Ledger: A Writing Podcast

034: Christine Wenc (The Onion; "Funny Because It's True: How The Onion Created Modern American News Satire")

Christine Wenc is a former staff member for The Onion and the author of Funny Because It's True: How The Onion Created Modern American News Satire, out right now in hardcover!
Christine stopped by to chat about how she started researching the book in 2018; searching for (and maybe never finding) objective truth; coming to terms with the ways in which others can live in perceptually-generated realities, and how academics can cut, like, a TON of words from all their writing (she’s an editor too, so can say that).
Not only is her book an awesome history of The Onion, it’s a great look at print news media and the massive shifts for everyone involved - from publishers and writers on down to readers and viewers - that took place between the late 80s and early 2000s.
Come for the funny stories about The Onion being created and managing to succeed and change comedy writing forever, stay for the details about how monetizing news is maybe a necessary evil we just keep making more and more evil?
It’s a lovely chat, and it’s a book I highly, highly recommend if you enjoy any of those things.
-- -- -- -- --
Please rate and review Ledger wherever you can - Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, etc. - and tell people if you think they'd like it. Swing by austinRwilson.com to see my publishing credits, to contact me, or to read free fiction.
Links to all my work can be found here: https://linktr.ee/austinRwilson
I'm offering my services as a reader, focusing on developmental/story analysis, proofreading, and offering coverage for scripts of all kinds.  Contact me via my website for rates and availability, or on my Instagram account, @MossHeartBooks.
Thank you!

033: Jessica Berg (Rosecliff Literary)

Jessica Berg is the founder and chief literary agent at Rosecliff Literary. Recently, they hired Tommy Dean, former guest of the show and the EIC of Fractured Lit and Uncharted Mag, two literary journals that publish a lot of great fiction.
Jessica and I discuss whether a literary agent needs to be a lawyer, what a day of work looks like for her, how to handle multiple rejections of a project, and how important community is to writers and, really, just people in general.
Go to RosecliffLiterary.com to follow the agency on their socials as well as on Manuscript Wishlist and Query Tracker. Thank you so much to Jessica for stopping by and helping de-mystify the world of literary agents a little more.
-- -- -- -- --
Please rate and review Ledger wherever you can - Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, etc. - and tell people if you think they'd like it. Swing by austinRwilson.com to see my publishing credits, to contact me, or to read free fiction.
Links to all my work can be found here: https://linktr.ee/austinRwilson
I'll be offering my services as a reader here soon, focusing on developmental/story analysis, proofreading, and offering coverage for scripts of all kinds. Watch out for more information on my website and on my Instagram account, @MossHeartBooks.
Thank you!

The Most Important and Revealing Question a Writer Can Ask

"Am I a writer?" is NOT the question, but it's absolutely related to the most important and revealing question a writer can ask themselves.
Today on Ledger I talk about how I've struggled with defining myself as a writer in the past and the way I get past that weird mental battle.
This is the first of my non-interview episodes for the new phase of Ledger, with more on the way, including some audio fiction!
To watch the Andre Dubus III interview referenced in this episode, visit the Politics & Prose YouTube page here: https://youtu.be/459xFKOM9vs?si=du-K5QY81lpaI_Eq&t=2272
That's a time-stamped link for the exact exchange I reference, and I definitely recommend watching the whole video as well as subscribing to their channel. They regularly host amazing writers!
-----
Please rate and review Ledger wherever you can - Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, etc. - and tell other writers about it! Swing by austinRwilson.com to Austin's publishing credits, to contact him, or to read free fiction.
Links to all Austin's work can be found here: https://linktr.ee/austinRwilson
You can also go to mossheartbooks.com to check out Moss Heart Books, an independent bookshop which can also be followed on Instagram @mossheartbooks.
Thank you!

Ledger's Fun Future with New Interviews and Audio Fiction

Ledger is changing! 
The craft of writing has so much that goes into it, so many people who help writers produce, finish, and publish their work, so instead of only interviewing writers, Ledger will also begin featuring chats with everyone from Beta readers to editors, to publicists and publishers!
Along with those new interviews there will be shorter episodes offering bits of writing advice. These will be quick and to the point, showcasing ANYTHING that has helped the writing flow.
And finally - audio fiction.
Starting exclusively with fiction by Austin Wilson, Ledger will now publish audio short stories across many different genres. No outside submissions will be considered as of now, but there is that potential in the future when compensation for writers is guaranteed.
This is the next stage of Ledger, one that zooms out to contain much more of what makes the writing happens. It's going to be so much fun!
-----
Please rate and review Ledger wherever you can - Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, etc. - and tell other writers about it! Swing by austinRwilson.com to see the host's publishing credits, to contact him, or to read free fiction.
Links to all his work can be found here: https://linktr.ee/austinRwilson
You can also go to mossheartbooks.com to check out Moss Heart, an independent bookshop which can also be followed on Instagram @mossheartbooks.
Thank you!

032: Alex Wrekk - Writer, "Stolen Sharpie Revolution," "Brainscan," and more

Alex Wrekk is the writer and creator of Stolen Sharpie Revolution, a fantastic book now two decades into its print run and continuing to influence zinemaking and zinemakers the world over.
Alex also creates the zine Brainscan, and, sometimes, a handful of years will go by before a new issue shows up - but! - it’s always being worked on.
We chat about doing multiple drafts of zines, about the presentation of the zines themselves, and even about how I view Stolen Sharpie Revolution as a permission slip to all creators out there.
What is a zine? Well, we talk about that too, but truly, a zine is WHATEVER you make. It’s an artform driven by the Do-It-Yourself mindset - which Alex and I talk about of course - which means you should go out there and do it yourself. Make a zine!
Alex's work:
Portland Button Works & The Spiral House - https://portlandbuttonworks.com/
Alex's zine catalog - https://portlandbuttonworks.com/alex-wrekk-zines-brainscan
Midwest Perzine Fest - https://midwestperzinefest.wordpress.com/
DIY witch blog - DIYwitchery.com
Critical Thinking Witch Collective - https://criticalthinkingwitches.com/
Thank you so much to Alex for coming on and to you for listening!
-- -- -- -- --
Please rate and review Ledger wherever you can - Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, etc. - and tell people if you think they'd like it. Swing by austinRwilson.com to see my publishing credits, to contact me, or to read free fiction.
My website also has links to my newest story, Dynasty of Blood, a serialized story set in a fictional 1980s, but one that deals with the historically factual Satanic Panic and its connection to tabletop roleplaying games. Print copies of volumes 1-3 are now available both print-on-demand and print-at-home!
Links to all my work can be found here: https://linktr.ee/austinRwilson
You can also go to mossheartbooks.com to check out my independent bookshop and follow me on Instagram @mossheartbooks.
Thank you!

031: Carolyn J. Carpenter - Screenwriter, "You Can't Run Forever"; Script reader

Carolyn J Carpenter is a cofounder of Hollywood Gatekeepers and a story analyst, writer, producer, and script reader, which is how I met her! This is another entry in my “Austin went to a film festival” series (along with Drew Larimore and Jim Burnstein) because I met Carolyn at Austin Film Festival in October 2024.
Carolyn has a ton of industry experience as a reader and writer, and has worked as a story analyst on movies like "Black Swan," "Zodiac," "Footloose," and "Nixon & Kissinger." She stopped by to talk about what they do at Hollywood Gatekeepers, where they help kick down the gates by offering script reading services like avoiding the saggy middle in your screenplay, and more. Also, we discuss how to answer the question "What else do you have?" and what to do when you feel like you're on the edge of making a huge step forward in your writing life.
Thank you to Carolyn for stopping by and to you for listening!
-- -- -- -- --
Please rate and review Ledger wherever you can - Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, etc. - and tell people if you think they'd like it. Swing by austinRwilson.com to see my publishing credits, to contact me, or to read free fiction.
My website also has links to my newest story, Dynasty of Blood, a serialized story set in a fictional 1980s, but one that deals with the historically factual Satanic Panic and its connection to tabletop roleplaying games. Print copies of volumes 1-3 are now available both print-on-demand and print-at-home!
Links to all my work can be found here: https://linktr.ee/austinRwilson
You can also go to mossheartbooks.com to check out my independent bookshop and follow me on Instagram @mossheartbooks.
Thank you for listening! 

030: Jim Burnstein, Screenwriter, "Renaissance Man," "Mighty Ducks 3"

Jim Burnstein, the John H. Mitchell Professor of Entertainment and Director of Screenwriting Program at the University of Michigan stopped by Ledger to talk about his career as a screenwriter. He's written such films as Renaissance Man, starring Danny DeVito and directed by Penny Marhsall, Mighty Ducks 3, a particular childhood favorite of mine, and more.
We discussed how he became a successful screenwriter without moving from Plymouth, MI to L.A. - and specifically he in the 80s and 90s - and what that process looked and felt like. He tells us the one thing you shouldn’t say as a writer and how one time he did in fact say that thing to beloved actor (and total comic book nerd; for real, look it up) Ed Asner; what turnaround is and feels like to an actor; and also, what it means to have people on your side, even if it’s ONE person.
The books he recommends for screenwriters are, in no particular order:
William Goldman’s ADVENTURE IN THE SCREEN TRADE
Linda Seger’s MAKING A GOOD SCRIPT GREAT
David Howard and Edward Mabley’s THE TOOLS OF SCREENWRITING: A WRITER’S GUIDE TO THE CRAFT AND ELEMENTS OF A SCREENPLAY.
Miranda J. Banks's THE WRITERS: A HISTORY OF AMERICAN SCREENWRITERS AND THEIR GUILD
Lynda Obst's SLEEPLESS IN HOLLYWOOD
Thank you so much to Jim for stopping by!
-- -- -- -- --
Please rate and review Ledger wherever you can - Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, etc. - and tell people if you think they'd like it. Swing by austinRwilson.com to see my publishing credits, to contact me, or to read free fiction.
My website also has links to my newest story, Dynasty of Blood, a serialized story set in a fictional 1980s, but one that deals with the historically factual Satanic Panic and its connection to tabletop roleplaying games. Print copies of volumes 1-3 are now available both print-on-demand and print-at-home!
Links to all my work can be found here: https://linktr.ee/austinRwilson
You can also go to mossheartbooks.com to check out my independent bookshop and follow me on Instagram @mossheartbooks.
Thank you for listening! 

029: Drew Larimore - Playwright, UPSTATE

Playwright Drew Larimore joins Ledger today for a special reason: I read his play UPSTATE in the very first round of submissions as a script reader for the Austin Film Festival, which is THE film festival/contest/conference for writers.I happily put Drew's play through to the next round and also wrote that it had a serious chance of winning the category. It made it to the semifinals and Drew dropped by to talk about the difficulty of writing this play, his fear of its reception, but also how he was happy to hear laughter during workshops/previews as the two characters argue (but also commiserate and care for one another) after the difficult, life-altering decision to return the child they'd adopted.Yeah. The premise is very, very good. We also talk about how he views his writing as a rotating dessert tray of ideas, how he felt supported to tackle a difficult topic, and a whole lot more. To check out his work or to reach to Drew and his agent about producing UPSTATE head to https://drewlarimore.com/.
-- -- -- -- --
Please rate and review Ledger wherever you can - Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, etc. - and tell people if you think they'd like it. Swing by austinRwilson.com to see my publishing credits, to contact me, or to read free fiction.
My website also has links to my newest story, Dynasty of Blood, a serialized story set in a fictional 1980s, but one that deals with the historically factual Satanic Panic and its connection to tabletop roleplaying games. Print copies of volumes 1-3 are now available both print-on-demand and print-at-home!
Links to all my work can be found here: https://linktr.ee/austinRwilson
You can also go to mossheartbooks.com to check out my independent bookshop and follow me on Instagram @mossheartbooks.
Thank you so much! 

028: Ryan Claytor - Cartoonist and Teacher; One Bite At a Time

Today’s guest is cartoonist, designer, teacher, and Pinball Wizard Ryan Claytor. I’m one of his stops on the digital (and AFK) book tour for his brand-new book, One Bite At a Time: The First 20 years of Elephant Eater Comics. You can purchase the book at OneBiteAtaTimeBook.com along with more of his work
Ryan stopped by to talk about his path from Marvel Comics intern to auto-bio cartoonist to totally unhinged (in a fun way) pinball devotee. We talk about his shiny basketball shorts, but also, in good ol’ Ledger style, existential crises as well, along with whether it's truly possible to bring what's in your head out into the world as a physical object. Ryan says this book is the closest he's ever gotten, so make sure you go to ElephantEater.com and check out all of his work, and again, if you go to OneBiteAtaTimeBook.com you can find yourself right there to buy this very gorgeous volume.
-- -- -- -- --
Please rate and review Ledger wherever you can - Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, etc. - and tell people if you think they'd like it. Swing by austinRwilson.com to see my publishing credits, to contact me, or to read free fiction.
My website also has links to my newest story, Dynasty of Blood, a serialized story set in a fictional 1980s, but one that deals with the historically factual Satanic Panic and its connection to tabletop roleplaying games. Print copies of volumes 1-3 are now available both print-on-demand and print-at-home!
Links to all my work can be found here: https://linktr.ee/austinRwilson
Thank you so much! 

027: Rana Tahir - Author, Heroes and Monsters: The Stranger Things Choose Your Own Adventure novel

Rana Tahir writes poetry, non-fiction, and fiction, and is the author of Heroes and Monsters, the Stranger Things Choose Your Own Adventure novel as well as SPIES: Noor Inayat Khan, a CYOA tale of the eponymous WWII spy.
During the interview I reference a chat she had on the Books With a Past show, which you can find here: https://www.youtube.com/live/-0IiY5wkreo?si=JoUvs-FSfzNaqHkl
Rana and I discuss how you never know who is seeing your writing and where it will lead you; the program Scrivener; Harry Styles fan-fic; whether Robin from Stranger Things is tall (she’s not); writing in second person; and a special performance of an early poem by Rana Tahir that you won’t want to miss.
Thank you so much to Rana for stopping by and to you for listening!
 -- -- -- -- --
Please rate and review Ledger wherever you can - Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, etc. - and tell people if you think they'd like it. Swing by austinRwilson.com to see my publishing credits, to contact me, or to read free fiction.
My website also has links to my newest story, Dynasty of Blood, a serialized story set in a fictional 1980s, but one that deals with the historically factual Satanic Panic and its connection to tabletop roleplaying games. Print copies of Volume 1 are now available!
Links to all my work can be found here: https://linktr.ee/austinRwilson
Thank you so much!