This week, Ira is joined by bestselling author Angela Flournoy for a conversation about writing, reading, and trusting your audience. Together, they discuss Angela’s writing group back in LA, the joy (and frustration) of Goodreads, why some books teach you how to read them, and the delicate balance between guiding readers and letting them figure things out for themselves. Plus, Angela explains why she's actually pro-feedback — and why every writer should resist the urge to Google themselves.
00:00 Intro: Ira’s Reading Habits and Tips from Well-Read New Yorkers
02:35 Angela Flournoy and The Wilderness
08:15 Writing a Novel Over Ten Years
10:57 Life as a Writer
18:16 Writing for the Page, Not the Screen
23:27 Toni Morrison and Teaching Readers How to Read
31:02 Writing Routines and the Pomodoro Method
37:50 Books, Prizes, and the Writing Life
43:52 Knowing When It's Time for a New Book
49:13 The Novel, Short Stories, and The Wilderness
52:59 Ghosts, Grief, and Loss
54:40 Friendship and Making New Friends
59:42 What Fiction Reveals About the Writer
1:02:15 Classic Books and Reading in 2026
1:05:55 Teaching Writing and MFA Programs
1:10:00 Goodreads, Reviews, and Feedback
","author_name":"Ira Madison III"}