When I first held the advance copy of Half His Age, I intended to savor it slowly over the winter holidays, perhaps reading a chapter or two each night. Instead, by the second day, I was already deep into the final third of the book, completely captivated by the narrative. Written with a relentless, driving energy, Half His Age (now available) represents a bold new era for Jennette McCurdy.

After shattering records in 2022 with her memoir I’m Glad My Mom Died, which dominated the New York Times bestseller list at No. 1, Jennette is making a powerful pivot into fiction. I joined her to discuss her evolution as a writer, the mechanics of her craft, and the process of bringing her first novel to life.

Note: This interview is spoiler-free and has been edited for clarity and flow.

Victoria Stevens / Via Jill Fritzo PR

Question: Half His Age is your first foray into fiction, following the massive success of your 2022 memoir, I’m Glad My Mom Died. What was your initial reaction to the global impact of your life story?

Jennette McCurdy: I truly never anticipated the level of success I’ve experienced, and I feel incredibly lucky. Having such a dedicated readership is a gift that exceeded even my biggest dreams.

When I walked away from acting at 24, I dove straight into writing. I spent five solid years honing my craft before any of my work was ever seen by the public. I was writing everything—plays, scripts, short stories—because I knew this was my path. I remember nights spent in tears, praying for just one paycheck that proved I could actually make it as a professional writer.

It was a terrifying period of uncertainty. I didn’t know if I could support myself or where I’d end up, but my gut told me I had to give it everything I had.

Question: How long did the journey from the initial concept to the final version of Half His Age take?

Jennette McCurdy: The seed of the idea—the character Waldo and her complex relationship with her writing instructor, Mr. Korgy—actually came to me when I was 24 during a solo trip to Japan. I was riding a bullet train when the concept hit, but then it sat dormant for years. Once I actually committed to it, the process took about two years and roughly 20 drafts to perfect.

Every writer has a different rhythm. My friend Beth Raymer, who just released the amazing book Fireworks Every Night, works in a single, meticulous draft where she perfects every sentence as she goes. We spend a similar amount of time on the work, just at different stages.

My method requires constant revisiting. During the early stages, I silence my inner critic entirely; otherwise, I’d never finish a page. I call them “vomit drafts” where I just get the raw story out. Afterward, I look at it, realize how much work is left, and refine it over and over until the “holy shit” feeling goes away. That’s when I know it’s ready for the world.

Ballantine Books / Via Jill Fritzo PR Half His Age is available now.

Question: One of the most striking elements of the book is the protagonist’s name, Waldo. It’s so distinctive—how did you land on that for your lead character?

Jennette McCurdy: I wish there was a complex origin story, but she was simply always Waldo to me. She arrived with that identity. I briefly questioned if I should change it to something more traditional, but I realized she couldn’t be anyone else. The same went for Korgy. Other names changed—like Frannie, who started as Christina—but the core duo stayed the same from day one.

Question: In the novel, Mr. Korgy notes that Waldo possesses a very specific “voice” in her prose. What was the process like for you to develop your own signature writing style?

Jennette McCurdy: I spent my 20s writing dozens of projects that will never be published, and honestly, that’s for the best! Those “hidden” years were essential for experimentation. Writing things that were never intended for an audience allowed me the freedom to find out who I was as a writer without any outside pressure.

Question: Which authors have had the biggest influence on your work?

Jennette McCurdy: When I first met with my publishers, they asked this exact question. Tom Perrotta, the author of The Leftovers, was my immediate answer. Having him provide a blurb for Half His Age was a massive full-circle moment that I’m still processing.

Jennette McCurdy / Via amazon.com

Ottessa Moshfegh is another huge inspiration for me. I’d put those two at the top of my list. I also really admire the bluntness and structural simplicity of Charles Bukowski’s writing. There’s something powerful about that straightforward phrasing.

Question: What did your daily routine look like while you were deep in the writing process?

Jennette McCurdy: For the first year, I dedicated myself exclusively to Half His Age. My routine was disciplined: wake up, coffee, basic self-care, and then immediate immersion in the story. A non-negotiable rule for me was staying off my phone until the writing was done. I actually changed my phone number several times during this project to ensure I stayed focused.

I eventually moved away from strict word counts. I realized that writing 1,500 words isn’t as valuable as writing 500 good words. The quality became the priority. I just showed up every single day and gave whatever I had.

By the second year, I was balancing two projects, and the days became much longer. Throughout 2025, I was often writing until two in the morning. I’d start my day with Waldo’s world in Half His Age before switching gears to my other work later on.

Question: As the drafts evolved, did Waldo’s narrative arc take any turns that surprised you?

Jennette McCurdy: I used to find it a bit cliché when authors said their characters “took over,” but it really happened. I’d have a plan for a decision Waldo should make, but once I reached that point in the draft, it was clear she wanted to go in a different direction.

Whenever I tried to force her into a choice I had planned, it felt emotionally dishonest on the page. The middle of the book underwent the most transformation, and the opening 50 pages were a complex puzzle to solve, with a lot of chapter shuffling. However, I always knew exactly where she would end up. Having that destination in mind was my North Star.

Victoria Stevens / Via Jill Fritzo PR

Question: What are the primary themes you were determined to explore in this fiction debut?

Jennette McCurdy: Female rage was the core of it. I had a lot of my own unprocessed anger that I wanted to examine through a fictional lens. Beyond that, I wanted to tackle power dynamics, desire, and the way consumerism breeds a sense of inadequacy that dictates our lives.

The central conversation, though, is about the value of female rage. Waldo spends much of the novel suppressing her anger rather than confronting it. I think there is a vital discussion to be had there.

Most of my readers are likely older than Waldo, but we’ve all been that 17-year-old girl who felt she had to hide her true feelings. Hopefully, as adults, we can look back and confront those emotions more openly. I really want this book to be a catalyst for those conversations.

Question: How does it feel to finally share your debut novel with the public? What is the main takeaway you hope for?

Jennette McCurdy: I’m beyond excited. My biggest hope is that readers can look back at their younger selves with more grace and compassion. There is so much wisdom to be gained from our past, and being in the present allows us to process experiences in a way we simply weren’t equipped for at the time.

Thank you, Jennette; it was a joy to talk shop about the writing life with you!

Be sure to grab Jennette McCurdy’s debut novel, Half His Age, in stores now. You can follow her journey on Instagram at @jennettemccurdy.