistency in a writing practice—and what helped her rebuild it* the impact of creating a dedicated writing space outside the home* how literary community (a shared writing studio) helped her recommit to her work* what she’s working on now: essays on attention, nostalgia, and what it means to be human in an AI-driven world* the importance of following creative energy—and recognizing when a project isn’t “alive” anymore* how quickly writing can move when energy is aligned vs. when it’s not* a deeper conversation on attention, imagination, empathy, and consciousness as central human experiencesLinks mentioned in this episode:* Susie’s website → susannahqpratt.com* Susies’s Book: More or Less: Essays from a Year of No Buying on bookshop.org* Susie’s Essay: “Puzzled” in The American Scholar* Pitch Craft, by Lauren Goode* A Marriage at Sea, by Sophie Elmhirst* More about Under the Gum Tree → underthegumtree.com* Book a free 15-minute Book Diagnosis Call → moretothestory.co/bookdiagnosis* Learn more about retreats with me & sign up for the waitlist → moretothestory.co/retreats* Get 10% off your first order of whole bean coffee → caffesantoro.com/jannaFollow & Connect* Follow the show & find all show notes at moretothestory.substack.com* Follow me on Instagram @jannamarlies* Follow Under the Gum Tree: @undergumtreeQuestion for youWhere in your writing life are you forcing something that might not have energy right now? And what would it look like to follow the energy instead?Share in the comments, I’d love to hear. Get full access to More to the Story with Janna Maron at moretothestory.substack.com/subscribe

Today on More to the Story Podcast, I’m talking with my client, Margaret Whitford, whose forthcoming memoir The History We Carry (She Writes Press, June 2026) explores the impact of generational trauma, a mother–daughter relationship shaped by wartime history, and how personal narrative becomes a place of refuge.Margaret and I began working together several years ago on the early draft of her book, and in this conversation she shares the long, patient journey from dense essays to a full manuscript—and ultimately to publication.About MargaretMargaret Whitford served in leadership positions within the nonprofit world for twenty years, including ten years in the social justice field, before turning to writing. She is fascinated by the ways in which each of us seek to create places of refuge in both a metaphorical and physical sense. The History We Carry is her first memoir. A dedicated Francophile, she and her husband divide their time between a small village in the South of France and their home in Concord, Massachusetts. Find more about Margaret and her book at her website, margaretwhitford.com.In today’s episode:* how Margaret came to writing later in life after a 20-year career in nonprofit leadership* what drew her back to school for an MFA and the community she was seeking* the early spark that shifted her work from essays to a book-length project* how interviews with her mother became the backbone of the memoir* why writing about generational trauma required “containers” and linked-essay structure* the moment she realized she was writing the same 80–100 pages over and over* the turning point where developmental editing revealed themes and structure* how permission to “animate her mother on the page” unlocked the storytelling* the years-long process of drafting, researching WWII history, and shaping narrative arc* navigating acquisitions, titling, and the publishing journey with She Writes Press* what she’s working on now and how she’s preparing for the launch of her bookLinks mentioned in this episode:* Margaret’s website & book information: margaretwitford.com* Pre-order The History We Carry from bookshop.org, or wherever books are sold* More about Under the Gum Tree: underthegumtree.com * More about my book coaching & editing services: moretothestory.co* Download the free Book Outline Formula worksheet: moretothestory.co/bookoutline* Book a 15-minute Book Diagnosis call: moretothestory.co/bookdiagnosis* Get 10% off your first order of whole bean coffee from Caffe Santoro: caffesantoro.com/jannaFollow & Connect* find show notes for this episode at moretothestorypodcast.substack.com* follow me on Instagram @jannamarlies* follow Under the Gum Tree on Instagram @undergumtreeQuestion for YouHave you ever felt “stuck” in the same 80–100 pages of your writing, like Margaret described? What helped you move forward? Share your experience in the comments!Thanks so much for listening and for being here! Get full access to More to the Story with Janna Maron at moretothestory.substack.com/subscribe

Today on More to the Story Podcast: Returning Home, Rewriting Life — A Conversation with Chick MorganToday I’m talking with my client Eileen “Chick” Morgan, a writer, singer-songwriter, podcaster, cabaret performer, and arts entrepreneur whose creative life is as rich and layered as her memoir, Everything’s a Two-Step But a Waltz: The Reluctant Texan Comes Home.Chick spent decades building a global corporate career before eventually returning—reluctantly—to Texas. What began as a deeply personal, private email blog shared with a handful of close friends grew into a powerful story of heartbreak, reinvention, identity, and creativity. Over time, and through the guidance of structure, community support, and perseverance, her pages became a full memoir that has now been published in print, e-book, and audio formats—all produced within her own small arts-centered Texas town.In this conversation, Chick and I talk about her path from corporate strategist to artist, the years-long process of transforming fragmented notes into a cohesive narrative, and how returning home unexpectedly opened every door she needed to bring her book into the world.About ChickEileen S. (“Chick”) Morgan, PhD, is a writer, singer-songwriter, cabaret performer, podcast host, radio host, and arts entrepreneur. After a full career working globally with large companies and non-profits in leadership, strategy development, and execution, Chick now uses those skills as an arts entrepreneur, producing such experiences as Wimberley Alive! Arts and Music Festival; creating the inaugural Wimberley Storytelling Fest; Co-Visionary and Founder of Descanso Creatives International Writers’ Retreats, and Co-Founder and Board President of the Wimberley Literary Salon. Chick is an active musical performer in Wimberley, sharing her own songs and those of the American Songbook and Contemporary Cabaret in her musical groups The Cashmere Cowgirls and Women with Standards.Everything’s a Two-Step but a Waltz: The Reluctant Texan Comes Home is Chick’s third book. She previously published books about conducting business in the Soviet Union and navigating cross-cultural business ethics. She lives outside of Austin in the Hill Country town of Wimberley with her fiancé, Robert Smith, and their excellent canine companions, Chase and Najee.In today’s episode:* Chick’s background as a writer, singer-songwriter, cabaret performer, podcaster, radio host, and arts entrepreneur* How her return to Texas—after 43 years away—unexpectedly sparked the story* The “double-barreled heartbreak” that began the writing: losing her mother and her marriage on the same day* How a private email blog grew from 30 to 300 readers in six months* The moment she realized her story resonated far beyond her inner circle* The slow, intuitive method she used—Post-its on a long roll of white paper—to discover themes and shape the book* How coaching and deadlines helped her move from scattered scenes to an actual manuscript* Learning to bridge intuition with structure so the story became more than anecdotes* The role of community in publishing: how her local poet/publisher friend produced the print book* Creating the e-book and audio book with resources in her own town* What it felt like to publish vulnerable material in a small community (“I might as well walk naked through the town square”)* The surprise of how many readers related to her experiences: military life, Southern Baptist upbringing, Texas vs. New York identity, heartbreak* Her current writing projects:* A nonfiction exploration of long-term women’s friendships* A fiction project set in the artsy town of Wonderly, Texas* How memoir writing helped her find the emotional truth needed to write fiction* Where listeners can find her work, her newsletter The Reluctant Texan, and her cabaret performancesLinks mentioned in this episode:* Chick’s website → chickmorgan.com* Under the Gum Tree → underthegumtree.com* Book a free Book Diagnosis Call → moretothestory.co/bookdiagnosis* Download the Book Outline Formula Worksheet → moretothestory.co/bookoutline* Café Santoro — get 10% off your first order → cafesantoro.com/jannaFollow & Connect* Follow the show at: moretothestorypodcast.substack.com* Follow me on Instagram: @jannamarlies* Follow Under the Gum Tree on Instagram: @undergumtreeQuestion for YouHave you ever had a moment in your creative life that felt like everything suddenly aligned? How has community shaped your writing journey?Share your experience in the comments—I’d love to hear from you! (AI Disclaimer: These show notes were generated by AI using the transcript of this episode.) Get full access to More to the Story with Janna Maron at moretothestory.substack.com/subscribe

Today on More to the Story Podcast: Following the Thread — Intuition, Ancestry & Storytelling with Joella AragónHow a multigenerational story finds its form through lineage, spirituality, and lived experienceToday I’m joined by my client Joella Aragón, a writer whose multigenerational, genre-bending book has been evolving for years — from memoir to fiction to speculative nonfiction and back again. Joella and I first met at a Shut Up & Write group I used to host at Old Soul Coffee in Sacramento, and from the beginning she was someone who carried a deep, intuitive relationship with story.In this conversation she talks about growing up partly in Belize, where spiritual and “witchcrafty” elements were woven into everyday life; the moment she read a pivotal piece (“Obia Child”) at my Tahoe retreat; and how her family’s history—including her great-grandmother’s kidnapping in 1904—has shaped the book’s spine.We also revisit the frightening experience Joella survived at age 15: nearly being kidnapped by an infamous serial predator in Vacaville, California, and the intuitive force that helped her get away. It’s a thread that echoes across generations and illuminates the story she’s writing now.This conversation is honest, layered, intuitive, and full of the courage it takes to trust a story that doesn’t fit neatly into one genre — and to claim your own voice as a writer.About JoellaJoella Aragón is a memoir and fiction writer whose global experiences have greatly influenced her storytelling. Growing up in the Air Force, Joella lived in multiple countries, and these diverse environments have become a source of inspiration for her work.Joella holds a bachelor’s degree in social work from Sacramento State University and also earned her Elementary Teaching Credential from the same institution. She began her professional career as an elementary school teacher before transitioning to work for the California Teachers Association as a labor union representative. The skills and insights gained from her time as both a teacher and union representative continue to shape the narratives in her stories.Joella is a published short story author, with her work appearing in distinguished publications such as the San Francisco Chronicle and Under The Gum Tree Literary Magazine. Additionally, her stories have been brought to life by actors at the Stories on Stage events in Sacramento and Davis, California.Currently, Joella is finishing a family saga that poignantly illustrates the enduring strength and resilience of a family navigating historical upheaval, personal trauma, cultural displacement, and mental illness. Through detailed storytelling across generations, her work highlights the complexities of love, survival, identity, and healing, deeply rooted in the intertwined histories of Belize and the United States.In today’s episode:* how Joella’s lifelong relationship with writing has resurfaced in different seasons of her life* our origin story: meeting at Shut Up & Write at Old Soul Coffee in Sacramento* how her manuscript has shifted from memoir to fiction to something in-between* the internal tension of not knowing what genre her book “belongs” in—and why that’s part of the process* growing up partly in Belize and how Caribbean spiritual traditions shaped her worldview* reading her “Obia Child” chapter at my Tahoe retreat—and why that moment clarified the heart of the book* the generational story beginning with her great-grandmother’s 1904 kidnapping* Joella’s own near-kidnapping at age 15 and how ancestral intuition helped her escape* trusting herself as a writer even when the material feels unusual, spiritual, or hard to categorize* where she is now: finishing final chapters, moving into line edits, and exploring hybrid publishing options* how she’s sharing pieces of her work and life today—mostly on Facebook, with a future website in the worksLinks mentioned in this episode:* Under the Gum Tree → underthegumtree.com* Book a free 15-minute Book Diagnosis Call → moretothestory.co/bookdiagnosis* Download my Book Outline Formula Worksheet → moretothestory.co/bookoutline* Café Santoro — get 10% off your first order → cafesantoro.com/jannaFollow & Connect* Follow the show & find all show notes at moretothestorypodcast.substack.com* Follow me on Instagram: @jannamarlies* Follow Under the Gum Tree on Instagram: @undergumtreeQuestion for youDo you write about lineage, intuition, or the spiritual elements of your life?How do you navigate telling stories that don’t fit neatly into one box?Share in the comments—I’d love to hear. (AI Disclaimer: These show notes were generated by AI using the transcript of this episode.) Get full access to More to the Story with Janna Maron at moretothestory.substack.com/subscribe

Today on More to the Story Podcast: Talking Writing, Meditation, and the Long Journey of Memoir with Lori WaldThis week I’m joined by my former client Lori Wald, mindfulness meditation teacher, personal essayist, and author of the Substack newsletter Tuesdays with Lori. Lori and I worked together back in 2020 on a full draft of her memoir, and in this conversation she shares where the project has taken her since then, what she’s learning about structure, and how meditation is woven through both her life and her storytelling.We talk about the nonlinear nature of memoir, what it means to trust your material, how to keep writing even when the book still isn’t “there yet,” and the surprising ways Substack helped Lori find her confidence and her audience.This is a generous, honest conversation about writing through grief, identity, faith, and the practice that helped Lori find her voice.About LoriLori Wald is a mindfulness meditation coach and writes “Tuesdays with Lori, Musings on Life, Loss and Everything In-Between” at loriwald.substack.com.In today’s episode:* how Lori juggles life between Cleveland, Ohio and Florida* her shift from fiction to personal essay* the messy truth of a first memoir draft (and the second…and the third)* why memoirs are often not chronological* the challenge of structure — and the moment when you know you’ve landed it* how meditation helped Lori reclaim her voice after profound loss* the intersection of mindfulness, storytelling, and healing* writing about widowhood, divorce, remarriage, and becoming “more me”* the difference between teaching meditation and writing about meditation* how Substack is building her confidence and helping her grow her readership* her experience writing op-eds about her Jewish identity since the war in Gaza* why being seen as a writer — regardless of a book deal — is deeply meaningfulLinks mentioned in this episode:* Lori’s Substack newsletter — Tuesdays with Lori: loriwald.substack.com* Under the Gum Tree – submit and subscribe* Book a 15-minute book diagnosis call: moretothestory.co/bookdiagnosis* Download the Book Outline Formula worksheet: moretothestory.co/bookoutline* Caffe Santoro – get 10% off your first order: caffesantoro.com/jannaFollow & Connect* Follow me on Instagram: @jannamarlies* Follow Under the Gum Tree on Instagram: @undergumtree* Show notes & episodes on Substack: moretothestorypodcast.substack.comQuestion for you:Are you working on a nonlinear memoir or essay-driven narrative? What helps you trust your structure (or keep going until you find it)? Share your experience in the comments — or leave a question for a future episode.Thanks so much for listening and for being here.(AI Disclaimer: These show notes were generated by AI using the transcript of this episode.) Get full access to More to the Story with Janna Maron at moretothestory.substack.com/subscribe

Today on More to the Story Podcast: A Conversation with Lasell Bartlett — Horses, Healing, and Becoming the Designated Calm PersonToday I’m talking with my client Lasell Jaretzki Bartlett, author of Getting Along with Rusty: Horses Healing and Therapeutic Riding, Mostly a Memoir and three accompanying workbooks: Becoming the Designated Calm Person, and Sensing Our Groundedness.Lasell integrates decades of experience in body–mind awareness, somatic experiencing, clinical social work, and therapeutic riding into a body of work that helps people understand themselves, their nervous systems, and the power of grounded presence. In this episode, she shares the evolution of her writing process, how her memoir emerged from what she originally thought would be a how-to book, and how she built trust in her voice as an author.We also talk about her writing rhythm, her accountability structure, her relationship with divine inspiration vs. discipline, and what it means to “stand on the horizon” of authorship after years of self-doubt.If you are writing memoir, working on a self-guided workbook, or navigating the emotional terrain of becoming an author, this conversation will feel grounding, warm, and deeply encouraging.About LasellLasell Jaretzki Bartlett, MSW (she/her/hers), integrates many decades of experience in the fields of body-mind awareness and meditation, with professional expertise as a Clinical Social Worker and Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner, and as a PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor and Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Education.In private practice, she facilitated trauma resolution from early childhood trauma, falls, medical trauma, and meditation dissociations, helping people develop a sense of safety that can support the best relationships imaginable.In addition to assisting regional, national, and international Somatic Experiencing® and Equusoma® trainings, she has presented on trauma healing at conferences for mental health and therapeutic horsemanship professionals, and in workshops for the general public.Her first book, Getting Along with Rusty: Horses, Healing, and Therapeutic Riding (Mostly a Memoir) was published in August 2023, followed by Becoming the Designated Calm Person™ Workbook: Learning to Settle Ourselves and Others (2024) and Sensing Our Groundedness Workbook (2025). She’s been published in numerous magazines and anthologies.Bartlett lives on the uncharted lands of the Monacan Indian Nation in rural Virginia with two horses, four sheep, eleven guineas, two cats, an unstable internet connection, and her bestest ever human friend.In today’s episode* Lasell’s decades-long journey in therapeutic riding, somatic work, and trauma healing — and how it shaped her writing path* How her first manuscript began as a how-to book and became a memoir about her horse Rusty and her healing journey* The moment she learned that “the book has its own life,” and how she listened when it wanted to become something different* Why the original exercises in her memoir became the foundation for a four-book workbook series* How deadlines, coaching, and accountability helped her finish her first manuscript after 15+ years of stops and starts* Her writing process: 20-minute sessions, creative bursts in the barn, voice-to-text notes, and “mini retreats” for focused work* The biggest internal shift: stepping out of self-doubt and into the identity of a published author — standing “on the horizon” instead of beneath it* What it’s like to receive positive feedback from readers and editors and truly believe her stories matter* How she knows now that she doesn’t have to wait for inspiration — she can reconnect to her writing anytime, under any circumstancesLinks mentioned in this episode* Lasell’s memoir: Getting Along with Rusty: Horses Healing and Therapeutic Riding (Mostly a Memoir) on Bookshop.org* Workbooks:* Becoming the Designated Calm Person: Learning to Settle Ourselves and Others* Sensing Our Groundedness* (And more coming soon!)* Learn more about Lasell & her books → lasellbartlett.com* Follow Lasell on Substack → lasellbartlett.substack.comOther links:* Under the Gum Tree → underthegumtree.com* Schedule a free 15-minute Book Diagnosis Call → moretothestory.co/bookdiagnosis* Download my Book Outline Formula Worksheet → moretothestory.co/bookoutline* Get 10% off your first order at Café Santoro → cafesantoro.com/jannaFollow & Connect * find all show notes at moretothestory.substack.com* Follow me on Instagram: @jannamarlies* Follow Under the Gum Tree: @undergumtreeQuestion for YouWhere have you seen your own confidence as a writer grow — even in small ways?Tell me in the comments; I’d love to hear. (AI Disclaimer: These show notes were generated by AI using the transcript of this episode.) Get full access to More to the Story with Janna Maron at moretothestory.substack.com/subscribe

Today on More to the Story Podcast: Should You Even Be Writing a Book? How to Find Your Deep Why and Finally Make ProgressHappy New Year and welcome to the first episode of 2026! In this solo episode, I’m talking about the real reason so many women struggle to make progress on their books—even when they deeply want to write them, invest in support, and start the year with the best intentions.This episode is part pep talk, part tough love, and part deep inquiry into the heart of creative resistance. I share what I’ve been witnessing across client conversations, why the “New Year motivation” isn’t enough, and the foundational inner work that must happen before your book will take shape.I also share some exciting updates about how I’m shifting my business this year, including in-person retreats and a renewed focus on catalyzing creative momentum for my clients.In today’s episode:* a New Year check-in for writers recommitting to their book intentions* why desire alone isn’t enough to write a book—and why that’s not a personal failure* the deeper breakdown behind “I still didn’t write this week”* the essential question every writer must start with: should you be writing a book at all?* the truth: the answer is probably yes—but not for the reasons you think* common fears that block writers from taking action (being judged, not being good enough, not knowing where to start)* why personal story is essential even in prescriptive nonfiction, business books, and self-help* the difference between memoir and prescriptive nonfiction—and why people often confuse the two* the foundational work all writers need before writing: uncovering your deep compelling WHY* how your why becomes the engine that drives actual creative momentum* what it means to craft a vision statement for yourself as a writer* why you can’t know your publishing path (traditional, hybrid, indie) until you know your vision* what happens when writers go to conferences too soon and get overwhelmed by industry noise* how human design (especially my Manifestor energy type) is shaping the way I work* why I’m is shifting my business to include in-person retreats and high-impact intensive work* what to expect from upcoming More to the Story retreats in 2026If you’re local to Sacramento or Northern California and would like to explore all of this with me in person, you’re invited to 2026 Creative Catalyst: a one-day retreat for women writers and creatives. Find more info & sign up here:Links mentioned in this episode:* The book Human Design Made Easy by Illona Pamplona on bookshop.org (also available wherever books are sold)* Book a free 15-minute Book Diagnosis Call: moretothestory.co/bookdiagnosis* Join the Retreat Waitlist: moretothestory.co/retreats* Under the Gum Tree: underthegumtree.com* Get 10% off your first order from Caffe Santoro: caffesantoro.com/jannaFollow & Connect* Find the show notes & subscribe at moretothestorypodcast.substack.com* Follow me on Instagram @jannamarlies* Follow Under the Gum Tree on Instagram @undergumtreeQuestion for you:What is your deep, compelling reason for writing your book this year?Not the surface-level one — the true one.Share in the comments — I’d love to witness your why.(AI Disclaimer: These show notes were generated by AI using the transcript of this episode.) Get full access to More to the Story with Janna Maron at moretothestory.substack.com/subscribe

Today on More to the Story Podcast: A Conversation with Carrie Lea — Author of Granny Panty ChroniclesToday I’m joined by my client Carrie Lea, author of the memoir Granny Panty Chronicles, a candid, funny, big-hearted story about dating and singleness and unexpectedly falling in love with a man who would become her husband — and whose two teenage sons would make her a proud “bonus mom.”In this conversation, Carrie shares the twists and turns of her writing journey, how this memoir emerged from her journals and blog posts about dating, and what she learned about trusting her voice, her instincts, and her sense of humor on the page. Carrie’s approach to life—and to writing—is warm, insightful, and grounded in honesty. Listeners who are navigating their own creative projects, life transitions, or new family configurations will find so much resonance here.About CarrieCarrie Lea resides in California’s Bay Area with her husband, teenage sons, and parents in a lively multi-generational household. When she’s not discovering new restaurants or traveling, she’s likely curled up with a good book or spending time with loved ones. For several years, Carrie has shared her heart and relatable real-life moments to encourage women in their faith on her website, CarrieLea.com — always with her signature mantra: Read. Laugh. Relate. Whether she’s writing, speaking, or serving in her local church, she strives to remind women they are seen, loved, and called to flourish. By day, she works in corporate America while by nature, she’s a certified fashionista and enthusiastic storyteller. Always up for a good laugh and a quick dance, she blends style, honesty, and faith to reveal the beauty in life’s imperfect moments.In today’s episode* how Carrie began documenting her dating life and slowly realized it was the seed of a memoir* how becoming a “bonus mom” to two teenage boys opened a new chapter of her identity* the writing process: what it looked like, what she struggled with, and what ultimately kept her moving* learning to trust that her everyday experiences were enough to build a compelling narrative* how coaching helped her find structure and momentum* what shifted when she allowed herself to write with humor, honesty, and tenderness* what she hopes readers will take from Granny Panty ChroniclesLinks mentioned in this episode* Carrie’s memoir: Granny Panty Chronicles on bookshop.org* Follow Carrie online → carrielea.com* Under the Gum Tree → underthegumtree.com* Book a free 15-minute Book Diagnosis Call → moretothestory.co/bookdiagnosis* Download my Book Outline Formula Worksheet → moretothestory.co/bookoutline* Café Santoro — 10% off → cafesantoro.com/jannaFollow & connect* Find all show notes at moretothestorypodcast.substack.com* Follow me on Instagram: @jannamarlies* Follow Under the Gum Tree: @undergumtreeQuestion for youIf you were to write honestly about your romantic life—past or present—what story would you start with? Share in the comments; I’d love to hear! (AI Disclaimer: These show notes were generated by AI using the transcript of this episode.) Get full access to More to the Story with Janna Maron at moretothestory.substack.com/subscribe

Today on More to the Story Podcast: Everything Makes Perfect Sense with author Brinn LangdaleI’m joined today by my client Brinn Langdale, whose powerful memoir Everything Makes Perfect Sense chronicles her journey through childhood trauma, self-discovery, and forgiveness. Brinn is a licensed psychotherapist who began her healing path at age 22, ultimately transforming her lived experience into a book that supports survivors and shines a light on shame, resilience, and personal truth.We talk about what it means to write a trauma story with intention—not as a “trauma dump,” but as crafted, meaningful literature—and the emotional and spiritual growth required to stand in your truth as a memoirist, even when family members may not be ready for what you share.If you are writing personal narrative about difficult lived experience, this conversation will remind you you’re not alone—and that the process itself can be transformative.About BrinnAt 22, Brinn began confronting her own childhood trauma, setting her on a lifelong journey of healing and forgiveness. Today, she runs a thriving private practice as a licensed psychotherapist, speaker and author. Brinn’s core message, that everything you do makes perfect sense and that healing is possible, resonates with a wide range of audiences, including students, professionals, survivors, and anyone seeking personal growth and self-improvement.In today’s episode* Brinn’s early journaling life and why writing helped her feel seen* The moment she realized her trauma—and how naming it shifted everything* The year she devoted entirely to forgiveness before turning 30* Starting the memoir during the 2020 lockdown and drafting the ending first* What her early “word vomit” draft taught her about storytelling* Working together through developmental edits and learning to trust her voice* The risk of hiding behind endless revisions—and when it’s time to move forward* Choosing a hybrid publisher and navigating launch + visibility* Family reactions to memoir, and how Brinn held her boundaries and truth with compassionLinks mentioned in this episode* Brinn’s book → Everything Makes Perfect Sense on bookshop.org (also available wherever books are sold)* Learn more about Brinn & her work → brinnlangdale.com* Submit or subscribe to Under the Gum Tree → underthegumtree.com* Book a free 15-minute book diagnosis call → moretothestory.co/bookdiagnosis* Get my Book Outline Formula worksheet → moretothestory.co/bookoutline* Try my family’s coffee → cafesantoro.com/janna for 10% off your first orderWant help figuring out the next steps for your book project? Schedule a 15-min Book Diagnosis call with me.Follow & Connect* find show notes at moretothestorypodcast.substack.com* follow me on Instagram @jannamarlies* follow Under the Gum Tree on Instagram @undergumtreeQuestion for youHave you ever written something that asked you to step into your truth—even when it felt vulnerable or uncomfortable? Share your experience in the comments—I’d love to hear.Thanks so much for listening and being here.(AI Disclaimer: These show notes were generated by AI using the transcript of this episode.) Get full access to More to the Story with Janna Maron at moretothestory.substack.com/subscribe

Today on More to the Story Podcast: A Client Interview with Barbara Caver, author of the debut memoir A Little Piece of CubaBarbara Caver joins me to talk about her debut memoir A Little Piece of Cuba: A Journey to Become Cubana Americana, which lands December 2 (She Writes Press / distributed by Simon & Schuster). We talk about the long, winding path from screenwriting and documentary work to creative nonfiction, how a five-day trip to Havana reopened childhood memory, and the way family recipes and sensory details can act as time machines for a life lived between places. About BarbaraBarbara Caver is a lifelong student of the arts and is an accomplished film and television production executive. She loves traveling, exercising, hiking, dancing, cooking, and eating, as well as writing about all of these things with great enthusiasm, affection, and humor. A Little Piece of Cuba is her first full-length memoir. Raised in South Carolina, Barbara currently resides in Jackson Heights, New York City.In today’s episode:* how Barbara’s writing life began (diaries at nine, film school, screenwriting) and how readers kept telling her this material wanted to be a book. * the catalytic trip to Havana in 2017 that unlocked deeper memories and the decision to tell her Cuba story as a memoir.* the sensory hooks that became anchors in the manuscript—airport smells, tiles, and the way place can call up the past.* the role of community, developmental editing, and coaching in moving from fragments to draft—including the 30,000-word early dump Barbara sent me and how we found the through-line.* the emotional labor of naming the book’s “why” (what the book is about beyond events) and trusting the feeling-thread over strict chronology.* Barbara’s publishing choice: why she submitted to and chose She Writes Press (hybrid publishing) and what that experience has been like.* what Barbara’s doing now—publicity, podcast interviews, a six-city book tour, and essays she’s placing in outlets like Lit Hub.* how the More to the Story community functioned as “creative Kool-Aid”—honest, protective, and un-coddling support that helped her keep going.Links mentioned in this episode:* Pre-order A Little Piece of Cuba at bookshop.org* Barbara’s site and book page → barbaracaverauthor.com* Barbara’s Substack: Tiny Escapes with Barb → Barbara Caver.* Learn more / submit or subscribe to Under the Gum Tree → underthegumtree.com.* More about my coaching & editing services → moretothestory.co* My Book Outline Formula Worksheet & Book Diagnosis calls → moretothestory.co/bookoutline and moretothestory.co/bookdiagnosis.* Get your 10% discount on your first order of whole bean coffee roasted from my parents’ boutique coffee roastery in Northern California at caffesantoro.com/janna.Want help figuring out the next steps for your book project? Schedule a 15-min Book Diagnosis call with me.Follow & Connect * find show notes for this episode at moretothestorypodcast.substack.com* follow me on Instagram @jannamarlies* follow Under the Gum Tree on Instagram @undergumtreeQuestion for YouWhat single sensory detail (a smell, a sound, a taste) immediately takes you back to your family or childhood? Share it in the comments — I’d love to hear what surfaces for you.Thanks so much for listening and for being here! (AI Disclaimer: These show notes were generated by AI using the transcript of this episode.) Get full access to More to the Story with Janna Maron at moretothestory.substack.com/subscribe

Today on More to the Story Podcast: An interview with author Molly Mogren KattMolly holds a special place in the More to the Story universe—she was my very first coaching client when I launched my business in 2020! Molly finished her manuscript, Mom Geans, with me, and in this conversation she shares the ups and downs of her journey toward publishing.Her memoir explores the decision to have kids after growing up in an abusive household. It’s a story about breaking cycles of generational trauma, cultivating empathy, and becoming the parent you always wished you had. We also talk about her path to finding an agent, the challenges of querying, and what it means to keep writing even in the midst of uncertainty.About MollyMolly Mogren Katt believes in making every day an adventure, and you can read all about it on her Substack, Hey Eleanor. She’s written for Food & Wine, Minneapolis-St. Paul Magazine, and Experience Life. Her forthcoming memoir, Mom Genes, chronicles her decision to have kids after growing up in an abusive household. It's a story about breaking the cycle of generational trauma; cultivating empathy; and learning how to be the parent you always wished you had. In addition to writing, keeping her kids alive and cooking, she and her husband Josh are currently restoring a haunted 1903 Victorian house in Minneapolis.In today’s episode:* Molly’s long road from idea to finished manuscript* Why the scariest part of memoir writing is often how it affects real life and relationships* What it’s like to query 60+ agents before getting a “yes”* Breaking up with her first agent—and finding another one* How to balance caring deeply about your work without being too precious about it* Why a regular writing practice (even imperfect) is essential for finding your voice* The current realities of publishing: costs, delays, and the state of the market* How Molly is keeping her writing muscle strong through her Substack Hey EleanorLinks mentioned in this episode:* Submit or subscribe to Under the Gum Tree → underthegumtree.com* My free Book Outline Formula Worksheet → moretothestory.co/bookoutline* Book a Nail Your Book Outline Session with me: moretothestory.co/nailyourbookoutline* Follow Molly’s Substack, Hey Eleanor: Molly Mogren Katt * Follow Molly on Instagram: @mollymogren* More about my coaching & editing services at moretothestory.coWant help figuring out the next steps for your book project? Schedule a 15-min Book Diagnosis call with me.Follow & connect:* Show notes & transcripts at moretothestory.substack.com* Follow me on Instagram @jannamarlies* Follow Under the Gum Tree on Instagram @undergumtreeQuestion for YouHave you ever felt scared to tell the truth in your writing because of how it might affect people in your life? How do you navigate that fear? Share your thoughts in the comments—let’s get a conversation going!Thanks so much for listening and for being here! xo(AI Disclaimer: These show notes were generated by AI using the transcript of this episode.) Get full access to More to the Story with Janna Maron at moretothestory.substack.com/subscribe

Today on More to the Story Podcast: A debrief + book outline session with anti-hustle coach Tracy StangerI’m back after a summer pause to revamp how I’m integrating Substack with my work—and I’m kicking things off with a special conversation with my friend Tracy Stanger. We met on Instagram, grabbed coffee, and realized we share the same philosophy: do the work in a way that fits you. That turned into a trade—half a day on my business with Tracy, and half a day on Tracy’s book with me—followed by this debrief you’ll hear in the episode.Tracy is an anti-hustle business coach whose “Less But Better, Most You” approach helps human, justice-minded (often neuro-spicy) entrepreneurs focus on results—not just checking things off a to-do list—so they can do meaningful work and live their dream days.About TracyTracy Stanger is an anti-hustle business coach who believes we shouldn’t have to choose between meaningful work and living your dream days. She’s on a mission to prove we CAN have time for our dreams when we focus on RESULTS instead of just checking shit off a to-do list. Her Less But Better™ Most You business strategy helps human (justice-minded, often neurospicy) business owners use their uniqueness to make more money and more impact, with more time for rest, and less stress.In today’s episode:* how this episode came to be: a mutual “workday” trade and a recorded debrief* why Tracy stopped waiting to build a “giant platform” before writing her book—and started writing now* how we used a strengths analysis (think an amalgam of personality tools) to shape both her book and my business pivots* what changed for me: moving away from webinars → high-ticket yearlong delivery, to offers that fit my health, capacity, and season* the edit I delivered to Tracy: audio feedback + a written summary (hello, hand neuropathy workaround)* clarifying prescriptive nonfiction: bringing the reader along, adding bridges between ideas, and making sure each chapter delivers the outcome it promises* turning Tracy’s client process into a reader journey (a clear sequence the reader can follow)* the practical writing plan Tracy is using now: 25-minute sessions with her outline and manuscript open, steady and sustainable* why “Less But Better, Most You” isn’t just a business strategy—it’s a book structure, tooLinks mentioned in this episode:* my free Book Outline Worksheet → moretothestory.co/bookoutline* book a “Nail Your Book Outline” session with me → moretothestory.co/nailyourbookoutline* More about Under the Gum Tree → underthegumtree.com* More about my coaching & editing services → moretothestory.coWant help figuring out the next steps for your book project? Schedule a 15-min Book Diagnosis call with me.Follow & connect:* Show notes & transcripts at moretothestory.substack.com* Follow me on Instagram @jannamarlies* Follow Under the Gum Tree on Instagram @undergumtreeQuestion for YouWhat “should” about platform or process are you letting go of so you can move your book forward now? If you picked one 25-minute action for this week, what would it be? Share in the comments—I’ll respond (and may feature your question in a future episode!).Thanks so much for listening and for being here! xo(AI Disclaimer: These show notes were generated by AI using the transcript of this episode.) Get full access to More to the Story with Janna Maron at moretothestory.substack.com/subscribe

Today on More to the Story Podcast: Why I Don’t Do Outlines for Memoirs (Part 2 of the Genre Conversation)This is a continuation of the genre conversation from the last episode, and I dive straight into something I get asked about all the time: book outlines. Specifically, why I do create outlines for prescriptive nonfiction (what I call memoir-ish), and why I don’t use outlines for memoir or personal essay.I also introduce a new term I’m using with clients—memoir-ish—to distinguish prescriptive books that are driven by teaching, insight, or process but are supported by personal story. This is different from memoir-plus (or hybrid memoir), where the personal story leads and other elements supplement it.If you’ve ever wondered whether you “should” outline your memoir, or you’re trying to figure out what kind of book you’re writing in the first place, this episode will help with clarity, language, and direction.In today’s episode:* what I mean by memoir-ish and how it differs from memoir and hybrid memoir* the role of personal story in prescriptive nonfiction* a client example of someone who thought she was writing memoir—but wasn’t* why prescriptive books need outlines (and how I co-create them with clients)* how your process, framework, and client stories become your table of contents* why memoir and essay don’t lend themselves to outlines* the puzzle metaphor: collecting pieces before trying to assemble structure* how outlines can constrict discovery in memoir writing* what’s really going on when memoirists spin their wheels for years* trusting yourself, trusting the work, and letting the story tell you what it needsLinks mentioned in this episode:* submit or subscribe to Under the Gum Tree → underthegumtree.com* get whole bean coffee from Café Santoro → cafesantoro.com/janna* book a 15-minute Book Diagnosis Call → moretothestory.co/bookdiagnosisFollow & Connect* subscribe & find show notes for this episode at moretothestory.substack.com* follow me on Instagram @jannamarlies* follow Under the Gum Tree on Instagram @undergumtreeQuestion for YouAre you writing from discovery—or trying to force your memoir into a structure too soon? What do you notice about your own process? Share in the comments—I’d love to hear and may respond in a future episode!Thanks so much for listening and for being here! (AI Disclaimer: These show notes were generated by AI using the transcript of this episode.) Get full access to More to the Story with Janna Maron at moretothestory.substack.com/subscribe

Today on More to the Story Podcast: Why I’m rethinking how I use the word “nonfiction” to describe the kind of books I work on.I’ve been rethinking how I describe the work I do with writers, and one thing has become clear: the word nonfiction doesn’t really serve us. It defines writing by what it isn’t, rather than what it is. In this episode, I talk about why that matters, how it affects the way writers think about their projects, and why I prefer to use the term personal story.This shift isn’t just semantics—it’s about honoring what writers are actually doing when they tell the truth about their lives and experiences. Whether you’re writing memoir, essay, or narrative nonfiction, centering story (instead of “not fiction”) gives you a clearer, more empowering frame for the work ahead.In today’s episode:* why the term nonfiction feels limiting and misleading* how genres like memoir, essay, and narrative don’t quite fit under the same umbrella* why story—especially personal story—is a more accurate way to name the work* how the words we use shape both the writing process and how others receive our work* what happens when you describe your project in terms of what it is instead of what it isn’t* an invitation to writers: to honor your story as its own genreLinks mentioned in this episode:* my free Book Outline Formula Worksheet → moretothestory.co/bookoutline* my masterclass designed to help you finally write (& finish) your book → http://moretothestory.co/finishyourbook* More about Under the Gum Tree → underthegumtree.com* More about my coaching & editing services → moretothestory.coWant help figuring out the next steps for your book project? Schedule a 15-min Book Diagnosis call with me.Follow & Connect* subscribe & find show notes and transcripts for this episode at moretothestory.substack.com* follow me on Instagram @jannamarlies* follow Under the Gum Tree on Instagram @undergumtreeQuestion for YouWhen you describe your writing project, what words do you use? Do they feel true to the work you’re creating? Share in the comments—I’d love to hear how you’re naming your story.Thanks so much for listening and for being here! (AI Disclaimer: These show notes were generated by AI using the transcript of this episode.) Get full access to More to the Story with Janna Maron at moretothestory.substack.com/subscribe

Today on More to the Story Podcast: A Reintroduction After a Summer BreakAfter a summer hiatus, I’m back with a fresh season of More to the Story. In this episode, I share what’s been happening behind the scenes—how I’ve been reflecting, pivoting, and rebuilding my business in a way that’s sustainable with my health and energizing for the women writers I serve. I also talk about Substack becoming a bigger part of my work, the importance of personal story in nonfiction, and a new layer of insight I’m gaining through Human Design.In today’s episode:* a summer hiatus and what I’ve been reflecting on since my MS relapse three years ago* why I’ve been experimenting with new ways of working sustainably* the challenges of using the term “nonfiction” and why I center personal story instead* how Substack is becoming the new home for my podcast, emails, and posts* shifting to a “mostly weekly” cadence to make the work easier and more sustainable* what I’ve been learning about Human Design and being a Manifestor—surges of energy, deep rest, and the ripple effect of creative sparks* how this new self-knowledge empowers me (and my clients!)* celebrating client wins: Barbara Caver’s forthcoming book A Little Piece of Cuba (available for pre-order now!)* how supporting each other—writers, readers, and coaches alike—creates a rising tide for all of usLinks mentioned in this episode:* More about Under the Gum Tree → underthegumtree.com* More about my coaching & editing services → moretothestory.co* Client books & success stories → moretothestory.co/about* Pre-order Barbara Caver’s A Little Piece of Cuba → bookshop.org* Follow Barbara on Substack for her book updates → Tiny Escapes with BarbWant help figuring out the next steps for your book project? Schedule a 15-min Book Diagnosis call with me.Follow & connect:* Show notes & transcripts at moretothestory.substack.com* Follow me on Instagram @jannamarlies* Follow Under the Gum Tree on Instagram @undergumtreeQuestion for YouWhat season of life or creative work are you emerging from right now—and how are you making it easier for yourself to sustain your next steps? Share in the comments—I’ll respond (and may even feature your reflection in a future episode!).Thanks so much for listening and for being here! (AI Disclaimer: These show notes were generated by AI using the transcript of this episode.) Get full access to More to the Story with Janna Maron at moretothestory.substack.com/subscribe

There is a lot going on behind the scenes for me right now, including do I keep using the term “nonfiction” to talk about the work I do with women writing books?? What do you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts! In today’s episode: - special birthday message to my husband, Jeremy, who’s birthday is June 2, the day this episode goes live 💜- going through it: income loss, job loss, illness relapse- being a little cryptic when telling your true personal story is part of your work but you’re not ready to share it! - taking a little pause, why, what it means, a little bit of what’s coming in the future - thinking and learning about the Substack platform, and how it will be more integral to my business going forward- if I don’t use the word ”nonfiction“ to talk about the work I do, what word do I use? - how understanding more about my Enneagram type (I’m an 8) has been helping me lately How You Can Support Me- pledge to become a paid subscriber of my Substack- make a coffee purchase at caffesantoro.com/janna- share my work: share this episode, forward my emails to friends you know who will benefit from it- show me some love with some conversation in the comments of this postLinks mentioned in this episode: - my popular masterclass designed to help you finally write (& finish) your book!- Get 10% off your first order of whole bean coffee from a boutique Northern California coffee roastery.- More about Under the Gum Tree- More about my coaching & editing services- sign up for my email list: https://jannamarlies.com/keep-in-touch- Follow, subscribe & find show notes for this episode at moretothestorypodcast.substack.com- follow me on Instagram @jannamarlies- follow Under the Gum Tree on Instagram @undergumtree Get full access to More to the Story with Janna Maron at moretothestory.substack.com/subscribe

Today on More to the Story Podcast: Why I don’t teach structure for books. Well, technically I do, but not in the way that others teach it. Another conversation I had with a woman at AWP during one of the mini book coaching sessions I held was all about her book, which she thinks is going to be kind of a big family saga spanning her grandmother’s life, her mother’s life, and her own life. She’s sorting through family memorabilia, including letters, and she wants to do interviews with her ancestors.She’s feeling very overwhelmed with all the topics and themes she wants to cover, and all the material she already has. “Where do I start?” she asked. “I feel like I need to know what the structure is in order to start organizing and figuring out what to prioritize.”In todays’s episode: * yes, some writer’s work better with an outline from the beginning* when I recommend using an outline to start* why I don’t recommend one for this woman’s project* how to find out if you have enough material for more than one book* working without an outline is a little bit like walking in the dark* the linear structure of the narrative isn’t always readily available—and why that’s okay* interacting with the energy of your creative work* the work of an writer and an artist is learning to be comfortable in uncertainty, which will permeate every area of your life* how yoga taught me to increase my tolerance for discomfortLinks mentioned in this episode: * my popular masterclass designed to help you finally write (& finish) your book!* Get 10% off your first order of whole bean coffee from a boutique Northern California coffee roastery.* More about Under the Gum Tree* More about my coaching & editing services* book a 1:1 with me to talk about your book structure (or anything you like, really!)* Follow, subscribe & find show notes for this episode at moretothestorypodcast.substack.com* follow me on Instagram @jannamarlies* follow Under the Gum Tree on Instagram @undergumtreeQuestion for you: How do you practice increasing your tolerance for discomfort? Share you experience in the comments! You can leave a question, too, and I’ll respond (and maybe even address it in a future episode!).Thanks so much for listening and for being here! xo Get full access to More to the Story with Janna Maron at moretothestory.substack.com/subscribe

Today on More to the Story: a simple (but not easy) way to affect change or the outcome you’re hoping to achieve. In today’s episode: - inspiration from a recent book that I read, Be Ready When the Luck Happens, by Ina Garten- how I feel about celebrity memoirs, even though I have read a few (listen to find out which ones!) - a popular TV show from the 1990s that I wasn’t allowed to watch when I was in high school- leaning into the energy of curiosity and playfulness, holding things lightly and practicing not being too attached to expectations for a specific outcome- being too attached to expectations is what causes disappointment - holding expectations loosely to allow room for something surprising to happen- two stories from Ina Garten’s memoir that really stuck with me: one from when she and her husband Jeffery were engaged, and one from when she was the new owner of the Barefoot Contessa in the Hamptoms- a lesson that Ina has used many times in her life that can be applied to our creative livesLinks mentioned in this episode:- my popular masterclass designed to help you finally write (& finish) your book!- Get 10% off your first order of whole bean coffee from a boutique Northern California coffee roastery.- More about Under the Gum Tree- More about my coaching & editing services- the book Be Ready When the Luck Happens, by Ina Garten- Follow, subscribe & find show notes for this episode at moretothestorypodcast.substack.com- follow me on Instagram @jannamarlies- follow Under the Gum Tree on Instagram @undergumtree Get full access to More to the Story with Janna Maron at moretothestory.substack.com/subscribe

When you’re close to being done with a manuscript project, what do you do? Do you finish the manuscript, and then start submitting? If it’s an essay collection, do you submit individual essays first, wait for them to get published, and then submit the manuscript?These questions and more in today’s episode about playing small, by which I mean limiting yourself by not taking advantage of all the opportunities available to you.In this episode:- submitting on a parallel path for individual essays + an essay collection manuscript- strategy for querying when an agent has expressed interest in seeing your work when you’re ready- following up with outstanding queries if/when you get an offer- thinking about finding an agent as if you’re hiring for a job, and you want to have as many applicants as you can- why starting to query before the manuscript is done is a good strategy- playing small=internal turmoil over should I/shouldn’t I/what should I do, instead of finding a place where you can feel confident and take actionLinks mentioned in this episode:- Get 10% off your first order of whole bean coffee from a boutique Northern California coffee roastery.- More about Under the Gum Tree- More about my coaching & editing services- $47 for my 90-min masterclass: Finally Write (& Finish) Your Nonfiction Book- Follow, subscribe & find show notes for this episode at moretothestorypodcast.substack.com- follow me on Instagram @jannamarlies- follow Under the Gum Tree on Instagram @undergumtreeQuestion for you:Is there a time in your life that you went after what you wanted? And how can you incorporate that energy in your writing/publishing life? Share your experience in the comments! Or, if you need perspective on how you can stop playing small, tell us where you are struggling and let’s help support each other!Thanks so much for listening and for being here! Get full access to More to the Story with Janna Maron at moretothestory.substack.com/subscribe

Staying organized is kind of a boring topic, but a practical and essential part of writing—especially if you‘re working on a book project. I’m talking about organization of writing material with all these different Word docs or Google docs or storing files on Dropbox.This came up in a conversation I had with a woman at AWP who booked one of my 15-minute book-coaching sessions. She’s working on an essay collection, she has 12 essays so far, all in varying stages of completeness or needing revision, and in varying stages of being submitted individually. In addition to this essay collection, she has a full time job, she’s also a visual artist, and she regularly applies for grants for both writers and artists. She was feeling very scattered. In this episode: * how easy it is to lose track of material when it’s stored digitally* how I recommend approaching a problem like keeping track of writing material at different stages of a project* why I like to use Google Docs, specifically Google Sheets, for this kind of organization * tips for how to set up a tracking spreadsheet, including how many sheets, what each sheet is for, and columns for tacking specific date in those sheets * how to evaluate when an essay collection is done, and using the spreadsheet to determine how much more material might be needed for a complete manuscript * when using a program like Scrivener would be a helpful organization tool* why organization of material is essential for writers & why helping with organization is an important part of a book coach’s jobLinks mentioned in this episode: * Get 10% off your first order of whole bean coffee from a boutique Northern California coffee roastery.* More about Under the Gum Tree* More about my coaching & editing services* Scrivener, the project management software for writers (affiliate link)* Follow, subscribe & find show notes for this episode at moretothestorypodcast.substack.com* follow me on Instagram @jannamarlies* follow Under the Gum Tree on Instagram @undergumtreeQuestion for you: How are you with organization of your writing materials? If you struggle, drop a question or a challenge, and let’s help each other out. If you’re a pro: what are your best tips & tricks? Share in the comments! Thanks so much for listening and for being here! Get full access to More to the Story with Janna Maron at moretothestory.substack.com/subscribe

When I talk with women about their book projects, one of the most common things I hear them say over and over is: I feel like my book is missing something, but I don't know what it is. And I don't know how to figure IT out. In the episode: - the typical way these conversations go- what happens when I have these conversations & how I respond- why self-awareness & simply paying attention are essential to discovering what your book is missing- one of my superpowers as book coach- getting to the point of not knowing what your book needs causes sheer exasperation - “memoir-plus” as an industry term and what it means - examples of memoir-plus: Already Toast, by Kate Washington & Lightning Flowers, by Katherine Standefer- why resistance is also key to identifying what’s missing from your bookLinks mentioned in this episode: - Get 10% off your first order of whole bean coffee from a boutique Northern California coffee roastery.- More about Under the Gum Tree- More about my coaching & editing services- the book Already Toast, by Kate Washington- the book Lightning Flowers, by Katherine StandeferFollow, subscribe & find show notes for this episode at moretothestorypodcast.substack.com- follow me on Instagram @jannamarlies- follow Under the Gum Tree on Instagram @undergumtree Get full access to More to the Story with Janna Maron at moretothestory.substack.com/subscribe

This week I want to tell you a story about an experience I had a the beach and relate it to something I’ve been learning about and focusing on in my life and observing how it manifests in our writing, creative, and publishing lives.In this episode: - my husband Jeremy and I have been vacationing in Baja California, Mexico and we recently decided to see how it would be to drive there from our home in Northern California- on our visits we take daily walks on the beach and would collect sea shells - I really wanted a whole sand dollar, and I found a lot of broke pieces but never found a whole one- I found not one, but two on our most recent trip, but not exactly what I wanted- unrelated, I was reading the book 10x Is Easier than 2x, and one concept that really stuck with me for how to measuring progress and success with a perspective that is either negative or positive- how this negative vs. positive perspective for measuring success shows up in our creative life- an example from a conversation I had with a woman at the AWP conference I attended in LA last month- the sand dollars are on the alter by my window as a reminder of the message that the universe will send me what I ask for, but maybe not how I expect- check out the show notes for this episodes to see a picture of the sand dollars- ask the universe for your own reminder and see how it manifests Links mentioned in this episode: - Get 10% off your first order of whole bean coffee from a boutique Northern California coffee roastery.- the book 10x Is Easier than 2x, by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy- Follow, subscribe & find show notes for this episode at moretothestorypodcast.substack.com- Follow me on Instagram @jannamarlies- Follow Under the Gum Tree on Instagram @undergumtree Get full access to More to the Story with Janna Maron at moretothestory.substack.com/subscribe

I’m revisiting the topic of what a book coach does, and t’s on my mind because of the two conferences I went to last month in March (Alt Summit & AWP). At both conferences I held 15-minute mini book coaching session and had so many great conversations with women who are working on books.There were also a lot of people, more so at AWP, talking about what they do professionally and how they help writers in the books/publishing world from book coaches like me to writing coaches, editors of all kinds, and publishers.At AWP I was hearing a lot around the topic of book coaching that gave me pause, because it doesn’t align with how I do things. So I wanted to continue the conversation, talk about what I was hearing, why I disagree, and why I feel like it doesn’t align with the way that I work.In this episode:- giving myself time to recover from two back-to-back conferences- why I disagree that coaches and editors need to be different people- one of my superpowers as a coach an editor & the resistance that often comes up around the story that authors actually need to tell- maybe I’m a unicorn (?), but based on the way that I work, why I am someone who can be both a coach and an editor- why I will never preach absolutes - why I don’t like the use of the word “codependent” in the context of areas in life where we actually need help, support, or accountability.- there is no shame in needing accountability for taking action - how Gretchen Rubin’s book and the framework The Four Tendencies applies to what motivates you to take action, and why needing external accountability to meet your goals is a real thing- more important than whether or not we are ”codependent” is the question: how do we respond to expectations? - dispelling the absolute that coaches must be published in the genre that you are trying to publish- the coach’s track record with clients is more important than publishing record- the importance of focusing on what you can actually take action on and what you can control (i.e. unless you self publish, you don’t have control over whether you get published or not!)- the difference between coaching/editing/ghostwriting, and why I don't agree that editing is prescriptive and coaching is never prescriptive- a question I get a lot: isn’t developmental editing the same as, or very similar to, ghostwriting? Links mentioned in this episode:- More about Under the Gum Tree - More about working with me - Get 10% off your first order of whole bean coffee from a boutique Northern California coffee roastery.- The first episode I did on what a book coach is- The episode answering the question ”Do I need 100,000 followers to get a book published?” - The book The Four Tendencies, by Gretchen Rubin - Follow, subscribe & find show notes for this episode at moretothestorypodcast.substack.com- Follow me on Instagram @jannamarlies- Follow Under the Gum Tree on Instagram @undergumtree Get full access to More to the Story with Janna Maron at moretothestory.substack.com/subscribe

Whew, we made it to April. March was an incredibly busy month for me. I was out of town March 14-17 for a conference called Alt Summit, and then again March 22-30 for another conference called AWP. Even before leaving for both those trips I was asking myself the question: was that the best decision? To commit to going to two conferences back-to-back? Last year when AWP was in Kansas City, I was one year post-relapse and new treatments but still had a lot of lingering symptoms. So instead of attending the entire conference for 3 days, I stayed just 2 nights and my priority for being there was the off-site reading event that I have been hosting for 9 years now with three other nonfiction publications.In this episode: - how it was such a relief to still attend the conference in a way that works for me- why I was in no condition to travel and had to skip the AWP conference in 2023- when we don't have the capacity, bandwidth, energy to deal with, yes travel and logistics, but also our creative lives - how I'm able to get my monthly medication infusions at home- even getting my treatments at home, why the infusions in February and March went badly - what I learned from two bad infusions in a row & why this was such an eye-opening experience- how this lesson came up for me again when attending the Alt Summit conference - the anxiety that came up for me around needed additional support to do the things that I used to be able to do on my own- learning to be okay with the reality of being dependent - how leaning into asking for help and accepting support directly impacts creative work- how to cultivate self-awareness, advocate for the support you need, and have the conversations you need to have with people in your life- if you have been learning lessons the hard way, what do you need to do to make change?Links mentioned in this episode:- Alt Summit: https://altitudesummit.com/- AWP conference: https://awpwriter.org/- follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jannamarlies- follow Under the Gum Tree on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/undergumtree/ Get full access to More to the Story with Janna Maron at moretothestory.substack.com/subscribe

At one of the two conferences I attended last month, one of the questions I got was: what is a book coach? Which is the perfect question for a podcast episode. In this episode: - a newly published book by one of my clients! - the meetup I hosted on authors & publishing at the Alt Summit conference last month- realizing that I haven’t talked about what a book coach is on this podcast- certification for book coaches, and why I’m not certified or think it’s necessary- an overview of my 20+ career history from my first job out of college to starting my business in 2020- a big part of the way that I work as a book coach & an inside joke for WWJD with my clients- my take on how coaching is different from editing: not all coaches are editors & not all editors are coaches- the difference between book coaches, writing coaches, and author coaches- what exactly a book coach can help you with, and when to engage one- tune in next week for more on managing health & energy, regardless of what it is you’re doing, whether it’s traveling and attending conferences or your every day creative workLinks mentioned in this episode: - Order books at bookshop.org to support independent book stores. - Christina Larocco’s book, Crosshatch: Martha Scofield, the Forgotten Feminist (1839-1916)- The Alt Summit conference: https://altitudesummit.com/- Jennie Nash’s Substack, The Art & Business of Book Coaching & the post, “Book Coaching 101, Part 1: What‘s a Book Coach?”- Jane Friedman’s book The Business of Being a Writer- Get my list of resources for finding literary agents- follow me on Instagram @jannamarlies- follow Under the Gum Tree on Instagram @undergumtree- Show notes & subscribe to More to the Story Podcast on Substack: https://moretothestorypodcast.substack.com/ Get full access to More to the Story with Janna Maron at moretothestory.substack.com/subscribe

I’m at AWP this week! If you’re also in LA for this annual conference, be sure to stop by Under the Gum Tree’s booth 1213 to say hello.Two things I’m doing at AWP this year:1. Hosting 15-minute mini-consults for women working on nonfiction books. If you could use a mini book coaching session, check here to see if there are any spots available and grab one.2. Under the Gum Tree’s off-site reading in partnership with Fourth Genre, River Teeth, and Hippocampus Magazine. On Friday, March 28 from 6-8p at Bonaventure Brewing Co. Under the Gum Tree’s featured readers are Laura Julier and Brad Snyder.In this episode:- If you’re not familiar, what is AWP? An overview and quick & dirty intro for first-timers- What to expect with the conference schedule- What to expect at the book fair, and why it’s probably my favorite part of the conference- A reflection on my first ever AWP back in 2009 or 2010 (can’t quite remember which year)- What came out of that first conference for me (practically everything I’m doing with my writing & business now)- Info on this year’s off-site event, in partnership with three other nonfiction publicationLinks mentioned in this episode:- Under the Gum Tree: underthegumtree.com- More to the Story coaching & editing for women: moretothestory.co- AWP in LA, March 27-29- Becky Tuch's Substack, Lit Mag News, and this post about the AWP conference- Link to schedule a 15-min book coaching session with me- Under the Gum Tree’s off-site reading on Friday 3/28 at 6p- The book I mentioned, On Our Best Behavior, by Elise Loehnen & the work of manifestation expert Lacy Phillips- Summer 2024 issue of Under the Gum Tree, featuring Laura Julier- Spring 2025 issue of Under the Gum Tree, featuring Brad Snyder- follow me on Instagram: @jannamarlies- follow Under the Gum Tree on Instagram @undergumtree Get full access to More to the Story with Janna Maron at moretothestory.substack.com/subscribe

For months now, maybe even a year or more, I have been wanting to spend 10 minutes, first thing in the morning, drinking my coffee outside.I set up the perfect spot to sit, with chairs facing east toward the rising sun, moved the gas fire pit over to the chairs. But for some reason I couldn’t get myself to take my coffee outside in the mornings.Actually I know exactly the reasons:1. It’s been winter time, and cold, and less sunny, and not the ideal weather for wanting to be outside.2. Because of the time I get up in the mornings, I would wake up, look at the clock and automatically think, “I’m behind.”In this episode:- more about why I sleep so much, which precipitated the “I’m behind” narrative- a conversation with a friend who was telling herself the same thing, about a completely different situation- how we both got ourselves out of the “I’m behind” cycle and laughed at ourselves- how you can get out of that cycle tooLinks mentioned in this episode:- Under the Gum Tree: underthegumtree.com- More to the Story coaching & editing for women: moretothestory.co- AWP in LA, March 27-29- follow me on Instagram: @jannamarlies- follow Under the Gum Tree on Instagram @undergumtree Get full access to More to the Story with Janna Maron at moretothestory.substack.com/subscribe

I saw a Notes thread on Substack recently that someone had shared an article, commenting that it was the saddest thing she had read on Substack that day.It had a lot of comments, so I clicked to read out of clarity and then curiosity. Clarity, because at first I didn’t get what was so sad about the article. Then curiosity, because as soon as I figured it out, I wanted to see what others had said.Maybe you already guessed that this thread was one long bitch-fest.The comments were all writers bemoaning that Substack has been infiltrated by what they called "Linked-In self promotion content," complaining that all they want to do is write and not try to figure out how to hack the system for growth.I have thoughts.In this episode:- why selling & self-promotion doesn’t have to be icky- how to make selling & self-promotion not icky- why anyone with writing they think can help (or teach, or entertain, or comfort) others should actually want to share it- why self-promotion isn’t selling out (unless you don’t want to be successful as a writer)Links mentioned in this episode:- Under the Gum Tree: underthegumtree.com- More to the Story coaching & editing for women: moretothestory.co- Alt Summit in Palm Springs, March 14-17- AWP in LA, March 27-29- follow me on Instagram: @jannamarlies- follow Under the Gum Tree on Instagram @undergumtree Get full access to More to the Story with Janna Maron at moretothestory.substack.com/subscribe

Someone sent me this question recently, and man did it get me fired up.Whenever I hear any so-called advice (from anyone) saying you need XYZ specific thing in order to get published, my first response is:Well, how does saying that benefit THEM?Here’s the thing: do you need 100,000 followers to get published? NO. Absolutely not. Would it be helpful? Of course.But (and this is a big BUT), there is a lot of nuance to this question, which I unpack in this episode.Listen in for:- thinking through using Substack, making work sustainable, whether or not to turn on paid subscriptions for this podcast, and doing work that’s easy and that I want to do- why someone would say something like, “you need 100,000 followers to get published”- what we mean when we say “get published” & the importance of distribution- how to determine whether going after hundreds of thousands of followers makes sense for YOU- why your own personal vision + goals are the most important thing to inform your book publishing decisionsLinks mentioned in this episode:- Subscribe to More to the Story podcast in Substack: https://moretothestorypodcast.substack.com/- Under the Gum Tree: underthegumtree.com- More to the Story coaching & editing for women: moretothestory.co- Past More to the Story episode ”If you want to publish a book, what is it that you actually want?”- Brooke Warner’s Substack & post on distribution- Alt Summit in Palm Springs, March 14-17- AWP in LA, March 27-29- follow me on Instagram @jannamarlies- follow Under the Gum Tree on Instagram @undergumtree Get full access to More to the Story with Janna Maron at moretothestory.substack.com/subscribe

When an opportunity for expansion and growth presents itself, but it’s something you’ve never done before, what’s your first instinct? To avoid doing it? To dismiss it simply because you’ve never done it? Maybe the idea of trying the thing hasn’t even occurred to you because you’ve never done it.But just because you’ve never done something doesn’t mean you can’t do it, or shouldn’t do it. In fact I would argue that when this type of resistance comes up it’s a good indicator that it’s time to do some self-reflection and some exploring by first, getting curious and asking yourself some questions, and, second, taking one small action to get just a little closer to the thing you’ve never done.In this episode I share an example of a client who came up against this resistance + some questions to ask yourself when it comes up for you.Links mentioned in this episode:- Subscribe to the podcast on Substack: moretothestorypodcast.substack.com- My signature video course: Nonfiction Bootcamp- Follow me on Instagram: @jannamarlies- Follow Under the Gum Tree on Instagram: @undergumtree- Sign up for my email list: jannamarlies.com/keep-in-touch- Alt Summit in Palm Springs, March 14-17- AWP in LA, March 26-29 Get full access to More to the Story with Janna Maron at moretothestory.substack.com/subscribe

When I introduce myself as a book coach, nearly every single woman I meet responds with, “Oh my gosh, I’ve always wanted to write a book.” Then we get to talking about what’s holding them back, and it is always some variation of “I’m not ready.” It usually sounds something like:- I’m waiting until I have a larger following.- I’m waiting until my kids are older. - I’m waiting until my business is more established.- I have to take care of XYZ thing first. - Now isn’t the right time because of XYZ. - I’m not a good enough writer.- I don’t know where to start!- It’s a big, scary, overwhelming project, and I don’t know how to do it!All of these are a version of feeling like you’re not ready to do this thing that you say you’ve always wanted to do, and here’s a secret: If you’re waiting until you’re “ready,” you never will be!It’s kind of like producing the first ever episode of Saturday Night Live, which I talk about in this episode after watching the movie Saturday Night on Netflix. That first night, the network producer kept trying to convince Lorne Michaels, the creator of the show, that they were’t ready and they should just try again the next week. But if he had done that, would there even be the great institution of American culture and comedy that we know and love today?Links mentioned in this episode:- Subscribe to the podcast on Substack: moreothestorypodcast.substack.com- More about Under the Gum Tree: underthegumtree.com- More about my coaching & editing: moretothestory.co- Sign up for my email list: jannamarlies.com/keep-in-touch Get full access to More to the Story with Janna Maron at moretothestory.substack.com/subscribe

Aspiring authors: do you have a pre-set idea of how to write and publish your book, based on what experts and gurus have said is the (best/only/most effective) way to do it? Have you already decided that you need to do XYZ because that's what so-and-so says to do? If you answered YES to any of these questions, this episode is for you. And I have some questions for YOU. Here's the deal: there is no one-size-fits all path to getting published and, in fact, if you haven't gotten clear on a few things for yourself first, then you may be following bad advice. Take a listen to find out what I mean. Subscribe to the podcast on Substack: moreothestorypodcast.substack.comMore about Under the Gum Tree: underthegumtree.comMore about my coaching & editing: moretothestory.coSign up for my email list: jannamarlies.com/keep-in-touch Get full access to More to the Story with Janna Maron at moretothestory.substack.com/subscribe

After a nearly four-year hiatus, More to the Story Podcast is back! Brought to you by Janna Marlies Maron, book coach and editor for women writing nonfiction, and editor and publisher of the creative nonfiction lit mag, Under the Gum Tree. Time is on your side: many of previous podcast guests have published books since being on the show; what’s been happening for Janna & plans for this podcast going forward. Subscribe to the podcast on Substack: moreothestorypodcast.substack.com Sign up for Janna’s email list: jannamarlies.com/keep-in-touch Get full access to More to the Story with Janna Maron at moretothestory.substack.com/subscribe

Janna Marlies Maron (she/her) is a professional editor with nearly 20 years of experience helping writers to complete their projects and produce the best work possible. Her experience includes time as a magazine editor, college professor, agency editorial director, and content director for a popular internet brand. Her life’s work began when she was a kid writing in a spiral bound notebook, and she has since turned an MA in creative writing into a successful career as an editor, publisher, and director of her own business supporting women authors writing nonfiction. In addition to founding and editing Under the Gum Tree, she‘s the host of More to the Story, a podcast all about creative nonfiction, as well as private online community for nonfiction writers also called More to the Story.In the episode I talk about: What’s been happening in the past three years, since the last season of More to the StoryThe importance of stepping back and taking a break when necessarySelf-care as an essential component of work and lifeShowing up for the people you care aboutMy new business working with nonfiction authorsMore to the Story, my private community for nonfiction authors. Find more info at jannamarlies.com/communityNonfiction Bootcamp, the 9-month coaching and editing program designed to help nonfiction authors finish a complete draft of their book manuscript. Find more info at jannamarlies.com/nonfictionbootcampThe best way to stay in touch with  me is to subscribe to my email list at jannamarlies.comThanks so much for tuning in to this season of the More to the Story podcast! Visit us online at moretothestorypodcast.com and visit Under the Gum Tree at underthegumtree.com. Follow Under the Gum Tree Twitter and Instagram @undergumtree. Follow me on Twitter @justjanna and @jannamarlies on Instagram.  Get full access to More to the Story with Janna Maron at moretothestory.substack.com/subscribe

Nicole Walker is the author of Processed Meats: Essays on Food, Flesh and Navigating Disaster (2021) Sustainability: A Love Story (2018) and the collaborative collection The After-Normal: Brief, Alphabetical Essays on a Changing Planet (2019). She has previously published the books Where the Tiny Things Are (2017), Egg (2017), Micrograms (2016), Quench Your Thirst with Salt (2013), and This Noisy Egg (2010). She edited for Bloomsbury the essay collections Science of Story (2019) with Sean Prentiss and Bending Genre: Essays on Creative Nonfiction (2013) with Margot Singer. She is the co-president of NonfictioNOW and is the recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts award and a noted author in Best American Essays. Her work has been most recently published in the New York Times, Longreads, and Manifest-Station. She teaches at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona. You can find her website at nikwalk.com.In the episode we talk about: Nonfiction feeling particularly apt for the time that  we’re living inStar Trek and approximating an “extra inch of brain stuff” by examining things in writingThe connecting point of imagination, drawing threads between two ideas as a way to enter braided essaysThe collaborative nature of writing, and writing & editing as a paired jobThe “bird’s eye” view of an editor and how the work of a good editor can elevate writingThe idea that climate justice is racial justiceThe human capacity to care more about each other than personal freedomsScience as a lens to examine the worldTinkering as a process crossing over from science to writingNicole’s current project examining the privilege and trauma of moving, and how it ties into climate changeThe constant feeling that we should be doing moreFind Nicole online at nikwalk.com / Twitter & FacebookRead stories people shared during the pandemic as part of the How We Are project at howweare.orgVisit us online at moretothestorypodcast.com and visit Under the Gum Tree at underthegumtree.com. Follow Under the Gum Tree Twitter and Instagram @undergumtree. Follow me on Twitter @justjanna and @jannamarlies on Instagram. If you’re looking for a place to find more support with writing your true personal story, join the More To The Story community! Get full access to More to the Story with Janna Maron at moretothestory.substack.com/subscribe

Kristie Robin Johnson is an educator, essayist, and poet from Augusta, Georgia. She is the current Chair of the Department of Humanities at Georgia Military College’s Augusta campus where she is an Assistant Professor of English. A graduate of the MFA Creative Writing program at Georgia College and State University, Kristie’s writing has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize and has received other awards and recognition, including an AWP Intro to Journals award, the 2020 Porter Fleming Prize for Nonfiction, and the 2021 Page Prize for Nonfiction from The Pinch Literary Journal. Her work has been published in numerous literary magazines, journals, and anthologies. Her first book, High Cotton, was released in 2020 by Raised Voice Press.In the episode we talk about: Hip hop as Kristie’s first introduction to literatureWriting essays as a function of journaling, being a young mother, and writing letters to her unborn childThe transition from being a poet to being an essayistMaya Angelo, Harlem Renaissance writers, and imagining her first poems as if Tupac or Biggie and Langston Hughes had a babyBilly Collins’s theory that every poet has 200 bad poems that they have to get outDetermining whether a piece is an essay or a poemWriting about the same things over and over as a writer of color, in reference to the lynching of Ahmaud Arbery and his murder being particularly difficult because of not being able to gather during COVIDThe impact that reading Black male authors had on her young sonAddressing race with kids and how parents make the choice of when, where, and how to talk about itHow the media has changed the frequency at which we see racial injusticeKristie’s strongest writing coming out of examining the intersections of life as a woman, a Black person, a single mom, and a returning college studentThe benefits of publishing with a small pressFind Kristie online at kristierobinjohnson.comKristie’s essay collection High Cotton is available on raisedvoicepress.com and everywhere books are soldVisit us online at moretothestorypodcast.com and visit Under the Gum Tree at underthegumtree.com. Follow Under the Gum Tree Twitter and Instagram @undergumtree. Follow me on Twitter @justjanna and @jannamarlies on Instagram. If you’re looking for a place to find more support with writing your true personal story, join the More To The Story community! Get full access to More to the Story with Janna Maron at moretothestory.substack.com/subscribe

Timothy J. Hillegonds is the author of The Distance Between (Nebraska, 2019), a finalist for the 2020 Chicago Writers Association Book of the Year Award. A Pushcart Prize nominee, Tim's work has appeared in The Guardian, the Chicago Tribune, Salon, The Daily Beast, The Los Angeles Review of Books, The Rumpus, Assay, Fourth Genre: Explorations in Nonfiction, River Teeth, Baltimore Review, Brevity, Under the Gum Tree, Hippocampus Magazine, The Fourth River, Midway Journal, RHINO, Bluestem Magazine, r.k.v.r.y. quarterly, and others.In 2019, Tim was named by the Guild Literary Complex as one of their thirty "Writers to Watch,” and he currently serves as a contributing editor for Slag Glass City, a digital journal of the urban essay arts.In the episode we talk about: The practice of writing in rehab at the beginning of a serious writing life and as an integral part of healingComing to nonfiction as a result of traumaGetting an undergrad degree at age 30Recovery as never being singular, we're constantly recovering from one thing or anotherNever writing the same book twice and giving yourself permission to try something differentCrafting a persona in creative nonfictionTruth vs subjectivity in nonfiction, honesty in recoveryUsing the second-person perspective in nonfictionThe challenges of an addiction memoir and a story of abuse from the perpetrator’s point of viewThe benefits of publishing with a university pressWriting visceral scenes of using after being soberThe moral inventory of self and wrestling with privilege working on his behalfHow to reinvent a story like an addiction that is, let’s be honest, so played outWriters Hope Edelman, Michele Morano , and  Sheryl St. Germain Find Tim online at timhillegonds.com.Visit us online at moretothestorypodcast.com and visit Under the Gum Tree at underthegumtree.com. Follow Under the Gum Tree Twitter and Instagram @undergumtree. Follow me on Twitter @justjanna and @jannamarlies on Instagram. If you’re looking for a place to find more support with writing your true personal story, join the More To The Story community! Get full access to More to the Story with Janna Maron at moretothestory.substack.com/subscribe

Kelly is an award-winning essayist and a Pushcart nominee. She has an MFA in nonfiction from Lesley University. Her essay “Do No Harm” was awarded the $1000 Best Essay Prize and appeared in Creative Nonfiction’s Issue #55, The Memoir Issue, Spring 2015. Her essay, "Paper Moon" was shortlisted for The Pinch's 2017 Literary Award. Kelly enjoys the quiet life of rural Ohio. When she's not chasing children around the house, she can usually be found corn field watching from beneath an apple tree in her backyard. Kelly is currently seeking representation for her first book a collection of essays. In the episode we talk about: Grief journals and turning them into essaysNeeding a place to figure out what an experience meansGiving readers the benefit of the doubt, and essays that are a slow burnThe short form of flash and “micro” writingLoss and learning to love things without consuming or owning themUsing care in the things we create vs. self-imposed deadlines or goalsKelly’s piece "Winter Soliloquy" in HippocampusConnect with Kelly on Twitter @WhaleLettersVisit us online at moretothestorypodcast.com and visit Under the Gum Tree at underthegumtree.com. Follow Under the Gum Tree Twitter and Instagram @undergumtree. Follow me on Twitter @justjanna and @jannamarlies on Instagram. If you’re looking for a place to find more support with writing your true personal story, join the More To The Story community! Get full access to More to the Story with Janna Maron at moretothestory.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode I talk with writer Katherine Standefer. Katherine's debut book, Lightning Flowers, published November 2020 from Little Brown, was shortlisted for the 2018 J. Anthony Lukas Work-in-Progress Prize from Columbia Graduate School of Journalism and the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard. Her work was featured in The Best American Essays 2016, won the 2015 Iowa Review Award in Nonfiction, and most recently appeared in Virginia Quarterly Review, Kenyon Review Online, New England Review, Crazyhorse, Quarterly West, and The Normal School. She was a Fall 2018 Logan Nonfiction Fellow at The Carey Institute for Global Good, and earned her MFA in Creative Nonfiction at the University of Arizona. As a creative entrepreneur, she teaches intimate, electric writing classes that help people tell their stories about sexuality, illness, and trauma. She is also a professor in Ashland University's Low-Residency MFA.In the episode we talk about: Heartbreak and conflict mineralsIllness as a driver force for writing nonfictionOwning a story vs. disguising it in thinly veiled fictionThe need for narrative distance to craft nonfictionProcessing illness through writingResearch as a means of survival The personal is enough, a personal story well told can change livesKati’s book, Lighting Flowers, story of a complicated relationship with her ICD, the American healthcare system, and the global supply chain.Book forthcoming March 2020 - Nov 2020, Little BrownIG / Twitter: @girlmakesfire / FB: writewithkatistandefer / katherinestandefer.comVisit us online at moretothestorypodcast.com and visit Under the Gum Tree at underthegumtree.com. Follow Under the Gum Tree Twitter and Instagram @undergumtree. Follow me on Twitter @justjanna and @jannamarlies on Instagram. If you're looking for a place to find more support with writing your true personal story, join the More To The Story community! Get full access to More to the Story with Janna Maron at moretothestory.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, I talk with writer James M. Chesbro. James is the author of A Lion in the Snow: Essays on a Father’s Journey Home. His work has appeared in The Writer’s Chronicle, America, The Washington Post, The Millions, Essay Daily, and The Huffington Post. Essays from A Lion in the Snow were chosen as notable selections in The Best American Essays series 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017, and 2018, as well as The Best American Sports Writing 2014.In the episode we talk about: Making sense of things in a private journalMourning the loss of a parent while trying to keep children alive at the same timeThe confluence of the role of son and father, feeling like a kid foreverHow becoming a father allowed him to learn about and understand his own father who passed away before he had kidsHow the memories that we  attach to objects allow them to take on a life of their ownJamie's book, A Lion in the Snow, Essays on a Father’s Journey Home compiling an essay collectionFinishing a project, even when it takes almost a decade, has to be an obsessionThe importance of books about men for men and exploring emotions as menjamesmchesbro.com / jamie_chesbro on Twitter & InstagramVisit us online at moretothestorypodcast.com and visit Under the Gum Tree at underthegumtree.com. Follow Under the Gum Tree Twitter and Instagram @undergumtree. Follow me on Twitter @justjanna and @jannamarlies on Instagram. If you're looking for a place to find more support with writing your true personal story, join the More To The Story community! Get full access to More to the Story with Janna Maron at moretothestory.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode I talk with Tori Weston, creative writer and visual artist. Tori received a BFA in Writing and Literature and an MFA in Creative Writing from Emerson College. While working for the Professional Studies department and finishing her last semester of graduate school, she wrote a proposal for a creative writing high school program. Fifteen years later, she is now the Assistant Director of Pre-College Programs at Emerson College. When not running the pre-college program, she balances her professional life with her creative life as both a writer and artist. Her writing has appeared in What's Up Magazine, Providence Journal-Bulletin, Sleet Magazine, and Under the Gum Tree. She has also been a featured storyteller in the Risk! Live show, podcast, and book. Her artwork has been shown at the Somerville Museum, Diesel Cafe, and Bloc 11 Cafe. In the episode we talk about: Her 6th grad teacher’s quirky essay assignmentsTori's love of grammar & being rewarded for memorizing poems with partiesThe 1991 Doors movie inspiring a generation of creatives writing bad poetryThe recurring theme of teachers taking interest, encouraging her to pursue writingMoving to nonfiction as a result of telling personal storiesThemes unifying multiple short-short piecesThe richness of growing up in a cultural diverse neighborhoodTori’s memoir-in-progress about her whopping 38 roommate situationsCheck out her work at: ToriWestonWriterArtist.com Visit us online at moretothestorypodcast.com and visit Under the Gum Tree at underthegumtree.com. Follow Under the Gum Tree Twitter and Instagram @undergumtree. Follow me on Twitter @justjanna and @jannamarlies on Instagram. If you're looking for a place to find more support with writing your true personal story, join the More To The Story community! Get full access to More to the Story with Janna Maron at moretothestory.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode I talk with Rebekah Taussig, one of Under the Gum Tree’s previous contributors. Rebekah is a writer and teacher with her PhD in creative nonfiction and disability studies from the University of Kansas. She is interested in the powerful connection between the stories we tell and the tangible world we live in. You can find her essays in Under the Gum Tree and The Florida Review and can follow her flash-memoirs on her Instagram @sitting_pretty. Her essay “Reupholstered” appears in the October 2016 issue of Under the Gum Tree.In this episode we talk about:Wanting to make sense of the world through wordsDisability stories in nineteenth century literatureThe Moonstone and Poor Miss Finch by Wilkie CollinsResponses of Rebekah's students in her high school disability and literature classThe challenge and discomfort engaging with "others," people who are different from we areRebekah's experience of transitioning to using a wheelchair as a childWriting life stories that are shaped by Rebekah's experience with her bodyRebekah's memoir Do You Feel This: The Story of a Voice Lost and ReclaimedWriting flash-flash memoir on InstagramVisit Rebekah online at rebekahtaussig.com and follow her on Instagram @sitting_prettyVisit us online at moretothestorypodcast.com and visit Under the Gum Tree at underthegumtree.com. Follow Under the Gum Tree Twitter and Instagram @undergumtree. Follow me on Twitter @justjanna and @jannamarlies on Instagram. Find out about my 6-week email audio course at jannamarlies.com/cnf101course. Get full access to More to the Story with Janna Maron at moretothestory.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode I talk with Liz Stephens, one of Under the Gum Tree's previous contributors. Liz is currently growing the Mojave Desert Arts project, a residency and workshop space outside Joshua Tree, California. Recent work can be found in the anthologies Brief Encounters: A Collection of Contemporary Nonfiction and Dirt: A Love Story. Other work can be found in Fourth Genre and Terrain.org, among others. She has served as managing editor of Brevity, and teaches nonfiction with the UCLA Extension Writer’s Program and through private workshops and retreats. Liz’s essay “Because Faint Glitter Came Off Everything” appears in the April 2017 issue of Under the Gum Tree.In this episode we talk about:The difference between journaling and crafting true stories for an audienceHow writing creative nonfiction has taught Liz the craft and structure needed for returning to writing fictonBeing in transition as an adult and part of the artistic classHow places are created, whether people create it or whether place shapes and forms peopleLiving in the desert and choosing to stay in a place that's more difficult to liveThe inconvenience of wanting something that isn't easyPaying attention to surroundings as a way to occupy an over-thinking mindAn artist residency that Liz is working on starting called the Mojave Desert ArtsVisit Liz online at thedaysaregods.com follow Liz on Instagram at @doc_stephensVisit us online at moretothestorypodcast.com and visit Under the Gum Tree at underthegumtree.com. Follow Under the Gum Tree Twitter and Instagram @undergumtree. Follow me on Twitter @justjanna and @jannamarlies on Instagram. Find out about my 6-week email audio course at jannamarlies.com/cnf101course. Get full access to More to the Story with Janna Maron at moretothestory.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode I talk with one of Under the Gum Tree's previous contributors, Dorian Fox. Dorian essays, articles and stories have appeared in december, Gastronomica, Alimentum, Monkeybicycle, National Parks Magazine, and elsewhere. His work has also been shortlisted for awards by Ploughshares, Phoebe and The Bellingham Review. He received his MFA in Creative Nonfiction from Emerson College and teaches writing at Grub Street in Boston. His essay "The Other First," appears in the January 2016 issue of Under the Gum Tree.In this episode we talk about:The nakedness that comes with writing nonfiction and claiming your personal experienceHow to not get tripped up by facts when writing nonfictionEmbracing and honoring your own subjective version of truth when writingAnxieties and concerns that develop when we age, and when we age in a relationshipHow we revise, recast, or recalibrate our personal life stories and see it with fresh perspectiveDorian's work teaching at Grub Street in BostonTeaching writing and how it influences Dorian's own creative work as a writerThe craft books *The Art of Memoir*, by Mary Karr; *The Situation and the Story*, by Vivian Gornick; and*On Writing*, by Stephen KingThe cult-classic films Motorphsyco! and Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!Visit Dorian online at dorianfox.comVisit us online at moretothestorypodcast.com and visit Under the Gum Tree at underthegumtree.com.Follow Under the Gum Tree Twitter and Instagram @undergumtree. Follow me on Twitter @justjanna and @jannamarlies on Instagram.Find out about my 6-week email audio course at jannamarlies.com/cnf101course. Get full access to More to the Story with Janna Maron at moretothestory.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode I talk with Yahdon Israel, one of Under the Gum Tree's previous contributors. Yahdon is 27-year-old writer from Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, who has written for Avidly, The New Inquiry, Brooklyn Magazine, LitHub, and Poets and Writers. He graduated from the MFA Creative Non-Fiction Writing program at the New School. He is the Awards and Membership VP of the National Book Critics Circle. Run a popular Instagram page which promotes literature and fashion under the hashtag Literaryswag, and host a web show for writers called LIT.In this episode we talk about:Writing as a means to confronting the worldTelling lies to find your voice, and writing as a way to be heardGetting to the truth of feelings through false constructs like memory and objectivityHow James Baldwin has influenced Yahdon as a writerWhite editors and their expectation that black writers should answer their questionsComplexity of asking questions that reveal assumptions and lies we tell ourselvesThe essay as a form of asking questions that may never be answeredWhat the literary market wants and expects from writers of colorThe Women, by Hilton AlsThe importance of literary citizenship and contributing to community beyond writingYahdon's interview with Pulitzer Prizewinning poet Tyehimba JessYahdon's popular Instagram hashtag #literaryswag and his new web show for writers called LIT.Visit Yahdon online at yahdonisrael.com. Follow him on Instagram @yahdon and on Twitter @yahdonisrael.Follow Yahdon's projects on Instagram @litplatform and @literaryswagbookclub.Visit us online at moretothestorypodcast.com and visit Under the Gum Tree at underthegumtree.com.Follow Under the Gum Tree Twitter and Instagram @undergumtree. Follow me on Twitter @justjanna and @jannamarlies on Instagram.Find out about my 6-week email audio course at jannamarlies.com/cnf101course. Get full access to More to the Story with Janna Maron at moretothestory.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode I talk with Stephen Gutierrez, one of Under the Gum Tree's previous contributors. Stephen has published three books of stories and essays. Live from Fresno y Los won an American Book Award, and The Mexican Man in His Backyard is his most recent. He has published widely in magazines and anthologies, including nonfiction in Fourth Genre, River Teeth, Under the Sun, Alaska Quarterly Review, Third Coast, ZYZZYVA and Cleaver Magazine. He is working on a collection of essays and hybrid nonfiction. He teaches at California State University East Bay. His essay "Spiritual Direction" appears in the October 2016 issue of Under the Gum Tree.In this episode we talk about:Writing both fiction and nonfiction, and discovering a new voice in nonfictionTaking a stand for writing a positive tribute of a family memberWhat we learn about ourselves and others close to use when we write about familyHow writing can help us learn sympathy for others by being willing to challenge our own beliefsStephen's three-volume box set: Elements, Live from Fresno y Los, The Mexican Man in his BackyardVisit Stephen online at stephendgutierrez.comVisit us online at moretothestorypodcast.com and visit Under the Gum Tree at underthegumtree.com.Follow Under the Gum Tree Twitter and Instagram [@undergumtree][4]. Follow me on Twitter [@justjanna][5] and [@jannamarlies][6] on Instagram.Find out about my 6-week email audio course at [jannamarlies.com/cnf101course][7]. Get full access to More to the Story with Janna Maron at moretothestory.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode I talk with author and Under the Gum Tree contributor Carol Marsh. Carol's essay, “Pictures in Leaves,” won the 2016 New Millennium Writings Nonfiction Prize. Her essay "Highest and Best" received an honorable mention in Under the Gum Tree's inaugural essay contest and appears in the January 2017 issue of the magazine. It is an excerpt from her memoir Nowhere Else I Want to Be. Additional excerpts of her book have appeared in Soundings Review , bioStories, and Jenny magazine.In this episode we talk about:Processing grief and experience through writing creative nonfictionWhy Carol started Miriam's House, a nonprofit shelter for women in Washington, D.C. living with aidsHow writing played a role in maintaining emotional and spiritual health during her time at Miriam's HouseThe importance of self-care when having others to take care and creating physical and emotional boundariesWhy structure is a bitch and how to create it a memoir with multiple storylinesCarol's memoir Nowhere Else I Want to BeThe online school for people in public service that Carol started, Forum for Growth in ServiceVisit Carol online at caroldmarsh.comVisit us online at moretothestorypodcast.com and visit Under the Gum Tree at underthegumtree.com.Follow Under the Gum Tree Twitter and Instagram [@undergumtree][4]. Follow me on Twitter [@justjanna][5] and [@jannamarlies][6] on Instagram.Find out about my 6-week email audio course at [jannamarlies.com/cnf101course][7]. Get full access to More to the Story with Janna Maron at moretothestory.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode I talk with Ira Sukrungruang, one of Under the Gum Tree's previous contributors. Ira is the author of The Melting Season, Southside Buddhist, Talk Thai, and In Thailand It Is Night. He teaches in the MFA program at University of South Florida. His essay "The Animatronic Dog" appears in the April 2016 issue of Under the Gum Tree.The pen name that Ira used when he used to submit stories to the New Yorker as a teenagerHow Ira shifts between writing in all three genres of poetry, fiction, and nonfictionThe difference between writing personal stories as nonfiction versus autobiographical fictionExploring the meaning of the word "monster," where monsters come from and what we are really afraid ofCrafting segmented essays, determining the sequence and what to include or leave outWhat to do with material that doesn't end up in an essayThe role of being an editor and how it affects Ira's work as a writerThe online literary magazine Sweet, where Ira is a founding editorIra's new memoir Buddah's Dog, coming out in spring 2018Visit Ira online at buddistboy.com, follow him on Twitter at @sukrungruangVisit us online at moretothestorypodcast.com and visit Under the Gum Tree at underthegumtree.com.Follow Under the Gum Tree Twitter and Instagram [@undergumtree][4]. Follow me on Twitter [@justjanna][5] and [@jannamarlies][6] on Instagram.Find out about my 6-week email audio course at [jannamarlies.com/cnf101course][7]. Get full access to More to the Story with Janna Maron at moretothestory.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode I talk with Matt Young, one of Under the Gum Tree's previous contributors. Matt is a marine veteran, writer, and teacher. He lives in Olympia, Washington where he teaches at Central College. He holds an MA in creative writing from Miami University. His work can be found in Yemassee, Word Riot, Tin House, River Teeth, and others. His essay "Equal and Opposite" appears in the July 2016 issue of Under the Gum Tree. His memoir Eat the Apple comes out in February 2018.In this episode we talk about:How Matt came to writing after his military careerNavigating the often conflicting identities of being both a war veteran and a writerDealing with re-traumatization when writing memoirDifferent types of reactions Matt experiences to his military storiesMatt's new memoir Eat the Apple, which will be published February 2018 and available for preorder nowVisit Matt online at http://mattyoungauthor.com/ or on Twitter at @young_em_seeVisit us online at moretothestorypodcast.com and visit Under the Gum Tree at underthegumtree.com.Follow Under the Gum Tree Twitter and Instagram @undergumtree. Follow me on Twitter @justjanna and @jannamarlies on Instagram.Find out about my 6-week email audio course at jannamarlies.com/cnf101course. Get full access to More to the Story with Janna Maron at moretothestory.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to episode seven of More to the Story, a podcast all about telling true stories and sharing them with the world!In this episode, I talk with previous Under the Gum Tree contributor, Penny Guisinger. Penny Guisinger lives and writes on the easternmost tip of Maine. Her work has appeared or is forthcoming in Fourth Genre, River Teeth, Guernica, the Brevity blog, Solstice, Under the Gum Tree, and others. Her first book, Postcards from Here, was recently released by Vine Leaves Press. Her second book, Shift, is in progress. Penny is the founding director of Iota: Short Prose Conference and a graduate of the Stonecoast MFA Program. She lives with two dogs, two kids, her wife, and a family of porcupines that trundle across the lawn like bulldozers.In this episode, we talk about:Penny’s new book, Postcards from HereWriting short-short prose, and assembling a bookFinding material to write about by paying attentionGetting published, and finding the exact right home for your workIncriminating ourself one the page first, before anyone we right aboutThe importance of creating and participating in literary communityIota: The Conference of Short Prose, annual writing conference Penny foundedVisit Penny online at pennyguisinger.com, and on Twitter @pennyguisingerVisit us online at moretothestorypodcast.com and visit Under the Gum Tree at underthegumtree.com. Get full access to More to the Story with Janna Maron at moretothestory.substack.com/subscribe