Tons of great episodes, some virtual hangs, and podcast recs!
How is everyone doing? The last month has been difficult, confusing, stressful, and -- at times -- just plain boring. I'm able to use working on this podcast as a coping mechanism and a way to fill my hours, and for that I am grateful. I hope you've been able to stay safe, and healthy, and are discovering what you're able to do for creative release in this time.
In April I finally released Track Changes, the spinoff series I've been working on for months that seeks to share knowledge and insight about the publishing industry. Today we released a bonus episode, where I spoke with five literary agents to get insight about what has -- or hasn't -- changed in publishing in light of COVID-19 and widespread shelter-in-place rules, and what shifts might be here to stay.
Podcasts continue to be a comfort to me right now (see below for a list of what I'm listening to!) so if First Draft has done the same for you, I am honored.
(Also, I am looking for enemies-to-lovers movie recommendations ~ for research ~ If you think of one, reply to this email and let me know!)
Read on for...
🗣️ I started a First Draft Facebook Group - join up and chime in!
💻 Some upcoming events where we can (virtually) hang!
📰 Shoutouts to First Draft in the news
🎧 Recent can't-miss First Draft episodes
📚 An update on my #FirstDraftReadingChallenge progress
✔️ Recs for ALL the media I consumed in March
💎 Links for TELL ME EVERYTHING
Join the First Draft Facebook Group!
💻 Hang With Sarah On The Internet! 💻
I'll be at Virtual Pop Expo on Sunday May 10 at 3 PM ET / 12 PM PT talking about books with Sam Maggs, Danielle Paige, and Maurene Goo! Check out the rest of the incredible full weekend of fun interactive fan stuff they have going on!
I can't yet share the details of all that I'll be doing for BookConline and BookExpo Online, but stay tuned for updates!
📰 First Draft in the News 📰
Read Sarah Enni’s Reddit AMA from April 16, 2020!
Sarah Enni shared information on how she records her podcast on TechCrunch
NetGalley lists First Draft as one of its bookish podcasts to tune in to!
Veronica Roth recommends First Draft to aspiring writers who want to learn more about the publishing industry.
🎧 Recent First Draft Episodes 🎧
Track Changes: Publishing in the Time of COVID
Publishing experts discuss how the global pandemic, and widespread shelter-in-place laws have changed their jobs, how publishers have responded to the uncertain retail market, what books are more or less likely to sell in this climate, and what all writers should be focused on during this time.
Listen here, on iTunes, or on Spotify!
A Low Chuckle is Enough With John Hodgman
John Hodgman, comedian and author of The Areas of My Expertise, More Information Than You Require, and That is All, as well as collections of humorous essays Vacationland: True Stories From Painful Beaches and Medallion Status: True Stories From Secret Rooms. John is also the host of the Judge John Hodgman podcast as well as I, Podius with Elliott Kalan.
Listen to our interview here, on iTunes, or on Spotify!
Track Changes: Agents: Who Are They, What Do They Do, And How Do I Get One?
What are literary agents, and why should you seek representation from one? Holly Root, founder of Root Literary, and Seth Fishman, literary agent with The Gernert Company, walk us through what agents do, and why they believe every writer should work with one. They discuss the querying process, and outline some questions every writer should ask before signing with an agent.
Listen to our interview here, on iTunes, or on Spotify!
A Perversity of Spirit With Rufi Thorpe
Rufi Thorpe, author of The Girls from Corona del Mar and Dear Fang: With Love, talks about her new novel, The Knockout Queen.
Listen to our interview here, on iTunes, or on Spotify!
Opening the Mailbag with Justin A. Reynolds
This week is a new mailbag episode, where I--along with a very special guest--will answer listener questions! Joining me today is Justin A. Reynolds, author of Opposite of Always, whose new YA, Early Departures, will be out September 22!
Listen to our interview here, on iTunes, or on Spotify!
The Golden Age of Tone With Ben Blacker
Claire Comstock-Gay is the author of weekly horoscopes for New York magazine’s The Cut, and her debut book about astrology, Madame Clairevoyant’s Guide to the Stars, is out now.
Listen to our interview here, on iTunes, or on Spotify!
Track Changes: Publishing 101
We meet Jennifer de Leon as she prepares for the release of her debut young adult novel, Don’t Ask Me Where I’m From, on May 5. Tough Jennifer has been writing for years, she quickly learns that there’s a lot about Capital-P-Publishing that she doesn’t know. Luckily, this mini-series is going to provide some answers.
For some publishing basics, we turn to Courtney Maum, author of Costalgere, I Am Having So Much Fun Here Without You, and more. Her most recent book, Before and After the Book Deal: A Writer’s Guide to Finishing, Publishing, Promoting, and Surviving Your First Book is a comprehensive guide for new authors.
Listen to our interview here, on iTunes, or on Spotify!
Staying in the Room With Jennifer de Leon
Jennifer De Leon is Assistant Professor of Creative Writing at Framingham State University, and a GrubStreet instructor and board member. Her debut young adult novel, Don’t Ask Me Where I’m From, is out from Atheneum/Simon & Schuster on August 4, 2020.
Listen to our interview here, on iTunes, or on Spotify!
The Binkie Drops With Edan Lepucki
Edan Lepucki, New York Times bestselling author of California and Woman No. 17. Edan’s latest project is Mothers Before, a collection of essays and photographs based on the popular Instagram Mothers Before, which Edan created. She is also the co-host, with fellow writer Amelia Morris, of the podcast Mom Rage.
Listen to our interview here, on iTunes, or on Spotify!
Staying in the Room With Jennifer de Leon
Veronica Roth, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Divergent series, the Carve the Mark duology, and the short story collection, The End and Other Beginnings, talks about her first adult fantasy novel, Chosen Ones.
Listen to our interview here, on iTunes, or on Spotify!
📚 The 2020 #FirstDraftReadingChallenge 📚
I'm going to keep updating you on my reading progress--I'd love to hear all the books you're reading to check off boxes on this list!
A Collection of Essays Morgan Jerkins's lauded and New York Times bestselling essay collection, This Will Be My Undoing.
A book on the craft of writing Reading Like a Writer: A Guide for People Who Love Books and for Those Who Want to Write Them by Francine Prose
A screenplay I read the screenplay for The Virgin Suicides, by Sophia Coppola
An Indie Next Selection I read Chosen Ones by Veronica Roth
A Book You've Always Meant to Read I read Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss (which had been on my shelf for more than a decade!)
📌 Recommendations 📌
🎙️ Podcasts 🎙️
Writing In Place Nina LaCour, Printz-winning author of We Are Here and many more incredible contemporary YA novels, has one of my absolute favorite podcasts about the craft of writing -- Keeping a Notebook. And in response to the collective pendulum swing between "You should be inside writing King Lear" and "I literally only have the bandwidth to garden.... my Animal Crossing island," Nina has responded with Writing in Place, a gentle aural safe space where you can imagine it's just you, Nina, and a notebook as you ease back into a creative practice. In every episode, Nina shares a personal story of her time in quarantine, and gives you a writing prompt with the absolute lowest amount of pressure. Especially vital for everyone who's feeling lost and unable to get into any kind of rhythm.
Staying In with Emily & Kumail Actor/Comedian/Writer Kumail Nanjiani and screenwriter and former therapist Emily V. Gordon are a married couple, and they've started this limited-run (hopefully) series to document and address regular every-day life under shelter-in-place. I have loved listening to this show because Kumail and Emily are charming and sweet, they're talking about the stuff that we're all dealing with but keeping their sense of humor about it (a regular question that kicks off conversation: "What weird thing made you cry this week?"). It's been a real balm for me, and I highly recommend it.
🎮 Video Games 🎮
Zelda: Breath of the Wild If you're looking for villains who attack you right to your face without gaslighting you (*coughTomNookcough*), I recommend this INCREDIBLE game that will let you wander open fields, ride horses, and watch the sunrise in a way that feels very cathartic right now.
💅 ICYMI 💅
