The Art of the Perfect Prologue

🎙️ New episode: How Samantha Mann’s self-discovery shaped her debut essay collection

Jan 17, 2025

Hey Bleeders,

I’m thrilled to bring you the latest episode of The Bleeders, where I chat with Samantha Mann, author of Putting Out: Essays on Otherness and editor of I Feel Love: Notes on Queer Joy. Samantha shares the sexuality journey behind her work, making this episode a must-listen for anyone navigating writing, identity, and the delicate dance between the two.

Here’s a preview of our conversation:

A killer prologue born of time & self-reflection

Samantha reveals how she decided to add a prologue to her essay collection just before it went to press.

“Sometimes I feel like the collection is kind of dark,” she shared, “I just wanted to get some lightness in there too.” Adding, “I don’t know if I was reassuring myself or others.”

Ultimately, she wanted the book to reflect her present self at age 30, not just the voice of her 18-to-24-year-old self.

The result? A prologue that I love and really admire and I know several other memoir writers who agree that Samantha nailed it.

Writing her way out of the closet

Samantha opens up about the challenges of writing while she was still “living boxed up.” In her early twenties, she presented as someone “who had it all together” but quietly wrote essays about her inner struggles.

While much of her book’s content wasn’t published online, Samantha cut her teeth writing for outlets like xoJane (me too), blending pop culture commentary with personal insights (hi,

Jane Pratt

—we out here!). She describes this period as “sneaking in” her truth until she felt ready to go all in with her book.

Over time, therapy, coming out, and life experience helped her align her writing with her authentic self.

Samantha’s honesty and humor shine throughout our conversation, making it a perfect listen for anyone working on an essay collection of their own or struggling with how to be their full selves in their writing (and real life).

🎧 Ready to tune in? Listen to the minisode here.