“The more you can immerse yourself in a story the better you can write about it.” —Julian Smith (@julianwrites)
“You gotta fall in love with your subject and sometimes people have to pull you out.” —Julian Smith (juliansmith.com)
Julian Smith is a freelance journalist covering science, conservation, and adventure for publications like Smithsonian, Wired, Outside, Men’s Journal, National Geographic Traveler, and The Washington Post.
He co-authored Aloha Rodeo with David Wolman, a fellow journalist he worked with before on this Epic Magazinepiece about two warring ice cream trucks. It’s…epic.
Amanda Petrusich is on the main stage for Episode 153.
By Brendan O’Meara
“The work itself, the process has to sustain you.” —Amanda Petrusich (@amandapetrusich Twitter)
“It’s like wet jeans, that’s the feeling of generating a bunch of crappy writing.”—Amanda Petrusich (@amandapetrusich IG)
Amanda Petrusich, staff writer for The New Yorker, joined me for a spirited conversation about her approach to writing criticism and the grind she endured to get where she’s at.
It was this great piece she wrote on Metallica that made me want to reach out to her. The way to this man’s heart is through Metallica.
His historical novel, Cape Fear Rising, is celebrating its 25th anniversary, so we dive into that as well. It is published by Blair.
Philip is also an accomplished musician and recorded this song and video as a trailer for The Last Battleground. Check it out:
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“Find the something else that is so absorbing to you. That is a place you can go to get away from this.” —Jenny Odell
“You can’t write for everyone. And if you did, it wouldn’t be good.” —Jenny Odell
“Sitting there is a reminder of how different a physical space is with how we consume information online.” —Jenny Odell
Welcome, friend, to CNF, the creative nonfiction podcast where I speak to badass writers, filmmakers, radio producers, and podcasters about the art and craft of telling true stories.
The book stemmed from this talk she gave, which makes me think: maybe the way to a book deal is come up with a great talk? Side note: It’s amazing how Jenny stood in the same spot for this entire talk. I’m definitely a walker.
Anyway…
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So Jenny was amazing. We talk about birds, Austin Kleon, and how best reclaim your attention from social media companies that are hell bend on ensuring you keep scrolling.
“That’s what makes a great story is having character, and setting, and narrative moments and dynamic change.”
“I’m not really just there for the information. I want to be able to understand a character and their motivations and their experience on a deeper level.”
“A good idea knows no experiences level or age.”
Well, here are CNFers, this is CNF, the creative nonfiction podcast where I speak to badass artists about the craft of telling true stories.
Ian Frisch, a master a freelancer and author of Magic is Dead, joins me this glorious CNFriday.
There’s so much great freelancer wisdom in this episode. I know your’e gonna dig it.
