Each week, Bret Lott shares a quote from creators about making things that are true and good and beautiful. As a bestselling writer and having taught creative writing for over 40 years, he shares his thoughts on these words by masters who have come before us. In teaching himself from the wisdom of creators who have mastered their craft, he hopes to encourage others in creating things that are lasting and real.
On Good Writing
Claim This Podcastby Cy.press Studios with Bret Lott
5.0(14 reviews)
12 episodes
Updated Daily
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Podcast Overview
Each week, Bret Lott shares a quote from creators about making things that are true and good and beautiful. As a bestselling writer and having taught creative writing for over 40 years, he shares his thoughts on these words by masters who have come before us. In teaching himself from the wisdom of creators who have mastered their craft, he hopes to encourage others in creating things that are lasting and real.
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Publishing Since
4/4/2026
1 verified contact email on file for On Good Writing
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Recent Episodes
June 27, 2026
Lower Your Standards - William Stafford
<p>This quote from William Stafford unlocked something in me. It relieved the heavy weight that hindered my writing. I hope you will listen. Perhaps it will open up something for you too. </p><p><strong>Bret Lott </strong>is the bestselling author of fifteen books, including the novels <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/103708/ancient-highway-by-bret-lott/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Ancient Highway</a>, <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/103712/the-hunt-club-by-bret-lott/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">The Hunt Club</a>, <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/103709/a-song-i-knew-by-heart-by-bret-lott/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">A Song I Knew by Heart</a>, and <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/jewel-bret-lott/7c3901f93ccf69ff" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Jewel</a> (an Oprah’s Book Club selection). Formerly editor of <a href="https://www.thesouthernreview.org/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">The Southern Review</a>, Lott was appointed to the National Council on the Arts in 2006. He taught creative writing for nearly forty years at the College of Charleston. He and his wife, Melanie, live in the country outside Charleston, South Carolina.</p><p><a href="https://cypressjournal.substack.com/p/3ea" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer"></a>On Good Writing is produced by Cy.press Studios, a project of the Cypress Writers Workshop. We are a non-profit literary art institute striving to preserve and advance our cultural tradition of writing. We depend on supporters like you to continue in this work. Learn more at <a href="http://cy.press/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">cy.press</a>.</p><p><br></p><p>The music in this episode "Ghosts - Campfire Version" by The National Parks / musicbed.com.</p>
June 20, 2026
It Hurts - Bret Lott
<p>“It Hurts” is a kind of vignette of personal memoir Bret Lott shares on rejection. I think you’ll find it touches a deep place. Perhaps you will also hear an example of what it takes to keep at your craft, listening to rejection and receiving it as an essential form of instruction. </p><p><strong>Bret Lott </strong>is the bestselling author of fifteen books, including the novels <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/103708/ancient-highway-by-bret-lott/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Ancient Highway</a>, <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/103712/the-hunt-club-by-bret-lott/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">The Hunt Club</a>, <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/103709/a-song-i-knew-by-heart-by-bret-lott/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">A Song I Knew by Heart</a>, and <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/jewel-bret-lott/7c3901f93ccf69ff" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Jewel</a> (an Oprah’s Book Club selection). Formerly editor of <a href="https://www.thesouthernreview.org/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">The Southern Review</a>, Lott was appointed to the National Council on the Arts in 2006. He taught creative writing for nearly forty years at the College of Charleston. He and his wife, Melanie, live in the country outside Charleston, South Carolina.</p><p><a href="https://cypressjournal.substack.com/p/3ea" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer"></a>On Good Writing is produced by Cy.press Studios, a project of the Cypress Writers Workshop. We are a non-profit literary art institute striving to preserve and advance our cultural tradition of writing. We depend on supporters like you to continue in this work. Learn more at <a href="http://cy.press/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">cy.press</a>.</p><p><br></p><p>The music in this episode “A View of His Own Choosing” by Kerry Muzzey / Musicbed.com.</p>
June 13, 2026
Getting Published - Bret Lott
<p>We write to express in words what we feel so deeply and want to share. But are we willing to face what is required to find a home for our work? Are we willing to get rejected? Bret Lott shares a quote from a rejection letter he received, just one of the 629 rejections he has accumulated over a long writing life.</p><p><strong>Bret Lott </strong>is the bestselling author of fifteen books, including the novels <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/103708/ancient-highway-by-bret-lott/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Ancient Highway</a>, <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/103712/the-hunt-club-by-bret-lott/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">The Hunt Club</a>, <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/103709/a-song-i-knew-by-heart-by-bret-lott/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">A Song I Knew by Heart</a>, and <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/jewel-bret-lott/7c3901f93ccf69ff" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Jewel</a> (an Oprah’s Book Club selection). Formerly editor of <a href="https://www.thesouthernreview.org/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">The Southern Review</a>, Lott was appointed to the National Council on the Arts in 2006. He taught creative writing for nearly forty years at the College of Charleston. He and his wife, Melanie, live in the country outside Charleston, South Carolina.</p><p><a href="https://cypressjournal.substack.com/p/3ea" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">On Good Writing</a> is a Cy.press Studios production. Cy.press Studios is a project of the Cypress Writers’ Workshop, a creative writing program supporting writers who seek to master their craft and cultivate the unity between art and reverence. Learn more at <a href="http://cy.press/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">cy.press</a>.</p><p><br></p><p>The music in this episode is " Never Stop" by Tyler Brown Williams / Musicbed.com.</p>
12 total episodes available
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