#PodcastersForJustice The bestselling author and educator, Jennifer Close, spoke with me about writing her first book on unemployment, how to write a novel in 12 weeks, and her latest, "Marrying the Ketchups."   Jennifer is the bestselling author of Girls in White Dresses, The Smart One, and The Hopefuls. Her latest is Marrying the Ketchups (available from Knopf | April 26, 2022), described as a "comedy of manners about three generations of a Chicago restaurant family," and "... a love letter to shared meals and to the family-owned restaurants we all keep coming back to." Jennifer has an M.F.A. in Fiction from The New School and currently teaches creative writing at Catapult. She worked in New York in print magazines for many years and has taught creative writing at George Washington University. Stay calm and write on ... [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file Jennifer Close and I discussed: How writers can use fear as a motivator Why actually "marrying the ketchups" is a little gross What workshopping a novel from start to finish can do for you The difference between scheduling for time vs. word count Why writing doesn't always look like writing And a lot more! Show Notes: Marrying the Ketchups: A novel by Jennifer Close (Amazon Affiliate) Jennifer Close Amazon Author Page (Amazon Affiliate) Let's Not Do that Again by Grant Ginder (Amazon Affiliate) Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott (Amazon Affiliate) 12-Week Novel Draft Generator w/ Instructor Jennifer Close Jennifer Close on Instagram Jennifer Close on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices