Zen and the Art of Self Publishing
Season 1
What Are You Actually Building? Tropes, Story, & the Art of Thinking for Yourself with JENNIFER HILT
Interview with Author Jami Albright on Finding Humor in Sadness
by Janet Margot
Jennifer Hilt — USA Today bestselling author and creator of the Trope Thesaurus series — joins Janet to talk about story structure, creative identity, and why understanding tropes is really about understanding what makes us human. They cover how tropes got a bad reputation (and why that's changed), the difference between a trope and a cliché, why motivation is the secret sauce of any story that actually works, and what happens when authors hand over their creative judgment — to AI, to trends, or to anyone else. If you've ever felt ashamed of writing "commercial" fiction, lost momentum mid-draft, or wondered whether AI tools are helping or quietly hollowing out your voice — this one's for you. What we talk about: Why Jennifer's students reacted with shame when she mentioned tropes — and what that revealed about the indie author world's relationship with commercial storytelling Tropes vs. clichés: the distinction that changes how you think about craft Why tropes are fundamentally about human relationships, not genre formulas Mystery vs. thriller — and why the line between them keeps blurring What keeps readers coming back to a series (hint: it's an identity question) The problem with promoting secondary characters to leads How to think about tropes as a discoverability and marketing tool AI, critical thinking, and why "handing over your power" is the real risk Kate Atkinson's spiral drafting method — and why it might save your writing life Guest links: Jennifer Hilt: jenniferhilt.com Free Substack: available at her website Books mentioned: The Trope Thesaurus series (multiple volumes), A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton, Department Q series (book and Netflix)
One of the most remarkable aspects of Jami Albright's writing is her ability to find humor amidst tragedy. Her sister's vibrant spirit influenced this approach. Jamie recounts, "My sister was funny until the very end. Even in her last days, she made us laugh with her antics." This juxtaposition of humor and grief is a hallmark of her new book, making it relatable and engaging for readers. Jamie explains, "I knew that if I was going to write this book, it had to be infused with levity. I couldn’t bear to write a completely sad story." Key Takeaways for Aspiring Writers For writers looking to explore similar themes, Jamie offers valuable insights: 1. Embrace Your Emotions: Don’t shy away from writing about difficult experiences. Allow your feelings to guide your narrative. 2. Find Balance: Infusing humor into serious topics can create a relatable and engaging story. Look for moments of levity, even in dark times. 3. Draw from Real Life: Use your own experiences and family dynamics as a foundation for your characters and plot. 4. Be Authentic: Write from the heart, and don’t be afraid to share your vulnerabilities. Authenticity resonates with readers. Read The Summer That Changed Us: https://books2read.com/u/mdZvPW Visit Jami's world: https://www.jamialbright.com/ Listen to Jami at Wish I'd Known Then... Writer podcast: https://wishidknownforwriters.com/
A quick introduction to the idea behind this podcast. Keeping the human in an increasingly automated world.