#152: Margaret Heffernan — The Secret Weapon of Great Artists: Harnessing Uncertainty, Wandering & Creative Instincts That Machines Can't Create

Gretchen Rubin—bestselling author of The Happiness Project and The Four Tendencies on how self-awareness shapes her creative process, the habits that sustain her writing life, and how she wrote her latest nonfiction book Secrets of Adulthood.We discuss:How Gretchen found her voice and path as a writerDealing with naysayers & rejectionBuilding confidence and redefining “success” in the early stagesHow to structure and sustain a long-term writing practiceHer favorite aphorisms—and how she uses them as creative toolsWhy time management is personalHow to simplify big ideas into meaningful insightsAnd more exclusive tips for writers and creativesResources and Links:Books She's Reading:The English Understand WoolPiranesi by Susanna ClarkeUpcountry by Nelson DeMilleGretchen's Website & Books mentionedGretchen’s Website: https://gretchenrubin.com/Secrets of AdulthoodThe Four TendencesForty Ways to Look at JFKAbout Gretchen RubinGretchen Rubin is one of today’s most influential and thought-provoking observers of happiness and human nature. She’s known for her ability to convey complex ideas—from science to literature to stories from her own life—with levity and clarity.She’s the author of many bestselling books, such as The Happiness Project, Better Than Before, Life in Five Senses and The Four Tendencies, which have sold millions of copies in more than thirty languages. Her most recent book is Secrets of Adulthood.She’s also host of the popular podcast, Happier with Gretchen Rubin and founder of award-winning Happier app which helps people track their happiness-boosting habits. For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com.For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com.*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALONTwitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalonIf you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show!

Francesca Simon is the legendary author of over 60 books for children, including the global bestselling Horrid Henry series, which has been translated into 27 languages. Her books have sold over 25 million copies. She talks to us about early rejection, finding fame, reinventing her voice to write librettos, and her first foray into adult fiction with Salka: The exquisite retelling of the tragic myth of the Lady of the Lake. Francesca was appointed MBE in 2023 and continues to advocate for literacy and storytelling across generations.RESOURCES & LINKS📑Interview TranscriptSalka by Francesca SimonGoodreadsFrancesca’s Website For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com.For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com.*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALONTwitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalonIf you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show!

How do you write a great query letter, find the right agent, and stand out in today’s crowded submissions inbox? In this special compilation episode, four top literary agents: Ed Wilson, Lucinda Halpern, Madeleine Milburn & Sam Copeland, share their honest advice on getting signed, writing marketable books, and navigating today's publishing industry.*Timestamps:Ed Wilson - 1:01Lucinda Literary -  19:11Madeleine Milburn - 37:20Sam Copeland - 48:47 ABOUT THE LITERARY AGENTS Ed Wilson is a literary agent and director at Johnson & Alcock, a London-based literary agency with a diverse and developing list of authors of fiction and nonfiction. He represents everything from award-winning literary fiction to bestselling crime, science-fiction, and fantasy. Ed's profile at Johnson & AlcockEd's Twitter accountJohnson & Alcock's submission guidelinesFull LWS episode: #071: Ed Wilson — Submitting to Agents & Navigating Publishing, Junior vs Experienced Agents, How to Follow up with Agents, Smaller vs Larger Literary Agencies*Lucinda Literary is a New York literary agent and the author of Get Signed: Find an Agent, Land a Book Deal, and Become a Published Author. She represents a range of New York Times and internationally bestselling authors in the categories of business, health, lifestyle, popular science, narrative nonfiction, memoir, and upmarket fiction. *Get Signed: Find an Agent, Land a Book Deal, and Become a Published AuthorLucinda LiteraryFollow up question? Get in touch with Lucinda here.Full LWS episode: #96: Lucinda Halpern — How to Get Signed With a Literary Agent, Unlock Your Book’s Big Idea, Query Letter Essentials, Unconventional Ways to Engage With Beta-Readers*Madeleine Milburn has been responsible for discovering some of the highest-selling and award-winning contemporary authors who consistently hit the bestseller lists in the New York Times, including Nita Prose (The Maid), Costa Book Award winner and bestseller Gail Honeyman (Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine). She represents bestselling crime and thriller brands including C.L. Taylor, C.J Tudor, Mark Edwards and Teresa Driscoll.WebsiteSubmitting your work to the Madeleine Milburn AgencyFull LWS episode:  #064: Madeleine Milburn — Catching an Agent's Eye & Building an Author-First Agency*Sam Copeland was shortlisted for Literary Agent of the Year at the 2020 and 2021 British Book Awards and selected for the Bookseller's Most Influential People in Publishing in 2020. He welcomes e-mail submissions and can be contacted on [email protected]. He is also a children’s author.  His Charlie Changes series was shortlisted for the Waterstones Children's Book of the Year shortlistedSam Copeland RCW Literary AgencyFull LWS episode: #118: Sam Copeland — How to Catch The Eye Of A Literary Agent, Compelling Pitch Letters & Writing Funny Children’s Fiction For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com.For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com.*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALONTwitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalonIf you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show!

What if uncertainty wasn’t something to fear, but your greatest creative ally?Dr. Margaret Heffernan—author, entrepreneur, and TED speaker—on how artists and writers thrive in chaotic times. We also talk about embracing the unknown, navigating AI-driven anxiety, and staying creatively resilient in a world that rewards certainty.We discuss:Margaret’s early creative life and career across TV, tech & writingWhat artists can teach us about navigating uncertaintyWhy AI can’t replicate the human imaginationHow writers manage doubt, income & purposeThe danger of over-planning and the value of wanderingLessons from writing Embracing Uncertainty under deadlineMaking peace with the chapter that always fights backThe creative power of soft focus & soaking up the world About Margaret HeffernanMargaret Heffernan is an award-winning author, entrepreneur, and former BBC producer. She has written seven books, including Willful Blindness—named one of the most important business books of the decade by the Financial Times—and her latest, Embracing Uncertainty. Her TED Talks have over 15 million views, and she writes regularly for the Financial Times and BBC Radio 4. She is Professor of Practice at the University of Bath and mentors leaders around the world.Resources and Links:📑Interview TranscriptThe Human Skills We Need in an Unpredictable World - TED TalkEmbracing Uncertainty Unchartred Margaret’s Substack For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com.For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com.*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALONTwitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalonIf you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show!

Celebrated writer and memoirist Melissa Febos on the art of the memoir,  the alchemy of personal experience and literary craft, and how to turn the raw material of life into art. We also her latest book, The Dry Season,  where she examines the solitude, freedoms, and feminist heroes Febos found during a year of celibacy.We also talk about:- Writing the unspeakable and undoing shame.- The role of research and personal obsession in memoir.- Finding structure through inventory, list-making & reflection.- Balancing vulnerability with privacy on the page.- How Melissa decides what’s hers to tell—and when.- Her advice on discouragement, creative play & sustaining the practice. ABOUT MELISSA FEBOSMelissa Febos is the nationally bestselling author of four books, including Girlhood, which won the National Book Critics Circle Award in Criticism, and Body Work: The Radical Power of Personal Narrative. She has received fellowships and awards from the Guggenheim Foundation, NEA, LAMBDA Literary, the British Library, and more. Her essays appear in The Paris Review, The New York Times Magazine, The New Yorker, and Best American Essays. She is a full professor at the University of Iowa and lives in Iowa City with her wife, poet Donika Kelly. RESOURCES & LINKS:📑 Interview Transcript (forthcoming)Order a Signed Copy of The Dry SeasonPre Order The Dry SeasonThe Dry SeasonMelisa’s WebsiteWhip SmartAbandon MeBody Work“Living Like Weasels” by Annie DillardBelgian Beguines For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com.For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com.*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALONTwitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalonIf you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show!

Legendary Seth Godin, bestselling author of Linchpin, Purple Cow, The Dip, Tribes, and The Practice on wrestling with creative resistance, getting past self-doubt, and how to build a resilient creative practice that thrives—even in an age of AIWe talk about:Why writing isn’t about talent—but about creating the conditions for skillWhy “Do you like it?” is the wrong question to askAnd how to build a resilient creative practice that thrives—even in an age of AIHow to keep going when there’s no map and no promise of success*About Seth GodinSeth Godin is the author of 21 bestselling books that have reshaped the way people think about marketing, leadership, and creative work. His books have been translated into 39 languages and include Linchpin, Purple Cow, The Dip, Tribes, and The Practice. He’s also the founder of altMBA, the Carbon Almanac, and multiple pioneering ventures in the online business world. Seth writes one of the most popular blogs in the world and continues to inspire millions of creators to make and ship work that matters.*Resources and Links:📄 Interview Transcript (unedited)The Song of Significance by Seth Godin The Practice by Seth Godin altMBAHow to Decide by Annie Duke The War of Art by Steven PressfieldThe Carbon AlmanacElizabeth Gilbert on Hobby, Job, Career & VocationA History of Rock Music in 500 Songspurple.space  For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com.For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com.*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALONTwitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalonIf you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show!

How can you make your life and work more meaningful? Bestselling author Tim Duggan on ideating and writing bestselling non fiction books, creating killer opening lines and plotting. We also talk about how to unclog our creativity, find meaning in our work and life through a simple hack. We discuss:Tim’s outlining and editing process for non-fictionFinding the “anchor points” that define your personal valuesHow to identify and shape a powerful book questionThe case for working less, but more meaningfullyBuilding your Substack and ecosystem of trust with readersLessons from the happiest country on Earth*About Tim DugganTim Duggan is a bestselling author, entrepreneur, and former media executive with a passion for meaningful work and big ideas. He co-founded Junkee Media, one of Australia’s leading independent publishers, and served as Chair of the Digital Publishers Alliance. His books Cult Status and Killer Thinking became celebrated guides for purpose-driven businesses and creatives, and his latest, Work Backwards, explores how we can redesign work and life around what truly matters. Tim also writes on his Substack OUTLET, lives in Mallorca with his husband, and speaks globally about creativity, optimism, and the future of work.Resources and Links:📑Interview TranscriptCult Status by Tim DugganDoppleganger by Naomi KleinScrivenerThe Work Backwards SoundtrackOUTLET - Tim’s SubstackAtomic Habits by James ClearThe Book Publicist Perplexity AIGetting Things Done by David Allen For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com.For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com.*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALONTwitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalonIf you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show!

Mark Haddon, bestselling author of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, A Spot of Bother, and The Red House on his process writing 18 books, including his latest book Dogs & Monsters, plus how he approaches success and failure.We discuss:Why writing begins before you start writingCreating strong beginningsHow poetry can expand your creative rangeWriting without a mapOn self-doubt, impostor syndrome & trusting your instinctsThe value of conflict, myth, and compression in storytellingPublishing realities, artistic risk, and protecting your creative sparkAbout Mark HaddonMark Haddon is the author of the internationally bestselling novels The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, A Spot of Bother, and The Red House. His debut novel won the Whitbread Book of the Year Award and inspired a Tony Award–winning play. A multidisciplinary artist, Mark has also written award-winning poetry, radio dramas, children’s books, and TV screenplays. He teaches creative writing for the Arvon Foundation and lives in Oxford, England.*Resources and Links:📑Interview TranscriptMark’s InstagramMark’s booksDogs and Monsters by Mark HaddonOrigins of the Universe by Albert HinkelbeinThe Evolution of Man - Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Evolution of Man by J. JelinekConflict and Compassion Poems About WarThe Horses by Edwin Muir Poems by RS ThomasJackanoryHelm by Sarah HallTithonus| Greek MythologySappho FragmentsPaul Farley PoetEverything Ravaged, Everything Burned by Wells TowerGarnons-Williams & James SpackmanArvon’s courses*About Arvon:Arvon is the UK’s leading creative writing charity. For over 55 years, Arvon’s creative writing courses have been linking aspiring writers with successful authors, and they are a significant and celebrated part of the British literary landscape. Arvon passionately believes that everyone can benefit from the transformative power of creative writing. It hosts residential, online and community-based writing courses and events, embracing over 6,000 people each year, tutored by some of the most respected writers in the UK today. * For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com.For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com.*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALONTwitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalonIf you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show!

What does it take to craft a pitch that truly grabs attention in today’s publishing world? In this conversation, Jane Friedman—publishing industry expert and author of The Business of Being a Writer shares her journey into the publishing world and she shares her advice for writers looking to perfect their submission materials and navigate the ever-changing publishing landscape.We discuss:How to craft a compelling pitch that stands outThe balance between art and business for writersCommon myths about pitching and the publishing industrySelf-publishing vs. traditional publishing: What to knowProtecting your writing in the age of AIHow to adapt to the evolving publishing landscape and stay realistic about successUnderstanding the real costs and considerations of hybrid publishing*Resources and Links:📑Interview TranscriptRoxane Gay - World of WakandaMonica ByrneKate McKean SubstackJane’s WebsiteSubmissions materialsJane’s Website - publishing paths -  traditional vs alt publishingCreated By HumansJane’s books*JANE FRIEDMANJane Friedman has over 25 years of experience in publishing and is a trusted voice in the industry. She is the author of The Business of Being a Writer and publishes The Hot Sheet and The Bottom Line newsletters, which are read by over 40,000 writers and publishing professionals. Jane’s expertise has been featured in major outlets like The New York Times, NPR, and BBC. She’s an educator, speaker, and a leading authority on the business of writing. For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com.For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com.*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALONTwitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalonIf you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show!

Alda Sigmundsdóttir is a journalist, author, and independent publisher who has built a thriving literary life outside the traditional system. From blogging about Iceland to launching her own press, Alda has published over 11 books and grown a loyal global readership—while staying in full control of her creative work.We discuss: Alda’s early writing career and transition to self-publishingWhat she learned from being traditionally publishedThe freedom and responsibility of going indieHow she built and nurtured a global readershipHer approach to writing about people, culture, and the pastLessons from promoting across genres and writing memoirMindset shifts and skills that supported her success *ABOUT ALDA SIGMUNDSDÓTTIRAlda Sigmundsdóttir is a writer, speaker, and independent publisher based in Reykjavík, Iceland. She’s the author of over 10 books exploring Icelandic culture and society, and the memoir Daughter. She writes two popular Substack newsletters (Letter from Iceland and The Recovery Salon), runs her own publishing house (Little Books Publishing), and teaches a course on going indie.*RESOURCES & LINKS:📑Interview TranscriptAlda's 'Going Indie' course  - LWSAUTHOR for $100 off (Valid until the end of June)Free webinar - Building an Audience for your BooksAlda’s Substack Post - Women on TopLiving Inside the MeltdownThe Little Book of the Icelanders in the Old Days Daughter - Alda’s Memoir The Recovery Salon - Alda’s Second Substack Alda’s Website For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com.For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com.*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALONTwitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalonIf you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show!