Episode 192: Paul Lisicky — The Book Teaches You What It Wants to Be

Photo by Star Black

By Brendan O’Meara

Hey, CNFers, Paul Lisicky is back! He first came on the show in 2016 when his book The Narrow Door came out.

Now he’s back to talk about Later: My Life at the Edge of the World. Both are published by Graywolf Press.

What I particularly loved about Paul’s book is how hyper-local it is to a specific time and place. We can all learn how to best drill down on the specifics of a story by reading Paul’s latest book.

Thanks to Bay Path University and HippoCamp2020 for the support (use that CNFPOD2020 coupon code for $40 off your registration!).

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Episode 27—Paul Lisicky on Writing in Unlikely Places, Simultaneous Projects, and Preserving Play

Photo by Star Black
Photo by Star Black

Written by Brendan O’Meara

“If you put too much focus on one thing you can kill it.”Paul Lisicky.

“What would it be like to be an amateur again?” —Paul Lisicky

When I get away from doing the podcast I forget how fun and uplifting the experience can be. Here, for Episode 27 (!), we have Paul Lisicky (@Paul_Lisicky), author of The Narrow Door (Graywolf Press, 2016).

Paul talked a lot about his own process and how that has changed over the years. He also talked about some of the best advice he can give an aspiring writer: cultivating fandom.

Why don’t you just listen to him?

Go ahead and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes. If you think you know someone who would benefit from this interview, share it with them. Also, subscribe to my monthly newsletter. You can preview it here to see what it’s about. Dig it? Then put in your info along the right sidebar.

Thanks!

People Mentioned

Greg Hanlon
Bronwen Dickey
Maggie Messitt
Thomas Pynchon
Jane Bowles
John Hawkes
Flannery O’Connor
Joy Williams
Elizabeth Bishop

Other Books by Paul Lisicky

Unbuilt Projects
The Burning House
Famous Builder
Lawnboy