Ted and Lindsay are joined by Hallie Shepherd, who has worked in the film industry as a screenwriter, producer, and actress, all the while knowing she would eventually return to her first love: novels.

Her debut, Call Off the Dark, published by William Morrow/HarperCollins last month, is a true genre blend, with atmospheric thriller, love story, and psychological drama elements. After telling us about the book and the art of meting out twists, Hallie shares two writing tips—first, her system for temporarily turning off her writer brain and just enjoying the book she’s reading, and second, something drawn straight from her screenwriting toolkit.

Learn more about Hallie and order her book at hallieshepherd.com.

This is a podcast explicitly about the craft of writing—except when it’s not.

For these “Fanning Out” bonus episodes, Ted is joined by his videographer pal Matthew Simmons not to talk about things they’ve made but rather to revel in the work of others and what it can teach us.

Like the show’s regular episodes, it’s a celebration of human creativity (or something that sounds 32 percent less corny). Here, they’re just doing it from the perspective of fans, and they’re going beyond books and writing to dive into TV, movies, music, and whatever else they can credibly find an excuse to discuss.

There are categories (sometimes). There are digressions (always). And today, there are two recent, amazing, and very different indie films from our neighbors to the north: the drama Blue Heron and the time-traveling comedy mockumentary Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie.

*Note: This episode contains spoilers.

Ted and Lindsay are joined by Carol Davis, whose novel, Restoration—which Dave Eggers has called “intimate, vivid, and deeply felt”—will be published by Rise Books later this month.

A writer, researcher, and archivist, she tells us about the book, a literary novel that is also her debut, and how it grew out of a short story about a mother and daughter arguing with each other that Carol wrote a number of years ago. She then shares her best writing tip, a way to start your writing day away from the distractions of the internet and instead immersed in the cadence of language.

Learn more about Carol and order her book at caroldavisauthor.com.

Ted and Lindsay are joined by Alisa Dean, whose debut novel, The Jezebel List, earned a starred review from Publishers Weekly and will be published later this month by Alcove Press.

Alisa tells us about the book, which she describes as possibly the first-ever religious trauma rom-com, and how she started to write creatively again after over a decade away due to severe anxiety. She then shares her best writing tip, advice that’s sure to resonate with anyone who has ever doubted whether their own particular and distinct voice is actually worthy of committing to the page.

In other words, pretty much all of us.

Learn more about Alisa and order her book at alisadean.com.

This is a podcast explicitly about the craft of writing—except when it’s not.

For these “Fanning Out” bonus episodes, Ted is joined by his videographer pal Matthew Simmons not to talk about things they’ve made but rather to revel in the work of others and what it can teach us.

Like the show’s regular episodes, it’s a celebration of human creativity (or something that sounds 51 percent less corny). Here, they’re just doing it from the perspective of fans, and they’re going beyond books and writing to dive into TV, movies, music, and whatever else they can credibly find an excuse to discuss.

There are categories. There are digressions. And today, there is Christopher Nolan’s stunning (and intentionally crafted) new film about an ancient work of literature, The Odyssey.

Past guest Lindsay Lewis returns to the show to join Ted for a special announcement, which directly affects whether "past guest" is still the most appropriate way to introduce her.

Trust us--it will all make sense after like 60 seconds.

For Lindsay's upcoming book tour dates, visit lindsaylewiswrites.com.

This is a podcast explicitly about the craft of writing—except when it’s not.

For these “Fanning Out” bonus episodes, Ted is joined by his videographer pal Matthew Simmons not to talk about things they’ve made but rather to revel in the work of others and what it can teach us.

Like the show’s regular episodes, it’s a celebration of human creativity (or something that sounds 42 percent less corny). Here, they’re just doing it from the perspective of fans, and they’re going beyond books and writing to dive into TV, movies, music, and whatever else they can credibly find an excuse to discuss.

There are categories. There are digressions. And today, there is an obviously exhaustive, scientifically accurate draft of 14 songs from the 1960s until today that they find particularly well-suited to a road trip playlist.

Ted is joined by Lindsay Lewis, who fell in love with books when she realized she could escape algebra class by peeking at the romance novel hidden on her lap. Now she entertains herself by making the characters in her head kiss. Her debut novel, a sports rom-com titled It’s a Business Doing Pleasure With You, will be published by Alcove Press this August.

Lindsay tells us about the book and why she aims to give readers a sense of found sisterhood through her work before she and Ted bond over their long roads to publication. She then offers two writing tips, one about self-editing and another on what she looks for when a scene just isn’t working. Plus Ted is contractually obligated to ask her about the four rows of Post-Its lining the wall in her writing closet.

Learn more about Lindsay and pre-order her book at lindsaylewiswrites.com.