The Bibliotherapists Ep #6: Laura Pashby - An author's guide to the best writing guides

Hello everybody,

Our sixth episode of the pod is definitely one for our writers friends out here.

Whether you’re a published author or have just started posting on Substack, today’s guest, the writer, photographer, book seller and fog lover,

Laura Pashby

, has SO MANY gems to inspire and support the crafting of words.

Laura’s new book, Chasing Fog, is out now, and in this conversation she reveals how she manages her time between writing, researching, marketing and selling books, creating a hit Substack AND looking after herself and her family.

Honestly, we know it’s not, but she makes it sound easy.

And we love her tips on favourite Apps to capture ideas fresh from a wild swim and the power of writer’s hours to stay organised and accountable.

And if you love this episode and would like to spend some more time learning from Laura, her and Tanya will be hosting a FINDING YOUR VOICE retreat in the beautiful Oxfordshire countryside in March 2025 - all the info HERE.

Spot the introvert: You can always judge a book (seller) by their tote bag

SHOW NOTES:

In this episode Laura references and recommends many different books, including several (heavily underlined!) writing guides;

1. Handling the Truth: On the Writing of Memoir by Beth Kephart

2. Bird by Bird: Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lammott

3. The Situation and the Story: The Art of Personal Narrative by Vivian Gornick

4. To Show and to Tell: The Craft of Literary Nonfiction (An Essential Guide for Writers) by Philip Lopate

5. The Prophet by Khalil Gibran

6. Consider Yourself Kissed by Jessica Stanley

7. Wellness by Nathan Hill

8. Set Me On Fire: A Poem For Every Feeling by Ella Risbridger

We can’t wait for you to listen.

Please share with the people you love, let us know what you think, and - of course - what you are reading right now…

Toni (& Tanya)

xx

PS: Up next week, audacious woman

Anne Boyd

….

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WATCH THE PODCAST

NB while the audio version of the podcast has been polished a bit, we’re definitely not video editors and so the video of the interview is the unedited, unfiltered real thing showcasing the reality of three wifi connections from three (usually rural) locations + two overexcited book nerds interviewing one amazing expert. There may be a couple of bloopers/sneezes/dog barking situations (this epiosde starts with one!). But there’s something kinda lovely about the real-ness, and it’s a perfect example (we think) of “done is better than perfect.”