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Fifteen minutes long, because you're in a hurry, and we're not that smart.
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Welcome to the Liberation is Lit podcast, where the power of storytelling meets the force of social change! In this podcast, we believe in the profound impact of stories – stories that amplify voices, challenge norms, and foster understanding. Whether you're a literature enthusiast, an advocate for social justice, or simply someone who believes in the transformative power of stories, you're in the right place. Tune in, and let's embark on a journey together – one where every story has the po ...
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A collection of stories about people who know how they are going to die.
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We sat down with the author of Ring Shout, P. Djèlí Clark, in order to wrap up our close reading of tension. We talked with Clark about his influences, which ranged from Birth of a Nation to Beyonce’s “Formation.” We dive into contextual vs. narrative tension, why food is the unsung hero of worldbuilding, and Clark’s unconscious desires that helped…
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In this episode, we interview author Deesha Dyer about her new book 'Undiplomatic' which explores themes of imposter syndrome and authenticity. Deesha shares her personal journey from growing up uncertain of her voice as a young Black girl to working in the White House and beyond. The conversation delves into the pressures of conforming to societal…
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This episode, we’re talking about how important tension is in creating a world where your readers feel fully immersed. We talk about the importance of using tropes and techniques while also using variation in order to make your story less predictable. We dive into the difference between tension and conflict, and talk about how you can use the forme…
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Content warning- Child Sexual Abuse, explicit language In this episode, we chat with Alisa Zipursky about her work with survivors of child sexual abuse and her platform, Healing Honestly. We discuss the journey of healing through storytelling, building supportive communities, and maintaining boundaries. Alisa shares insights from her book 'Healing …
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When you’re subverting your readers’ expectations, do you need to do the exact opposite of what they’re anticipating? Today, we dive into this question, using various examples of books and movies. We then examine how P. Djèlí Clark does this throughout Ring Shout– does he subvert our expectations completely? Not always. In fact, sometimes he does t…
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In this episode, Zakiya dives into the challenges Black women face in the startup phase, especially in securing financial support despite recognition and accolades. She stresses the importance of prioritizing financial stability, the need for community-driven solutions over systemic dependence, and the power of radical love and ancestral guidance. …
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Today, we’re using music as an entry-point for tension. Howard introduces us to the power of the half-step, and other musical metaphors that can help you to incorporate tension in a new way to your writing. And then DongWon updates the metaphor with an electronic dance music analogy. We also dive into questions you can ask as you weave tension into…
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Content Warning: Violence Against Youth In this episode we talk with Zakiya, an activist, organizer, and advocate from Columbia, SC. We discuss Zakiya's work with Sowing Seeds, an organization dedicated to providing support and resources for young people, particularly those involved with the juvenile justice system. Zakiya shares her personal story…
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Today, we’re talking about the tension that is actually happening on the page, and the contextual tension is what the reader is bringing to the table. Ring Shout lives in a place of contextual tension and we are excited to dive into how you can use both types of tension in your own writing. Your readers will always bring their own context to your w…
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In this insightful episode, we speak with Victoria Wood, the creator of BiblioLifestyle and The Reader's Couch podcast, as well as the organizer of the Epigraph Lit Fest. Victoria shares her inspiring journey of transitioning from a healthcare career to a literary passion, her experiences as an immigrant, and the development of her various book-rel…
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Compared to This is How You Lose The Time War, which we read earlier this year, Ring Shout deals with a very real world. This discordance, where authors make their audience uncomfortable by creating things that shouldn’t go together, is part of the power of this novella, and part of the reason we chose to dive into tension! Our favorite metaphor ab…
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In this episode, we sit with Dr. Artika Tyner, a civil rights attorney, bookstore owner, publisher, writing coach, and children's book author. Dr. Tyner shares her inspiring journey from growing up in the Rondo community in Saint Paul, Minnesota, to founding the 'Planting People Growing Justice Press and Bookstore.' She discusses the importance of …
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Today we have a wildcard episode for you! We are talking about all the different ways you can sustain your writing career. Our host, Erin Roberts, has done an incredible job of applying for grants, fellowships, and residencies. So, we put her on the spot and got her to dole out advice and insights to help you sustain and develop your writing. Thing…
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In this episode of the podcast, Tayler interviews Barbara Howard. They discuss Barbara's journey from a political science major with ambitions to change the world to becoming a successful author of clean, cozy mysteries. Barbara talks about her books that explore themes such as gentrification, foster care, and homelessness and how her characters na…
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Today we’re taking a break from our Close Reading Series to discuss writing workshops and retreats! We dive into how to find and prepare to attend a workshop or a retreat and what to think about for organizing your own. Thing of the Week: Solo RPGs! (Strider Mode, Star Trek Adventures, Mythic Game Master) Homework: Go find 3 writing retreats you ar…
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In this episode, Tayler welcomes Shawn, the creative mind behind Cartoon Junkyard, home of Mission: Jam and Jelly and Super Rap. They delve into Shawn's passion for animation and storytelling, discussing how his love for imagination and his experiences working in schools inspired him to create stories that encourage children to embrace their creati…
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We sat down with CL Clark to talk about character—specifically, how they build different POV characters in the compressed space of a short story. We dive into plot processing (a tool CL Clark has learned from Mary Robinette!), how to specify the stakes of your world, and how to build distinct characters. Thing of the Week: Reasons Not To Worry: How…
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In this episode, host we have a profound conversation with poet and storyteller Tammaka about the impact of storytelling and poetry on social change. Tammaka shares insights on their journey as a spoken word performer and artivist, focusing on themes of race, gender, sexuality, and activism. They also discuss their work as a sex educator and founde…
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Today, we’re taking a higher view on the techniques we’ve been talking about over the last four episodes and focusing on how you can use our takeaways in your own writing. We’ll go over our final thoughts on C.L. Clark’s short stories (until next week’s episode, when we interview them!). We’ll also try to summarize the lessons we've learned from Cl…
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In this episode of the Liberation is Lit podcast, host Tayler Simon speaks with poet AJ Johnson, also known as Moses Oaktree. The discussion revolves around AJ's journey as a writer, the scarcity of Black male representation in literature, and how this has influenced his work. AJ highlights the importance of community and collaboration in improving…
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We have a theory that we want to work through on today’s episode: agency is the ability to take action, whereas choices are more about the interior life of the character. We use Mary Robinette’s talking cat, try-fail cycles, and C.L. Clark’s Your Eyes, My Beacon: Being an Account of Several Misadventures and How I Found My Way Home in order to exam…
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Tayler has an insightful conversation with author and poet Blythe Krueger. They talk about Blythe's journey as a writer, her inspiration for creating impactful children's books and poetry collections, and her approach to addressing mental health and emotions through literature. Blythe also shares her experiences as a yoga instructor, upcoming proje…
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Our episode today focuses on C.L. Clark’s short story “You Perfect Broken Thing” for how the character's stakes shape the barriers facing her. We use this story to examine how to tell the difference between barriers versus stakes. We also examine how to do this in a compressed space– whether that’s a short story, a single scene, or a compressed tim…
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Author Lauren Wilson discusses her book Afro Bougie Blues, a collection of short stories highlighting diverse Black experiences. Lauren shares her journey from an engineer with a passion for writing to an author whose stories explore profound themes like abortion, PTSD, weight loss, and relationships. She describes how personal experiences and empa…
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Today, we’re focusing on C.L. Clark’s “The Cook,” as we explore external and internal expression. We chose this story because it's a remarkably physical and touchable story with myriad sensory details. While the audience gets very little information about what Clark’s characters are thinking, you can still understand their internal landscapes by wh…
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Marla Taviano talks about her journey from a deeply religious, conservative evangelical Christian background to a more socially aware and activist stance, emphasizing themes of racial justice, deconstruction of faith, and personal growth. Marla, originally living in a predominantly white environment and then in Cambodia for missionary work, recount…
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Today we introduce our next close reading series—we’re focusing on character through the lens of three of C.L. Clark’s short stories: “You Perfect, Broken Thing,” “The Cook,” and “Your Eyes, My Beacon: Being an Account of Several Misadventures and How I Found My Way Home”. They are all hyperlinked above and available online for free through Uncanny…
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This is the episode for writers! Tayler and Cassie discuss Cassie's journey as a poet, writer, and community leader. Cassie shared her thoughts on the intersection of writing and healing, expressing that writing creates profound connections and has the power to make individuals and communities well. Cassie also discusses her novel Beaver Girl, whic…
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Today we are joined by the incredible falconer Krista Hong Edwards. Krista was kind enough to take our hosts out with her falcons, and we had the most amazing time! Krista sat down with us to talk about falcons, literature, and much more. Check out our liner notes (below) for all of the texts we reference! Thing of the Week: Cher Ami and Major Whit…
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Sawyer Cole, author and memoirist, shares their journey of writing a memoir about their experiences as a queer person in the South. They discuss the process of writing, the impact it had on their understanding of their own identity, and the challenges they faced. Sawyer hopes that their memoir will provide support and community for queer individual…
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Learning is great, but how do you translate it into doing without getting overwhelmed? What is the difference between learning in the classroom and executing when you're on your own? Marshall, our incredible recording engineer, just finished an MFA program. Congrats, Marshall!! On today’s episode, we gril Marshall in order to understand his takeawa…
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In this episode, Shannon Ivey shares her journey into storytelling activism and coaching. She discusses the power of stories in amplifying voices, challenging norms, and fostering understanding. Shannon emphasizes the importance of representation and the need for diverse protagonists in storytelling. She also highlights the intersectionality betwee…
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We sit down with poet and author Evelyn Berry about representation, poetry collections you need to read, and what it means to be an activist. Thank you for being part of the Liberation is Lit podcast! If you have stories to share, want to suggest topics, or just want to connect, find us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok @liberationislit or visit o…
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In this episode, host Tayler Simon interviews filmmaker and creator Catherine Joy White about her journey as a creator and storyteller. They discuss Catherine's book, Threads of Gold, which explores the interconnected stories of Black women throughout history. They also talk about the power of storytelling in activism and the importance of represen…
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