The Writer's Voice: Novelists, Poets, Memoirists & Editors Share Their Stories

From Stories, Poems & Music - The Creative Process by Novelists, Poets, Non-fiction Writers, Musicians, Screenwriters, Playwrights & Journalists on Writing - Creative Process Original Series

December 13, 2025 · 14 min · Season 15 · Episode 1204

About this episode

Writers discuss the development of their voice and the importance of authenticity in their work.

How do writers develop their voice, showing us what is important in life? ADA LIMÓN (24th U.S. Poet Laureate, Startlement, The Carrying ) explains that her poetry begins with a bodily sensation or curiosity, not an idea. She values the space and breath poetry offers for unknowing and mystery, finding solace in the making and the mess, not in answers. She discusses being free on the page to be her whole, authentic, complicated self. JAY PARINI (Author, Filmmaker, Borges and Me ) calls poetry the prince of literary arts—language refined to its apex of memorability. He recounts how his road trip with Borges around Scotland restored him from depression and anxiety following the Vietnam War death of his friend. JERICHO BROWN (Pulitzer Prize-winning Poet, The Tradition, How We Do It: Black Writers on Craft, Practice, and Skill ) discusses the rhythm of black vernacular and capturing "symphonic complexity of black life". He shares how he’s found a way not to think about personal risk as he’s writing. ADAM MOSS (Fmr. Editor, New York Magazine; Author, The Work of Art) relates David Simon’s concept of the bounce , in which creativity gains momentum as it is passed between people. VIET…

People in this episode

Guests: ADA LIMÓN, JAY PARINI, JERICHO BROWN, ADAM MOSS, VIET THANH NGUYEN

Topics covered

writer's voice
poetry
literary arts
creativity
authenticity
language
solidarity

Keywords

voice
poetry
creativity
literature
authenticity
black vernacular
language abuse

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Startlement, The Carrying, Borges and Me, The Tradition, How We Do It: Black Writers on Craft, Practice, and Skill, The Work of Art, The Sympathizer, To Save and to Destroy