Episode 4
Booksmith — San Francisco — Robin Sloan
Craig Mod in conversation with Robin Sloan at Booksmith in San Francisco, chatting for sixty-eight minutes on May 10, 2025
Robin Sloan — bestselling author of 'Mr. Penumbra's 24 Hour Bookstore' and Fat Gold olive oil micro magnate — and Craig discuss his evolution as a writer, photographer, designer, and 'athlete,' diving deep into his creative processes, the significance of his walks, and his membership program. He recounts the impact of being rejected by the publishing industry and how that propelled him to find alternative ways to share his work, leading to the success of his membership program and his latest book, 'Things Become Other Things.' Mod also opens up about his adoption story and recent meeting with his birth mother, shedding light on how these personal experiences have influenced his work. The discussion is rich with insights on the value of craftsmanship, the importance of quiet and rest, and the dynamics of balancing solo and collaborative efforts in creative projects.
Guest Links
Chapters
- 00:00 — Welcome and Introduction
- 00:12 — Establishing Credibility
- 01:15 — Craig Mod's Multifaceted Career
- 01:26 — Adoption and Personal Stories
- 02:11 — The Membership Program and Book
- 02:49 — Facing Rejection and Finding Direction
- 05:31 — The Power of Permission
- 10:44 — The Solitude of Walking
- 11:56 — Creating 'Boring Spaces' for Creativity
- 15:38 — The Athleticism of Walking
- 26:23 — Living a Full Day
- 27:14 — The Importance of Books
- 31:42 — Embracing Imposter Syndrome
- 32:05 — Protecting Myself and My Work
- 32:41 — The Value of Board Meetings
- 34:14 — Building Systems and Membership Programs
- 35:11 — Negotiating with Random House
- 36:00 — The Importance of Independence
- 37:06 — Creative Experiments and Popups
- 38:35 — The Lightning Round: Who would Craig Walk with?!
- 46:20 — Reflections on Rest and Quiet
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Craig Mod is a writer and photographer based in Japan. He's the author of the books Things Become Other Things and Kissa by Kissa and is a MacDowell, Ragdale, and VCCA writing fellow. His essays and articles have appeared in The New York Times, Eater, The Atlantic, California Sunday Magazine, Wired, Aeon, New Scientist, Virginia Quarterly Review, The New Yorker, The Morning News, Codex: Journal of Typography, and elsewhere.
He writes newsletters, oh yes, newsletters: Roden & Ridgeline.
The work on this site is supported 100% by paid memberships and book & print sales.
Whatever you do, don't follow @craigmod on Bluesky or Instagram.