#130: Oliver Burkeman - An Imperfectionist's Guide to Overcoming Distraction and Finding Creative Flow, Writing NonFiction

Writer, neuroscientist, and Ness Labs founder Anne-Laure Le Cunff shares insights on redefining success, writing in public, and using tiny experiments to fuel creativity. She talks about growing her newsletter from 0 to 100K+, transitioning from writing articles to a book, and the neuroscience behind sustainable ambition.*ABOUT ANNE-LAURE LE CUNFF:Anne-Laure Le Cunff is the founder of Ness Labs and author of Tiny Experiments. A former Google digital health lead turned award-winning neuroscientist, her research explores curiosity, lifelong learning, and mental adaptability. Her work has been featured in Rolling Stone, Forbes, and WIRED.*RESOURCES & LINKS📑Interview Transcript (Unedited)Ness Labs Newsletter Tiny Experiments by Anne-Laure Le CunffNaNoWriMoSara Grace Developmental Editor 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!

Foodwriter and Chef Jody Eddy on what goes on in Michelin-star kitchens, monastic culinary traditions, and the rigorous world of food writing. From working 17-hour shifts in elite restaurants to uncovering the rituals of monks and chefs alike, she reveals the hidden ingredients of storytelling, discipline, and turning culinary ideas into bestselling books.*ABOUT JODY EDDYJody Eddy is a writer, editor, and cookbook author whose work explores the intersection of food, culture, and storytelling. She has written for Food & Wine, Travel + Leisure, and The Wall Street Journal and has authored several acclaimed cookbooks, including Come In, We’re Closed, North: The New Nordic Cuisine of Iceland, and Chaat. Jody Eddy is a writer, editor, and cookbook author whose work explores the intersection of food, culture, and storytelling. Her latest book is Elysian Kitchens: Recipes Inspired by the Traditions and Tastes of the World's Sacred Spaces.*RESOURCES & LINKS📑 Interview Transcript (Unedited)Come In, We’re Closed by Jody Eddy & Chirstine CarrollNorth:The New Nordic Cuisine of Iceland by Gunnar Karl Gíslason and Jody Eddy Chaat: Recipes from the Kitchens, Markets, and Railways of India IACP - International Association of Culinary ProfessionalsElysian Kitchens by Jody EddyOxford Food SymposiumWhat’s Good Here - Jody’s Substack*This episode is brought to you by our friends at Lulu. If you're interested in self-publishing, Lulu has free resources such as helpful tutorials, templates to help you layout a book, design for print, and they have a very watchable YouTube University channel. Our community anthology is in fact published using Lulu. Check them out at lulu.com.* 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!

Essayist, editor and creator of Essay Architecture, Michael Dean on the hidden structures and key patterns within great essays. *ABOUT MICHAEL DEAN Michael Dean is a writer, editor, and creator of Essay Architecture. A former architect and virtual reality specialist, he now studies the hidden frameworks that make essays work. *RESOURCES & LINKSMichael DeanEssay ArchitectureO’Shaughnessy FellowshipEssayists on the EssayA Pattern LanguageEssay Writing as Personal Sovereignty: Shaping AI to preserve the slow craft of critical thoughtBest American Essays*This episode is brought to you by our friends at Lulu. If you're interested in self-publishing, Lulu has free resources such as helpful tutorials, templates to help you layout a book, design for print, and they have a very watchable YouTube University channel. Our community anthology is in fact published using Lulu. Check them out at lulu.com.* 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!

Best-selling Science Writer Dava Sobel on blending science with storytelling—how to craft compelling narratives, navigate deep research, and bring historical figures to life. Plus insights on nonfiction publishing, overcoming creative roadblocks, and making complex ideas accessible to readers.*ABOUT DAVA SOBEL Dava Sobel is the bestselling author of The Elements of Marie Curie: How the Glow of Radium Lit a Path for Women in Science, Longitude, Galileo’s Daughter, and The Glass Universe. A former New York Times science reporter, she has received numerous awards for her contributions to science writing and currently edits the “Meter” poetry column in Scientific American.*RESOURCES & LINKS📄 Interview Transcript (unedited) Marie Curie’s NotebooksThe Elements of Marie Curie: How the Glow of Radium Lit a Path for Women in Science*This episode is brought to you by our friends at Lulu. If you're interested in self-publishing, Lulu has free resources such as helpful tutorials, templates to help you layout a book, design for print, and they have a very watchable YouTube University channel. Our community anthology is in fact published using Lulu. Check them out at lulu.com.* 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!

Bestselling thriller author Sophie Flynn reveals the raw truth about publishing—traditional vs. indie, rejection, and what it really takes to succeed. As Managing Director of Jericho Writers, she’s seen what separates thriving authors from those who quit. We dive into storytelling psychology, career-defining decisions, and the mindset shifts every writer needs. ABOUT SOPHIE FLYNN Sophie Flynn is a psychological thriller author and the Managing Director of Jericho Writers. RESOURCES & LINKSBoldwood BooksBookoutureWhat Stays Unsaid by Sophie FlynnScrivenerSophie Hannah’s Dream Author CoachingJericho Writers 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!

Oliver Burkeman, bestselling author of Four Thousand Weeks and Meditations for Mortals, on the power of embracing imperfection in both life and creativity, how to overcome distractions that hinder our creative flow, and the tools that can help us thrive in an imperfect world. *ABOUT OLIVER BURKEMAN Oliver Burkeman worked for many years at The Guardian, where he wrote a popular weekly column on psychology, “This Column Will Change Your Life.” His books include the New York Times bestseller Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals and The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can’t Stand Positive Thinking. His latest book is Meditations for Mortals.*RESOURCES & LINKS📄 Interview Transcript (unedited) Meditation for Mortals by Oliver BurkemanFour Thousand Weeks by Oliver BurkemanThe ImperfectionistILYS softwareDeep Freewriting by Stephen Lloyd WebberScrivener Software 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!

Award-winning journalist Anita Bhagwandas on her journey from ambitious intern to a celebrated writer with bylines in The Guardian, Vogue, and Condé Nast Traveler. Anita shares practical advice on pitching as a freelance journalist, crafting impactful articles, and how she finds the hidden angle for a topic. She opens up about her experiences as a neurodivergent writer, offering insights into managing ADHD, navigating rejection, and staying creative. We delve into the research behind her groundbreaking book, Ugly: Why the World Became Beauty Obsessed and How to Break Free, revealing the hidden histories of beauty standards.*ABOUT ANITA BHAGWANDAS Anita is a renowned journalist and a leading voice in beauty culture. As a former Beauty Director at top publications like Stylist and Marie Claire, she has built a distinguished career spanning print, digital, and broadcast media. Her critically acclaimed book, Ugly explores the origins and impact of unrealistic beauty standards, blending personal narrative with insightful cultural analysis. *RESOURCES & LINKS📄 Interview Transcript (unedited) Ugly by Anita BhagwandasThe Powder Room - Anita’s SubstackThe Shift - Sam Baker’s SubstackFearing the Black Body by Sabrina Strings 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!

Sanjoy K. Roy, the visionary behind the Jaipur Literature Festival in India, on growing the largest literary festival in the world (half a million visitors) expanding it to the US, UK and beyond and how storytelling and creativity can shape culture and change cities. *LINKS AND RESOURCESJaipur Literature FestivalSanjoy: InstagramTeamwork Arts*ABOUT SANJOY ROYSanjoy is the Managing Director of Teamwork Arts, the company behind the Jaipur Literature Festival, which has grown from a single room with 230 attendees to a global event attracting over 400,000 visitors. His work focuses on using arts, culture, and storytelling as platforms to drive social change and inspire dialogue, and he has curated over 33 festivals in over 42 cities worldwide. 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!

Holly Black, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of fantasy novels, on her process for writing bestselling fiction, on getting vital feedback on drafts, how she overcomes rejection and what success in publishing actually is.*ABOUT HOLLY BLACK Holly Black is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of fantasy books, including the novels of Elfhame, The Coldest Girl in Coldtown, the Spiderwick Chronicles, her adult debut, Book of Night, as well as an Arthurian picture book called Sir Morien. The Prisoner’s Throne is Holly's latest novel, the conclusion to the no.1 bestseller The Stolen Heir. RESOURCES & LINKS📄 Interview Transcript (unedited)Fairies by Brian FroudHolly Black - WebsiteSociety of Children's Book Writers and IllustratorsThe Folk of the Air seriesScrivenerNever Say You Can’t Survive by Charlie Jane AndersOn Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen KingPacemaker 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!

Naturalist, artist, and educator John Muir Laws on how writers can awaken curiosity, deepen their connection to nature, and unlock boundless creativity through the transformative practice of nature journaling.*ABOUT JOHN MUIRS LAWS John (Jack) Muir Laws is a principal leader and innovator of the worldwide nature journaling movement. ​He is the author and illustrator of several books including The Laws Guide to Nature Drawing and Journaling (also available in Spanish), The Laws Sketchbook, The Laws Guide to Drawing Birds, Sierra Birds: A Hiker’s Guide, Sierra Wildflowers: A Hiker’s Guide, and The Laws Guide to the Sierra Nevada. RESOURCES & LINKS📄 Interview Transcript (unedited) The Laws Guide to Nature Drawing and JournalingIntro to Nature JournalingWild Wonder FoundationFree video tutorials on drawing and natureThe Laws Guide to Nature Drawing and JournalingHow To Teach Nature JournalingWonderlandThe Laws Field Guide to the Sierra NevadaWild Wonder FoundationJohn Muir Laws - 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!