Community Corner

Hi, wormies!

Ali here. Happy 2024 to you and yours. I was lucky enough to kick off this new space year with a bang: an interview with Lillian Stone. 

Named one of Paste magazine’s 15 Best Humorists Writing Today as well as a fellow devourer of all shark horror films, the conversation was wonderful. Beyond wonderful, really. Not only is Lillian funny (see her Substack for proof of said hilarity), but she’s also endearing and charming and earnest. And she managed to be all that while fighting off a cold. 

Her collection of essays, Everybody’s Favorite, Tales from the World’s Worst Perfectionist came out in 2023, and the thing I admire most about it? Her ability to lean in and address the hard things in life with equal parts humor and candor. With her writing, she’s able to grab you by your collar (or your clogs or gel pens or those horrific low-rise jeans popular in the early 2000s) and say, “Hey, you! Yeah, you. I see you. And yeah, you might be weird. But, so what? Me too. And that’s cool.” 

My questions are in bold. Lillian’s responses are directly below each question.

Tell us a bit about your book. Plot. Characters. Spice. Drama. Whatever you want to share, we want to hear.

Everybody’s Favorite is a memoir-style collection of humorous essays. It’s about what it means to want to change yourself and to feel the external pressure that society places on people, particularly young women in the early 2000s. It’s about how I navigated that in my Ozarks hometown, with a religious upbringing, and a host of juicy mental health challenges along the way.

At the beginning of writing this book, I found myself at a crossroads, beginning to confront the various ways I had felt pressured to adapt myself in different aspects of my life, from personal relationships to family dynamics, and even in my professional environment. This period was marked by a mix of frustration and sadness over the time and energy I had invested in conforming to these external expectations. 

For me, humor has always been a way to process and cope with challenging emotions. So, writing this book first served as a cathartic exercise for my own benefit. Secondly, it was an opportunity to connect with others in my generation—particularly the later Millennials, who, like me, are starting to engage in more mature discussions about our upbringing and the pressures we've faced. 

What are the best books you’ve read recently? What about them struck a chord within you?

I've really been trying to branch out my reading quite a bit. Last year was my year of really immersing myself in horror and speculative fiction. It’s been a few years, but Gretchen Felker-Martin's Manhunt completely changed my perspective. I devoured it in a way that I haven’t devoured a book in a really long time. 

Also, Melissa Lozada-Oliva’s Candelaria I read in December, and I flew through it in like three days. It’s such an incredible blending of genre and really poetic prose. And the second person narration? So innovative. I had a blast reading it. Then, C Pam Zhang’s latest, Land of Milk and Honey. That was another one that I really enjoyed. I've been working on my own kind of dystopian novel right now, so I really enjoyed the world that Zhang created there.

And then I’m finally reading The Hobbit. I’ve never read it before. I’m doing Bookworm's cozy winter reading challenge, and so I have a winter stack, and I got this little tiny hardback edition of The Hobbit. I'm so excited to dive into that world. I'm really trying to expand what I'm taking in, and I’m having so much fun reading all these crazy growth-inspiring, scary things.

In our newsletters, we like to highlight indie bookstores. What (and where) are some of your favorite shops?

When I first moved to Chicago, I lived in Andersonville for four years, which is where you'll find the famous Women and Children First bookstore. It’s still my favorite in the city. Although I no longer live in that neighborhood, I frequently make trips back there. It’s incredibly inclusive, really at the forefront of feminist literature and now, literature that spans all intersections. Their selection is thoughtfully curated, which makes it stand out. I’m also a big fan of City Lit Books in the Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago. They have a similar commitment to thoughtful curation, and the staff always come up with the most unique, intriguing recommendations. Then, back in my hometown of Springfield, Missouri, there's this gem called Pagination Bookshop right in the downtown area. Despite being a smaller town, they’ve created a wonderfully welcoming literary space that really enriches the community. 

What does your writing process look like? Morning or night? Coffee or tea? Are you a pencil and paper girlie or all digital all the way? Do you have any rituals or habits that help you get into the zone?

It’s actually changing quite a bit, which is interesting. Looking back at 2020 when I started my book, I realize how much I've changed both as a person and a writer. I used to be very methodical about outlining and scheduling my creative time. But now, I'm shifting towards being more expansive and playful in my approach. So, here’s something a bit silly I do: when I sit down to write humor, which is mostly what I work on, even my current speculative fiction project has a humorous twist, I listen to 'White Christmas' by the Drifters. You know, the one from the Tim Allen 'Santa Claus' movie? It's fun, a bit goofy sounding, but it really helps me get out of my head and into a more lighthearted mindset. It sort of lowers the stakes for me and makes writing more enjoyable. That's become a ritual for me. I'm also trying to discipline myself to write at my desk more, instead of always writing on the couch, to avoid developing a hump. I’m worried. It's all part of evolving my writing process.

So, you went through an agent. Choosing the traditional publishing path often involves working closely with agents and editors. Can you describe your experience navigating this route? How’d it happen? What are some key lessons or insights you gained from working with industry professionals in bringing your book to market?

I have the greatest agent on earth, no offense to others out there. Her name is Hannah, and she's truly the GOAT. She's been indispensable with her discerning editorial eye and generous industry knowledge, especially for a newcomer from the Midwest like me. 

The way we started working together was a bit non-traditional. She came across a humor piece I published on McSweeney's*, reached out, and we set up a meeting. Initially, we discussed making a humor or gift book, but I had another idea, which evolved into the book we worked on. She took a huge chance on me based on that piece she liked. I wasn’t actively querying or planning my next steps; I was just writing stuff I found funny, waiting for the right person to come along. Now, even with representation, I try to focus not so much on commercial viability but more on creating work I enjoy and want to see, trusting that the pieces will fall into place. 

When people ask how I got an agent, I wish I could offer more on the querying process, but my path was different. My advice? Make the work you love, enjoy the creative process, and let the opportunities find you. It sounds a bit whimsical, but it really worked out beautifully for me.

Writing can be a solitary journey at times. How do you keep from getting lonely? How do you keep yourself motivated when going out, socializing, hanging out seems like more fun, especially on days when the words just don't flow?

Figuring out that balance came from not getting it right the first time. I wrote my first book during the peak of the pandemic, when I was living alone and intensely isolated. Back then, I convinced myself that staying in and focusing inward was the only way to get the book done. Looking back, I wouldn't choose that path again, even though it felt necessary at the time.

I've realized that I feel more energized when I'm out and about, like taking walks or just being in spaces with other people. It's not particularly groundbreaking or insightful, but it's true for me. I haven't completely figured out the perfect balance yet, but now, I'm more in tune with what I need. I'm trying to work more seasonally, listening to my body – whether it's telling me to hunker down and do deep work, or to go outside, take a break, and stretch my arms. It's about finding what works for me in the moment.

Let's talk about rejection and criticism. It’s hard. And often feels terrible. How do you handle it, and what advice would you give to others about dealing with the tough parts of being a writer?

Handling rejection is so tough, but I think my approach is two-fold. First, I'm learning to let myself feel disappointed when projects don't work out or pitches aren't successful. That's a big part of what I do. I remember telling my mom about a rejection I got over Christmas, joking that maybe I should have been a realtor or an administrative assistant. Her response? 'Isn't that what you signed up for?' And she was right. So now, I'm trying to be okay with being bummed and not rushing immediately to the next thing.

But also, I think you become somewhat desensitized to rejection over time. I mean, some rejections will always hurt more than others. But as a freelance journalist, where pitching is my day job, I’ve learned that rejection is a big part of the process. I think you have to aim high, knowing that big rejections come with big swings. It’s okay to take pride in being bold, but also okay to feel sad and take a break – like, just play video games for 12 hours. So, it's really about understanding that it gets a bit easier with time and being kind to yourself. Writing is personal, and it can feel rough when your work doesn’t resonate with others the way you hoped. But that's part of the journey.

Can you share a surprising or unexpected source of inspiration for your writing?

Nature is a big inspiration for me. Being outdoors, disconnected from everything else, can spark so many ideas. Also, engaging in small, different creative projects helps. They're like little bursts of creative energy that revitalize my enthusiasm for longer works.

Thanks for tuning in, y’all.

Interested in chatting with Lillian? Send her a note here.

Lookin’ to befriend her on Bookworm? Follow her here.

Want to read more of her work? Follow her on Substack here and buy her book there. 

Yours in dirt, 

Ali 

*Want to read that McSweeny piece mentioned above? You know the one that helped get Lillian an agent? Click here.