ODBC 040 - The Behind-the-Scenes Story of My First Novel That I've Literally Never Told Before
The One-Drink Book Club is an informal, (almost) weekly series in which fellow author Emma Lee Jayne joins me and our other creative friends to talk about the life, business, and art of writing and making books … for the duration of one Friday-afternoon drink. Here’s what we talked about in this episode:* Mike, who just finished a poetry book he’s been working on, said he didn’t feel excitement or happiness on finishing … just sort of done. We talked about the “finishing the project” vibes and the oddity of it, seeing as I feel the same. * Reliving the writing and editing of my very first book (The Bialy Pimps), I regaled the others with stories of how self-indulgent the first draft was, and how I fixed it.* When is it true that theres’s “too much of the author in a book,” and how can you tell? * I then dropped a BIG OL’ BTS EXCLUSIVE: A story about The Bialy Pimps’s early draft and exactly what I removed because it was so personal, it made for terrible reading. You’ll hear a scoop I’ve literally never shared before, about those early drafts, what I cut from them, and the true of this particular writer’s earliest working days. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit johnnybtruant.substack.com/subscribe
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ODBC 039 - Book Clubs, Dissecting Reads, and Deceiving Readers in Just The Right Way
The One-Drink Book Club is an informal, (almost) weekly series in which fellow author Emma Lee Jayne joins me and our other creative friends to talk about the life, business, and art of writing and making books … for the duration of one Friday-afternoon drink. Here’s what we talked about in this episode:* We have our first guest, despite the fact that we don’t have guests on the show. Actually, we just expanded outward from the four of us who usually host ODBC from the local wine night group and this time included Bill’s wife Paula. (My wife will never come on. Sorry. She’s the opposite of into it.)* We talked about how there are sometimes “seasons” for writers, and how it can be best to accept sometimes that you’ll be able to write and sometimes your attention should go elsewhere. (Teaser: Paula actually had a whole line of questions on this one that we talked about afterward and will definitely be discussing the next time she’s on. * Then we talked bout the local book club and how terrified I am to have my book read by it. Also: What’s the function of book clubs? Is it really mostly about the wine? * What’s this phenomenon of “reading the same book over and over” about? Bill and I equated it to the no-bullshit way we watch some TV shows. * Everyone shared how they read differently as writers … or as regular listeners of the ODBC. What do you notice? What gets spoiled?* Finally, we talked about a favorite geek-out topic of mine: the fine balance as a writer between sharing just enough information so that you’re being honest with a reader, while still subtly misdirecting them so they’ll be surprised by a twist or shock ending. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit johnnybtruant.substack.com/subscribe
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ODBC 038 - Is Genre Writing Noble?
The One-Drink Book Club is an informal, (almost) weekly series in which fellow author Emma Lee Jayne joins me and our other creative friends to talk about the life, business, and art of writing and making books … for the duration of one Friday-afternoon drink. Here’s what we talked about in this episode:* We began with a rousing discussion of writing techniques that annoy Bill, several of which I’ve definitely done. We then espoused our own annoyances, which made us all look like judgmental fuckers. Like: Excessive cliffhangers, too many short chapters, shocking openings, dialogue that would never make sense in the real world, too many adverbs, and the ever-popular practice of head-hopping. * We then pivoted to what sounds like a super geeky discussion but was actually sort of fascinating: the strengths and value of various point-of-view/tense styles. Which style do you like best, and why? * I told my famous “em dash” story. Which wasn’t actually famous at all.* Emma then asked everyone a question about selling content that she’s also using for a lead magnet to get people onto her email list. Is a bonus story worth 99 cents? (HINT: I said yes. It’s 99 fucking cents, people.)* We then spent the final three of the show with a rousing and sort of profound and existential discussion about whether or not genre writing is noble - whether we’ll be remembered after we’re gone as having made a difference. What do you think — is only Literature-with-a-capital-L helping to change the world? Or is it instead pretentious bullshit and we, the genre writers, are this world’s real heroes? This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit johnnybtruant.substack.com/subscribe
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ODBC 037 - The One In Which Emma Goes All-In on Johnny's Artisan Author Schtick
The One-Drink Book Club is an informal, (almost) weekly series in which fellow author Emma Lee Jayne joins me and our other creative friends to talk about the life, business, and art of writing and making books … for the duration of one Friday-afternoon drink. Here’s what we talked about in this episode:* Why am I bothering to make bullet points? The entire episode was about the Artisan Author philosophy, and how that avenue might be the best (or only) option left for quality-and-art-minded authors to truly stand out. But it was a good chat. Really one for the ages. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit johnnybtruant.substack.com/subscribe
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ODBC 036 - Defining "Success," Ego and the Writer, and When "Normal" is a Trap
The One-Drink Book Club is an informal, (almost) weekly series in which fellow author Emma Lee Jayne joins me and our other creative friends to talk about the life, business, and art of writing and making books … for the duration of one Friday-afternoon drink. Here’s what we talked about in this episode:* I selfishly announced my new project — The Artisan Author book — which you can sign up to be notified about at JohnnyBTruant.com/Artisan* What does success mean to different writers? It’s more than a Tony Robbins exercise. The difference actually matters. * Fighting subconscious ego demands … which might actually serve to take you AWAY from whatever real “success” you actually want. * The mindset shift for live selling: “I’m pathetic standing here alone” versus “This is/isn’t what I expected in advance.” * Mike asked how to get started on the Artisan path, for his eldest kid. * My response in a nutshell: Be yourself. That’s trite but the real differentiator, because “normal” is an illusion … and if you’re yourself, you are exactly what a group of disenfranchised weirdoes has been looking for (and I say “weirdoes” affectionately). This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit johnnybtruant.substack.com/subscribe
The One-Drink Book Club is an informal, (almost) weekly series in which fellow author Emma Lee Jayne joins me and our other creative friends to talk about the life, business, and art of writing and making books … for the duration of one Friday-afternoon drink. johnnybtruant.substack.com
Netherlands