Cassandra Neyenesch

Cassandra Neyenesch on Writing, Publishing & A Little Bit Bad What does it take to write—and finally let go of—a novel that took ten years to complete? On this episode of The Premise, Jeniffer and Chad Thompson talk with Brooklyn-based writer, activist, and curator Cassandra Neyenesch, author of A Little Bit Bad, a darkly funny novel about desire, marriage, motherhood, obsession, and murder. Cassandra shares the story behind her debut novel, including why she spent a decade writing and rewriting it, how she learned to start over, and what finally helped her overcome her fear of publishing. The conversation also explores creative blocks, writing from real life, grief, family, emotional labor, relationships, and the vulnerability of putting your work into the world. Cassandra discusses how her real-life brother inspired the character Spencer and how writing became a way to process grief and better understand addiction. She also talks about psychedelic therapy, creativity, and the personal breakthroughs that helped her finally finish the book. For writers and aspiring authors, this episode offers an honest look at the messy, emotional reality behind creating and publishing a novel. In This Episode The ten-year journey behind A Little Bit Bad Why Cassandra repeatedly started the novel from scratch Learning how to rewrite Why she chose San Diego as the setting The relationship between Perdita and Nando Writing about women, desire, motherhood, and emotional labor Turning real-life experiences into fiction How Cassandra's brother inspired Spencer Writing as a way to process grief Creative blocks and the fear of publishing Psychedelic therapy and overcoming creative barriers The importance of learning to let go of a book Cassandra's upcoming contemporary Pride and Prejudice adaptation