Working: Writing the Two-Author Novel

Slate Culture

Host June Thomas speaks with authors Rachel Dodes and Lauren Mechling about their new novel, The Memo and their collaborative writing process. The pandemic took its toll on everyone, but for Mechling and Dodes, it became a time to collaborate via a Google Doc. They spewed ideas and paragraphs onto the same page, editing each other’s output in real time until they formulated their surrealist, comedic tale of friendship and career ambitions. Both authors extoll the benefits of collaborating and being less precious with their own words.

Later, hosts Isaac Butler and Ronald Young Jr. join June for a frank discussion of working with time limitations, ‘pitching without bitching,’ and an update about Working itself.

In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Rachel and Lauren speak about their appearance on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen, and Lauren breaks down the similarities between The Memo and her last novel, How Could She.

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Podcast production by Kevin Bendis and Cameron Drews.

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