#045: Jay Clouse — Find Your Niche, Become a Professional Creator & Build Your Creative Platform. Learn To Experiment, Charge Without Guilt

What if the traditional publishing world says “no”? Eleanor Anstruther—acclaimed novelist and creator of The Literary Obsessive—shares her bold leap into indie publishing, serialising fiction and memoir on Substack, and why you need an Artist DNA to draw an audience.We discuss: Her aristocratic background and experience living in a communeNavigating rejection and the pivot to serialising work onlineThe realities (and surprises) of building a paid readership on SubstackAdvice for writers considering serialisation and indie publishingHow to build a creative communityPractical tips: drafting, book sales, pricing subscriptions, and more*ABOUT ELEANOR ANSTRUTHEREleanor Anstruther grew up in London, studied History of Art at Manchester, and spent twelve years travelling the world and starting a commune before turning to writing. Her debut novel, A Perfect Explanation, was longlisted for major prizes. Today, she serialises her fiction and memoir on Substack, where she’s built a passionate readership and runs the celebrated interview series 8 Questions. Connect with her via The Literary Obsessive on Substack.*RESOURCES & LINKS📑Interview TranscriptThe Literary Obsessive on SubstackA Perfect Explanation by Eleanor AnstrutherIn Judgement of Others by Eleanor AnstrutherContact form Glitter Balls by Michelle HowarthA Memoir in 65 Postcards & The Recovery Diaries by Eleanor AnstrutherSarah Fay SubstackBen Wakeman's SubstackSimon K JonesTroubador Publishing *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!

Julia Cameron, author of The Artist’s Way and one of the most influential voices on creativity of the last three decades, shares timeless wisdom on nurturing the artist within.We discuss: Morning Pages and Artist Dates as tools for creative recovery.Why being of service is at the heart of writing.Writing in dialogue with intuition (and the divine).How to handle criticism, praise, and creative resistance.Stories from a life in service of art, including poetry, musicals, and spiritual practice. *ABOUT JULIA CAMERONJulia Cameron is the author of forty books, including her bestselling works on the creative process: The Artist’s Way, Seeking Wisdom, The Listening Path, Walking In This World and Finding Water. Her work has been translated into more than forty languages. Also a novelist, playwright, songwriter, and poet, she has multiple credits in theatre, film, and television. Her memoir Floor Sample takes behind the scenes of her extraordinary life and career as a writer and teacher.Connect with Julia:Twitter:@j_cameronliveWebsite: juliacameronlive.comRESOURCES & LINKSMorning PagesArtist's DateJulia's musical: AvalonJulia's poemsJulia's memoir, published in the UK: Floor SampleAll of Julia's booksThis 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!

(Interview from 2024) The founder of ProWritingAid, Chris Banks, shares his thoughts on how AI is reshaping writing, editing, and the creative process. Recorded in front of a live audience after Writers' Hour. We discuss:- AI as a creative partner: Can it replace writers?- Using AI responsibly to save time, enhance editing, and elevate your craft.- How to adapt AI tools to fit unique writing style and needs.- Privacy & data concerns for writers and creatives.- The importance of weirdness and the human touch in the AI era.*LINKS & RESOURCESProWritingAidChris Banks OFFER:Since our interview, ProWritingAid have released their Manuscript Analysis tool. Get feedback on your whole manuscript, discover what’s working well and where you can improve your plot, characters, settings and more. Sign up (+1 free credit).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.*ABOUT CHRIS BANKSChris Banks is the founder and CEO of ProWritingAid, a comprehensive writing and editing toolkit that uses artificial intelligence to helps authors, editors, and professionals improve their work. Chris built ProWritingAid to bridge the gap between technology and creativity. Chris is deeply involved in discussions about AI’s impact on the writing world and how authors can harness it to enhance—not replace—their unique voice.  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!

Jono Hey, author of Big Ideas Little Pictures and creator of Sketchplanations, shares insights from over a decade of explaining the world through sketches. We discuss: The power of visual thinkingBuilding a new identity when changing careersKnowing when a piece is done and ready for publishingTips to get started with sketching& lessons from long-term creative projects, including illustrating for Bill Gates.*ABOUT JONO HEYJono Hey is the author and illustrator of Big Ideas Little Pictures, a collection of the best of Sketchplanations—his decade-long project dedicated to explaining complex ideas through simple sketches. With a background spanning academia, business, design, product development, and engineering, Jono has helped build two successful companies and holds a Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley. His work has been featured in Bill Gates’s book How to Prevent the Next Pandemic, and he co-hosts Sketchplanations – the Podcast, where he and two friends dive deeper into the ideas behind his sketches. Find his latest work at sketchplanations.com.*RESOURCES📑Interview TranscriptSketchplanations.comA Sketch a Day journalMaker’s Schedule, Manager’s Schedule by Paul GrahamBack of the Napkin by Dan RoamBig Ideas Little Pictures by Jono Hey Blurb (Book Printing)Jono’s Patreon*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!

Matt Trinetti, co-founder of the London Writers' Salon, on building the world’s most engaged writing community, the role of creativity in the face of AI and the transformative power of writing for creative and mental health.*ABOUT MATT TRINETTIMatt Trinetti is the co-founder of London Writers' Salon, our community, dedicated to helping writers connect, make progress, and launch successful careers. With a background in career coaching and leadership development, Matt has worked with top organizations like Google and Unilever. His writing has been featured in Quartz, Huffington Post, and Business Insider, and shared by influential figures such as Tim Ferriss and Arianna Huffington.*RESOURCES & LINKSJoin the London Writers' Salon CommunityWriters’ HourMatt's Linked-InMatt's Substack: Seeking With MattBook: The Thank You Economy, by Gary V.Book: The Art of Community by Charles Vogl Book: The Art of Gathering, by Priya Parker Escape the City*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!

Steve Almond, bestselling author on ‘failing’ for decades, finding flow, finding success in Hollywood, overcoming writer’s block and telling the stories only you can tell with truth and mercy.*ABOUT STEVE ALMOND Steve Almond is the award-winning author of twelve books of fiction and nonfiction, including the New York Times bestsellers Candyfreak and Against Football and Which Brings Me To You (turned into a Netflix show).For four years, Steve hosted the New York Times Dear Sugars podcast with his pal Cheryl Strayed. He also publishes crazy, DIY books. His latest book is Truth is the Arrow, Mercy is the Bow.*RESOURCES & LINKS📑Interview Transcript (Unedited)My Life in Heavy Metal by Steve AlmondTruth is the Arrow, Mercy is the Bow by Steve AlmondWriting Classes by SteveStory of a Poem by Matthew ZapruderSteve’s Website*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!

Nicola Slawson, creator of the award-winning newsletter The Single Supplement, shares her journey of building a creative career on her own terms. From launching her newsletter with zero subscribers to securing a book deal, Nicola offers insights into embracing your unique story, building an authentic community, and navigating the realities of freelance journalism and book writing.*ABOUT NICOLA SLAWSON Nicola Slawson is a freelance journalist, writer, and public speaker. She is the creator of The Single Supplement newsletter and author of Single: Living a Complete Life on Your Own Terms. Nicola is passionate about telling human stories and empowering others to embrace their own.*RESOURCES & LINKS📑Interview Transcript (Unedited)Scott Trust BursaryThe Single Supplement - Nicola’s SubstackA Single Serving PodcastLightbulb Facebook Group - For WritersSingle: Living a Complete Life on Your Own TermsVagina: A Re-Education by Lynn EnrightHow To Fail by Elizabeth DayScrivener Writing SoftwareComing Home by Rosamunde Pilcher*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!

Author and Editorial Director Sareeta Domingo on writing love stories that feel real, breaking into publishing, and crafting authentic intimacy in fiction. She shares insights on balancing her dual careers in writing and editing, the biggest mistakes authors make when submitting, and how the romance industry is evolving.*ABOUT SAREETA DOMINGO Sareeta Domingo is the Editorial Director at Trapeze Books (Hachette) and the author of The Three of Us and If I Don’t Have You, shortlisted for the Diverse Book Awards 2021. She edited the romance anthology Who’s Loving You and writes YA fiction under S.A. Domingo. RESOURCES & LINKS📑Interview Transcript (Unedited)Fattily Ever After by Stephanie YeboahAgent ProvocateurMills & BoonBefore Trilogy (films)Tia Williams (Author)The Roommate by Rosie DinanEmily Henry (Author) Dan Harmon’s 8 steps for ScreenwritingScrivenerJacaranda BooksSareeta’s InstagramSareeta’s Website*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 Author Tessa Hadley on getting published in her 40s and beyond, the craft of literary fiction, developing character and conflict, and the importance of conflict.*ABOUT TESSA HADLEY:Tessa Hadley is the author of eight highly acclaimed novels, including Clever Girl and Free Love, as well as four short story collections, most recently Bad Dreams and Other Stories, which won the Edge Hill Short Story Prize. Her latest book is the novella The Party. Her work regularly appears in The New Yorker and Granta, and she has won the Windham Campbell Prize and the Hawthornden Prize. After two decades of struggling to publish, she landed her first book deal at 46 and has since become one of the most respected literary fiction writers of our time.*RESOURCES & LINKS📑 Interview Transcript (Unedited)The Party by Tessa HadleyFree Love by Tessa HadleyTom’s Midnight Garden by Philippa PearceWriters’ and Artists’ Yearbook 2025 *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!

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!