Working: A Master Class in Queer Character Description

This week, host Ronald Young Jr. talks to writer Emma Copley
Eisenberg about her new novel Housemates, which features a
burgeoning friendship between two artists who decide to road trip
across Pennsylvania together. In the interview, Emma explains how
her nonfiction writing and her interest in history influenced this
new work of fiction. She also talks about her “feast or famine”
approach to productivity, her desire to document her community, and
her belief that physical descriptions of people are crucial to good
fiction writing.  After the interview, Ronald and co-host June
Thomas ponder why the most difficult projects can be the most
exciting. They also talk about how rare it is to see good
depictions of fat people in fiction.  In the exclusive Slate
Plus segment, Emma talks about a toxic mentor character in
Housemates and why it’s so troubling when teachers of the arts
abuse their positions of power.    Send your questions
about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or
give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron
Drews. If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate
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