YouTube’s been my go-to for Saunders’ talks—there’s a 40-minute Lincoln Center interview where he geeks out about Chekhov’s pacing, and it’s pure joy. His Penguin Random House author page often links to events, and sometimes libraries host his virtual talks. I rewatch his 'Elements of Fiction' lecture series whenever I’m stuck on a draft; his analogy about stories being 'kindness machines' completely reshaped how I plot.
George Saunders is one of those authors who makes you feel like writing is both an art and a craft you can actually learn. His lectures are gold! You can find some of his talks on platforms like MasterClass, where he breaks down his process in this warm, conversational way that’s totally different from dry textbook advice. He’s also done interviews for places like The New Yorker’s podcast and YouTube—just search his name and you’ll hit a treasure trove.
If you’re into audiobooks, his 'A Swim in a Pond in the Rain' is basically a masterclass in storytelling, dissecting Russian short stories with his signature humor. For free stuff, check out university lecture archives or his appearances at literary festivals. The way he talks about empathy in writing stuck with me for weeks—it’s like he’s mentoring you personally.
Saunders’ teaching style is so engaging that even his casual Q&As feel revelatory. I stumbled on his 2017 Syracuse University commencement speech online, and it’s this perfect mix of wisdom and practicality—like how to revise without losing your voice. Creative writing programs sometimes share guest lectures, so poking around alumni resources or writing subreddits might uncover gems.
His Substack newsletter, 'Story Club,' has these informal breakdowns of student work that echo his lecture style. And don’t overlook smaller podcasts; he once did a deep dive on characterization with Tim Ferriss that’s weirdly applicable to any creative field. The man could teach a class on grocery lists and I’d listen.
2026-07-13 20:53:10
8
View All Answers
Scan code to download App
Related Books
Bend me over, Professor
Lindsay
0
2.1K
She spent three years faking moans for a boyfriend who never made her come. One night, one stranger in a mask, and she finally learns what it means to be wrecked against a wall.
But when the mask comes off?
He’s her professor.
And he’s not done teaching her.
Sloane Mercer has made it her mission to test every limit Professor Dalton Avery sets. Sharp-tongued, fearless, and irresistibly defiant. She turns his lectures into a battlefield of wit and willpower.
Dalton prides himself on control. Of his classroom, of his reputation, and especially of his desires. But when Sloane pushes one time too many, the tension between them finally ignites.
What begins as a battle for dominance becomes something far more dangerous. An illicit affair burning with passion, power, and the threat of exposure. The closer Dalton gets to losing himself to her, the more he realizes he never had control at all.
He fucked her so deep she forgot everything–her name, her job, the fact that he was her student and the fact that Melvin was somewhere in this city looking for her with seven years of rage in his chest but none of it mattered when Elroy had her like this.
Elroy Vans is twenty three and rich. He does not ask, he takes, bends her over, pulls her hair, fucks her until she is sobbing, cumming, scratching his back bloody and begging for more.
She is his professor who soaks through her panties grading his papers
Now she cannot think straight or sleep or stop crawling back to his bed like she has no sense left in her body.
Melvin is close and angry but she is too busy cumming to care.
How do you choose between the man destroying you and the one who fucks you like he wants to save you even if it's forbidden?
Sarah was excited about going away to college. Her one regret was that she had yet to lose her virginity to Joshua, the only boy she'd ever loved. When Sarah agreed to go away with her boyfriend to his family's lake house, she thought it would a perfect romantic getaway. She did not plan on being stuck with her boyfriend's obnoxious step-brother and his dominating father and super hot uncle.What was supposed to be a weekend of romance and sexual discovery, turned out to be much more than Sarah bargained for.This book is a hot reverse harem that contains cheating and elements of age-play..Is suggested for mature readers only.
"Galen Forsythe believes the traditions and tenets of academia to be an almost sacred trust. So when the outwardly staid professor is hopelessly attracted to a brilliant graduate student, he fights against it for three long years.Though she’s submissive in the bedroom, Lydia is a determined woman, who has been in love with Galen from day one. After her graduation, she convinces him to give their relationship a try. Between handcuffs, silk scarves, and mind-blowing sex, she hopes to convince him to give her his heart.When an ancient demon targets Lydia, Galen is the only one who can save her, and only if he lets go of his doubts and gives himself over to love--mind, body, and soul.Teach Me is created by Cindy Spencer Pape, an EGlobal Creative Publishing signed author."
Lena thought graduate school would be about focus, discipline, and finally proving to herself that she belonged in the world of academics. Books, research, and long nights in the library—that was the plan. Romance had no place in it. Especially not with the one man who should have been completely off-limits.
Professor Jace Carrington is everything Lena was warned about. Brilliant. Confident. Dangerous in his quiet control. His lectures command attention, his presence silences a room, and when his eyes find hers across the crowded lecture hall, she feels both seen and undone. He is a man who draws lines with precision—and a man who knows exactly how to make someone want to cross them.
What begins as a spark of curiosity turns into stolen glances, late-night office hours, and conversations that blur the line between mentorship and something far more intimate. Jace’s rules are simple: no one can know, and she always has a choice. But rules are easy to write and far harder to follow.
The deeper Lena falls, the more she realizes this isn’t just attraction—it’s obsession, it’s surrender, and it’s freedom all at once. Secrets, however, have a way of surfacing, and on a campus where whispers spread like wildfire, forbidden love can burn everything in its path.
Lessons After Dark is a steamy, character-driven romance filled with power, temptation, and the dangerous pull of a secret relationship. For readers who crave tension, intimacy, and the thrill of crossing every line you were told not to, this story will keep you turning pages long after the lights go out.
George Saunders has this uncanny ability to blend absurdity with deep humanity, and that’s what makes his writing so unforgettable. His stories often start in these bizarre, almost surreal settings—think dystopian theme parks or corporate hellscapes—but then he peels back the layers to reveal something tender and achingly real about people. Like in 'Lincoln in the Bardo,' where ghosts grapple with loss in a graveyard, but it’s really about how we all cling to love and memory. His prose is razor-sharp, peppered with dark humor, but never cruel. It’s like he’s laughing with us at the absurdity of life while quietly breaking our hearts.
What really stands out is his ear for voice. Each character sounds distinct, whether it’s the corporate-speak of office drones in 'Pastoralia' or the fragmented, poetic ramblings of the dead in 'Bardo.' He’s a master of showing how language reflects power and vulnerability. And despite the satire, there’s always this undercurrent of compassion—even for the most flawed characters. Reading Saunders feels like someone turned on a blacklight in society’s basement, exposing all the weird stains, but also pointing out the glow-in-the-dark stars we forgot were there.