Generated by All in One SEO v5.0.0.1, this is an llms.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site. # Women of Letters ## Sitemaps - [XML Sitemap](https://womenofletters.org/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website. ## Posts - [“I’m someone who thinks in seasons”: Stefanie O’Connell on her career as a writer](https://womenofletters.org/stefanie-o-connell/) - In this podcast interview, Stefanie discusses building a career through cold emailing, the strategy she used to grow her widely popular Instagram to over 94,000 followers and sell her first book, seeing peers as collaborators instead of... - [“I set out to define my own values”: Helen Betya Rubinstein on her career as an author and writing coach](https://womenofletters.org/helen-betya-rubinstein/) - In this interview, Helen discusses how she accidentally stumbled into her current job, why changing her ideas about achievement is what she’s most proud of achieving, her most important condition for... - [“I became a person who took those kind of risks”: Alia Hanna Habib on her career as a literary agent and an author](https://womenofletters.org/alia-hanna-habib/) - In this podcast interview, Alia discusses how she reads as a literary agent, what she learned from booking a one-way ticket to live in Italy, why she advises everyone to ask more questions, her debut book... - [“I remember laughter and a sense of discovery”: Miranda Brun Hickman on her career as a writer and professor](https://womenofletters.org/miranda-brun-hickman/) - In this interview, Miranda discusses the early influence of the theatre on her thinking, working as an academic, & her latest project on deep literacy. - [“I wake up excited”: Sophie Grégoire Trudeau on her career as an author and mental health advocate](https://womenofletters.org/sophie-gregoire-trudeau/) - My conversation with Sophie on the new chapter unfolding in her fifties, her daily practice of tracking micro-successes, the difference between breaking and being broken open, how she decides which opportunities to pursue and… - [“I knew I would need to be my own safety net”: Alissa Wilkinson on her career as a movie critic and author](https://womenofletters.org/alissa-wilkinson/) - In this interview, Alissa discusses realizing she wanted something other than the 9-to-5 corporate life, how she made the transition from freelance writer to full-time staff writer, the most valuable thing… - [“I didn’t figure it out till I was 40”: Candice Wuehle on her career as a novelist and cultural critic](https://womenofletters.org/candice-wuehle/) - In this interview, Candice discusses what it’s like to have an essay go viral, why she still prioritizes saying ‘yes’ to most opportunities, how she found success on Substack, her unexpected transition from… - [“I decided to upend my very stable life”: Allison T. Butler on her career as an author and lecturer](https://womenofletters.org/allison-t-butler/) - In this interview, Allison discusses the life lessons she’s learned from those who taught her how not to behave, why she reads everything from YA fiction to highbrow classics, having felt unhappy despite... - [“I never intended to publish it”: Claire Jia on her career as a novelist and screenwriter](https://womenofletters.org/claire-jia/) - In this interview, Claire discusses spending a decade writing and revising her debut novel, the trip to Paris that changed everything, why she decided to abandon her goal of becoming an ambassador, what it was like going on a 16-city book tour... - [“I would memorize paragraphs in my head”: Sara Nović on her career as an author and instructor](https://womenofletters.org/sara-novic/) - In this interview, Sara discusses becoming a New York Times bestseller, letting go of the ‘big writer’ advice that didn’t fit her life, the expectations that came with being the first in her family to... - [“I think whole is always better than good”: Savala Nolan on her career as an essayist and professor](https://womenofletters.org/savala-nolan/) - In this interview, Savala discusses the one book she thinks everyone should read, opting for ‘good enough’ instead of over-optimizing, how volunteering for Obama’s 2007 campaign unexpectedly changed her career... - [“I’ve realized I need chaos and randomness”: Anna Lena Feunekes on her career as an illustrator and author](https://womenofletters.org/anna-lena-feunekes/) - In this interview, Anna Lena discusses reframing sensitivity as a strength, how a self-published project led to landing an agent and traditional publishing opportunities, why it’s important not to… - [“I had to figure out how to get through”: Victoria Redel on her career as a novelist, poet, and professor](https://womenofletters.org/victoria-redel/) - Our conversation with Victoria on the routines that have made it possible for her to have a prolific writing career, what it was like working as an assistant to Adrienne Rich, why failing and making messes is more important than… - [“I knew I wanted to build my life around that”: Melissa Febos on her career as a writer and professor](https://womenofletters.org/melissa-febos/) - In this interview, Melissa discusses her changing definition of success, the advice she most often gives her students, becoming comfortable with disappointing other people, the novel she’s writing... - [“I essentially rearranged my life”: Emily J. Smith on her career as a writer and novelist](https://womenofletters.org/emily-j-smith/) - In this interview, Emily discusses her debut novel, her background in tech, how she navigated the transition to writing full-time, & what she’s working on next. - [“I never considered any other path”: Frances Dickey on her career as a writer and professor](https://womenofletters.org/frances-dickey/) - In this interview, Frances discusses how she first discovered poetry, studying at Harvard with her mentor Helen Vendler, & working as a literary scholar. - [“I’ve been able to find my way”: Jenna Butler on her career as a writer and scholar](https://womenofletters.org/jenna-butler/) - In this interview, Jenna discusses living off grid, how teaching influences her writing, her environmental humanities work, & her creative process. - [“I did not think I was following any kind of path”: Nancy K. Miller on her career as a writer and professor](https://womenofletters.org/nancy-k-miller/) - In this interview, Nancy discusses growing up in 1950s Manhattan, her path to becoming an academic, the importance of feminist mentorship, & her latest projects. - [“I resisted my own dreams”: Sheila Liming on her career as a writer and professor](https://womenofletters.org/sheila-liming/) - In this interview, Sheila discusses her path to becoming a writer, the value of paying attention, the mentors who shaped her thinking, & Tove Jansson’s influence on her work. - [“I started to connect the dots”: Charlene SanJenko on her career as an Indigenous storyteller and social impact entrepreneur](https://womenofletters.org/charlene-sanjenko/) - In this interview, Charlene discusses her work in filmmaking, leaving the corporate world behind, the value of having an athlete’s mindset, & her latest projects. - [“I believed, from the start, in hard work”: Beth Kephart on her career as a writer](https://womenofletters.org/beth-kephart/) - In this interview, Beth discusses her unconventional path to becoming a writer, leaving behind a life of 80-hour corporate consulting weeks, & her morning routine. - [“I always feel like I’m racing against the clock”: Kasia Van Schaik on her career as a writer and poet](https://womenofletters.org/kasia-van-schaik/) - In this interview, Kasia discusses growing up in South Africa, her creative process, her work as a literary scholar, & her time in Montreal. - [“I discovered that regular jobs made me miserable”: Candace Savage on her career as a writer](https://womenofletters.org/candace-savage/) - In this interview, Candace discusses growing up in Northern Alberta, her path to becoming a writer, her creative process, & her latest projects. - [“I went back to what I’d always been passionate about”: Petya K. Grady on her career as a writer, featured Substacker, and UX strategist](https://womenofletters.org/petya-k-grady/) - In this podcast interview, Petya discusses reading as an antidote to scrolling, her childhood in Bulgaria, launching her Substack, & how she’s reprioritizing creative pursuits. - [“I realized that maybe I could be the one”: Anna Malaika Tubbs on her career as a writer and TED speaker](https://womenofletters.org/anna-malaika-tubbs/) - In this interview, Anna Malaika discusses her latest NYT-bestselling book, preparing for her viral TED Talk, her relationship to social media, & what she’s working on now. - [“I was in a situation that didn’t add up”: Corinne Low on her career as a writer and Wharton economist](https://womenofletters.org/corinne-low/) - In this podcast interview, Corinne discusses her bestselling new book, the economics of women’s lives, & why she left a job at the top consulting firm in the world. - [“I realized I could see myself there”: Nikkya Hargrove on her career as a writer and memoirist](https://womenofletters.org/nikkya-hargrove/) - In this interview, Nikkya discusses her debut memoir, the importance of having mentors, & her decision to open a bookstore and write full-time. - [“I’m doing everything I want to do”: Carrie Sun on her career as a writer and memoirist](https://womenofletters.org/carrie-sun/) - In this interview, Carrie discusses working at one of the most prestigious hedge funds in the world, her widely acclaimed memoir, & why “process over outcome” is bad advice. - [“I had to unlearn to be a high achiever”: Kapka Kassabova on her career as a writer](https://womenofletters.org/kapka-kassabova/) - In this podcast interview, Kapka discusses growing up in Bulgaria under the Iron Curtain, her award-winning Balkan quartet of books, & creating her own literary genre. - [“I’m a multitasker”: Jennifer Baker on her career as an author, editor, and podcaster](https://womenofletters.org/jennifer-baker/) - In this interview, Jennifer discusses the mentors who supported her work, how to establish boundaries, & the importance of reframing the definition of ‘failure.’ - [“I moved cities, I moved jobs”: Marianne Brooker on her career as a writer and memoirist](https://womenofletters.org/marianne-brooker/) - In this podcast interview, Marianne discusses her acclaimed debut memoir, the early influences that shaped her thinking, & winning the Fitzcarraldo Essay Prize. - [“I wanted something different”: Mary Jo Bang on her career as a poet and Guggenheim Fellow](https://womenofletters.org/mary-jo-bang/) - In this interview, Mary Jo discusses the books that shaped her thinking, studying at Columbia University with Lucie Brock-Broido, & her latest writing projects. - [“I can’t help generating meaning”: Elisa Gabbert on her career as a poet and essayist](https://womenofletters.org/elisa-gabbert/) - In this interview, Elisa discusses her decision to become a writer, the value of a good mentor, & what she’s working on now. - [“I wasn’t really allowed to”: Noreen Masud on her career as a writer and memoirist](https://womenofletters.org/noreen-masud/) - In this podcast interview, Noreen discusses her celebrated debut memoir, growing up in Pakistan, working as an academic, & her creative process. - [“I learned to pack light and listen deeply”: Cass Marketos on her career as an artist and writer](https://womenofletters.org/cass-marketos/) - In this interview, Cass discusses how travel has shaped her life, her time working in the Obama administration, her creative process, & her latest projects. - [“I didn’t seem to be good at anything else”: Ayşegül Savaş on her career as a writer](https://womenofletters.org/aysegul-savas/) - In this interview, Ayşegül discusses her decision to become a writer, her latest work of literary fiction, & her creative process. Originally from Turkey, she lives in Paris. - [“I didn’t know you could be a writer”: Iris Jamahl Dunkle on her career as a biographer and poet](https://womenofletters.org/iris-jamahl-dunkle/) - In this podcast interview, Iris discusses her decision to become a writer, studying at NYU with Jean Valentine, her latest biography, & how John Steinbeck appropriated Sanora Babb’s work. - [“I was going to do whatever I wanted”: Stephanie Wambugu on her career as a writer and editor](https://womenofletters.org/stephanie-wambugu/) - In this interview, Stephanie discusses her celebrated debut novel, becoming a writer in New York, the importance of having a routine, and what she’s working on now. - [We’ll see you again soon.](https://womenofletters.org/season-one/) - In this Season One roundup, we explore our interviews with 9 critically acclaimed women on their creative journeys and paths to professional success. ## Pages - [About](https://womenofletters.org/) - Conversations about work, writing, & professional success with the women shaping our cultural landscape. 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