Brendan O'Meara
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brendanomeara.bsky.social
Brendan O'Meara
@brendanomeara.bsky.social
Host of The Creative Nonfiction Podcast ... The voice of a generation, haha ... Author of The Front Runner: The Life of Steve Prefontaine (2025) ... Order: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-front-runner-brendan-omeara?variant=43044900962338
Pinned
2025 saw the birth of Pitch Club, a pretty rad Substack where I invite people to share pitches that either landed them a story, an agent, or a podcast series.

They shared their thinking behind the pitches.

You read a little. You listen a little. And learn a lot.

7 issues in 2025.

Here they are:
Issue 9 of Pitch Club is live, this with Erika Hyasaki and her New York Times pitch for a story about the Maui wildfires.
Erika Hyasaki and the Subtle Art of "Tuning Up" a Pitch
Pitch: 1,021 words; story paid $1 per word
welcometopitchclub.substack.com
February 1, 2026 at 4:58 PM
This was pretty rad to be featured. @niemanstoryboard.org doesn't make a habit of featuring jabronis. Much thanks!
January 29, 2026 at 9:54 PM
Wanna win @howardbryantbooks.bsky.social new book? It's as easy as subscribing to Pitch Club on Substack.
Wanna Win "Kings and Pawns"?
YouTube video by The Creative Nonfiction Podcast
youtu.be
January 27, 2026 at 9:32 PM
Reposted by Brendan O'Meara
i think this MLK day the thing to focus on is the strategic focus and tactical brilliance of the civil rights movement and the way it was laser focused on a set of achievable goals
January 19, 2026 at 3:05 PM
Reposted by Brendan O'Meara
Membership has its privileges. Just found out I won @brendanomeara.bsky.social’s Creative Nonfiction Podcast subscriber book giveaway. Thanks Brendan!
January 18, 2026 at 6:45 PM
And by "ripping off," I mean "letting it rip." Not, you know, plagiarizing.
Sometimes, ripping off a pitch does the trick.

I hope you'll join the club.

Forever free.

Read a little. Listen a little. Learn a lot.
Pitchin' from the Hip
B.O.'s 476 word-pitch for Geezer Magazine ; pay $300
open.substack.com
January 16, 2026 at 9:21 PM
Sometimes, ripping off a pitch does the trick.

I hope you'll join the club.

Forever free.

Read a little. Listen a little. Learn a lot.
Pitchin' from the Hip
B.O.'s 476 word-pitch for Geezer Magazine ; pay $300
open.substack.com
January 16, 2026 at 8:01 PM
Not sure who will actually see this, but the first live podcast of 2026 at Gratitude Brewing here in Eugene will be Jan. 25 at 1 p.m. with Daniel Pollack-Pelzner, author of Lin-Manuel Miranda: The Education of an Artist.
January 12, 2026 at 6:01 PM
Check out what @glennstout.bsky.social is cooking up for 2026 down in Archer City. Get a wiggle on, friend.

www.lmcmurtrylitcenter.org/workshops
Writing Workshops — Larry McMurtry Literary Center
www.lmcmurtrylitcenter.org
January 11, 2026 at 5:20 PM
Reposted by Brendan O'Meara
Highly recommend @brendanomeara.bsky.social’s biography about legendary distance runner Steve Prefontaine. A fitting tribute to one of this country’s gritty originals. Enjoyed the appearances of such runners from my youth as Frank Shorter, Dave Worley, and Kenny Moore.
January 10, 2026 at 3:50 PM
So glad you got to hang out with some of these pioneering distance runners! Thanks so much, Ray! [rate and review on amazon/goodreads :) They all help so much, and help me secure the next one.]
Highly recommend @brendanomeara.bsky.social’s biography about legendary distance runner Steve Prefontaine. A fitting tribute to one of this country’s gritty originals. Enjoyed the appearances of such runners from my youth as Frank Shorter, Dave Worley, and Kenny Moore.
January 11, 2026 at 5:01 PM
This essay I pitched has been accepted, but it hasn’t run yet. It’s for Geezer Magazine, a very Gen-X, print-only (yes!) magazine. And the essay should appear in Issue 2 (title TBD), that is, of course, if it doesn’t get killed.

welcometopitchclub.substack.com/p/pitchin-fr...
Pitchin' from the Hip
B.O.'s 476 word-pitch for Geezer Magazine ; pay $300
welcometopitchclub.substack.com
January 8, 2026 at 8:59 PM
Every time you read "sandy blonde hair," drink.
January 7, 2026 at 11:02 PM
Got my work cut out.
The Nonfiction Everyone Will Be Talking About in 2026
www.nytimes.com
January 7, 2026 at 3:44 PM
When I was in Ketchum, ID for a few book events, I went to the Hemingway Memorial and shot a little video of the creek below the statue. It's peaceful. It's awfully nice. I put it on a loop for 10 minutes. Use it for ambient sounds. Or just to relax.

youtu.be/xSItaBbcWls
"Hemingway River"
YouTube video by The Creative Nonfiction Podcast
youtu.be
January 5, 2026 at 7:01 PM
Over with the Patreon Gang, we just started the Flash52 Sessions: 52 weeks of writing flash together, so Metallica's "Black Album" is basically flash metal, especially compared to their earlier catalog.
January 5, 2026 at 5:49 PM
Did the demogorgons unionize and go on strike for the #strangerthings finale?
January 1, 2026 at 5:26 PM
Pitch Club is offering a 100% discount forever. You can buy a lot with $0 at Pitch Club!

welcometopitchclub.substack.com
Pitch Club | Brendan O'Meara | Substack
Brendan O'Meara is a journalist, author, and host of The Creative Nonfiction Podcast. Pitch Club — combining text and audio — dissects pitches from the best longform journalists, how they framed their...
welcometopitchclub.substack.com
December 31, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Hey, look at that! Hope you dig the book, Ray!
Received a great Christmas gift from my wife. Really enjoy @brendanomeara.bsky.social’s podcast and am looking forward to diving into his writing. Go Pre!
December 27, 2025 at 2:34 AM
2025 saw the birth of Pitch Club, a pretty rad Substack where I invite people to share pitches that either landed them a story, an agent, or a podcast series.

They shared their thinking behind the pitches.

You read a little. You listen a little. And learn a lot.

7 issues in 2025.

Here they are:
December 12, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Reposted by Brendan O'Meara
Part One of @niemanstoryboard.org's Best of 2025. Thanks for being a part of it, Brendan!

#booksky #podcasts #longreads
December 12, 2025 at 1:27 AM
Some great picks here (and one pick by the founder of The Creative Nonfiction Podcast) from @niemanstoryboard.org.

niemanstoryboard.org/2025/12/11/n...
Nieman Storyboard Best of 2025: Your favorite stories of the year (Part 1) - Nieman Storyboard
We asked, you answered — here are some of your favorite stories, books, and podcasts
niemanstoryboard.org
December 11, 2025 at 11:36 PM
Book publicists going HARD at the end of the year.
December 11, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Writing a "Spotify Wrapped" essay for my book tour. It's epic. If McSweeney's Internet Tendency rejects this one ... well, it'll be a fitting end to wrapped.
December 9, 2025 at 4:23 PM