The 1st Ever "Prompt Me, Daddy"
Let Caroline Shannon-Karasik dom you into writing
Hi Bleeders!
The latest episode in the “Work in Progress” series was a much-needed lubricant that helped me slide back into my own manuscript rewrite. Plus, it’s the first-ever edition of “Prompt Me, Daddy” — a new writing prompt segment!
This combo episode with Caroline Shannon-Karasik is the perfect kickstart for your writing project.
I know Caroline because we took Catapult’s 12-Month Essay Generator together, led by Chloe Caldwell. In this episode, she fills me in on what she’s done with the manuscript since then. Caroline drops some serious wisdom on her writing process, how to approach a rewrite, and giving yourself guilt-free time to research. She also reads an excerpt from her Work in Progress, a hybrid memoir entitled “Mother-Eaten” — and make sure you stick around to the end to get a lesson from Caroline.
Here’s a lil preview of where she's at in the process:
“For me, right now, it's kind of letting that old stuff sit somewhere else — and generate new stuff with — and pretend like that doesn't exist. Because it's really challenging when you already have something that's formatted and then trying to go in it and just like plonk things in that you now want to rewrite. So I'm trying to do the research and then get into my like cut it up and put it on the floor phase and see where things puzzle in. Because for a long time I kept looking at the manuscript as it was and thinking, How do I rewrite this? How do I begin to really put this new overlay on it, and it was just messing me up.”
Where I write:
I'm asking each guest to give us a peek behind the scenes. Caroline's clean, sleek writing space is giving me J.Crew vibes. I could put on a cardigan and get some work done here!
Episode links:
🏃♀️ Follow Caroline on Instagram @carolineshannonkarasik and Twitter @CSKarasik.
💻 Check out Caroline’s website for more info about how to work with her + her writing.
🎧 And, of course, pop in those earbuds and listen to Work in Progress: Caroline Shannon-Karasik on "Mother-Eaten" + Prompt Me, Daddy on your favorite podcast platform.
Online reading about writing:
12 Books to Help You Love Reading Again - I read Nora Ephron’s Heartburn during the pandemic and I want to check a few more of these off my list this year.
Courtney Love Announces She’s Finished Her Memoir After ‘Decade’ of Writing - #relatablecontent
Other works of note and inspo I’m diggin’:
The Last Movie Stars - Do yourself a favor and watch the Paul Newman/Joanne Woodward documentary, directed by Ethan Hawke. I’m on my second viewing and I’m legit going to get “Luck is an Art” tattooed on my body!
I Didn’t Want It to Be True, but the Medium Really Is the Message - Ezra Klein’s NYT Opinion piece about how the internet is rotting our brains is definitely worth a read.
DOJ v. PRH BTS:
This is a helpful thread on agent-writer compatibility and establishing a good working relationship:
RIP Melissa Bank. The Girls’ Guide to Hunting and Fishing was a formative high school read for me and many others.
And omg this is too true lol:
Until next time, HAPPY BLEEDING!
So… ROLL CALL! 🗣️
What did you think of the first Prompt Me, Daddy?? I have another edition comin' atcha soon!
Let’s connect on social media! I’m at @courtneykocak on Twitter and Instagram. For more, check out my website courtneykocak.com.