This week my guest is John Glynn, author of the brand new novel The Lost Book of Lancelot, a queer retelling of the legend of Camelot that’s a great fit for fans of Heated Rivalry and for anyone interested in the legends surrounding the quest for the Holy Grail. Plus, dragons!
John’s nonfiction debut Out East: Memoir of a Montauk Summer was named a best book by Time, Entertainment Weekly, and Lambda Literary Review. His writing has appeared in People, Oprah Daily, and The Daily Beast.
In addition to being an author and freelance writer, John is the editorial director of Hanover Square Press, an imprint of HarperCollins. As an editor, his authors have won the Booker Prize, the Pulitzer, the National Book Award, Grammys, and an Olympic gold medal.
John answered the questions I asked from both sides of the editor’s desk, offering a great glimpse at the other side of the publishing equation, and offered a lot of great insight on how to have a legit writing practice that results in published work even when you have a full-time job. My favorite part of our interview, though, was when he shared how he’s come to view the vulnerability and the doubts that are inherent part of the writing process not as merely an obstacle, or like the truth, but as a sign that he’s doing something right—it’s a great reframe that can help whenever that inner critic starts chiming in.
John Glynn, practical matters: Making time to write while working a full-time job
John Glynn, inner stuff: Taking your doubts as a sign you’re on the right track
John Glynn: what’s coming up: Savoring the sensation of (finally) being on the right path
Or, become a paid subscriber and I will send you every interview in one, ad-free episode (and do a little leap of joy):
Formative memories of being read to by his mom when he was little
His early start in publishing as an intern and editorial assistant, and the glamour of going to work everyday in Rockefeller Center for a kid from Western Massachusetts (even though he was photocopying and answering phones)
The two novels he wrote that didn’t get published
How working as an editor on other people’s books and writing his own books inform each other
How he makes time to write while working a fulltime job
For the most part, when I pass on a project, it’s not because I don’t truly believe that this project deserves to be a book or that the book has merit. It’s that I don’t have a specific vision for how I could break that book out in the market. And that’s really, really tough because it’s no reflection of the quality of the work or the effort that went into it.
The 13th century French folk tale that sparked the idea for The Lost Book of Lancelot
How he started writing the book “just for fun” and “just for me”
The one spot that provides the best chances of him getting some good writing done
A peek into the process of how publishers sell and market books
And a peek into why many would-be authors get a “no” from publishers
Why feeling insecure and vulnerable are signs you’re on the right track
The two times the inner critic is the loudest–and how he approaches it
Feeling nostalgic for earlier times in his life when writing felt more urgent because it was a lifeline
What RuPaul gets wrong about relationships
The psychic parties his aunt used to throw (a genius idea that I totally want to steal!)
Toying with two different ideas on what book to work on next
The memoir he reads a few pages of before he sits down to write
How he’s navigating this really busy time of promoting a new book while also working full-time
Why he drinks iced coffee year round
The brand new memoir he stayed up too late to finish
Publishing a book was always my dream. As an editor, I get to help other people fulfill that same dream. That will always keep me going.
A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway
The Vulgate cycle
Just Kids by Patti Smith
Brawler by Lauren Groff
Year of the Monkey by Patti Smith
Bread of Angels by Patty Smith
American Rambler by Isaac Fitzgerald
Higher Love by Whitney Houston
Christopher Castellani, practical matters: Using your creative practice to make sense of the world
Christopher Castellani, inner stuff: Tricking yourself into doing the work
Christopher Castellani, what’s coming up: Finding inspiration in the midst of upsetting world events
Jenna Blum, practical matters: The magic of letting yourself be a little bored
Jenna Blum, inner stuff: Getting over the fear that you’re wasting time
Jenna Blum, what’s coming up: Putting a long-term plan into action + the importance of choosing the right mug (coming out tomorrow)
Kate Broad, practical matters: Liberating yourself from the idea that you “have to” write
Kate Broad, inner stuff: Organizing your life around your own happiness
Kate Broad, what’s coming up: Gaining a tighter grip on confidence
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