Podd: The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience

How to Finish the First Draft of Anything with Jeff Goins: Redux

20 december 2024 | 44 min

How NY Times Bestselling Author Penn Cole Writes

13 december 2024 | 43 min

How PEN/Bellwether Award-Winner Fabienne Josaphat Writes

6 december 2024 | 35 min

PEN/Bellwether winner Fabienne Josaphat spoke with me about being born into storytelling, writing socially engaged fiction, and the revolution and injustice at the center of her new novel KINGDOM OF NO TOMORROW.

Fabienne Josaphat was born and raised in Haiti, and graduated with an MFA in Creative Writing from Florida International University.

Her sophomore novel KINGDOM OF NO TOMORROW was the 2023 winner of the PEN / Bellwether Prize for Socially Engaged Fiction. Barbara Kingsolver established the biennial prize in 2000 to highlight previously unpublished works of fiction that addressed issues of social justice.

Barbara Kingsolver, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Demon Copperhead, said of the book, "This beautifully convincing slice of history is powered not just by good research, but by lots of suspense, compelling characters, and understated political themes that …. bring the fierce vision of the Black Panthers to new generations of readers, adding some stunning context to the modern Black Lives Matter movement."

In addition to fiction, Josaphat writes non-fiction, screenplays, and is an anthologized poet. Her work has been featured in The African American Review, The Washington Post, Teen Vogue, The Master’s Review, Grist Journal, and many others.

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In this file Fabienne Josaphat and I discussed:

Why her grandfather’s stories helped shape her into a writer

The surreal journey from award-winner to publication of her second novel

How the Black Panthers were maligned by mainstream media

The importance of preserving the oral storytelling tradition of her culture

What writers can do to tame distraction

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

PEN/Bellwether Prize for Socially Engaged Fiction - PEN America

Kingdom of No Tomorrow by Fabienne Josaphat (Amazon)

Fabienne Josaphat on Instagram

Fabienne Josaphat on Twitter

Kelton Reid on Twitter

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14 Timeless Storytelling Principles with Author Douglas Vigliotti: Part One

29 november 2024 | 54 min

How NY Times Bestselling Author Christina Lynch Writes

22 november 2024 | 39 min

How Award-Winning & Bestselling Author A.M. Homes Writes: Redux

15 november 2024 | 35 min

Note: I revisited a chat with the soothsayer A.M. Homes from 2022.

Bestselling, award-winning author A.M. Homes, spoke to me about getting sued by J.D. Salinger, the irony of winning the Women's Prize for Fiction, and her latest "The Unfolding."

A.M. Homes is a TV producer, art critic, and the author of 13 books, including the bestselling memoir The Mistress’s Daughter. Her last novel, May We Be Forgiven, was the winner of the 2013 Women’s Prize for Fiction.

Her latest novel is The Unfolding, described as a "... darkly comedic alternative history that takes us into the heart of a fractured family living in a divided country."

New York Times bestselling author Salman Rushdie called the book, “A terrific black comedy, written almost entirely in pitch-perfect dialogue, that feels terrifyingly close to the unfunny truth.”

A.M. Homes was a Co-Executive Producer and Writer on David E. Kelly and Stephen King’s, Mr. Mercedes, and a writer/producer of the Showtime series The L Word.

Her work has been translated into 22 languages and appears frequently in Art Forum, Harpers, Granta, McSweeney's, The New Yorker, The New York Times, and Zoetrope. She is a Contributing Editor to Vanity Fair, Bomb and Blind Spot, and she has taught in the Creative Writing Program at Princeton.

Stay calm and write on ...

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In this file A.M. Homes and I discussed:

Her early struggles with dyslexia
Why awards and votes of confidence are so important for writers
How she helped hire Dennis Lehane to write for Mr. Mercedes
Her strange obsession with George Washington and her claim to Capitol Hill
How to write your way out of a jam
And a lot more!

Show Notes:

amhomesbooks.com
The Unfolding: A Novel by A.M. Homes (Amazon)
A.M. Homes on Facebook
A.M. Homes on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How 'It's Always Sunny' Creator and Star Rob McElhenney Writes: Redux

8 november 2024 | 39 min

Note: I revisited a chat with multi-hyphenate Rob McElhenney from 2020.

The writer, producer, and actor best known for It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Rob McElhenney, took a timeout during the apocalypse to rap with me about how he runs his writer's room, his humble beginnings and admiration for the great TV comedies, and his advice for aspiring TV producers.

"Everyone is going through the same things. At least, people who respect science are. That sense of loneliness and despair ... needs to be addressed in some way, but ultimately we want to leave people with a sense of optimism." – Rob McElhenney

FX recently renewed his irreverent "It’s Always Sunny..." for a 15th season, making it officially the longest-running live-action sitcom in US history.

The multihyphenate's latest, Mythic Quest: Raven’s Banquet, is a comedy series "...that follows a team of video game developers as they navigate the challenges of running a popular video game,"

The Apple TV+ show was co-created with "Sunny" alums Charlie Day and Megan Ganz (executive produced by McElhenney and Day), and has been described as "... the travails of a boisterous video game studio – think Silicon Valley meets Veep."

*Note: Though I was lucky enough to catch Rob in his natural LA habitat, sadly the interview was cut short due to technical difficulties, our apologies for the abrupt ending.

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In this file Rob McElhenney and I discussed:

How It's Alway Sunny in Philadelphia almost didn't make it to the fourth season

The inner-workings of a perpetual creativity engine

How little episodic and streaming models of TV differ from a sitcom producer's perspective

His relationships with Danny DeVito and F. Murray Abraham

The evolution of "It's Always Sunny..." and why it stays culturally relevant

And how the greatest indie production tool you own is in your pocket

Show Notes:

Rob McElhenney on IMDb

Mythic Quest: Raven’s Banquet – Apple TV+

It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia now longest-running live-action comedy series ever after season 15 renewal

Rob McElhenney on Twitter

Kelton Reid on Twitter

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It’s a Matter of Taste: Part Two with Jeff Goins

1 november 2024 | 60 min

It’s a Matter of Taste: Part One with Jeff Goins

25 oktober 2024 | 61 min

How Bestselling Crime Novelist Walter Mosley Writes: Redux

18 oktober 2024 | 33 min

Note: I revisited a chat with the amazing Walter Mosley from 2021.

Celebrated author, Walter Mosley, took a timeout to chat with me about how he didn't write a sentence he liked until age 35, the sprawling muse of Los Angeles, and his conflicted feelings after winning a big National Book Award.

“Write your truth, and believe in it. And if your mother doesn’t like it ... too bad.” – Walter Mosley

Walter is the first Black man to receive the National Book Foundation’s Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters for lifetime achievement in writing.

The critically acclaimed author, playwright, screenwriter, and producer has written over 60 books including fiction (literary, mystery, and science fiction), writing guides, memoir, a YA novel, has won dozens of prestigious awards (including an Emmy), and been translated into 25 languages.

His bestselling historical mysteries feature infamous, hard-boiled detective "Easy" Rawlins, a black PI living in the Watts neighborhood of LA.

Blood Grove (Easy Rawlins Book 15) is the latest in that series and described as "... a novel of vast scope and intimate insight, and a soulful call for justice by any means necessary."

Walter's work has also been adapted for film and TV including Devil in a Blue Dress (starring Denzel Washington, Don Cheadle and Jennifer Beals) and the HBO production of Always Outnumbered (starring Laurence Fishburne and Natalie Cole).

Preview a sample of a podcast at the break from this week's sponsor Look Closer: The Found Fiction Podcast, more at foundfiction.org.

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In this file Walter Mosley and I discussed:

His winding career path

How the apex of post-hippie Los Angeles, California affected his writing

What it was like to work with the late, Oscar-nominated filmmaker John Singleton (Boyz N the Hood)

Why you need to read your drafts out loud

And more!

Show Notes:

WalterMosley.com

Walter Mosley Amazon author page

Writing Los Angeles: A Literary Anthology: A Library of America Special Publication (Amazon)

Roger Zelazny Amazon author page

Walter Mosley on Facebook

Kelton Reid on Twitter

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Creative Idiots with Jeff Goins

11 oktober 2024 | 62 min

How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Anne Lamott Writes

4 oktober 2024 | 37 min

*We’re excited to be partnering with Writers Rising as one of this year’s sponsors, and as a special gift to our listeners, we were able to get you a 10% discount on your in-person or virtual retreat ticket.

Visit WritersRising.com today and enter code writerfiles10 to get that discount. Buy your ticket now before they sell out! We’ll see you there.*

#1 New York Times bestselling author, Anne Lamott, spoke with me about 40 years of teaching writing, how to write more bravely, on sh*tty first drafts, and sharing hacks she’s learned over her career at the Writers Rising 2024 retreat.

Anne Lamott is the author of 20 books, including New York Times bestsellers Help, Thanks, Wow; Dusk, Night, Dawn; Traveling Mercies; and Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life, as well as seven novels.

Her latest book, Somehow: Thoughts on Love was a #1 New York Times bestseller. Publishers Weekly praised “…her ability to distill complex truths with a deceptive lightness” in their starred review.

Anne is a recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship, an inductee to the California Hall of Fame, and was recently a columnist for The Washington Post. She has taught at UC Davis, writing conferences across the country, and is currently an artist in residence at A Writing Room Collective.

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In this file Anne Lamott and I discussed:

The debt of honor that is the writing life

Why you don’t have to know everything to finish your book

What it was like getting inducted into the California Hall of Fame next to Mark Zuckerberg and Serena Williams

The importance of accountability for staying on track

Why you need to stop not writing and get your butt in the chair

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

Writers Rising 2024

awritingroom.com

Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott (Amazon)

Somehow: Thoughts on Love By Anne Lamott (Amazon)

Anne Lamott Amazon Author Page

Anne Lamott on Twitter

Anne Lamott on Facebook

Anne Lamott on Instagram

Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How NY Times Bestselling Author Ashley Audrain Writes: Redux

27 september 2024 | 31 min

Note: A revisiting of an amazing chat I had with Ashley Audrain. Also ...

We’re excited to be partnering with Writers Rising as one of this year’s sponsors, and as a special gift to our listeners, we were able to get you a 10% discount on your in-person or virtual retreat ticket.

Visit WritersRising.com today and enter code writerfiles10 to get that discount. Buy your ticket now before they sell out! We’ll see you there.

New York Times bestselling author, Ashley Audrain, spoke to me about giving herself permission to write sh*tty first drafts, writing in public, and her second novel THE WHISPERS.

Ashley Audrain’s debut novel, The Push, was a New York Times, Sunday Times (London), #1 international bestseller, and a Good Morning America Book Club pick. It has sold in more than 40 territories, and a limited TV series is currently in development.

Her latest, The Whispers, is described as “ … a propulsive page-turner about four families whose lives are changed when the unthinkable happens – and what is lost when we give in to our own worst impulses.”

The New York Times Book Review wrote, "Expertly, subtly and powerfully rendered …. [The Whispers] delivers a sucker-punch ending you’ll have to read twice to believe.” And #1 New York Times bestselling author Carley Fortune called it, “[An] electrifying … razor-sharp page-turner.”

Ashley Audrain previously worked as the publicity director of Penguin Books Canada, and prior to that, worked in public relations.

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In this file, Ashley Audrain and I discussed:

Why she felt intimidated by writers while working in PR
How to write claustrophobic, voyeuristic fiction
Why she is drawn to the darker side of literature
Tapping into the messiness of midlife ennui
How to escape your kids
And a lot more!

Show Notes:

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How Critically Acclaimed Debut Author Bryan VanDyke Writes

20 september 2024 | 41 min

How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Mark Oshiro Writes

13 september 2024 | 43 min

How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Emily Henry Writes: Part Two - Redux

6 september 2024 | 36 min

Note: A revisiting of an amazing chat I had with the humble Emily Henry.

#1 New York Times bestselling author, Emily Henry, returns to chat with me about depressing first drafts, what it's like to be a genre-bending, commercial fiction superstar, and her “glittering” new novel HAPPY PLACE.

Emily Henry is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Book Lovers, People We Meet on Vacation, and Beach Read, and has sold over three million copies of her novels.

Her latest is Happy Place, an instant #1 New York Times bestseller and her first hardcover novel, described as a book “...about reluctant exes who make a pact to pretend to date during an annual friends’ trip...”

Author Taylor Jenkins-Reid called it "Another knock-out from the champ.” The Washington Post wrote that the book, “Blur[s] the lines between women’s and literary-leaning commercial fiction, departing from the fantasy spaces of bodice rippers and misty moors to depict a world that looks a lot more like, well, our own…”

Emily's books have been featured in Buzzfeed, Oprah Magazine, Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, and many more.

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In this file, Emily Henry and I discussed:

What it feels like to (still) be living inside a lightning strike
Why it’s easy for her to stay humble as a writer
How to write rom-com at the top of readers’ intelligence
Her take on superhero movie tropes
Why making a reader laugh is so much harder than making them cry
And a lot more!

Show Notes:

How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Emily Henry Writes: Part One
emilyhenrybooks.com
Happy Place By Emily Henry (Amazon)
Emily Henry Amazon Author Page
Emily Henry on Instagram
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Dennis Lehane Writes: Redux

30 augusti 2024 | 36 min

NOTE: This is an updated replay of my amazing chat with #1 New York Times bestselling author and screenwriter-producer Dennis Lehane. His latest novel, Small Mercies, was an instant NY Times Bestseller named an Amazon Editors' pick for Best Books 2023. Stephen King said of the book “Small Mercies is thought-provoking, engaging, enraging, and can’t-put-it-down entertainment.” Enjoy!

New York Times bestselling author and screenwriter-producer, Dennis Lehane, spoke to me about what he learned from Clint Eastwood, working on "Mr. Mercedes" with David E. Kelley, and his new Apple TV+ show "Black Bird."

Dennis Lehane is the bestselling author of 13 novels including four adapted into films of the same name: 2003's Academy Award-winning film Mystic River, directed by Clint Eastwood; 2007's Gone Baby Gone; 2010's Shutter Island directed by Martin Scorsese, and 2016’s Live by Night directed by Ben Affleck.

His latest is the limited Apple TV+ series, Black Bird, described as a "...fascinating, ripped-from-the headlines story [and] true-crime drama..." based on the 2010 memoir by James Keene and Hillel Levin, “In With The Devil: A Fallen Hero, A Serial Killer, and A Dangerous Bargain for Redemption."

"Jimmy Keene (Taron Egerton), cuts a deal with the FBI to enter maximum-security prison for the criminally insane and befriend a suspected serial killer, Larry Hall (Paul Walter Hauser)."

Black Bird premieres globally with the first two episodes on Friday, July 8, followed by one new episode weekly every Friday.

Lehane was a staff writer on the acclaimed HBO series "The Wire" and also worked as a writer-producer on HBO’s "Boardwalk Empire" the Netflix series, "Bloodline," and a writer and producer on the television adaptation of Stephen King’s "Mr. Mercedes."

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In this file Dennis Lehane and I discussed:

Why he sucked at everything except writing and playing pool

How he landed a literary agent while parking cars

Dealing with impostor syndrome early on

Why he prefers screenwriting to novel writing today

Why narcissists have no place on a TV set

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

Small Mercies by Dennis Lehane (Amazon)

Dennis Lehane Amazon Author Page

Black Bird | Apple TV+

Dennis Lehane on IMDb

In With The Devil: A Fallen Hero, A Serial Killer, and A Dangerous Bargain for Redemption by James Keene and Hillel Levin (Amazon)

Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Jennifer Lynn Barnes Writes: Part Two

23 augusti 2024 | 42 min

#1 New York Times bestselling author, Jennifer Lynn Barnes, returned to chat about why bestsellers stick around for years, why fiction is perfectly geared for the human mind, and her latest YA thriller, THE GRANDEST GAME.

Jennifer Lynn Barnes is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 25 acclaimed young adult novels, including The Inheritance Games series (over 3 million copies sold), Little White Lies, Deadly Little Scandals, The Lovely and the Lost, and The Naturals series.

Her latest is another #1 New York Times bestseller, The Grandest Game (Volume 1) “... a new series that brings readers deeper into the lush, romantic, and puzzle-filled world of the #1 bestselling Inheritance Games series, set a year after we last saw Avery and the Hawthornes.”

Jen is a Fulbright Scholar with advanced degrees in psychology, psychiatry, and cognitive science including a Ph.D. from Yale University, and “...is one of the world's leading experts on the psychology of fandom and the cognitive science of fiction and the imagination.”

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In this file Jennifer Lynn Barnes and I discussed:

Juggling a book launch, edits, and revisions for three new books
How to reboot a hit series to capture the same energy as the original
Why she approaches writing as both a scientist and an author
How she uses lists of her favorite tropes to unlock her scenes
More theories on why readers love fiction
And a lot more!

Show Notes:

How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Jennifer Lynn Barnes Writes: Part One
Jenniferlynnbarnes.com
The psychology of fiction with Jennifer Lynn Barnes | Re:Thinking with Adam Grant - TED Audio Collective
The Grandest Game (Volume 1) (The Grandest Game, 1) By Jennifer Lynn Barnes (Amazon)
Jennifer Lynn Barnes Amazon Author Page
Jennifer Lynn Barnes on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How Award-Winning Author Alex Temblador Writes

16 augusti 2024 | 38 min

Award-winning author and journalist, Alex Temblador, spoke with me about seeing publishing through rose-colored glasses, teaching writers to create inclusive narratives, and her essential guide WRITING AN IDENTITY NOT YOUR OWN.

Alex Temblador is an award-winning travel, arts, and culture journalist, award-winning author of novels Half Outlaw, and Secrets of the Casa Rosada, as well as the Executive Director of Write Here DFW and the founder and moderator of LitTalk at Whose Books, a panel series for Dallas-Forth Worth authors.

Her recently published resource, WRITING AN IDENTITY NOT YOUR OWN: A Guide for Creative Writers (8/13/24 from St. Martin’s Essentials), is described as a “...practical guide [that] delves into one of the most contentious topics in creative writing: creating characters with historically marginalized identities.”

David Mura, author of A Stranger's Journey: Race, Identity & Narrative Craft in Writing said of the author, "Alex Temblador provides a concrete and detailed guide to the issues of misrepresentation, appropriation and stereotypes in creative writing….and interrogates not just issues of craft but the biases we all carry that we may be unaware of. An essential text."

Alex has an MFA in Creative Writing and her journalism has been published in Conde Nast Traveler, Outside, Travel + Leisure, among others.

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In this file Alex Temblador and I discussed:

Writing subtitles for films

Her love of magical realism

How she became a freelance journalist focusing on DEI

Why she decided to undertake an ambitious creative writing guide

What authors can do for their mental health

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

www.alextemblador.com

Writing an Identity Not Your Own: A Guide for Creative Writers by Alex Temblador (Amazon)

writinganidentitynotyourown.com

Alex Temblador on Instagram

Alex Temblador on Twitter

Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How to Plan, Write & Publish Nonfiction with Hungry Authors Hosts Ariel Curry & Liz Morrow: Part Two

9 augusti 2024 | 33 min

How Bestselling Author Natalie Goldberg Writes

2 augusti 2024 | 35 min

How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Lev Grossman Writes

19 juli 2024 | 35 min

#1 New York Times bestselling author, Lev Grossman, spoke to me about his tenure at Time magazine, how The Magicians poked holes in Narnia and Potter, and reimagining a legend with THE BRIGHT SWORD: A Novel of King Arthur.

Lev Grossman is the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling Magicians trilogy—The Magicians, The Magician King, and The Magician’s Land—which has been published in 30 countries and adapted as a TV show that ran for five seasons on SYFY.

His latest novel is THE BRIGHT SWORD: A Novel of King Arthur, named a Best Summer Read by The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Time, Vulture, Esquire, Boston Globe, Elle, Town & Country, Seattle Times, New York Post, Lit Hub, and many others.

George R. R. Martin, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Game of Thrones said of the book, “If you love King Arthur as much as I do, you’ll love Lev Grossman’s The Bright Sword, a fresh and engrossing take on the Matter of Britain featuring a colorful cast of Round Table knights who don’t often get as much story time as they deserve. The creator of The Magicians has woven another spell.”

Lev has written two critically acclaimed novels for children, and the screenplay for the movie The Map of Tiny Perfect Things, a finalist for the Critic’s Choice awards (based on his short story).

He also worked as a staff writer at Time magazine, and has written essays and articles for Vanity Fair, the Believer, the Village Voice, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, Salon, Slate, Wired, Entertainment Weekly, Buzzfeed, NPR, and many others.

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In this file Lev Grossman and I discussed:

How he talked his way into writing for Time magazine

The evolution of his career from journalist to novelist

Breaking through with middle-grade fantasy and The Magicians

How he “got into the weeds” with his latest Arthurian tome

World-building for streaming vs. collaborating on the graphic novel

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

levgrossman.com

The Bright Sword: A Novel of King Arthur by Lev Grossman (Amazon)

Lev Grossman Amazon Author Page

Lev Grossman on Facebook

Lev Grossman on Instagram

Lev Grossman on Twitter

Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How Lauded Debut Author Isabel Banta Writes

12 juli 2024 | 39 min

How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Jodi Picoult Writes

5 juli 2024 | 37 min

#1 New York Times bestselling author, Jodi Picoult, spoke with me about writing for Wonder Woman, adapting books for musical theater, and the question of Shakespeare's true authorship in her upcoming novel BY ANY OTHER NAME.

Jodi Picoult is the bestselling author of 30 novels, including landmark titles such as Mad Honey – her most recent 1 million-copy bestseller – Wish You Were Here, A Spark of Light, and Small Great Things. 40 million copies of her books are in print worldwide and have been translated into 34 languages.

Her forthcoming novel is BY ANY OTHER NAME (on sale 8/20; Ballantine), described as a novel about two women, centuries apart – one of whom is the real author of Shakespeare’s plays – who are both forced to hide behind another name.

#1 New York Times bestselling author Kristin Hannah said of the book, “You’ll fall in love with Emilia Bassano, the unforgettable heroine based on a real woman that Picoult brings vividly to life in her brilliantly researched new novel.” Elle called it, “[An] inspiring work of feminist literature inspired by real historical accounts.”

Jodi was also co-librettist for the stage musical adaptation of her young adult novel Between the Lines (which premiered Off-Broadway in Summer 2022), the co-librettist of the musical BREATHE, the co-librettist of the musical adaptation of The Book Thief, and she is currently at work on an adaptation of Austenland.

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In this file Jodi Picoult and I discussed:

What's changed and what hasn't for women (in theater) over 400+ years?
The best time to break an arm for an author
How she works in cycles for her books
Why her kids made her write for Wonder Woman
The conundrum of a famous playwright who didn’t own a single book
And a lot more!

Show Notes:

jodipicoult.com
By Any Other Name: A Novel By Jodi Picoult (Amazon)
Jodi Picoult Amazon Author Page
WAS SHAKESPEARE A WOMAN? – Elizabeth Winkler for The Atlantic
Jodi Picoult on Facebook
Jodi Picoult on Twitter
Jodi Picoult on Instagram
Jodi Picoult on TikTok
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How Critically Acclaimed Author Tracy O'Neill Writes

28 juni 2024 | 37 min

Critically acclaimed author, Tracy O'Neill, spoke with me about reality hunger vs. the hyper-realness of the pandemic, writing a love letter to friendship, and searching for her birth mother in her noir-adjacent memoir WOMAN OF INTEREST.

Tracy O'Neill is a National Book Foundation’s 5 Under 35 honoree, and the author of The Hopeful, one of Electric Literature's Best Novels of 2015, and Quotients, a New York Times New & Noteworthy Book, TOR Editor's Choice, & Literary Hub Favorite Book of 2020.

Her first book of nonfiction is the memoir WOMAN OF INTEREST (HarperOne; on-sale: 6/25/24) described by The Millions as “an intimate memoir written with the narrative propulsion of a detective novel” in their list of Most Anticipated Books of Spring 2024.

In a Starred Review Publishers Weekly, called it “…riveting… cool, noir-tinted prose shot through with wit and compassion, O’Neill presents her inquiry as a sort of metaphysical detective story. Readers will be riveted.”

Her writing has appeared in Granta, The New York Times, Rolling Stone, The Atlantic, the New Yorker, LitHub, and BOMB, among other publications. She teaches at Vassar College and holds an MFA from the City College of New York and a PhD from Columbia University.

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In this file Tracy O'Neill and I discussed:

COVID as a catalyst for life change

Why real life doesn’t adhere to any genre

Meditations on language and storytelling

How her process has evolved from fiction to non-fiction

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

tracyoneill.net

Woman of Interest: A Memoir By Tracy O'Neill (Amazon)

Tracy O'Neill Amazon Author Page

Tracy O'Neill on Twitter

Tracy O'Neill on Instagram

Kelton Reid on Twitter

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Living the Dream with Jeff Goins

21 juni 2024 | 65 min

How Bestselling Author Fred Waitzkin Writes

14 juni 2024 | 38 min

How NY Times Bestselling Author Jami Attenberg Writes: Redux

7 juni 2024 | 38 min

NOTE: This is an updated replay of my amazing chat with New York Times bestselling author, Jami Attenberg, in honor of the start of #1000WordsofSummer that kicked off June 1st! Take a listen to learn more about how to jump in and get going. You can always sign up at 1000wordsofsummer.substack.com to get a letter each day from Jami encouraging you to write 1000 words, additional notes from contributing authors, on writing, creativity, and productivity, and there are write-alongs, a slack channel, and of course the book. Enjoy!

New York Times bestselling author, Jami Attenberg, spoke with me about documenting the process of being a writer online and off, building a global literary movement, and her latest, 1000 Words: A Guide to Staying Creative, Focused, and Productive All-Year Round.

Jami Attenberg is the New York Times bestselling author of seven books of fiction, including The Middlesteins, All Grown Up, and her recent memoir, I Came All This Way to Meet You. Her work has been published in 16 languages, she is the founder of the annual #1000WordsofSummer project and maintains the popular Craft Talk newsletter.

Jami Attenberg’s latest is 1000 Words: A Writer's Guide to Staying Creative, Focused, and Productive All Year Round. “Inspired by [her] wildly popular literary movement #1000WordsofSummer, this writer’s guide features encouraging essays on creativity, productivity, and writing from [over 50] acclaimed authors including Roxane Gay, Lauren Groff, Celeste Ng, Meg Wolitzer, and Carmen Maria Machado.”

Lit Hub said of the book, “It will be the new Bird by Bird, you heard it here first.” A Booklist, Starred Review called it “A fantastic set of essays… Readers of this collection will feel surrounded and bolstered by like-minded people who have been in the trenches.”

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[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]

In this file Jami Attenberg and I discussed:

The blessing and the curse of knowing you’re a writer

How she built an online writing community into a literary movement

Her tongue-in-cheek approach to the craft

The reason she uses the seasons as a metaphor for writers

How to harness the power of write-alongs

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

JamiAttenberg.com

1000wordsofsummer.substack.com

1000 Words: A Writer's Guide to Staying Creative, Focused, and Productive All Year Round by Jami Attenberg (Amazon)

Jami Attenberg Amazon Author Page

Jami Attenberg on Twitter

Jami Attenberg on Instagram

Kelton Reid on Twitter

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Mixtapes, or Curation vs. Creation with Jeff Goins

31 maj 2024 | 47 min

How to Plan, Write & Publish Nonfiction with Hungry Authors Hosts Ariel Curry & Liz Morrow: Part One

24 maj 2024 | 41 min

How NY Times Bestselling Author April Henry Writes

17 maj 2024 | 43 min

How to Finish the First Draft of Anything with Jeff Goins

10 maj 2024 | 44 min

How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Mark Sullivan Writes

3 maj 2024 | 44 min

#1 New York Times bestselling author, Mark Sullivan, spoke to me about the story that saved his life, how to write history’s darkest chapters, and his latest novel based on a true story, All the Glimmering Stars.

Mark Sullivan is a journalist and award-winning, bestselling author of 20 novels including Beneath a Scarlet Sky, The Last Green Valley, and the #1 New York Times bestselling Private series, which he writes with James Patterson.

His latest historical novel, All the Glimmering Stars (May 7, 2024), is “Inspired by a true story [of] two teens kidnapped by an African warlord [that] find salvation through love in a powerful [story] … set in 1990s Uganda.”

New York Times bestselling author Gregg Hurwitz, said of the book, “Mark Sullivan’s All the Glimmering Stars is the pinnacle of an already distinguished career. A searing piece of historical fiction steeped in a yearslong deep dive into the horrors of child soldiering, it is at its core something tender and rare: a love story between two profoundly good people striving for light in unimaginable darkness.”

Mark Sullivan graduated with a BA in English before working as a volunteer in the Peace Corps in West Africa. Upon his return to the US, he earned a graduate degree in Journalism at Northwestern University.

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In this file Mark Sullivan and I discussed:

His former life as an award-winning investigative journalist

How his cross-cultural skills inform his work today

Why he decided to make the transition from suspense to historical fiction

Searching for the deeper meaning behind his storytelling

The four things he has to have before he can write a story

His intensive research process

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

marksullivanbooks.com

All the Glimmering Stars: A Novel by Mark Sullivan (Amazon)

Mark Sullivan Amazon Author Page

Mark Sullivan on Facebook

Mark Sullivan on Twitter

Kelton Reid on Twitter

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Tom Straw Writes

26 april 2024 | 38 min

#1 New York Times bestselling author and TV producer, Tom Straw, spoke to me about breaking into television, the Gordian knot of ghostwriting, and his new “culinary, espionage, travel thriller” THE ACCIDENTAL JOE.

Tom Straw is an Emmy and Writers Guild of America–nominated writer-producer, New York Times bestselling author, and former Mystery Writers of America board member.

Writing as Richard Castle, Tom originated the hit Nikki Heat series, writing its first seven novels, all New York Times bestsellers, including Heat Rises, which reached number one.

The first book in his latest series is The Accidental Joe: The Top-Secret Life of a Celebrity Chef (Regalo Press/May 14, 2024), described as the story of “...a maverick celebrity chef [who] reluctantly agrees to let the CIA use his hugely popular international food, culture, and travel TV series as cover for a dangerous espionage mission.”

Bestselling author Walter Mosley said of the book, “Tom Straw's Sebastian Pike is a wonderful addition to the annals of amateur sleuths of the crime/spy genre.” Culinary personality Alton Brown said of the author, “Tom Straw has set the bar for culinary, espionage, travel thrillers. Actually, I think he invented the bar. And it’s a bar I’d meet him at any time.”

Tom Straw’s television career has included WGA and Emmy nominations for writing and executive producer stints for shows including Night Court, CBS’s Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, and Nurse Jackie with Edie Falco.

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[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]

In this file Tom Straw and I discussed:

His early life as an AM radio personality and professional weatherman

How he got a shot to write on his first TV show

Working with Craig Ferguson and his robot skeleton sidekick

The short version of hitting #1 as a ghostwriter for a fictitious mystery author

How he invented the snarky, bad-boy, maverick chef for his latest novel

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

tomstraw.com

Tom Straw on IMDb

The Accidental Joe: The Top-Secret Life of a Celebrity Chef By Tom Straw (Amazon)

Tom Straw on Facebook

Tom Straw on Twitter

Kelton Reid on Twitter

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How CNN Chief Climate Correspondent Bill Weir Writes

19 april 2024 | 39 min

Emmy-winning TV journalist and CNN Chief Climate Correspondent, Bill Weir, spoke to me about finding his beat, seeking “hope in a changing world,” and his debut, Life as We Know It (Can Be).

Bill Weir is a veteran anchor, writer, producer, and host who joined CNN in 2013 after a decade of award-winning journalism at ABC News. After writing and hosting four seasons of the primetime CNN Original Series “The Wonder List with Bill Weir,” he was named the first Chief Climate Correspondent in network news in 2019.

His debut book is Life as We Know It (Can Be): Stories of People, Climate, and Hope in a Changing World, described as a “... positive and unabashed approach to exploring the science, politics, and human behavior that must be addressed to solve our most pressing problems.”

New York Times bestselling author and CNN anchor Jake Tapper said of the book, “Bill Weir provides insightful, alarming, but ultimately hopeful coverage of the climate crisis. His new book is a gorgeous love letter to his son but also to Earth and humanity,” and New York Times bestselling author Jonathan Safran Foer called it, “... a clear-eyed, heartfelt argument against despair.”

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In this file Bill Weir and I discussed:

How he incorporates the math and physics of storytelling into his journalism

The “crappy elf” method of writing and penning letters to his kids in the future

Why connection is more important than ever in the “golden age of distraction”

The difference between writing for the screen and the page

When he decided to focus on the dreamers and the doers

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

Bill Weir CNN Chief Climate Correspondent

Life as We Know It (Can Be): Stories of People, Climate, and Hope in a Changing World by Bill Weir (Amazon)

Bill Weir on Facebook

Bill Weir on Instagram

Bill Weir on Twitter

Kelton Reid on Twitter

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Tomi Adeyemi Writes

12 april 2024 | 34 min

How Stanford Prof. & Comms Expert Matt Abrahams Writes

5 april 2024 | 35 min

Stanford Professor, communications expert, and author, Matt Abrahams, spoke with me about tips and tricks to hone your communication skills as a writer, and his award-winning podcast Think Fast, Talk Smart.

Matt Abrahams is a leading expert in communication with decades of expertise as an educator, author, podcast host, and coach. As a Lecturer in Organizational Behavior at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business, he teaches popular classes in strategic communication and effective virtual presenting.

He also hosts Stanford Graduate School of Business' Think Fast, Talk Smart – the 2023 Webby Award-winning “Best Business Podcast." The podcast has topped 42 million downloads and has been the #1 Career podcast in over 95 countries.

Matt is the author of two books including Think Faster, Talk Smarter: How to Speak Successfully When You're Put on the Spot, based in part on his hit podcast.

Daniel H. Pink, #1 New York Times bestseller, said of the author, "Matt Abrahams has a gift for making complex concepts easy to understand and simple to enact. If you’ve ever struggled to summon the right words at the right time, this book is an essential read.”

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In this file Matt Abrahams and I discussed:

The TED talk that led to a podcast that led to a book

Why writers need to find their focus through structure

His advice on pitching your book to agents in person

How it’s normal to be nervous; managing anxiety

Why most writers suffer the curses of knowledge and passion

How to nail that first book tour

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

mattabrahams.com

Think Fast Talk Smart: Podcast

Think Faster, Talk Smarter: How to Speak Successfully When You're Put on the Spot By Matt Abrahams (Amazon)

Think Fast Talk Smart on Instagram

Think Fast Talk Smart on Twitter

Kelton Reid on Twitter

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Ernest Cline Writes: Part Two

29 mars 2024 | 33 min

How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Ernest Cline Writes: Part One

22 mars 2024 | 30 min

How NY Times Bestselling Author Garrard Conley Writes

15 mars 2024 | 43 min

New York Times bestselling memoirist turned novelist, Garrard Conley, spoke with me about going from activist to fictionist, the isolation of being an artist, and his debut novel All the World Beside.

Garrard Conley is the New York Times bestselling author of the memoir Boy Erased, as well as the creator and co-producer of the podcast UnErased: The History of Conversion Therapy in America. His memoir became a major motion picture starring Nicole Kidman, Russell Crowe, and Lucas Hedges, directed by Joel Edgerton.

His debut novel is titled All the World Beside and described as “... an electrifying, deeply moving novel about the love story between two men in Puritan New England.”

Tess Gunty, National Book Award-winning author of Rabbit Hutch, called the book an “... accomplishment of breathtaking prose, expert pacing, and extraordinary psychological intelligence...” Garth Greenwell wrote, “... this novel contains some of the finest writing I've encountered in recent American fiction.”

Garrard’s work has been published by The New York Times, Oxford American, Time, and Virginia Quarterly Review, among others. Conley is a graduate of Brooklyn College’s MFA program, where he was a Truman Capote Fellow specializing in fiction, and he is an assistant professor of creative writing at Kennesaw State University.

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[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]

In this file Garrard Conley and I discussed:

What it was like to work with Radiolab on a podcast

Setting out to write “The Queer Scarlett Letter”

His intense historical research process

How he inhabits his stories

Why writers can’t skimp on what the audience wants

How to un-Tik-Tok-ify your brain

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

garrardconley.com

All the World Beside: A NOVEL By Garrard Conley (Amazon)

Garrard Conley Amazon Author Page

Garrard Conley on Instagram

Garrard Conley on Twitter

Kelton Reid on Twitter

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Book Publicity Crash Course with Dir. of PR & Founder Leah Paulos

8 mars 2024 | 47 min

How Oscar-Nominated Scribe & Novelist Iris Yamashita Writes: Part Two

1 mars 2024 | 38 min

How Bestselling Author Adelle Waldman Writes

23 februari 2024 | 44 min

How Acclaimed Newbery Honor-Winning Author Veera Hiranandani Writes

16 februari 2024 | 39 min

How NY Times Bestselling Author Emma Straub Writes: Redux

2 februari 2024 | 35 min

NOTE: This is an updated replay of my amazing chat with Emma Straub, the New York Times bestselling author of six books for adults, including her novel This Time Tomorrow … She is also the author of three picture books, the first of which, Very Good Hats, was published in January 2023. Congrats Emma! Enjoy …

New York Times bestselling author, Emma Straub, spoke to me about why everything in life is timing, how to write a book for yourself, time travel, and her latest This Time Tomorrow.

Emma is the bestselling author of six novels — including All Adults Here, The Vacationers, Modern Lovers, and Laura Lamont’s Life in Pictures — the short story collection Other People We Married. Her books have been published in 20 countries.

Her latest, This Time Tomorrow, has been named One of the Most Anticipated Books of 2022 by Vogue, Oprah, Entertainment Weekly, Glamour, Good Housekeeping, Marie Claire, Harper’s Bazaar, Reader’s Digest, Today, Parade, Thrillist, Pop Sugar, Lithub and more.

Described as "...a moving father-daughter story and a playful twist on the idea of time travel," author Michael Chabon called the book "...a beautifully made, elegant music box of a novel that sets in motion its clever clockwork of delight—then breaks your heart with its bittersweet, lingering song.”

Emma and her husband also own Books Are Magic, a popular independent bookstore in Brooklyn, New York.

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In this file Emma Straub and I discussed:

Why getting an MFA helped her slow down her writing

How she met everyone in publishing at an indie bookshop

The unique perspective of Xennials

How to find confidence and pages while being off-balance

Why she'd drink less Olde English if she could go back

And a lot more!

Stay calm and write on ...

emmastraub.net

This Time Tomorrow a Novel by Emma Straub

'This Time Tomorrow' is the time travel book millennials need - USA Today

Emma Straub on Facebook

Emma Straub on Instagram

Emma Straub on Twitter

Kelton Reid on Twitter

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How to Land a Book Deal with Agent & Author Lucinda Halpern: Part Two

26 januari 2024 | 40 min

President of Manhattan-based literary agency Lucinda Literary turned author, Lucinda Halpern, returns to chat with me about how to crack the code of publishing, the four types of writers who get book deals, and her latest book Get Signed: Find an Agent, Land a Book Deal, and Become a Published Author.

Lucinda Halpern is a literary agent with over 15 years of experience securing book deals with Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins, Hachette, Macmillan, and now the author of Get Signed: Find an Agent, Land a Book Deal, and Become a Published Author. (available for preorder now and landing 2/6/2024, Hay House - wherever fine books are sold)

“Packed with interviews from best-selling authors and leading book editors Get Signed is the indispensable roadmap you need … to get noticed and become a published author.” #1 New York Times best-selling author Adam Grant said of the book, “Lucinda Halpern has written the definitive guide to attracting an agent and laying the groundwork for a book well worth publishing.”

She represents a range of New York Times and internationally bestselling authors in the categories of business, health, lifestyle, popular science, narrative nonfiction, memoir, and upmarket fiction. Her classes and coaching programs have been taught to hundreds of writers worldwide.

Stay tuned until the end of our interview for Lucinda’s special gift for listeners.

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[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]

In this file Lucinda Halpern and I discussed:

How her full-circle journey to becoming a published author has made her a better agent

Why having a book editor is like lying naked on the table at the doctor's office

The best way to diagnose what's wrong with your book

How she is still myth-busting publishing

Why a book for everyone is a book for no one

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

GetSignedBook.com

Download Lucinda’s free author training

lucindaliterary.com

Get Signed: Find an Agent, Land a Book Deal, and Become a Published Author By Lucinda Halpern (Amazon)

Myth-Busting Book Publishing with Agent Lucinda Halpern: Part One

Lucinda Halpern on Twitter

Lucinda Halpern on Instagram

Kelton Reid on Twitter

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How NY Times Bestselling Author Ann Napolitano Writes

19 januari 2024 | 47 min

New York Times bestselling author, Ann Napolitano, spoke with me about overcoming rejection early on, how grief transformed her writing process, and getting that fateful call from Oprah about Hello Beautiful.

Ann Napolitano is the New York Times bestselling author of Hello Beautiful which was selected as Oprah’s 100th Book Club pick; Dear Edward, an instant New York Times bestseller, a Read with Jenna selection, and an Apple TV+ series; A Good Hard Look, and Within Arm’s Reach.

Hello Beautiful has been called a “powerfully affecting” (People) family story that asks: Can love make a broken person whole? The Washington Post said of the book, “Another tender tearjerker . . . Napolitano chronicles life’s highs and lows with aching precision.”

It was named Chicago Public Library’s Ten Best Books of the Year and a Best Book of the Year by The New York Times Book Review, NPR, The Washington Post, Time, Vogue, Glamour, Harper’s Bazaar, New York Post, She Reads, and Bookreporter.

Ann was the associate editor of the literary magazine One Story for seven years, and she received an MFA from New York University.

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[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]

In this file Ann Napolitano and I discussed:

Her long and rocky road to success

How an illness early in life helped her realize she was a writer

Why her first published book felt like a proving ground

The nine-month approach to planning your next novel

How to write the truest sentence possible

Why you need to string together as many Xs as you can

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

AnnNapolitano.com

Hello Beautiful (Oprah's Book Club): A NOVEL By Ann Napolitano (Amazon)

Ann Napolitano Amazon Author Page

Ann Napolitano on Twitter

Ann Napolitano on Instagram

Kelton Reid on Twitter

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How NY Times Bestselling Author Jami Attenberg Writes

12 januari 2024 | 35 min

New York Times bestselling author, Jami Attenberg, spoke with me about documenting the process of being a writer online and off, building a global literary movement, and her latest, 1000 Words: A Guide to Staying Creative, Focused, and Productive All-Year Round.

Jami Attenberg is the New York Times bestselling author of seven books of fiction, including The Middlesteins, All Grown Up, and her recent memoir, I Came All This Way to Meet You. Her work has been published in 16 languages, she is the founder of the annual #1000WordsofSummer project and maintains the popular Craft Talk newsletter.

Jami Attenberg’s latest is 1000 Words: A Writer's Guide to Staying Creative, Focused, and Productive All Year Round. “Inspired by [her] wildly popular literary movement #1000WordsofSummer, this writer’s guide features encouraging essays on creativity, productivity, and writing from [over 50] acclaimed authors including Roxane Gay, Lauren Groff, Celeste Ng, Meg Wolitzer, and Carmen Maria Machado.”

Lit Hub said of the book, “It will be the new Bird by Bird, you heard it here first.” A Booklist, Starred Review called it “A fantastic set of essays… Readers of this collection will feel surrounded and bolstered by like-minded people who have been in the trenches.”

[Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm]

[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]

In this file Jami Attenberg and I discussed:

The blessing and the curse of knowing you’re a writer

How she built an online writing community into a literary movement

Her tongue-in-cheek approach to the craft

The reason she uses the seasons as a metaphor for writers

How to harness the power of write-alongs

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

JamiAttenberg.com

1000wordsofsummer.substack.com

1000 Words: A Writer's Guide to Staying Creative, Focused, and Productive All Year Round by Jami Attenberg (Amazon)

Jami Attenberg Amazon Author Page

Jami Attenberg on Twitter

Jami Attenberg on Instagram

Kelton Reid on Twitter

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Best of 2023 - Hot Takes and Shootin’ the Breeze with Adam Skolnick: Part Two

5 januari 2024 | 42 min

Best of 2023 - Hot Takes and Shootin’ the Breeze with Adam Skolnick: Part One

29 december 2023 | 37 min

Myth-Busting Book Publishing with Agent Lucinda Halpern: Redux

22 december 2023 | 40 min

NOTE: This is an updated replay of an amazing chat I had with Lucinda Halpern, Founder and President of Manhattan-based literary agency Lucinda Literary LLC turned author. Lucinda’s new book, Get Signed: Find an Agent, Land a Book Deal, and Become a Published Author (2/6/2024, Hay House) “... lets readers in on the secrets to writing a book agents will battle over.” Congrats Lucinda!

President and Founder of Manhattan-based agency Lucinda Literary, Lucinda Halpern, gave me an insider’s take on why literary agents can't just be deal-makers anymore.

Lucinda Halpern is a literary, lecture, and PR agent with over 15 years of experience on both the corporate and agency sides of publishing.

Specializing in "books that change the way people work, behave, and live," she represents authors writing in the categories of business, health, lifestyle, popular science, narrative nonfiction, memoir, and upmarket fiction.

Her agency, Lucinda Literary, boasts a roster of authors including New York Times bestselling authors Susan Peirce Thompson (Bright Line Eating), Chris Bailey (The Productivity Project; Hyperfocus), Cait Flanders (The Year of Less), Paul Jarvis (Company of One), the new work of Nicola Kraus (The Nanny Diaries) and Jake Wood (Once a Warrior).

She also shares publishing insights and motivation for writers and hosts both live and online programs for aspiring authors.

Stay calm and write on ...

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[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]

In this file Lucinda Halpern and I discussed:

Her mission statement, ethos, and the future of publishing

How good agents build lifelong marriages with their authors

Why you don't have to be famous to get published

Counterintuitive tips about the industry

The old-fashioned art of crafting a book

And more!

Show Notes:

Ready to get your book noticed? Get Lucinda's essential guide for writers: The 6 Things Every Book Pitch Needs – Click here to receive your guide: lucindaliterary.com/subscribe

Lucinda Literary on Medium

Lucinda Literary on Facebook

Lucinda Literary on Instagram

Lucinda Literary on Twitter

Kelton Reid on Twitter

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How Acclaimed Debut Novelist Jo Segura Writes

15 december 2023 | 43 min

The Art and Craft of TV Drama with Aaron Tracy: Part Two

8 december 2023 | 42 min

Yale educator and TV writer/producer, Aaron Tracy, returns to chat with me about surviving the WGA writer’s strike, finally teaching the podcast at Yale, and his latest audio thriller on Audible, Nowhere Man, starring Lee Pace and Zosia Mamet.

Aaron Tracy also teaches “The Art and Craft of Television Drama” at Yale University, and his TV credits include Law & Order: SVU, Fairly Legal, The Tap, and Sequestered, a serialized thriller that ran two seasons, for which he was Creator and Executive Producer.

He is also a Creator, Director, and Exec. Producer of scripted audio dramas for iHeartRadio, Audible, and Spotify, with various production partners including: Supreme: The Battle For Roe, his 9-part audio drama starring Eva Longoria (feat. Maya Hawke and William H. Macy); Murder in Bermuda (feat. Mary-Louise Parker); and many others.

His most recent is Nowhere Man, a noir political thriller Executive Produced by and starring Lee Pace, with co-stars Zosia Mamet, and Chazz Palminteri. “Set in the mid-1980s, Nowhere Man is a dark, paranoid thriller about temptation and obsession through the prism of a profession most people don’t even know exists.”

Aaron’s debut audio drama, The Coldest Case, a detective thriller starring Aaron Paul, Krysten Ritter, and Alexis Bledel, premiered as the #1 download on Audible in 2021, and has since become the most downloaded show in Audible Plus history.

[Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm]

[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]

In this file Aaron Tracy and I discussed:

Why he loves the ‘80s period pieces

How his directing experience has shaped his writing

Why he teaches the narrative podcast the same way he teaches Television Drama

The two greatest innovations of the modern TV art form

What aspiring TV writers should be reading

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

How to Write a Bestselling Audio Drama with Writer/Producer Aaron Tracy: Part One

Yale University – Aaron Tracy

Aaron Tracy Audible Page

Amazon Author Page for William Goldman

Story by Robert McKee [Amazon]

Save the Cat by Blake Snyder [Amazon]

Aaron Tracy on IMdB

Aaron Tracy on Twitter

Kelton Reid on Twitter

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How National Book Award Winner & Bestselling Author James McBride Writes: Redux

1 december 2023 | 32 min

NOTE: This is an updated replay of an amazing chat I had with New York Times bestselling author and National Book Award winner, James McBride. His latest novel, THE HEAVEN & EARTH GROCERY STORE, was named Amazon’s #1 Book of the Year Pick, and Barnes & Noble's Book of the Year, among many other accolades for 2023. Congrats James!

New York Times bestselling author and National Book Award winner, James McBride, spoke to me about eschewing literary fame, his friendship with Spike Lee, and his latest novel THE HEAVEN & EARTH GROCERY STORE.

James McBride is a musician, screenwriter, and award-winning author of New York Times bestselling Oprah’s Book Club selection Deacon King Kong, the National Book Award–winner The Good Lord Bird (now a Showtime limited series starring Ethan Hawke), and the American classic The Color of Water.

His debut novel, Miracle at St. Anna, was turned into a 2008 film by Oscar-winning writer and director Spike Lee, with a script written by McBride.

The author’s latest novel, The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store, was an Instant New York Times Bestseller and Named a Must Read for the Summer by The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, Time, Town & Country, and others.

Described as “... a novel about small-town secrets and the people who keep them,” it begins in 1972 when workers in Pottstown, PA, find a skeleton at the bottom of a well. The New York Times Book Review called the book, “A murder mystery locked inside a Great American Novel.”

James McBride received a National Humanities Medal from President Obama, “... for humanizing the complexities of discussing race in America.” He is a distinguished writer in residence at New York University.

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In this file James McBride and I discussed:

Why he finds no joy in being well-known
How The Color of Water changed his career
The lessons he learned from Michael Jackson
The hyperbole of the literary world and standing on the shoulders of giants
How we’re all more alike than we are different
Why writers must seek out their mentors
And a lot more!

Show Notes:

jamesmcbride.com
The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store: A Novel by James McBride (Amazon)
James McBride on Facebook
James McBride on Instagram
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How Publishing Legend Charles Scribner III Writes

22 november 2023 | 40 min

Publishing legend, art historian, and author, Charles Scribner III, spoke with me about growing up surrounded by publishing, Hemingway’s Three Rules to Life, and his memoir/family history SCRIBNERS: FIVE GENERATIONS IN PUBLISHING.

Charles Scribner III is an art historian, author, editor, and lecturer, who received his BA, MFA, and PhD from Princeton University in art and archaeology.

He worked in publishing for nearly thirty years and is a prominent authority on Caravaggio, Bernini, Rubens, and other artists. He has written biographies on Rubens and Bernini; articles for Vanity Fair, Art & Antiques, among other publications; and has lectured at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the National Gallery, the Smithsonian, Christie’s, and various universities.

His forthcoming family history, Scribners: Five Generations in Publishing, is about the inside story of 5 generations – over 150 years – at the legendary publishing house of Charles Scribner's Sons.

“The author, the fifth of the Charleses to work at that house of celebrated authors, provides … an inside view – ‘between the covers’ of illustrious and notorious books – of the family members, editors, and authors of this colorful literary history.”

Kirkus Reviews called it "A charming memoir of a life in books," and Publishers Weekly called it “... a lively and refreshing must-read for those interested in the history of book publishing.”

Charles remained at Scribners through three changes in ownership (Macmillan, Maxwell, and Viacom), overseeing the publication of its literary classics. He was also a commentator for TV documentaries on Edith Wharton (BBC/PBS), Fitzgerald and Hemingway (A&E Biography).

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[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]

In this file, Charles Scribner III and I discussed:

How manuscripts and galleys symbolized the world he grew up in
Why he chose now to share the stories of the literary lions his father worked with
Some of the greatest editors of the 20th Century
How to write a book in two months
Why loyalty is the most important thing in publishing
The secret behind Hemingway’s will
And a lot more!

Show Notes:

charlesscribner.com
Scribners: Five Generations in Publishing by Charles Scribner III (Amazon)
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Jim Butcher Writes

17 november 2023 | 35 min

How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Susan Wiggs Writes: Part Two

10 november 2023 | 35 min

How Literary Critic & Publishing Insider Bethanne Patrick Writes: Part Two

3 november 2023 | 34 min

Longtime literary critic and publishing insider, Bethanne Patrick, is back to chat with me about the return of her hit podcast Missing Pages, her front-row seat to the sea change in publishing, and her life-affirming first memoir LIFE B.

Bethanne Patrick is a world-renowned literary critic, author, and host of the chart-topping and Signal Award-winning podcast Missing Pages. Her work appears frequently in the Los Angeles Times as well as in The Washington Post, NPR Books, and Literary Hub.

Missing Pages is back – the Webby Award-nominated podcast named a “must-listen” by The Washington Post and The Guardian – has a second season on deck that features authors, experts, publishing insiders, and a circus of NYC media elites.

Host Bethanne Patrick sits down with notable guests to set the record straight on the secretive world of book publishing again. From the rise of Colleen Hoover and book bans across America to the idea of who owns what in fan fiction, Missing Pages investigates it all.

Bethanne also recently published her first memoir, Life B, “A bracing and fresh look at a lifelong struggle with depression and mental illness,” described by NY Times bestselling author Lori Gottlieb as, “Insightful, honest, [and] ultimately life-affirming …”

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[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]

In this file Bethanne Patrick and I discussed:

What it was like to have her podcast nominated for a Webby Award
The sui generis of the Colleen Hoover effect
What the ambitious second season of Missing Pages plans to tackle
The origins and evolution of the novel
How she wrote her first memoir
And a lot more!

Show Notes:

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How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Andrew Child Writes

27 oktober 2023 | 37 min

How Acclaimed Debut Novelist Molly McGhee Writes

20 oktober 2023 | 34 min

Critically acclaimed debut novelist, Molly McGhee, spoke with me about the best day of her life, her part in The Great Publishing Resignation, losing a parent, and her first book JONATHAN ABERNATHY YOU ARE KIND.

Molly McGhee writes fiction and essays and taught in the undergraduate creative writing department at Columbia University where she also graduated with an MFA in fiction.

Her debut novel is Jonathan Abernathy You Are Kind, described by The New York Times as a story about, “... debt-laden citizens [who] are recruited to ‘audit’ others’ dreams — all in the name of productivity.”

In a starred review Booklist said of the book, “… a superlative state-of-the-nation novel like no other. Full of astoundingly resonant and eminently quotable points about labor, capital, and depression, this wondrous literary creation brilliantly captures the excessive demands of contemporary work.”

Molly has worked in the editorial departments of McSweeney’s, The Believer, NOON, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, and helped launch a horror imprint at Tor. Her work has appeared in The Paris Review, LitHub, and others.

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In this file Molly McGhee and I discussed:

Her past life as a NY Times bestselling editor
Using writing as a coping mechanism for grief
The nightmare that became a book
Why she thinks of herself as a reader first
Learning how to give yourself grace
The importance of authenticity and vulnerability in your writing
And a lot more!

Show Notes:

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How Award-Winning Climate Journalist Amy Westervelt Writes

18 oktober 2023 | 42 min

How Acclaimed Debut Novelist Isa Arsén Writes

13 oktober 2023 | 34 min

How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Laurell K. Hamilton Writes: Part Two

6 oktober 2023 | 47 min

How Booker Prize-Winning Author Anne Enright Writes

29 september 2023 | 36 min

Bestselling, Booker Prize-winning author, Anne Enright, spoke to me about eagles and moles, the interior engineering of a novel, her love of Irish poetry, and her latest THE WREN, THE WREN.

Anne Enright won the Man Booker Prize and the Irish Fiction Award for her novel The Gathering. She has also been awarded the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Irish Book Awards, and was the first Laureate for Irish Fiction (2015-2018).

Her latest novel The Wren, the Wren, was named a Most Anticipated Book of the Year by TIME, The Millions, Literary Hub, and others, and is described as the story of “... three generations of … women who must contend with inheritances―of poetic wonder and of abandonment by a man who is lauded in public and carelessly selfish at home.”

The New York Times called it, "... a powerful, thoughtful book by one of the great living writers on the subject of family," and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jennifer Egan said of the book, “The Wren, the Wren is an electrifying romp through language itself―its dizzying possibilities and satisfactions―led by one the most gifted writers working in English today."

Anne Enright has also published two books of short stories, her essays on literary themes have appeared in the London Review of Books and The New York Review of Books, and she writes for the books pages of The Irish Times and The Guardian.

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[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]

In this file Anne Enright and I discussed:

The moment of burnout that changed her career
How she used to be a night owl scribe
Why you shouldn’t over-panic, or over-plan
The fallacies of impostor syndrome and inspiration
How to create a fictional poet out of thin air
Taking a long look at James Joyce across the table
And a lot more!

Show Notes:

Anne Enright - Wikipedia
The Wren, the Wren: A Novel by Anne Enright (Amazon)
Anne Enright Amazon Author Page
Book Review: ‘The Wren, the Wren,’ by Anne Enright - The New York Times
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How Bestselling Author & TV Producer Dwain Worrell Writes

22 september 2023 | 43 min

Bestselling author and award-winning screenwriter, Dwain Worrell, spoke to me about making the move from the writers' room to the cafe, the art and science of suspense, and his debut novel ANDRONE.

Dwain Worrell is an award-winning Marvel and Disney+ TV producer, filmmaker, and novelist whose writing credits include Marvel’s Iron Fist, CBS’s Fire Country, Amazon Studios’ The Wall, and the Disney+ series National Treasure, among others. Dwain also worked as a translator of Mandarin Chinese in Beijing for nearly a decade.

His bestselling debut novel, Androne, is described as a “... near future … highly cinematic and propulsive story [centered] around a terrifying event called the Ninety-Nine, where all major military installations on Earth [are] eviscerated, heralding humanity's start of a war with an unknown enemy.”

Niels Arden Oplev, Director of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo called the book “A crazy-cool ride into the unknown …. [Androne] reads like a high-end videogame on steroids with a destiny of Shakespearean magnitude.”

Publishers Weekly wrote, “... taut intrigue … reels readers into a thrilling yet thoughtful narrative about the futility of war and the cost of doing the right thing…”

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[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]

In this file Dwain Worrell and I discussed:

Making the move from screenwriter to novelist during a WGA strike
How he discovered theater after having his basketball dreams dashed
Why writing for TV is harder (and easier) than prose
The inspiration that went into his latest sci-fi thriller
Our mutual love of Hans Zimmer soundtracks
Hanging out with Shakespeare at Chili’s
And a lot more!

Show Notes:

Dwainworrell.com
Dwain Worrell - IMDb
Behind the Science of Writing Good Suspense - Writer's Digest
Androne By Dwain Worrell (Amazon)
Dwain Worrell on Instagram
Dwain Worrell on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Jennifer Lynn Barnes Writes: Part One

15 september 2023 | 37 min

#1 New York Times bestselling author, Jennifer Lynn Barnes, spoke to me about how to write seven novels in 18 months, the psychology of fiction and fandom, and her latest YA mystery, THE BROTHERS HAWTHORNE.

Jennifer Lynn Barnes is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 20 acclaimed young adult novels, including The Inheritance Games trilogy, Little White Lies, Deadly Little Scandals, The Lovely and the Lost, and The Naturals series.

Her latest is The Brothers Hawthorne, described as “Knives Out-esque” by Publishers Weekly, it is a story of [two brothers] “Drawn into twisted games on opposite sides of the globe, [who] —with the help of their brothers and the girl who inherited their grandfather’s fortune—must dig deep to decide who they want to be and what each of them will sacrifice to win.”

Jen is a Fulbright Scholar with advanced degrees in psychology, psychiatry, and cognitive science including a Ph.D. from Yale University, and “...is one of the world's leading experts on the psychology of fandom and the cognitive science of fiction and the imagination.”

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[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]

In this file Jennifer Lynn Barnes and I discussed:

Her study of autism and why neurodivergents rely so heavily on story
How her bestselling trilogy went viral on TikTok
Why she writes for reluctant readers
How to write mysteries with intricate puzzles, twists, turns, and reveals
Her theories on why readers love fiction
And a lot more!

Show Notes:

Jenniferlynnbarnes.com
The psychology of fiction with Jennifer Lynn Barnes | Re:Thinking with Adam Grant - TED Audio Collective
The Brothers Hawthorne By Jennifer Lynn Barnes (Amazon)
Jennifer Lynn Barnes Amazon Author Page
Jennifer Lynn Barnes on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author James Rollins Writes

8 september 2023 | 34 min

#1 New York Times bestselling author, James Rollins, spoke to me about his alter ego, veterinarian Dr. Jim, how to write two staccato-paced novels a year, and his latest Sigma Force installment, TIDES OF FIRE.

James Rollins is the #1 New York Times Bestselling Author of the Sigma Force series, six standalone adventure thrillers, a novelization of the Indiana Jones franchise, and many others totaling over 44 novels (even he can’t remember the exact number).

His latest in his most popular series is Tides of Fire: A Sigma Force Novel, [set on] “...an international research station in the Coral Sea [that] comes under siege during a geological disaster that triggers massive quakes, deadly tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions. To stop the world from burning, it’s up to Sigma Force to uncover a secret buried at the heart of our planet…”

Publishers Weekly said of the book, "The X-Files meets Seal Team Six in Rollins’s imaginative, pulse-pounding 17th Sigma Force thriller . . . . Rollins’s gleeful everything-but-the-kitchen-sink approach works well here, nimbly balancing popcorn action with mind-blowing scientific speculation. The author has rarely been better at making the implausible feel plausible."

James Rollins’s novels have sold over 20 million copies and are published in more than 40 languages worldwide.

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In this file James Rollins and I discussed:

How 49 rejections early in his career didn’t sway his passion for writing
Keeping all of the plots and characters organized in his many series
The panic that comes with every undertaking
Why he adds illustrations and appendices to his books
The unique research process that goes into his prescient novels
And a lot more!

Show Notes:

JamesRollins.com
Tides of Fire: A Sigma Force Novel by James Rollins (Amazon)
James Rollins Amazon Author Page
James Rollins on Instagram
James Rollins on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How Internationally Bestselling Author Lucy Clarke Writes

1 september 2023 | 34 min

How to Write with ADHD and Coach Skye Waterson

30 augusti 2023 | 33 min

How Acclaimed TV Writer/Producer Adam Lorenzo Writes

25 augusti 2023 | 50 min

Acclaimed TV and movie writer, Adam Lorenzo, spoke to me about owning a college bar … while still in college, his work ethic and what keeps him hustling pages, and his latest college survival guide ALL I NEED TO KNOW I LEARNED FROM MY COLLEGE BAR.

Adam Lorenzo is a writer/producer who works in both live-action and animation who started as a joke writer, selling material to Tina Fey and Jimmy Fallon on Saturday Night Live’s “Weekend Update''; Jimmy Kimmel; and David Letterman, which resulted in his first staff-writing job, on The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn (co-created and executive produced by Letterman).

Other notable TV credits include the Emmy-winning Everybody Loves Raymond, Are We There Yet? (starring Terry Crews and Ice Cube), and Everybody Hates Chris, based on the life of Chris Rock.

Before successfully pursuing his dream of being a writer, he owned a college bar... while still a student at Syracuse University.

The author’s debut in publishing, naturally, is All I Need To Know I Learned From My College Bar, a whimsical look at what Adam calls the "valuable life lessons learned working and laughing with people from all over the world in that cathedral of knowledge known as a college bar."x

The self-described “college survival guide” is based on his life and has illustrations by Antonio Giovanni Pinna of The New Yorker.

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In this file Adam Lorenzo and I discussed:

How he faked and faxed his way into Dave Letterman’s heart
Why his writing career effectively ended his marriage
How a kid from Buffalo, NY made it in Hollywood
Why he spent so much time at a little-known library at The Writers Guild of America
The Sicilian barber that got him a big break into sitcoms
My own #TheCollegeBarChallenge
And a lot more!

Show Notes:

collegebarbook.com
Adam Lorenzo on IMDb
All I Need To Know I Learned From My College Bar by Adam Lorenzo (Amazon)
Adam Lorenzo on YouTube
Adam Lorenzo on Instagram
Adam Lorenzo on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How National Book Award Winner & Bestselling Author James McBride Writes

18 augusti 2023 | 32 min

New York Times bestselling author and National Book Award winner, James McBride, spoke to me about eschewing literary fame, his friendship with Spike Lee, and his latest novel THE HEAVEN & EARTH GROCERY STORE.

James McBride is a musician, screenwriter, and award-winning author of New York Times bestselling Oprah’s Book Club selection Deacon King Kong, the National Book Award–winner The Good Lord Bird (now a Showtime limited series starring Ethan Hawke), and the American classic The Color of Water.

His debut novel, Miracle at St. Anna, was turned into a 2008 film by Oscar-winning writer and director Spike Lee, with a script written by McBride.

The author’s latest novel, The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store, was an Instant New York Times Bestseller and Named a Must Read for the Summer by The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, Time, Town & Country, and others.

Described as “... a novel about small-town secrets and the people who keep them,” it begins in 1972 when workers in Pottstown, PA, find a skeleton at the bottom of a well. The New York Times Book Review called the book, “A murder mystery locked inside a Great American Novel.”

James McBride received a National Humanities Medal from President Obama, “... for humanizing the complexities of discussing race in America.” He is a distinguished writer in residence at New York University.

[Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm]

[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]

In this file James McBride and I discussed:

Why he finds no joy in being well-known
How The Color of Water changed his career
The lessons he learned from Michael Jackson
The hyperbole of the literary world and standing on the shoulders of giants
How we’re all more alike than we are different
Why writers must seek out their mentors
And a lot more!

Show Notes:

jamesmcbride.com
The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store: A Novel by James McBride (Amazon)
James McBride on Facebook
James McBride on Instagram
Kelton Reid on Twitter

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How Critically Acclaimed Memoirist Melissa Bond Writes

11 augusti 2023 | 34 min

Critically acclaimed memoirist, Melissa Bond, spoke to me about her dark night of the soul, crowd-funding her lauded memoir, and the paperback release of BLOOD ORANGE NIGHT: A Memoir of Insomnia, Motherhood, and Benzos.

Melissa Bond is a narrative journalist, editor, award-winning poet, and speaker/performer whose breakout debut memoir, Blood Orange Night, is a Barnes & Noble non-fiction book of the month, and was selected by both The New York Times as one of the Best Audiobooks of 2022.

Publishers Weekly (in a Starred Review) said of the book, “In this raw and captivating debut, journalist Bond chronicles her volatile descent into a benzodiazepine addiction …. Bond’s narrative casts a burning light onto the hazards of overprescribing and the threat it poses to vulnerable people. This cautionary tale stuns.”

Melissa Bond blogged and became a regular contributor for Mad in America in the years of her dependence on benzodiazepines. She is a respected speaker and writer on the perils of over-prescribing benzodiazepines and has been featured on podcasts including The New York Times Book Review, and others.

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In this file Melissa Bond and I discussed:

Her guerilla street poet/poverty phase and hosting National Poetry Slams
Why she never imagined writing a memoir
How she Kickstarted her hit book in just three days
The transformative process of finding gems in the rubble of difficult times
Her process, meditation practice, and “sitting beyond oneself”
How to quiet the gnome of self-doubt
And a lot more!

Show Notes:

melissaabond.com
Blood Orange Night: A Memoir of Insomnia, Motherhood, and Benzos By Melissa Bond (Amazon)
Melissa Bond on Instagram
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How NY Times Bestselling Author Tracey Lange Writes

4 augusti 2023 | 33 min

How Critically Acclaimed Author Hilary Leichter Writes

28 juli 2023 | 37 min

Critically acclaimed author, Hilary Leichter, spoke to me about why she thinks of herself as a realist, how her life imitates art, finding a novel hidden in her closet, and her latest, TERRACE STORY.

Hilary Leichter is an award-winning short story writer, and author of the novel Temporary, which was a finalist for The Center for Fiction First Novel Prize and an NYPL Young Lions Fiction Prize, that was also longlisted for the PEN/Hemingway Award, was named a New York Times Editors’ Choice as well as a Best Book of 2020 by NPR, Elle, Vulture, and Publishers Weekly.

Her latest novel, Terrace Story (Ecco; on sale: August 29, 2023), is described as “... an intimate exploration of time, a fable about love,[and] an epic daydream for a broken-hearted world.” Booklist said of the book, “Terrace Story is fun and profound, fickle and erudite. It is an irresistibly cool book.”

Hernan Diaz, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Trust, said of the author, ”Hilary Leichter, [is] one of our most original novelists, [and] amazes us again with a beautifully unclassifiable novel. Step out onto the terrace, where space and time, cause and effect, and fiction and reality have been redefined and gorgeously subverted. Terrace Story isn’t a novel you merely read; it’s a book you inhabit.”

Hilary teaches at Columbia University where she is the Undergraduate Creative Writing Adviser in Fiction. Her writing has appeared in The New Yorker, n+1, The New York Times, Conjunctions, and elsewhere. Her work in Harper’s Magazine won the 2021 National Magazine Award in Fiction.

[Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm]

[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]

In this file Hilary Leichter and I discussed:

Why it never seems to get easier
Sling-shotting from rejection to literary darling
Why her first book was about a woman with many jobs set in the gig economy
The writing habits she fears are unhealthy
Revisiting The Poetics of Space
The definition of “reverse research”
And a lot more!

Show Notes:

hilaryleichter.com
Terrace Story: A Novel By Hilary Leichter (Amazon)
Andrea Bartz Amazon Author Page
How Pulitzer Prize-Winning Author Hernan Diaz Writes: Redux
Hilary Leichter on Instagram
Hilary Leichter on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How NY Times Bestselling Author Andrea Bartz Writes

21 juli 2023 | 35 min

How Critically Acclaimed Author Andrew Lipstein Writes

14 juli 2023 | 31 min

How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Susan Wiggs Writes: Part One

7 juli 2023 | 35 min

How NY Times Bestselling Author Helen Schulman Writes

30 juni 2023 | 36 min

New York Times bestselling author and educator, Helen Schulman, spoke to me about her winding path to bestseller, why a writing career is 90% sweat and rejection, and how the #MeToo movement inspired her latest novel, LUCKY DOGS.

Helen Schulman is the New York Times bestselling author of seven novels, including Come with Me and This Beautiful Life, and she is currently the Fiction Chair of the Creative Writing Program at The New School.

Her latest, Lucky Dogs, is described as a novel that “... lays bare what happens to women—no matter how fortunate they may appear to be on the surface—whose lives have been warped by brutality and misogyny.”

Best-selling author Jennifer Egan called the book, "Part thriller, part Hollywood satire [and] a brash, sometimes heartbreaking saga in which trauma and self-preservation converge across decades and continents. This is Helen Schulman's best novel yet."

Helen Schulman’s fiction, non-fiction, and reviews have appeared in such places as Vanity Fair, Time, Vogue, GQ, The New York Times Book Review, and The Paris Review. She also serves as Executive Director for WriteOn NYC, a fellowship program that provides free creative writing instruction to underserved New York City school children.

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[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]

In this file, Helen Schulman and I discussed:

Why her latest book isn’t funny
Her intensive research process
Why she wrote her latest from bed
Her passion for helping underprivileged kids discover a love of writing
How to tell if a writer is going to “make it”
And a lot more!

Show Notes:

Helen Schulman | The New School
Lucky Dogs: A Novel By Helen Schulman (Amazon)
Helen Schulman Amazon Author Page
WriteOn NYC – Connecting passionate writers to New York City students
Aspen Words
Kelton Reid on Twitter

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How NY Times Bestselling Author James Swallow Writes: Part Two

23 juni 2023 | 39 min

How NY Times Bestselling Author Ashley Audrain Writes

16 juni 2023 | 29 min

How Internationally Bestselling Author Liv Constantine Writes

9 juni 2023 | 34 min

Internationally bestselling authors, Lynne & Valerie Constantine – AKA Liv Constantine – spoke to me about the importance of writers’ conferences, how to write perfidy with your best friend, and their latest thriller THE SENATOR'S WIFE.

Liv Constantine is the pen name of sisters Lynne and Valerie Constantine who are the WSJ, USA Today, and Internationally bestselling authors of Reese’s Book Club pick The Last Mrs. Parrish, which has sold over 500,000 copies and is soon to be adapted for Netflix

Their latest, The Senator's Wife, is described as “... a psychological thriller that upends the private lives of those who walk the halls of power. Because when you have it all, you have everything to lose.”

#1 New York Times bestselling author A. J. Finn called the book, “The Hand That Rocks the Cradle meets The West Wing, a high-stakes paranoia thriller, slippery as a politician’s handshake, that's both sophisticated and irrepressibly fun.”

Lynne is a former marketing executive with a Master’s degree in Business from Johns Hopkins University who also writes The Jack Logan series under the pen name L.C. Shaw.

Early in her career, Valerie worked in Washington D.C. as a White House Assistant in the President’s Scheduling and Advance Office planning presidential trips and travel.

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[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]

In this file, Lynne, Valerie and I discussed:

How to team up with your sister to write a thriller
Setting a book in the halls of power, Washington, D.C.
How they plot their novels over Zoom
Why they call Thiller Fest their “summer camp”
The importance of freelance editors
And a lot more!

Show Notes:

livconstantine.com
The Senator's Wife by Liv Constantine (Amazon)
Liv Constantine Amazon Author Page
thrillerwriters.org
Liv Constantine on Instagram
Liv Constantine on Facebook
Liv Constantine on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How NY Times Bestselling Author Fiona Barton Writes

2 juni 2023 | 34 min

How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Carley Fortune Writes

26 maj 2023 | 34 min

#1 New York Times bestselling author, Carley Fortune, spoke to me about her storied career as a journalist, writing a breakout hit in just four months, and her latest novel, MEET ME AT THE LAKE.

Carley Fortune is an award-winning Canadian journalist and the #1 New York Times and #1 Globe and Mail bestselling author of Meet Me at the Lake and Every Summer After.

Her latest, Meet Me at the Lake, is described as a “...love story about two strangers who come together when they need each other most. Once, in their early twenties, and again a decade later.”

GMA said of the book, "Fortune explores the aftermath of losing a beloved parent and reclaiming a relationship in this unputdownable, witty, soulful and stirring novel." And New York Times bestselling author Jill Santopolo called Meet Me at The Lake “... a beautiful, heart-tugging, love story about secrets, lies, missed connections and second chances.”

Carley has worked as an editor at some of Canada’s top publications, including The Globe and Mail, Chatelaine, Toronto Life, and a now-defunct weekly paper, The Grid. She was most recently the Executive Editor of Refinery29 Canada.

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In this file, Carley Fortune and I discussed:

What prompted her to reclaim her creative energy
How to write 80 thousand words in just four months
Why writers need to keep their expectations realistic and protect their mental health
How she starts planning her novels
Why extroverted writers need to get into real clothes and out of the house
And a lot more!

Show Notes:

carleyfortune.com
Meet Me at the Lake By Carley Fortune (Amazon)
Carley Fortune Amazon Author Page
Carley Fortune on Instagram
Carley Fortune on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Emily Henry Writes: Part Two

19 maj 2023 | 34 min

How Pulitzer Prize-Winning Author Hernan Diaz Writes: Redux

12 maj 2023 | 37 min

NOTE: This is an updated replay of an amazing chat I had with Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist, Hernan Diaz, who spoke to me exactly one year ago about rejection, his unusual path to literary stardom, subverting reader expectations, and his latest novel TRUST.

A big congrats to Hernan who recently won the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for fiction.

His novel, Trust, shared the Pulitzer Books prize with Barbara Kingsolver’s novel, Demon Copperhead. Trust was named one of 2022’s Most Anticipated Books by The New York Times, OprahDaily, The Today Show, Vogue, Vulture, AV Club, and many others.

Described as "...an immersive story and a brilliant literary puzzle .... about money, power, intimacy, and perception," The NY Times called Trust, “Intricate, cunning and consistently surprising ..."

Hernan was also a finalist for the PEN/Faulkner Award and his first novel, In the Distance, won the Saroyan International Prize, the Cabell Award, the Prix Page America, and the New American Voices Award, among other distinctions. He holds a Ph.D. from NYU, edits an academic journal at Columbia University, and his stories and essays have appeared in The Paris Review, Granta, Playboy, The Yale Review, McSweeney’s, and elsewhere.

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In this file Hernan Diaz and I discussed:

Why the path to publication is a Catch-22 for authors
The lonely road to Pulitzer Nominee and the disorientation of fame
What he learned from Jorge Luis Borges
Re-mapping the isthmus of referential reality
How he unlearned academic writing
And a lot more!

Show Notes:

hernandiaz.net
Trust by Hernan Diaz (Amazon Affiliate)
Hernan Diaz Amazon Author Page (Amazon Affiliate)
Pulitzer Prizes 2023: A Guide to the Winning Books and Finalists - NY Times
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Ruta Sepetys Writes

5 maj 2023 | 34 min

How NY Times Bestselling Author J. Ryan Stradal Writes

28 april 2023 | 33 min

New York Times bestselling author, J. Ryan Stradal, spoke to me about the unsurpassed passive aggressiveness of Midwesterners, writing about the restaurant industry during the pandemic, and his latest novel SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE LAKESIDE SUPPER CLUB.

J. Ryan Stradal is the award-winning and New York Times bestselling author of Kitchens of the Great Midwest and national bestseller The Lager Queen of Minnesota, named one of the year's best books by NPR, USA Today, Booklist, and many others.

His latest novel is Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club, described as “... a sharp and poignant tale of a couple from two different restaurant families in rural Minnesota – one has inherited her grandparents’ old-fashioned supper club, and the other is heir to a chain of homestyle diners (known for putting those supper clubs out of business).” The book was named An Amazon Best Book of April 2023.

New York Times bestselling author Roxane Gay said of the novel, “This is a perfect book.” And in a starred review, Kirkus called it, “A loving ode to supper clubs, the Midwest, and the people there who try their best to make life worth living.”

J. Ryan Stradal has also worked extensively in TV, story editing and producing shows for VH-1, MTV, ABC, FOX, TLC, A&E, Discovery, and History. Working primarily for Original Productions from 2008 to 2014, he was the senior story producer on “Deadliest Catch” and “Ice Road Truckers” and a supervising producer on "Storage Wars," and “Storage Wars: Texas.”

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[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]

In this file, J. Ryan Stradal and I discussed:

What it was like during the sunset of the halcyon days at MTV and VH1
Producing a popular reality TV show in the Canadian Arctic
How he wrote a novel in the margins of editing Storage Wars
The unique dining experience of a Midwestern supper club
Why writers need to ditch perfection
And a lot more!

Show Notes:

jryanstradal.com
Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club by J. Ryan Stradal (Amazon)
J. Ryan Stradal Amazon Author Page
J. Ryan Stradal on Instagram
J. Ryan Stradal on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How NY Times Bestselling Author Chanel Cleeton Writes

21 april 2023 | 30 min

New York Times bestselling author, Chanel Cleeton, spoke to me about her passion for exploring Cuban-American identity via women's perspectives throughout history, how she plots her popular historical fiction, and her latest novel THE CUBAN HEIRESS.

Chanel Cleeton is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick Next Year in Havana, as well as instant New York Times bestsellers When We Left Cuba, and The Last Train to Key West.

Her most recent historical fiction entry is The Cuban Heiress, described as a novel inspired by true events that “ … follows two women whose lives become intertwined during a fateful journey upon the S.S. Morro Castle—a luxury cruise liner that caught fire and sank on its way from Havana to New York in September 1934”

Booklist wrote of the book, “Nothing is what it seems in Cleeton's latest gripping historical novel.... Handsome con men, clever thieves, desperate rebels, and our valiant heroines all convene on this elegant but doomed ocean liner. Cleeton includes vivid details about the mysterious final voyage of the Morro Castle and provides further reading about this historic disaster.”

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In this file Chanel Cleeton and I discussed:

How she turned a law degree into a writing career
Why every writer needs to write a terrible first book
The research process of a book-a-year writer
Exploring lesser known events shaping Cuban-American culture
How her characters speak to her in her daily life
Why writers need to dig deep to overcome rejection
And a lot more!

Show Notes:

ChanelCleeton.com
The Cuban Heiress By Chanel Cleeton (Amazon)
Chanel Cleeton Amazon Author Page
Chanel Cleeton on Instagram
Chanel Cleeton on Facebook
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Bonnie Garmus Writes

14 april 2023 | 31 min

How NY Times Bestselling Author Gregg Hurwitz Writes

7 april 2023 | 39 min

New York Times and #1 internationally bestselling author, Gregg Hurwitz, spoke with me about why all writing is a process of self-discovery, how to humanize a trained assassin, and the latest Orphan X thriller, THE LAST ORPHAN.

Gregg Hurwitz is an award-winning and internationally bestselling author of 23 thrillers including the ORPHAN X series. He has been published in 33 languages, and the Los Angeles Times called him “... a thriller giant."

He is also a NY Times bestselling comic book writer, having penned stories for AWA (Knighted and the critically acclaimed anthology NewThink), Marvel (Wolverine, Punisher) and DC (Batman, Penguin).

His eighth Orphan X novel is The Last Orphan, the ongoing series featuring The Nowhere Man, “Evan Smoak, a man with skills, resources, and a personal mission to help those with nowhere else to turn. He’s also a man with a dangerous past.”

#1 NY Times bestselling author Meg Gardiner said of the book, "Just when I thought the Orphan X novels couldn’t get any better, Gregg Hurwitz takes the series to an even higher level. The Last Orphan is pulse-pounding, heart-stopping, and thought-provoking.”

Gregg Hurwitz has written screenplays and TV scripts for many of the major studios and networks, has published poetry, numerous academic articles on Shakespeare, and has taught fiction writing at USC.

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In this file Gregg Hurwitz and I discussed:

The reason he never took a creative writing class
Why Orphan X is the culmination of his career
Plot as character in motion
How every writer’s voice is as distinctive as a fingerprint
Writing Batman vs Bruce Wayne and villains vs antagonists
Grabbing a bourbon with William Faulkner
And a lot more!

Show Notes:

GreggHurwitz.net
The Last Orphan By Gregg Hurwitz (Amazon)
Gregg Hurwitz Amazon Author Page
Gregg Hurwitz on Facebook
Gregg Hurwitz on Instagram
Gregg Hurwitz on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How Critically Acclaimed Author Margot Douaihy Writes

31 mars 2023 | 48 min

Critically acclaimed debut crime novelist and poet, Margot Douaihy, spoke with me about what she learned from Gillian Flynn, subverting the hard-boiled mystery, and writing a queer, iconoclastic, chain-smoking, punk rock nun, for her latest SCORCHED GRACE.

Margot Douaihy is an award-winning educator, editor, and poet whose first novel is Scorched Grace, the inaugural title published by Gillian Flynn Books, an imprint with Zando. It was named a New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice, Amazon Editors’ Choice , Apple Books Best Book of the Month, and one of the “most anticipated crime books” of the year by Barnes & Noble, Crime Reads, Electric Lit, LGBTQ Reads and many others.

The book has been described as a lyrical mystery that kicks off a series featuring protagonist “Sister Holiday, a chain-smoking, heavily tattooed, queer nun, [who] puts her amateur sleuthing skills to the test…”

Don Winslow, #1 internationally bestselling author of The Power of the Dog and City on Fire, said of the book, “Margot Douaihy’s bold entry into the hard-boiled genre revitalizes it for our times. Skillfully plotted, propulsive, and deeply engaged with the communities it represents, Scorched Grace is one of the best crime fiction debuts I’ve come across in a long while.”

Margot has a Ph.D. in Creative Writing from Lancaster University, is the co-editor of Cambridge’s Elements in Crime Narratives series, teaches Creative Writing and Editing/Publishing at Franklin Pierce University in Rindge, NH, and is the author of four poetry collections.

Her writing has been featured in Colorado Review; The Florida Review; North American Review; PBS NewsHour; Portland Review, and many others.

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[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]

In this file Margot Douaihy and I discussed:

The winding path to celebrated debut novel
Why we uphold a tragic misconception about writers
How to honor, and repudiate, masters of the noir genre
The ecosystem of her deep immersion and channeling of the muse
How to find the broad brush strokes of causality in crime
Why writers need to double down and follow their curiosity
And a lot more!

Show Notes:

margotdouaihy.com
Scorched Grace By Margot Douaihy (Amazon)
Margot Douaihy on Instagram
Margot Douaihy on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How to Write a Bestselling Audio Drama with Writer/Producer Aaron Tracy: Part One

24 mars 2023 | 45 min

Yale educator and TV writer/producer, Aaron Tracy, spoke with me about what it takes to make it as a TV writer, breaking into the audio drama space, producing Audible’s most successful original fiction series, and working on the upcoming “Supreme” with Eva Longoria.

Aaron Tracy teaches “The Art and Craft of Television Drama” at Yale University, and his TV credits include Law & Order: SVU, Fairly Legal, The Tap, and Sequestered, a serialized thriller that ran two seasons, for which he was Creator and Executive Producer.

He is also the Creator, Head Writer, and Exec. Producer of scripted audio dramas for iHeartRadio, Audible, and Spotify, with various production partners. These include an underdog NBA story with Steve Nash, a legal thriller with James Patterson, a historical romance with Shonda Rhimes, and a courtroom drama with Eva Longoria.

His first show to be released, The Coldest Case, a detective thriller starring Aaron Paul, Krysten Ritter, and Alexis Bledel, premiered as the #1 download on Audible in 2021, and has since become the most downloaded show in Audible Plus history.

His audio entertainment company, Parallax, is the home for “prestige scripted audio thrillers and thought-provoking unscripted fare.”

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In this file Aaron Tracy and I discussed:

The two paths available to aspiring TV writers
Why you need to always be pitching ideas
How audio dramas harken back to the golden days of radio
Landing big stars for "TV shows without the visuals"
Working with Rob Reiner
How to write for the ear
Why the journey is the destination for writers
And a lot more!

Show Notes:

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How Award-Winning Author, Artist & Filmmaker Leopoldo Gout Writes

17 mars 2023 | 63 min

Award-winning author, visual artist, and filmmaker, Leopoldo Gout, spoke with me about making music videos for David Byrne, going from homeless auteur to working for James Patterson, his unique creative process, and his latest horror novel PIÑATA.

Leopoldo Gout is the author of the books Ghost Radio, the award-winning Genius YA trilogy, and the recently published fable for all ages, Monarca. He has also packaged, published, and developed books with other writers under his imprint at Simon & Schuster: Leopoldo & Co., and was co-president of the James Patterson Entertainment company for many years.

His latest novel is Piñata (Tor Nightfire), described as “... a bone-chilling possession tale perfect for fans of Hereditary and A Head Full of Ghosts. Based on the true, horrific story of the Spanish conquistadors that used piñatas to force Aztec children to destroy their gods…”

Publishers Weekly wrote of the author, “Gout puts a unique twist on a classic possession story by incorporating Indigenous Mexican lore into the gory plot.”

Leopoldo Gout is an accomplished visual artist, filmmaker, and writer from Mexico City, and studied sculpture at Central St. Martins School of Art in London. He is currently producing award-winning author Marlon James’ original debut for television: GET MILLIE BLACK (Channel 4 & HBO) and was the Exec. Producer of the film Molly's Game starring Jessica Chastain and Idris Elba.

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In this file Leopoldo Gout and I discussed:

How his early life in Mexico contributed to a life of curiosity
Working with Pedro Pascal, star of The Mandalorian and The Last of Us
Why the Horror genre was a great fit for his artistic sensibilities
What it was like to work with Aaron Sorkin on Molly’s Game
Using research and meditation to beat creative block
Overcoming your fear of failure
And a lot more!

Show Notes:

LeopoldoGout.net
Piñata A Novel By Leopoldo Gout (Amazon)
Leopoldo Gout’s Amazon Author Page
Leopoldo Gout on Facebook
Leopoldo Gout on Instagram
Leopoldo Gout on IMdB
Kelton Reid on Twitter

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How NY Times Bestselling Author Jill Santopolo Writes

10 mars 2023 | 35 min

New York Times and internationally bestselling author, Jill Santopolo, spoke with me about finding balance as a writer/publisher, writing as therapy, the universal power of myths, and her latest novel STARS IN AN ITALIAN SKY.

Jill Santopolo’s debut adult novel, The Light We Lost, was a Reese Witherspoon’s Book Club pick, landed on the New York Times bestsellers list, and has been optioned for film. Her books have been translated into more than 35 languages and she is also the associate publisher of Philomel Books, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers Group, where she has edited critically-acclaimed, award-winning, and best-selling books including She Persisted by Chelsea Clinton, and Superheroes Are Everywhere by Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and Mechal Roe.

Her fourth novel is Stars in an Italian Sky, described as “… a sweeping story of two star-crossed lovers in post-World War II Italy, and a blossoming relationship generations later that will reveal a long-buried family secret.”

Publishers Weekly wrote of the author, “Santopolo skillfully weaves two love stories in which passionate and idealistic young couples contend with class differences, tension between their personal desires and familial obligations, and the ongoing ramifications of decisions made by earlier generations….”

Jill is also the author of three successful children's and young-adult series including the Alec Flint Mysteries, the Sparkle Spa series, and the Follow Your Heart books. She holds a BA in English Literature from Columbia University, and an MFA in Writing for Children from the Vermont College of Fine Arts.

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In this file Jill Santopolo and I discussed:

The importance of liking all the things you do
Why you can’t write unless you know what’s been written before
How she got her start in publishing and writing children’s books
Why love and loss are the touchstones of storytelling
Whether Venus would be on Tinder
Researching for two hours to write a single sentence
And a lot more!

Show Notes:

JillSantopolo.com
Stars in an Italian Sky By Jill Santopolo (Amazon)
Jill Santopolo’s Amazon Author Page
Jill Santopolo on Facebook
Jill Santopolo on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How NY Times Bestselling Author Rebecca Makkai Writes

3 mars 2023 | 39 min

New York Times bestselling author and Pulitzer finalist, Rebecca Makkai, spoke with me about her love of the short story, the true crime industrial complex, and her latest “literary feminist boarding school murder mystery,” I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU.

Rebecca Makkai’s last novel, The Great Believers, was a Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award finalist, won a slew of awards, and was one of The New York Times' Ten Best Books of 2018.

Her latest novel is I Have Some Questions for You, named a Most Anticipated Book of 2023 by TIME, The Seattle Times, Good Housekeeping, Today.com, CrimeReads, NPR, and many others.

Described by the San Francisco Chronicle as, "part true-crime page-turner, part campus coming-of-age," and The New York Times Book Review as, "A spellbinding work …" Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jennifer Egan called the book, “Part boarding school drama, part forensic whodunnit, I Have Some Questions for You is a true literary mystery—haunting and hard to put down.”

Rebecca is a 2022 Guggenheim Fellow, on the MFA faculties of the University of Nevada, Reno at Lake Tahoe and Northwestern University, and is Artistic Director of StoryStudio Chicago. Her work has been translated into 20 languages, and her short fiction has been anthologized in The Pushcart Prize XLI (2017), The Best American Short Stories 2011, 2010, 2009 and 2008, and many others.

Stay tuned until the end of the show for a preview of the Audiobook, excerpted courtesy Penguin Random House Audio from I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU by Rebecca Makkai, read by Julia Whelan and JD Jackson.

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In this file Rebecca Makkai and I discussed:

Why she chose to become an educator early on in her career
The importance of 15 years of writing and publishing short stories
How luck and maturity played a role in her career as a novelist
The most underutilized tool in fiction
Her Zen koan for fellow writers
And a lot more!

Show Notes:

I Have Some Questions for You A NOVEL By Rebecca Makkai (Amazon)
Rebecca Makkai’s Amazon Author Page
By the Book Interview: Rebecca Makkai - The New York Times
A Novel That Confronts Our True-Crime Obsession | The New Yorker
Rebecca Makkai on Facebook
Rebecca Makkai on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How NY Times Bestselling Author William Landay Writes

24 februari 2023 | 46 min

‘On Writing and Failure’ with Author Stephen Marche

17 februari 2023 | 33 min

Former Shakespeare professor and author, Stephen Marche, spoke with me about how to roll with the punches, finding comfort in the history of writerly failure, and his candid guide on handling a lifetime of rejection, “On Writing and Failure.”

Stephen Marche is a novelist, essayist, and cultural commentator, and he was a contributing editor at Esquire, for which he wrote a monthly column entitled "A Thousand Words about Our Culture."

His latest is the book-length essay titled “On Writing and Failure: Or, On the Peculiar Perseverance Required to Endure the Life of a Writer.” The Midwest Book Review called it “... essential reading for anyone seeking to write for a living, be it as a novelist, essayist, poet, columnist, or any other writing genre."

Stephen Marche received a doctorate in early modern English drama from the University of Toronto and taught Renaissance drama at CUNY. He is the author of half a dozen books, and has written opinion pieces and essays for The New Yorker, the New York Times, The Atlantic, Esquire, The Walrus, and many others.

He is also the host of the hit Audible series How Not to F*ck Up Your Kids Too Bad, and the sequel How Not to F*ck Up Your Marriage Too Bad.

Stay calm and write on ...

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[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]

In this file Stephen Marche and I discussed:

Why his career has been more than a little weird
How to get back up after you’ve been knocked down
Why good writers offer advice and great writers offer condolences
What the writing life offers the uninitiated
Where to hang out with Shakespeare
And a lot more!

Show Notes:

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How NY Times Bestselling Author Deepti Kapoor Writes

10 februari 2023 | 32 min

New York Times bestselling novelist, Deepti Kapoor, spoke with me about plumbing her subconscious for stories, a changing India and the trifecta of big business, crime, and corruption, and her sprawling saga AGE OF VICE.

Deepti Kapoor is the bestselling author of Age of Vice, a novel described as, “Deftly shifting through time and perspective in contemporary India, Age of Vice is an epic, action-packed story propelled by… seductive wealth, startling corruption, and bloodthirsty violence…”

The book was the “Good Morning America” book club selection for January, and it’s been purchased by FX for a series. It was also described by #1 internationally bestselling author Lee Child as, “Sensationally good — huge, epic, immersive and absorbing … certain to be a book of the year.”

After growing up in Northern India, Deepti Kapoor studied journalism at the University of Delhi and later completed an MA in Social Psychology. She worked for several years as a journalist in New Delhi, driving the city, finding stories, and learning the streets.

** Note: The audio quality during the interview varies, Deepti lives in a densely populated part of Portugal and sirens can be heard at times. And there is a mention of drug use, though theoretical.

Stay calm and write on ...

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[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]

In this file Deepti Kapoor and I discussed:

How to employ radical empathy in your storytelling
Starting a novel without a plan or an outline
The importance of a strict routine and letting ideas incubate
When characters insinuate themselves into your story
How to write propulsive entertainment with a message
And a lot more!

Show Notes:

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How NY Times Bestselling Debut Novelist Ana Reyes Writes

3 februari 2023 | 32 min

How NY Times Bestselling Horror Writer Grady Hendrix Writes

27 januari 2023 | 36 min

Award-winning, New York Times bestselling author and screenwriter, Grady Hendrix, spoke with me about getting serious about horror, turning genre tropes on their head, and his latest “How to Sell a Haunted House.”

Grady Hendrix is an award-winning novelist, screenwriter, and journalist best known for My Best Friend’s Exorcism (adapted into a feature film by Amazon Studios), and the New York Times bestsellers The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires, and The Final Girl Support Group.

His latest is How to Sell a Haunted House, an #1 Indie Next List pick, described as a “...novel that explores the way your past—and your family—can haunt you like nothing else.” The New York Times called it a “…gripping, wildly entertaining exploration of childhood horrors,” and Esquire called it “... an authentically frightening, genuinely funny reconfiguration of what a haunted house can be.”

New York Times bestselling author Chuck Wendig said of the book, “A spirited nightmare story about death, but also, what comes after: grief, guilt, family secrets, and estate administration. Oh, also, did I mention the evil puppets?”

Grady Hendrix’s work is currently in multiple phases of adaptation at HBO and others, for both feature film and streaming.

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[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]

In this file Grady Hendrix and I discussed:

How his novel about a haunted Scandinavian furniture store launched his fiction career
Perseverance and writing what you know
Stripping down the horror genre to its core
The importance of sucky drafts
Why haunted house stories are always about families
And a lot more!

Show Notes:

How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix (Amazon)
Grady Hendrix Amazon Author Page
Gradyhendrix.com
The Smell of Fear - How To Sell A Haunted House Candle
Grady Hendrix on Facebook
Grady Hendrix on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How Academy Award-Nominated Screenwriter & Novelist Iris Yamashita Writes

20 januari 2023 | 38 min

Academy Award-nominated screenwriter and debut novelist, Iris Yamashita, spoke to me about working with Clint Eastwood, her journey from Hollywood to publishing, and falling down the rabbit hole with her first mystery “City Under One Roof.”

Iris Yamashita has been working in Hollywood for over 15 years and was nominated for a “Best Original Screenplay” Oscar for the movie Letters from Iwo Jima (directed by Clint Eastwood).

Her debut novel is City Under One Roof, described as “Alice in Wonderland meets Fargo,” and, “The ultimate locked room mystery, [the novel] drops readers into an isolated, snowy town and is perfect for fans of Twin Peaks, Mare of Easttown, and Broadchurch.”

A Publishers Weekly starred review noted, “Unusual topography plays a major role in screenwriter Yamashita’s atmospherically charged debut….This distinctively original perspective on a ‘community of stragglers, oddballs, and recluses’ heralds the arrival of a major new talent.”

#1 New York Times bestselling author C.J. Box called the book, “A compulsive page-turner that’s both atmospheric and claustrophobic at the same time.”

Iris continues to work in Hollywood, developing for both film and streaming media. She has taught screenwriting at UCLA and the American Film Institute.

Stay tuned until the end of the show for a preview of the Audiobook, excerpted courtesy Penguin Random House Audio from City Under One Roof by Iris Yamashita, read by Aspen Vincent, Shannon Tyo, and Anna Caputo.

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[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]

In this file Iris Yamashita and I discussed:

How she kept her dream of becoming a novelist alive
The reverse path from TV pilot to novel
What her transition from the movie world to the book world was like
Why nothing is precious
Vomit drafting
Finding flow state versus slow state
And a lot more!

Show Notes:

City Under One Roof by Iris Yamashita (Amazon)
www.irisyamashita.com
Iris Yamashita on Facebook
Iris Yamashita on Instagram
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How Acclaimed Debut Novelist Kai Thomas Writes

13 januari 2023 | 42 min

How NY Times Bestselling Author Jayne Ann Krentz Writes

6 januari 2023 | 36 min

Award-winning and NY Times bestselling author, Jayne Ann Krentz, spoke to me about how persistence has defined her career, why you need to describe your core story in three words, and her latest thriller, “Sleep No More.”

Jayne Ann Krentz is the author of over 50 consecutive New York Times bestsellers with over 40 million copies of her books in print. She currently writes under three pseudonyms and her award-winning books have earned her the title of “Queen of Romantic Suspense.”

Her latest is Sleep No More, the first novel of the Lost Night Files series, described as a “... new romantic suspense trilogy about a night that changed three women forever—but that none of them can remember.”

Kirkus Reviews called the book, “A richly layered mystery full of pleasing paranormal elements from a master of the genre,” and Booklist wrote, in a starred review, “[Krentz] skillfully [taps] into the current vogue for true-crime podcasts with her heroine’s side hustle while at the same giving a clever nod to the eternal appeal of the Gothic …”

Jayne Ann earned a BA in history from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and went on to obtain a Master’s degree in library science from San Jose State University in California.

Stay calm and write on ...

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In this file Jayne Ann Krentz and I discussed:

Her warnings against using multiple pseudonyms
How she invented the Futuristic Romance subgenre
Finding her niche and why each writer has a unique universe
Why she doesn't love police procedurals
Leaning into dreams and the paranormal
And a lot more!

Show Notes:

JayneAnnKrentz.com
Sleep No More by Jayne Ann Krentz (Amazon)
Jayne Ann Krentz Amazon Author Page
Jayne Ann Krentz on Instagram
Jayne Ann Krentz on Facebook
Jayne Ann Krentz Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How to Ghostwrite a Bestseller with Author Adam Skolnick: Part Three

23 december 2022 | 43 min

Award-winning indie journalist and author, Adam Skolnick, returns to discuss the “virus of dissatisfaction,” writing for modern-day samurai David Goggins, and their latest journey to bestseller with “Never Finished,” the sequel to a bestselling memoir.

Never Finished: Unshackle Your Mind and Win the War Within is the follow-up to Can’t Hurt Me, David Goggins’ smash hit memoir. It’s been described as a tour of David’s “... Mental Lab, where he developed the philosophy, psychology, and strategies that enabled him to learn that what he thought was his limit was only his beginning and that the quest for greatness is unending.”

Adam is an award-winning independent journalist and author covering adventure sports, environmental issues, and civil rights for outlets such as The New York Times, Outside, ESPN, BBC, and Men’s Health, among others.

Adam is also the author of One Breath, has narrated David Goggins’ bestselling audiobooks, and co-hosts The Rich Roll Podcast, on the "Roll On" edition.

This is the last episode of the year but we’ll be back soon with more inspiration from your favorite authors. Happy Holidays!

Stay calm and write on ...

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[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]

In Part Three of this file Adam Skolnick and I discussed:

How the sequel to a memoir hit #1 on Amazon and Audible in its week
Battling Michelle Obama (once again)
The pressure of publishing a follow-up to a longtime bestseller
“Goggins Grad School” and the pursuit of greatness
Why ghostwriters need to stay out of the way, be a servant to the story…
And a lot more!

Show Notes:

AdamSkolnick.com
Never Finished: Unshackle Your Mind and Win the War Within – by David Goggins (Amazon)
Can't Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds – by David Goggins (Amazon)
Adam Skolnick on Instagram
Adam Skolnick on The Rich Roll Podcast
A Mostly Uncensored Chat with Award-Winning Journo Adam Skolnick
21 Productivity Hacks from 21 Prolific Writers: Part One
21 Productivity Hacks from 21 Prolific Writers: Part Two
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How to Ghostwrite a Bestseller with Author Adam Skolnick: Part Two - Redux

16 december 2022 | 36 min

In Part Two of this file, we return with an exclusive look into the process behind not only how a writer gets paid to ghostwrite a title for a celebrity, but also the writing, research, and indie publishing of a book that has sat on top of the Amazon charts for over a year!

We had to get special permission from the incredible human and author, David Goggins, to share this story, but it’s no secret that the book was co-written by my good friend Adam Skolnick.

Adam is an award-winning independent journalist and author covering adventure sports, environmental issues, and civil rights for outlets such as The New York Times, Outside, ESPN, BBC, and Men’s Health, among others.

He is also the author of One Breath, was the narrator of David Goggins’ bestselling audiobook for Can’t Hurt Me, and co-hosts The Rich Roll Podcast, on the "Roll On" edition.

Adam returns later this month for the next installment of How to Ghostwrite a Bestseller: Part Three to talk about his journey with David to his latest bestseller Never Finished: Unshackle Your Mind and Win the War Within.

Stay calm and write on ...

[Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm]

[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]

In Part Two of this file Adam Skolnick and I discussed:

The importance of a large social following for non-fiction authors
How timing plays such a big role in self-publishing success
Why an audiobook/podcast hybrid might be the next big thing for authors
The Golden Age for ghostwriting opportunities
How David Goggins's inspiring message goes beyond cookie-cutter self-help
And why "there is no finish line" for writers

Show Notes:

AdamSkolnick.com
Never Finished: Unshackle Your Mind and Win the War Within – by David Goggins (Amazon)
Can't Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds – by David Goggins (Amazon)
Adam Skolnick on Instagram
Adam Skolnick on The Rich Roll Podcast
A Mostly Uncensored Chat with Award-Winning Journo Adam Skolnick
21 Productivity Hacks from 21 Prolific Writers: Part One
21 Productivity Hacks from 21 Prolific Writers: Part Two
Kelton Reid on Twitter

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How to Ghostwrite a Bestseller with Author Adam Skolnick: Part One - Redux

9 december 2022 | 33 min

We are rebroadcasting this incredible look into the process behind not only how a writer gets paid to ghostwrite a title for a celebrity, but also the writing, research, and indie publishing of a book that sat on top of the Amazon charts for over a year! Did it finally beat Michelle Obama’s competing bestseller? Stay tuned to find out.

We had to get special permission from the incredible human and author, David Goggins, to share this story, but it’s no secret that the book was co-written by my good friend Adam Skolnick.

Adam is an award-winning independent journalist and author covering adventure sports, environmental issues, and civil rights for outlets such as The New York Times, Outside, ESPN, BBC, and Men’s Health, among others.

He is also the author of One Breath, was the narrator of David Goggins’ bestselling audiobook for Can’t Hurt Me, and co-hosts The Rich Roll Podcast, on the "Roll On" edition.

Adam returns later this month for the next installment of How to Ghostwrite a Bestseller to talk about his journey with David to his latest bestseller Never Finished: Unshackle Your Mind and Win the War Within. A huge thank you to Mr. Goggins.

Stay calm and write on ...

[Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm]

[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]

In this file Adam Skolnick and I discussed:

A definition of ghostwriting
How Adam got tapped to ghostwrite for author and endurance athlete David Goggins
Why Goggins turned down a major book publishing deal and decided to self-publish (with Adam still attached)
The Joe Rogan effect for authors
How Adam made the decision to help write David's story
And the unique research and drafting process that went into a bestseller ...

Show Notes:

AdamSkolnick.com
Never Finished: Unshackle Your Mind and Win the War Within – by David Goggins (Amazon)
Can't Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds – by David Goggins (Amazon)
Adam Skolnick on Instagram
Adam Skolnick on The Rich Roll Podcast
A Mostly Uncensored Chat with Award-Winning Journo Adam Skolnick
21 Productivity Hacks from 21 Prolific Writers: Part One
21 Productivity Hacks from 21 Prolific Writers: Part Two
Kelton Reid on Twitter

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How Acclaimed Debut Novelist Brendan Slocumb Writes

2 december 2022 | 37 min

#PodcastersForJustice

Violinist and lauded debut novelist, Brendan Slocumb, spoke to me about how both music and writing saved his life, the darker side of the classical music world, and his debut "The Violin Conspiracy."

Brendan Slocumb is an accomplished violinist and concertmaster who has performed with major symphonies, has a degree in music education, and has over twenty-five years of teaching in the classroom and in his private studio.

His critically acclaimed debut novel, The Violin Conspiracy, has been described as, "Part mystery thriller, part character study of a young Black man trying to make his way in the world of classical music..." It was a GMA Book Club Pick and named a Publishers Weekly Top Ten Mystery/Thriller, NPR’s Books We Love 2022, Audible’s 13 Best Debuts of 2022, and earned two Goodreads Choice Award nominations for Best Debut Novel and Best Mystery Thriller.

Publishers Weekly called the book "[A] gripping debut. . . . Slocumb sensitively portrays Ray’s resilience in the face of extreme racism. The author is off to a promising start.”

Brendan hosts the podcast How Music Can Save Your Life, is a Nobel Teacher of distinction, and serves as an educational consultant for the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

Stay calm and write on ...

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In this file Brendan Slocumb and I discussed:

How he finds time to tour, write, practice for his string quartet, and teach students for an upcoming recital
Why the Pandemic forced him to become a prolific novelist
What it's like to sign your first paperback for a fan
The importance of practice, routine, and banging out 3000 words a day
Why writers need to walk, stretch, and hit the gym
And a lot more!

Show Notes:

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How NY Times Bestselling Thriller Writer Jeffery Deaver Writes: Part Two

25 november 2022 | 44 min

#PodcastersForJustice

#1 international bestselling author of over 40 novels, Jeffery Deaver, returns to rap about his prolific output, an award-winning handbook for mystery writers, and the latest Colter Shaw novel, "Hunting Time."

Jeffery Deaver is a former journalist, musician, and attorney best known for his Lincoln Rhyme series – now a hit NBC TV show – and the novel, The Bone Collector, adapted for the big screen starring Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie.

The "master of suspense" has been nominated for eight Edgar Awards and served two terms as president of Mystery Writers of America, and was recently named a Grand Master of MWA, whose ranks include Agatha Christie, Mary Higgins Clark, and Walter Mosely.

His latest is Hunting Time (A Colter Shaw Novel), described as "... a riveting thriller, as reward seeker Colter Shaw plunges into the woods and races the clock in a case where nothing is quite what it seems." Kirkus Reviews described the book as "A fleet, irresistible tale."

Jeffery has sold over 50 million books worldwide in 150 countries, and been translated into 35 languages. He has also published three collections of short stories.

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In this file Jeffery Deaver and I discussed:

Pandemic survival
How he finds the solitude of the writing life
What it's like to be mentioned in the same breath as Agatha Christie
How he keeps his Edgar Award nomination streak alive
Why books are better than Netflix
How the author structures his novels with questions and conflicts
And a lot more!

Show Notes:

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How NY Times Bestselling Thriller Writer Jeffery Deaver Writes: Part One - Redux

18 november 2022 | 38 min

A quick note that this week we're resurfacing Part One of an enlightening chat I had with #1 internationally bestselling author Jeffery Deaver about his process for writing “ticking-time bomb suspense,” near the start of the Pandemic. Next week we are going to catch up with the author for the second part of that interview series with Jeff to talk about his latest novel and a lot more about the writing life. Until then …

The #1 internationally bestselling author of over 40 novels, Jeffery Deaver, took a few minutes to discuss his advice on how to write emotionally engaging fiction, the merits of plotters vs. pantsers, and a 5-step process for writing your novel.

"Rejection is just a speed bump ... it's not a brick wall. Keep at it." – Jeffery Deaver

Jeffery is a former journalist, musician, and attorney best known for his Lincoln Rhyme series – now a hit NBC TV show – and the novel, The Bone Collector, adapted for the big screen starring Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie.

The "master of suspense" has been nominated for seven Edgar Awards and has gone on to sell 50 million books worldwide, translated into 35 languages.

His thriller featured here is a sequel to The Never Game – The Goodbye Man (A Colter Shaw Novel Book 2) – and once again features Colter Shaw, a rugged survivalist and "reward-seeker."

One of Bookpage's "Most Anticipated Mysteries and Thrillers" of 2020, Publishers Weekly said of the book, “Deaver balances suspense and plausibility perfectly ... This is a perfect jumping-on point for readers new to one of today’s top contemporary thriller writers.”

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In this file Jeffery Deaver and I discussed:

Why suspense writers are like airline pilots
Wisdom from Joyce Carol Oates and the importance of outlining
How having your novel read aloud to you can improve your prose
A simple formula for writing "roller-coaster" fiction
And much more!

Show Notes:

JefferyDeaver.com
The Goodbye Man (A Colter Shaw Novel) by Jeffery Deaver [Amazon]
Jeffery Deaver Amazon author page
NaturalReader app
Jeffery Deaver on Instagram
Jeffery Deaver on Facebook
Jeffery Deaver on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How Award-Winning Author & Filmmaker Priyanka Kumar Writes

11 november 2022 | 41 min

How Hemingway Wrote with Prof. Mark Cirino

4 november 2022 | 45 min

#PodcastersForJustice

"Writing, at its best, is a lonely life." – Ernest Hemingway

Ernest Hemingway scholar and author, Professor Mark Cirino, spoke to me about the ethos of the late literary lion, how Hemingway outlived his myth, and his mission to uncover Hem's truest sentence.

Dr. Cirino hosts the popular Hemingway Society-sponsored podcast, One True Podcast. He is also the author of eight books about American literature as a writer or editor. His most recent is One True Sentence: Writers & Readers on Hemingway’s Art (2022), with Michael Von Cannon.

Described as "A selection of the greatest sentences by the master, Ernest Hemingway..." selected and examined by contemporary authors. Publishers Weekly called it “A revelatory compendium ... a rewarding tapestry ... readers are likely to come away with a deepened understanding of—and even awe at—Hemingway’s vast talent.”

Mark Cirino serves as an editor for Kent State University Press’s Reading Hemingway series, and served as a consultant on the film adaptation of Hemingway's "Across the River and into the Trees." He taught creative writing and literature at NYU, and now teaches literature at the University of Evansville.

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In this file Mark Cirino and I discussed:

Why "Writing, at its best, is a lonely life"
The importance of finding your writing community
How The Sun Also Rises made Hem a literary celebrity
The only thing you have to do as a writer
Why each writing project requires new discipline
An open invitation to Bob Dylan
And a lot more!

Show Notes:

Dr. Mark Cirino - Professor and Department Chair
One True Sentence: Writers & Readers on Hemingway’s Art by Mark Cirino and Michael Von Cannon (Amazon)
Mark Cirino Author Page on Amazon
One True Podcast: Hosted by Mark Cirino and produced by Michael Von Cannon
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How #1 New York Times Bestselling Author Robert Crais Writes

28 oktober 2022 | 31 min

#PodcastersForJustice

Award-winning and #1 NY Times bestselling author, Robert Crais, spoke to me about breathing life into the ur detective novel, the legacy of Raymond Chandler, his love of LA, and his latest, "Racing the Light."

Robert Crais is the author of 23 novels, 19 of which feature private investigator Elvis Cole and his laconic ex-cop partner, Joe Pike. The first in the series, The Monkey’s Raincoat, won the Anthony and Macavity Awards and was nominated for the Edgar Award.

The latest is Racing the Light, described as "... a pulse-pounding read and Elvis Cole's most dangerous case yet." Bestselling author David Baldacci called it "... another grand slam for the master storyteller Robert Crais. If there’s a better dynamic duo than Elvis Cole and Joe Pike in all of crime fiction, I’m not aware of it.”

On Reader's Digest's list of "30 new books we can't wait to read in 2022," Kirkus Reviews said that, "... [Crais] keeps the traditional detective novel alive and well."

In a previous life Robert Crais was an Emmy-nominated TV writer/producer and spent several years writing scripts for classic television series like Hill Street Blues, Cagney & Lacey, and Miami Vice.

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In this file Robert Crais and I discussed:

Burning out as a TV writer and chasing the dream of becoming a novelist
Why he never anticipated fame
How his novel LA Requiem changed the trajectory of his career
When your author name gets bigger than the title
Why he'll always be a meticulous outliner
And a lot more!

Show Notes:

robertcrais.com
Racing the Light (An Elvis Cole and Joe Pike Novel Book 19) by Robert Crais (Amazon)
Robert Crais Author Page on Amazon
Robert Crais on Facebook
Robert Crais on Instagram
Robert Crais on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How NY Times Bestselling Mystery Writer Tana French Writes: Redux

21 oktober 2022 | 35 min

#PodcastersForJustice

Note: Hey, just a quick note that the podcast is on hiatus this week but we’re bringing back a fan favorite. Here is my interview with the amazing Tana French from late 2020, at the height of the pandemic. Catch you soon and thanks for your support!

The New York Times bestselling crime novelist, Tana French, took a break to talk with me about her early training as an actress, her definition of creativity, and how to write through the tough times.

"I didn't know if I could write a book. I'd written short stories and really galactically bad teenager poetry, but I'd never tried to write a book before." — Tana French

The author has written eight mystery novels and is considered a master of suspense and the modern psychological thriller. Her work has been compared to writers including James Ellroy and Donna Tartt, and has been called "incandescent" by Stephen King, and "absolutely mesmerizing" by Gillian Flynn.

Her novels have sold over three million copies and won numerous awards, including the Edgar and Barry awards, the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Best Mystery/Thriller, and the Irish Book Award for Crime Fiction.

Her latest bestseller, The Searcher, is her second stand-alone novel, and she was described by The Washington Post as "...the most important crime novelist to emerge in the past 10 years."

Stay tuned for a clip from The Searcher audiobook at the break, “... excerpted courtesy [of] Penguin Random House Audio ... read by Roger Clark.”

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In this file Tana French and I discussed:

Her "galactically" bad poetry
The archaeological dig that inspired “In the Woods,” her Edgar-winning 2007 debut novel
How she came to riff on the Western genre in her latest
And why writers need to fight off the struggle of isolation

Show Notes:

TanaFrench.com
The Searcher: A Novel by Tana French [Amazon]
Tana French Amazon page
The Essential Tana French, The New York Times
Tana French on FaceBook
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How Award-Winning Debut Memoirist Prince Shakur Writes

14 oktober 2022 | 37 min

#PodcastersForJustice

Award-winning, queer, Jamaican-American writer, videographer, activist, and debut memoirist, Prince Shakur, spoke to me about James Baldwin's legacy, writing towards his father's murder, and his latest, "When They Tell You To Be Good."

Prince Shakur is a freelance journalist, videomaker, and New York Times recognized organizer whose debut memoir, When They Tell You To Be Good, is about his "political coming of age in Obama and Trump’s America." It is a Powell's Holiday Pick for 2022 and a TIME, Poets & Writers, Publishers Weekly, them, The Week, Debutiful, and Book Riot Best “Book of Fall.”

Described as an exploration of "... his radicalization and self-realization through examinations of place, childhood, queer identity, and a history of uprisings," the memoir won the Hurston/Wright Crossover Award and has earned him residencies with Sangam House, La Maison Baldwin, The Studios of Key West, and The Atlantic Center for the Arts.

As a freelance journalist Shakur has penned numerous op-eds, essays, and features in Teen Vogue, Daily Dot, CodaStory, Cultured Magazine, AfroPunk, and more. His writings have been used in university classrooms, including Nikkita Oliver’s Prison Abolition course offered at the University of Washington.

Stay calm and write on ...

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In this file Prince Shakur and I discussed:

How he hustled as a young freelance journalist
The black, queer, activist experience
Why he feels the need to push past the notion of "bearing witness"
What it's like to navigate anti-blackness abroad
The urgency of artwork in the face of death
Why artist residencies and grants are so important for writers
And a lot more!

Show Notes:

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How Award-Winning NY Times Bestselling Author Deanna Raybourn Writes

7 oktober 2022 | 40 min

How Acclaimed Debut Novelist and Podcaster Bobby Finger Writes

30 september 2022 | 36 min

How Award-Winning & Bestselling Author A.M. Homes Writes

23 september 2022 | 35 min

How Award-Winning & Bestselling Author Candice Carty-Williams Writes

16 september 2022 | 35 min

#PodcastersForJustice

Bestselling, award-winning author Candice Carty-Williams, spoke to me about the tragicomic nature of being, winning "Book of the Year" at the British Book Awards, and her latest "People Person."

Candice Carty-Williams is a TV producer, culture writer, and author of the international bestseller Queenie, a book that was named a best book of the year by NPR, TIME, PARADE, The Guardian, Good Housekeeping, Marie Claire, and many others.

She also became the first black woman to win the "Book of the Year" award at the British Book Awards for Queenie in 2020.

Her latest novel is People Person, a book described as an "... insightful novel about the power of family — even when they seem like strangers." The Guardian called it, “A big-hearted story of a young woman coming to terms with her complicated London family from the author of the game-changing Queenie.”

Candice created and launched the Guardian 4th Estate BAME Short Story Prize in 2016, the first initiative of its kind in book publishing for underrepresented writers.

She has written for The Guardian, i-D, Vogue, every iteration of The Sunday Times (London), BEAT magazine, Black Ballad, and more.

Her original drama, "Champion," will be airing on BBC One in the U.K., and on Netflix globally, in 2023.

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In this file Candice Carty-Williams and I discussed:

Her early career in book marketing and the disparities she saw in publishing
The inciting incident that inspired her latest
How to balance humor and depth in fiction
Why tragedy plus time equals comedy
Great advice from Toni Morrison
And a lot more!

Show Notes:

candicecartywilliams.com
People Person By Candice Carty-Williams (Amazon)
Guardian 4th Estate BAME Short Story Prize
Candice Carty-Williams on Instagram
Candice Carty-Williams on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How Award-Winning Journalist & Debut Memoirist Casey Parks Writes

9 september 2022 | 36 min

#PodcastersForJustice

Award-winning journalist and debut memoirist, Casey Parks, spoke to me about her lifelong reverence for journalism, the emotional cost of writing a memoir, and her debut "Diary of a Misfit."

Casey Parks is a reporter for The Washington Post who covers gender and family issues. She spent a decade at The Oregonian writing about race and LGBTQ+ issues and was a finalist for the Livingston Award.

A former Spencer Fellow at Columbia University, Parks was awarded the 2021 J. Anthony Lukas Work-in-Progress Award for her debut memoir, Diary of a Misfit: A Memoir and a Mystery.

Described as "... a sweeping journalistic saga about sexuality and gender, family trauma and the redemptive force of love...," Publishers Weekly – in a starred review – called the book, “A tantalizing blend of personal history and reportage .... A brilliantly rendered and complex portrait of Southern life alongside a tender exploration of queer belonging [and] a marvel to witness.”

Casey's articles have appeared in The New York Times Magazine, The New Yorker, The Oxford American, ESPN, USA Today, and The Nation.

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In this file Casey Parks and I discussed:

Earning $50 per story at the outset of her career ...
... to working in a virtual newsroom for The Washington Post
Why that first byline in the New Yorker changes everything
Asking permission to tell the stories of ghosts
Why you can never take "no" as the final answer
And a lot more!

Show Notes:

caseyparks.com
Diary of a Misfit: A Memoir and a Mystery By Casey Parks (Amazon)
Casey Parks for The Washington Post
In the Deep South, a Search for Queer Identity - The New York Times Book Review
Casey Parks on Facebook
Casey Parks on Instagram
Casey Parks on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How Nobel Prize-Winning Author Abdulrazak Gurnah Writes

2 september 2022 | 33 min

How Award-Winning Debut Novelist LaToya Watkins Writes

26 augusti 2022 | 32 min

How Literary Critic & Publishing Insider Bethanne Patrick (AKA TheBookMaven) Writes: Part One

19 augusti 2022 | 43 min

#PodcastersForJustice

Longtime literary critic and publishing insider, Bethanne Patrick, spoke to me about how she became a famed reviewer, where she puts all the books, and her new investigative podcast "Missing Pages."

Bethanne Patrick is a writer, author, and critic whose monthly column on hot books appears in The Washington Post. An influencer in the book world, Bethanne (@TheBookMaven) has over 200K Twitter followers and originated the popular #FridayReads tag.

She is also host to the all-new podcast Missing Pages, which investigates the good (rarely), the bad (frequently), and the messy (always) of the publishing industry.

Described as an investigative podcast, "Missing Pages uncovers the power struggles, mistaken identities, and unfathomably bad behavior within the secretive world of book publishing. Each episode brings in authors, experts, publishing insiders, and a circus of NYC media elites to tell the real story; unfit for print."

Bethanne's book reviews and author profiles have appeared in The Los Angeles Times, Poets & Writers magazine, NPR Books, Lit Hub and many others. She is the author of two books for National Geographic, an editor of an anthology for Regan Arts, and is currently writing a memoir for Counterpoint Press.

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In this file Bethanne Patrick and I discussed:

How she became a self-styled book "maven"
The logistical issues of receiving 20 books a week
What it's like cracking the Cosa Nostra of publishing
Why disruption in the publishing industry can't come fast enough
How to start your career by writing reviews
And a lot more!

Show Notes:

bethannepatrick.com

Missing Pages on Apple Podcasts

Inside the Push to Diversify the Book Business - NY Times

DOJ v. PRH: Agents, Publishers Move Center Stage by Bethanne Patrick for PW

Bethanne Patrick for The Washington Post

Bethanne Patrick on Instagram

Bethanne Patrick on Facebook

Bethanne Patrick on Twitter

Kelton Reid on Twitter

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Mark Greaney Writes: Part Two

12 augusti 2022 | 41 min

#PodcastersForJustice

#1 New York Times bestselling author, Mark Greaney, returned to talk about hanging out on the red carpet with Netflix "The Gray Man" stars Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans, turning a failed screenplay into a hit audio play, and his latest, "Armored."

"Even if you finish a whole book and it doesn't get published, I promise you you're a much better author at the end of that process than you were at the beginning..." – Mark Greaney

Mark's debut international thriller, The Gray Man, was published in 2009 and became a national bestseller and highly sought-after Hollywood property. He's released twelve in that series to date including the #1 New York Times bestseller One Minute Out.

Netflix has now turned the first book in The Gray Man series into a blockbuster movie starring Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans, available now.

His latest is Armored, a novel inspired by the author's popular Audible Original drama. Publishers Weekly wrote that the protagonist, Joshua Duffy, "... proves to be more than just a hardened military tactician. Readers will hope he’ll be back for an encore." A feature film adaptation of Armored is now in development with Sony.

Mark is also the #1 New York Times bestselling author or co-author of seven Tom Clancy novels – he co-wrote Clancy’s final three Jack Ryan thrillers prior to his passing.

Stay tuned until the show's end for a preview of the Audiobook, audio excerpted courtesy Penguin Random House Audio from Armored by Mark Greaney, read by Adam Gold.

Stay calm and write on ...

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In this file Mark Greaney and I discussed:

His 15-year, overnight success
How he continues to hit regular deadlines and write two books a year
What it was like to see his Gray Man on the big screen
Why it's less important to be 100% accurate than to be entertaining
And a lot more!

Show Notes:

How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Mark Greaney Writes: Part One

MarkGreaneybooks.com

THE GRAY MAN | Official Trailer | Netflix

Armored by Mark Greaney (Amazon Affiliate)

Mark Greaney Amazon author page

Mark Greaney on Instagram

Mark Greaney on Facebook

Mark Greaney on Twitter

Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How NY Times Bestselling Author Sarah Pearse Writes

5 augusti 2022 | 37 min

#PodcastersForJustice

New York Times and #1 Sunday Times bestselling author, Sarah Pearse, spoke to me about Agatha Christie's legacy, how to write plausible police procedurals, and the place that inspired her latest, "The Retreat."

Sarah Pearse is the author of The Sanatorium, a stunning crime fiction debut, instant New York Times and international bestseller, as well as a Reese’s Book Club selection and critical success.

Her second novel, The Retreat, is Book Two in her bestselling Detective Elin Warner series, and another locked-room style thriller People magazine called, "The Shining but with a full house.”

New York Times bestselling author Ashley Audrain said of the book, “Sarah Pearse has expertly crafted another eerie, atmospheric thriller that will have you looking over your shoulder as you read. A wonderfully chilling story of grief, revenge, and family secrets. An absorbing escape!”

Sarah Pearse studied English literature and creative writing at the University of Warwick before completing a postgraduate diploma in broadcast journalism and has worked in marketing and publicity for a variety of household brands.

Stay calm and write on ...

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In this file Sarah Pearse and I discussed:

The best writing advice she's ever received
How this #writermom wrote a bestseller on maternity leave
Using folklore, famously haunted, and sacred places in your writing
What mind maps and natural descriptions can do for your setting
The best way to conquer your nerves and win the day
Her thoughts on rejection
And a lot more!

Show Notes:

sarahpearse.co.uk

The Retreat: A Novel by Sarah Pearse (Amazon Affiliate)

The Sanatorium: A Novel by Sarah Pearse (Amazon Affiliate)

Sarah Pearse on Facebook

Sarah Pearse on Instagram

Sarah Pearse on Twitter

Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How National Book Award Winner & Bestselling Author Jason Mott Writes [Redux]

29 juli 2022 | 34 min

#PodcastersForJustice

Addendum:

Hey just a quick addendum on this week's redux, I am out of town this week and enjoying the sweatiest summer of all time with my kids, but I wanted to revisit a fantastic episode with now National Book Award Winner, Sir Walter Raleigh Award for Fiction Winner, Pushcart Prize nominee, NAACP Image Award nominee, and Carnegie Medals For Excellence Longlist nominee Jason Mott. Congrats! Enjoy, I’ll catch you next week with some fresh writerly wisdom.

New York Times bestselling author, Jason Mott, took a timeout to talk with me about the high-wire act of building Hell of a Book, talking about race in America, and NOT working with Brad Pitt.

Jason is the author of The Returned, a New York Times bestseller that was turned into a TV series that ran for two seasons.

His fourth novel is titled Hell of a Book, and is described as a "... funny and honest [work of fiction] that goes to the heart of racism, police violence, and the hidden costs exacted upon Black Americans, and America as a whole."

The book has been named to dozens of "Must Read" lists for 2021 including Entertainment Weekly, The NY Post, GMA, USA Today, Fortune's 21 Most Anticipated Books Coming out in the Second Half of 2021 and more. Charles Yu, author of National Book Award winner Interior Chinatown called the book, "Playful, searching, raw and necessary..."

Jason has BFA in fiction and an MFA in Poetry, both from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. His poetry and fiction have appeared in various literary journals.

Stay calm and write on ...

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In this file Jason Mott and I discussed:

What it's like to write a book in your head for a decade
Why he dared to dream to become a writer
How to build a technically complex novel, draft by draft
His study and love of film noir
And why writers need to be nicer to themselves

Show Notes:

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How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Emily Henry Writes: Part One

22 juli 2022 | 36 min

How NY Times Bestselling Author Ashley Poston Writes

15 juli 2022 | 34 min

How NY Times Bestselling Author Eleanor Brown Writes

8 juli 2022 | 37 min

How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Dennis Lehane Writes

1 juli 2022 | 35 min

#PodcastersForJustice

New York Times bestselling author, and screenwriter-producer, Dennis Lehane, spoke to me about what he learned from Clint Eastwood, working on "Mr. Mercedes" with David E. Kelley, and his new Apple TV+ show "Black Bird."

Dennis Lehane is the bestselling author of 13 novels including four adapted into films of the same name: 2003's Academy Award-winning film Mystic River, directed by Clint Eastwood; 2007's Gone Baby Gone; 2010's Shutter Island directed by Martin Scorsese, and 2016’s Live by Night directed by Ben Affleck.

His latest is the limited Apple TV+ series, Black Bird, described as a "...fascinating, ripped-from-the headlines story [and] true-crime drama..." based on the 2010 memoir by James Keene and Hillel Levin, In With The Devil: A Fallen Hero, A Serial Killer, and A Dangerous Bargain for Redemption.

"Jimmy Keene (Taron Egerton), cuts a deal with the FBI to enter maximum-security prison for the criminally insane and befriend a suspected serial killer, Larry Hall (Paul Walter Hauser)."

Black Bird premieres globally with the first two episodes on Friday, July 8, followed by one new episode weekly every Friday.

Lehane was a staff writer on the acclaimed HBO series "The Wire," worked as a writer-producer on HBO’s "Boardwalk Empire," the Netflix series, "Bloodline," and was a writer and producer on the television adaptation of Stephen King’s "Mr. Mercedes."

Stay calm and write on ...

[Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get The Writer Files Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm]

In this file Dennis Lehane and I discussed:

Why he sucked at everything except writing and playing pool
How he landed a literary agent while parking cars
Dealing with impostor syndrome early on
How he prefers screenwriting to novel writing today
Why narcissists have no place on a TV set
And a lot more!

[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]

Show Notes:

Black Bird | Apple TV+

Dennis Lehane on IMDb

Dennis Lehane Amazon Author Page (Amazon Affiliate)

In With The Devil: A Fallen Hero, A Serial Killer, and A Dangerous Bargain for Redemption by James Keene and Hillel Levin (Amazon Affiliate)

Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How NY Times Bestselling Thriller Writer Riley Sager Writes

24 juni 2022 | 35 min

How Bestselling Author & Pulitzer-Winner Geraldine Brooks Writes

17 juni 2022 | 35 min

How Co-Creator of Emmy-Winning “How I Met Your Mother” Carter Bays Writes

10 juni 2022 | 37 min

How NY Times Bestselling Author Clare Pooley Writes

3 juni 2022 | 33 min

#PodcastersForJustice

New York Times bestselling author, Clare Pooley, spoke to me about rising from the ashes, writing as therapy, her nostalgia for the bygone commute, and her latest "Iona Iverson’s Rules for Commuting."

Clare's blog-to-memoir deal, The Sober Diaries, was published in 2017 to critical acclaim. Her debut novel - The Authenticity Project – was a New York Times bestseller. Inspired by her own experiences, it's been translated into thirty-two languages, was a Radio 2 Bookclub pick, and winner of the RNA Debut Novel Award.

Her latest, Iona Iverson’s Rules for Commuting, is described as "... a heartwarming story about the joy of friendships, and the unexpected places they can be forged." Kirkus Reviews called the book “A soothing story where bad things happen yet are overcome, and friendship leads the way to personal acceptance and rebirth.”

Bestselling author Mary Laura Philpott called the book, "... a feel-good ensemble story [for] fans of quirky London-set fare such as Ted Lasso."

Clare graduated from Cambridge University, and spent twenty years in the world of advertising, before becoming a full-time writer.

Stay calm and write on ...

In this file Clare Pooley and I discussed:

Why making up stories is not a proper job (wink, wink)
Her unique creative process (spoiler: it starts in the dark)
Big Magic and harnessing the creative muse
The necessity of coffee to the writing life
How she embraced the life of a #writerwarrior
And a lot more!

Show Notes:

clarepooley.com

Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting: A Novel by Clare Pooley [Amazon Affiliate]

Clare Pooley's Amazon Author Page [Amazon Affiliate]

Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert [Amazon Affiliate]

Lessons in Chemistry: A Novel by Bonnie Garmus [Amazon Affiliate]

Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine: A Novel by Gail Honeyman [Amazon Affiliate]

Clare Pooley on Facebook

Clare Pooley on Instagram

Clare Pooley on Twitter

Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How Acclaimed Debut Horror Author Isabel Cañas Writes

27 maj 2022 | 35 min

How NY Times Bestselling Novelist Emma Straub Writes

20 maj 2022 | 34 min

How Award-Winning Novelist & Pulitzer Finalist Hernan Diaz Writes

13 maj 2022 | 39 min

How Bestselling Author & Podcast Host Elizabeth Day Writes

6 maj 2022 | 35 min

How Award-Winning Author Michelle Huneven Writes

29 april 2022 | 36 min

How Emmy-Nominated TV Writer & Novelist Sascha Rothchild Writes

22 april 2022 | 34 min

Bonus: Andrew Lipstein Reads Excerpts from ‘Last Resort’ on Storybound

15 april 2022 | 40 min

How Bestselling Novelist & Educator Jennifer Close Writes

8 april 2022 | 44 min

A Mostly Uncensored Chat with Award-Winning Journo Adam Skolnick

1 april 2022 | 64 min

How #1 International Bestselling Crime Writer Sara Blaedel Writes

25 mars 2022 | 36 min

How NY Times Bestselling Author Rosie Walsh Writes

18 mars 2022 | 35 min

How Award-Winning Travel Journo & Author Brandon Presser Writes

11 mars 2022 | 41 min

Award-winning journalist and acclaimed author, Brandon Presser, spoke to me about his credo as a globetrotter, the Instagram-ification of travel, and his latest non-fiction novel, "The Far Land."

Brandon has a degree in art history and architecture from Harvard University, has worked in Paris at the Louvre, in Tokyo as an architectural apprentice, and in Thailand as a scuba diving professional.

He has also traveled to over 130 countries, written over 50 travel books, and was awarded a Society of American Travel Writers award for his achievements in guidebook writing.

Brandon's latest is The Far Land: 200 Years of Murder, Mania, and Mutiny in the South Pacific, and has been described as a "... thrilling true tale of power, obsession, and betrayal at the edge of the world. "

Oscar-winning actor Tom Hanks said of the book, “The Far Land swells in the cause and effect of actions of passion. Brandon Presser's fascinating narrative of the relentless consequences of the Bounty mutineers asks: were they brave or damned? They lived so very troubled ever after. You can’t make this stuff up!”

Brandon currently contributes to Bloomberg Businessweek and Condé Nast Traveler and could be seen on Bravo's television series, "Tour Group" where he led a group of eclectic travelers around the world.

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[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]

In this file Brandon and I discussed:

How the Mutiny on the Bounty became the most notorious maritime event of all time
Why travel journalists are like prostitutes
How to get a blurb from Tom Hanks
His mixed emotions about publication day
Having dinner on Marlon Brando's island
And a lot more!

Show Notes:

BrandonPresser.com

The Far Land: 200 Years of Murder, Mania, and Mutiny in the South Pacific by Brandon Presser (Amazon Affiliate)

Brandon Presser on Instagram

Brandon Presser on Twitter

Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author C.J. Box Writes

4 mars 2022 | 31 min

How International Bestselling Novelist Stephanie Wrobel Writes

25 februari 2022 | 34 min

How Award-Winning SF Author Kim Fu Writes

18 februari 2022 | 40 min

Women in Writing and Publishing 2022 Roundtable

11 februari 2022 | 60 min

#PodcastersForJustice

This week four women with several combined decades of experience in the writing and publishing industries joined me for a roundtable to talk about ...

How the last two years have changed how writers and publishers approach their business/craft
The difficulties of getting an indie book on the New York Times bestsellers list
Self vs. traditional publishing pathways and distribution models
How fast do you need to go, speedboat or yacht?
Hybrid models for writers
Trends for 2022
And resources for aspiring scribes

Guests:

Angela Engel has more than two decades of experience in sales strategy and business development for companies like Chronicle Books, Dwell Studio, and Moleskine. Angela Engel launched The Collective Book Studio a woman-owned publisher transforming content into beautiful books.

Award-winning author Jennifer Irwin’s debut novel, A Dress the Color of the Sky, was published in 2017 and has received rave reviews, won seven book awards, and was optioned for a feature film.

jenniferirwinauthor.com
A Dress the Color of the Sky by Jennifer Irwin [Amazon Affiliate] - https://amzn.to/3GXlBm7
womensfictionwriters.org
nanowrimo.org

Richmond-based publisher Kimberley Wells Eley of KWE Publishing, signed an agreement with Morgan James Publishing as an Imprint, opening new doors and possibilities for all her authors.

Award-winning author & Book Coach Dallas Woodburn is the debut author of the novel The Best Week That Never Happened. A former John Steinbeck Fellow in Creative Writing and a current San Francisco Writers Grotto Fellow, her work has been honored with the Cypress & Pine Short Fiction Award, the international Glass Woman Prize, second place in the American Fiction Prize, and four Pushcart Prize nominations

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[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]

Stay calm and write on ...

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How #1 NY Times Bestselling Mystery Writer Elizabeth George Writes

4 februari 2022 | 35 min

#PodcastersForJustice

New York Times bestselling and award-winning novelist, Elizabeth George, spoke to me about her exacting research, the discipline of psychological suspense, and interweaving cultural issues into her latest, Something to Hide.

Dubbed "an essential writer of popular fiction today” Elizabeth is the recipient of the Anthony Award, the Agatha Award, France’s Grand Prix [graan pree] di Literature, and has been twice nominated for the Edgar Award.

She's best known as the author of the Lynley mystery series that was adapted into the lauded PBS/BBC show – "The Inspector Lynley Mysteries" series – currently streaming on Amazon Prime and others.

Her latest, Something to Hide: A Lynley Novel, marks the 21st in that series. The New York Times Book Review called it, "... another intelligent, intricate mystery starring Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley of New Scotland Yard.”

Elizabeth is also a philanthropist who, through The Elizabeth George Foundation, "... makes grants to writers and to organizations benefiting disadvantaged youth, particularly in the area of the arts."

Stay calm and write on ...

[Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm]

[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]

In this file Elizabeth George and I discussed:

Why she approaches the writing craft with the same discipline and perseverance she had as a teacher
How to structure a mystery layer by layer
Understanding the editorial process and learning to be a more efficient writer
The foundation of any great novel, her secret hacks ...
And a lot more!

Show Notes:

ElizabethGeorgeOnline.com
ElizabethGeorgeFoundation.org
Something to Hide: A Lynley Novel by Elizabeth George (Amazon)
Mastering the Process by Elizabeth George (Amazon)
Elizabeth George Author Page (Amazon)
Elizabeth George on Facebook
Elizabeth George on Instagram
Elizabeth George on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How Bestselling Thriller Writer Ruth Gilligan Writes

21 januari 2022 | 39 min

#PodcastersForJustice

Award-winning Irish author, Ruth Gilligan, spoke to me about researching the gothic wilds of Ireland, how to engineer a thriller, and her latest, The Butchers' Blessing.

Ruth Gilligan is a writer and academic from Dublin and was the youngest person ever to top the Irish Bestsellers’ List.

She has published five books and her most recent novel, The Butchers' Blessing, (published as The Butchers in the UK) is described as a "...haunting and unforgettable thriller brimming with secrecy, tradition, and superstition...". It won the 2022 Royal Society of Literature Ondaatje Prize, whose judges called it "...a page-turning, roller coaster of a read.”

B&N Reads called the book, "An achingly beautiful novel of family, tradition, Ireland and the deep secrets buried in all three," and it received a Starred review from Publishers Weekly.

Ruth contributes literary reviews to the Irish Independent, Guardian, TLS, and LA Review of Books. She's also a Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Birmingham and is an ambassador for the global storytelling charity Narrative 4.

Stay calm and write on ...

Discover The Writer Files Extra

You can now have The Writer Files podcast dropped right into your email inbox every time there’s a new show. No more shaking your podcast app!

As a subscriber, Kelton will send you added insights, links to TWF merch (like "Stay Calm and Write On" coffee mugs anyone?), curated collections of shows like The Publishing Series and The Writer’s Brain, updates, and occasional special offers. Learn more at the link below...

Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please "Follow" us to automatically see new interviews In this file Ruth Gilligan and I discussed:

How a high school writing exercise turned into a bestseller
The in-depth (four-year) research process behind her latest
Why her meticulous plotting is like architectural engineering
How to write a thriller from four unique POVs
Why writers always need to set themselves greater challenges
And a lot more!

Show Notes:

RuthGilligan.com
The Butchers’ Blessing: A Novel by Ruth Gilligan
Narrative 4
Ruth Gilligan on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How Acclaimed Debut Author Jean Chen Ho Writes

7 januari 2022 | 35 min

#PodcastersForJustice

Critically-acclaimed debut author, Jean Chen Ho, spoke to me about the art of nonlinear storytelling, the shifting POVs in her novel Fiona and Jane, and the value of a strong writing community.

Jean was born in Taiwan and grew up in Southern California. She is a doctoral candidate in creative writing and literature at the University of Southern California – where she is a Dornsife Fellow in fiction – and has an MFA from UNLV.

Her much-anticipated debut novel is a collection of linked stories titled Fiona and Jane. Booklist called it "tender and timeless," a book that "...explores the intimate facets of female friendship, Asian American immigrant experiences in Los Angeles and New York, and the debilitating power of family traumas.”

Bestselling author Alexander Chee wrote, “Fiona and Jane is a high wire act. . . .Jean Chen Ho’s brilliant debut is as assured as what must surely follow.” And Pulitzer Prize-winning author Viet Thanh Nguyen, called it, “A knockout of a book.”

Jean's writing has also been published in The Georgia Review, GQ, Harper's Bazaar, Guernica, The Rumpus, Apogee, McSweeney's Internet Tendency, and others.

Stay calm and write on ...

Discover The Writer Files Extra

You can now have The Writer Files podcast dropped right into your email inbox every time there’s a new show. No more shaking your podcast app!

As a subscriber, Kelton will send you added insights, links to TWF merch (like "Stay Calm and Write On" coffee mugs anyone?), curated collections of shows like The Publishing Series and The Writer’s Brain, updates, and occasional special offers. Learn more at the link below and take our AuthorPods podcasting course survey.

Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please "Follow" us to automatically see new interviews In this file Jean Chen Ho and I discussed:

Why writers shouldn't pick up their phones until noon
The rigors and routines of editing
How going to Happy Hour and talking about writing ... counts as writing!
The loneliness of being a writer
Deadlines, accountability, the importance of writing groups
And a lot more!

Show Notes:

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How NY Times Bestselling Biographer Laurence Leamer Writes

20 december 2021 | 35 min

#PodcastersForJustice

Award-winning journalist and bestselling biographer, Laurence Leamer, spoke to me about getting banned from Mar a Lago, why book proposals are a con job, and Truman Capote's Women (and terminal writer's block).

Laurence is best known as the New York Times bestselling author of multiple celebrity biographies, including the trilogy, The Kennedy Women, The Kennedy Men, and Sons of Camelot.

His latest, Capote's Women: A True Story of Love, Betrayal, and a Swan Song for an Era, was named one of 2021's Most Anticipate Books in People, The New York Post, and Town & Country.

The book has been described as an in-depth exploration of "...the complex web of relationships and scandalous true stories behind Truman Capote's never-published final novel, Answered Prayers..."

Publishers Weekly wrote of the book, “Biographer Leamer (The Kennedy Women) showcases his knack for telling a rattling good tale in this vivid look at Truman Capote’s failed attempt to write ‘the greatest novel of the age.’ . . . This juicy story delivers.”

Stay calm and write on ...

Discover The Writer Files Extra

You can now have The Writer Files podcast dropped right into your email inbox every time there’s a new show. No more shaking your podcast app!

As a subscriber, Kelton will send you added insights, links to TWF merch (like "Stay Calm and Write On" coffee mugs anyone?), curated collections of shows like The Publishing Series and The Writer’s Brain, updates, and occasional special offers. Learn more at the link below and take our AuthorPods podcasting course survey.

Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please "Follow" us to automatically see new interviews In this file Laurence Leamer and I discussed:

The advice, "If your books aren't controversial, you're doing it wrong"
Why writers always answer the phone on the first ring
Over-research and God's greatest gift to writers
The difference between living and dead biography subjects
And a lot more!

Show Notes:

Leamer.com
Laurence Leamer - Wikipedia
Capote's Women: A True Story of Love, Betrayal, and a Swan Song for an Era By Laurence Leamer (Amazon)
Laurence Leamer Author Page (Amazon)
Laurence Leamer on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

5eAZShcQzjRgNX13Y5a1

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How Award-Winning Novelist Vanessa Veselka Writes

6 december 2021 | 52 min

#PodcastersForJustice

Award-winning author and essayist, Vanessa Veselka, spoke to me about her transformation as an artist, writing out of necessity, and the journey from nervy debut to National Book Award longlist.

Vanessa is the author of the debut novel Zazen, which won the PEN/Robert W. Bingham Prize in 2012.

Her second novel, The Great Offshore Grounds, was longlisted for the National Book Award for Fiction 2020, and winner of the Oregon Book Awards' Ken Kesey Award for Fiction. The book has been described by author Roxane Gay as “A magnificent beast of a novel.... One of the rare novels that understands the realities of American poverty,” and was named one of "The 10 Best Books of 2020," by Vulture.

Vanessa's short stories have appeared in Tin House and ZYZZYVA, and her nonfiction in GQ, The Atlantic, Smithsonian, The Atavist, and was included in Best American Essays and the anthology Bitchfest: Ten Years of Cultural Criticism.

Stay calm and write on ...

Discover The Writer Files Extra

You can now have The Writer Files podcast dropped right into your email inbox every time there’s a new show. No more shaking your podcast app!

As a subscriber, Kelton will send you added insights, the chance to get TWF merch (like "Stay Calm and Write On" coffee mugs anyone?), curated collections of shows like The Publishing Series and The Writer’s Brain, updates, and occasional special offers. Learn more at the link below and take our AuthorPods podcasting course survey.

Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please "Follow" us to automatically see new interviews In this file Vanessa Veselka and I discussed:

Suffering and the itinerant life of an artist
The novel as a democratic artform
Why writers need to stand their ground and trust their intuition
How to find magic in your writing process
Protecting your most productive time
And a lot more!

Show Notes:

VanessaVeselka.com
The Great Offshore Grounds: A novel By Vanessa Veselka (Amazon)
Zazen By Vanessa Veselka (Amazon)
Vanessa Veselka on Facebook
Vanessa Veselka on Instagram
Vanessa Veselka on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How the Screenwriting Duo of Marvel’s ‘Eternals’ Kaz & Ryan Firpo Write

19 november 2021 | 34 min

Award-winning filmmakers and multi-hyphenate screenwriting duo, Kaz and Ryan Firpo, spoke to me about their breakout Hollywood moment, writing Marvel's Eternals, and how to eat a whale.

The Firpos are cousins who grew up in Northern California – with a storied background in commercials and documentary filmmaking – who describe themselves as "filmmakers who write."

In 2017 their first feature screenplay, RUIN, topped The Black List (a showcase for film writers) making them a hot commodity in Hollywood. In addition to writing and directing their first feature, their original sci-fi screenplay MIMI FROM RIO was purchased in a bidding war by Netflix with Ridley Scott producing.

Their first entry for the MCU is the complex story, Eternals, about a race of immortals who help shape Earth's history and civilizations, and who must emerge from hiding after thousands of years to protect the world from the evil Deviants.

Stay calm and write on ...

Discover The Writer Files Extra

You can now have The Writer Files podcast dropped right into your email inbox every time there’s a new show. No more shaking your podcast app!

As a subscriber, Kelton will send you added insights, the chance to get TWF merch (like "Stay Calm and Write On" t-shirts anyone?), curated collections of shows like The Publishing Series and The Writer’s Brain, updates, and occasional special offers. Learn more at the link below and take our AuthorPods podcasting course survey.

Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please "Follow" us to automatically see new interviews In this file The Firpos and I discussed:

The importance of The Black List to launching their careers
Working with Oscar-winner Chloe Zhao of Nomadland fame
World-building vs. act-building in screenwriting
Why you should read all the screenwriting craft books you can
Having drinks with Angelina Jolie
And a lot more!

Show Notes:

Marvel Studios’ Eternals | Final Trailer
Bet Raise Fold: The Story of Online Poker Director: Ryan Firpo [Amazon]
Story: Substance, Structure, Style and the Principles of Screenwriting by Robert McKee [Amazon]
Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting by Syd Field [Amazon]
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How Acclaimed Debut Author Jocelyn Nicole Johnson Writes

4 november 2021 | 37 min

#PodcastersForJustice

Critically-acclaimed debut author, Jocelyn Nicole Johnson, spoke to me about becoming a late-stage "literary debutante," Walmart militias, and the #writinglife as an introvert.

Jocelyn is a veteran public school art teacher, whose short story “Control Negro” was anthologized in Best American Short Stories 2018, guest-edited by New York Times bestselling author Roxane Gay, and read live by LeVar Burton as part of PRI’s Selected Shorts series.

Her buzzy debut is 2021 Kirkus Prize Finalist, My Monticello, five stories and a novella all set in Virginia. It has been described as a "...precisely imagined [novel exploring] burdened inheritances and extraordinary pursuits of belonging....Set in the near future..."

It was selected by National Book award winner Charles Yu as his most anticipated book of the year, hailed as a "masterly feat” by the NY Times, called "electrifying" by Colson Whitehead, and "absolutely unforgettable" by Roxane Gay.

Netflix recently bought the title novella "My Monticello" for adaptation and Jocelyn’s writing has appeared in Guernica, The Guardian, Kweli, Joyland, among others, and she has been a fellow at TinHouse, Hedgebrook and VCCA.

Stay calm and write on ...

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You can now have The Writer Files podcast dropped right into your email inbox every time there’s a new show. No more shaking your podcast app!

As a subscriber, Kelton will send you added insights, the chance to get TWF merch (like "Stay Calm and Write On" t-shirts anyone?), curated collections of shows like The Publishing Series and The Writer’s Brain, updates, and occasional special offers. Learn more at the link below and take our AuthorPods podcasting course survey.

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If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please "Follow" us to automatically see new interviews In this file Jocelyn Nicole Johnson and I discussed:

What inspired her quasi-dystopian fiction
How she was discovered at a short story reading
Why getting tweeted by Roxane Gay was a game-changer
How to build a writing community as a wallflower
And a lot more!

Show Notes:

JocelynJohnson.com
My Monticello: Fiction By Jocelyn Nicole Johnson (Amazon)
'My Monticello' grapples with the past, present and future of American racism - NPR
Jocelyn Nicole Johnson on Facebook
Jocelyn Nicole Johnson on Instagram
Jocelyn Nicole Johnson on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How to Write a Six-Word Memoir with Editor Larry Smith

22 oktober 2021 | 42 min

#PodcastersForJustice

Journalist and Founder of the bestselling Six-Word Memoirs series, Larry Smith, spoke to me about his evolution as a journalist, TEDxing the Six-Word Memoir, and famous micro-memoirists.

In the early days of Twitter, with a single tweet in 2006 – “Can you describe your life in six words?" – Larry Smith launched what would go on to become a runaway global phenomenon.

The Six-Word Memoir Project has gone on to become a bestselling series of books, live event programs, a board game, and a popular lesson plan taught by teachers around the world.

The 10th book in the series, A Terrible, Horrible, No Good Year: Hundreds of Stories on the Pandemic, offers a snapshot of unique viewpoints of kids, parents, and teachers sharing their six-word pandemic stories.

The book also features numerous notable contributors including Piper Kerman (Smith’s wife and author of Orange Is the New Black), W. Kamau Bell (CNN commentator and comedian), Elizabeth Gilbert (author of Eat, Pray, Love), and many others.

Stay calm and write on ...

Discover The Writer Files Extra

You can now have The Writer Files podcast dropped right into your email inbox every time there’s a new show. No more shaking your podcast app!

As a subscriber, Kelton will send you added insights, the chance to get TWF merch (like "Stay Calm and Write On" t-shirts anyone?), curated collections of shows like The Publishing Series and The Writer’s Brain, updates, and occasional special offers. Learn more at the link below and take our AuthorPods podcasting course survey.

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If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please "Follow" us to automatically see new interviews In this file Larry Smith and I discussed:

Interning with Dave Eggers at SF Weekly and launching Smith Magazine
Shortened attention spans and the influence of Ernest Hemingway
The power of storytelling for processing complex emotions
Why writers need to get outside and take a walk
And a lot more

Show Notes:

A Terrible, Horrible, No Good Year: Hundreds of Stories on the Pandemic by Six-Word Memoirs [Amazon]
sixwordmemoirs.com
sixwordsmith.com
sixinschools.com
Larry Smith on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How NY Times Bestselling Thriller Writer Chevy Stevens Writes

8 oktober 2021 | 44 min

#PodcastersForJustice

Award-winning, New York Times bestselling psychological thriller writer, Chevy Stevens, spoke to me about her life as a recluse, dreaming in prose, scaring the King, and her latest, Dark Roads.

Chevy's debut novel Still Missing went on to become a New York Times bestseller and winner of the International Thriller Writers Award for Best First Novel in 2010.

Her popular books, including Those Girls – which Stephen King called “Incredibly scary and suspenseful,” – have been published in more than thirty countries and optioned for film.

Her seventh novel, the standalone thriller, Dark Roads, has been described as an "instant classic" by #1 New York Times bestselling author C. J. Box. Author Gillian Flynn has called Chevy's work both "Gripping ... [and] unforgettable."

Stay calm and write on ...

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You can now have The Writer Files podcast dropped right into your email inbox every time there’s a new show. No more shaking your podcast app!

As a subscriber, Kelton will send you added insights, the chance to get TWF merch (like "Stay Calm and Write On" t-shirts anyone?), curated collections of shows like The Publishing Series and The Writer’s Brain, updates, and occasional special offers. Learn more at the link below and take our AuthorPods podcasting course survey.

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If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please "Follow" us to automatically see new interviews In this file Chevy Stevens and I discussed:

Why writers need to be protective of their (daydreaming) time
The romanticization of the writing life
Tossing novel drafts in the trash bin
The real-life "Highway of Tears" and a legacy of broken promises
How to write a proper prologue, your first 50 pages ...
And a lot more

Show Notes:

ChevyStevens.com
Dark Roads: A Novel by Chevy Stevens (Amazon)
Chevy Stevens Amazon author page
Chevy Stevens on Facebook
Chevy Stevens on Instagram
Chevy Stevens on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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‘What You Will Learn’ from the Best Books Ever with Adam Ashton & Adam Jones

24 september 2021 | 50 min

#PodcastersForJustice

Co-hosts of the top international podcast "What You Will Learn," Adam Ashton and Adam Jones, spoke to me about why writers should (and can) read more, how to turn a podcast into a book, and The Sh*t They Never Taught You.

What You Will Learn became Australia's #1 Book Podcast with over 4 million downloads, 300 episodes, and interviews with some of the biggest non-fiction authors in the business (including Seth Godin).

The Adams pledged to deliver "The Best Bits From The Best (Non-Fiction) Books" weekly on their show, and now they've distilled their collective knowledge even further into their own book.

Their compendium, The Sh*t They Never Taught You, offers "... takeaways from over a hundred of the world’s greatest thinkers, capturing lessons in personal development, career, business, personal finances, human nature, history, and philosophy."

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You can now have The Writer Files podcast dropped right into your email inbox every time there’s a new show. No more shaking your podcast app!

As a subscriber, Kelton will send you added insights, the chance to get TWF merch (like "Stay Calm and Write On" t-shirts anyone?), curated collections of shows like The Publishing Series and The Writer’s Brain, updates, and occasional special offers. Learn more at the link below and take our AuthorPods podcasting course survey.

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If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please "Follow" us to automatically see new interviews. In this file the Adams and I discussed:

Everything from growth mindset, GTD, to The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
The formulas for reading more with greater retention
Why turning a podcast into a book isn't easy
The importance of sticky notes, marginalia, life-changing books...
And a lot more

Show Notes:

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How Internationally Bestselling Author Leïla Slimani Writes

16 september 2021 | 43 min

#PodcastersForJustice

Award-winning writer and journalist, Leïla Slimani, spoke to me about the challenges of writing historical fiction, impostor syndrome, and what it's like to live In the Country of Others.

“Imagination is the strongest, most powerful human capability. It allows everything: you can move in time, in space, create worlds. That’s what I look for when I write, and when I read, too.” – Leïla Slimani

Leïla is the French-Moroccan author of the award-winning, #1 internationally bestselling novel The Perfect Nanny – a New York Times Book Review 10 Best Books of the Year – for which she became the first Moroccan woman to win France’s most prestigious literary prize, the Goncourt.

Her latest novel, In the Country of Others (first in a planned trilogy about how women’s lives change over three generations), was named a Best Book of the Summer by Vogue, E Weekly, BuzzFeed, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Town & Country, Observer, The Millions, and Parade.

Salman Rushdie said of the book, “The world of this novel—Morocco after World War II, leading up to the revolt against French colonialism—is beautifully created.... An exceptional, powerful novel from this justly celebrated writer,” and The New York Times Book Review wrote, "In the Country of Others . . . lays bare women’s intimate, lacerating experience of war and its consequent trauma.”

Leila is also an award-winning journalist and outspoken commentator on women’s and human rights, and a French diplomat to French president Emmanuel Macron for the promotion of the French language and culture.

Stay calm and write on ...

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You can now have The Writer Files podcast dropped right into your email inbox every time there’s a new show. No more shaking your podcast app!

As a subscriber, Kelton will send you added insights, the chance to get TWF merch (like "Stay Calm and Write On" t-shirts anyone?), curated collections of shows like The Publishing Series and The Writer’s Brain, updates, and occasional special offers. Learn more at the link below and take our AuthorPods podcasting course survey.

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If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please "Follow" us to automatically see new interviews. In this file Leïla Slimani and I discussed:

Giving voices to the voiceless and time traveling in your work
Racial inequality and the global taboos surrounding the history of colonization
The importance of coffee and cigarettes to the creative process
A writer's guilt, the perils of success...
And why writers just need a good glass of (French) red wine

Show Notes:

Leïla Slimani
In the Country of Others: A Novel by Leïla Slimani (Amazon)
Leïla Slimani Amazon author page
Hey, Creator!
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How Bestselling Novelist Nickolas Butler Writes

2 september 2021 | 35 min

#PodcastersForJustice

Internationally bestselling novelist and short story author, Nickolas Butler, spoke to me about working sh*tty jobs, the irony of his latest title, Godspeed, and defining the modern western.

Nickolas is an Iowa Writers' Workshop grad and author of the award-winning novel Shotgun Lovesongs, The Hearts of Men, and Little Faith, and the story collection Beneath the Bonfire.

His latest novel is Godspeed, described as "... an incisive portrait of working-class life, the meth epidemic, and the many stratified realities of this one America we all live in, separately."

New York Times bestselling author, Ace Atkins, said of the book, “A fast-moving, highly addictive novel of ambition, obsession, and long-festering dreams of the haves and have nots."

Nickolas has published articles, reviews, short stories, and poetry in publications such as Ploughshares, Narrative, and The New York Times Book Review, among others.

Stay calm and write on ...

Discover The Writer Files Extra

You can now have The Writer Files podcast dropped right into your email inbox every time there’s a new show. No more shaking your podcast app!

As a subscriber, Kelton will send you added insights, the chance to get TWF merch (like "Stay Calm and Write On" t-shirts anyone?), curated collections of shows like The Publishing Series and The Writer’s Brain, updates, and occasional special offers. Learn more at the link below and take our AuthorPods podcasting course survey.

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If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please "Follow" us to automatically see new interviews. In this file Nickolas Butler and I discussed:

Harnessing storytelling and the inner-lives of blue collar workers
How to write a novel in under six months
The importance of writing for your core readership
And why writers need to challenge themselves, harness the power of deadlines, and turn their art into a craft

Show Notes:

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How Award-Winning Sci-Fi Author Charlie Jane Anders Writes

26 augusti 2021 | 36 min

#PodcastersForJustice

Decorated speculative fiction and YA author and pundit, Charlie Jane Anders, chatted with me about the genesis of storytelling, how to weather 20 years of rejection, write through hard times, and her latest how-to for writers Never Say You Can’t Survive.

"Being a writer doesn't have to mean you have a cool haircut and live in Brooklyn and go to fancy literary parties. It can mean that you're just someone who enjoys making up stories ... you don't even have to publish them." – Charlie Jane Anders

Charlie Jane's novel Victories Greater Than Death – the first book in a new young-adult trilogy, April, 2021 – and 2019's Locus Award winner The City in the Middle of the Night – named one of the year's best books by the Guardian and others and optioned for TV by Sony.

Her 2016 novel, All the Birds in the Sky, was #5 on Time Magazine's list of the year's 10 best novels, and won the Nebula, Locus and Crawford awards.

Her latest is Never Say You Can’t Survive, a book about how to use creative writing to get through hard times. It's described as "... a practical guide to storytelling [and a] ... a manual for creativity in unprecedented times."

Charlie Jane's fiction and journalism have appeared in the New York Times, The Washington Post, Slate, McSweeney's, Mother Jones, Boston Review, Tor.com, Tin House, WIRED magazine, and many other places.

Her TED Talk, "Go Ahead, Dream About the Future" has been viewed over 2M times. She also co-hosts the Hugo Award-winning podcast Our Opinions Are Correct with Annalee Newitz.

Stay calm and write on ...

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You can now have The Writer Files podcast dropped right into your email inbox every time there’s a new show. No more shaking your podcast app!

As a subscriber, Kelton will send you added insights, the chance to get TWF merch (like "Stay Calm and Write On" t-shirts anyone?), curated collections of shows like The Publishing Series and The Writer’s Brain, updates, and occasional special offers. Learn more at the link below and take our AuthorPods podcasting course survey.

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If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please "Follow" us to automatically see new interviews. In this file Charlie Jane Anders and I discussed:

The importance of why "we all contain multitudes"
Impostor syndrome and rubbing elbows with famous authors
Her creative chameleon characteristics
And why writers need to juxtapose the small and personal against the huge and epic
Stay calm and write on ...

Show Notes:

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How NY Times Bestselling Novelist Jason Mott Writes

19 augusti 2021 | 34 min

#PodcastersForJustice

New York Times bestselling author, Jason Mott, took a timeout to talk with me about the high-wire act of building Hell of a Book, talking about race in America, and NOT working with Brad Pitt.

Jason is the author of The Returned, a New York Times bestseller that was turned into a TV series that ran for two seasons.

His fourth novel is titled Hell of a Book, and is described as a "... funny and honest [work of fiction] that goes to the heart of racism, police violence, and the hidden costs exacted upon Black Americans, and America as a whole."

The book has been named to dozens of "must read" lists for 2021 including Entertainment Weekly, The NY Post, GMA, USA Today, Fortune's 21 Most Anticipated Books Coming out in the Second Half of 2021 and more. Charles Yu, author of National Book Award winner Interior Chinatown called the book, "Playful, searching, raw and necessary..."

Jason has BFA in fiction and an MFA in Poetry, both from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. His poetry and fiction have appeared in various literary journals.

Stay calm and write on ...

Discover The Writer Files Extra

You can now have The Writer Files podcast dropped right into your email inbox every time there’s a new show. No more shaking your podcast app!

As a subscriber, Kelton will send you added insights, the chance to get TWF merch (like "Stay Calm and Write On" t-shirts anyone?), curated collections of shows like The Publishing Series and The Writer’s Brain, updates, and occasional special offers. Learn more at the link below and take our AuthorPods podcasting course survey.

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If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please "Follow" us to automatically see new interviews. In this file Jason Mott and I discussed:

What it's like to write a book in your head for a decade
Why he dared to dream to become a writer
How to build a technically complex novel, draft by draft
His study and love of film noir
And why writers need to be nicer to themselves

Show Notes:

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Bonus: Matt Haig Reads an Excerpt from 'The Midnight Library' on Storybound

11 augusti 2021 | 28 min

Matt Haig reads an excerpt from The Midnight Library, backed by an original Storybound remix with Robert Wynia, and sound design and arrangement by Jude Brewer.

Robert Wynia is a founding member of the Portland band Floater. Known for their progressive concept albums, Floater is famous for incorporating stylized storytelling into their work. Wynia also releases music under his own name and released his book Night Walks with its own accompanying soundtrack in 2020.

Storybound comes to you from The Podglomerate and Lit Hub Radio. Season 4 is some of their most inspired work yet, so be sure to subscribe today on Apple Podcasts or wherever you tune in.

Matt Haig is the author of 20 books including the #1 bestselling memoir, Reasons to Stay Alive, five novels – including How to Stop Time – and several award-winning children’s books. His work has been translated into over 40 languages.

His latest novel is The Midnight Library, a runaway, #1 bestseller and reader favorite of 2020. It was a Goodreads Choice Awards Best Fiction Book of 2020, a Best Book of the Year by The Washington Post, Amazon, the New York Public Library, among many others.

The New York Times said of the book, "An absorbing ... vision of limitless possibility, of new roads taken, of new lives lived, of a whole different world available to us somehow, somewhere, [perhaps] exactly what’s wanted in these troubled and troubling times.”

Stay calm and write on …

Discover The Writer Files Extra

You can now have The Writer Files podcast dropped right into your email inbox every time there’s a new show. No more shaking your podcast app!

As a subscriber, Kelton will send you added insights, the chance to get TWF merch (like "Stay Calm and Write On" t-shirts anyone?), curated collections of shows like The Publishing Series and The Writer’s Brain, updates, and occasional special offers. Learn more at the link below and take our AuthorPods podcasting course survey.

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If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. Show Notes:

How NY Times Bestselling Author Matt Haig Writes
MattHaig.com
The Midnight Library: A Novel by Matt Haig (Amazon)
Matt Haig Amazon author page
Matt Haig on Instagram
Matt Haig on Facebook
Matt Haig on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How Bestselling Thriller Writer Samantha Downing Writes

4 augusti 2021 | 30 min

#PodcastersForJustice

Internationally bestselling thriller author, Samantha Downing, took a break to chat about her "20-year, overnight" success, writing psychopaths, and how to write a novel in six months.

Samantha's debut novel, My Lovely Wife – about a married couple teaming up to commit murder – was a #1 international bestseller that earned Edgar and ITW Thriller Award nominations and an Amazon Best Thriller of the Month selection.

Her latest bestseller, psychological thriller, For Your Own Good, has been called “A perfect summer book,” by NPR and described as "...a twisted and compulsively readable spin on the teacher-student relationship."

New York Times bestselling author B.A. Paris called it, a "... wonderfully dark, twisty and compelling thriller set in a prestigious private school." And the book has been recently optioned by Robert Downey Jr. and Greg Berlanti for a series adaptation at HBO Max.

Stay calm and write on ...

Discover The Writer Files Extra

You can now have The Writer Files podcast dropped right into your email inbox every time there’s a new show. No more shaking your podcast app!

As a subscriber, Kelton will send you added insights, the chance to get TWF merch (like "Stay Calm and Write On" t-shirts anyone?), curated collections of shows like The Publishing Series and The Writer’s Brain, updates, and occasional special offers. Learn more at the link below and take our AuthorPods podcasting course survey.

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If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please "Follow" us to automatically see new interviews. In this file Samantha Downing and I discussed:

Why she chose to showcase the insular world of an elite private school as the setting for her latest
How psychopaths tend to hide in plain sight
Her unique creative process and how she cranks out pages
Why there are stacks of unfinished manuscripts she never goes back to
And why writers need to love the craft and be ready when opportunity knocks

Show Notes:

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How NY Times Bestselling Novelist S. A. Cosby Writes: Part Two

22 juli 2021 | 34 min

#PodcastersForJustice

New York Times bestseller, and award-winning neo-noir novelist, S. A. Cosby, returned to chat about his creative process, cinematic heroes, and fantasy casting his new revenge tale, Razorblade Tears.

“I loved Blacktop Wasteland...[A] fast-paced, bare-knuckle thriller.” -Stephen King

S.A. is also an Anthony Award-winning short story writer for Best Short Story, 2019, and his short fiction has appeared in numerous anthologies and magazines.

His lauded bestselling novel, Blacktop Wasteland, was Amazon's #1 Mystery and Thriller of the Year and #3 Best Book of 2020 overall, a New York Times Notable Book of the Year, a New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice, Winner of the LA Times Book Award for Mystery or Thrillers and a Goodreads Choice Awards Semifinalist.

His newest, Razorblade Tears, hit The New York Times Bestseller List for the week of July 25, 2021, at number 10, and is described by ALA Booklist as "... a powerful blend of pulsing action, sensitive and subtle character interaction, and uncompromising but highly nuanced reflection on racism and homophobia."

“Superb...Cuts right to the heart of the most important questions of our times.... S. A. Cosby is not only the future of crime fiction but of any fiction...” – Michael Connelly, #1 New York Times bestselling author

Discover The Writer Files Extra

You can now have The Writer Files podcast dropped right into your email inbox every time there’s a new show. No more shaking your podcast app!

As a subscriber, Kelton will send you added insights, the chance to get TWF merch (like "Stay Calm and Write On" t-shirts anyone?), curated collections of shows like The Publishing Series and The Writer’s Brain, updates, and occasional special offers. Learn more at the link below and take our AuthorPods podcasting course survey.

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If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please "Follow" us to automatically see new interviews. In this file S. A. Cosby and I discussed:

How he defines "Country Noir"
The genesis of the larger societal themes in his work
Why he always starts with the problem, and a stream-of-consciousness synopsis, first
How finding his way into the plot is like finding his way into a locked house
The great American literary legacy of "odd couples"
And his hot take on Quentin Tarrantino's directing

Show Notes:

How NY Times Bestselling Novelist S. A. Cosby Writes: Part One
Razorblade Tears: A Novel by S. A. Cosby [Amazon]
Blacktop Wasteland: A Novel by S. A. Cosby [Amazon]
S. A. Cosby Amazon author page
S. A. Cosby on Facebook
S. A. Cosby on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How Award-Winning Novelist Claire Fuller Writes

16 juli 2021 | 38 min

#PodcastersForJustice

Award-winning novelist, Claire Fuller, talked to me about getting shortlisted for the Women’s Prize For Fiction 2021, what inspired her new novel Unsettled Ground, and her creative process.

Claire is an accomplished artist who studied sculpture at Winchester School of Art. She only started writing fiction at the age of 40, after many years working as a director at a marketing agency.

She is now the author of four novels – including her award-winning debut Our Endless Numbered Days – and her latest is Unsettled Ground, on the Shortlist for the Women's Prize for Fiction 2021.

The book is described as "...a tale of sacrifice and hope, of homelessness and hardship, of love and survival..." and, "... an unusual family held together by a string of lies ... and a sudden death that threatens to undo them all."

In a starred review, Booklist called Unsettled Ground, "Devastatingly haunting." Claire’s also an award-winning short fiction writer and writing instructor.

Stay calm and write on ...

Discover The Writer Files Extra

You can now have The Writer Files podcast dropped right into your email inbox every time there’s a new show. No more shaking your podcast app!

As a subscriber, Kelton will send you added insights, the chance to get TWF merch (like "Stay Calm and Write On" t-shirts anyone?), curated collections of shows like The Publishing Series and The Writer’s Brain, updates, and occasional special offers. Learn more at the link below and take our AuthorPods podcasting course survey.

Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please "Follow" us to automatically see new interviews. In this file Claire Fuller and I discussed:

What inspired her to venture into fiction
How she constructs the beginnings of a novel
The slow, ponderous growth of her drafts
Beta readers and the importance of reading your work aloud
And why it doesn't get any easier

Show Notes:

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How to Reverse Engineer a Bestseller with Award-Winning Psychologist Ron Friedman

8 juli 2021 | 38 min

#PodcastersForJustice

Bestselling author and award-winning social psychologist, Ron Friedman, spoke to me about how remarkable artists and writers reverse engineer breakouts, and his new book Decoding Greatness.

Ron is an expert on human motivation and founder of ignite80, a consulting firm that crunches data in neuroscience, human physiology, and behavioral economics to "...help smart leaders build extraordinary workplaces."

His latest work of non-fiction is the bestseller, Decoding Greatness: How the Best in the World Reverse Engineer Success described as "...a game-changing approach to mastering new skills and succeeding faster."

New York Times bestselling author of Deep Work, Cal Newport, said of the book, "Read this book if you want to upgrade from working hard to actually producing results that matter."

Accounts of Ron's research have appeared on NPR, in major newspapers, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, The Guardian, and magazines such as Harvard Business Review and Psychology Today.

Stay calm and write on ...

Discover The Writer Files Extra

You can now have The Writer Files podcast dropped right into your email inbox every time there’s a new show. No more shaking your podcast app!

As a subscriber, Kelton will send you added insights, the chance to get TWF merch (like "Stay Calm and Write On" t-shirts anyone?), curated collections of shows like The Publishing Series and The Writer’s Brain, updates, and occasional special offers. Learn more at the link below and take our AuthorPods podcasting course survey.

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If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please "Follow" us to automatically see new interviews. In this file Ron Friedman and I discussed:

How copying can make you more creative or help you out of a rut
Vonnegut’s six basic story structures
Hidden patterns in great writing of any genre
How to avoid the "uncanny valley" of novelty
Why you need to create a private museum of inspiration
And more!

Show Notes:

RonFriedmanPhD.com
DecodingGreatnessBook.com
Decoding Greatness: How the Best in the World Reverse Engineer Success by Ron Friedman [Amazon]
ignite80.com
On Writing by Stephen King [Amazon]
Story by Robert McKee [Amazon]
Ron Friedman on Facebook
Ron Friedman on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How Award-Winning Sci-Fi Author Sarah Pinsker Writes

1 juli 2021 | 35 min

#PodcastersForJustice

Award-winning short story writer and novelist, Sarah Pinsker, talked to me about neural implants, meeting Ursula Le Guin, and her latest, We Are Satellites.

Sarah Pinsker is the 2019 Nebula Award winner for Best Novel for A Song For a New Day. The lauded and eerily prescient novel was "...Set in our near-future world following a virus and violent attacks that led people to limit almost all interaction to the virtual space." Sound familiar?

Her latest is We Are Satellites was named One of Buzzfeed’s Best Science Fiction Books of Spring 2021 and described as "...a fascinating novel that explores how technologies can transform family dynamics.”

Sarah’s also a multi-hyphenate singer/songwriter whose Nebula and Sturgeon award-winning short fiction has appeared in Asimov’s, F&SF, as well as numerous other magazines, best-of anthologies, and been translated into multiple languages.

Stay tuned after the interview for a sample of the We Are Satellites audiobook, excerpted courtesy of Penguin Random House Audio, read by Bernadette Dunne.

Stay calm and write on ...

Discover The Writer Files Extra

You can now have The Writer Files podcast dropped right into your email inbox every time there’s a new show. No more shaking your podcast app!

As a subscriber, Kelton will send you added insights, the chance to get TWF merch (like "Stay Calm and Write On" t-shirts anyone?), curated collections of shows like The Publishing Series and The Writer’s Brain, updates, and occasional special offers. Learn more at the link below and take our AuthorPods podcasting course survey.

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If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please "Follow" us to automatically see new interviews. In this file Sarah Pinsker and I discussed:

The heartache and thrill of getting rejection letters at age 13
Her pandemic productivity blues
Why she buys every indie, small press, sci-fi collection
And how taking a walk can coax the words to come

Show Notes:

SarahPinsker.com
We Are Satellites by Sarah Pinsker [Amazon]
A Song for a New Day by Sarah Pinsker [Amazon]
Sarah Pinsker Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How Award-Winning Debut Author Sanjena Sathian Writes

22 juni 2021 | 32 min

#PodcastersForJustice

Award-winning short story writer and debut novelist, Sanjena Sathian, talked to me about the true cost of the American dream, magical realism, and working with Mindy Kaling on the adaptation of Gold Diggers.

Sanjena is an Iowa Writers' Workshop grad who started her career as a journalist and reporter in Mumbai and San Francisco. She has had nonfiction bylines in The New Yorker, The New York Times, Food & Wine, The Boston Globe, The San Francisco Chronicle, and more.

Her debut novel is Gold Diggers, and is described as, "A magical realist coming-of-age story ... about Indian American identity, community ... and the underside of ambition."

Already a Good Morning America Buzz Pick, New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice, and a Vox Bookclub Pick, #1 bestselling author of Little Fires Everywhere, Celeste Ng, said of the book, “Dizzyingly original, fiercely funny, deeply wise.”

Stay calm and write on ...

Discover The Writer Files Extra

You can now have The Writer Files podcast dropped right into your email inbox every time there’s a new show. No more shaking your podcast app!

As a subscriber, Kelton will send you added insights, the chance to get TWF merch (like "Stay Calm and Write On" t-shirts anyone?), curated collections of shows like The Publishing Series and The Writer’s Brain, updates, and occasional special offers. Learn more at the link below and take our AuthorPods podcasting course survey.

Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please "Follow" us to automatically see new interviews. In this file Sanjena Sathian and I discussed:

Skewering myths of the "model minority"
The literary legacies of Indian translators and magical realism
How Mindy Kaling is approaching the TV adaptation of her book
The writing life, an antidote to narcissism, and the definition of "vomit-drafter"

Show Notes:

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How Bestselling Children's Book Author Crystal Swain-Bates Writes

8 juni 2021 | 41 min

#PodcastersForJustice

Award-winning children's book author and diversity publishing pro, Crystal Swain-Bates, spoke with me about what inspired her to launch her own publishing company and the challenges authors of color face.

“When I recognized how underrepresented black characters were in children's books, I made it my life's purpose to fill the diversity gap...” – Crystal Swain-Bates

Crystal is a celebrated illustrated kids' book author, entrepreneur, and indie publisher "... on a mission to positively reshape the way children of color all over the world see themselves."

She has written and published 12 children's books, been featured by Forbes, Entrepreneur, Essence Magazine, CNN, and HuffPost, and her books have been used as props for hit television shows on BET. Her lauded and bestselling book Big Hair, Don't Care is one of Amazon's most highly reviewed black children's books.

Crystal founded Goldest Karat Publishing to address the lack of diversity in children's literature and aims to help "... aspiring and underrepresented authors publish their books and share their stories.”

She also speaks at conferences and events on the topics of diversity in children's literature, writing, and publishing.

Stay calm and write on ...

Discover The Writer Files Extra

You can now have The Writer Files podcast dropped right into your email inbox every time there’s a new show. No more shaking your podcast app!

As a subscriber, Kelton will send you added insights, the chance to get TWF merch (like "Stay Calm and Write On" t-shirts anyone?), curated collections of shows like The Publishing Series and The Writer’s Brain, updates, and occasional special offers. Learn more at the link below and take our AuthorPods podcasting course survey.

Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please "Follow" us to automatically see new interviews. In this file Crystal Swain-Bates and I discussed:

Her promise to fill the diversity gap in children's literature
How a former CIA intelligence analyst became a famed author
Why she always writes her titles first
Self-publishing vs. traditional publishing for illustrated kids' books
How diversity in publishing and book retail needs to improve
And more!

Show Notes:

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Myth-Busting Book Publishing with Agent Lucinda Halpern: Part One

2 juni 2021 | 40 min

#PodcastersForJustice

President and Founder of Manhattan-based agency Lucinda Literary, Lucinda Halpern, gave me an insider’s take on why literary agents can't just be deal-makers anymore.

Lucinda Halpern is a literary, lecture, and PR agent with over 15 years of experience on both the corporate and agency sides of publishing.

Specializing in "books that change the way people work, behave, and live," she represents authors writing in the categories of business, health, lifestyle, popular science, narrative nonfiction, memoir, and upmarket fiction.

Her agency, Lucinda Literary, boasts a roster of authors including New York Times bestselling authors Susan Peirce Thompson (Bright Line Eating), Chris Bailey (The Productivity Project; Hyperfocus), Cait Flanders (The Year of Less), Paul Jarvis (Company of One), the new work of Nicola Kraus (The Nanny Diaries) and Jake Wood (Once a Warrior).

She also shares publishing insights and motivation for writers and hosts both live and online programs for aspiring authors.

Stay calm and write on ...

Discover The Writer Files Extra

You can now have The Writer Files podcast dropped right into your email inbox every time there’s a new show. No more shaking your podcast app!

As a subscriber, Kelton will send you added insights, the chance to get TWF merch (like "Stay Calm and Write On" t-shirts anyone?), curated collections of shows like The Publishing Series and The Writer’s Brain, updates, and occasional special offers. Learn more at the link below and take our AuthorPods podcasting course survey.

Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please "Follow" us to automatically see new interviews.

In this file Lucinda Halpern and I discussed:

Her mission statement, ethos, and the future of publishing

How good agents build lifelong marriages with their authors

Why you don't have to be famous to get published

Counterintuitive tips about the industry

The old-fashioned art of crafting a book

And more!

Show Notes:

Ready to get your book noticed? Get Lucinda's essential guide for writers: The 6 Things Every Book Pitch Needs – Click here to receive your guide: lucindaliterary.com/subscribe

How to Land a Book Deal with Agent & Author Lucinda Halpern: Part Two

Lucinda Literary on Medium

Lucinda Literary on Facebook

Lucinda Literary on Instagram

Lucinda Literary on Twitter

Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How NY Times Bestselling Author Lisa Scottoline Writes

19 maj 2021 | 42 min

#PodcastersForJustice

New York Times bestselling author and Edgar award-winner, Lisa Scottoline, spoke with me about what she learned from literary lion Philip Roth, impostor syndrome, and her latest book, Eternal.

“I think all writing is writing, and all writing is good. And whether it gets published or not, it all ... makes you better.” – Lisa Scottoline

Lisa is a #1 bestselling author of 33 novels. She's gone from law school standout to writing chart-topping legal thrillers over the course of her prolific career, has sold over 30 million copies of her books in the US, and been published in 35 countries.

Her latest is Eternal and her first historical novel, a departure that she calls the culmination of her life's work. It's described as "... a sweeping and shattering epic of historical fiction fueled by shocking true events."

“[Her] expansive WWII-era historical novel follows three childhood best friends as love, loyalty and sacrifice mix and their beloved Rome falls to the Nazis.” – GMA

Lisa also writes a weekly humor column with her daughter, Francesca Serritella, for the Philadelphia Inquirer, which have been adapted into a series of memoirs.

She has served as President of the Mystery Writers of America and has taught a course she developed, “Justice in Fiction,” at the University of Pennsylvania Law School, her alma mater.

Stay tuned after the interview for a sample of the audiobook excerpted courtesy of Penguin Random House Audio read by Cassandra Campbell.

Stay calm and write on ...

Discover The Writer Files Extra

You can now have The Writer Files podcast dropped right into your email inbox every time there’s a new show. No more shaking your podcast app!

As a subscriber, Kelton will send you added insights, the chance to get TWF merch (like "Stay Calm and Write On" t-shirts anyone?), curated collections of shows like The Publishing Series and The Writer’s Brain, updates, and occasional special offers. Learn more at the link below and take our AuthorPods podcasting course survey.

Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please "Follow" us to automatically see new interviews. In this file Lisa Scottoline and I also discussed:

Her favorite rejection letter
Why writers just need to "get it down, then get it good"
How the identity of a writer changes over the years
Her unique research process
Why your sentences need to justify themselves
And more!

Show Notes:

Scottoline.com
Eternal by Lisa Scottoline [Amazon]
Survival In Auschwitz : If This Is a Man by Primo Levi [Amazon]
The Writer's Brain on Impostor Syndrome
Lisa Scottoline on Facebook
Lisa Scottoline on Instagram
Lisa Scottoline on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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'Diving Deep' with Award-Winning Documentarian Mimi deGruy and Author Adam Skolnick

12 maj 2021 | 55 min

#PodcastersForJustice

Award-winning documentarian, Mimi deGruy, joined me and author Adam Skolnick for a deep dive into the genesis of her documentary exploring the legacy and environmental activism of her late husband, trailblazing ocean filmmaker Mike deGruy.

“When Mike died, I felt like he left in mid-conversation, and I knew that he had so much more to say,” – Mimi deGruy

Mike deGruy was a lauded filmmaker, biologist, and activist, who pushed the boundaries of cinematography and diving technology to explore never-before-seen ocean life and share it with the world.

"In 2012, deGruy died tragically at age 60 in a helicopter crash in Australia while filming for [Academy Award® winning] director James Cameron." – KCRW

The documentary, “Diving Deep: The Life and Times of Mike deGruy” was crowd-funded, directed, produced, and written by Mimi, Mike’s widow and filmmaking partner.

"Told through the eyes of his wife ... the film celebrates [Mike’s] life, career, and what he passionately believed: we are destroying the ocean before we even know what’s there."

The Hollywood Reporter said about the film: “It [succeeds] as a touching personal reminiscence and as an understated but effective environmental manifesto.”

The film opened the Santa Barbara International Film Festival in 2019, and won Best Film at the Ocean Film Festival, Audience Favorite at the Aspen Mountain Film Festival, and many other awards. It is available across all platforms including Apple TV/iTunes and Amazon rentals.

Adam Skolnick is the award-winning journalist and author covering adventure sports, environmental issues, travel, and human rights for The New York Times and other outlets. He is the author of One Breath: Freediving, Death and the Quest to Shatter Human Limits, the ghostwriter and narrator of David Goggins’ smash hit memoir and audiobook Can’t Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds, and he is a co-host on the Rich Roll Podcast.

As a bonus, Adam and I kick off the show by discussing the legacy of Beat poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti.

Stay calm and write on ...

Discover The Writer Files Extra

You can now have The Writer Files podcast dropped right into your email inbox every time there’s a new show. No more shaking your podcast app!

As a subscriber, Kelton will send you added insights, the chance to get TWF merch (like "Stay Calm and Write On" t-shirts anyone?), curated collections of shows like The Publishing Series and The Writer’s Brain, updates, and occasional special offers. Learn more at the link below and take our AuthorPods podcasting course survey.

Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox

Preview a sample of a podcast at the break from this week's sponsor Look Closer: The Found Fiction Podcast, more at foundfiction.org.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please "Follow" us to automatically see new interviews. In this file Mimi deGruy, Adam Skolnick, and I also discussed:

Why friends and family described Mike as a "human exclamation mark"
The single piece of footage that inspired Mimi to make the documentary
How the BP oil spill cemented the filmmaker's life mission
The fascinating arc of Mike's career
Why his spirit was undeterred by a rare shark attack
And more!

Show Notes:

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How Bestselling Crime Novelist Walter Mosley Writes

5 maj 2021 | 33 min

#PodcastersForJustice

Celebrated author, Walter Mosley, took a timeout to chat with me about how he didn't write a sentence he liked until age 35, the sprawling muse of Los Angeles, and his conflicted feelings after winning a big National Book Award.

“Write your truth, and believe in it. And if your mother doesn’t like it ... too bad.” – Walter Mosley

Walter is the first Black man to receive the National Book Foundation’s Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters for lifetime achievement in writing.

The critically acclaimed author, playwright, screenwriter, and producer has written over 60 books including fiction (literary, mystery, and science fiction), writing guides, memoir, a YA novel, has won dozens of prestigious awards (including an Emmy), and been translated into 25 languages.

His bestselling historical mysteries feature infamous, hard-boiled detective "Easy" Rawlins, a black PI living in the Watts neighborhood of LA.

Blood Grove (Easy Rawlins Book 15) is the latest in that series and described as "... a novel of vast scope and intimate insight, and a soulful call for justice by any means necessary."

Walter's work has also been adapted for film and TV including Devil in a Blue Dress (starring Denzel Washington, Don Cheadle and Jennifer Beals) and the HBO production of Always Outnumbered (starring Laurence Fishburne and Natalie Cole).

Stay calm and write on ...

Discover The Writer Files Extra

You can now have The Writer Files podcast dropped right into your email inbox every time there’s a new show. No more shaking your podcast app!

As a subscriber, Kelton will send you added insights, the chance to get TWF merch (like "Stay Calm and Write On" t-shirts anyone?), curated collections of shows like The Publishing Series and The Writer’s Brain, updates, and occasional special offers. Learn more at the link below and take our AuthorPods podcasting course survey.

Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox

Preview a sample of a podcast at the break from this week's sponsor Look Closer: The Found Fiction Podcast, more at foundfiction.org.

[Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm]

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In this file Walter Mosley and I discussed:

His winding career path

How the apex of post-hippie Los Angeles, California affected his writing

What it was like to work with the late, Oscar-nominated filmmaker John Singleton (Boyz N the Hood)

Why you need to read your drafts out loud

And more!

Show Notes:

WalterMosley.com

Blood Grove (Easy Rawlins Book 15) by Walter Mosley (Amazon)

Walter Mosley Amazon author page

Writing Los Angeles: A Literary Anthology: A Library of America Special Publication (Amazon)

Roger Zelazny Amazon author page

Walter Mosley on Facebook

Kelton Reid on Twitter

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How Critically Acclaimed Novelist Erik Raschke Writes

21 april 2021 | 70 min

#PodcastersForJustice

Critically acclaimed novelist, short story writer, and educator, Erik Raschke, stopped by this week to talk about coming-of-age in Denver, Colorado, how The Beat Generation influenced his writing, and how your children consume you.

Erik Raschke is a native to Denver, Colorado – and admittedly, one of my oldest friends. He became a dual Dutch and American citizen in 2013, teaches writing at the University of Amsterdam and is a certified New York public school teacher.

Erik's first novel, The Book of Samuel, was translated into Italian and nominated for the prestigious Printz award. His short story, Winch (Portland Review), was nominated for the 2018 Best American Short Stories.

His latest is To the Mountain, a novel described as "... an absorbing tale of sacrifice, hope, and the bond between father and son."

NY Times bestselling author Margaret Coel called the book, “A deeply affecting tale of a father’s love for his autistic son ... Raschke’s lyrical prose evokes both the awesome wilderness of the Rocky Mountains in winter and the unfathomable wilderness of the human heart."

As a journalist in the early '90s in Belfast, Erik briefly covered violence that marked the end of The Troubles. His short stories and essays have been published in The Atlantic Monthly, The New York Times Magazine, Hazlitt, Georgia Review, De Volkskrant, and Guernica, among others.

Stay calm and write on …

And Stay Tuned: I’m cooking up some extras for fans of the show in the coming weeks you won’t want to miss including the option to have episodes, extras, and added insights delivered straight to your inbox, and maybe even some Writer Files merch on the way.

Preview a sample of a podcast at the break from this week's sponsor Look Closer: The Found Fiction Podcast, more at foundfiction.org.

In this file Erik Raschke and I discussed:

The European Rockabilly facsimile that made him cry
Denver and Ken Kesey's impact on his writing
Why he studied the history of disability for his latest novel
How grad school teaches you to write nice sentences, but not great stories
And more!

Show Notes:

ErikRaschke.com
To the Mountain by Erik Raschke (Amazon)
Erik Raschke Amazon author page
The Revenant by Michael Punke (Amazon)
Erik Raschke on Facebook
Kelton Reid on Twitter

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Mark Greaney Writes: Part One

14 april 2021 | 35 min

#PodcastersForJustice

The #1 New York Times bestselling author, Mark Greaney, dropped by to chat about hanging out with Tom Clancy at The Pentagon, the elements of a great spy novel, and the latest in The Gray Man series.

"Even if you finish a whole book and it doesn't get published, I promise you you're a much better author at the end of that process than you were at the beginning..." – Mark Greaney

Mark's debut international thriller, The Gray Man, was published in 2009 and became a national bestseller and highly sought-after Hollywood property. He's released ten in that series to date including the #1 New York Times bestseller One Minute Out.

The Gray Man series has drawn comparisons to giants of the field including Brad Thor, Daniel Silva, and – of course – Tom Clancy. Mark is also the #1 New York Times bestselling author or co-author of seven Tom Clancy novels – he co-wrote Clancy’s final three Jack Ryan thrillers prior to his passing.

Mark's latest outing with The Gray Man is Relentless, a book bestselling author Lee Child called, “Hard, fast, and unflinching — exactly what a thriller should be.”

Netflix recently announced an adaptation of the first book in The Gray Man series, starring Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans.

Stay calm and write on ...

And Stay Tuned: I’m cooking up some extras for fans of the show in the coming weeks you won’t want to miss including the option to have episodes, extras, and added insights delivered straight to your inbox, and maybe even some Writer Files merch on the way.

Preview a sample of a podcast at the break from this week's sponsor Look Closer: The Found Fiction Podcast, more at foundfiction.org.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please "Follow" us to automatically see new interviews. In this file Mark Greaney and I discussed:

His 15 year, overnight success
How his extensive research differs from book to book
What it's like to work with the Russo brothers (best known for their Marvel films)
Why writers need to relax and enjoy the process
And more!

Show Notes:

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How to Research Historical Fiction with Award-Winning Author Patrick Hicks

7 april 2021 | 42 min

#PodcastersForJustice

Award-winning author, poet, and Emmy-nominee, Patrick Hicks, joined me this week to talk about his unique research process, how stories choose their authors, and how to talk about The Holocaust.

"Whatever scares you to write... that's what you should be writing." – Patrick Hicks

Patrick is the award-winning author of over ten books, including The Collector of Names, Adoptable, This London, and the critically acclaimed novel, The Commandant of Lubizec.

He is the Writer-in-Residence at Augustana University as well as a faculty member at the MFA program at Sierra Nevada University.

He has been published widely in literary journals including Ploughshares, Prairie Schooner, Guernica, The Utne Reader, and many others. His poetry has appeared on NPR, The PBS NewsHour, and American Life in Poetry.

The Emmy-nominated writer also hosts a weekly radio broadcast Poetry from Studio 47 that airs on NPR affiliates.

Note: I’m cooking up some extras for fans of the show in the coming weeks you won’t want to miss including the option to have episodes, extras, and added insights delivered straight to your inbox, and maybe even some Writer Files merch on the way.

Stay calm and write on …

This week's sponsor is Neuro. Use the code WRITER at checkout for a 15% discount.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Patrick Hicks and I discussed:

A roadmap to making a living as a writer
How he used grants to fund the research for his latest novel
Note-taking and travel for historically accurate writing
What it's like to get blurbed by your heroes
The circularity and universality of the human condition across eras
Why great writing should always be your end goal
And more!

Show Notes:

PatrickHicks.org
In The Shadow of Dora by Patrick Hicks (Amazon)
Ulysses by James Joyce (Amazon)
Poetry from Studio 47
How Grant Money Funded the Research and Writing of My First Two Novels (and how it could help you too)
A prized poet, Hicks nominated for an Emmy
Patrick Hicks on Facebook
Kelton Reid on Twitter

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How Award-Winning Artist & Author Jason Naylor Writes

25 mars 2021 | 38 min

#BoulderStrong

Brooklyn-based designer, artist, and creative director, Jason Naylor, rapped with me about his mission to inspire hope, how to write bite-sized wisdom for an attention-starved world, and why "love is the answer to everything."

“Be yourself, be brave, be proud of who you are, be kind, be loving, be happy, and be colorful.” – Jason Naylor

As a designer, Jason has won two CLIO bronze medals and a Golden Novum Design Award. But it's his "live life colorfully" credo and independent artwork that have found him fame.

Jason's popularity has grown during the pandemic through his inspiring and intensely colorful murals. Jason has worked around the world to brighten communities through his public art installations.

His first book is Live Life Colorfully: 99 Ideas to Add Joy, Positivity, and Creativity to Your Life, a "...quirky, illustrated mix of inspiring words, tips and tricks, and challenges from [the] award-winning artist."

You may recognize his distinctive style from his collaborations with brands including Coach, Guess, Pepsi, Maybelline, MAC Cosmetics, and more.

Stay calm and write on …

Note: Watch this space – I’m cooking up some extras for fans of the show in the coming weeks you won’t want to miss including the option to have episodes, extras, and added insights delivered straight to your inbox, and maybe even some Writer Files merch on the way.

This week's sponsor is Neuro. Use the code WRITER at checkout for a 15% discount.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Jason Naylor and I discussed:

How to create an instantly recognizable (and inspiring) brand
Why a splash of color and surprise is what we all need right now
His vivid tribute to the essential workers of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Why repetition is key to creativity
And more!

Show Notes:

JasonNaylor.nyc
Live Life Colorfully: 99 Ideas to Add Joy, Positivity, and Creativity to Your Life by Jason Naylor (Amazon)
The Dream Room - "Fifty Hotel & Suites collaborated with world-renowned artist Jason Naylor..."
Jason Naylor on Instagram
Kelton Reid on Twitter

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How NY Times Bestselling Author Matt Haig Writes

17 mars 2021 | 42 min

#PodcastersForJustice

Internationally bestselling author, Matt Haig, spoke with me about how the novelist became an accidental "mental health expert," why writers need resilience, and the process behind The Midnight Library.

"The only reader you're ever going to truly know ... is yourself." – Matt Haig

Matt's the author of 20 books including the #1 bestselling memoir, Reasons to Stay Alive, five novels – including How to Stop Time – and several award-winning children’s books. His work has been translated into over 40 languages.

His latest novel is The Midnight Library, a runaway, #1 bestseller and reader favorite of 2020. It was a Goodreads Choice Awards Best Fiction Book of 2020, a Best Book of the Year by The Washington Post, Amazon, the New York Public Library, among many others.

The New York Times said of the book, "An absorbing ... vision of limitless possibility, of new roads taken, of new lives lived, of a whole different world available to us somehow, somewhere, [perhaps] exactly what’s wanted in these troubled and troubling times.”

Stay calm and write on …

**Audio excerpted courtesy Penguin Random House Audio from The Midnight Library by Matt Haig, read by Carey Mulligan.

Note: Watch this space – I’m cooking up some extras for fans of the show in the coming weeks you won’t want to miss including the option to have episodes, extras, and added insights delivered straight to your inbox, and maybe even some Writer Files merch on the way.

This week's sponsor is Neuro. Use the code WRITER at checkout for a 15% discount.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Matt Haig and I discussed:

His superhero origins and the blog post that became a book
How to write "like no one's watching"
Inconsistent routines and the power of deadlines
Why writers need to surprise themselves
How he got Carey Mulligan to record his audiobook
And more!

Show Notes:

MattHaig.com
The Midnight Library: A Novel by Matt Haig (Amazon)
Matt Haig Amazon author page
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King
Matt Haig on Instagram
Matt Haig on Facebook
Matt Haig on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How Bestselling Thriller Writer Nick Petrie Writes

11 mars 2021 | 32 min

How Award-Winning True Crime Writer Kali White VanBaale Writes

24 februari 2021 | 47 min

#PodcastersForJustice

Award-winning novelist and creative writing professor, Kali White VanBaale, chatted with me about the transition from literary fiction to true crime, her work with the PEN America Prison & Justice Writing program, and taking chances.

Kali is an award-winning, Iowa-based author of novels, short stories, and essays. Her novel The Space Between (penned as Kali VanBaale), won an American Book Award, an Independent Publisher’s silver medal for fiction, and was winner of the Fred Bonnie First Novel Award.

Her latest is The Monsters We Make (as Kali White), a mystery loosely based on the real-life unsolved "Des Moines paperboy abductions" of the early ‘80s. Pulitzer Prize finalist Lee Martin, author of The Bright Forever, said, “[The Monsters We Make] ... kept me on the edge of my seat. I truly did read this remarkable new novel in one sitting.”

Kali is a regular contributor to the A&E Network Real Crime blog series, and her short stories and essays have appeared in The Coachella Review, The Chaffey Review, Midwestern Gothic, Nowhere Magazine, Poets&Writers, The Writers’ Chronicle and others.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Kali White VanBaale and I discussed:

The challenges writers had to overcome in 2020
Her advocacy for social justice through writing
How to cut yourself off from the rabbit hole of research
On writing what scares you
Why writers need to lean on revision
And more!

At the break I've got a special segment with an inspiring young non-fiction writer you won't want to miss. Hint: She is an influencer, author, artist, and tech-savvy 10-year-old.

Stay calm and write on …

Show Notes:

KaliWhite.com
The Monsters We Make: A Novel by Kali White (Amazon)
Past Ten
PEN America Prison & Justice Writing
The Paperboy Abduction Cases: The Legacy of Two Des Moines Boys Who Are Still Missing
Kali White VanBaale on Facebook
Kali White VanBaale on Instagram
Kali White VanBaale on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

_____

Prisha Hedau is a 10-year-old from Louisville, KY, and the author of PANDEMIC 2020: A 9 Year Old's Perspective.

Prisha is an elementary student who holds USA state and USA national level ranking in Chess and Math Kangaroo competitions.

She's also a budding philanthropist with a big heart!

In this file Prisha Hedau and I talked about:

The importance of note taking
Staying positive through tough times
Her favorite book
And how she helps the less fortunate

I know the audio is little rough, but it's an inspiring story.

Show Notes:

PrishaHedau.com
PANDEMIC 2020: A 9 Year Old's Perspective by Prisha Hedau

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How Writer-Director-Activist Duo Bush+Renz Write

18 februari 2021 | 39 min

#PodcastersForJustice

Writer-director duo and activists, Gerard Bush and Christopher Renz (AKA Bush+Renz), took a timeout to chat with me about storytelling to amplify social justice, hanging out with Jay-Z, their debut feature film "Antebellum," and why you need stamina to make it.

“When we conceived Antebellum, we did not – could not – envision the way that systemic racism would break through to force the meaningful conversation we desperately need. But it has.” – Gerard Bush

The duo have been together for 12 years and got their start in advertising in Miami. After losing the taste for producing champagne commercials they pivoted to their "... passion for telling powerful stories of the disenfranchised, marginalized, and underrepresented."

After their police brutality PSA "Against the Wall," starring Michael B. Jordan, went viral, their paths shifted toward Hollywood.

Their chart-topping, timely, debut feature film is "Antebellum" starring Janelle Monae, a "... psychological thriller showcasing the stark reality of being black in America."

Variety named the film a Top 10 Best Film of 2020 and called it, "... a wickedly effective horror-movie metaphor for white supremacy’s enduring grip on American society."

Bush+Renz's mission is to amplify weighty social justice issues including climate change, LGBTQ equality, women's equality, voter suppression, mass incarceration, and more.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Bush+Renz and I talked about:

Their unique perspectives and how they came to work in politics and social justice
How Antebellum began as a short story
The exhaustive research that went into their first film and the prescience that made them believers
What it's like to be tapped by HBO
And more!

Show Notes:

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How to Submit Your Short Story to Literary Magazines

11 februari 2021 | 56 min

#PodcastersForJustice

A unique double-wide lit mag themed episode that includes interviews with two pioneering souls.

My first guest is Erik Harper Klass, a writer and the founder of the full-service short story submissions service Submitit.

And my second guest is Jenna Faccenda, Founder of Eclipse Lit, a nonprofit literary magazine.

Erik Harper Klass is the founder of a unique business, the world's first full-service submissions company for short story writers – submititnow.com.

He is also a critically acclaimed writer whose work has appeared in a variety of journals and been nominated for multiple Pushcart Prizes.

Erik and I talked about:

The sniper vs blunderbuss approach to publishing
"Zen and the Art of Rejection"
How his unique submission algorithm was designed
Why glossy lit mag queries might be a waste of time
And how to stagger your submissions

In the second segment of the show, I chatted with inspiring Philadelphia native and writer, Jenna Faccenda, Founder of Eclipse Lit.

Eclipse Lit is a nonprofit literary magazine founded on a "... mission to give artists a medium to heal while benefiting organizations dedicated to helping people facing trauma."

After losing her fiancé to suicide and finding solace in the transformative power of writing, Jenna set out to provide a forum for others who have suffered.

In this file Jenna and I talked about:

The Writer's Journey and healing through art
Her dedication to help lift other writers out of the darkness
Raising mental health awareness (and support)
And how to start a non-profit literary journal

**National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: We can all help prevent suicide. The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals.

**1-800-273-8255 or text TALK to 741741

Show Notes:

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How Award-Winning Crime Writer Christopher Chambers Writes

4 februari 2021 | 46 min

#PodcastersForJustice

Award-winning writer, commentator, and Professor of Media Studies at Georgetown University, Christopher Chambers, chatted with me about why there's never been a better time to break through as a writer of color, unreliable narrators and the 2nd person POV, and writing for Marvel's Black Panther franchise.

Christopher Chambers is a professor of media studies and novelist whose books include A Prayer for Deliverance and Sympathy for the Devil, the graphic anthology (with Gary Phillips) The Darker Mask, and PEN/Malamud-nominated story, "Leviathan." His writing was included in the anthology The Obama Inheritance: 15 Stores of Conspiracy Noir, which won numerous awards including the Anthony Award.

His latest novel is Scavenger: A Mystery, set in Washington D.C.'s underbelly where "... a Black homeless man must quickly learn the ropes of being a detective after [being framed] for a brutal crime he didn’t commit." Publishers Weekly called the book, a “... no-holds-barred crime novel . . . a 21st-century twist on traditional hardboiled noir,” and friend of the pod, writer S.A. Cosby, called it "wholly original."

Professor Chambers is an honors graduate of Princeton University and the University of Baltimore School of Law, where he was the first African American in the Law Review. He's a regular commentator/contributor on media and culture issues on SiriusXM Radio, ABC News, MSNBC, and HuffPost.

Stay tuned for a special offer from this week's sponsor Neuro.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Christopher Chambers and I discussed:

Why he didn't want to be the next Scott Turow
How to incorporate today's confluence of societal crises into your writing
What it's like to be invited to write about Wakanda
Why the writing life equates to isolation
And more!

Show Notes:

Christopher Chambers
Scavenger: A Mystery by Christopher Chambers (Amazon)
Christopher Chambers Amazon author page
Christopher Chambers on Instagram
Christopher Chambers on FaceBook
Christopher Chambers on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How NY Times Bestselling Thriller Writer Jeff Lindsay Writes

27 januari 2021 | 32 min

How NY Times Bestselling Memoirist Dani Shapiro Writes

20 januari 2021 | 47 min

#PodcastersForJustice

Award-winning, New York Times bestselling author Dani Shapiro, chatted with me about the Groundhog's Day effect of the pandemic, the transition from fiction to memoir, and the hidden power of Family Secrets.

"There's no check the boxes kind of 'career development,' or anything like that, that exists in the creative life. People think that there is, and that they're not doing it right. And there's no right." — Dani Shapiro

Dani is the author of 10 books including the instant New York Times bestselling memoir, Inheritance, which was published in 2019. Her other books include the memoirs Hourglass, Still Writing, Devotion, and Slow Motion, and five novels including Black & White and Family History.

Inheritance won the 2019 National Jewish Book Award, was named one of Wired’s top Science books of 2019 and a best book of 2019 by Vanity Fair. It was also a book club pick for Now Read This, the PBS NewsHour’s book club with The New York Times.

“A meditation on what it means to live in a time when secrecy, anonymity, and mystery are vanishing.” — The New Yorker

Dani has taught at Columbia and New York University, is the co-founder of the Sirenland Writers Conference in Positano, Italy, and teaches writing workshops around the world.

In early 2019, Dani launched an original podcast, Family Secrets, in collaboration with iHeartMedia. An iTunes Top 10 podcast, the series features "...stories from guests who — like Dani — have uncovered life-altering and long-hidden secrets from their families’ past."

Stay tuned for a special offer from this week's sponsor Neuro.

NOTE: Our apologies for any audio issues with our podcast guest interview. We hope it doesn't distract from the important message of this episode. Thank you!

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Dani Shapiro and I discussed:

How to change the rhythm of your day to spark creativity
Her mentors and awakening to her writing voice
Learning to write in public (and find an agent the right way)
On throwing out hundreds of pages
The power of storytelling in the aftermath of family trauma
And much more!

Show Notes:

DaniShapiro.com
Inheritance: A Memoir of Genealogy, Paternity, and Love by Dani Shapiro [Amazon]
Dani Shapiro Amazon author page
‎Family Secrets on Apple Podcasts
William Faulkner's Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech C.1950
The Essay on Self Reliance - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Dani Shapiro on Instagram
Dani Shapiro on Facebook
Dani Shapiro on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How NY Times Bestselling Author Craig Johnson Writes

13 januari 2021 | 32 min

#PodcastersForJustice

The award-winning mystery writer and popular crime novelist, Craig Johnson, spoke with me about his long-running Longmire series, shotgun self-realization, and how to write good books.

"How am I ever gonna get seen? Write good books." — Craig Johnson

Craig is the New York Times bestselling author of the Longmire mysteries, the bedrock of the hit Netflix series of the same name.

His latest novel is the 16th Sheriff Walt Longmire murder mystery, Next to Last Stand, a story that centers around Custer’s Last Fight, one of the most viewed paintings in American history.

"Custer's Last Fight was copied and distributed by Anheuser-Busch at a rate of over two million copies a year and destroyed in a fire at the 7th Cavalry Headquarters in Fort Bliss, Texas, in 1946 . . . Or was it?"

In a starred review, Library Journal said of the book, "... Johnson lightens the atmosphere in this complex, thought-provoking mystery that highlights art and Western history, emphasizing the contrast between Native accounts and white history."

Craig is also the recipient of the Western Writers of America Spur Award for fiction, the Mountain & Plains Independent Booksellers Association's Reading the West Book Award for fiction, the Nouvel Observateur Prix du Roman Noir, and the Prix SNCF du Polar.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Craig Johnson and I discussed:

Why he chose to feature veterans in his latest book
The wisdom behind "Choose a job you love..."
How to host a virtual book tour event
His special relationship with the cast and crew of the Longmire TV series
And more!

Show Notes:

CraigAllenJohnson.com
Next to Last Stand: A Longmire Mystery by Craig Johnson [Amazon]
Craig Johnson Amazon author page
Tinderbox: Soldier of Indira by Lou Diamond Phillips [Amazon]
Craig Johnson on FaceBook
Craig Johnson on Instagram
Craig Johnson on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How International Bestselling Novelist Emily Schultz Writes

5 januari 2021 | 34 min

#PodcastersForJustice

The internationally bestselling thriller writer, Emily Schultz, spoke with me about recollections of coming of age as a Gen-Xer, her creative process in multiple mediums, and how to funnel emotion onto the page.

"You have to be able to take your own emotions and experiences and translate them into a fictional story. If you can pull on the truths that you know, you can bring them to the reader." — Emily Schultz

Emily is the co-founder of the literary magazine Joyland and is the author of The Blondes, an international bestseller named a Best Book of 2015 by NPR, BookPage, and Kirkus Reviews.

Her latest novel is Little Threats, described as a "...taut whodunit and a haunting snapshot of the effects of a violent crime [that] tells the story of a woman who served 15 years in prison for murder ... and now it's time to find out if she's guilty." The book was named an Apple Books Best of November 2020 pick.

Booklist said of the book, "Fans of Tana French, Kimberly Belle, and Orange is the New Black will fall under this book's spell. . . Terse and tense, Little Threats investigates righteous anger, teenage angst, and the enormity of setting the record straight."

Emily’s writing has appeared in Elle, Slate, Vice, Hazlitt, Prairie Schooner, and many others. She is also a producer at the indie media company Heroic Collective where she recently released a complimentary podcast adaptation of The Blondes.

Stay tuned for a clip from the Little Threats audiobook at the break, “... excerpted courtesy [of] Penguin Random House Audio ... read by Dylan Moore and Ariadne Meyers.”

Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Emily Schultz and I discussed:

The influential literary magazine she helped co-found
How to get an "accidental" blurb from Stephen King
The pandemic's effect on her creative process
How to pull on the truths you know and bring them to your readers
And what to do when you don't have access to resources as a writer

Show Notes:

EmilySchultz.com
Little Threats by Emily Schultz - [Amazon]
Emily Schultz Amazon page
Joyland literary magazine
Emily Schultz on FaceBook
Emily Schultz on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The State of Publishing 2020 with Hybrid Publisher Jesse Krieger

24 december 2020 | 43 min

#PodcastersForJustice

Internationally bestselling author, publisher, and founder of Lifestyle Entrepreneurs Press, Jesse Krieger, took time to chat with me about disruptions to the publishing industry, the intersection of creativity and commerce, and marketing and promotion strategies for self-published authors.

"Learn what you need to know, to do what you love to do, so you can be the person you want to be" — Jesse Krieger

Jesse has signed publishing deals on two different continents and navigated the path of becoming a bestselling author twice. He has been featured on over 50 media outlets for his bestselling book Lifestyle Entrepreneur.

He has also published 100+ books during his six-year tenure as founder and publisher of Lifestyle Entrepreneurs Press, a boutique, hybrid model publishing house.

“Their mission is to deliver a world-class publishing experience for authors – which they accomplish through their done-for-you publishing service – focused primarily on personal development, entrepreneurship, self-help, and healthy lifestyles.”

Through their unique distribution and sales models, and a focus on helping authors on each phase of the publishing journey, they strive to provide both higher quality work and resultant royalties.

Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Jesse Krieger and I discussed:

How books get published: traditional vs. hybrid publishing
Why he doesn't recommend starting a publishing company
Best practices for non-fiction authors thinking of writing a book
The most common mistakes he sees authors make
How to write a great book that will stand the test of time
Why you can't anticipate where your audience will find you
And much more!

Show Notes:

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How to Design Your Book Cover with Designer & Author Erin Tyler

8 december 2020 | 39 min

#PodcastersForJustice

Celebrated designer, Creative Director of Scribe Media, and author, Erin Tyler, spoke with me about how she overcame childhood trauma to become one of the industry's best book cover designers, why this is such an important time in publishing, and book cover fails to avoid.

"My relationship with writing is a private one. It's just something that I do every day. It's almost religious for me. Some people meditate or do yoga. I write." — Erin Tyler

Over her 20-year career, Erin has designed book covers for multiple New York Times bestselling authors including James Altucher, Ryan Holiday, David Goggins, and Tucker Max.

As Creative Director of Scribe Media she helps manage and support "...the best book cover designers in the game ... to create unforgettable covers for authors."

Erin recently illustrated and published her own memoir – The Bad One: A Memoir About Growing Up a Goat (short for scapegoat) – the story of her traumatic childhood.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: We can all help prevent suicide. The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals. 1-800-273-8255

Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Erin Tyler and I discussed:

Her cathartic journey from designer to author
The glut of creative tools now available to authors
Why competitive title research is so crucial to the look of your book
The "visual math and emotional haiku" that go into a great cover
Recent industry trends that get under her skin
And why you should feel free to overcommunicate (but not micromanage) with your book cover designer

Show Notes:

ErinTylerdesign.com
The Bad One: A Memoir About Growing Up a Goat by Erin Tyler [Amazon]
ScribeMedia.com
Erin Tyler on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How Award-Winning Debut Novelist Bryan Washington Writes

29 november 2020 | 36 min

#PodcastersForJustice

New York Times Notable author, Bryan Washington, dropped by to chat about how his short stories garnered so much acclaim, what cuisine tells us about the larger narrative around sharing a meal, and why writers need to ignore the publishing marketplace.

"A reading itself can feel more akin to a set list. You adjust your set list based on the context in which you're performing. I think of the reading ... as being interconnected with the text, but its own singular entity." — Bryan Washington

The author published the award-winning story collection Lot in 2019 which garnered him – to name only a few – a National Book Award 5 Under 35 honor, the Dylan Thomas Prize, a Lambda Literary Award, numerous best-of-the-year lists, and one of President Barack Obama’s favorite books of 2019.

His debut novel is Memorial, and it too earned a NY Times notable spot, a Good Morning America Book Club Pick, and was named a Best Book of the Year by The Washington Post, TIME, O, the Oprah Magazine, Esquire, Harper's Bazaar, and others.

It's described as "A funny and profound story about family in all its strange forms, joyful and hard-won vulnerability, becoming who you're supposed to be, and the limits of love."

The author described Memorial as a "gay slacker dramedy." NPR called it, “A masterpiece,” and The Washington Post said of the book “No other novel this year captures so gracefully the full palette of America.”

A24 has already purchased the rights to Memorial, with Washington writing the adaptation for television.

Bryan has written for The New Yorker, The New York Times, The New York Times Magazine, Buzzfeed, Vulture, The Paris Review, McSweeney’s Quarterly, Tin House, One Story, Bon Appetit, GQ, The Awl, and Catapult.

Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Bryan Washington and I discussed:

Trying to pin down the intangible definition of "home"
How the author irons out the creases in his prose
Why writers are like stand-up comedians
His involvement with the adaptation of his novel for the small screen
And why you need to just sit down and start writing

Show Notes:

BryWashing.com
Memorial: A Novel by Bryan Washington [Amazon]
Bryan Washington on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

#PodcastersForJustice

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How NY Times Bestselling Mystery Writer Tana French Writes

4 november 2020 | 34 min

How NY Times Bestselling Novelist Ace Atkins Writes

21 oktober 2020 | 37 min

#PodcastersForJustice

The New York Times bestselling Southern crime writer, Ace Atkins, took a minute to talk with me about his superhero origins as a journalist, the complicated, dark history of the American South, and the challenge and thrill of changing POVs in the novel.

"Make sure you're picking [your genre and subject] for the right reason, that you're picking something that's your personal obsession. When you do that you're never really working, you're really just having fun." — Ace Atkins

The author has written 26 books, including ten in his country noir, Quinn Colson series, and eight bestselling novels in the continuation of Robert B. Parker’s iconic Spenser series. He has been nominated for every major award in crime fiction, including the Edgar three times.

HBO recently optioned his Quinn Colson novels for a series that's currently in development and Ace's second novel for the Robert B. Parker estate, Wonderland, was made into the film "Spenser Confidential" starring Mark Wahlberg and directed by Peter Berg.

The former newspaper reporter (and SEC football player) also writes essays and investigative pieces for publications including Garden & Gun, The Wall Street Journal, and Outside Magazine.

The Revelators is the 10th Quinn Colson Novel a series Men’s Journal called, "The Deep South’s true detective," and NY Times bestselling author Megan Abbott dubbed, “Ace Atkins’ Quinn Colson series is, quite simply, the best in crime fiction today..."

Stay tuned for a clip from The Revelators audiobook at the break, “... excerpted courtesy [of] Penguin Random House Audio ... read by MacLeod Andrews.”

Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Ace Atkins and I discussed:

How his writing has been influenced by '70s noir
Why his latest work echoes social issues of the deep South
The music that helps him create
Dinner with Dashiell Hammett
And how to pick the best genre for your writing voice!

Show Notes:

AceAtkins.com
The Revelators (A Quinn Colson Novel) by Ace Atkins [Amazon]
Ace Atkins Amazon author page
Ace Atkins on FaceBook
Ace Atkins on Instagram
Ace Atkins on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

#PodcastersForJustice

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Laurell K. Hamilton Writes: Part One

9 oktober 2020 | 35 min

How to Live to 100 with Science Journalist Marta Zaraska

2 oktober 2020 | 38 min

#PodcastersForJustice

The lauded science journalist and author, Marta Zaraska, spoke with me about the impacts of loneliness on your health, why we need to think about aging earlier, and how smartphones ruin relationships.

"Too much concentration on our smartphones is definitely damaging our health. The reason for that is that it tends to damage our relationships ." — Marta Zaraska

Marta is the author of two non-fiction books (including Meathooked and Growing Young) two literary novels, and has contributed to two travel books published by National Geographic.

Her latest book is Growing Young: How Friendship, Optimism and Kindness Can Help You Live to 100, and is "A smart, research-driven case for why optimism, kindness, and strong social networks will help us live to 100."

Bestselling author Adam Grant said of the book, "If you care about the length and quality of your life but can’t stomach yet another diet or workout routine, this book is for you."

Marta has been published in the Washington Post, Scientific American, New Scientist, The Atlantic, Discover, and her articles and books have been turned into TV programs around the globe.

Note: This interview was recorded at the end of June, 2020.

Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Marta Zaraska and I discussed:

How she distills the essence of hundreds of research papers into highly-readable prose
Why social isolation is so abnormal for humans and the double-edged sword of the pandemic
How retirement can have negative side-effects
And why introverted writers really only need one good friend

Show Notes:

Zaraska.com - Marta Zaraska's homepage
GrowingYoungTheBook.com
Growing Young: How Friendship, Optimism and Kindness Can Help You Live to 100 by Marta Zaraska [Amazon]
Marta Zaraska on Facebook
Marta Zaraska on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

#PodcastersForJustice

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How to 'Hyperfocus' with Productivity Expert Chris Bailey

23 september 2020 | 46 min

#PodcastersForJustice

The internationally bestselling author of The Productivity Project and Hyperfocus, Chris Bailey, took the time to chat with me about tricks for focusing on what matters most, and how writers can cultivate more calm and creativity through uncertain times.

"Tolkien said, 'Not all those who wander are lost.' I would argue that the exact same thing is true for our attention." — Chris Bailey

Fresh out of college Chris took a full year off to study productivity. He posted his experiments to his popular blog, A Life of Productivity, which went on to become the international bestseller, The Productivity Project.

His latest book is Hyperfocus: How to Manage Your Attention in a World of Distraction, "A practical guide to managing your attention--the most powerful resource you have to get stuff done, [and be] more creative."

Chris’s TEDx talk – How to Get Your Brain to Focus – on the subject of Hyperfocus has received over 5.4 million views.

David Allen, author of Getting Things Done said of the book, “Hyperfocus ... is an extraordinary, eye-opening and research-based report of what affects [our attention], and how to take advantage of [it] to achieve greater satisfaction in our lives.”

Chris also co-hosts the podcast Becoming Better with Ardyn Nordstrom, a self-described “nerdy economist,” a show that covers topics as diverse as productivity, procrastination, happiness, gratitude, and disconnecting.

Bailey’s work has received national and international media attention from outlets like the New York Times, Lifehacker, Fast Company, New York Magazine, and many others.

Note: This interview was recorded at the beginning of June, 2020.

Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Chris Bailey and I discussed:

Some of the neurobiology and behavioral psychology that went into his research and writing
Why writers should always carry a notebook (even in the shower)
How to stop beating yourself up and be less anxious
Why calm is so important to the creative process
And a lot more!

Show Notes:

ALifeofProductivity.com
Hyperfocus: How to Manage Your Attention in a World of Distraction by Chris Bailey [Amazon]
Chris Bailey Amazon author page
How to Get Your Brain to Focus | Chris Bailey | TEDxManchester
Becoming Better podcast w/ Chris Bailey
Chris Bailey on Instagram
Chris Bailey on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

#PodcastersForJustice

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How NY Times Bestselling Thriller Author Shari Lapena Writes

14 september 2020 | 30 min

#PodcastersForJustice

The internationally bestselling author of "domestic suspense" thrillers, Shari Lapena, took a few minutes to chat with me about her circuitous path to success, how she subverts the idea of the perfect "white picket fence" family, and her unique process as a novelist.

"I always just start with an idea and write chronologically all the way through to the end. I don't have a plan, but as I go along, ideas present themselves....it's all very organic" — Shari Lapena

She's the author of popular "suburban paranoia" thrillers – including The Couple Next Door and Someone We Know – and multiple New York Times and The Sunday Times (London) bestsellers.

The Couple Next Door was an international breakout and New York Times bestseller for an astounding 23 consecutive weeks. Her books have been sold in 37 countries and sold more than seven million copies worldwide.

Her latest is The End of Her, a book that "... will have readers questioning their spouse’s past and their own judgment as well."

#1 NY Times bestselling author Ruth Ware said of the book, “No one does suburban paranoia like Shari Lapena — this slowly unfurling nightmare will have you biting your nails until the end.”

Note: This interview was recorded at the end of July, 2020.

Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Shari Lapena and I discussed:

How her process starts from the kernel of a perfect murder
Why she intentionally starts out not knowing the ending to her novels
Her work ethic, daily routines, and inspiration
And rules and no-nonsense advice to getting words on the page

Show Notes:

#PodcastersForJustice

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How Bestselling Hugo-Nominated Author Robert Jackson Bennett Writes

7 september 2020 | 52 min

How the Screenwriter of ‘The Batman’ and 'Project Power' Mattson Tomlin Writes

18 augusti 2020 | 37 min

#PodcastersForJustice

Busy screenwriter and director, Mattson Tomlin, took a minute to rap with me about debuting a film during a pandemic, what it takes to break into Hollywood, and how he was brought on to co-write The Batman with Director Matt Reeves.

"Every script is an opportunity to change your life. Every script is an investment in yourself."—Mattson Tomlin

Mattson rose to prominence in 2017 after a bidding war for his original screenplay that became the Netflix film, Project Power, starring Jamie Foxx, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and breakout Dominique Fishback.

Hollywood Reporter describes the film as an "... action-packed tale that tackles themes [like] government control and the exploitation of marginalized communities."

Tomlin recently gained attention for being brought on board to co-write The Batman with Matt Reeves; the reboot will star Robert Pattinson, Zoë Kravitz, and Jeffrey Wright among others.

He is writing a film adaption of the video game character Mega Man for 20th Century Studios and sold a spec script, titled 2084, to Paramount Pictures.

While getting his Master’s Degree in directing at the American Film Institute, Mattson created over a dozen short films, most as writer-director. Tomlin has appeared on the annual Hollywood's Black List six times in the past four years.

Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Mattson Tomlin and I discussed:

How he writes 10 scripts a year
Why you need to try to "find the film that's in your head"
The curious tattoo he uses to stay on track
His unique approach to Rubik's cubing genres
How he became one of "Hollywood’s Busiest Screenwriters"
And why every script is a chance to change your life!

Show Notes:

#PodcastersForJustice

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How NY Times Bestselling Novelist S. A. Cosby Writes: Part One

11 augusti 2020 | 46 min

How Bestselling Legal Thriller Author Marcia Clark Writes

4 augusti 2020 | 47 min

The 'State of Travel Writing' Roundtable with Award-Winning Journalist Adam Skolnick

22 juli 2020 | 83 min

#PodcastersForJustice

Award-winning international journalist, author, and serial pundit, Adam Skolnick, co-hosted our pandemic edition "state of travel writing" roundtable with several like-minded travel junkies.

Adam is an award-winning independent journalist and author covering adventure sports, environmental issues, travel, and human rights for The New York Times, Outside, Playboy, and many others. He recently began a co-hosting gig on The Rich Roll Podcast.

He’s traveled to over 50 countries, worked on six continents, and contributed to over 35 Lonely Planet travel guides.

He is also the author of One Breath: Freediving, Death and the Quest to Shatter Human Limits, and was the ghostwriter and narrator of David Goggins’ hit memoir and audiobook Can’t Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds, which has sold over two million copies and counting worldwide.

MaSovaida Morgan is a travel journalist whose wayfaring tendencies have taken her to more than 50 countries across all seven continents.

As a Lonely Planet author, she contributes to guidebooks on destinations throughout Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and the Americas. Prior to going freelance in 2018, MaSovaida spent four years in-house at Lonely Planet's Nashville office as a Destination Editor, where she oversaw all of the company's content on South America and Antarctica.

Celeste Brash has been a travel writer for Lonely Planet since 2005 and has contributed to over 80 books and countless articles.

Her travels have brought her to around 45 countries and have helped her learn to communicate in French, Spanish, Thai, Malay and Tahitian. Along the way, she's written for numerous other outlets such as Islands Magazine and National Geographic's Intelligent Travel. She's also had her photography published in magazines including Travel & Leisure and has starred in videos produced by Lonely Planet.

Aaron Millar is an award-winning travel writer, photographer, journalist, and podcast host who has worked for National Geographic Traveller (UK), The Times of London, The Guardian, The Telegraph and others. He has also taught travel writing at a university level.

His travel podcast, Armchair Explorer – "The world's greatest adventurers tell their best story from the road," – was named Best Podcasts for Pure Escapism by Sunday Times and Best Travel Podcasts 2020 by The Guardian.

*NOTE: Host Kelton Reid had technical difficulties on the recording thus Adam Skolnick took over most of the hosting duties.

Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question surveyIf you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

In this file Adam Skolnick and the panel discussed:

The unknown and unstable future of travel, tourism, and travel writing
How the industry can change for the better post COVID-19
The different types of travel writers and the impacts of geo-tagging Instagram photos
Why humans need to travel
The pitfalls of being a female or a woman of color as a travel writer
What the travel writing revolution means for the industry
And insider tips on how to break into writing about exotic (and not so) locales

Show Notes:

How to Ghostwrite a Bestseller with Author Adam Skolnick: Part One
AdamSkolnick.com
Adam Skolnick on Instagram
Adam Skolnick on The Rich Roll Podcast
Masovaida.com
MaSovaida Morgan on Instagram
CelesteBrash.com
Celeste Brash on Instagram
Aaron Millar -- TheBlueDotPerspective.com
Aaron Millar on Instagram
Armchair Explorer podcast hosted by Aaron Millar
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How Emmy-Winning Showrunner of 'The Handmaid’s Tale' Bruce Miller Writes

30 juni 2020 | 45 min

#PodcastersForJustice

The creator, executive producer, and showrunner of the award-winning TV series The Handmaid’s Tale, Bruce Miller, spoke with me about his storied career as a TV writer/producer, what it's like to work with author Margaret Atwood, and adapting a modern classic for the small screen.

The Emmy award-winning TV writer and producer has worked on dozens of shows and movies (including Medium, Eureka, Alphas, and The 100), and got his start working on NBC's long-running hit ER in the early '90s.

Miller's adaptation of Margaret Atwood's prescient, critically acclaimed 1985 novel, The Handmaid’s Tale – considered by many to be a modern classic of dystopian literature – is a drama about a "... totalitarian society [that] subjects fertile women, called 'Handmaids,' into child-bearing slavery."

In its first season, the show won multiple Emmy awards – including Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series for Miller – and became the first on a streaming platform to win an Emmy for Outstanding Series (beating out nominees House of Cards, The Crown, Stranger Things from Netflix, HBO’s Westworld, AMC’s Better Call Saul, and NBC’s This Is Us).

"Handmaid’s” has gone on to win the Peabody Award; a Golden Globe for Best Television Series, Drama; Critics Choice Award for Best Drama Series; the PGA Award for Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Drama; two WGA Awards, for Best Drama Series and Best New Series; was honored by AFI as one of the top ten TV programs of the year, and garnered dozens of Emmy nominations.

The show has been picked up for a fourth season by Hulu.

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In this file Bruce Miller and I discussed:

How getting "fired" from so many gigs helped his career
The brilliance of Margaret Atwood and the influence it had on both the writer and the adaptation
Why TV production is all about schedule and writing is the opposite
A day in the life of a TV writer
Why he doesn't believe in tables in the writer's room
And the one thing you have to be able to do when you get your big break

Show Notes:

#PodcastersForJustice

Anti-racism Resources Donate to any of the following:

Podcasts to subscribe to:

Articles to read:

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How 'It's Always Sunny' Creator and Star Rob McElhenney Writes

12 juni 2020 | 41 min

The writer, producer, and actor – best known for It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia and recent hit Apple TV+ show Mythic Quest: Raven's Banquet – Rob McElhenney took a timeout at the apocalypse to rap with me about how he runs his writer's room, his humble beginnings and admiration for the great TV comedies, and advice for aspiring TV producers.

"Everyone is going through the same things. At least, people that respect science are. That sense of loneliness and despair ... needs to be addressed in some way, but ultimately we want to leave people with a sense of optimism." – Rob McElhenney

FX recently renewed his irreverent "It’s Always Sunny..." for a 15th season, making it officially the longest-running live-action sitcom in US history.

The multihyphenate's latest, Mythic Quest: Raven’s Banquet, is a comedy series "...that follows a team of video game developers as they navigate the challenges of running a popular video game,"

The Apple TV+ show was co-created with "Sunny" alums Charlie Day and Megan Ganz (executive produced by McElhenney and Day), and has been described as "... the travails of a boisterous video game studio – think Silicon Valley meets Veep."

*Note: Though I was lucky enough to catch Rob in his natural LA habitat, sadly the interview was cut short due to technical difficulties, our apologies for the abrupt ending.

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In this file Rob McElhenney and I discussed:

How It's Alway Sunny in Philadelphia almost didn't make it to the fourth season

The inner-workings of a perpetual creativity engine

How little episodic and streaming models of TV differ from a sitcom producer's perspective

His relationships with Danny DeVito and F. Murray Abraham

The evolution of "It's Always Sunny..." and why it stays culturally relevant

And how the greatest indie production tool you own is in your pocket

Show Notes:

Rob McElhenney on IMDb

Mythic Quest: Raven’s Banquet – Apple TV+

It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia now longest-running live-action comedy series ever after season 15 renewal

Rob McElhenney on Twitter

Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How Bestselling Novelist Aris Janigian Writes

2 juni 2020 | 57 min

How to Write Commercial Fiction with NY Times Bestselling Author Jeffery Deaver

27 maj 2020 | 37 min

The internationally bestselling author of over 35 novels, Jeffery Deaver, took a few minutes to discuss his advice on how to write emotionally engaging fiction, the merits of plotters vs. pantsers, and a 5-step process for writing your novel.

"Rejection is just a speed bump ... it's not a brick wall. Keep at it." – Jeffery Deaver

Jeffery is a former journalist, musician, and attorney best known for his Lincoln Rhyme series – now a hit NBC TV show – and the novel, The Bone Collector, adapted for the big screen starring Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie.

The "master of suspense" has been nominated for seven Edgar Awards and gone on to sell 50 million books worldwide, translated into 35 languages.

His latest thriller is a sequel to The Never Game – The Goodbye Man (A Colter Shaw Novel Book 2) – and once again features Colter Shaw, a rugged survivalist and "reward-seeker."

One of Bookpage's "Most Anticipated Mysteries and Thrillers" of 2020, Publishers Weekly said of the book, “Deaver balances suspense and plausibility perfectly ... This is a perfect jumping-on point for readers new to one of today’s top contemporary thriller writers.”

Stay calm and write on ...

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In this file Jeffery Deaver and I discussed:

Why suspense writers are like airline pilots
Wisdom from Joyce Carol Oates and the importance of outlining
How having your novel read aloud to you can improve your prose
A simple formula for writing "roller-coaster" fiction
And much more!

Show Notes:

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Productivity Secrets from NY Times Bestselling Author John Zeratsky

21 maj 2020 | 52 min

New York Times bestselling author and productivity expert, John Zeratsky, made time to chat with me about his mission to help you improve your focus, find greater meaning in your work, and get more out of each day.

“All of the old structures and routines are gone.... When we have a schedule for ourselves ... that becomes scaffolding we can stand on, we're free to focus.” — John Zeratsky

John studied journalism in college and has spent over 15 years as a designer for tech companies like YouTube and Google. He was also Google Ventures's in-house copywriter, editor, and content strategist. At Google Ventures, he helped develop the design sprint process and worked with close to 200 startups, including Uber, Slack, 23andMe, and Nest.

As a result he co-authored the bestseller Sprint: How to Solve Big Problems and Test New Ideas in Just Five Days – written with fellow "Time Dork" Jake Knapp. But they're by no means run-of-the-mill productivity experts, as you'll soon hear.

Their latest collaboration is Make Time: How to Focus on What Matters Every Day a book described by the bestselling author of The Power of Habit, Charles Duhigg, as "A charming manifesto [and] do-it-yourself guide to building smart habits that stick. If you want to achieve more (without going nuts), read this book."

Seems only fitting at a time when many of us are WFH (working from home), experiencing cabin fever (or worse), and questioning the future of work itself (i.e. "going nuts").

John is a keynote speaker whose writing has been published by The Wall Street Journal, TIME, Harvard Business Review, Wired, Fast Company, and many other publications.

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In this file John Zeratsky (JZ – no not that Jay-Z) and I discussed:

Why your smartphone saps your energy, focus, and attention
The origins of the "distraction-free" mindset
How to rethink your definition of time
Why now is the best time to write that novel
Sustainable ways to tune out during a pandemic
Why storytelling is still the universal solvent
And the importance of recharging your soul

Show Notes:

MakeTime.blog
JohnZeratsky.com
Make Time: How to Focus on What Matters Every Day by Jake Knapp and John Zeratsky [Amazon]
John Zeratsky Amazon author page
John Zeratsky on LinkedIn
John Zeratsky on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How NY Times Bestselling Author James Swallow Writes: Part One

14 maj 2020 | 56 min

How to Publish Your First Novel with Acclaimed Author Abbigail N. Rosewood

6 maj 2020 | 42 min

Award-winning writer and debut novelist, Abbigail N. Rosewood, joined me to discuss the roller coaster of emotions first-time authors face, how she overcame rejection and uncertainty, and her advice to aspiring scribes on how to rise above the noise.

"Seeking representation didn't prepare me well for what was to come..." – Abbigail N. Rosewood

Abbigail was born in Vietnam and lived there until the age of 12, so it's no surprise that she tapped into her past as a well for her fiction.

After a false start in International Business, she earned an MFA in creative writing from Columbia University where she studied with famed fictionist Gary Shteyngart.

Her lauded debut novel, If I Had Two Lives, has been described as "... [The] story [of] a young woman from her childhood in Vietnam to her life as an immigrant in the United States – and the necessary return to her homeland."

The Los Angeles Review of Books called it, “... a tale of staggering artistry,” and The New Yorker said "...the novel poignantly conjures the difficulties of reconciling the present with an 'ungraspable history.'"

** Note: This interview was recorded in mid-February, 2020.

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In this file Abbigail N. Rosewood and I discussed:

Why empathy is so critical in fiction and the human experience
The surreal (and fleeting) feeling of holding your first book in print
How she was compelled to write the story of a Vietnamese immigrant/protagonist
Why rejection is such an integral part of the traditional publishing path
The importance of music and coffee to the creative process
And the most valuable traits for aspiring writers

Show Notes:

abbigailrosewood.com
If I Had Two Lives – by Abbigail N. Rosewood [Amazon]
Abbigail N. Rosewood on Facebook
Abbigail N. Rosewood on Instagram
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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Earth Day Special with Terrain.org Editor-in-Chief Simmons Buntin

22 april 2020 | 41 min

Editor-in-Chief of Terrain.org, Simmons Buntin, helped me celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day by discussing why we need strong writing voices now more than ever, how to deal with the current "infodemic" of misinformation, and resources for starting your own revolution.

“The voices in this essential anthology are anything but silent. Indeed, they are voices of hope, habitat, defiance, and, most importantly, democracy. Lend your ears, and then your own voice.” — Simmons Buntin

Simmons has a master’s degree in urban and regional planning from the CU, Denver, and an MFA in creative writing from the University of Arizona, so it's no surprise that he found the intersection of "... the built and natural environments [something he calls] 'the soul of place'."

As the editor-in-chief of Terrain.org, a nonprofit literary magazine that explores just that, he publishes works that examine how our environment influences us in profound ways.

He's also the co-editor of a new collection titled Dear America: Letters of Hope, Habitat, Defiance, and Democracy (Trinity University Press, April 22, 2020), described as a "patriotic anthology" that includes hundreds of writers, poets, artists, scientists, and political activists of all ages.

The more than 130 impassioned letters to America are calls to action for common ground and conflict resolution with a focus on the environment and social justice.

Lauded author and environmentalist, Bill McKibben, said of the book, “These letters come from a deep, real love of this place, and they imagine willing, receptive readers on the other end. We need a series of miracles looking forward, and this is one.”

Simmons is the author of 2 books of poetry, Riverfall, and Bloom, and also Unsprawl: Remixing Spaces as Places (co-authored with Ken Pirie). He has published poetry, essays, and technical articles in publications as varied as Edible Baja Arizona, North American Review, Kyoto Journal, and Bulletin of Science, Technology, and Society.

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In this file Simmons Buntin and I discussed:

How he became the editor-in-chief of Terrain.org
The origin story of the "Dear America" letter
Why bringing together so many impassioned writing voices is vital to our planet right now
How the 2020 Presidential election will have a huge impact on climate change (and democracy)
Why we need to question the direction of our nation and our part as patriots
And why it's more important than ever to be active, not passive

Show Notes:

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The Legacy of Robert Ludlum with Author Joshua Hood

16 april 2020 | 34 min

Military thriller author, Joshua Hood, stopped by the podcast to talk with me about being given the keys to the Bentley of Robert Ludlum's storied writing legacy, the military toughness that's written into his own stories, and how impostor syndrome doesn't phase him.

"In my career, I've had almost every bad thing that could happen to a writer ... happen to a writer." – Joshua Hood

Joshua was an English major at the University of Memphis before joining the military where he spent five years in the 82nd Airborne Division.

As a team leader in the 3-504 Parachute Infantry Regiment in Iraq (2005-2006), the author conducted combat operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He also served as a squad leader with the 1-508th Parachute Infantry Regiment in Afghanistan (2007-2008) and he was decorated for valor in Operation Furious Pursuit.

Hood is also a decorated "life-saving" sniper team leader who was on a full-time SWAT team in Memphis, Tennessee, and he has conducted countless stateside operations with the FBI, ATF, DEA, Secret Service, and US Marshals.

His background and expertise lend to the popularity of his own Search and Destroy military thriller series, and also made him a shoo-in to reboot the brilliant legacy of the late Robert Ludlum (1927-2001), a literary legend whose books have sold in the hundreds of millions.

Joshua kicked off a new series inspired by Ludlum's Bourne universe with Robert Ludlum's The Treadstone Resurrection, a book that #1 New York Times bestselling author Mark Greaney called, “An intense and electrifying espionage adventure [and] ... a worthy addition to the Ludlum bookshelf.”

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In this file Joshua Hood and I discussed:

How The Hobbit lured him into a lifelong love of books and writing
Why writers are more than just people who jot down (ransom) notes
How he was handed the keys to the opportunity of a lifetime
His meticulous research and writing process
How bad "writing" luck can build resolve and character
And what it means to him to honor the legend of Robert Ludlum

Show Notes:

JoshuaHoodBooks.com
Robert Ludlum's The Treadstone Resurrection by Joshua Hood [Amazon]
Joshua Hood's Amazon Author Page
Joshua Hood on Facebook
Joshua Hood on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How Editor-in-Chief of the LA Review of Books Tom Lutz Writes

2 april 2020 | 53 min

Award-winning author, founder and editor-in-chief of the Los Angeles Review of Books, Tom Lutz, took a timeout to talk with me about his early years as a literary ne'er-do-well, what it's like to hang out with your heroes, and why you can assume every writer is faking it just a little bit.

"Writing has never felt like a chore to me. It always feels like the space of freedom, and that I'm stealing the time from my job to do something I love." – Tom Lutz

In addition to editing the Los Angeles Review of Books, "... a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting and disseminating ... engaging writing on every aspect of literature, culture, and the arts," Tom also founded The LARB Radio Hour, The LARB Quarterly Journal, The LARB/USC Publishing Workshop, and LARB Books.

He's a Distinguished Professor of Creative Writing at UC Riverside, and the author of multiple bestselling and award-winning nonfiction titles – translated into dozens of languages – including Doing Nothing (American Book Award winner), Crying, and American Nervousness, 1903 (both New York Times Notables).

His fiction debut is, “A literary thriller that wanders the globe,” novel Born Slippy is described as part "... literary thriller, noir and political satire ... a darkly comic and honest meditation on modern life under global capitalism.”

Bestselling novelist James Ellroy said of the book, "Lutz has the seven deadly sins nailed and rethought for our 2020 world. You’ve got to dig this book!"

Tom's writing has appeared in The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, New Republic, Chicago Tribune, ZYZZYVA, and many other newspapers and literary venues, as well as in dozens of books and academic journals.

He previously taught at Stanford University, University of Iowa, CalArts, and the University of Copenhagen.

** Note on the audio quality: I reached Tom in his natural environs of LA, and the sounds of that urban landscape dot our interview. This interview was recorded at the end of January. Stay well!

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In this file Tom Lutz and I discussed:

His early years as a juvenile delinquent and the teacher that duped him into becoming a writer
Why "... if you want something done, ask a busy person to do it."
How he's happiest (and most creative) when playing hooky
On impostor syndrome and sneaking in the back door of an exclusive club of writers
What it's like to hang out with Salman Rushdie and Margaret Atwood
And why you may not be the type of writer you think you are

Show Notes:

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How NY Times Bestselling True Survival Author Michael Tougias Writes

25 mars 2020 | 48 min

New York Times bestselling creative nonfiction author, Michael Tougias, joined me to talk about how he translated his success in the true survival genre for younger audiences, his unique research processes, and how he captures the "... heroism and humanity of people on life-saving missions..." during maritime disasters.

"You've interviewed these people that have lost loved ones ... They're counting on you to tell the story right, and ... as an author you really do feel that pressure." – Michael Tougias

Michael has written or co-written 29 books in a multitude of genres, including history, and humor, but found the most success with his popular true survival, creative nonfiction.

He's the author of the bestseller The Finest Hours (now a motion picture from Disney starring Chris Pine and Casey Affleck), and Ten Hours Until Dawn (named an Editor's Choice by ALA and praised by Booklist as "the best story of peril at sea since The Perfect Storm").

With his latest "True Rescue Series" – adapted from his popular disaster at sea tales for YA and middle-grade audiences – Tougias is now on a mission to "... ignite the reading passion that he had as a student in young adults."

The most recent is Into the Blizzard: Heroism at Sea During the Great Blizzard of 1978, an adaptation of Tougias’ adult book Ten Hours Until Dawn, called “A blockbuster account of tragedy at sea,” by The Providence Journal.

The Amazon Best Book of the Month was described by Kirkus Reviews as a "riveting" book that, "Reads like a thriller, suspenseful and ultimately tragic."

** Note: This interview was recorded before the Coronavirus pandemic.

Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

In this file Michael Tougias and I discussed:

How he was a "late bloomer" who dreamt of a full-time writing career
Why he recommends public speaking for any author or aspiring writer
The intense and sometimes heartbreaking research that goes into his true survival and rescue stories
Why he likes to always have two projects going at once
His take on writer's block, persistence, and why "you can't edit a blank page"
And much more ...

Show Notes:

MichaelTougias.com
Into the Blizzard: Heroism at Sea During the Great Blizzard of 1978 [The Young Readers Adaptation] (True Rescue Series) by Michael Tougias [Amazon]
Ten Hours Until Dawn by Michael Tougias [Amazon]
Michael Tougias' Amazon Author Page
Michael Tougias on Facebook
Michael Tougias on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How Emmy Nominated TV Writer Sandy Fries Writes

18 mars 2020 | 57 min

The Emmy-nominated TV writer and professor, Sandy Fries, joined me this week to talk about the lessons he learned over his storied, 20-year career in Hollywood, and how he wrote hundreds of popular TV episodes, including Star Trek: The Next Generation, NBC’s Quantum Leap, and Spider-Man: The Animated [TV] Series.

"We all have cracks, the sun shines through those cracks, and through those cracks is how one human being connects to another." – Sandy Fries

Sandy has rubbed elbows with an incredible assortment of media moguls including Sam Simon, co-creator of The Simpsons – who gave Sandy his first break – Marvel's Stan Lee, Star Trek's Gene Rodenberry, and Chuck Lorre of The Big Bang Theory fame.

He's written for almost every TV genre and has had feature film and television development deals with Warner Brothers and Dick Clark Productions throughout his career.

In addition to his Emmy nod he recently won the 101 Best Written TV Series in the History of Television award from the Writer’s Guild of America, for Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Sandy continues to write and share his wisdom with students as a Professor of Film and Mass Communication at the College of DuPage.

He recently poured many of his life lessons into the book, Secrets Your Textbook Will Not Tell You: About TV, Movies and Life, "... a view of Mass Communication, Film and TV from the down and dirty perspective [of] over twenty years..." in the industry.

Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey

A quick note, I'm changing up the format of the show to present longer episodes presented in a single part, as opposed to two-parters split for a shorter, drive-time experience.

Reach out on Twitter or over at writerfiles.fm if you like the longer episode format better, I appreciate your feedback.

In this file Sandy Fries and I discussed:

Why his most revered TV writing credit is a cartoon
How Sandy ditched his job in advertising and got a big break
The writing life and lessons learned from master storytellers and titans of the TV industry
Down-to-earth life advice and secrets to nailing that pitch meeting
Stories behind his friendship with Stan Lee, and why Spider-Man was such a big hit
How he missed out on the opportunity of a lifetime
And how to persevere through good times and bad

Show Notes:

Sandy Fries on IMDB
Secrets Your Textbook Will Not Tell You: About TV, Movies and Life by Sandy Fries [Amazon]
Kelton Reid on Twitter
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How Bestselling Novelist Peter Heller Writes

11 mars 2020 | 44 min

Bestselling novelist, award-winning adventure writer, and journalist, Peter Heller, jumped on the phone to talk with me about his early life as a starving poet, breaking into journalism, how he makes things up for a living, and what it's like to be compared to your heroes.

"When I read [great] poetry or prose [it] comes through my skin and straight to my heart, and pretty much bypasses my head..." – Peter Heller

Peter is a longtime contributor to NPR, and a former contributing editor at Outside Magazine, Men’s Journal, and National Geographic Adventure. He received an MFA from the Iowa Writers' Workshop in fiction and poetry, is the author of four nonfiction books, and winner of the National Outdoor Book Award for Literature.

Heller is a notable bestselling author of a half-dozen novels including The Dog Stars – a lauded breakout bestseller, published in 22 languages – The Painter, and Celine (a finalist for the LA Times Book Prize and winner of the Reading the West Book Award, shared in the past by Western writer Cormac McCarthy).

His latest novel, Edgar Award Nominee, The River (recently released in paperback), has been called a "... the heart-pounding survival story of .... two college students on a wilderness canoe trip – [and] a gripping tale of a friendship tested by fire, white water, and violence."

The New York Times called The River, “[A] modern-day survival tale .... [with] the urgency of a thriller,” and The Denver Post called it, "A fiery tour de force ... terrifying and unutterably beautiful."

**A quick note on the audio quality, Peter joined me by phone, and the interview vastly improves after the first two minutes, so please stick with it, it's a great one.

Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

In this file Peter Heller and I discussed:

How the author channels his fictional characters
The only way to start a novel
Why once you start "making it up" you can never go back
Productivity hacks for writing 1000 words a day, rain or shine
The importance of connecting with your #writingcommunity
And fantastic advice from other award-winning authors to help you relax and let it rip

Show Notes:

PeterHeller.net
The River: A novel by Peter Heller [Amazon]
Peter Heller on Amazon
Peter Heller on Facebook
Kelton Reid on Twitter

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How to Design Your Writing Space with Award-Winning Architect Donald M. Rattner

4 mars 2020 | 59 min

Author, educator, and award-winning architect, Donald M. Rattner, stopped by this week to expound on invaluable research into the latest psychology and productivity studies to offer practical tips for designing your writing space for maximum creative output.

“Unfortunately, once you go down this rabbit hole, you could go on and on forever...” – Donald M. Rattner

Donald has an art history degree from Columbia (where he graduated with honors), and a Masters of Architecture from Princeton.

He's now the founder of an award-winning architecture firm and a "Creativity Architect" whose work (on the psychology of creative spaces) has been featured on CNN, in The New York Times, Work Design Magazine, Better Humans, Town & Country, and many others.

His latest book, My Creative Space: How to Design Your Home to Stimulate Ideas and Spark Innovation, offers "48 Techniques to Boost Your Creativity at Home, According to Science."

The book has a coffee table slash textbook feel to it and includes "... over 200 high-quality photos of interiors from around the world, [from] top-tier architects, designers, and creatives."

So guess what we're going to dig into today?

A quick note, I'm changing up the format of the show to present longer episodes presented in a single part, as opposed to two-parters split for a shorter, drive-time experience.

Reach out on Twitter or over at the writerfiles.fm if you like the longer episode format better, I appreciate your feedback.

Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

In this file Donald M. Rattner and I discussed:

The often disparate and misleading definitions of creativity
Why writers have such a unique relationship to their creative space
Science-based techniques to boost your creative output
Secrets behind why creativity is a 24-hour occupation
The optimal noise and clutter levels for idea generation
Why nature plays such a critical role in creativity and productivity
And so much more!

Show Notes:

DonaldRattner.com
My Creative Space: How to Design Your Home to Stimulate Ideas and Spark Innovation by Donald M. Rattner [Amazon]
Donald M. Rattner on Medium
Donald M. Rattner on Facebook
Kelton Reid on Twitter

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How International Bestselling Crime Novelist Adam Croft Writes: Part Two

19 februari 2020 | 40 min

In Part Two of this file the international bestselling hybrid author and crime novelist, Adam Croft, returned to chat with me from overseas about the processes, productivity hacks, and professionalism that have helped him become one of the most successful independently published authors in the world, and why writers need to develop a business mindset to do the same.

"Writing more books is going to earn you more money, and that should always be your priority.” – Adam Croft

Adam's previous career was as a freelance designer and editor, but his hard work and persistence over ten years have helped him become one of the biggest selling authors of the last decade.

How did Adam go on to sell close to two million books in over 120 countries in such a short time?

We'll dig into his inspiring story, including the stories behind his breakthrough worldwide bestseller Her Last Tomorrow, and his crime thriller Knight & Culverhouse series, which knocked J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Cursed Child off the top spot in Canada only weeks after Her Last Tomorrow was also #1 in the same country.

His multiple bestsellers have also made him an authority on indie publishing, and he's been featured on BBC television, BBC Radio, the BBC World Service, The Guardian, The Huffington Post, The Bookseller and many other media outlets.

Adam now shares his unique expertise of the craft at The Indie Author Mindset where he offers to help "... authors cut through the overwhelming — and often conflicting — information that’s out there [with] solid help and information."

And Adam was kind enough to drop some of that wisdom here for you today, so I’ll tease the promo code I’ve also put in the show notes – WRITERFILES – for a 50% discount on every course at The Indie Author Mindset just for listeners of this show. Simply go to courses.indieauthormindset.com and pop that in there.

Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey

This episode of the Writer Files is brought to you by Words Matter by Wix. Looking for that burst of inspiration to break your writer's block? Or maybe you just need some quick grammar and style tips? Words Matter has tons of articles to help you become a better writer, plus invites to intensive in-person writing workshops. Visit wix.com/wordsmatter/blog to learn more.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

If you missed the first half of this show you can find it right here, and you can find all previous episodes of the show in the archives at writerfiles.fm, and find the last 100 eps on Apple Podcasts (or wherever you tune in), and in the show notes.

Stay tuned ...

In Part Two of this file Adam Croft and I discussed:

Why the author doesn't sit still or look back
The uphill battle ahead for aspiring indie authors
How Adam stays organized and energized as an author slash entrepreneur
The productivity hacks that help him stay prolific
Why writers need to treat their craft with the respect it deserves
And cutting through the bullsh*t of self-publishing

Show Notes:

Words Matter by Wix
Use promo code WRITERFILES for 50% discount on any of Adam's online courses at The Indie Author Mindset
'The Writer's Brain' on Procrastination: Part One
AdamCroft.net
Partners in Crime podcast
The Indie Author Mindset on Facebook
The Indie Author Mindset
The Indie Author Mindset: How Changing Your Way of Thinking Can Transform Your Writing Career by Adam Croft [Amazon]
Adam Croft Readers Group on Facebook
Adam Croft on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How International Bestselling Crime Novelist Adam Croft Writes: Part One

13 februari 2020 | 30 min

The international bestselling hybrid author and crime novelist, Adam Croft, spoke with me from overseas about the processes, productivity hacks, and professionalism that have helped him become one of the most successful independently published authors in the world, and why writers need to develop a business mindset to do the same.

"Writing more books is going to earn you more money, and that should always be your priority.” – Adam Croft

Adam's previous career was as a freelance designer and editor, but his hard work and persistence over ten years have helped him become one of the biggest selling authors of the last decade.

How did Adam go on to sell close to two million books in over 120 countries in such a short time?

We'll dig into his inspiring story, including the stories behind his breakthrough worldwide bestseller Her Last Tomorrow, and his crime thriller Knight & Culverhouse series, which knocked J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Cursed Child off the top spot in Canada only weeks after Her Last Tomorrow was also #1 in the same country.

His multiple bestsellers have also made him an authority on indie publishing, and he's been featured on BBC television, BBC Radio, the BBC World Service, The Guardian, The Huffington Post, The Bookseller and many other media outlets.

Adam now shares his unique expertise of the craft at The Indie Author Mindset where he offers to help "... authors cut through the overwhelming — and often conflicting — information that’s out there [with] solid help and information."

And Adam was kind enough to drop some of that wisdom here for you today. Stay tuned for Part Two of this series for a promo code just for Writer Files listeners!

Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey

This episode of the Writer Files is brought to you by Words Matter by Wix. Looking for that burst of inspiration to break your writer's block? Or maybe you just need some quick grammar and style tips? Words Matter has tons of articles to help you become a better writer, plus invites to intensive in-person writing workshops. Visit wix.com/wordsmatter/blog to learn more.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

In Part One of this file Adam Croft and I discussed:

The nine book "overnight success"
How Adam's past life as a freelancer and small business owner helped him in self-publishing
The three facets of a successful indie author mindset
Why the author's not interested in chasing the latest gold rush
And what it's like to outsell your heroes

Show Notes:

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How NY Times Bestselling Suspense Novelist Joseph Finder Writes

5 februari 2020 | 37 min

New York Times bestselling author, Joseph Finder, took a timeout to talk with me about how to write prescient, cutting-edge suspense, his writing rituals, overcoming impostor syndrome, and how to come to terms with a business built on rejection.

"My objective is not to present research...my objective is to make people turn the pages." – Joseph Finder

The award-winning author is known for his "cutting-edge suspense ripped straight from the headlines." He's written 16 novels and counting, including Judgment, The Switch, Guilty Minds, The Fixer, Suspicion, and the international bestseller Killer Instinct.

Two of his bestselling novels – Paranoia and High Crimes – have been turned into major motion pictures, and Vanished, Finder's instant bestseller, introduced readers to “private spy” Nick Heller.

His latest is House on Fire: A Novel (A Nick Heller Novel), focusing on "... a wealthy family who owns a pharmaceutical company at the epicenter of the opioid crisis."

The Washington Post said of the book, the thriller “Takes ‘ripped from the headlines’ to a new level," and The New York Times called Finder, "The master of a complex suspense formula."

He is a founding member of the International Thriller Writers, as well as a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and the Association of Former Intelligence Officers. He is a graduate of Yale College and the Harvard Russian Research Center.

Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey

This episode of the Writer Files is brought to you by Words Matter by Wix. Looking for that burst of inspiration to break your writer's block? Or maybe you just need some quick grammar and style tips? Words Matter has tons of articles to help you become a better writer, plus invites to intensive in-person writing workshops. Visit wix.com/wordsmatter/blog to learn more.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

In this file Joseph Finder and I discussed:

How setting himself a hard deadline helped him publish his first novel
Powerful motivating factors for believable character development
Why a writer's research needs to be like an iceberg
Turning your writing into a ritual for success
Why every novel presents its own unique challenges
And the perils of selling the rights to a long-running fictional character

Show Notes:

Words Matter by Wix
Creating Quality Content - Part 1: Research & Planning
JosephFinder.com
House on Fire: A Novel (A Nick Heller Novel) - by Joseph Finder [Amazon]
America's Opioid Epidemic - NPR's Throughline Podcast
Joseph Finder on Facebook
Joseph Finder on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How to Ghostwrite a Bestseller with Author Adam Skolnick: Part Two

29 januari 2020 | 38 min

In Part Two of this file we return with an exclusive look into the process behind not only how a writer gets paid to ghostwrite a title for a celebrity, but also the writing, researching, and indie publishing of a book that has sat on top of the Amazon charts for over a year.

“If you’re struggling to figure out what to write, it means you don’t know what you want to say." – Adam Skolnick

Note: We had to get special permission from the incredible human and author, David Goggins, to share this story – so this is truly an exclusive – but it’s no secret that the book was written by my good friend. A huge thank you to Mr. Goggins and his spirit, generosity, and ethos.

From ideation of his bestselling book Can't Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds – by Author David Goggins – to publishing with Lioncrest, and the experimental new media formats like an audiobook/podcast and beyond, this is a glimpse behind the camouflage curtain.

“... Can't Hurt Me, shares [Goggins's] astonishing life story and reveals that most of us tap into only 40% of our capabilities. He calls this The 40% Rule, and his story illuminates a path that anyone can follow to push past pain, demolish fear, and reach their full potential.”

The writer (or ghostwriter) is an award-winning international journalist, author, serial pundit, and “bad penny” Adam Skolnick, our own international correspondent.

Adam’s narrative nonfiction book is available in paperback — One Breath: Freediving, Death, and the Quest to Shatter Human Limits — is based on his award-winning New York Times sports coverage of the death of the greatest American freediver of all time.

The book has been compared to other classics of extreme sports journalism — like Jon Krakauer’s Into Thin Air, and National Geographic Traveller called it “A vicarious thrill that you can enjoy in a little over 300 pages ... unless you read it in the bath...”

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

If you missed the first half of this show you can find it right here. And if you’ve missed previous episodes of The Writer Files you can find them all in the show notes, in the archives at writerfiles.fm, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in.

In Part Two of this file Adam Skolnick and I discussed:

The importance of a large social following for non-fiction authors
How timing plays such a big role in self-publishing success
Why an audiobook/podcast hybrid might be the next big thing for authors
The Golden Age for ghostwriting opportunities
How David Goggins's inspiring message goes beyond cookie cutter self-help
And why "there is no finish line"

Show Notes:

Can't Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds – by Author David Goggins [Amazon]
AdamSkolnick.com
The Environmental Threat of Trump's Wall by Adam Skolnick
Adam Skolnick on Instagram
Adam Skolnick on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How to Ghostwrite a Bestseller with Author Adam Skolnick: Part One

22 januari 2020 | 34 min

Welcome back to a special edition of the show we traditionally call “Writer Porn.” To kick off 2020 we have a very enlightening show for you that you're not going to want to miss.

It’s an exclusive look into the process behind not only how a writer gets paid to ghostwrite a title for a celebrity, but also the writing, research, and indie publishing of a book that has sat on top of the Amazon charts for over a year! Did it beat Michelle Obama in 2019? TK

“If you’re struggling to figure out what to write, it means you don’t know what you want to say." – Adam Skolnick

Note: We had to get special permission from the incredible human and author, David Goggins, to share this story – so this is truly an exclusive – but it’s no secret that the book was written by my good friend. A huge thank you to Mr. Goggins and his spirit, generosity, and ethos.

From ideation of his bestselling book Can't Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds – by Author David Goggins – to publishing with Lioncrest, and the experimental new media formats like an audiobook/podcast and beyond, this is a glimpse behind the camouflage curtain.

“In Can't Hurt Me, [Goggins] shares his astonishing life story and reveals that most of us tap into only 40% of our capabilities. He calls this The 40% Rule, and his story illuminates a path that anyone can follow to push past pain, demolish fear, and reach their full potential.”

The writer (or ghostwriter) is an award-winning international journalist, author, serial pundit, and “bad penny” Adam Skolnick, our own international correspondent.

Adam’s narrative nonfiction book is available in paperback — One Breath: Freediving, Death, and the Quest to Shatter Human Limits — is based on his award-winning New York Times sports coverage of the death of the greatest American freediver of all time.

The book has been compared to other classics of extreme sports journalism — like Jon Krakauer’s Into Thin Air, and National Geographic Traveller called it “A vicarious thrill that you can enjoy in a little over 300 pages ... unless you read it in the bath...”

The Writer Files is now available on Alexa! Because Apple Podcasts are available on Alexa-enabled Amazon devices in the United States, now all you have to do is say,

"Alexa, play The Writer Files on Apple Podcasts." She will probably grant your wish ;-)

Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey

This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

In this file Adam Skolnick and I discussed:

A definition of ghostwriting
How Adam got tapped to ghostwrite for author and endurance athlete David Goggins
Why Goggins turned down a major book publishing deal and decided to self-publish (with Adam still attached)
The Joe Rogan effect for authors
How Adam made the decision to help write David's story
And the unique research and drafting process that went into a bestseller ...

Show Notes:

Words Matter by Wix
How We Built the Wix Brand Voice
Author Accelerator
Can't Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds – by Author David Goggins [Amazon]
AdamSkolnick.com
21 Productivity Hacks from 21 Prolific Writers: Part One
Adam Skolnick on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How Award-Winning Novelist Juan Pablo Villalobos Writes

31 december 2019 | 44 min

Acclaimed, award-winning Mexican author and critic, Juan Pablo Villalobos, spoke with me from Barcelona, Spain about making difficult subjects accessible to young adults, the challenge of shifting from fiction to non-fiction, and why finding the right voice and POV is so important to telling your story.

“If you know perfectly where you're going, the reader will feel the same ... he or she will get bored.” – Juan Pablo Villalobos

The tragicomic, avant-garde author (known to his friends as J.P.) has published film and literary criticism, short stories, and award-winning novels now translated into 15 languages.

His novels include Down the Rabbit Hole, shortlisted for the Guardian First Book Award (2011), as well as I Don’t Expect Anyone to Believe Me, a Herralde Prize (2016) winner soon to be published in English.

New York Times bestselling author Roxane Gay has called his writing “Excellent satire ... hilarious and smart, [that] takes on class in Mexico ... in a really useful way.”

The author's latest is a departure into Young Adult, narrative non-fiction titled The Other Side: Stories of Central American Teen Refugees Who Dream of Crossing the Border.

In a Kirkus starred review the heavily researched – and very timely book – was called, "A ... compilation of stories from unaccompanied Central American teen refugees who make tremendous sacrifices to cross the U.S.-Mexico border."

Told in short vignettes, the author spoke with me about how he employed the narrative techniques of fiction in order to protect the protagonists’ identities and to address the difficult subject matter gathered in interviews, and inspired by immigrant minors seeking asylum from both violence and poverty.

This is, quite obviously, the last show of the year and thank you for all of your support in 2019.

Happy New Year!

We'll be back with some incredible interviews in 2020, including an exclusive with a chart-topping ghostwriter who you may know (spoiler alert: he's been a recurring guest on the show), a self-publishing phenom, an Emmy Award-winning TV writer, an expert on optimizing your creative space or office, a NY Times bestselling suspense writer, and way more neuroscience for your brain!

Also, The Writer Files is now available on Alexa! Because Apple Podcasts are available on Alexa-enabled Amazon devices in the United States, now all you have to do is say,

"Alexa, play The Writer Files on Apple Podcasts." She will probably grant your wish ;-)

Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey

This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

In this file Juan Pablo Villalobos and I discussed:

The importance of unpredictability, point of view, and surprising yourself as a writer
Why writing is (still) rewriting
How the author told the stories of asylum seekers in the first person, and the challenging research process behind his latest work
The power of literature for sharing difficult subjects with young readers
How the author revisited Kurt Vonnegut's writing only after being compared to him
And advice to scribes on why every writer's process should be unique

Show Notes:

Author Accelerator
The Other Side: Stories of Central American Teen Refugees Who Dream of Crossing the Border by Juan Pablo Villalobos [Amazon]
Juan Pablo Villalobos – Amazon author page
Juan Pablo Villalobos on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How Tony Award-Winning Broadway Producer Ken Davenport Writes

18 december 2019 | 39 min

Tony Award-winning Broadway producer, writer, and artrepreneur, Ken Davenport, stopped by this week to talk with me about what it takes to consistently create hit musical theatre, his passion for storytelling, and lessons on today's business of Broadway.

“I'm on a mission to help 5000 shows get produced by 2025.” – Ken Davenport

Over his storied career Mr. Davenport has had multiple Tony Award wins and nominations for his productions including 2018's Best Revival of a Musical for Once on This Island.

His lengthy list of credits also includes The Play That Goes Wrong, Groundhog Day (Tony nomination), Awakening (Tony nomination), Macbeth starring Alan Cumming, Godspell, Kinky Boots (Broadway – Tony Award, National Tour, Toronto and West End), The Visit (Tony nomination), Mothers and Sons (Tony nomination), The Bridges of Madison County, Chinglish, Oleanna starring Bill Pullman and Julia Stiles, and Will Ferrell’s You’re Welcome America, to name only a few.

Ken is a co-founder of TEDxBroadway whose productions have been produced internationally in over 25 countries and his one-of-a-kind production and marketing savvy have been featured in the New York Times, MSNBC, Fox News, BBC and even Jay Leno's "Tonight Show" monologue.

His blog and podcast about the business of Broadway – TheProducersPerspective.com – have also been featured in Vanity Fair, New York Magazine, and The Gothamist and he's written several books including How to Succeed in the Arts . . . or in Anything, and How to Write a Script in 30 Days.

NOTE: This episode is marked explicit because we say a word that means "poop" a few times, as my daughter pointed out.

Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey

This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

In this file Ken Davenport and I discussed:

Why theatre is the original storytelling medium
Secrets behind the intensely collaborative, NASCAR-like process to making a hit
How creating a musical is like getting 17 people to recreate the Mona Lisa
The power of deadlines and the greatest challenge of capturing an audience's attention
Why ideas are worth nothing without a sh*tty first draft
And advice and free resources for writers who want to break into Broadway

Show Notes:

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How Oscar Nominated Screenwriter Kim Krizan Writes: Part Two

11 december 2019 | 38 min

In Part Two of this file the Academy Award nominated screenwriter, actor, and author, Kim Krizan, returned to discuss how she came to work with director Richard Linklater on the critically acclaimed Before Sunrise film series, her lifelong study of femme fatales, and the pioneering work of author Anaïs Nin.

"I write so the endangered thoughts roaming naked and vulnerable through the misty jungles of my mind aren't slain by the guns of practical living." – Kim Krizan

Kim earned her Masters degree in English and Literature and while she was writing her thesis – titled "Anaïs Nin and The Psychology of Creativity" – she auditioned for a film part on a lark.

As a result, she went on to act in some of acclaimed director Richard Linklater's best known films including Slacker, Dazed and Confused, and even played herself in Waking Life.

After taking interest in her Masters thesis, Linklater and Krizan went on to co-write the lauded film Before Sunrise (1995), featuring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy, and they collaborated on the entire award-winning trilogy.

It's no surprise that her in-depth studies of the life of a visionary author also led to her latest book – Spy in the House of Anaïs Nin – "...a penetrating look at Nin’s incredible life and famous diary...Firmly placing Nin in her historical context as a feminist and visionary."

*A note on the audio quality of this episode, Kim did join me via telephone for this interview.*

Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey

This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

If you missed the first half of this show you can find it right here. And if you’ve missed previous episodes of The Writer Files you can find them all in the show notes, in the archives at writerfiles.fm, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in.

In Part Two of this file Kim Krizan and I discussed:

Why the liminal hours between waking and sleeping are so valuable for writers
How Kim befriended Anaïs Nin's family and was granted access to her secret letters, papers, and original manuscripts
What drove Nin to become the most groundbreaking self-published female author of her time
How Nin's visionary work predicted the future
The secrets of a literary legend and the many (often broke) famous authors she befriended and loved
And why you're allowed to write a piece of crap and risk failure early on

Show Notes:

Author Accelerator
How Oscar Nominated Screenwriter Kim Krizan Writes: Part One
Spy in the House of Anaïs Nin by Kim Krizan [Amazon]
Kim Krizan's author page on Amazon
The Wild, Impassioned World of Anaïs Nin’s Diaries - Kim Krizan for Literary Hub
Kim Krizan on IMDB.com
Kim Krizan on Facebook
Kim Krizan on Instagram
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Please click the PayPal Donate button to support The Writer Files with a secure PayPal donation

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How Oscar Nominated Screenwriter Kim Krizan Writes: Part One

4 december 2019 | 33 min

Academy Award nominated screenwriter, actor, and author, Kim Krizan, joined me this week to discuss how she came to work with director Richard Linklater on the critically acclaimed Before Sunrise film series, her lifelong study of femme fatales, and the pioneering work of author Anaïs Nin.

"I write so the endangered thoughts roaming naked and vulnerable through the misty jungles of my mind aren't slain by the guns of practical living." – Kim Krizan

Kim earned her Masters degree in English and Literature and while she was writing her thesis – titled "Anaïs Nin and The Psychology of Creativity" – she auditioned for a film part on a lark.

As a result, she went on to act in some of acclaimed director Richard Linklater's best known films including Slacker, Dazed and Confused, and even played herself in Waking Life.

After taking interest in her Masters thesis, Linklater and Krizan went on to co-write the lauded film Before Sunrise (1995), featuring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy, and they collaborated on the entire award-winning trilogy.

It's no surprise that her in-depth studies of the life of a visionary author also led to her latest book – Spy in the House of Anaïs Nin – "...a penetrating look at Nin’s incredible life and famous diary...Firmly placing Nin in her historical context as a feminist and visionary."

*A note on the audio quality of this episode, Kim did join me via telephone for this interview.*

Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey

This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page.

In Part One of this file Kim Krizan and I discussed:

The effects her study of the experimental life of a literary pioneer had on her own path to creativity
How her travels abroad influenced her screenwriting
Why boredom is so important for writers
How your observation of stranger's interactions is often interpreted into the language of storytelling
And how to outsmart your own inner critic

Show Notes:

Author Accelerator
How Oscar Nominated Screenwriter Kim Krizan Writes: Part Two
Spy in the House of Anaïs Nin by Kim Krizan [Amazon]
Kim Krizan's author page on Amazon
The Wild, Impassioned World of Anaïs Nin’s Diaries - Kim Krizan for Literary Hub
Kim Krizan on IMDB.com
Kim Krizan on Facebook
Kim Krizan on Instagram
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Please click the PayPal Donate button to support The Writer Files with a secure PayPal donation

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How Netflix Showrunner Aron Eli Coleite Writes: Part Two

27 november 2019 | 40 min

In Part Two of this file the showrunner and Executive Producer of Netflix's Daybreak, Aron Eli Coleite, returned to chat with me about what it takes to survive high school (at the apocalypse), paying his dues in Hollywood, and the collaborative nature of world-building and scriptwriting for TV.

"Surviving high school is like surviving the apocalypse," – Aron Eli Coleite

Aron is a comic book writer, TV writer, and producer best known for his work on the popular NBC series Heroes and the CBS series Star Trek Discovery.

His latest is the dark, zombie comedy series Daybreak starring Matthew Broderick, co-created with Brad Peyton for Netflix. It's been called “Mad Max meets Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” by SyFy.com and is based on Brian Ralph's graphic novel series of the same name.

Aron also helped co-develop the newest version of Locke & Key for Netflix - including co-writing the first episode with comic book series creator Joe Hill. His upcoming projects include adapting Amulet for 20th Century Fox.

Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey

This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

If you missed the first half of this show you can find it right here. And if you’ve missed previous episodes of The Writer Files you can find them all in the show notes, in the archives at writerfiles.fm, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in.

In Part Two of this file Aron Eli Coleite and I discussed:

Secrets behind how a hit Netflix show is written and produced
Why the writers on Daybreak are like an elite special forces unit
The importance of diverse voices in TV writing
How "The Hero's Journey" plays such a big part in episodic storytelling
Why Aron got into television writing early in his career
And his advice to aspiring scribes looking to break into TV

Show Notes:

Author Accelerator
How Netflix Showrunner Aron Eli Coleite Writes: Part One
Daybreak on Netflix
The Only Podcast Left - Daybreak on Spotify
Aron Eli Coleite on IMDB.com
Aron Eli Coleite on Wikipedia
Daybreak on Facebook
Daybreak on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Please click the PayPal Donate button to support The Writer Files with a secure PayPal donation

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How Netflix Showrunner Aron Eli Coleite Writes: Part One

20 november 2019 | 33 min

Showrunner and Executive Producer of Netflix's Daybreak, Aron Eli Coleite, took a break to chat with me about what it takes to survive high school (at the apocalypse), paying his dues in Hollywood, and the collaborative nature of world-building and scriptwriting for TV.

"Surviving high school is like surviving the apocalypse," – Aron Eli Coleite

Aron is a comic book writer, TV writer, and producer best known for his work on the popular NBC series Heroes and the CBS series Star Trek Discovery.

His latest is the dark, zombie comedy series Daybreak starring Matthew Broderick, co-created with Brad Peyton for Netflix. It's been called “Mad Max meets Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” by SyFy.com and is based on Brian Ralph's graphic novel series of the same name.

Aron also helped co-develop the newest version of Locke & Key for Netflix - including co-writing the first episode with comic book series creator Joe Hill. His upcoming projects include adapting Amulet for 20th Century Fox.

Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey

This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page.

In Part One of this file Aron Eli Coleite and I discussed:

How his lifelong love of comic books boosted his career
What it was like to earn his stripes working with Tim Kring on Crossing Jordan and the groundbreaking Heroes series
Why his latest show terrifies him as a writer
How so much iconic film and TV informed the unique genre-bending world of Daybreak
Why cliffhangers are so important for propelling your audience to a finale
And the difference between writing for the streaming model vs. episodic TV

Show Notes:

Author Accelerator
Daybreak on Netflix
The Only Podcast Left - Daybreak on Spotify
Aron Eli Coleite on IMDB.com
Aron Eli Coleite on Wikipedia
Daybreak on Facebook
Daybreak on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Please click the PayPal Donate button to support The Writer Files with a secure PayPal donation

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How NY Times Bestselling Nonfiction Author Andrew Maraniss Writes: Part Two

13 november 2019 | 34 min

In Part Two of this file the award-winning, New York Times bestselling narrative nonfiction author, Andrew Maraniss, returned to chat about what it was like to grow up around so many famous journalists, why he chooses to weave social issues into sports history, and some age-old wisdom on how to beat writer's block.

"Just get started.” – Andrew Maraniss

Andrew is the son of Pulitzer Prize winning Washington Post journalist and author, David Maraniss, so it's no surprise that he has writing in his blood (and a touch of impostor syndrome).

His winding path to bestseller started out as a history writing assignment at Vanderbilt University that only years later became his award-winning book Strong Inside: Perry Wallace and the Collision of Race and Sports in the South.

His lauded basketball biography went on to become a bestseller, and received the 2015 Lillian Smith Book Award for civil rights and the RFK Book Awards’ Special Recognition Prize for social justice, the first sports-related book to ever receive either honor.

The author's latest, Games of Deception: The True Story of the First U.S. Olympic Basketball Team at the 1936 Olympics in Hitler's Germany, is a Young Adult title that chronicles "...the remarkable true story of the birth of Olympic basketball."

The book has been called "An insightful, gripping account of basketball and bias," and investigative journalist and No. 1 bestselling author Bob Woodward called it, "Shocking and triumphant."

Andrew is a Visiting Author at Vanderbilt University Athletics and a contributor to ESPN’s TheUndefeated.com. He has appeared on NPR’s All Things Considered, NBC’s Meet The Press, MSNBC’s Morning Joe, ESPN’s Keith Olbermann Show, ESPN Radio, and many others.

Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey

This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

If you missed the first half of this show you can find it right here. And if you’ve missed previous episodes of The Writer Files you can find them all in the show notes, in the archives at writerfiles.fm, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in.

In Part Two of this file Andrew Maraniss and I discussed:

Why narrative nonfiction is so valuable in the fiction-heavy Young Adult genre
The importance of embedding relevant social issues into stories for younger audiences
Apocryphal wisdom on how to beat writer's block and build momentum
How being related to a Pulitzer Prize winning writer might give you impostor syndrome
The viral nature of basketball's genesis and rise to international fame
And why the writing community and indie bookstores are more vital than ever for important stories

Show Notes:

Author Accelerator
How NY Times Bestselling Nonfiction Author Andrew Maraniss Writes: Part One
AndrewMaraniss.com
Games of Deception: The True Story of the First U.S. Olympic Basketball Team at the 1936 Olympics in Hitler's Germany Hardcover – by Andrew Maraniss
Andrew Maraniss at The Undefeated.com
Andrew Maraniss on Instagram
Andrew Maraniss on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter
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How NY Times Bestselling Nonfiction Author Andrew Maraniss Writes: Part One

6 november 2019 | 28 min

Award-winning, New York Times bestselling narrative nonfiction author, Andrew Maraniss, stopped by to chat about what it was like to grow up around so many famous journalists, why he chooses to weave social issues into sports history, and some age-old wisdom on how to beat writer's block.

"Just get started.” – Andrew Maraniss

Andrew is the son of Pulitzer Prize winning Washington Post journalist and author, David Maraniss, so it's no surprise that he has writing in his blood (and a touch of impostor syndrome).

His winding path to bestseller started out as a history writing assignment at Vanderbilt University that only years later became his award-winning book Strong Inside: Perry Wallace and the Collision of Race and Sports in the South.

His lauded basketball biography went on to become a bestseller, and received the 2015 Lillian Smith Book Award for civil rights and the RFK Book Awards’ Special Recognition Prize for social justice, the first sports-related book to ever receive either honor.

The author's latest, Games of Deception: The True Story of the First U.S. Olympic Basketball Team at the 1936 Olympics in Hitler's Germany, is a Young Adult title that chronicles "...the remarkable true story of the birth of Olympic basketball."

The book has been called "An insightful, gripping account of basketball and bias," and investigative journalist and No. 1 bestselling author Bob Woodward called it, "Shocking and triumphant."

Andrew is a Visiting Author at Vanderbilt University Athletics and a contributor to ESPN’s TheUndefeated.com. He has appeared on NPR’s All Things Considered, NBC’s Meet The Press, MSNBC’s Morning Joe, ESPN’s Keith Olbermann Show, ESPN Radio, and many others.

Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey

This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

In Part One of this file Andrew Maraniss and I discussed:

His circuitous path to a full time writing career
The untold story of the origins of the first U.S. Olympic basketball team and the young men who played on it
Why they were overshadowed by the atmosphere surrounding the Berlin Olympic Games in Nazi Germany
The importance of this story (and so many stories like it) in today’s political climate

Show Notes:

Author Accelerator
How NY Times Bestselling Nonfiction Author Andrew Maraniss Writes: Part Two
AndrewMaraniss.com
Games of Deception: The True Story of the First U.S. Olympic Basketball Team at the 1936 Olympics in Hitler's Germany Hardcover – by Andrew Maraniss
Andrew Maraniss at The Undefeated.com
Andrew Maraniss on Instagram
Andrew Maraniss on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Please click the PayPal Donate button to support The Writer Files with a secure PayPal donation

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How to Write a Bestselling Children's Book with Laurie Wright

30 oktober 2019 | 39 min

Bestselling children's author and publishing coach, Laurie Wright, joined me this week to talk about her mission to help the emotional welfare of kids around the world, how she self-published a bestseller, and tools and resources for writer's aspiring to pen their own illustrated children's books.

“I've realized, quickly, that what they say about 80% of people wanting to write a book really is true.” – Laurie Wright

The former kindergarten teacher and mom of three saw an opportunity in the classroom for both parents and educators seeking solutions to get their kids to overcome "learned helplessness," and undertake simple problem-solving.

She crowdfunded her first self-published, illustrated children's book in 2016, the hugely popular Amazon bestseller, I Can Handle It (a Mindful Mantras book), now translated into seven languages.

The book established her as a childhood mental health authority – even though her background is in education – and since 2016 Laurie has gone on to publish 11 kid's books, three of which are bestsellers.

Her Mindful Mantra books are described as "... quick, simple to read, useful resources for parents and teachers ... [that offer] a common language ... to help children self-regulate."

Laurie has turned her passion for helping other educators and aspiring children's writers into a lucrative coaching business and podcast that both provide tips and tools on how to write, self-publish, and market your book.

Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey

This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

In this file Laurie Wright and I discussed:

How 10 years as a kindergarten teacher (and mom) informs her work
The greatest challenge she faced self-publishing an illustrated book
Why quiet time with books is so important for young readers
The new age of self-publishing and the barrier to entry for traditionally publishing kid's books
How she turned her self-publishing know-how into entrepreneurial ventures
Why children's authors face so much self-doubt
And advice and free resources for authors dreaming about writing their own illustrated children's books

Show Notes:

Author Accelerator
lauriewrighter.com
The Writer's Way - podcast
lauriewrightmedia.com
creativewrighter.com
I Can Handle It (Mindful Mantras) - by Laurie Wright [Amazon]
Laurie Wright on Amazon
Laurie Wright on YouTube
Laurie Wright on Facebook
Laurie Wright on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How NY Times Bestselling Thriller Author Tess Gerritsen Writes

22 oktober 2019 | 34 min

International and New York Times bestselling author, Tess Gerritsen, dropped by to chat with me about the role of luck in finding success as a writer, where she draws inspiration for her thrillers, her love-hate relationship with writing for the screen, and her unique creative process.

“Make every single chapter feel that somebody is off balance, that something is not right. That is what propels readers to read the next chapter.” – Tess Gerritsen

The award-winning author graduated from medical school at the University of California, San Francisco, and began her writing career in earnest while on maternity leave from her work as a physician.

She published her first romantic thriller in 1987 and never looked back. Her books have since topped the charts in both the US and abroad, and sold more than 30 million copies in 40 countries.

Tess has now written 28 novels, including the acclaimed Rizzoli & Isles series (which inspired the TNT TV series of the same name starring Angie Harmon and Sasha Alexander), as well as both romantic suspense and medical & crime thrillers.

Though she's been dubbed the “medical suspense queen,” her latest novel, The Shape of Night, is a departure in genre that Tess describes as an "erotic psychological thriller" with both supernatural and Gothic elements.

Publishers Weekly said of the book, “This supernatural thriller from bestseller Gerritsen ranks with the best of her crime fiction. . . .[A] magnetic haunted house story [that] will keep readers riveted from the very first page.”

And #1 New York Times bestselling author Lisa Gardner wrote, "Gerritsen is at her atmospheric best in this spine-tingling tale of a lone woman, an old house, and all the secrets everyone tries to hide.”

Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey

This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

In this file Tess Gerritsen and I discussed:

Her winding journey to bestseller and a "ten book" overnight success
Why she prefers to pen novels over writing for Hollywood
Navigating the mysteries and fairy dust of the publishing industry
Tricks to master storytelling in any genre
The secret to writing drafts that will never get lost in the cloud
And her creativity hacks for beating writer's block

Show Notes:

Author Accelerator
TessGerritsen.com
The Shape of Night: A Novel by Tess Gerritsen [Amazon]
The 13 Scariest Books Written This Year
Tess Gerritsen on Facebook
Tess Gerritsen on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How to Recharge Your Creative Batteries with Bestselling Author Kim Petersen: Part Two

16 oktober 2019 | 31 min

In Part Two of this file bestselling author, Kim Petersen, returned to talk with me about tactics to tap into age-old wisdom, quiet your inner critic, get back to basics, rediscover your voice, and recharge your creative batteries.

“With how our lifestyles are, and the technology, we seem to have also become more disconnected from ourselves.” – Kim Petersen

The award-winning, USA Today Bestselling, Australian author of fantasy, paranormal, and dystopian fiction, writes The Ascended Angels Chronicles, and co-authors the Stone the Crows series.

Her latest is a foray into non-fiction titled Creative Writing Energy: Tools to Access Your Higher-Creative Mind - co-authored with colleague, romance writer Catherine Evans.

It's been described as a book "...written for creatives about developing pathways to access the higher-creative mind...alternative ways..." and tools for unlocking your creativity.

Before you dismiss this episode as a little "woo-woo," I assure you that we dig into the reasons behind the current shift for creatives toward alternative ways of thinking, New Age modalities, and a generation of writers looking to tune-out the noise and live more authentically.

Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey

This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

If you missed the first half of this show you can find it right here. And if you’ve missed previous episodes of The Writer Files you can find them all in the show notes, in the archives at writerfiles.fm, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in.

In Part Two of this file Kim Petersen and I discussed:

Why writers are the bedrock of the long-standing tradition of making meaning of the world
How the author incorporates divination into her storytelling process
Why prolific writers throughout history have used tools for jumpstarting their creativity
How ancient, esoteric practices can unplug your inner critic, FOMO, and beat "resistance"
Why getting back in touch with your voice is so important
And how to conjure your inner child (no, not by jumping off the garage Kim, lol)

Show Notes:

Author Accelerator
KimPetersen.com
WhisperingInkPress.com
Creative Writing Energy: Tools to Access Your Higher-Creative Mind [Amazon]
CatherineEvansAuthor.com
Creative Writing Energy on Patreon
Oblique Strategies - created by Brian Eno
How millennials replaced religion with astrology and crystals - LA Times
Kim Petersen on Facebook
Kim Petersen on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Please click the PayPal Donate button to support The Writer Files with a secure PayPal donation

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How to Recharge Your Creative Batteries with Bestselling Author Kim Petersen: Part One

9 oktober 2019 | 33 min

Bestselling author, Kim Petersen, spoke with me about tactics to tap into age-old wisdom, quiet your inner critic, get back to basics, rediscover your voice, and recharge your creative batteries.

“With how our lifestyles are, and the technology, we seem to have also become more disconnected from ourselves.” – Kim Petersen

The award-winning, USA Today Bestselling, Australian author of fantasy, paranormal, and dystopian fiction, writes The Ascended Angels Chronicles, and co-authors the Stone the Crows series.

Her latest is a foray into non-fiction titled Creative Writing Energy: Tools to Access Your Higher-Creative Mind - co-authored with colleague, romance writer Catherine Evans.

It's been described as a book "...written for creatives about developing pathways to access the higher-creative mind...alternative ways..." and tools for unlocking your creativity.

Before you dismiss this episode as a little "woo-woo," I assure you that we dig into the reasons behind the current shift for creatives toward alternative ways of thinking, New Age modalities, and a generation of writers looking to tune-out the noise and live more authentically.

Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey

This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

In Part One of this file Kim Petersen and I discussed:

Her journey to finding her writing identity (or, how it found her)
Why she chose to write about her own writing rituals and routines
How technology is draining our creative batteries
Why younger generations are turning away from traditional belief systems and finding alternative means to recharge
The nuts and bolts of a good foundation for creativity
Why writers need to dip back into the great mystery through storytelling

Show Notes:

Author Accelerator
KimPetersen.com
WhisperingInkPress.com
Creative Writing Energy: Tools to Access Your Higher-Creative Mind [Amazon]
CatherineEvansAuthor.com
Creative Writing Energy on Patreon
Oblique Strategies - created by Brian Eno
How millennials replaced religion with astrology and crystals - LA Times
Kim Petersen on Facebook
Kim Petersen on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Please click the PayPal Donate button to support The Writer Files with a secure PayPal donation

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How to Write Impactful Historical Fiction with Award-Winning Author Talia Carner: Part Two

24 september 2019 | 34 min

In Part Two of this file the award-winning novelist, speaker, and activist Talia Carner spoke with me about the intensive research processes that go into her novels, why she chose fiction to write about global social issues, the real-life crisis happening right before our eyes, and what we can do about it.

“I take a skeleton out of the closet and dance with it. The skeleton being the many social issues around the globe that vie for attention.” – Talia Carner

Ms. Carner writes suspense novels with a social message and her latest historical novel, The Third Daughter, aims to turn the issue of sex trafficking into real-world activism. Talia's mission is to transform the lessons of the past into action in the present.

Her fifth book has been described as, “A frightening journey into the New World of the late 1800s, told by a trusting young woman lured from Russia and forced into prostitution in Buenos Aires.”

Before becoming a professional novelist the author had a corporate career in the magazine business, started her own business as a marketing consultant for Fortune 500 companies, was a counselor and lecturer for the Small Business Administration, and even a member of the United States Information Agency.

Talia is a popular international speaker who has keynoted close to 300 events on pressing social issues facing women around the globe.

To learn more about human trafficking in the USA – and what you can do to help stop it – you can find a wealth of information that the author has provided for us in her article here: Take Action Against Trafficking

This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

If you missed the first half of this show you can find it right here. And if you’ve missed previous episodes of The Writer Files you can find them all in the show notes, in the archives at writerfiles.fm, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in.

In Part Two of this file Talia Carner and I discussed:

Why fiction writers are like comedians
The importance of historical fiction for unearthing the skeletons in society’s closet
The current crisis of sex trafficking, not only abroad, but right here in the US
How we can educate and protect our children
Why we need to apply lessons from the past to enact change now
And her two big pieces of advice for aspiring fiction writers

Show Notes:

Author Accelerator
How to Write Impactful Historical Fiction with Award-Winning Author Talia Carner: Part One
TaliaCarner.com
The Third Daughter: A Novel by Talia Carner [Amazon]
Take Action Against Trafficking
Protect Now, an educational program against sex trafficking taught in schools
“The Man From Buenos Aires” by Sholem Aleichem (Translated from Hebrew by Talia Carner)
Talia Carner on Facebook
Talia Carner on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How to Write Impactful Historical Fiction with Award-Winning Author Talia Carner: Part One

18 september 2019 | 28 min

Award-winning novelist, speaker, and activist Talia Carner spoke with me about the intensive research processes that go into her novels, why she chose fiction to write about global social issues, the real-life crisis happening right before our eyes and what we can do about it.

“I take a skeleton out of the closet and dance with it. The skeleton being the many social issues around the globe that vie for attention.” – Talia Carner

Ms. Carner writes suspense novels with a social message and her latest historical novel, The Third Daughter, aims to turn the issue of sex trafficking into real-world activism. Talia's mission is to transform the lessons of the past into action in the present.

Her fifth book has been described as, “A frightening journey into the New World of the late 1800s, told by a trusting young woman lured from Russia and forced into prostitution in Buenos Aires.”

Before becoming a professional novelist the author had a corporate career in the magazine business, started her own business as a marketing consultant for Fortune 500 companies, was a counselor and lecturer for the Small Business Administration, and even a member of the United States Information Agency.

Talia is a popular international speaker who has keynoted close to 300 events on pressing social issues facing women around the globe.

To learn more about human trafficking in the USA – and what you can do to help stop it – you can find a wealth of information that the author has provided for us in her article here: Take Action Against Trafficking

This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

In Part One of this file Talia Carner and I discussed:

How the writer's natural form of expression is somewhere in the 100,000 word range
Why historical fiction is so challenging to write well
How she used researchers to trace details of landmarks long forgotten
What it's like to channel characters from the distant past and write prose incorporating other languages
What sparks the ideation that fuels her writing mission
And why writers need to cull ideas from issues that move them most

Show Notes:

Author Accelerator
How to Write Impactful Historical Fiction with Award-Winning Author Talia Carner: Part Two
TaliaCarner.com
The Third Daughter: A Novel by Talia Carner [Amazon]
Take Action Against Trafficking
Protect Now, an educational program against sex trafficking taught in schools
Talia Carner on Facebook
Talia Carner on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Secrets for Beating Writer’s Block with TV Writer & Comedian Jorjeana Marie: Part Two

11 september 2019 | 40 min

In Part Two of this file the award-winning actress, comedian, and screenwriter, Jorjeana Marie, returned to talk with me about fulfilling her childhood dream of writing for Disney, how writers can rewire their inner-critic, improv as a writing (and life) philosophy, and secrets for beating block and creating countless ideas.

“In improv the philosophy is, there are no mistakes.” – Jorjeana Marie

The talented multi-hyphenate storyteller started out writing and producing plays during her stint at NYU's Dramatic Writing Program, and has gone on to write for several animated television shows, including a popular kids' series for Disney.

Jorjeana is also an actress with extensive film and TV experience, as well as a prolific, award-winning audiobook narrator who has voiced over 300 titles for multiple NY Times bestsellers.

She writes and performs comedy regularly on stage at UCB, The Improv, and The Comedy Store, and teaches improvisation to students across the country, including at studios in Hollywood where she's coached writers of all genres.

Her recent book, Improv for Writers: 10 Secrets to Help Novelists and Screenwriters Bypass Writer’s Block and Generate Infinite Ideas is aimed at "...Aspiring and professional writers, novelists, screenwriters ... suffering from writer’s block and even those new to the craft."

New York Times bestselling author Gayle Forman said of the book, “Jorjeana Marie’s generous, joyful, and oh-so-useful book shows writers—both seasoned and new—how to unleash their creativity and find their best story.”

Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey

This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

If you missed the first half of this show you can find it right here. And if you’ve missed previous episodes of The Writer Files you can find them all in the show notes, in the archives at writerfiles.fm, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in.

In Part Two of this file Jorjeana Marie and I discussed:

Reasons writers need to be in the present moment and less self-conscious
How to turn off your inner-critic and jumpstart your creativity
What it's like to work with and write for iconic Disney characters
Why writers should unbox their childhood dreams and literary inspirations
Her conspiracy theories about Shakespeare
And why unplugging and creating boundaries are both so critical for beating block

Show Notes:

Author Accelerator
JorjeanaMarie.com
Improv for Writers: 10 Secrets to Help Novelists and Screenwriters Bypass Writer's Block and Generate Infinite Ideas by Jorjeana Marie [Amazon]
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King [Amazon]
The 3 A.M. Epiphany: Uncommon Writing Exercises that Transform Your Fiction by Brian Kiteley [Amazon]
Jorjeana Marie on Instagram
Jorjeana Marie on Facebook
Jorjeana Marie on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Please click the PayPal Donate button to support The Writer Files with a secure PayPal donation

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Secrets for Beating Writer’s Block with TV Writer & Comedian Jorjeana Marie: Part One

4 september 2019 | 32 min

Award-winning actress, comedian, and screenwriter, Jorjeana Marie, took a break to talk with me about fulfilling her childhood dream of writing for Disney, how writers can rewire their inner-critic, improv as a writing (and life) philosophy, and secrets for beating block and creating countless ideas.

“In improv the philosophy is, there are no mistakes.” – Jorjeana Marie

The talented multi-hyphenate storyteller started out writing and producing plays during her stint at NYU's Dramatic Writing Program, and has gone on to write for several animated television shows, including a popular kids' series for Disney.

Jorjeana is also an actress with extensive film and TV experience, as well as a prolific, award-winning audiobook narrator who has voiced over 300 titles for multiple NY Times bestsellers.

She writes and performs comedy regularly on stage at UCB, The Improv, and The Comedy Store, and teaches improvisation to students across the country, including at studios in Hollywood where she's coached writers of all genres.

Her recent book, Improv for Writers: 10 Secrets to Help Novelists and Screenwriters Bypass Writer’s Block and Generate Infinite Ideas is aimed at "...Aspiring and professional writers, novelists, screenwriters ... suffering from writer’s block and even those new to the craft."

New York Times bestselling author Gayle Forman said of the book, “Jorjeana Marie’s generous, joyful, and oh-so-useful book shows writers—both seasoned and new—how to unleash their creativity and find their best story.”

This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

In Part One of this file Jorjeana Marie and I discussed:

How to use improv to quickly generate some pages
What it's like to work with Dave Chapelle and go on stage after Chris Rock
Why successful storytelling starts with letting go of expectations
How to use time-tested methods of writing on your feet to jumpstart your creativity
Why writers need keep it fun to surprise themselves
And how constraints and little bit of pressure can be so rewarding

Show Notes:

Author Accelerator
JorjeanaMarie.com
Improv for Writers: 10 Secrets to Help Novelists and Screenwriters Bypass Writer's Block and Generate Infinite Ideas by Jorjeana Marie [Amazon]
Jorjeana Marie on Facebook
Jorjeana Marie on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Please click the PayPal Donate button to support The Writer Files with a secure PayPal donation

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How NY Times Bestselling Memoirist Lisa Brennan-Jobs Writes: Part Two

27 augusti 2019 | 42 min

In Part Two of this file the New York Times bestselling memoirist and journalist, Lisa Brennan-Jobs, returned to talk about her decades long journey to publication, why it's so important to find yourself in the pages, the meaning of memory, and the impostor syndrome that all writers face ... especially the kids of celebrities.

"Writing can be the master, it can't be the servant of your time.” – Lisa Brennan-Jobs

Lisa is a Brooklyn based writer whose father was the widely worshipped tech pioneer and entrepreneur, Steve Jobs, best known as the co-founder of Apple.

Her first book, Small Fry, is her lauded memoir about growing up being shuffled between single parents in Silicon Valley during the 1980s and '90s, always in the orbit of her celebrity dad and struggling artist mom.

Small Fry was a New York Times, New Yorker, and People Magazine Top 10 Book of the Year for 2018, and Best Book of the Year for the LA Times, NPR, Amazon, GQ, Vogue (UK), and Publishers Weekly.

The book has been called, “Beautiful, literary, and devastating,” by the New York Times Book Review, “A masterly Silicon Valley gothic,” by Vogue, and “Mesmerizing, discomfiting reading,” by The New Yorker.

This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

If you missed the first half of this show you can find it right here. And If you’ve missed previous episodes of The Writer Files you can find them all in the archives at writerfiles.fm, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in.

In Part Two of this file Lisa Brennan-Jobs and I discussed:

How being bored and uncomfortable can lead to breakthrough
Why the writing process needs to be the master, not the servant, of your time
The importance of not rushing to publish
How the author minimizes distractions and comparative thinking while she writes
What it's like to travel through time and get the things you’ve always longed for
How big words can distract from the impact of your story
And why you need to write the stories you thought you might take to your grave

Show Notes:

Author Accelerator
How NY Times Bestselling Memoirist Lisa Brennan-Jobs Writes: Part One
LisaBrennanJobs.net
Small Fry by Lisa Brennan-Jobs [Amazon]
Lisa Brennan-Jobs on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Please click the PayPal Donate button to support The Writer Files with a secure PayPal donation

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How NY Times Bestselling Memoirist Lisa Brennan-Jobs Writes: Part One

21 augusti 2019 | 33 min

The New York Times bestselling memoirist and journalist, Lisa Brennan-Jobs, joined me this week to talk about her decades long journey to publication, why it's so important to find yourself in the pages, the meaning of memory, and the impostor syndrome that all writers face ... especially the kids of celebrities.

"You find yourself in a whole net, in a constellation of stories, each one connecting to another. It was amazing how much I remembered.” – Lisa Brennan-Jobs

Lisa is a Brooklyn based writer whose father was the widely worshipped tech pioneer and entrepreneur, Steve Jobs, best known as the co-founder of Apple.

Her first book, Small Fry, is her lauded memoir about growing up being shuffled between single parents in Silicon Valley during the 1980s and '90s, always in the orbit of her celebrity dad and struggling artist mom.

Small Fry was a New York Times, New Yorker, and People Magazine Top 10 Book of the Year for 2018, and Best Book of the Year for the LA Times, NPR, Amazon, GQ, Vogue (UK), and Publishers Weekly.

The book has been called, “Beautiful, literary, and devastating,” by the New York Times Book Review, “A masterly Silicon Valley gothic,” by Vogue, and “Mesmerizing, discomfiting reading,” by The New Yorker.

This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

In Part One of this file Lisa Brennan-Jobs and I discussed:

What it's like to be a writer with a celebrity parent
The author's up-and-down, ten-year writing process peppered by the occasional profound revelation
How the author's childhood memories returned to her so vividly
Why shame and emotion are so helpful to unearthing the geological layers of fact in memoir and vice versa
How she overcame writer's block, impostor syndrome, and her own doubts and fears to write a bestselling memoir
And why part of writing a memoir is about bringing into consciousness things that were previously unconscious

Show Notes:

Author Accelerator
How NY Times Bestselling Memoirist Lisa Brennan-Jobs Writes: Part Two
LisaBrennanJobs.net
Small Fry by Lisa Brennan-Jobs [Amazon]
Lisa Brennan-Jobs on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Please click the PayPal Donate button to support The Writer Files with a secure PayPal donation

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

'The Writer's Brain' on Procrastination: Part Two

13 augusti 2019 | 30 min

'The Writer's Brain' on Procrastination: Part One

6 augusti 2019 | 34 min

Welcome to another special edition of The Writer Files called "The Writer's Brain," a guest series with neuroscientist Michael Grybko, and in this episode we dig into the dreaded procrastination – a malady we all battle – what it is, how science looks at it, the difference between constructive and destructive procrastination, and some tips on how to overcome it.

"To achieve great things, two things are needed: a plan, and not quite enough time." - Leonard Bernstein

We're all guilty of it, let's be honest, it's really normal to procrastinate.

Who among us hasn't waited until the last minute to do something tedious or uncomfortable like contest a speeding ticket, study for a test?

Today, you're far more likely to grab your smartphone and search longingly for those little red notification flags from a social media app, or to pop open a rainbow-colored game for that quick hit of dopamine your brain loves so much.

I'm guilty of dusting and straightening every shelf and book in my office until they look conspicuously like modern art before I'll sit down to write an important email or a blog post.

The truth is that procrastination is built into the human condition -- clearly, we can't do everything on our to-do lists at the same time -- but why has it become so frowned upon in our culture of late?

And how can we reframe procrastination since we know it's so integral to the creative process?

Luckily, research scientist Michael Grybko returned to the podcast to help me find some answers from the perspective of neuroscience.

Stay tuned ...

This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page.

If you missed previous episodes of The Writer's Brain you can find them all in the show notes, in the archives at writerfiles.fm, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in.

In Part One of this file Michael Grybko and I discuss:

The creative upside to "present bias" and delay
How neuroscience defines procrastination
Why writers often struggle with the bad kind
How your brain's emotional, stress, and impulse responses can derail your productivity
Why smartphones, shrinking attention spans, and "social acceleration" make it so hard to get meaningful work done
And helpful hints on how to get out of that wicked feedback loop and back on track

The Show Notes:

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How to Outsmart Writer’s Block (with Neuroscience)

31 juli 2019 | 29 min

Welcome back to another special edition of the show with some thoughts on the malady that we rarely care to whisper of ... even on our most prolific days.

We’ll kick off the show with the iconic, international bestselling author of 14 novels, including the era-defining Generation X: Tales for an Accelerated Culture – Douglas Coupland – with his thoughts on the subject.

"I don't believe in writer's block. Think about it -- when you were blocked in college and had to write a paper, didn't it always manage to fix itself the night before the paper was due? Writer's block is having too much time on your hands." – Jodi Picoult

Last year I wrote a piece for Copyblogger titled "How to Outsmart Writer’s Block with Neuroscience" – there are lots of good resources embedded there – and that piece explored a handful of solutions to the accursed ailment. I wanted to revisit it here with some past podcast guests thrown in for humor and context.

As you know if you’ve listened to enough of The Writer Files, I dig into the habits, habitats and brains of dozens of renowned and prolific authors, and I ask them roughly the same questions about their unique process as a survey of contemporary writers.

We’ve always billed the podcast as a hybrid of "Inside the Writer’s Studio" meets "The Proust Questionnaire," and this makes for a treasure trove of knowledge to pick and choose from for writers.

And just a reminder that you can find the entire archive at writerfiles.fm, where you can also support the show by just clicking the little yellow PayPal donation button on any of the episodes.

So we’ll kick it off with a little refresher course on the miracle of the human brain.

Stay tuned ...

This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page.

Show Notes:

Author Accelerator
How to Outsmart Writer’s Block with Neuroscience - Kelton Reid for Copyblogger
The Best of ‘The Writer’s Brain’ Part Four: Writer’s Block
How to Kill Writer’s Block and Become a Master Copywriter in Only 3 Hours a Day
The Physics of Productivity: Newton’s Laws of Getting Stuff Done – James Clear
How to Beat Writer’s Block – Maria Konnikova
Inside the Race to Hack the Human Brain - WIRED
Please click the PayPal Donate button to support The Writer Files with a secure PayPal donation

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Challenges on the Writer's Journey with Prominent Book Editor Peter Guzzardi: Part Two

23 juli 2019 | 29 min

In Part Two of this file the prominent book editor-turned-author, Peter Guzzardi, spent some time with me this week to discuss how he pulled back the curtain on the writer's life, finding courage in front of the blank screen, and important lessons from the Yellow Brick Road for creatives.

"Somehow, despite having made a career of helping writers with their second and third and fourth drafts, I must have been harboring hopes that my first try would displace Shakespeare from his perch atop the literary pantheon." – Peter Guzzardi

Peter has been a professional book editor for nearly 40 years. After getting his start in marketing, writing catalog copy in New York City, he moved to the editorial side where he eventually took the reins at Harmony Books, an imprint of Random House, Inc.

Mr. Guzzardi has worked with some incredibly talented authors over the years, including Stephen Hawking on A Brief History of Time, Deepak Chopra on dozens of books, Douglas Adams on his Hitchhiker novels, Carol Burnett, Martin Amis, Arianna Huffington, and even Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Like so many aspiring writers who "swear they're going to finally write that book," Peter decided to throw his hat in the ring and write about the wisdom he'd accumulated on his own journey.

The result of that hard work is his recently published Emeralds of Oz: Life Lessons From Over the Rainbow, an apropos title for 2019, the 80th anniversary of the film classic, The Wizard of Oz.

Emeralds of Oz is a book in the "...tradition of All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten ... life lessons drawn from the most beloved movie of all time," and Carol Burnett said, "I loved this book as much as I loved the movie."

This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

If you missed the first half of this show you can find it right here. And If you’ve missed previous episodes of The Writer Files you can find them all in the archives at writerfiles.fm, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in.

In Part Two of this file Peter Guzzardi and I discussed:

Why the writer's journey is so iterative
Lessons from the Yellow Brick Road for writers
Why being compassionate with yourself is so important
The reality that no book is ever really finished
How fear can be so motivational in the face of adversity
And the perils of being overly ambitious in your early drafts

Show Notes:

Author Accelerator
PeterGuzzardi.com
Emeralds of Oz: Life Lessons from Over the Rainbow by Peter Guzzardi [Amazon]
The Wizard of Oz at 80: how the world fell under its dark spell - Luiza Sauma for The Guardian
P eter Guzzardi on Instagram
Peter Guzzardi on Twitter
Peter Guzzardi on Facebook
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Please click the PayPal Donate button to support The Writer Files with a secure PayPal donation

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Challenges on the Writer's Journey with Prominent Book Editor Peter Guzzardi: Part One

17 juli 2019 | 25 min

Prominent book editor-turned-author, Peter Guzzardi, spent some time with me this week to discuss how he pulled back the curtain on the writer's life, finding courage in front of the blank screen, and important lessons from the Yellow Brick Road for creatives.

"One thing I love about this work is the variety. I’ve edited novels by authors as different as Ruth Rendell and Martin Amis, memoirs by Tony Curtis...and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar..." – Peter Guzzardi

Peter has been a professional book editor for nearly 40 years. After getting his start in marketing, writing catalog copy in New York City, he moved to the editorial side where he eventually took the reins at Harmony Books, an imprint of Random House, Inc.

Mr. Guzzardi has worked with some incredibly talented authors over the years, including Stephen Hawking on A Brief History of Time, Deepak Chopra on dozens of books, Douglas Adams on his Hitchhiker novels, Carol Burnett, Martin Amis, Arianna Huffington, and even Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Like so many aspiring writers who "swear they're going to finally write that book," Peter decided to throw his hat in the ring and write about the wisdom he'd accumulated on his own journey.

The result of that hard work is his recently published Emeralds of Oz: Life Lessons From Over the Rainbow, an apropos title for 2019, the 80th anniversary of the film classic, The Wizard of Oz.

Emeralds of Oz is a book in the "...tradition of All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten ... life lessons drawn from the most beloved movie of all time," and Carol Burnett said, "I loved this book as much as I loved the movie."

This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

In Part One of this file Peter Guzzardi and I discussed:

How he came to rub elbows with so many celebrity authors
The unique skillsets of great editors and their importance to the publishing industry
Why the challenges the author faced birthing his own book were so different than he could have imagined
How he found courage in front of the blank page
The importance of crappy first drafts and turning off your inner critic

Show Notes:

PeterGuzzardi.com
Emeralds of Oz: Life Lessons from Over the Rainbow by Peter Guzzardi [Amazon]
The Wizard of Oz at 80: how the world fell under its dark spell - Luiza Sauma for The Guardian
P eter Guzzardi on Instagram
Peter Guzzardi on Twitter
Peter Guzzardi on Facebook
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Please click the PayPal Donate button to support The Writer Files with a secure PayPal donation

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How to Write a Novel in One Month with NaNoWriMo's Grant Faulkner

9 juli 2019 | 37 min

The author, podcaster, and Executive Director of National Novel Writing Month (AKA NaNoWriMo), Grant Faulkner, joined me this week to talk about the Fitbit for novelists, how to write a novel in a month (not just in November), why tracking your writing progress is a built-in reward system, and why you can't wait for inspiration to just get started.

"No matter who you are, where you live, how old you are, or what your background is, your story matters." - Grant Faulkner

Grant is a writer, speaker, and educator whose day job is to help run the non-profit, National Novel Writing Month, the world's largest writing event where every year 500,000 people commit to writing a novel in November, including 100,000 kids and teens via The Young Writers Program.

And Grant reminded me that NaNoWriMo provides year-round "...structure, community, and encouragement to help [writers of all ages and backgrounds] find their voice, achieve [their] creative goals, and build new worlds."

2019 is the 20th anniversary of the "seat-of-your-pants" creative writing marathon, and "...thousands of NaNoWriMo novels have been published, including best-sellers like Water for Elephants, The Night Circus, Wool, and many others."

Mr. Faulkner is the author of a book of essays on creativity titled Pep Talks for Writers, and his teen writing guide, Brave the Page, is forthcoming from Viking this August, 2019.

Grant also hosts a weekly inspirational podcast on writing and publishing called Write-minded, and his writing has appeared in dozens of publications including The New York Times, Writer's Digest, and Poets & Writers.

If you think you're ready to write a novel, stay tuned...

This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

In this file Grant Faulkner and I discussed:

The magic of coffee and early morning writing sessions
Why jumping in and writing your novel from word one to the end of your first draft without self-editing is so valuable
How a goal and a deadline can help you give birth to your book
Why writers fool themselves into thinking they've written more than they really have
How "just getting started" can help you overcome the perils of procrastination
Why the author preaches Robert Frost's mantra "No surprise in the writer, no surprise in the reader."

Show Notes:

Author Accelerator
National Novel Writing Month (AKA NaNoWriMo)
The Young Writers Program
Pep Talks for Writers: 52 Insights and Actions to Boost Your Creative Mojo by Grant Faulkner [Amazon]
Brave the Page by Grant Faulkner [Amazon]
GrantFaulkner.com
Write-minded Podcast
Grant Faulkner on Instagram
Grant Faulkner on Facebook
Grant Faulkner on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Please click the PayPal Donate button to support The Writer Files with a secure PayPal donation

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How to Get Unstuck and Back to Writing with Bestselling Author Jennifer Louden: Part Two

2 juli 2019 | 32 min

In Part Two of this file the bestselling author and creativity coach, Jennifer Louden, returned to talk with me about her twisty career path, the wicked feedback loop of procrastination, how to find your voice, and solutions for getting unstuck and back to writing.

"How do you get your creative & scary sh*t done? And how do you keep getting it done ... even when life is hard and busy and full of distractions?" - Jennifer Louden

Jennifer has been a professional writer since the early '90s and is considered a personal growth pioneer. Her first book, The Woman’s Comfort Book, was the bestseller that launched her career and she's since published six additional books with over a million copies in print in nine languages.

The author is also an international speaker and educator on the subject of self-care and has written a column for Martha Stewart magazine, been quoted by author Brene Brown in not one but two of her books, been profiled in dozens of major magazines, and appeared on hundreds of TV and radio programs including Oprah.

In addition to writing books Jennifer is also an entrepreneur who teaches writing and self-care retreats that regularly sell out.

She has created a large online community that touts, "Whether you’re a novelist, essayist ... artist or thought leader, [her] mission is to help you write more, share your ideas more boldly, and make your creative work a priority."

This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

If you missed the first half of this show you can find it right here. And If you’ve missed previous episodes of The Writer Files you can find them all in the archives at writerfiles.fm, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in.

In Part Two of this file Jennifer Louden and I discussed:

Why writers don't need to "freak out" when they get derailed
How to re-center and tap back into your creative well
The reasons writers lose their way trying to be "commercial"
Why Jennifer decided to self-publish her next book
How to overcome negativity bias and other tricks your brain plays on you
Why you can't wait until you feel inspired or comfortable to write

Show Notes:

Author Accelerator
JenniferLouden.com
The Get Unstuck and Back to Creating - Email Signup & Guide
Page Two Books
Jennifer Louden on Amazon
Jennifer Louden on YouTube
Jennifer Louden on Instagram
Jennifer Louden on Facebook
Jennifer Louden on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Please click the PayPal Donate button to support The Writer Files with a secure PayPal donation

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How to Get Unstuck and Back to Writing with Bestselling Author Jennifer Louden: Part One

25 juni 2019 | 36 min

Bestselling author and creativity coach, Jennifer Louden, dropped by this week to talk with me about her twisty career path, the wicked feedback loop of procrastination, how to find your voice, and solutions for getting unstuck and back to writing.

"Claim your voice. Share your voice. Get your scary sh*t done." - Jennifer Louden

Jennifer has been a professional writer since the early '90s and is considered a personal growth pioneer. Her first book, The Woman’s Comfort Book, was the bestseller that launched her career and she's since published six additional books with over a million copies in print in nine languages.

The author is also an international speaker and educator on the subject of self-care and has written a column for Martha Stewart magazine, been quoted by author Brene Brown in not one but two of her books, been profiled in dozens of major magazines, and appeared on hundreds of TV and radio programs including Oprah.

In addition to writing books Jennifer is also an entrepreneur who teaches writing and self-care retreats that regularly sell out.

She has created a large online community that touts, "Whether you’re a novelist, essayist ... artist or thought leader, [her] mission is to help you write more, share your ideas more boldly, and make your creative work a priority."

This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

In Part One of this file Jennifer Louden and I discussed:

How a struggling dyslexic screenwriter became a bestselling author
The reasons writers might fall out of love and then back in love with their writing
How to get unstuck by pulling back the curtain on your brain's weaknesses
Why Jennifer brings compassion and cognitive awareness to jump-starting creativity
How finding the "why" for your writing can reignite your spark
Why technical writing hacks won't solve the deeper issues of why you're not writing

Show Notes:

Author Accelerator
JenniferLouden.com
Jennifer Louden on Amazon
Jennifer Louden on YouTube
Jennifer Louden on Instagram
Jennifer Louden on Facebook
Jennifer Louden on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Please click the PayPal Donate button to support The Writer Files with a secure PayPal donation

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Publishing Secrets from Top NY Literary Agent Mark Gottlieb: Part Two

19 juni 2019 | 33 min

In Part Two of this file the top-ranked New York literary agent, Mark Gottlieb – of Trident Media Group – returned to enlighten me about all things publishing including what it's like to work at one of the world's leading agencies, how to stand out as a writer, and the kinds of projects he's looking for right now.

"When approaching a publisher without that built-in platform, all you can really say to them is this is a great book. Please make an editorial evaluation." - Mark Gottlieb

Mark grew up around books and bestselling authors, and the writing life had an influence on him from an early age.

Inspired to go into the family business, he graduated with a degree in writing, literature & publishing, and began his career at Penguin. He's since gone on to become one of the top-ranked agents on Publishers Marketplace and has represented numerous award-winning and New York Times bestselling authors.

Trident Media Group is a prominent New York agency that represents a diverse stable of over 1,000 bestselling and emerging authors across a wide range of genres in fiction and nonfiction.

Mark has optioned books for both film and TV and is actively building a client list of authors at TMG. He previously ran their audiobook department, and has worked in foreign rights.

He has a passion for working directly with authors to help them manage and build their careers using the unique resources available to him at one of the world's leading literary agencies.

If you're interested in an insider's take on how to get traditionally published today, stick around, this is a good one.

This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

If you missed the first half of this show you can find it right here. And If you’ve missed previous episodes of The Writer Files you can find them all in the archives at writerfiles.fm, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in.

In Part Two of this file Mark Gottlieb and I discussed:

How to stand out as a writer today (including the importance of platform, timing, and talent)
Why authors can't put the cart before the horse and the difference between selling non-fiction and fiction manuscripts
The secrets of successful authors that aspiring writers can steal
How a literary agent can improve an author's marketing and promotion plan
The most critical time leading up to your "book's birthday"
All the different ways big agencies think of your work beyond the book deal
And Mark's sage advice and tips for authors ready to seek representation

Show Notes:

Author Accelerator
Publishing Secrets from Top NY Literary Agent Mark Gottlieb: Part One
Mark Gottlieb at Trident Media Group
Trident Media Group
Trident Media Group: Submissions Link
LiteraryAgentMarkgottlieb.com - Mark's blog with author resources about all things writing, literature and publishing
Publishers Marketplace
How Professional Comedy Writer & Author James Breakwell Writes: Part One
The Long Flight Home by Alan Hlad
Autocomplete: The Book by Justin Hook
Mark Gottlieb on Instagram
Mark Gottlieb on Facebook
Mark Gottlieb on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Please click the PayPal Donate button to support The Writer Files with a secure PayPal donation

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Publishing Secrets from Top NY Literary Agent Mark Gottlieb: Part One

11 juni 2019 | 31 min

Top-ranked New York literary agent, Mark Gottlieb – of Trident Media Group – dropped by this week to enlighten me about all things publishing including what it's like to work at one of the world's leading agencies, how to stand out as a writer, and the kinds of projects he's looking for right now.

"There's a lot out there that can really overwhelm an author when they're trying to figure out how to find an agent or how to get published." - Mark Gottlieb

Mark grew up around books and bestselling authors, and the writing life had an influence on him from an early age.

Inspired to go into the family business, he graduated with a degree in writing, literature & publishing, and began his career at Penguin. He's since gone on to become one of the top-ranked agents on Publishers Marketplace and has represented numerous award-winning and New York Times bestselling authors.

Trident Media Group is a prominent New York agency that represents a diverse stable of over 1,000 bestselling and emerging authors across a wide range of genres in fiction and nonfiction.

Mark has optioned books for both film and TV and is actively building a client list of authors at TMG. He previously ran their audiobook department, and has worked in foreign rights.

He has a passion for working directly with authors to help them manage and build their careers using the unique resources available to him at one of the world's leading literary agencies.

If you're interested in an insider's take on how to get traditionally published today, stick around, this is a good one.

This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

In Part One of this file Mark Gottlieb and I discussed:

What it's like to grow up hanging out with Dean Koontz and Tom Clancy
How to avoid overwhelm when you start your journey to publication
Tried-and-true recommendations and resources for aspiring authors ready to reach out to an agent
How to use Publishers Marketplace as your giant Rolodex for book publishing
Why authors might choose traditional over self-publishing
How agents advocate for authors to make sure they take advantage of every possible opportunity in publishing
And the enduring power of paper books, audiobooks, indie bookstores, and the power of the #writingcommunity

Show Notes:

Author Accelerator
Publishing Secrets from Top NY Literary Agent Mark Gottlieb: Part Two
Mark Gottlieb at Trident Media Group
Trident Media Group
Trident Media Group: Submissions Link
LiteraryAgentMarkgottlieb.com - Mark's blog with author resources about all things writing, literature and publishing
Publishers Marketplace
How Professional Comedy Writer & Author James Breakwell Writes: Part One
How WNYC Podcast Host and Author of ‘Bored and Brilliant’ Manoush Zomorodi Writes
Left to Their Own Devices: How Digital Natives Are Reshaping the American Dream Kindle Edition
by Julie M. Albright (Amazon)
Mark Gottlieb on Instagram
Mark Gottlieb on Facebook
Mark Gottlieb on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Please click the PayPal Donate button to support The Writer Files with a secure PayPal donation

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How New York Times Bestselling Author Sherrilyn Kenyon Writes: Part Two

4 juni 2019 | 32 min

In Part Two of this file the prolific, award-winning, #1 New York Times and international bestselling author, Sherrilyn Kenyon, returned to talk about what it's like to be a literary legend with over 70 million copies of her books in print in over 100 countries.

"When the characters have chosen you ... you need to go tell their stories, because nobody else can do it, and they picked you for the job. Are you really going to disappoint them?" - Sherrilyn Kenyon

Sherrilyn is considered one of the most popular and influential writers in the world and the multi-genre author is best known for urban fantasy and paranormal romance, including her popular Dark-Hunters series (Amazon), now also a NY Times bestselling manga.

Since her debut in the mid-90s she has placed more than 80 novels on the NY Times list in all formats and genres, including YA, children’s books, coloring books, historical romance (under the pen name Kinley MacGregor), and even graphic novels – her Lords of Avalon novels were adapted by Marvel.

Ms. Kenyon's path to bestselling novelist was winding one, as you'll hear, but through all the ups and downs she has cultivated an incredibly loyal fan community who call themselves Menyons who even design tattoos in honor of her more popular genre-bending books.

Her latest bestseller in the expansive Dark-Hunters series, titled Stygian, is described as a "...blend of tortured heroes, strong heroines, [and] historical mythology...."

Stygian was named one of best Science Fiction & Fantasy of the year by Kobo and Publishers Weekly has called her work, "A delicious balance of suspense and sensuality."

This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

If you missed the first half of this show you can find it right here. And If you’ve missed previous episodes of The Writer Files you can find them all in the archives at writerfiles.fm, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in.

In Part Two of this file Sherrilyn Kenyon and I discussed:

Why she prefers her PC over a Mac
Her unique workflow and organizational hacks for keeping all of her characters and worlds straight
Why her intense workload and work ethic require "combat napping"
On viewing creativity as an adventure
How great writers make a human connection (and a huge shoutout to copywriters)
And the author's great advice on storytelling and your obligation to the characters who choose you

Show Notes:

Author Accelerator
Audible is Offering a Free Audiobook Download with a 30-day Trial: Grab Your Free Audiobook Here – audibletrial.com/writerfiles
How New York Times Bestselling Author Sherrilyn Kenyon Writes: Part One
Sherrilyn Kenyon's Amazon Author Page
Stygian: A Dark-Hunter Novel by Sherrilyn Kenyon
SherrilynKenyon.com
Sherrilyn Kenyon on Facebook
Sherrilyn Kenyon on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Please click the PayPal Donate button to support The Writer Files with a secure PayPal donation

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How New York Times Bestselling Author Sherrilyn Kenyon Writes: Part One

29 maj 2019 | 29 min

Prolific, award-winning, #1 New York Times and international bestselling author, Sherrilyn Kenyon, joined me this week to talk about what it's like to be a literary legend with over 70 million copies of her books in print in over 100 countries.

"To me, the characters are why I write. They're family. And I love the worlds." - Sherrilyn Kenyon

Sherrilyn is considered one of the most popular and influential writers in the world and the multi-genre author is best known for urban fantasy and paranormal romance, including her popular Dark-Hunters series (Amazon), now also a NY Times bestselling manga.

Since her debut in the mid-90s she has placed more than 80 novels on the NY Times list in all formats and genres, including YA, children’s books, coloring books, historical romance (under the pen name Kinley MacGregor), and even graphic novels – her Lords of Avalon novels were adapted by Marvel.

Ms. Kenyon's path to bestselling novelist was winding one, as you'll hear, but through all the ups and downs she has cultivated an incredibly loyal fan community who call themselves Menyons who even design tattoos in honor of her more popular genre-bending books.

Her latest bestseller in the expansive Dark-Hunters series, titled Stygian, is described as a "...blend of tortured heroes, strong heroines, [and] historical mythology...."

Stygian was named one of best Science Fiction & Fantasy of the year by Kobo and Publishers Weekly has called her work, "A delicious balance of suspense and sensuality."

This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

In Part One of this file Sherrilyn Kenyon and I discussed:

How she started out as one of the first female web developers in the '90s
Why the author's determination and resilience through good times and bad led to her success (and superstition)
How she stays sane, focused, and organized writing hundreds of characters across multiple genres (and how she still finds her car keys)
On writer's block and why the author set aside an unfinished book for ten years before finishing it

Show Notes:

Author Accelerator
Audible is Offering a Free Audiobook Download with a 30-day Trial: Grab Your Free Audiobook Here – audibletrial.com/writerfiles
How New York Times Bestselling Author Sherrilyn Kenyon Writes: Part Two
Sherrilyn Kenyon's Amazon Author Page
Stygian: A Dark-Hunter Novel by Sherrilyn Kenyon
SherrilynKenyon.com
Sherrilyn Kenyon on Facebook
Sherrilyn Kenyon on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Please click the PayPal Donate button to support The Writer Files with a secure PayPal donation

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How to Finish Your Big Scary Book with Jennie Nash: Part Two

21 maj 2019 | 36 min

In Part Two of this special edition of the show the author, educator, book coach and founder of Author Accelerator, Jennie Nash, returned to go deeper on tools and strategies for writers on the winding, sometimes daunting journey, to finishing your big, scary book.

"Writing a book is a noble endeavor, it does something no other art does." - Jennie Nash

Jennie started her career in publishing at Random House and has over 30 years experience in all facets of the industry. She also taught at the UCLA Extension Writers' Program for 12 years and has spoken at writing conferences across the country.

She's the author of seven books including a self-help book for writers – The Writer's Guide to Agony and Defeat (Amazon) – and has written hundreds of magazine articles for national publications.

For nearly a decade now Jennie has been coaching authors "from inspiration to publication" (including Lisa Chron, author of Wired for Story and Story Genius, and Sam Polk, author of For the Love of Money: A Memoir), helping them to land top New York agents and book deals with major publishers.

As the founder of Author Accelerator, described as "A personal trainer for your writing life," she and her team of book coaches now provide writers the blueprint so often lacking in the traditional publishing world ... including the tools, nurturing, and encouragement needed to finish their work and get it into the world successfully.

In a serendipitous turn of events, after this interview Author Accelerator became a sponsor of this show, and I'll tell you all about a resource they've created just for listeners of this show during our chat.

This conversation is tailor-made for writers just starting out or well along on your journey to publish.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

If you missed the first half of this show you can find it right here. And if you’ve missed previous episodes of The Writer Files you can find them all in the archives at writerfiles.fm, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in.

In Part Two of this file Jennie Nash and I discussed:

Why there is no such thing as a truly "original story"
How book coaches keep up with trends and best practices across multiple genres
Why authors need to understand the universe they're writing in
The key to getting the most out of your investment in writing retreats, conferences, courses, and coaching
The three top reasons writers want and need to write a book
And why you have a duty to take the risk, be intentional, and persevere and write your book

Show Notes:

Author Accelerator
The Writer's Guide to Agony and Defeat: The 43 Worst Moments in the Writing Life and How to Get Over Them by Jennie Nash (Amazon)
For the Love of Money: A Memoir by Sam Polk
Wired for Story: The Writer's Guide to Using Brain Science to Hook Readers from the Very First Sentence by Lisa Cron
Daisy Jones & The Six: A Novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Author Accelerator on Facebook
Jennie Nash on Twitter
Author Accelerator on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Please click the PayPal Donate button to support The Writer Files with a secure PayPal donation

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How to Finish Your Big Scary Book with Jennie Nash: Part One

15 maj 2019 | 36 min

Author, educator, book coach and founder of Author Accelerator, Jennie Nash, joined me this week in a special edition of the show dedicated to unearthing tools and strategies for writers on the winding, sometimes daunting journey, to finishing your big, scary book.

"Writing a book is like childbirth." - Jennie Nash

Jennie started her career in publishing at Random House and has over 30 years experience in all facets of the industry. She also taught at the UCLA Extension Writers' Program for 12 years and has spoken at writing conferences across the country.

She's the author of seven books including a self-help book for writers – The Writer's Guide to Agony and Defeat (Amazon) – and has written hundreds of magazine articles for national publications.

For nearly a decade now Jennie has been coaching authors "from inspiration to publication" (including Lisa Chron, author of Wired for Story and Story Genius, and Sam Polk, author of For the Love of Money: A Memoir), helping them to land top New York agents and book deals with major publishers.

As the founder of Author Accelerator, described as "A personal trainer for your writing life," she and her team of book coaches now provide writers the blueprint so often lacking in the traditional publishing world ... including the tools, nurturing, and encouragement needed to finish their work and get it into the world successfully.

In a serendipitous turn of events, after this interview Author Accelerator became a sponsor of this show, and I'll tell you all about a resource they've created just for listeners of this show during our chat.

This conversation is tailor-made for writers just starting out or well along on your journey to publish.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

In Part One of this two part file Jennie Nash and I discussed:

Why the stages of writing a book are like the stages of grief
How Jennie came up with a winning formula for helping writers bring their books to life
The questions so many writers forget to ask before they start writing their book
The frustrations and roadblocks authors run up against in the middle of a book
How to make meaningful progress toward finishing
Creativity and the myth of the lone genius
And why writers can't wait around to be picked

Show Notes:

Author Accelerator
The Writer's Guide to Agony and Defeat: The 43 Worst Moments in the Writing Life and How to Get Over Them by Jennie Nash (Amazon)
For the Love of Money: A Memoir by Sam Polk
Wired for Story: The Writer's Guide to Using Brain Science to Hook Readers from the Very First Sentence by Lisa Cron
Daisy Jones & The Six: A Novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Author Accelerator on Facebook
Jennie Nash on Twitter
Author Accelerator on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Please click the PayPal Donate button to support The Writer Files with a secure PayPal donation

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How Bestselling Author Elizabeth Ann Atkins Writes: Part Two

8 maj 2019 | 38 min

In Part Two of this file the multi-hyphenate and bestselling author of over 20 books, Elizabeth Ann Atkins, returned to share her inspiring and winding journey from Pulitzer Prize nominated journalist to groundbreaking novelist, ghostwriter, educator, TV host, and health & wellness expert.

"When you write from that intuitive voice, it's your truth. And writing from that is your power." - Elizabeth Ann Atkins

She received a Master's degree in Journalism from Columbia University and her writing has appeared in the New York Times, the San Diego Tribune, Essence, Ebony and the Detroit News, for her articles on race which were nominated for the Pulitzer Prize.

Elizabeth has written 20 books, including novels White Chocolate, Dark Secret (Amazon), and Twilight (a collaboration with Billy Dee Williams), and she's also one half of the indie publishing duo Two Sisters Writing and Publishing, with sibling Catherine, where the two share the mission to promote diverse voices in the book world.

Their credo is to "... publish quality anthologies of exceptional short fiction and inspirational nonfiction..." and "... books by authors of color, [and] women writers." They offer consulting, editing, and ghostwriting services as well.

Elizabeth has been featured on Oprah, Montel, NPR, Good Morning America Sunday and CBS Evening News, and also co-hosts a weekly TV talk show, MI Healthy Mind, with a focus on mental health and wellness. She is presently working on her memoir.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

If you missed the first half of this show you can find it right here. And if you’ve missed previous episodes of The Writer Files you can find them all in the show notes, in the archives at writerfiles.fm, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in.

In Part Two of this file Elizabeth Ann Atkins and I discussed:

How intuitive writing can give your voice a turbo boost
Why unplugging from notifications and the internet is so important to avoid burnout
The importance of exercise for staying sane and getting into a flow state
How the author juggles multiple deadlines and stays so prolific
The power of rituals and routines for productivity
How to use self-awareness and naps to supercharge your output
And more inspired advice from an author with one amazing laugh

Show Notes:

Two Sisters Writing and Publishing
Elizabeth Ann Atkins' author page on Amazon
Power Journal: A 28-Day Challenge (Amazon)
Gods Answer is Know by Elizabeth Ann Atkins - Godsanswerisknow.com
"Mental training changes brain structure and reduces social stress" - Science Daily
Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill (Amazon)
Two Sisters Writing - @2sisterswriting on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Please click the PayPal Donate button to support The Writer Files with a secure PayPal donation

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How Bestselling Author Elizabeth Ann Atkins Writes: Part One

1 maj 2019 | 26 min

The multi-hyphenate and bestselling author of over 20 books, Elizabeth Ann Atkins, joined me this week to share her inspiring and winding journey from Pulitzer Prize nominated journalist to groundbreaking novelist, ghostwriter, educator, TV host, and health & wellness expert.

"I'm trying to help people see ourselves through our hearts and spirits instead of through our skin, our religions, and all the labels and divisions." - Elizabeth Ann Atkins

She received a Master's degree in Journalism from Columbia University and her writing has appeared in the New York Times, the San Diego Tribune, Essence, Ebony and the Detroit News, for her articles on race which were nominated for the Pulitzer Prize.

Elizabeth has written 20 books, including novels White Chocolate, Dark Secret, and Twilight (a collaboration with Billy Dee Williams), and she's also one half of the indie publishing duo Two Sisters Writing and Publishing, with sibling Catherine, where the two share the mission to promote diverse voices in the book world.

Their credo is to "... publish quality anthologies of exceptional short fiction and inspirational nonfiction..." and "... books by authors of color, [and] women writers." They offer consulting, editing, and ghostwriting services as well.

Elizabeth has been featured on Oprah, Montel, NPR, Good Morning America Sunday and CBS Evening News, and also co-hosts a weekly TV talk show, MI Healthy Mind, with a focus on mental health and wellness. She is presently working on her memoir.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

In Part One of this two part file Elizabeth Ann Atkins and I discussed:

How the author wrote herself into American literature
What it's like to write a novel with Billy Dee Williams of Star Wars fame
Why the author leans toward underdog and against-the-odds stories
How she combines her passion for writing and health and wellness in her work
The power of journaling and meditation for writers
And how mindfulness and writing notes by hand can help you cut through all of those modern distractions

Show Notes:

How Bestselling Author Elizabeth Ann Atkins Writes: Part Two
Two Sisters Writing and Publishing
Elizabeth Ann Atkins' author page on Amazon
Power Journal: A 28-Day Challenge
Gods Answer is Know by Elizabeth Ann Atkins - Godsanswerisknow.com
"Mental training changes brain structure and reduces social stress" - Science Daily
"Here's why writing things out by hand makes you smarter" - Business Insider
Two Sisters Writing - @2sisterswriting on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Please click the PayPal Donate button to support The Writer Files with a secure PayPal donation

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How to Stay Creative with Bestselling Author Austin Kleon: Part Two

23 april 2019 | 29 min

In Part Two of another special edition of The Writer Files focused squarely on creativity and how to keep the creative juices flowing under duress, New York Times bestselling author, Austin Kleon, returned to talk about his journey, a wariness of technology, and his new book.

"Do good work and share it with people." - Austin Kleon

Austin Kleon has been deemed “one of the most interesting people on the Internet” (The Atlantic Magazine), and he is “a writer who draws,” best known for illustrated creativity manifestos Steal Like an Artist and Show Your Work!

His latest, Keep Going: 10 Ways to Stay Creative in Good Times and Bad (Amazon), is the third book in his "box set." It offers ten simple, timeless, practical "...rules for how to stay creative, focused, and true to yourself — for life." Important messages for writers.

His work has been translated into over twenty languages and featured on NPR’s Morning Edition, PBS Newshour, and The Wall Street Journal. Mr. Kleon speaks about “creativity in the digital age” for organizations as varied as Pixar, Google, SXSW, TEDx, and The Economist.

If you missed the first half of this show you can find it right here. And If you’ve missed previous episodes of The Writer’s Brain you can find them all in the show notes, in the archives at writerfiles.fm, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

In Part Two of this two part file Austin Kleon and I discussed:

Why unplugging is so important for writers
A return to the importance of 'productive procrastination'
The unsolvable tension for creatives between connection and disconnection
The author's love of being lazy
Why we need to redefine productivity
The zen of Getting Things Done
How 'you can be woke without waking to the news'

Show Notes:

This podcast is produced solely by yours truly and New Media Dojo, my production moniker, and I'm incredibly thankful to you for your continued listenership and loyalty.

Please leave us a comment or question and visit the archives at writerfiles.fm where I humbly ask you to support the show with an anonymous, secure donation to help us keep going with more great writerly content.

For listeners who donate $25 or more and leave me a message, I will include your name and the type of writing you're working on, on air or in the show notes. Just head over to writerfiles.fm and click the Donate button.

Thank you, sincerely – Kelton

Please click the donate button to support the podcast with a secure PayPal donation
How to Stay Creative with Bestselling Author Austin Kleon: Part One
AustinKleon.com
Keep Going: 10 Ways to Stay Creative in Good Times and Bad by Austin Kleon (Amazon)
Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon (Amazon)
Show Your Work! by Austin Kleon
How Bestselling Author Austin Kleon Writes: Part One
Man's Search for Meaning by Victor Frankl
Getting Things Done by David Allen
'The Writer's Brain' on Productivity vs. Creativity: Part One
Austin Kleon on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How to Stay Creative with Bestselling Author Austin Kleon: Part One

16 april 2019 | 30 min

Welcome back to another special edition of The Writer Files focused squarely on creativity and how to keep the creative juices flowing under duress. New York Times bestselling author, Austin Kleon, returned to talk about his journey, a wariness of technology, and his new book.

"Writers aren't born, they are made." - Austin Kleon

Austin Kleon has been deemed “one of the most interesting people on the Internet” (The Atlantic Magazine), and he is “a writer who draws,” best known for illustrated creativity manifestos Steal Like an Artist and Show Your Work!

His latest, Keep Going: 10 Ways to Stay Creative in Good Times and Bad (Amazon), is the third book in his "box set." It offers ten simple, timeless, practical "...rules for how to stay creative, focused, and true to yourself — for life." Important messages for writers.

His work has been translated into over twenty languages and featured on NPR’s Morning Edition, PBS Newshour, and The Wall Street Journal. Mr. Kleon speaks about “creativity in the digital age” for organizations as varied as Pixar, Google, SXSW, TEDx, and The Economist.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews

In Part One of this two part file Austin Kleon and I discussed:

How to stay inspired in crazy times
Why life is hard and creative work is harder
How to think of creativity like the movie Groundhog's Day
Why you should stay mindful and 'practice in public'
The importance of lists, rituals, routines, and writing every day
And the authors that have shaped Austin's skepticism of technology and his creative journey

Show Notes:

This podcast is produced solely by yours truly and New Media Dojo, my production moniker, and I'm incredibly thankful to you for your continued listenership and loyalty.

Please leave us a comment or question and visit the archives at writerfiles.fm where I humbly ask you to support the show with an anonymous, secure donation to help us keep going with more great writerly content.

For listeners who donate $25 or more and leave me a message, I will include your name and the type of writing you're working on, on air or in the show notes. Just head over to writerfiles.fm and click the Donate button.

Thank you, sincerely – Kelton

Support The Writer Files with a secure PayPal donation
How to Stay Creative with Bestselling Author Austin Kleon: Part Two
AustinKleon.com
Keep Going: 10 Ways to Stay Creative in Good Times and Bad by Austin Kleon (Amazon)
Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon
Show Your Work! by Austin Kleon
How Bestselling Author Austin Kleon Writes: Part One
Daily Rituals: How Artists Work by Mason Currey
'The Writer's Brain' on Productivity vs. Creativity: Part One
How WNYC Podcast Host and Author of 'Bored and Brilliant' Manoush Zomorodi Writes
Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neil Postman (Amazon)
The Real World of Technology by Ursula M. Franklin
Austin Kleon on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

‘The Writer’s Brain’ on Productivity vs. Creativity: Part Two

16 januari 2019 | 37 min

‘The Writer’s Brain’ on Productivity vs. Creativity: Part One

9 januari 2019 | 43 min

Happy Holidays! Coming Attractions 2019

22 december 2018 | 3 min

Happy holidays from the Writer Files, this is just a quick update that we are on hiatus until 2019. Thank you so much for listening and helping us find our audience! I hope 2018 has been a creative, productive, and successful year for your writing life and career, and that you’re setting some ambitious goals for 2019.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews, and leave us a rating or a review on APPLE PODCASTS to help your fellow scribes find us.

I am very looking forward to wiping the slate clean myself and we have some great episodes to look forward to to kick off the podcast when we return in January.

We'll start the next year with a Writer's Brain episode, featuring my esteemed serial co-host and friend, neuroscientist Michael Grybko. He and I got a chance to sit down over coffee in the studio to talk about the fascinating, inextricable link between productivity and creativity on a double-wide special edition of the podcast.

Of course we have more bestselling authors and journalists in the queue where we ll continue our study of their habits, habitats, and brains to learn their secrets.

We'll have more self-publishing superstars in the mix for 2019 and of course more writer porn, so stay tuned for episodes with the illustrious Adam Skolnick and the reclusive Robert Bruce.

I hope you learned as much as I did about how successful writers keep the ink flowing, the cursor moving and avoid writer s block, and I also hope you had a chance to reflect on all you’ve accomplished or hope to accomplish in the coming year.

A big shout out to my two associate producers this year, long time collaborator Clare Garrett, and more recently, the talented Claire Emerson. This show couldn't happen without your help.

You can also explore our archives to find interviews with notable guests that include bestselling authors John Scalzi (Old Man’s War), Greg Iles (Natchez Burning), Jay McInerney (Bright Lights, Big City), Kevin Kelly (founder of WIRED magazine), Emma Donoghue (Oscar Nominee for Room), Maria Konnikova (The Confidence Game), Andy Weir (The Martian), Dan Buettner (The Blue Zones), Austin Kleon (Steal Like an Artist), Daniel Pink (When), and many others.

Thank you for tuning in, catch you next year!

Show Notes:

Please click the donate button to support the podcast with a secure PayPal donation

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Bright Future of Audiobooks with Tina Dietz: Part Two

11 december 2018 | 31 min

In Part Two of this file the audiobook publisher, award-winning podcast producer, and internationally acclaimed speaker, Tina Dietz, returned to wrap up our chat about her passion for helping authors grow their audiences, why you should produce an audiobook, and the bright future of audio content.

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Tina is an entrepreneur and content marketing expert who has been featured on ABC, Inc.com, Huffington Post, and Forbes (to name a few), and her company, StartSomething Creative Business Solutions, helps authors and entrepreneurs expand their audiences with audio content.

She is an award-winning podcaster and an expert in leveraging and repurposing content, and her company specializes deeply in audiobook production and publishing for one simple reason …

It’s “… the fastest growing, in-demand segment of the book publishing industry,” and the barrier to entry is dropping rapidly.

Tina and her cohorts love to help authors expand their audiences, income, influence, and opportunities.

If you missed the first half you can find it here.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

In Part Two of this file Tina Dietz and I talk about:

The surprising truth about who should, and who should not, narrate their own audiobook
How to decide whether to invest the time and money in professional voice narration or go DIY
The art and science that goes into a bestselling audiobook
Why you can’t rush professionally produced audio
Where to send your audiobook once it s finished
The future of audio content and smart coffee makers
And why you need to fall in love with your own voice and message

The Show Notes:

The Bright Future of Audiobooks with Tina Dietz: Part One
StartSomething Creative Business Solutions – StartSomethingPositive.com
StartSomething Creative Business Solutions on Facebook
ACX
Findaway
Tina’s Blog & Free Resources (incl. Secrets of the 3 Billion Dollar Audiobook World)
Tina Dietz on LinkedIn
Tina Dietz on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Please click the donate button to support the podcast with a secure PayPal donation

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Bright Future of Audiobooks with Tina Dietz: Part One

4 december 2018 | 29 min

This week audiobook publisher, award-winning podcast producer, and internationally acclaimed speaker, Tina Dietz, took a timeout to chat with me about her passion for helping authors grow their audiences, why you should produce an audiobook, and the bright future of audio content.

Tina is an entrepreneur and content marketing expert who has been featured on ABC, Inc.com, Huffington Post, and Forbes (to name a few), and her company, StartSomething Creative Business Solutions, helps authors and entrepreneurs expand their audiences with audio content.

She is an award-winning podcaster and an expert in leveraging and repurposing content, and her company specializes deeply in audiobook production and publishing for one simple reason …

It’s “… the fastest growing, in-demand segment of the book publishing industry,” and the barrier to entry is dropping rapidly.

Tina and her cohorts love to help authors expand their audiences, income, influence, and opportunities.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

In Part One of this file Tina Dietz and I talk about:

The Renaissance of audiobooks, the fastest growing format in publishing
When authors should start thinking about audiobook production
The importance of reading your book out loud for editing
Tina’s twisty journey from voice acting to helping authors’ tell their own stories with audio
Why audiobooks are more popular than ever
And who can benefit the most from publishing an audiobook today

The Show Notes:

The Bright Future of Audiobooks with Tina Dietz: Part Two
StartSomething Creative Business Solutions – StartSomethingPositive.com
StartSomething Creative Business Solutions on Facebook
The Messengers: A Podcast Documentary
Tina’s Blog & Free Resources (incl. Secrets of the
3 Billion Dollar Audiobook World)
Tina Dietz on LinkedIn
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Please click the donate button to support the podcast with a secure PayPal donation

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How Bestselling Sci-Fi Author Richard K. Morgan Writes: Part Two

19 november 2018 | 43 min

In Part Two of this file the acclaimed New York Times bestselling sci-fi author, Richard K. Morgan, spoke with me from overseas about his winding journey from English tutor to bestseller, having his novel adapted for the small screen, what it’s like to write for Marvel comics, and his unique take on creativity and the writing life.

Richard is best known as the award-winning author of the noir sci-fi novel Altered Carbon (Amazon), a New York Times Notable and Philip K. Dick Award winner, that was recently turned into a hit Netflix series.

[Beware: Some ‘explicit’ language.]

The author of the hard-boiled, “carbon-black,” futuristic thriller series, the Takeshi Kovacs novels (including Altered Carbon), also writes the dark fantasy series A Land Fit for Heroes (The Steel Remains, The Cold Commands, and The Dark Defiles).

His award-winning novels also include stand-alones Market Forces (also optioned for film) and Thirteen, and he’s the author of two volumes of Black Widow comics for Marvel, as well as the Crysis 2 and Syndicate computer games.

His latest novel, Thin Air, is described as “an atmospheric tale of corruption and abduction set on Mars” and it’s a return to his signature hardboiled sci-fi that The New York Times Book Review called, “Ferociously readable.”

Join us for this two-part interview. If you missed the first half you can find it here.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

In Part Two of the file Richard K. Morgan and I discussed:

The writing life and the fallacy of “a hard day’s writing”
How exercise, unplugging, and reading a lot jumpstart creativity
Why good writers live inside of their work
Richard’s candid takes on the incredible influence of Bladerunner and the critics reviews of the Altered Carbon Netflix series
Why serious writers need grit, stamina, and self-confidence
And his entreaty to all aspiring novelists

The Show Notes:

How Bestselling Sci-Fi Author Richard K. Morgan Writes: Part One
Thin Air: A Novel – Richard K. Morgan (Amazon)
RichardKMorgan.com
Fragments of a Jet-lagged Dream – Richard K. Morgan
Richard K. Morgan on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Please click the donate button to support the podcast with a secure PayPal donation

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How Bestselling Sci-Fi Author Richard K. Morgan Writes: Part One

13 november 2018 | 42 min

Acclaimed New York Times bestselling sci-fi author, Richard K. Morgan, spoke with me from overseas about his winding journey from English tutor to bestseller, having his novel adapted for the small screen, what it’s like to write for Marvel comics, and his unique take on creativity and the writing life.

Richard is best known as the award-winning author of the noir sci-fi novel Altered Carbon (Amazon), a New York Times Notable and Philip K. Dick Award winner, that was recently turned into a hit Netflix series.

[Beware: Some ‘explicit’ language.]

The author of the hard-boiled, “carbon-black,” futuristic thriller series, the Takeshi Kovacs novels (including Altered Carbon), also writes the dark fantasy series A Land Fit for Heroes (The Steel Remains, The Cold Commands, and The Dark Defiles).

His award-winning novels also include stand-alones Market Forces (also optioned for film) and Thirteen, and he’s the author of two volumes of Black Widow comics for Marvel, as well as the Crysis 2 and Syndicate computer games.

His latest novel, Thin Air, is described as “an atmospheric tale of corruption and abduction set on Mars” and it’s a return to his signature hardboiled sci-fi that The New York Times Book Review called, “Ferociously readable.”

Join us for this two-part interview.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

In Part One of the file Richard K. Morgan and I discussed:

His American literary doppelganger
The door that finally opened and dumped him onto the red carpet
How The Sopranos helped change the zeitgeist toward darker fiction
Why luck plays such a big part in success for writers
The author’s hallucinatory visit to the set of the Altered Carbon Netflix series
The two distinct DNA types of writers and the fallacy of block

The Show Notes:

How Bestselling Sci-Fi Author Richard K. Morgan Writes: Part Two
Thin Air: A Novel – Richard K. Morgan (Amazon)
RichardKMorgan.com
Fragments of a Jet-lagged Dream – Richard K. Morgan
Richard K. Morgan on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Please click the donate button to support the podcast with a secure PayPal donation

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How Professional Comedy Writer & Author James Breakwell Writes: Part Two

6 november 2018 | 27 min

In Part Two of this file the prolific pro comedy writer, author, and amateur parenting expert, James Breakwell, took a timeout to rap with me about @XplodingUnicorn and his rise to viral Twitter fame, how he juggles multiple writing projects, his family and his sanity, and the writer as entrepreneur.

In the early days of his writing career James told me that he knew he wouldn’t score a book deal sending out query letters or tossing his ideas over the transom, so he decided to build an online following for his unique, self-effacing comedy.

Finding inspiration in his family of four girls all under the age of eight, he turned his attentions to blogging, web comics, podcasting, and family humor on Twitter where he eventually found viral fame.

In 2016 Buzzfeed dubbed him “The Funniest Dad On Twitter” and shortly thereafter his audience grew … in a big way.

He has been featured on media outlets around the world, has attracted over a million followers on social media, has signed multiple book deals, and even writes a column for a newspaper.

His second book, Bare Minimum Parenting: The Ultimate Guide to Not Quite Ruining Your Child, comes out November 6th, 2018, and is “… a book about doing as little as possible without quite ruining your child.”

New York Times bestselling author Kristan Higgins said, “… Parents! Read this book and free yourself from the blood sport that parenting has become!” And bestselling author Liliana Hart wrote, “Breakwell has a hit … uproariously funny, and at times, unexpectedly poignant.”

Join us for this two-part interview. If you missed the first half you can find it here.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

In Part Two of the file James Breakwell and I discuss:

How he balances his work and family life
The author’s unique workflow and process
How his humor builds on real-life experiences
The difference between comedy and non-fiction
The conundrum of internet fame
And why writers have to like what they’re writing to succeed over the long haul

The Show Notes:

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How Professional Comedy Writer & Author James Breakwell Writes: Part One

30 oktober 2018 | 25 min

Prolific pro comedy writer, author, and amateur parenting expert, James Breakwell, took a timeout to rap with me about @XplodingUnicorn and his rise to viral Twitter fame, how he juggles multiple writing projects, his family and his sanity, and the writer as entrepreneur.

In the early days of his writing career James told me that he knew he wouldn’t score a book deal sending out query letters or tossing his ideas over the transom, so he decided to build an online following for his unique, self-effacing comedy.

Finding inspiration in his family of four girls all under the age of eight, he turned his attentions to blogging, web comics, podcasting, and family humor on Twitter where he eventually found viral fame.

In 2016 Buzzfeed dubbed him “The Funniest Dad On Twitter” and shortly thereafter his audience grew … in a big way.

He has been featured on media outlets around the world, has attracted over a million followers on social media, has signed multiple book deals, and even writes a column for a newspaper.

His second book, Bare Minimum Parenting: The Ultimate Guide to Not Quite Ruining Your Child, comes out November 6th, 2018, and is “… a book about doing as little as possible without quite ruining your child.”

New York Times bestselling author Kristan Higgins said, “… Parents! Read this book and free yourself from the blood sport that parenting has become!” And bestselling author Liliana Hart wrote, “Breakwell has a hit … uproariously funny, and at times, unexpectedly poignant.”

Join us for this two-part interview.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

In Part One of the file James Breakwell and I discussed:

The irony of the 10-year overnight success
Why James hated journalism right out of college
Why it’s better to practice your art in public
How to be so good they can’t ignore you
Why comedy writers need an audience to improve
And the author’s unique process for writing 10,000 words in a day

The Show Notes:

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How Bestselling Self-Published Author Steff Green Writes: Part Two

23 oktober 2018 | 24 min

In Part Two of this file the prolific, bestselling author of the paranormal and dark fantasy, Steff Green, returned to talk with me about overcoming rejection, perseverance, her inspiring journey from copywriter to bestseller, and her advice to fellow scribes who may be facing adversity.

Steff Green is a New Zealander who is a fervent self-publishing advocate, public speaker, and a legally blind writer who has turned her disability into a superpower to self-publish 24 books and counting.

She has topped the USA Today bestsellers list writing paranormal romance under the pen name, Steffanie Holmes, and is also the author of six dark fantasy books under the name S C Green.

Steff received both the 2017 Attitude Award for Artistic Achievement, and was a finalist for the 2018 Women of Influence award.

She recently launched a successful crowdfunding campaign to raise interest and awareness for an anti-bullying storybook for kids that caught the eye of traditional publishing.

That book, Written and illustrated by two artists who were victims of bullying themselves, Only Freaks Turn Things Into Bones uses darkly gothic humour to address the very real issue of being different.”

Join us for this two-part interview. If you missed the first half you can find it here.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

In Part Two of the file Steff Green and I discuss:

Her simple yet effective workflow and organizational hacks
Why curiosity is a synonym for creativity
What motivates the author to write 20,000 words in just a few days
Jack London’s timeless and moving credo
How to read an ebook … with your nose
And why we need to remember why we’re doing this crazy thing called writing

The Show Notes:

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How Bestselling Self-Published Author Steff Green Writes: Part One

16 oktober 2018 | 26 min

Prolific, bestselling author of the paranormal and dark fantasy, Steff Green, dropped by the show to talk with me about overcoming rejection, perseverance, her inspiring journey from copywriter to bestseller, and her advice to fellow scribes who may be facing adversity.

Steff Green is a New Zealander who is a fervent self-publishing advocate, public speaker, and a legally blind writer who has turned her disability into a superpower to self-publish 24 books and counting.

She has topped the USA Today bestsellers list writing paranormal romance under the pen name, Steffanie Holmes, and is also the author of six dark fantasy books under the name S C Green.

Steff received both the 2017 Attitude Award for Artistic Achievement, and was a finalist for the 2018 Women of Influence award.

She recently launched a successful crowdfunding campaign to raise interest and awareness for an anti-bullying storybook for kids that caught the eye of traditional publishing.

That book, Written and illustrated by two artists who were victims of bullying themselves, Only Freaks Turn Things Into Bones uses darkly gothic humour to address the very real issue of being different.”

Join us for this two-part interview.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

In Part One of the file Steff Green and I discussed:

Why you should never give up on your dreams, no matter the obstacles
How a dare from a friend led to a big breakthrough
Her “rocking” life as a full-time writer
How to juggle multiple pen names and genres
Her obsessions with heavy metal, ancient languages, and checklists
And how to write yourself out of a corner

The Show Notes:

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How Literary Journalist and Novelist Michael Scott Moore Writes

9 oktober 2018 | 33 min

The author of the captivity memoir, The Desert and the Sea: 977 Days Captive on the Somali Pirate Coast, Michael Scott Moore joined me this week to talk about his fascinating journey as a writer, how he wrote his harrowing and detailed memoir (much of it without notes), and why it’s changed him as a writer and a person.

Michael is an investigative journalist, novelist, and author of a critically acclaimed folk history of surfing, Sweetness and Blood, named a book of the year by The Economist in 2010.

The author travelled to the Horn of Africa, while researching piracy along the coast of Somalia in 2012, where he was abducted and held captive for over two and half years, for a ransom of $20 million.

In his riveting personal account of the experience, chronicled in The Desert and the Sea, Mike deftly examines the history of piracy, religious extremism, geopolitical factors, and his own dark humor and humanity to capture what reviewers have called, “A harrowing and affecting account of … captivity at the hands of Somali pirates.” (Kirkus)

His story, described as a “Catch-22 meets Black Hawk Down,” has been featured on NPR s All Things Considered, Fresh Air, The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, CBS This Morning, The Joe Rogan Experience, and many others.

The author has covered the European migration crisis for Businessweek, and politics, travel, and literature for The Atlantic, Der Spiegel, The New Republic, The New York Times, and The L.A. Review of Books.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

In this file Michael Scott Moore and I discuss:

How the author was able to write about his lengthy and traumatic time as a hostage
Why the discipline of taking handwritten notes is so important for retention
How memory shapes stories so deeply
Why Mike recorded everything he could remember as quickly as he could once he was freed
How the author found an existential detachment in order to stay sane
Why revision is the scaffolding that allows inspiration

The Show Notes:

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How to Make a Living as a Pro Content Writer: Part Two

2 oktober 2018 | 44 min

In the second half of this special edition of the show we’re shining the light on two more freelance writers out there who are making it happen as professional online content creators. These are scribes who have found success — and a very good living — doing what they love … writing and helping others achieve success.

In full disclosure, the two writers I’m highlighting in this show, Sharlyn Lauby and Trudi Roth, are both online content creators and strategists who run profitable freelance writing businesses.

The other thing they have in common, though they came to professional writing from very different paths, is that both writers graduated from Copyblogger’s Certified Content Marketer Training Course (a program that makes this show possible).

The program is usually closed, but it reopens periodically for a short time to invite new classes of students into the course. If you re interested in learning more you can simply head over to the Certified Content Marketer training program and get your name on the list.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

My first guest is HR pro turned consultant, speaker, and foodie, Sharlyn Lauby of HRbartender.com, who specializes in strategic human resources content with a focus on increased engagement and lead generation.

She is also the President of ITM Group, Inc. “… a training company focused on developing programs to retain and engage talent in the workplace,” and a Master Level Certified Content Marketer.

Her business creed is, “Great HR makes great organizations.”

In this segment Sharlyn Lauby and I discuss:

Her unique path to blogging and content marketing
Resources, tools, and teaching she found invaluable at the start of her journey
The importance of feedback to mastery
How a mindset shift makes all the difference for the growth of your business
What it takes to find success and satisfaction in your chosen niche

My second guest is writer, editor, and content strategist, Trudi Roth of ItsTheTruStory.com, who runs the gamut of specialties from website copy, blog posts, video, and even social media strategy.

Trudi has been a hired gun for over twenty years doing client work on everything from website content, ecommerce, blogs, books, direct & email campaigns, and social media marketing.

CNN dubbed her a “popular mommy blogger” for her blog, “Bitch in Suburbia.” She has a B.S. in Economics from University of Michigan, and a Master s Degree in Mass Communications from Boston University. She is also a Certified Content Marketer.

Her business slogan is, “Superlative content, copy, and editing … You have my word.”

In this segment Trudi Roth and I discuss:

Why so many people need help “wordsmithing” today
How she went from a VP of Marketing to a “mommy blogger” featured on CNN
Why now’s as good a time as any to hang out your digital shingle
The writer’s high praise for Copyblogger’s Certified Content Marketer Training Course
The double-edged sword of working from home

The Show Notes:

Copyblogger s Certified Content Marketer training is a powerful program that helps writers attract better clients — and more of them. New students will be able to sign up for a limited time soon. Add your name to join the waitlist and to get all of the details when they re available.
How to Make a Living as a Pro Content Writer: Part One
ITM Group, Inc. – Sharlyn Lauby
HRbartender.com – Sharlyn Lauby
HR bartender on Twitter
Freelance Writers Share the Surprising Keys to Their Successful Careers
ItsTheTruStory.com – Trudi Roth
It’s The TruStory – Trudi Roth on YouTube
Profitable Writers Demonstrate How to Prosper from Your Words
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How to Make a Living as a Pro Content Writer: Part One

25 september 2018 | 44 min

In this special edition of the show we’re shining the light on freelance writers out there who are making it happen as professional online content creators. These are scribes who have found success — and a very good living — doing what they love … writing and helping others achieve success.

In full disclosure, the two writers I’m highlighting in this show, Mark Crosling and Aaron Wrixon, are online content creators and strategists who both run profitable freelance writing businesses.

The other thing they have in common, though they came to professional writing from very different paths, is that both writers graduated from Copyblogger’s Certified Content Marketer Training Course (a program that makes this show possible).

The program is usually closed, but it reopens periodically for a short time to invite new classes of students into the course. If you re interested in learning more you can simply head over to the Certified Content Marketer training program and get your name on the list.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

My first guest is serial entrepreneur, copywriter, content marketer, and founder of StrategicContent.co, Mark Crosling, who offers content creation, social, and search strategy services. His business credo is “All roads lead to your inbox.”

Mark has founded numerous start-ups — four of which became stock exchange listed companies — he has an MBA from the University of New South Wales, and is a Certified Content Marketer through the Copyblogger Certification Program.

In this segment Mark Crosling and I discuss:

A look at the inner workings of the digital commerce ecosystem
How to find a holistic approach to online marketing
Why copywriters are the stonemasons of the digital age
The upcoming voice search revolution for online writers
How to get completely aligned with your audience

My second guest is the content maestro and journeyman Aaron Wrixon, of Wrixon.com, who specializes in content marketing services for web agencies and their clients. His business slogan is, “Repeatable process. Repeatable results.”

He has over 20 years experience in technical and online content writing, with over five million words and hundreds of projects in dozens of industries under his belt. He is also a Copyblogger Certified Content Marketer.

In this segment Aaron Wrixon and I discuss:

How to make a living as a writer without hitting the bestseller lists
The timing and determination required to find a fulfilling freelance career
Why there’s no bad time to become an online content creator
The writer’s unique content creation framework for success
Why so many online writers struggle with the “Sistine Chapel” effect

The Show Notes:

Copyblogger’s Certification program is closing to new students on Wednesday this week! You can snag the details (and jump into the program) here..
How to Make a Living as a Pro Content Writer: Part Two
StrategicContent.co – Mark Crosling
Mark Crosling on Twitter
Freelance Writers Share the Surprising Keys to Their Successful Careers
Wrixon.com – Aaron Wrixon
Aaron’s BRAVER content framework
Profitable Writers Demonstrate How to Prosper from Your Words
Kelton Reid on Twitter

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How Bestselling Self-Published Author Mark Dawson Writes: Part Two

11 september 2018 | 29 min

How Bestselling Self-Published Author Mark Dawson Writes: Part One

4 september 2018 | 30 min

5 Things Only Serious Writers Do: Part Two

29 augusti 2018 | 50 min

5 Things Only Serious Writers Do: Part One

21 augusti 2018 | 47 min

Welcome to a special edition of The Writer Files, we’re back from an extended summer hiatus.

My old friend, the award-winning international journalist, author, pundit, and bad penny, Adam Skolnick, turned up this week to discuss with me a piece I wrote recently for Copyblogger titled, 5 Things Only Serious Writers Do.

But before Adam and I get into it I wanted to explain why I’ve been away from the microphone for so long.

It’s a heartbreaking story, and if you’re not into tragedies, feel free to fast-forward to the good stuff (or simply skip to Part Two). I apologize for the weight of it, but it seemed only right to share the story here for curious listeners.

A tremendous thank you is in order for those of you throughout the many communities who have reached out with your support, love, and thoughts for my family over the last few months. There are not enough words.

Adam Skolnick’s narrative nonfiction book, One Breath: Freediving, Death, and the Quest to Shatter Human Limits — based on his award-winning New York Times sports reporting — is now available in paperback.

In addition to his recent journalism, Adam has visited 45 countries and contributed to over 30 Lonely Planet guidebooks. He has written for ESPN.com, Men s Health, Outside, BBC, Playboy Magazine, and The NY Times, and has appeared on NPR.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

In Part One of this file Adam and I discuss:

Why the show has been on hiatus for so long
How human beings crowd source grief and loss in times of tragedy, and the limits of empathy
Adam’s recent globetrotting journalism, including his piece on the Thai soccer team rescue
And what it’s like to be a hired ghost writer

The Show Notes

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What’s Your Writing Productivity Type? (with Bec Evans of Prolifiko): Part Two

31 juli 2018 | 27 min

What’s Your Writing Productivity Type? (with Bec Evans of Prolifiko): Part One

24 juli 2018 | 25 min

21 Productivity Hacks from 21 Prolific Writers: Part Two

17 juli 2018 | 52 min

In Part Two of this special edition of the show we traditionally call “writer porn” I’ve invited back award-winning international journalist, author, and serial pundit, Adam Skolnick, to discuss a piece I wrote for Copyblogger.com last year titled, “21 Productivity Hacks from 21 Prolific Writers.”

Over the last four years, I ve been given the fantastic opportunity to interview a wide range of more than 70 prolific, renowned, and bestselling authors for The Writer Files series.

As you may know, each interview digs into the habits, habitats, and brains of these writers, and I ask them all roughly the same set of questions on how they get words consistently onto the page.

So, I sifted through the extensive series archives (including the written interviews) and cherry-picked 21 highlights on productivity from these writers for you. You’ll definitely notice some themes from their advice on keeping the ink flowing and the cursor moving.

You can go to 21 Productivity Hacks from 21 Prolific Writers to follow along. Audio snippets have been excerpted here from the available podcast episodes.

Guest host Adam Skolnick’s narrative nonfiction book, One Breath: Freediving, Death, and the Quest to Shatter Human Limits — based on his award-winning New York Times sports reporting — is now available in paperback.

In addition to his recent journalism, Adam has visited 45 countries and contributed to over 30 Lonely Planet guidebooks. He has written for ESPN.com, Men s Health, Outside, BBC, Playboy Magazine, and The NY Times, and has appeared on NPR.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

In Part Two of this file some highlights include:

Emma Donoghue (Oscar nominee and international bestselling author of Room) on outlining and pre-planning
Maria Konnikova (New York Times bestselling author and New Yorker columnist) on standing desks and staying offline
Mark Dawson (international bestselling author and entrepreneur) on finding time to publish a million words in a year
Kevin Kelly (New York Times bestselling author and co-founder of Wired magazine) on first drafts and formulating ideas
And more great tips from Adam and I as we round out all 21 productivity hacks
Listen to The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience below ...
Download MP3 Subscribe by RSS Subscribe in iTunes The Show Notes
If you’re ready to see for yourself why more than 201,344 website owners trust StudioPress — the industry standard for premium WordPress themes and plugins — swing by StudioPress.com for all the details.
21 Productivity Hacks from 21 Prolific Writers – Kelton Reid for Copyblogger
More Writer Files in the Archives at Copyblogger
A journalist won her first tournament in under a year of being coached by a poker legend – USA Today
The Best of ‘The Writer’s Brain’ Part One: Creativity
The Best of ‘The Writer’s Brain’ Part Five: Fake News
How Bestselling Author Douglas Coupland Writes
Adam Skolnick on Instagram
OneBreathbook.com
AdamSkolnick.com
Adam Skolnick on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

21 Productivity Hacks from 21 Prolific Writers: Part One

10 juli 2018 | 52 min

In this special edition of the show I’ve invited back award-winning international journalist, author, and serial pundit, Adam Skolnick, to discuss a piece I wrote for Copyblogger.com last year titled, “21 Productivity Hacks from 21 Prolific Writers.”

Over the last four years, I've been given the fantastic opportunity to interview a wide range of more than 70 prolific, renowned, and bestselling authors for The Writer Files series.

As you may know, each interview digs into the habits, habitats, and brains of these writers, and I ask them all roughly the same set of questions on how they get words consistently onto the page.

So, I sifted through the extensive series archives (including the written interviews) and cherry-picked 21 highlights on productivity from these writers for you. You’ll definitely notice some themes from their advice on keeping the ink flowing and the cursor moving.

You can go to 21 Productivity Hacks from 21 Prolific Writers to follow along. Audio snippets have been excerpted here from the available podcast episodes.

Guest host Adam Skolnick’s narrative nonfiction book, One Breath: Freediving, Death, and the Quest to Shatter Human Limits — based on his award-winning New York Times sports reporting — is now available in paperback.

In addition to his recent journalism, Adam has visited 45 countries and contributed to over 30 Lonely Planet guidebooks. He has written for ESPN.com, Men s Health, Outside, BBC, Playboy Magazine, and The NY Times, and has appeared on NPR.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

In Part One of this file some highlights include:

Seth Godin (bestselling author of 18 books) on the power of deadlines
Elizabeth Gilbert (#1 New York Times bestselling author of Eat Pray Love) on the inefficiency of perfectionism
Joanna Penn (New York Times bestselling indie author and entrepreneur) on scheduling and writing every day
Andy Weir (bestselling author of The Martian) on motivation
And more great tips from Adam and I as we discuss all 21 productivity hacks The Show Notes
21 Productivity Hacks from 21 Prolific Writers – Kelton Reid for Copyblogger
More Writer Files in the Archives at Copyblogger
Being Busy Is Killing Our Ability to Think Creatively – Derek Beres for Big Think
When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing – Daniel Pink
AdamSkolnick.com
Adam Skolnick on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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‘The Writer’s Brain’ on Impostor Syndrome: Part Two

26 juni 2018 | 30 min

‘The Writer’s Brain’ on Impostor Syndrome: Part One

19 juni 2018 | 33 min

Welcome back to a special edition of The Writer Files called “The Writer’s Brain,” a guest series with neuroscientist Michael Grybko, and in this episode we dig into a phenomenon known as “impostor syndrome,” an experience many writers struggle with.

The Experience Known as “Impostor Syndrome”

The experience known as “impostor syndrome” has been recognized in over 70% of the population across a wide range of demographics. Everyone from bestselling authors, to A-list celebrities, and even genius-level scientists, have all admitted to feeling a kind of isolation from not wanting to be outed as a “fraud,” even though they’re far from it.

And it’s not just limited to high-achievers; it’s been found in men and women across a wide variety of groups, including those about to launch a new creative project or career, teachers, students, entrepreneurs, and many others.

Across all demographics, success tends to create an even deeper sense of the impostor experience, and although not considered a clinical psychological syndrome, the effects can be debilitating to writers at any level of experience or professional standing.

These feelings of self-doubt can snowball if not addressed, and leave you with a sinking depression, anxiety, and a sense of dread at taking on new or challenging tasks.

Luckily, research scientist Michael Grybko returned to the podcast to help me find some answers about the origins of anxiety in the human brain, and how to address the impostor experience from both a scientific and layperson’s perspective.

If you missed previous episodes of The Writer’s Brain you can find them all in the show notes, in the archives at writerfiles.fm, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

In Part One of this file Michael Grybko and I discuss:

How neuroscience can find a lens to look at the “impostor syndrome”
Why some doubt and anxiety is good for you
The problem with too much fear and the avoidance response
Why the impostor phenomenon and writer’s block are similar
How your whole brain plays a role in your fear of the blank page

The Show Notes:

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The Best of ‘The Writer’s Brain’ Part Five: Fake News

12 juni 2018 | 46 min

The Best of ‘The Writer’s Brain’ Part Four: Writer’s Block

5 juni 2018 | 57 min

The Best of ‘The Writer’s Brain’ Part Three: Storytelling

29 maj 2018 | 40 min

Welcome back to a special edition of The Writer Files called “The Best of the Writer s Brain,” a series neuroscientist Michael Grybko and I started in 2015 where I enlisted his help to give us a tour of the inner workings of the writer’s process.

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Q: Have you ever wondered why storytelling is such an omnipresent theme of human life?

As we take a short Summer hiatus to book new guests for the upcoming season, I thought I d put all of these enlightening episodes in one place …

In Part Three of the series I invited my friend, research scientist Michael Grybko — of the Department of Psychology at the University of Washington — back on the show to help me define storytelling from a scientific standpoint.

If you missed the first two episodes of The Best of ‘The Writer s Brain’ you can find them on writerfiles.fm, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

In this file Michael Grybko and I discuss:

Why storytelling is the default mode of human communication
How empathy makes storytelling such an effective tool
Why Hollywood continually taps into ‘The Hero’s Journey’
How blueprints can help writers connect with their audience
Why reading fiction makes us more empathetic
Writers’ addiction to stories (especially the dark ones)
Where humanity would be without storytelling

The Show Notes:

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The Best of ‘The Writer’s Brain’ Part Two: Empathy

22 maj 2018 | 34 min

The Best of ‘The Writer’s Brain’ Part One: Creativity

15 maj 2018 | 28 min

How Bestselling Author Douglas Coupland Writes

8 maj 2018 | 35 min

The iconic, international bestselling author of 14 novels, including the era-defining Generation X: Tales for an Accelerated Culture, Douglas Coupland, paid a visit to the show to rap with me about his latest collection, his strange ritual for starting a new book, and the timeless difficulties of getting published.

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Start getting more from your site today!Mr. Coupland started his career in journalism before rising to prominence after his acclaimed, bestselling debut in 1991. Since Generation X he has become an internationally recognized visual artist, designer, and author of 14 novels, two short story collections, a dozen nonfiction books, and scripts for the stage, TV, and film.

In addition to his many contributions to traditional and online publications including the New York Times, The Guardian, and Vice Doug has written and performed for England’s Royal Shakespeare Company and is a columnist for The Financial Times of London.

His latest, titled Bit Rot, is a collection of more than 65 thought-provoking essays, stories, and meditations “… on the different ways in which twentieth-century notions of the future are being shredded.”

The social critic and cultural observer has been prognosticating on how technology affects our brains since the advent of the internet.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

In this file Douglas Coupland and I discuss:

How a visual artist became a generation-defining fiction author
The writer’s love of serial journalism
Why listeners of this show have won the biggest lottery in history
How a Canadian professor in the ’60s predicted the influence of the internet we know today
The magic of writing on airplanes

Listen to The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience below ...

Download MP3 Subscribe by RSS Subscribe in iTunes The Show Notes

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Douglas Coupland’s website
Douglas Coupland for The Financial Times of London
Douglas Coupland: ‘I’m actually at my happiest when I’m writing on a plane’
Bit Rot: stories + essays – Douglas Coupland
Marshall McLuhan: You Know Nothing of My Work! – Douglas Coupland
How Bestselling Author Austin Kleon Writes: Part One
Douglas Coupland on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How Bestselling Author & Investigative Journalist Scott Carney Writes: Part Two

1 maj 2018 | 36 min

In Part Two of this file, the award-winning New York Times bestselling author, investigative journalist, and anthropologist, Scott Carney, returned to talk about the dangers of putting yourself into the story, what he’s learned in his 20+ years in mainstream publishing, and how he juggles his multiple creative adventures.

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Throughout his globe-trotting career as a journalist Scott has spent extensive time in South Asia, been a contributing editor at WIRED for over five years, and written for Mother Jones, Men s Journal, Playboy, Foreign Policy, Discover, Outside, Fast Company, and many others.

Mr. Carney is the author of a trio of nonfiction books that combine investigative journalism and anthropology, including The Red Market (where he explored the black market for human body parts), A Death on Diamond Mountain (an examination of the dark side of spiritual seekers), and most recently, the New York Times bestseller What Doesn’t Kill Us: How Freezing Water, Extreme Altitude and Environmental Conditioning Will Renew Our Lost Evolutionary Strength.

As part of his research for What Doesn’t Kill Us, Scott spent time with Dutch extreme athlete and fitness guru Wim Hof to try to understand the science behind his now famous method to control his body temperature in extreme conditions and tap into ancient super-human abilities.

In addition to his writing, Scott is a public speaker and educator who has been a senior fellow at the Schuster Institute for Investigative Journalism and a Scripps Fellow at the Center for Environmental Journalism in Boulder, Colorado.

His work has been featured on NPR and National Geographic TV.

His most recent project is a video course for writers, called The Fine Print, aimed at helping freelancers, journalists, and creative entrepreneurs to think of themselves as a startup business and help merge their creative and business sensibilities.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

If you missed the first half you can find it right here.

In Part Two of this file Scott Carney and I discuss:

Tips for escaping the great “distraction machine” and focusing on only what’s in front of you
Why the author’s whole life has been built around writer’s block
Scott’s routines for successfully juggling multiple large writing projects
How the author uses his investigative journalism to actualize his adventures and vice versa
The importance of making a living vs writing simply for your own pleasure
Why he wants to take Hemingway to rehab

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Download MP3 Subscribe by RSS Subscribe in iTunes The Show Notes

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What Doesn’t Kill Us: How Freezing Water, Extreme Altitude and Environmental Conditioning Will Renew Our Lost Evolutionary – Scott Carney
ScottCarney.com
Scott Carney’s video course — The Fine Print.
The Ice Guru [Wim Hof] Comes to Brooklyn – The Atlantic
Scott Carney on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How Bestselling Author & Investigative Journalist Scott Carney Writes: Part One

24 april 2018 | 34 min

Award-winning New York Times bestselling author, investigative journalist, and anthropologist, Scott Carney, stopped by the show recently to talk about the dangers of putting yourself into the story, what he’s learned in his 20+ years in mainstream publishing, and how he juggles his multiple creative adventures.

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Throughout his globe-trotting career as a journalist Scott has spent extensive time in South Asia, been a contributing editor at WIRED for over five years, and written for Mother Jones, Men s Journal, Playboy, Foreign Policy, Discover, Outside, Fast Company, and many others.

Mr. Carney is the author of a trio of nonfiction books that combine investigative journalism and anthropology, including The Red Market (where he explored the black market for human body parts), A Death on Diamond Mountain (an examination of the dark side of spiritual seekers), and most recently, the New York Times bestseller What Doesn’t Kill Us: How Freezing Water, Extreme Altitude and Environmental Conditioning Will Renew Our Lost Evolutionary Strength.

As part of his research for What Doesn’t Kill Us, Scott spent time with Dutch extreme athlete and fitness guru Wim Hof to try to understand the science behind his now famous method to control his body temperature in extreme conditions and tap into ancient super-human abilities.

In addition to his writing, Scott is a public speaker and educator who has been a senior fellow at the Schuster Institute for Investigative Journalism and a Scripps Fellow at the Center for Environmental Journalism in Boulder, Colorado.

His work has been featured on NPR and National Geographic TV.

His most recent project is a video course for writers, called The Fine Print, aimed at helping freelancers, journalists, and creative entrepreneurs to think of themselves as a startup business and help merge their creative and business sensibilities.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

In Part One of this file Scott Carney and I discuss:

Why he dropped out of his Anthropology PhD program to become a professional writer
How to protect yourself from negotiating bad contracts
Why you don’t have to fall into the traps so many broke journalists fall into
The writer’s natural state of “productive procrastination”
Why you need to gun for those “theme park” sized ideas
The power of outlines and how to write 80,000 words in eight months

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What Doesn’t Kill Us: How Freezing Water, Extreme Altitude and Environmental Conditioning Will Renew Our Lost Evolutionary – Scott Carney
ScottCarney.com
Scott Carney’s video course — The Fine Print.
The Ice Guru [Wim Hof] Comes to Brooklyn – The Atlantic
Scott Carney on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How New York Times Bestselling Author Maria Konnikova Writes

17 april 2018 | 35 min

The multiple New York Times bestselling non-fiction author and New Yorker columnist, Maria Konnikova, dropped by the show back in early 2016 to chat with me about what it’s like to be a contributing journalist for a storied institution, productivity hacks, and her own creative process.

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This is a fan favorite from the archives that I’m updating because it’s an insightful interview and Maria has also been in the news recently for winning her first premier professional poker title.

Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction, and as the story goes — reported by Poker News — over “… a year ago … Konnikova decided to learn the game of poker and asked the infamous, Erik Seidel [winner of eight World Series of Poker and a World Poker Tour title] to help mentor/coach her. Her goal … was to play poker for a year, to learn the game, and then write a book about it.”

The book was pitched as a chronicle of her “… yearlong journey from poker neophyte to the World Series … an exploration of the balance of luck and skill in our daily lives and how we can become the best decision makers we possibly can.”

Lo and behold, an intensive one-year poker crash-course helped her win her first prestige pro tournament and a cool $85K in early 2018.

It’s a crazy story, and a fantastic reason to revisit our talk here, and to find her book, The Biggest Bluff, when it’s published in Summer 2019.

Her last bestseller — The Confidence Game: Why We Fall for It . . . Every Time — examined the psychology of the con, and as Forbes described the book, “One of the best science writers of our time examines the minds, motives, and methods of con artists — and the people who fall for their cons.”

Ms. Konnikova has a PhD in Psychology from Columbia University and has contributed countless articles and essays for The Atlantic, The New York Times, Slate, The Paris Review, The Wall Street Journal, WIRED, and Scientific American, to name only a few.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

In this file Maria Konnikova and I discuss:

How to avoid writer’s block
Why a standing desk isn’t for everyone
How to simplify your research & writing process
Why writing is hard … just like any other job
The author’s definition of creativity

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How Copyblogger’s Editor-in-Chief Stefanie Flaxman Writes: Part Two

10 april 2018 | 48 min

In Part Two of this file the Editor-in-Chief of Copyblogger, my colleague and friend, Stefanie Flaxman, returned to chat with me about her journey from solopreneur to headline honcho, the rules of “ruthless editing,” her philosophy of creativity, and much more.

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Stef is a professional writer and editor who manages the editorial team for Copyblogger.com, where she helps publish one of “… the most popular [and influential] content marketing and writing blog[s]…” available, for a very large audience of online writers.

[Incidentally Copyblogger is the reason The Writer Files exists and where the written series was started.]

A long-time contributor to the Copyblogger community, she officially joined the team in 2014 with a mission to help ensure stringent editorial standards, and create content aimed at helping fellow entrepreneurs stand out from the competition.

Ms. Flaxman’s weekly podcast, Editor-in-Chief (2015-2016), delivered her signature “… art of writing, updated for marketing in the digital age, to help you become the Editor-in-Chief of your own digital business.”

Before Copyblogger, Stef ran her own online writing and editing shop, Revision Fairy, which she started in 2008. She has also done stints as the West Coast Office Manager for Mediabistro and an editor for PR Newswire.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

If you missed the first half you can find it right here.

In Part Two of this file Stefanie Flaxman and I discuss:

My very first day as a copywriter at Copyblogger
Why you’re never as nervous as your first guest post for a huge online audience
The inefficiency of perfectionism
Stef’s philosophy of writer’s block, responsibility tangents, and creativity
Why so much of the writing process doesn’t involve actual writing
One great hack to jumpstart your own writing

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How Copyblogger’s Editor-in-Chief Stefanie Flaxman Writes: Part One
Copyblogger.com – Build Your Online Authority with
Powerfully Effective Content Marketing
Stefanie Flaxman’s Author Page at Copyblogger
Editor-in-Chief podcast archive
Revision Fairy – Stef’s Website
How Chief Content Officer Sonia Simone Writes
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How Copyblogger’s Editor-in-Chief Stefanie Flaxman Writes: Part One

3 april 2018 | 43 min

Welcome to a double-stuffed episode of the show with the Editor-in-Chief of Copyblogger, my colleague and friend, Stefanie Flaxman, who stopped by this week to rap with me about her journey from solopreneur to headline honcho, the rules of “ruthless editing,” her philosophy of creativity, and much more.

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Stef is a professional writer and editor who manages the editorial team for Copyblogger.com, where she helps publish one of “… the most popular [and influential] content marketing and writing blog[s]…” available, for a very large audience of online writers.

[Incidentally Copyblogger is the reason The Writer Files exists and where the written series was started.]

A long-time contributor to the Copyblogger community, she officially joined the team in 2014 with a mission to help ensure stringent editorial standards, and create content aimed at helping fellow entrepreneurs stand out from the competition.

Ms. Flaxman’s weekly podcast, Editor-in-Chief (2015-2016), delivered her signature “… art of writing, updated for marketing in the digital age, to help you become the Editor-in-Chief of your own digital business.”

Before Copyblogger, Stef ran her own online writing and editing shop, Revision Fairy, which she started in 2008. She has also done stints as the West Coast Office Manager for Mediabistro and an editor for PR Newswire.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

In Part One of this file Stefanie Flaxman and I discuss:

Her early exposure to journalism and unique path to a career in writing and editing
How her discovery of Brian Clark’s trailblazing blog helped take her own business to the next level
Why great things happen when you make yourself vulnerable
How Stef became a true “triple threat” in her field
Why you should write every day no matter how busy you are
How to incorporate balance and philosophy into your content mindset

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If you’re ready to see for yourself why more than 201,344 website owners trust StudioPress — the industry standard for premium WordPress themes and plugins — swing by StudioPress.com for all the details.
How Copyblogger’s Editor-in-Chief Stefanie Flaxman Writes: Part Two
Copyblogger.com – Build Your Online Authority with
Powerfully Effective Content Marketing
Stefanie Flaxman’s Author Page at Copyblogger
Editor-in-Chief podcast archive
Revision Fairy – Stef’s Website
How Chief Content Officer Sonia Simone Writes
Behind the Scenes: How The Writer Files Is Produced w/ Robert Bruce
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How the Creator of the ‘Lore’ Podcast (and TV Show) Aaron Mahnke Writes: Part Two

20 februari 2018 | 26 min

In Part Two of this file, the award-winning creator, producer, and host of the megahit Lore podcast, TV show, and book series, Aaron Mahnke, returned to share how he created his scary storytelling universe from scratch, his writing regimen for success, and advice to fellow scribes.

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In less than three years the writer and former graphic designer grew his humble “true life scary story” podcast, Lore, from a small email list and an effort to market his self-published novels, into a critically acclaimed show with more than 100 million downloads.

The podcast won Apple Podcasts’ Best of 2015 & 2016, and picked up a “Best History Podcast 2016” from the Academy of Podcasters. Lore was also recently turned into an Amazon TV series by producers of The Walking Dead and The X-Files (with Aaron as a co-exec. producer), as well as a live tour, and a book series from Penguin Random House.

The World of Lore: Monstrous Creatures is the first in a three-book series from the author. The books include both old and new tales from the world of Lore, with their signature blend of history and the macabre, to plumb the depths of our collective nightmares.

Entertainment Weekly noted that Mahnke “… dives deep into the world of folklore and the darker side of history in a quest to root out the fragment of truth at the bottom of our fears.”

The author has been featured in the Huffington Post, The Guardian, Esquire, The Atlantic, USA Today, and others.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

If you missed the first half you can find it right here.

In Part Two of this file Aaron Mahnke and I discuss:

The writer’s process and the advantages of a home office for a podcast producer
How to turn a scary, spoken word podcast into a hit TV show
Why the author leans on planning and outlining
Aaron’s reliance on the cloud to sync all of his script editing and weekly tasks
Why professional writers can’t wait for inspiration
And more great advice for keeping the ink flowing

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TheWorldofLore.com
Subscribe to Lore on Apple Podcasts
Aaron Mahnke’s author page at Amazon
The World of Lore: Monstrous Creatures – Aaron Mahnke
Pints Pub has the largest selection of single-malt Scotch in Denver
Aaron Mahnke on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How the Creator of the ‘Lore’ Podcast (and TV Show) Aaron Mahnke Writes: Part One

13 februari 2018 | 25 min

The award-winning creator, producer, and host of the megahit Lore podcast, TV show, and book series, Aaron Mahnke, joined me this week to share how he created his scary storytelling universe from scratch, his writing regimen for success, and advice to fellow scribes.

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In less than three years the writer and former graphic designer grew his humble “true life scary story” podcast, Lore, from a small email list and an effort to market his self-published novels, into a critically acclaimed show with more than 100 million downloads.

The podcast won Apple Podcasts’ Best of 2015 & 2016, and picked up a “Best History Podcast 2016” from the Academy of Podcasters. Lore was also recently turned into an Amazon TV series by producers of The Walking Dead and The X-Files (with Aaron as a co-exec. producer), as well as a live tour, and a book series from Penguin Random House.

The World of Lore: Monstrous Creatures is the first in a three-book series from the author. The books include both old and new tales from the world of Lore, with their signature blend of history and the macabre, to plumb the depths of our collective nightmares.

Entertainment Weekly noted that Mahnke “… dives deep into the world of folklore and the darker side of history in a quest to root out the fragment of truth at the bottom of our fears.”

The author has been featured in the Huffington Post, The Guardian, Esquire, The Atlantic, USA Today, and others.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

In Part One of this file Aaron Mahnke and I discuss:

The writer’s ten year journey (including the lows) to award-winning podcast producer
How an indie novelist turned a crazy idea into a scary storytelling universe
Why you need to get out of your writer’s bubble
The meticulous research and writing regimen that goes into The World of Lore

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TheWorldofLore.com
Subscribe to Lore on Apple Podcasts
Aaron Mahnke’s author page at Amazon
The World of Lore: Monstrous Creatures – Aaron Mahnke
Aaron Mahnke on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How New York Times Bestselling Author of ‘The Bookseller’ Cynthia Swanson Writes

6 februari 2018 | 42 min

The award-winning literary suspense novelist and New York Times bestselling author of The Bookseller, Cynthia Swanson, took a break before her upcoming book tour to chat with me about her new thriller, The Glass Forest, the writer-slash-designer s process and unique relationship with creativity, and how she finds her ideas.

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The bestselling author started out as a freelance marketing and technical writer before her debut novel, The Bookseller, became an Indie Next pick and winner of the 2016 WILLA Award for Historical Fiction. The book has been translated into over a dozen languages and was optioned for a film adaptation with Julia Roberts attached to star and produce.

Cynthia’s latest psychological thriller The Glass Forest, has been described as “… a gripping literary suspense novel set in the 1960s about a deeply troubled family and three women who will reveal its dark truths.”

The Library Journal said of the book, “… Swanson demonstrates her signature trait: a consistent, superbly executed sense of knife-edge disquiet…” and Publisher’s Weekly called it an “… intoxicating slow burn [that] builds to a conclusion rife with shocking reveals.”

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

In this file Cynthia Swanson and I discuss:

How she targeted the time periods for her historical novels
Why you shouldn’t research while you write
How a professional novelist migrated to Scrivener
Why you need to intentionally goof around to beat procrastination
Great quotes for defeating self-doubt
Why you need to find your own writer’s community

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CynthiaSwansonAuthor.com
The Glass Forest: A Novel – Cynthia Swanson
The Bookseller: A Novel – Cynthia Swanson
Cynthia Swanson, Author – Facebook Page
Julia Roberts to Star in Adaptation of Cynthia Swanson s The Bookseller – Variety
Cynthia Swanson on Instagram
Cynthia Swanson on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How New York Times Bestselling Author Daniel Pink Writes

9 januari 2018 | 31 min

The multiple New York Times bestselling author of A Whole New Mind, Drive, and To Sell is Human, Daniel Pink, dropped by the show back in 2015 to chat with me about his experience as a TV producer, his take on writer’s block, and productivity & creativity hacks for non-fiction writers.

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This is a replay of the interview I did with Dan in honor of the publication of his latest book — When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing — a book that aims to unlock “… the scientific secrets to good timing to help you flourish at work, at school, and at home.”

The behavior expert’s sixth book is being hailed by many as one of the must-read business and leadership books of 2018, and The Wall Street Journal wrote, “Daniel H. Pink s deeply researched but never boring study could be a turning point.”

Mr. Pink has also written for The New York Times, Harvard Business Review, The Sunday Telegraph, Fast Company, and Wired, to name only a few.

In addition to having one of the most viewed TED talks of all time — “The puzzle of motivation” — Dan also hosted and co-executive produced the TV series “Crowd Control” for the National Geographic Channel.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

In this file Daniel Pink and I discuss:

Why you should never check email before you write
The effectiveness of word count quotas
Why the adage “butt-in-chair” really works
How to structure your writing schedule to beat “Resistance”
The author’s exhaustive reading recommendations
His fantasy Chipotle table guests
Why you need to get over yourself and just get to work
And if you want to hear Dan talking more in depth about his newest book, check out the Unemployable podcast interview he did with Brian Clark titled “The Power of Perfect Timing,” (available after Jan. 10th, 2018 at unemployable.fm)

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When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing – Daniel H. Pink
DanPink.com
Dan Pink’s TED talk: “The puzzle of motivation”
Crowd Control on National Geographic Channel
Daniel Pink on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How Award-Winning Cartoonist & Bestselling Author Zach Weinersmith Writes: Part Two

19 december 2017 | 30 min

In Part Two of this file, the celebrated cartoonist, writer, and co-author of the instant New York Times bestselling non-fiction book Soonish: Ten Emerging Technologies That’ll Improve and/or Ruin Everything, Zach Weinersmith, took a break to rap with me about writing a research-intensive book with his wife, the difference between nerds and geeks, and how he draws inspiration for his many creative projects.

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Zach is best known for his popular web-comic Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal (SMBC), a “geek comic” with a vast following. His comics have been featured in The Economist, Glamour, BoingBoing, The Washington Post, Freakonomics, and many more.

His wife is noted research scientist, Kelly Weinersmith (who was also guest on this show), a top 20 podcast host, and co-author of their bestselling book Soonish: Ten Emerging Technologies That’ll Improve and/or Ruin Everything, a book recently named a Wall Street Journal Best Science Book of the Year.

The book is described as, … a hilariously illustrated investigation into future technologies — from how to fling a ship into deep space on the cheap to 3D organ printing,” and seemed like a natural progression for the couple and the comedic rapport they display on their own podcast,”The Weekly Weinersmith.”

The Cofounder of Reddit said of the book, “Soonish will make you laugh and — without you even realizing it — give you insight into the most ambitious technological feats of our time,” and NPR said, “The Weinersmiths … lay out, clearly and with a wry sense of humor, exactly what it might take to get us there.”

Zach also recently published a tongue-in-cheek sequel to Soonish titled Science: Abridged Beyond the Point of Usefulness, a pocket-sized book that “… neatly summarizes every major field of science … for your favorite science nerd.”

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

If you missed the first half you can find it right here.

In Part Two of this file Zach Weinersmith and I discuss:

How to think about writer’s block differently
The author’s love/need for writing in the cloud
How Zach picks his creative projects and why he can’t unwind at night
Why the secret to creativity boils down to input and editing
The virtues of writing prose in comparison to writing for the screen
Where J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis found their inspiration for fantasy
How to answer the question, “Should I be a writer?”

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Soonish: Ten Emerging Technologies That’ll Improve and/or Ruin Everything – Kelly and Zach Weinersmith
Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal – Zach’s web comic
Science: Abridged Beyond the Point of Usefulness – Zach Weinersmith
Zach Weinersmith on Goodreads
“Custom-Printed Cocktails On The Moon? ‘Soonish’ Shows Us How – NPR review
How Noted Scientist & Bestselling Author of Soonish Dr. Kelly Weinersmith Writes
Zach Weinersmith on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How Award-Winning Cartoonist & Bestselling Author Zach Weinersmith Writes: Part One

12 december 2017 | 27 min

Celebrated cartoonist, writer, and co-author of the instant New York Times bestselling non-fiction book Soonish: Ten Emerging Technologies That’ll Improve and/or Ruin Everything, Zach Weinersmith, took a break to rap with me about writing a research-intensive book with his wife, the difference between nerds and geeks, and how he draws inspiration for his many creative projects.

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Zach is best known for his popular web-comic Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal (SMBC), a “geek comic” with a vast following. His comics have been featured in The Economist, Glamour, BoingBoing, The Washington Post, Freakonomics, and many more.

His wife is noted research scientist, Kelly Weinersmith (who was also guest on this show), a top 20 podcast host, and co-author of their bestselling book Soonish: Ten Emerging Technologies That’ll Improve and/or Ruin Everything, a book recently named a Wall Street Journal Best Science Book of the Year.

The book is described as, … a hilariously illustrated investigation into future technologies — from how to fling a ship into deep space on the cheap to 3D organ printing,” and seemed like a natural progression for the couple and the comedic rapport they display on their own podcast,”The Weekly Weinersmith.”

The Cofounder of Reddit said of the book, “Soonish will make you laugh and — without you even realizing it — give you insight into the most ambitious technological feats of our time,” and NPR said, “The Weinersmiths … lay out, clearly and with a wry sense of humor, exactly what it might take to get us there.”

Zach also recently published a tongue-in-cheek sequel to Soonish titled Science: Abridged Beyond the Point of Usefulness, a pocket-sized book that “… neatly summarizes every major field of science … for your favorite science nerd.”

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

In Part One of this file Zach Weinersmith and I discuss:

How to intertwine science and comedy in your writing to great effect
The author’s love of aphorisms and The Devil’s Dictionary
Why converted basement offices have their downsides
How the audience he built around his popular web-comic helped make for a bestselling book
The complications and joys of being highly creative with kids
How to write and draw a comic every day

Listen to The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience below ...

Download MP3 Subscribe by RSS Subscribe in iTunes The Show Notes

If you’re ready to see for yourself why over 201,344 website owners trust StudioPress — the industry standard for premium WordPress themes and plugins — just go to StudioPress.com
Copyblogger s Certified Content Marketer training is a powerful program that helps writers attract better clients — and more of them. New students will be able to sign up for a limited time soon. Add your name to join the waitlist and to get all of the details when they re available.
Soonish: Ten Emerging Technologies That’ll Improve and/or Ruin Everything – Kelly and Zach Weinersmith
Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal – Zach’s web comic
Science: Abridged Beyond the Point of Usefulness – Zach Weinersmith
Zach Weinersmith on Goodreads
“Custom-Printed Cocktails On The Moon? ‘Soonish’ Shows Us How – NPR review
How Noted Scientist & Bestselling Author of Soonish Dr. Kelly Weinersmith Writes
Zach Weinersmith on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How to Crack the ‘Bestseller Code’ with Jodie Archer & Matt Jockers: Part Two

28 november 2017 | 32 min

In the cliffhanger conclusion to my chat with author and publishing consultant, Jodie Archer, we are joined this week by Dr. Matthew Jockers, English Professor & Dean at the University of Nebraska, and co-author of the internationally acclaimed book The Bestseller Code: Anatomy of the Blockbuster Novel. We’ll talk about Matt’s game-changing research at the heart of the book, the two authors’ new consulting service for writers based on the algorithm they developed at Stanford, and the author report from my beta test of the service.

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For 11 years Matt was a Lecturer and “embedded” Academic Technology Specialist (ATS) in the Department of English at Stanford University. There he co-founded and directed the paradigm-shifting Stanford Literary Lab with Franco Moretti.

In 2014 Matt also worked as a Principal Research Scientist for iBooks at Apple. His work on the bleeding edge of text-mining and digital humanities established him as an expert at the crossroads of technology and fiction.

His work helped lead to the award-winning algorithm behind The Bestseller Code, honed over four years text-mining 20,000 contemporary novels, using around 300,000 data points, and able to predict bestsellers 80% of the time.

Matt and Jodie were hounded by writers from all over the world for help with their manuscripts. On the heels of their international success and winning the NUtech Ventures 2017 Breakthrough Innovation of the Year award, Jodie and Matt have founded a unique book consultancy for authors, publishers, and agents, based on the algorithm in The Bestseller Code.

Beginning December 1st, 2017, ArcherJockers.com will offer three tiers of service to authors: single manuscript analysis, series analysis, and a VIP service.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

In Part Two of this file Jodie Archer, Matt Jockers, and I discuss:

How Matt found the intersection of words and computing at the dawn of the Internet
Why Archer & Jockers became a personalized service for authors and not just another app
Who should (and shouldn’t) send their manuscripts to the service
What exactly the “bestseller-ometer” measures when it looks at your book
The benefits of distant reading vs. close reading for fiction
How to perfect your own manuscript before submission to the service

Listen to The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience below ...

Download MP3 Subscribe by RSS Subscribe in iTunes The Show Notes

If you’re ready to see for yourself why over 201,344 website owners trust StudioPress — the industry standard for premium WordPress themes and plugins — just go to StudioPress.com
Copyblogger s Certified Content Marketer training is a powerful program that helps writers attract better clients — and more of them. New students will be able to sign up for a limited time soon. Add your name to join the waitlist and to get all of the details when they re available.
ArcherJockers.com Manuscript Consulting Services
How to Crack the ‘Bestseller Code’ with Jodie Archer: Part One
MatthewJockers.net
JodieArcher.com
The Bestseller Code: Anatomy of the Blockbuster Novel – Jodie Archer & Matt Jockers
Breakthrough Innovation of the Year – The Bestseller Code
Jodie Archer on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How to Crack the ‘Bestseller Code’ with Jodie Archer: Part One

23 november 2017 | 45 min

Writer, literary scholar, publishing consultant, and co-author of the internationally acclaimed book The Bestseller Code, Jodie Archer, returns one year later to chat with me about the book’s runaway success, turning the algorithm into an innovative consulting service for writers, her own writer’s journey, and one very unexpected turn for the host of this show.

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Before getting her PhD from Stanford, Ms. Archer studied English at Cambridge, worked in journalism and TV, and was an acquisitions editor for Penguin UK publishing.

At Stanford Jodie taught writing and researched both contemporary fiction and bestsellers. Upon completion of her doctoral work she was recruited by Apple where she was the lead in research on books.

The Bestseller Code is based on Jodie’s doctoral research with professor Matthew Jockers (co-founder of the cutting edge Stanford Literary Lab), an algorithm they honed for four years and refined by text mining over 20,000 contemporary novels using around 300,000 data points.

The Guardian predicted that the book would “… revolutionize the publishing industry,” because the technology could predict bestsellers 80% of the time, based on theme, plot, character, and many other signatures.

The authors were, of course, hounded by writers from all over the world for help with their manuscripts. And finally — following their breakthrough research — Jodie and Matt have founded a unique book consulting service for authors, publishers, and agents, based on the algorithm in The Bestseller Code.

Beginning December 1st, 2017, ArcherJockers.com will offer three tiers of service to authors: single manuscript analysis, series analysis, and VIP service. [This interview was recorded in anticipation of that date in mid-October.]

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

In Part One of this file Jodie Archer and I discuss:

How writers from around the world convinced the authors to do consulting services
The innovation behind the anticipated Archer Jockers’ service for novelists
How to find your bestselling moment with integrity
The power of “good” press, great agents, and selling the international rights to your book
Jodie’s own multi-genre writing projects
How yours truly took a leap of faith and became a beta tester for the service (cliffhanger pending)

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If you’re ready to see for yourself why over 201,344 website owners trust StudioPress — the industry standard for premium WordPress themes and plugins — just go to StudioPress.com
Copyblogger s Certified Content Marketer training is a powerful program that helps writers attract better clients — and more of them. New students will be able to sign up for a limited time soon. Add your name to join the waitlist and to get all of the details when they re available.
How to Crack the ‘Bestseller Code’ with Jodie Archer & Matt Jockers: Part Two
How the Author of The Bestseller Code Jodie Archer Writes: Part One
JodieArcher.com
The Bestseller Code: Anatomy of the Blockbuster Novel – Jodie Archer & Matt Jockers
ArcherJockers.com Manuscript Consulting Services
How ‘Sweetbitter’ Author Stephanie Danler Writes: Part One
Jodie Archer on Good Reads
Jodie Archer on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How the Bestselling Sci-Fi Author of ‘The Martian’ Andy Weir Writes

14 november 2017 | 48 min

The #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Martian, Andy Weir, dropped by the show in 2015 to chat with me about his writing process in the days just prior to the release of the Oscar Nominated movie adaptation of his hit book, directed by Ridley Scott and starring Matt Damon.

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This is a replay of the entire interview I did with Andy in honor of the publication of his latest book — Artemis: A Novel — described as “… a near-future thriller — a heist story set on the moon.”

Blake Crouch, the New York Times bestselling author of Dark Matter, said of the book “Weir has done the impossible he s topped The Martian …,” and Ernest Cline, New York Times bestselling author of Ready Player One, called it “Everything you could hope for in a follow-up … another smart, fun, fast-paced adventure that you won t be able to put down.”

The author’s inspiring journey to #1 on the NY Times Best Sellers list with his first novel began as a humble series of blog posts that grew enough interest to demand self-publishing to Amazon. When The Martian’s popularity sky-rocketed, traditional publisher Random House called, and the rest is history.

From software engineer to sci-fi phenom, Andy is a down-to-earth writer and self-described “space nerd,” who still answers all of his fan mail.

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In this file Andy Weir and I discuss:

How a science geek became a bestselling author
One great trick for improving your dialogue
Why your enthusiasm doesn’t determine the quality of your writing
The creative power of a walk and a hot shower
Mr. Weir’s unique relationship with NASA
3 tips and tricks to becoming an “actual” writer

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Copyblogger s Certified Content Marketer training is a powerful program that helps writers attract better clients — and more of them. New students will be able to sign up for a limited time soon. Add your name to join the waitlist and to get all of the details when they re available.
andyweirauthor.com
Artemis: A Novel – Andy Weir
The Martian: A Novel – Andy Weir
How Bestselling Sci-fi Thriller Author Blake Crouch Writes: Part One
Notes from Hugh Howey’s Editor
“The surprising story of how Andy Weir’s self-published book ‘The Martian’ topped best seller lists and got a movie deal”
Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void by Mary Roach
Andy Weir on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How Noted Scientist & Bestselling Author of ‘Soonish’ Dr. Kelly Weinersmith Writes

7 november 2017 | 44 min

The noted research scientist, top 20 podcast host, and co-author of the instant New York Times bestselling book Soonish: Ten Emerging Technologies That’ll Improve and/or Ruin Everything, Dr. Kelly Weinersmith, took a timeout from her book tour to talk with me about the importance of good writing in the sciences, what it’s like to write a book with your husband, and finding time to be a writer and a mom.

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Kelly is an adjunct faculty member in the Biosciences department at Rice University, as well as the co-host of two podcasts for the Brachiolope Media Network.

She co-hosts a top 20 natural sciences podcast, “Science … sort of,” as well as “The Weekly Weinersmith,” a podcast she produces with her husband, celebrated cartoonist Zach Weinersmith (creator of the web comic Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal) where the two discuss papers and interview scientists.

The natural progression for the couple was their New York Times bestseller Soonish: Ten Emerging Technologies That’ll Improve and/or Ruin Everything, described as a “… snapshot of what’s coming next — from robot swarms to nuclear fusion powered-toasters.”

The Cofounder of Reddit said of the book, “Soonish will make you laugh and — without you even realizing it — give you insight into the most ambitious technological feats of our time,” and NPR said, “The Weinersmiths … lay out, clearly and with a wry sense of humor, exactly what it might take to get us there.”

Kelly was a speaker at Smithsonian magazine s The Future Is Here Festival in 2015, and her work has been featured in The Atlantic, National Geographic, BBC World, Science, and Nature.

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In this file Kelly Weinersmith and I discuss:

What it’s like to take a one-year-old on a nerdy book tour
Her circuitous path to New York Times bestselling author
How the author schedules research, writing, and interviews into her busy life
The organizational tools that helped her stay on track
How her natural comedic rapport with her husband bled into her writing
Why sci-fi writers should read Soonish
How to condition yourself to take criticism online

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Soonish: Ten Emerging Technologies That’ll Improve and/or Ruin Everything – Kelly and Zach Weinersmith
Weinersmith.com – Kelly’s website
“Science … sort” podcast –
Produced by Brachiolope Media Network
“The Weekly Weinersmith” podcast
Soonish AR app
Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal – Zach’s web comic
How Andy Weir (Bestselling Author of The Martian ) Writes: Part One
Kelly Weinersmith on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How WNYC Podcast Host and Author of ‘Bored and Brilliant’ Manoush Zomorodi Writes

31 oktober 2017 | 50 min

Award-winning podcast host, managing editor of WNYC Studios’ “Note to Self,” and author of Bored and Brilliant: How Spacing Out Can Unlock Your Most Productive and Creative Self, Manoush Zomorodi, took a break from her hectic schedule to rap with me about her claim to fame as a podcaster, the neuroscience of boredom, and how to recharge your creative batteries.

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Manoush is a former globetrotting journalist and producer for both BBC and Reuters. She has won four New York Press Club awards for her work with New York Public Radio and was named 2017 s Best Tech Podcast by the Academy of Podcasters.

Her podcast is described as a tech show that “…searches for answers to life s digital quandaries through experiments and conversations with listeners and experts.”

Her first book, Bored and Brilliant: How Spacing Out Can Unlock Your Most Productive and Creative Self, is grounded in both neuroscience and cognitive psychology and based on a groundbreaking experiment she conducted with thousands of her podcast listeners to “…help them unplug from their devices, get bored, [and] jump-start their creativity…”

In addition to her popular TED talk “How boredom can lead to your most brilliant ideas,” she has appeared on NBC Nightly News, MSNBC, WNBC, and The Dr. Oz Show and contributes to NPR, Quartz, Inc., and Radiolab.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

In this file Manoush Zomorodi and I discuss:

The miracle of technology and its inherent ills
Why our favorite algorithms are programmed to distract us
How the author enlisted thousands of podcast listeners for her one-of-a-kind experiment
Why you need to change your digital habits to be more creative
Why first drafts suck and the power of deadlines
A refreshing definition of creativity
Why you should beware of technology that claims to solve your problems with more technology

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Bored and Brilliant: How Spacing Out Can Unlock Your Most Productive and Creative Self – Manoush Zomorodi
ManoushZ.com
Note to Self podcast –
Produced by WNYC Studios
TED talk: “How boredom can lead to your most brilliant ideas” – Manoush Zomorodi
A Georgetown professor says the mindset that led us all to embrace Facebook could ultimately stall your career
How Einstein Thought: Why “Combinatory Play” Is the Secret of Genius – Maria Popova
Manoush Zomorodi on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How Essayist & Author of Debut Novel ‘The Floating World’ C. Morgan Babst Writes

24 oktober 2017 | 40 min

Acclaimed essayist, short fiction writer, and author of the debut novel The Floating World, C. Morgan Babst, took a few minutes to rap with me about the wrath of hurricanes, writing a love letter to the city of New Orleans, and her secrets to staying organized and productive.

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Morgan is a New Orleans native who started her journey at NOCCA (New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts), before studying writing at both Yale, and NYU. Her essays and short fiction have appeared in The Oxford American, Guernica, the Harvard Review, the New Orleans Review, among others.

An essay she wrote on New Orleans funeral culture (“Death Is a Way to Be,” Guernica, June 15, 2015) was named a Notable Essay in Best American Essays 2016.

Her ambitious and haunting first novel, The Floating World, was chosen as an Amazon Editor s Pick for Best Books of October 2017, and was called a “… beautiful, relentless portrait of the devastation [Hurricane Katrina] inflicted on a city, and a family…”.

In a Kirkus starred review, the book was called a “Deeply felt and beautifully written; a major addition to the literature of Katrina.”

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In this file C. Morgan Babst and I discuss:

Her background in the arts and the long road to publishing her first novel
Why a novel 12 years in the making is so relevant today
How credit card bills can boost your productivity
Why you need to turn off “creativity” while you’re writing
How to keep track of your best ideas
Why you need to get into a “Lynchian” state of mind as you write

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The Floating World: A Novel – C. Morgan Babst
CMorganBabst.com
A New Orleans family is shattered and scattered by Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath – Kirkus Review of The Floating World
Book Notes [and Spotify playlist] – C. Morgan Babst “The Floating World” – largeheartedboy.com
C. Morgan Babst on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How New York Times Bestselling Author & Mortician Caitlin Doughty Writes

17 oktober 2017 | 40 min

Alternative mortician, YouTube personality, and New York Times bestselling nonfiction author of From Here to Eternity: Traveling the World to Find the Good Death, Caitlin Doughty, rang me up this week to chat about changing the West’s relationship to death, the challenges of running a non-profit funeral home, and how to write a bestselling book in your spare time.

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Caitlin is the creator of “Ask a Mortician,” a web series that boasts over 300,000 subscribers, and the founder of The Order of the Good Death, a nonprofit that advocates for death acceptance and an alternative to Western funeral industry practices.

Her first bestselling book and memoir, Smoke Gets in Your Eyes: and Other Lessons from the Crematory, chronicled her experiences as a young woman working in a crematorium.

Her latest, From Here to Eternity, resumes her exploration of the field to explore “… how other cultures care for the dead,” and “… is an immersive global journey that introduces compelling, powerful rituals almost entirely unknown in America.”

Her mission to reform the death industry has led to features on NPR, BBC, The New Yorker, Vice, The Atlantic, the New York Times, and many others.

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In this file Caitlin Doughty and I discuss:

Her strong voice for change and how that got her an agent
How a full-time mortician finds time to write bestselling books
The sense of doubt that all writers face
How her greater mission overtook her fear of writing
Why writers need to be less precious about their work
The Muse of Death
Why you need to Tweet an inspirational writing quote to Caitlin @TheGoodDeath – #TheWriterFiles – after you listen to this show

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From Here to Eternity: Traveling the World to Find the Good Death – Caitlin Doughty
CaitlinDoughty.com
Ask A Mortician on YouTube
Caitlin Doughty on Instagram
The Order of the Good Death
Undertaking LA (is not your typical funeral home)
There Are Better Ways to Mourn – Caitlin Doughty for Time
Caitlin Doughty on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How Content Marketing Pioneer & Serial Entrepreneur Brian Clark Writes: Part Two

3 oktober 2017 | 43 min

How Content Marketing Pioneer & Serial Entrepreneur Brian Clark Writes: Part One

27 september 2017 | 34 min

The self-confessed serial entrepreneur, founder of Copyblogger, and CEO of Rainmaker Digital, Brian Clark, stopped by this week to rap with me about his hero’s journey to success, the evolution of blogging and content marketing, and his culpability for the existence of this podcast.

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The inaugural guest of The Writer Files is a content marketing trail blazer who launched his one-man blog, Copyblogger.com, in 2006. With a modest investment, no audience, and no connections, he slowly and steadily built it into a vital 8-figure business, and one of “… the most popular [and influential] content marketing and writing blog[s]…” for online writers.

He is considered a top marketing influencer on writing, a “Top 10 Online Marketing Expert,” and one of the “100 Most Influential Online Marketers.” Brian has been featured in over 20 books including Linchpin by Seth Godin, and Free Agent Nation by Daniel Pink.

He is now the CEO of Rainmaker Digital, the digital commerce flagship behind Copyblogger, StudioPress, and Rainmaker Digital Services to name only a few. Brian is also the curator of the personal development newsletter Further, and Unemployable, a podcast and resource for freelancers, consultants, coaches, and like-minded entrepreneurs.

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In Part One of this file Brian Clark and I discuss:

How a reformed lawyer became an influential blogger
The importance of compelling storytelling to successful online content
The moment Brian realized he was an entrepreneur who could write and not a traditional writer
How a near death experience led to an enlightening career change
The birth of content marketing
How Brian helped grow an online empire without any outside investments or advertising

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Copyblogger.com – Build Your Online Authority with Powerfully Effective Content Marketing
Brian Clark’s Author Page at Copyblogger
Further – Achieve Your Goals and Live Your Best Life
Unemployable – The Solution to Information Overload for Small Business Owners
Here s How Brian Clark Writes
Here s How Seth Godin Writes
How Bestselling Author Daniel Pink Writes
Brian Clark on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How Data Journalist & Author of ‘Nabokov’s Favorite Word is Mauve’ Ben Blatt Writes: Part Two

19 september 2017 | 28 min

How Data Journalist & Author of ‘Nabokov’s Favorite Word is Mauve’ Ben Blatt Writes: Part One

12 september 2017 | 27 min

More International ‘Writer Porn’ with Journalist Adam Skolnick

29 augusti 2017 | 58 min

Award-winning journalist, author, and serial guest, Adam Skolnick, is back on the show as our international correspondent to catch us up on the globetrotting life of a travel writer, his journey to self-publishing, and more writer porn.

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Adam s first narrative nonfiction book is now available in paperback One Breath: Freediving, Death, and the Quest to Shatter Human Limits and is based on his award-winning New York Times sports coverage of the death of the greatest American freediver of all time.

The book has been compared to other classics of extreme sports journalism like Jon Krakauer s Into Thin Air, and National Geographic Traveller called it, “A vicarious thrill that you can enjoy in a little over 300 pages and unless you read it in the bath … ”

Adam has visited 45 countries and authored or coauthored over 30 Lonely Planet guidebooks, and has written for publications as varied as ESPN.com, Men s Health, Outside, BBC, Playboy Magazine, The New York Times, and appeared on NPR.

His latest collection of 81 verses of poetry and prose– Indolirium — takes its inspiration from Jack Kerouac’s Mexico City Blues, and is “… an insomnia-addled journey through the cities, villages and way out wilds of Indonesia …” based on what the author thought “… would be a painless three month assignment in a country he knew well, only to find his marriage and life threatened and his mind unravel as he groped for light in the darkness.”

In this file Adam Skolnick and I discuss:

Investigating Elon Musk’s latest technology
How a travel journalist reinvigorated his faith in the “American Dream”
Making a living as an international content writer … in Mongolia
How to carve out a “Man-vs-Water” beat at the New York Times
The Olympic swimmers who organize in political protest
Why an award-winning journalist chose to self-publish his personal insomniac poetry
Modern poetics and the path to literary social media success
The purpose of poetry in the age of the internet

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Adam Skolnick’s Amazon Author Page
Indolirium – Adam Skolnick
AdamSkolnick.com
High Speed American Dreams – Adam Skolnick
Adam Skolnick on Instagram
April Wong on Instagram
One Breath – Adam Skolnick
In a Swimmer s Two-Year Quest, a Final 21-Mile Challenge – Adam Skolnick for NYTimes
Web Poets Society: New Breed Succeeds in Taking Verse Viral
Donald Trump, the First President of Our Post-Literate Age
A Neuroscientist s Perspective on Fake News, with Michael Grybko
Adam Skolnick on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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Busting the Myth of the Starving Artist with Jeff Goins: Part Two

25 juli 2017 | 30 min

Busting the Myth of the Starving Artist with Jeff Goins: Part One

18 juli 2017 | 33 min

The multiple bestselling author of five books, including his latest — Real Artists Don t Starve — Jeff Goins, returned for a special edition of the show to talk with me about “The New Renaissance,” his favorite books on creativity, and busting the commonly held beliefs of artists.

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In addition to being an entrepreneur and speaker, Jeff is a writing and creativity consultant, and his popular blog, Goins, Writer, offers free tips about the writing life.

His podcast, The Portfolio Life, delves into many of the same topics via interviews with entrepreneurs and writers aimed squarely at helping listeners pursue work that matters.

On Jeff’s last visit to the show in 2015, we talked about his bestselling book, The Art of Work, and how to think like a professional writer.

His latest, Real Artists Don’t Starve, “… dismantles the myth that being creative is a hindrance to success …,” and bestselling author Daniel Pink said of the book, “Every entrepreneur, writer, and artist should read this book and take notes.”

Writers, I think you’re going to like this one.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

In Part One of this file Jeff Goins and I discuss:

How the starving artist mindset is a choice not a condition
Why now is the best time in history to do creative work
How John Grisham overcame the odds and 40 rejections to become a bestselling author
Why you don’t need to “go big or go home”
The psychology of rule-breakers and creativity

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Jeff Goins author page on Amazon
Find bonus material for Real Artists Don’t Starve here
How Bestselling Author Jeff Goins Writes: Part One
How Bestselling Author Daniel Pink Writes
How Bestselling Author Austin Kleon Writes: Part One
GoinsWriter.com
The Portfolio Life Podcast with Jeff Goins
Jeff Goins on Medium
Jeff Goins on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How Award-Winning Short Story Writer Abigail Ulman Writes: Part Two

11 juli 2017 | 31 min

In Part Two of this file the recent Wallace Stegner Fellow at Stanford University and acclaimed author of the award-winning short story collection Hot Little Hands, Abigail Ulman, visited the show this week to talk about having a beer with George Saunders, the life of a traveling freelancer, and the idiosyncrasies of great writers.

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In addition to being a freelance copywriter and screenwriter, the native Australian author and self-confessed gypsy has followed in the footsteps of other famous itinerant writers.

At Stanford’s two-year creative writing fellowship she got the chance to study with great writers like Tobias Wolff and Colm Toibin. Other notable fellows — to name a few — have included Raymond Carver, Ken Kesey, Scott Turow, Thomas McGuane, and Larry McMurtry.

Abigail’s short stories invited the interest of publishers, and her first book, Hot Little Hands, went on to win a 2016 Best Young Australian Novelist Award and is a collection of “… heartbreakingly tender and often darkly funny fiction.”

Lena Dunham called it a “… highly inventive collection of short fiction which hits virtually all my buttons,” and Publishers Weekly said of the book, “The captivating women in this collection leave a lasting impression.”

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

If you missed the first half you can find it right here.

In Part Two of this file Abigail Ulman and I discuss:

How she divides her writing day and the rarity of copywriting emergencies
The autobiographical nature of writer’s block
Why you need to be kind to yourself and the power of taking breaks
The neurotic nature of writers
Why the best way to beat anxiety is to eliminate self-doubt

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How Award-Winning Short Story Writer Abigail Ulman Writes: Part One
Hot Little Hands: Fiction – Abigail Ulman
The Agony and the Ecstasy of Girlhood – The Atlantic review
Abigail Ulman on writer’s block
Sydney Writers Festival – Podcast
Sydney Writers Festival
Abigail Ulman on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How Award-Winning Short Story Writer Abigail Ulman Writes: Part One

3 juli 2017 | 30 min

The recent Wallace Stegner Fellow at Stanford University and acclaimed author of the award-winning short story collection Hot Little Hands, Abigail Ulman, visited the show this week to talk about having a beer with George Saunders, the life of a traveling freelancer, and the idiosyncrasies of great writers.

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In addition to being a freelance copywriter and screenwriter, the native Australian author and self-confessed gypsy has followed in the footsteps of other famous itinerant writers.

At Stanford’s two-year creative writing fellowship she got the chance to study with great writers like Tobias Wolff and Colm Toibin. Other notable fellows — to name a few — have included Raymond Carver, Ken Kesey, Scott Turow, Thomas McGuane, and Larry McMurtry.

Abigail’s short stories invited the interest of publishers, and her first book, Hot Little Hands, went on to win a 2016 Best Young Australian Novelist Award and is a collection of “… heartbreakingly tender and often darkly funny fiction.”

Lena Dunham called it a “… highly inventive collection of short fiction which hits virtually all my buttons,” and Publishers Weekly said of the book, “The captivating women in this collection leave a lasting impression.”

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

In Part One of this file Abigail Ulman and I discuss:

How a love of travel and words led her to Stanford University
The emotional challenges she faced finishing her first book
On the shift from the solitude of writing fiction to the collaborative nature of screenwriting
How she tested out her interview skills on the biggest stage available
Why she nerds out about her coffee ritual

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How Award-Winning Short Story Writer Abigail Ulman Writes: Part Two
Hot Little Hands: Fiction – Abigail Ulman
The Agony and the Ecstasy of Girlhood – The Atlantic review
Abigail Ulman on writer’s block
Sydney Writers’ Festival – Podcast
Sydney Writers’ Festival
Abigail Ulman on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How Merriam-Webster Lexicographer and Author Kory Stamper Writes: Part Two

27 juni 2017 | 27 min

In Part Two of this file the associate editor and lexicographer at Merriam-Webster, and acclaimed author of the book Word by Word: The Secret Life of Dictionaries, Kory Stamper, paid me a visit to talk about being a celebrity word nerd, how she manages her time between the dictionary and her own writing, and the pending “pencil apocalypse.”

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In addition to writing and editing for the oldest dictionary in the U.S., Kory gained notoriety when she appeared in Merriam-Webster’s popular “Ask the Editor” video series, short video blogs that tackle topics of “lexical contempt” like irregardless.

Her non-fiction debut is titled Word by Word: The Secret Life of Dictionaries, and it “… cracks open the complex, obsessive world of lexicography, from the agonizing decisions about what to define and how to do it, to the knotty questions of usage in an ever-changing language.”

Publishers Weekly called it a “… witty, sly, occasionally profane behind-the-scenes tour aimed at deposing the notion of real and proper English.” The New Yorker called it “illuminating,” and “An unlikely page-turner.”

Kory also blogs about language and “defining the words that define us” on her own website, and her writing has appeared in The Guardian and The New York Times, and on Slate.com.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

If you missed the first half you can find it right here.

In Part Two of this file Kory Stamper and I discuss:

The importance of boredom, procrastination, deadlines, and staring into space
Secrets on how lexicographers stays sane
Why you should rethink your definition of creativity
How to counteract the “tyranny of the alphabet”
Her tendency to hoard rare pencils
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How Merriam-Webster Lexicographer and Author Kory Stamper Writes: Part One
Kory’s blog – KoryStamper.wordpress.com
Word by Word: The Secret Life of Dictionaries – Kory Stamper
Merriam-Webster
Merriam-Webster’s “Ask the Editor” video series on YouTube
The Case Against the Grammar Scolds – The Atlantic
Kory Stamper on npr’s Fresh Air
Kory Stamper on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How Merriam-Webster Lexicographer and Author Kory Stamper Writes: Part One

20 juni 2017 | 31 min

The associate editor and lexicographer at Merriam-Webster, and acclaimed author of the book Word by Word: The Secret Life of Dictionaries, Kory Stamper, paid me a visit to talk about being a celebrity word nerd, how she manages her time between the dictionary and her own writing, and the pending “pencil apocalypse.”

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In addition to writing and editing for the oldest dictionary in the U.S., Kory gained notoriety when she appeared in Merriam-Webster’s popular “Ask the Editor” video series, short video blogs that tackle topics of “lexical contempt” like irregardless.

Her non-fiction debut is titled Word by Word: The Secret Life of Dictionaries, and it “… cracks open the complex, obsessive world of lexicography, from the agonizing decisions about what to define and how to do it, to the knotty questions of usage in an ever-changing language.”

Publishers Weekly called it a “… witty, sly, occasionally profane behind-the-scenes tour aimed at deposing the notion of real and proper English.” The New Yorker called it “illuminating,” and “An unlikely page-turner.”

Kory also blogs about language and “defining the words that define us” on her own website, and her writing has appeared in The Guardian and The New York Times, and on Slate.com.

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In Part One of this file Kory Stamper and I discuss:

How a want ad in a print newspaper led to her writing career
The viral video blog that catapulted her into the spotlight
Why your high school English teacher lied to you
How Kory’s book will make you feel better about your frustrations with usage
Why writing a book is also a full-time job

Listen to The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience below ...

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How Merriam-Webster Lexicographer and Author Kory Stamper Writes: Part Two
Kory’s blog – KoryStamper.wordpress.com
Word by Word: The Secret Life of Dictionaries – Kory Stamper
Merriam-Webster
Merriam-Webster’s “Ask the Editor” video series on YouTube
Kory Stamper on npr’s Fresh Air
The Case Against the Grammar Scolds – The Atlantic
Kory Stamper on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How Bestselling Author Ryan Holiday Writes

13 juni 2017 | 47 min

Reformed “media manipulator,” proponent of stoic philosophy, expert marketer, and bestselling writer, Ryan Holiday, has accomplished more in ten years than most will in a lifetime. He spoke with Robert Bruce about how he does it …

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Note: This episode contains a few phrases that some may find explicit.

Ryan Holiday has written six bestselling books on topics as diverse as growth hacker marketing, practical stoicism, and the dark arts of the digital media landscape … and his next book — Perennial Seller — will be published in July.

He ran marketing for American Apparel, one of the most notoriously successful brands in modern times, and now runs a thriving marketing shop of his own.

The list of his accomplishments is a lot longer than that, but I think you get the idea.

Oh, and did I mention he’s just 29 years old?

Enjoy.

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In Part One of this file Ryan Holiday and Robert Bruce discuss:

How Ryan approaches the problem of procrastination
Where he writes his books and essays
How writers can compete against the recorded history of … everything
Media Manipulation in the age of Trump
His next book Perennial Seller, and why the long game is the only game

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Ryan Holiday
Trust Me, I’m Lying
Trust Me, I’m Lying Book Trailer
Growth Hacker Marketing
The Daily Stoic
Perennial Seller
Ryan Holiday on Twitter
Robert Bruce on Twitter

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How Award-Winning Author & Educator K.M. Weiland Writes: Part Two

6 juni 2017 | 29 min

How Award-Winning Author & Educator K.M. Weiland Writes: Part One

30 maj 2017 | 27 min

The multiple award-winning, internationally published author, podcaster, and writing coach, K.M. Weiland, stopped by the show to chat with me about Helping Writers Become Authors, balancing creativity and logic, and beating writer’s block.

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As an award-winning author of acclaimed writing guides including standouts Outlining Your Novel, Structuring Your Novel, and Creating Character Arcs Ms. Weiland uses part of her writing day to help mentor authors via her online writer’s community.

Her website Helping Writers Become Authors has collected many accolades, including Writer’s Digest “Best Websites for Writers” multiple years running, and nurtures a community of scribes dedicated to helping “… show you how to write your best story — change your life — and astound the world.”

In addition to developing an app for writers, her weekly podcast, and steady social media presence, Katie also somehow finds time to write and self-publish both historical and speculative fiction.

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In Part One of this file K.M. Weiland and I discuss:

How sharing her writing journey launched her career as both an author and educator
What writers need to remember about the intersection of business and art
Why if you’re going to be a writer … you have to read
How her routine helps her easily shift gears from fiction to non-fiction
On Conquering Writer’s Block and Summoning Inspiration

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How Award-Winning Author & Educator K.M. Weiland Writes: Part Two
KMWeiland.com
HelpingWritersBecomeAuthors.com
K.M. Weiland on Amazon
Helping Writers Become Authors Podcast
– K.M. Weiland
Outlining Your Novel Workbook Computer Program
Copyblogger.com
K.M. Weiland on Facebook
K.M. Weiland on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How Bestselling Fantasy & Sci-Fi Author Catherynne M. Valente Writes: Part Two

23 maj 2017 | 34 min

In Part Two of this file the prolific, multiple award-winning, New York Times bestselling author, Catherynne M. Valente, took a break at her spooky writer’s island to chat with me about her superhero origin story, earning street cred with readers, and her truly unique process.

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Start getting more from your site today!Since her first novel — The Labyrinth, published in 2004 — the hybrid author has gone on to pen over 24 volumes of both fiction and poetry across multiple genres (including fantasy, sci-fi, young adult, and horror).

In addition to being published and anthologized in dozens of print and online journals, Catherynne has won or been nominated for every major award in her field, including the Hugo Award (for both a novel and a podcast), and been a finalist for both the Nebula and World Fantasy Awards.

She is perhaps best known for her crowdfunded phenomenon The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making — a book launched by a dedicated online fan community that went on to become a NY Times bestseller.

The series — which recently concluded with book five, The Girl Who Raced Fairyland All the Way Home — has been lauded by fellow author Neil Gaiman, and Time magazine called it, “One of the most extraordinary works of fantasy, for adults or children, published so far this century.”

The prolific author continues to find innovative ways to connect with her audience, and she recently launched a Patreon project called “The Mad Fiction Laboratory,” where she offers professional and personalized advice on the business and craft of writing, as well as a sneak peek at her multiple works-in-progress.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

If you missed the first half you can find it right here.

In Part Two of this file Catherynne Valente and I discuss:

Her love of Spotify playlists for writing inspiration
Why the first draft doesn’t have to be perfect
Her organizational hack for Scrivener writers
Why your personal creative outlet is important for your sanity
Where the author keeps her three Oxford English Dictionaries and 24 tarot decks
Why writers need to read everything

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How Bestselling Fantasy & Sci-Fi Author Catherynne M. Valente Writes: Part One
CatherynneMValente.com
Catherynne M. Valente on Amazon
Cat’s Patreon project – “The Mad Fiction Laboratory”
Cat Valente on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How Bestselling Fantasy & Sci-Fi Author Catherynne M. Valente Writes: Part One

16 maj 2017 | 32 min

The prolific, multiple award-winning, New York Times bestselling author, Catherynne M. Valente, took a break at her spooky writer’s island to chat with me about her superhero origin story, earning street cred with readers, and her truly unique process.

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Start getting more from your site today!Since her first novel — The Labyrinth, published in 2004 — the hybrid author has gone on to pen over 24 volumes of both fiction and poetry across multiple genres (including fantasy, sci-fi, young adult, and horror).

In addition to being published and anthologized in dozens of print and online journals, Catherynne has won or been nominated for every major award in her field, including the Hugo Award (for both a novel and a podcast), and been a finalist for both the Nebula and World Fantasy Awards.

She is perhaps best known for her crowdfunded phenomenon The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making — a book launched by a dedicated online fan community that went on to become a NY Times bestseller.

The series — which recently concluded with book five, The Girl Who Raced Fairyland All the Way Home — has been lauded by fellow author Neil Gaiman, and Time magazine called it, “One of the most extraordinary works of fantasy, for adults or children, published so far this century.”

The prolific author continues to find innovative ways to connect with her audience, and she recently launched a Patreon project called “The Mad Fiction Laboratory,” where she offers professional and personalized advice on the business and craft of writing, as well as a sneak peek at her multiple works-in-progress.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

In Part One of this file Catherynne Valente and I discuss:

How to write a novel in three to ten days
The story behind her four-month “circus” book tour and the birth of a viral bestseller
Her love of performance
Previews of her three wildly different upcoming projects
The umbrella cover museum that doubles as her office

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How Bestselling Fantasy & Sci-Fi Author Catherynne M. Valente Writes: Part Two
CatherynneMValente.com
Catherynne M. Valente on Amazon
Cat’s Patreon project – “The Mad Fiction Laboratory”
James Patterson Teaches Writing
Cat Valente on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How Senior BuzzFeed Writer and Author of ‘Startup’ Doree Shafrir Writes: Part Two

9 maj 2017 | 26 min

How Senior BuzzFeed Writer and Author of ‘Startup’ Doree Shafrir Writes: Part One

2 maj 2017 | 29 min

The senior culture writer for Buzzfeed News and author of the debut novel Startup, Doree Shafrir, took a few minutes to talk with me about the early days at Gawker, her highly-anticipated fiction debut, and her tips for getting words onto the page.

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Start getting more from your site today!The veteran online journalist started out at the Philadelphia Weekly before taking a position at Gawker in 2006. She went on to work as an editor and staff writer for Rolling Stone, The New York Observer, and has contributed to publications including The New York Times, The New Yorker, Slate, The Awl, New York Magazine, The Daily Beast, and WIRED.

Her whip-smart debut novel is Startup, a satirical skewering of startup culture in New York City “…that proves there are some dilemmas that no app can solve.”

Vanity Fair’s Nick Bilton, former tech and business columnist for the New York Times, said of the book, “I was hooked from the first page and found myself lost in a beautifully-written fiction that so succinctly echoes today’s bizarre reality.”

Doree also co-hosts a podcast with husband and Nerdist alum, TV writer Matt Mira, titled “Matt and Doree’s Eggcellent Adventure,” described as an “…unintentionally hilarious journey through the world of infertility.”

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files you can find us on Apple Podcasts, and please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews as soon as they’re published.

In Part One of this file Doree Shafrir and I discuss:

The writer’s journey from Gawker content creator to buzzworthy debut novelist
How her user-generated Tumblr got her a book deal
Why she doesn’t own her personal domain name
How to research and create a believable antagonist
The challenges she faced making the shift from journo to fictionist

The Show Notes:

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How Senior BuzzFeed Writer and Author of ‘Startup’ Doree Shafrir Writes: Part Two
Doree-Shafrir.com
Meet Startup Author Doree Shafrir – Tour Dates
Startup: A Novel – Doree Shafrir
www.PostCardsfromYoMomma.com
Doree Shafrir is a culture writer for BuzzFeed
Sex, Lies and Tech: How New Novel Skewers Startup Culture – Rolling Stone
Episode 865: Nerdist Podcast – Doree Shafrir
24 Quotes That Will Inspire You To Write More – Doree Shafrir
Doree Shafrir on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How Hugo Award Winning Sci-Fi Author John Scalzi Writes: Part Two

18 april 2017 | 40 min

The Hugo winner and multiple New York Times bestselling science fiction author, John Scalzi, took a break from his whirlwind new book tour to chat with me about The Collapsing Empire, the timely importance of great storytelling, and what makes a writer truly great.

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Start getting more from your site today!His wildly popular debut novel, Old Man’s War, began as a serialized blog before attracting attention from an agent. Its 2006 publication earned him a Hugo nomination and multiple awards.

Since then he’s written dozens of novels including New York Times bestsellers The Last Colony, Fuzzy Nation, Redshirts (2013’s Hugo winner for Best Novel), and Lock In. His work has been translated into over 20 languages and multiple projects have been optioned for film and TV.

It’s no surprise that the prolific author has been a professional writer since the early ’90s. In addition to his award-winning blog, “Whatever,” John has written: freelance journalism, novellas, short stories, a wide-range of non-fiction, video games, been a Creative Consultant for a hit TV series, and remains a Critic at Large for the LA Times.

In 2015 the author signed a multi-million dollar deal with Tor Books for 13 titles over 10 years, and the first of those is The Collapsing Empire, a bestselling interstellar space opera that’s been described as “Game of Thrones meets Dune.”

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In Part Two of this file John Scalzi and I discuss:

Why this isn’t the worst time in human history … by a long shot
The writer’s unique workflow and technological polyglotism
Creativity as a survival instinct
How luck and persistence can play a part in your success as a writer
Why you really only need to focus on the things you can control

The Show Notes:

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How Hugo Award Winning Sci-Fi Author John Scalzi Writes: Part One
Whatever – John Scalzi’s Hugo Award winning blog
Announcing The Expanding Tour 2017! 24 Cities! Five Weeks!
The Collapsing Empire – John Scalzi
John Scalzi’s author page on Amazon
John Scalzi, Science Fiction Writer, Signs $3.4 Million Deal for 13 Books – New York Times
John Scalzi on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How Hugo Award Winning Sci-Fi Author John Scalzi Writes: Part One

11 april 2017 | 38 min

The Hugo winner and multiple New York Times bestselling science fiction author, John Scalzi, took a break from his whirlwind new book tour to chat with me about The Collapsing Empire, the timely importance of great storytelling, and what makes a writer truly great.

Rainmaker.FM is Brought to You By Discover why more than 80,000 companies in 135 countries choose WP Engine for managed WordPress hosting.

Start getting more from your site today!His wildly popular debut novel, Old Man’s War, began as a serialized blog before attracting attention from an agent. Its 2006 publication earned him a Hugo nomination and multiple awards.

Since then he’s written dozens of novels including New York Times bestsellers The Last Colony, Fuzzy Nation, Redshirts (2013’s Hugo winner for Best Novel), and Lock In. His work has been translated into over 20 languages and multiple projects have been optioned for film and TV.

It’s no surprise that the prolific author has been a professional writer since the early ’90s. In addition to his award-winning blog, “Whatever,” John has written: freelance journalism, novellas, short stories, a wide-range of non-fiction, video games, been a Creative Consultant for a hit TV series, and remains a Critic at Large for the LA Times.

In 2015 the author signed a multi-million dollar deal with Tor Books for 13 titles over 10 years, and the first of those is The Collapsing Empire, a bestselling interstellar space opera that’s been described as “Game of Thrones meets Dune.”

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

In Part One of this file John Scalzi and I discuss:

How publishing is like giving birth
The secret behind most overnight successes
How a prolific sci-fi writer researches ideas
On beating laziness, and the author’s daily ritual
The writer’s greatest challenge

The Show Notes:

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How Hugo Award Winning Sci-Fi Author John Scalzi Writes: Part Two
Whatever – John Scalzi’s Hugo Award winning blog
Announcing The Expanding Tour 2017! 24 Cities! Five Weeks!
The Collapsing Empire – John Scalzi
John Scalzi’s author page on Amazon
John Scalzi, Science Fiction Writer, Signs $3.4 Million Deal for 13 Books – New York Times
John Scalzi on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How Bestselling Author Greg Iles Writes: Part Two

4 april 2017 | 25 min

In Part Two of this file, the hyper-prolific, #1 New York Times bestselling author, Greg Iles, returned to chat with me about the conclusion to his epic trilogy, his unique writing process, and making the move to television.

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Start getting more from your site today!At 16 novels and counting — all but one of which have hit bestsellers lists — Greg has been called the “…William Faulkner for the Breaking Bad generation,” and his books have been adapted for film, translated into over 20 languages, and published in more than 35 countries.

His epic Natchez Burning trilogy clocks in at close to 750,000 words and started out as a single novel that he expanded after a near death experience — a car crash that left him in a coma — which ultimately changed his mind about how he wanted to write it.

His final installment in the series, Mississippi Blood, concludes the story of Southern lawyer Penn Cage, (the protagonist of six of his books including The Quiet Game, Turning Angel, and New York Times #1 bestseller The Devil’s Punchbowl).

Iles’s epic tale of “… love and honor, hatred and revenge … explores how the sins of the past continue to haunt the present,” and Stephen King described the series as “… extraordinarily entertaining and fiendishly suspenseful.”

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If you missed the first half you can find it right here.

In Part Two of this file Greg Iles and I discuss:

The author’s take on writer’s block
A tour of Greg’s “space shuttle” desk setup
The mad science of how the author intertwined multiple narratives and historical flashbacks over three epic novels
Why truly creative people never get bored
Some great writing advice from a truly prolific author

The Show Notes

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GregIles.com
Greg Iles Event Dates
Greg Iles – Author page on Amazon
Greg Iles concludes his spectacular Natchez Burning trilogy – The Washington Post
Greg Iles on Facebook
Greg Iles on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How Bestselling Author Greg Iles Writes: Part One

28 mars 2017 | 23 min

The hyper-prolific, #1 New York Times bestselling author, Greg Iles, took a few minutes to chat with me this week about the conclusion to his epic trilogy, his unique writing process, and making the move to television.

Rainmaker.FM is Brought to You By Discover why more than 80,000 companies in 135 countries choose WP Engine for managed WordPress hosting.

Start getting more from your site today!At 16 novels and counting — all but one of which have hit bestsellers lists — Greg has been called the “…William Faulkner for the Breaking Bad generation,” and his books have been adapted for film, translated into over 20 languages, and published in more than 35 countries.

His epic Natchez Burning trilogy clocks in at close to 750,000 words and started out as a single novel that he expanded after a near death experience — a car crash that left him in a coma — which ultimately changed his mind about how he wanted to write it.

His final installment in the series, Mississippi Blood, concludes the story of Southern lawyer Penn Cage, (the protagonist of six of his books including The Quiet Game, Turning Angel, and New York Times #1 bestseller The Devil’s Punchbowl).

Iles’s epic tale of “… love and honor, hatred and revenge … explores how the sins of the past continue to haunt the present,” and Stephen King described the series as “… extraordinarily entertaining and fiendishly suspenseful.”

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

In Part One of this file Greg Iles and I discuss:

Why the author decided to take a break from rock’n’roll to start writing novels
The importance of finding your unique writing voice
How Greg tries to go as long as possible without writing a word
On the author’s frenetic writing sprints and impressive word counts
Why writers need to not “overthink” the process

The Show Notes

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GregIles.com
Greg Iles Event Dates
Greg Iles – Author page on Amazon
Greg Iles concludes his spectacular Natchez Burning trilogy – The Washington Post
Greg Iles on Facebook
Greg Iles on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How New Yorker Writer and Author of ‘The Rules Do Not Apply’ Ariel Levy Writes

21 mars 2017 | 36 min

The New Yorker staff writer, award-winning journalist, and author of a new memoir The Rules Do Not Apply, Ariel Levy, took a moment out of her hectic schedule to rap with me about the writing life, advice from the impeccable Gay Talese, and turning her personal story into a book.

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Start getting more from your site today!The author was a contributing editor for New York magazine for 12 years before becoming a staff writer at The New Yorker where she has written acclaimed pieces on a wide range of subjects from swimmer Diana Nyad to the hallucinogen ayahuasca.

Ariel’s work has appeared in The Washington Post, Vogue, Slate, Men’s Journal, and many others. She was the editor of The Best American Essays 2015, a collection in which she was also anthologized in 2008.

Her latest, The Rules Do Not Apply, is a book based on her heartbreaking personal story, “Thanksgiving in Mongolia.” After winning the National Magazine Award for Essays and Criticism, she expanded it into a memoir “… about a woman overcoming dramatic loss and finding reinvention.”

Bestselling author David Sedaris said of the book, “Every deep feeling a human is capable of will be shaken loose by this profound book.”

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

In this file Ariel Levy and I discuss:

How an award-winning journalist started out as a gossip columnist
Why it was easy for the author to turn the lens onto her own painful past
How to report a great story for The New Yorker
Analog writer hacks for creating order from chaos
How great writers are like chocolate

The Show Notes

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The Rules Do Not Apply: A Memoir – Ariel Levy
The New Yorker Contributor page – Ariel Levy
ArielLevy.net
A Litany Of Tragedy In ‘The Rules Do Not Apply’ – Ariel Levy on NPR
The Drug of Choice for the Age of Kale – Ariel Levy on ayahuasca
Ariel Levy on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How the Author of ‘The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can’t Stand Positive Thinking’ Oliver Burkeman Writes: Part Two

14 mars 2017 | 26 min

How the Author of ‘The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can’t Stand Positive Thinking’ Oliver Burkeman Writes: Part One

7 mars 2017 | 26 min

How Journalist and Author of ‘The Power of Meaning’ Emily Esfahani Smith Writes: Part Two

28 februari 2017 | 24 min

In the second half of this file, the psychology and culture journalist, editor, and author of the recent book The Power of Meaning, Emily Esfahani Smith, returned to talk to me about the writing life and why our search for meaning is so important right now.

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Start getting more from your site today!Emily has an M.A. in applied positive psychology, and in addition to being a columnist for The New Criterion, Emily’s writing has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Time, The Atlantic, New York Magazine and other publications.

The author is also an editor at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, where she manages “…an initiative to build purpose and community throughout the nation.”

The author’s new book, The Power of Meaning: Crafting a Life That Matters, explores the latest insights in positive psychology as well as thinkers throughout history — from George Eliot, Aristotle, Buddha, and even Louis C.K. — to find answers on why our pursuit of happiness often leaves us unhappy, and how we can lead more meaningful lives.

Bestselling author Daniel Pink said, “The Power of Meaning deftly tells the stories of people, contemporary and historical, who have made the quest for meaning the mission of their lives. This powerful yet elegant book will inspire you to live a life of significance.”

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

If you missed the first half you can find it right here.

In Part Two of this file Emily Esfahani Smith and I discuss:

The power of outlines and how to give yourself permission to write badly
Why novelty helps you connect the dots in new ways
How an old library can inspire new ideas
The uniquely human pursuit of meaning and why we could all use a little more of it right now

The Show Notes

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How Journalist and Author of ‘The Power of Meaning’ Emily Esfahani Smith Writes: Part One
How Journalist and Author of ‘The Power of Meaning’ Emily Esfahani Smith Writes: Part One
EmilyEsfahaniSmith.com
The Power of Meaning: Crafting a Life That Matters – Emily Esfahani Smith
There’s More to Life Than Being Happy – The Atlantic
The Hoover Institution at Stanford University
I’m Your Man: The Life of Leonard Cohen – by Sylvie Simmons
Emily Esfahani Smith on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How Journalist and Author of ‘The Power of Meaning’ Emily Esfahani Smith Writes: Part One

21 februari 2017 | 23 min

The psychology and culture journalist, editor, and author of the recent book The Power of Meaning, Emily Esfahani Smith, stopped by the show this week to talk to me about the writing life and why our search for meaning is so important right now.

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Start getting more from your site today!Emily has an M.A. in applied positive psychology, and in addition to being a columnist for The New Criterion, Emily’s writing has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Time, The Atlantic, New York Magazine and other publications.

The author is also an editor at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, where she manages “…an initiative to build purpose and community throughout the nation.”

The author’s new book, The Power of Meaning: Crafting a Life That Matters, explores the latest insights in positive psychology as well as thinkers throughout history — from George Eliot, Aristotle, Buddha, and even Louis C.K. — to find answers on why our pursuit of happiness often leaves us unhappy, and how we can lead more meaningful lives.

Bestselling author Daniel Pink said, “The Power of Meaning deftly tells the stories of people, contemporary and historical, who have made the quest for meaning the mission of their lives. This powerful yet elegant book will inspire you to live a life of significance.”

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In Part One of this file Emily Esfahani Smith and I discuss:

Why you can’t let your fear of failure stop you from writing
The extensive research that went into her investigation of an age-old question
How the author discovered the four pillars of meaning

The Show Notes

If you’re ready to see for yourself why over 201,344 website owners trust StudioPress — the industry standard for premium WordPress themes and plugins — just go to StudioPress.com
How Journalist and Author of ‘The Power of Meaning’ Emily Esfahani Smith Writes: Part Two
EmilyEsfahaniSmith.com
The Power of Meaning: Crafting a Life That Matters – Emily Esfahani Smith
There’s More to Life Than Being Happy – The Atlantic
The Hoover Institution at Stanford University
How Bestselling Author Daniel Pink Writes
Emily Esfahani Smith on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How Screenwriter and ‘All Our Wrong Todays’ Author Elan Mastai Writes: Part Two

7 februari 2017 | 35 min

In Part Two of this interview, award-winning screenwriter and author of the debut novel All Our Wrong Todays, Elan Mastai, returned to talk about his fiction debut, the science of time travel, and finding inspiration in dark places.

The writer and producer has written movies for both indie and Hollywood studios, including scripts for Fox, Sony, Warner Brothers, and Paramount.

His most recent film – What If, a comedy starring Daniel Radcliffe, Zoe Kazan, Adam Driver, and Mackenzie Davis – premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2013. Elan won the Canadian Academy Award and the Writers Guild of Canada Award for his script, and the movie played in over 30 countries.

His new novel – All Our Wrong Todays – is a sci-fi tinged, time-travel romance and much buzzed about debut that is rumored to have landed the writer a seven-figure book deal worth north of a million dollars.

The book has been described as “Dark Matter meets Back to the Future,” and even prior to the book’s publication, the film rights were sold to Paramount Pictures.

Andy Weir, bestselling author of The Martian, called it, “A thrilling tale of time travel and alternate timelines with a refreshingly optimistic view of humanity’s future.”

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

If you missed the first half you can find it right here.

In Part Two of this file Elan Mastai and I discuss:

Why you should double check your facts before sending your manuscript to a celebrity
How music can influence your writing style
Why you need to give yourself permission to write badly
The writer as entrepreneur whose one product is the inside of their brain
Why your writing is a like a time machine

The Show Notes

If you’re ready to see for yourself why over 194,000 website owners trust StudioPress — the industry standard for premium WordPress themes and plugins — just go to Rainmaker.FM/StudioPress
How Screenwriter and ‘All Our Wrong Todays’ Author Elan Mastai Writes: Part One
All Our Wrong Todays – Elan Mastai
ElanMastai.com
Quit Social Media. Your Career May Depend on It. – Cal Newport
How Andy Weir (Bestselling Author of ‘The Martian’) Writes: Part One
How Bestselling Author Austin Kleon Writes: Part One
How Wired Magazine’s Senior Maverick Kevin Kelly Writes: Part One
Elan Mastai on IMDb
Elan Mastai on Goodreads
Elan Mastai on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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Behind the Scenes: How ‘The Writer Files’ Is Produced

31 januari 2017 | 66 min

How Screenwriter and ‘All Our Wrong Todays’ Author Elan Mastai Writes: Part One

24 januari 2017 | 35 min

The award-winning screenwriter and author of the debut novel All Our Wrong Todays, Elan Mastai, dropped by the show this week to talk about his fiction debut, the science of time travel, and finding inspiration in dark places.

The writer and producer has written movies for both indie and Hollywood studios, including scripts for Fox, Sony, Warner Brothers, and Paramount.

His most recent film – What If, a comedy starring Daniel Radcliffe, Zoe Kazan, Adam Driver, and Mackenzie Davis – premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2013. Elan won the Canadian Academy Award and the Writers Guild of Canada Award for his script, and the movie played in over 30 countries.

His new novel – All Our Wrong Todays – is a sci-fi tinged, time-travel romance and much buzzed about debut that is rumored to have landed the writer a seven-figure book deal worth north of a million dollars.

The book has been described as “Dark Matter meets Back to the Future,” and even prior to the book’s publication, the film rights were sold to Paramount Pictures.

Andy Weir, bestselling author of The Martian, called it, “A thrilling tale of time travel and alternate timelines with a refreshingly optimistic view of humanity’s future.”

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

In Part One of this file Elan Mastai and I discuss:

His grandfather’s vintage sci-fi collection and how it inspired him
How he launched his screenwriting career by translating Pulp Fiction into a kid’s movie
Why writers need to know their weaknesses
How the busy screenwriter and producer found time to write a novel
The hard science of time travel and storytelling

The Show Notes

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How Screenwriter and ‘All Our Wrong Todays’ Author Elan Mastai Writes: Part Two
All Our Wrong Todays – Elan Mastai
ElanMastai.com
How Andy Weir (Bestselling Author of ‘The Martian’) Writes: Part One
Elan Mastai on IMDb
Elan Mastai on Goodreads
Elan Mastai on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How the Editor of ‘Scratch: Writers, Money, and the Art of Making a Living’ Manjula Martin Writes: Part Two

17 januari 2017 | 25 min

In Part Two of this file the writer and managing editor of Francis Ford Coppola’s award-winning magazine Zoetrope: All-Story, Manjula Martin, returns to the show this week to talk about her new book and “…the realities of making a living in the writing world.”

Manjula is the founder of the website Who Pays Writers?, an invaluable service dedicated to helping freelance writers anonymously share current publication rates and their experiences getting paid.

As managing editor of Zoetrope: All-Story magazine, a title that has won every major story award including the National Magazine Award for Fiction, Ms. Martin sees to the quarterly publication of a stable of prominent contemporary writers and artists.

In her first book, Scratch: Writers, Money, and the Art of Making a Living, the editor has collected interviews and “…essays from today’s most acclaimed authors–from Cheryl Strayed to Roxane Gay to Jennifer Weiner, Alexander Chee, Nick Hornby, and Jonathan Franzen…” on the intersection of writing and commerce.

The New Republic said of the writer, “Manjula Martin has done more than perhaps anyone else to shed light on the financial nitty-gritty of the writing profession.”

Her writing has also appeared in the Virginia Quarterly Review, Pacific Standard, Aeon Magazine, Hazlitt Magazine, The Awl, SF Weekly, The Rumpus, and many others.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

If you missed the first half you can find it right here.

In Part Two of this file Manjula Martin and I discuss:

Productivity, irregular hours, and the 400 hats of a working editor and writer
Why finding your writing flow is so important when you have a day job
One great hack for beating writer’s block
How creativity resists definition
Why writers need to share info about making a living

The Show Notes

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Scratch: Writers, Money, and the Art of Making a Living
ManjulaMartin.com
How Publishing Consultant, Educator, and Author Jane Friedman Writes: Part One
Who Pays Writers?
Zoetrope: All-Story Magazine
How Bestselling Author Austin Kleon Writes: Part One
three cents newsletter by Manjula Martin
Manjula Martin on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How the Editor of ‘Scratch: Writers, Money, and the Art of Making a Living’ Manjula Martin Writes: Part One

9 januari 2017 | 23 min

The writer and managing editor of Francis Ford Coppola’s award-winning magazine Zoetrope: All-Story, Manjula Martin, paid a visit to the show this week to talk about her new book and “…the realities of making a living in the writing world.”

Manjula is the founder of the website Who Pays Writers?, an invaluable service dedicated to helping freelance writers anonymously share current publication rates and their experiences getting paid.

As managing editor of Zoetrope: All-Story magazine, a title that has won every major story award including the National Magazine Award for Fiction, Ms. Martin sees to the quarterly publication of a stable of prominent contemporary writers and artists.

In her first book, Scratch: Writers, Money, and the Art of Making a Living, the editor has collected interviews and “…essays from today’s most acclaimed authors–from Cheryl Strayed to Roxane Gay to Jennifer Weiner, Alexander Chee, Nick Hornby, and Jonathan Franzen…” on the intersection of writing and commerce.

The New Republic said of the writer, “Manjula Martin has done more than perhaps anyone else to shed light on the financial nitty-gritty of the writing profession.”

Her writing has also appeared in the Virginia Quarterly Review, Pacific Standard, Aeon Magazine, Hazlitt Magazine, The Awl, SF Weekly, The Rumpus, and many others.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

In Part One of this file Manjula Martin and I discuss:

Why the school of real life is so valuable to writers
How an unpaid internship led to a dream job
The revenge of analog and print magazines
How a Tumblr became an inspiring collection of stories on the writing life

The Show Notes

If you’re ready to see for yourself why over 194,000 website owners trust StudioPress — the industry standard for premium WordPress themes and plugins — just go to Rainmaker.FM/StudioPress
How the Editor of ‘Scratch: Writers, Money, and the Art of Making a Living’ Manjula Martin Writes: Part Two
Scratch: Writers, Money, and the Art of Making a Living
ManjulaMartin.com
How Publishing Consultant, Educator, and Author Jane Friedman Writes: Part One
Who Pays Writers?
Zoetrope: All-Story Magazine
three cents newsletter by Manjula Martin
Manjula Martin on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How Journalist and Bestselling Author of ‘The Revenge of Analog’ David Sax Writes: Part Two

19 december 2016 | 36 min

The business and culture journalist and bestselling author of the recent book The Revenge of Analog, David Sax, returned to the show to talk about the writing life, the importance of real things in a digital world, and the revenge of paper.

David is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in Bloomberg Businessweek, The New York Times, The New Yorker online, and other publications.

The author’s first book, Save the Deli, was an Los Angeles Times bestseller and won the James Beard Award for Writing and Literature.

His latest, The Revenge of Analog: Real Things and Why They Matter, “… looks at the resurgence of analog goods and ideas, during a time when we assumed digital would conquer all.” It was longlisted for the 2017 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence.

Kevin Kelly, founding editor of Wired magazine and author of The Inevitable, said of the book, “The better digital gets, the more important analog becomes….Sax s reporting is eye-opening and mind-changing.”

NOTE: This is the last episode of the year for us, due to the impending holiday break, but we will return with more great interviews for you in 2017. Thanks for listening!

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

In Part Two of this file David Sax and I discuss:

Why you should work regular hours and the author’s ‘Cinderella Clause’
The significance of unplugging for writers
How to record your audiobook in the same studio as Drake
Why the reward is the work for sustaining your writing

The Show Notes

If you’re ready to see for yourself why over 194,000 website owners trust StudioPress — the industry standard for premium WordPress themes and plugins — just go to Rainmaker.FM/StudioPress
How Journalist and Bestselling Author of ‘The Revenge of Analog’ David Sax Writes: Part One
The Revenge of Analog: Real Things and Why They Matter
David Sax books on Amazon
What Barnes & Noble Doesn t Get About Bookstores – David Sax for The New Yorker
Is the Novel Dead? Part One
David Sax on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How Journalist and Bestselling Author of ‘The Revenge of Analog’ David Sax Writes: Part One

12 december 2016 | 33 min

How the Bestselling Author of ‘The Blue Zones’ Dan Buettner Writes

5 december 2016 | 37 min

The multiple New York Times bestselling author of The Blue Zones books and National Geographic Fellow, Dan Buettner, dropped by the show to talk about his world travels, life-saving longevity research, and some fantastic advice for writers.

The author is an internationally recognized explorer who discovered five places in the world — called Blue Zones — where humans live the longest and healthiest, and his 2005 National Geographic cover story “The Secrets of Living Longer” was a finalist for a National Magazine Award.

Based on his Blue Zones work, Dan founded a company of the same name to share “the world’s best practices in longevity and well-being” and has helped to successfully raise life expectancy in American cities including both Minnesota and Los Angeles.

Mr. Buettner has been featured on Real Time with Bill Maher, CNN, the Late Show with David Letterman, Good Morning America, and the TODAY show to discuss his research.

His TED talk “How to live to be 100+” has been viewed almost 2.9 million times, and he has given more than 500 keynote speeches over the last 10 years.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

In this file Dan Buettner and I discuss:

Wise words from the author’s mentor George Plimpton
Why good stories are the Trojan Horse to winning over readers
How a decade of research and writing became a life-saving blueprint for American cities
The coffee shop effect for productive writing
One great trick for beating writer’s block
Why building your brand is so important for writers

The Show Notes

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How Award-Winning Sports & Travel Writer Adam Skolnick (Author of ‘One Breath’) Writes: Part One
BlueZones.com
Dan Buettner books on Amazon
National Geographic Explorer – Dan Buettner
Dan Buettner’s TED talk ‘How to live to be 100+’
Dan Buettner on Facebook
Blue Zones on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How #1 Hit Podcast ‘Welcome to Night Vale’ Co-Creator Jeffrey Cranor Writes: Part Two

28 november 2016 | 37 min

How #1 Hit Podcast ‘Welcome to Night Vale’ Co-Creator Jeffrey Cranor Writes: Part One

21 november 2016 | 34 min

How the Author of ‘The Bestseller Code’ Jodie Archer Writes: Part Two

14 november 2016 | 29 min

Literary scholar, publishing consultant, and co-author of the critically acclaimed book The Bestseller Code, Jodie Archer dropped by to chat with me about her journey, the coming revolution in publishing, and the insecurities that all writers face.

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Start getting more from your site today!Before earning her PhD from Stanford, Ms. Archer studied English at Cambridge, worked in both journalism and TV, and became an acquisitions editor for Penguin UK publishing.

While at Stanford Jodie taught nonfiction and memoir writing, and researched both contemporary fiction and bestsellers. Upon completion of her doctoral work she was recruited by Apple where she was the lead in research on books.

Her book, The Bestseller Code, is based on her doctoral research with professor Matt Jockers, an algorithm that they tested over four years and refined by text mining over 20,000 contemporary novels.

The Guardian proclaimed that their book “… may revolutionize the publishing industry,” in part because their algorithm was able to predict bestselling books 80% of the time, based on a theme, plot, character and many other big data points.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

If you missed the first half you can find it right here.

In Part Two of this file Jodie Archer and I discuss:

How to use Google Docs to co-write a book
Why every writer is organized in their own disorganized way
How to get into your creativity zone
The worst question you can ask a book lover
Why authenticity is critical for your productivity

The Show Notes

Audible is Offering a Free Audiobook Download with a 30-day Trial: Grab Your Free Audiobook Here – audibletrial.com/rainmaker
The Bestseller Code: Anatomy of the Blockbuster Novel – Jodie Archer & Matt Jockers
ArcherJockers.com
Jodie Archer on Good Reads
Jodie Archer on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How the Author of ‘The Bestseller Code’ Jodie Archer Writes: Part One

7 november 2016 | 27 min

How Bestselling Sci-fi Thriller Author Blake Crouch Writes: Part Two

31 oktober 2016 | 24 min

International bestselling sci-fi and thriller novelist and screenwriter, Blake Crouch, took time-out from his busy schedule to talk to me about his mind-bending new book Dark Matter, and adapting his work for both film and TV.

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Start getting more from your site today!The hybrid author has penned more than a dozen novels that have been translated into over 30 languages, and his short fiction has appeared in numerous publications.

In addition to having his Wayward Pines trilogy adapted into a #1 hit TV show by FOX, Blake wrote the screenplay for his latest novel, Dark Matter, for Sony Pictures. He also recently co-created Good Behavior, a TNT show based on his novellas, starring Michelle Dockery (set to premiere November 15th, 2016).

His novel Dark Matter was described by the NY Times as an, “… alternate-universe science fiction …. countdown thriller in which the hero must accomplish an impossible task,” and bestselling sci-fi author Andy Weir called it, “An exciting, ingeniously plotted adventure about love, regret, and quantum superposition.”

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

If you missed the first half you can find it right here.

In Part Two of this file Blake Crouch and I discuss:

The author’s tips for conquering writer’s block
Why versioning and backing up drafts is crucial
How to lean into procrastination and find your most productive writing time
Why understanding that ‘everything’s been written,’ can set your creativity free
Why you need to write the kind of book you want to read

The Show Notes

Audible is Offering a Free Audiobook Download with a 30-day Trial: Grab Your Free Audiobook Here – audibletrial.com/rainmaker
BlakeCrouch.com
Dark Matter: A Novel – Blake Crouch
Blake Crouch on Facebook
Blake Crouch on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How Bestselling Sci-fi Thriller Author Blake Crouch Writes: Part One

24 oktober 2016 | 25 min

International bestselling sci-fi and thriller novelist and screenwriter, Blake Crouch, took time-out from his busy schedule to talk to me about his mind-bending new book Dark Matter, and adapting his work for both film and TV.

Rainmaker.FM is Brought to You By Discover why more than 80,000 companies in 135 countries choose WP Engine for managed WordPress hosting.

Start getting more from your site today!The hybrid author has penned more than a dozen novels that have been translated into over 30 languages, and his short fiction has appeared in numerous publications.

In addition to having his Wayward Pines trilogy adapted into a #1 hit TV show by FOX, Blake wrote the screenplay for his latest novel, Dark Matter, for Sony Pictures. He also recently co-created Good Behavior, a TNT show based on his novellas, starring Michelle Dockery (set to premiere November 15th, 2016).

His novel Dark Matter was described by the NY Times as an, “… alternate-universe science fiction …. countdown thriller in which the hero must accomplish an impossible task,” and bestselling sci-fi author Andy Weir called it, “An exciting, ingeniously plotted adventure about love, regret, and quantum superposition.”

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

In Part One of this file Blake Crouch and I discuss:

The power of self-publishing for a traditionally published author
Why in-depth research is so crucial to writing believable fiction
The importance of outlining for a bestselling author and screenwriter
How the right soundtrack can boost your creativity

The Show Notes

Audible is Offering a Free Audiobook Download with a 30-day Trial: Grab Your Free Audiobook Here – audibletrial.com/rainmaker
How Bestselling Sci-fi Thriller Author Blake Crouch Writes: Part Two
How Oscar Nominee Emma Donoghue (Screenwriter of ‘Room’) Writes: Part One
BlakeCrouch.com
Dark Matter: A Novel – Blake Crouch
Blake Crouch on Facebook
Blake Crouch on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How Bestselling Author Jennifer Weiner Writes: Part Two

17 oktober 2016 | 25 min

How Bestselling Author Jennifer Weiner Writes: Part One

10 oktober 2016 | 28 min

Is the Novel Dead? Part Two

3 oktober 2016 | 38 min

In this special edition of the show, two writers joined me to opine the death of one of the most influential forms in the history of the written word. I posed the question that many great writers have pondered stretching across the last two centuries …

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Start getting more from your site today!Is the novel dead? And maybe a more up-to-date version of that question is, did the Internet kill books?

Of course these are famous — almost cliche — theoretical discussions that writers often chew on over stiff drinks, and they raise hackles for those of us who adore them.

What you won’t find here is a highbrow literary dissertation, or even a very strict definition as to what the novel is or isn’t. But you will find a lively discussion between friends who care about the writing life and its future.

Robert Bruce is a writer, voice actor, and copywriter, as well as the Vice President of Rainmaker Digital and the guy who runs the Rainmaker.FM podcast network.

Adam Skolnick is an award-winning journalist, author, and a returning guest on the show. His first book, One Breath, was published by Crown last January, and his work has appeared in publications including Playboy, The New York Times, and many others.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews as soon as they’re published.

In Part Two of the file Robert, Adam, and I discuss:

How Digital Culture Has Exploded Traditional Forms of Writing
On the Millenial Generation’s Preference for Paper Books
Why It’s so Hard to Define the Novel in the Internet Age
How Click-Bait is Killing Journalism
Why the Novel Will Never Die

The Show Notes

Audible is Offering a Free Audiobook Download with a 30-day Trial: Grab Your Free Audiobook Here – audibletrial.com/rainmaker
Get More from Robert Bruce at RobertBruce.com
Find more from Adam Skolnick at AdamSkolnick.com
The novel is dead (this time it’s for real)- Will Self
Reality Hunger – David Shields
The Medium is the Message: How We Read and How It Affects Us – John Bradley
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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Is the Novel Dead? Part One

26 september 2016 | 35 min

The Best of The Writer Files: Volume One

19 september 2016 | 34 min

How Bestselling Author Jay McInerney Writes: Part Two

29 augusti 2016 | 24 min

How Bestselling Author Jay McInerney Writes: Part One

22 augusti 2016 | 24 min

How ‘Sweetbitter’ Author Stephanie Danler Writes: Part Two

15 augusti 2016 | 32 min

How ‘Sweetbitter’ Author Stephanie Danler Writes: Part One

8 augusti 2016 | 30 min

How Wired Magazine’s Senior Maverick Kevin Kelly Writes: Part Two

1 augusti 2016 | 36 min

How Wired Magazine’s Senior Maverick Kevin Kelly Writes: Part One

25 juli 2016 | 36 min

How Neuroscientist Michael Grybko Defines Writer’s Block: Part Two

18 juli 2016 | 34 min

How Neuroscientist Michael Grybko Defines Writer’s Block: Part One

11 juli 2016 | 31 min

How Publishing Consultant, Educator, and Author Jane Friedman Writes: Part Two

27 juni 2016 | 19 min

Award-winning blogger, publishing consultant, and author Jane Friedman, took a moment to talk with me about her writing process and the business of scribes.

Ms. Friedman is a digital media strategist with over 20 years in publishing, the co-founder and editor of The Hot Sheet, an “… essential publishing industry newsletter for authors,” as well as the author of the book Publishing 101, an astute collection of essential insights for first time authors.

In addition to her work as an accomplished blogger and former publisher of Writer’s Digest, Jane teaches about the current state of publishing and authorship as a professor at both the University of Virginia, and for The Great Courses.

Her expertise on new media and technology best practices for authors has been featured by NPR s Morning Edition, The Washington Post, the National Press Club, The Authors Guild, Publishers Weekly, PBS, and many others.

She is hard at work on her forthcoming book, The Business of Being a Writer (University of Chicago Press, 2017).

Join us for this two-part interview, and if you re a fan of the show, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews with your favorite authors, and help other writers find us.

If you missed the first half you can find it right here.

In Part Two of the file Jane Friedman and I discuss:

Why You Should Do Your Hardest Tasks First
A Thought on the Ephemeral Nature of Creativity
How to Develop Your Voice as a Writer
Why Discipline Can Take Your Writing from Good to Great
One Very Important Tip on Creating a Sustainable Career

Listen to The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience below ...

Download MP3 Subscribe by RSS Subscribe in iTunes The Show Notes

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How Publishing Consultant, Educator, and Author Jane Friedman Writes: Part One

20 juni 2016 | 20 min

How Bestselling Debut Novelist Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney Writes: Part Two

13 juni 2016 | 23 min

Instant New York Times bestselling author of The Nest, Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney, spoke with me about her life before fiction and how she gets words on the page.

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Ms. Sweeney’s winding journey to bestselling author began with a journalism degree and lead to a career in Marketing Communications as a freelance copywriter and editor.

Her debut novel was a huge hit with critics and readers alike and skyrocketed onto bestseller lists. Most fascinating is that Cynthia penned the novel as a recent BFA graduate and then sold it in a seven figure publishing deal … at the age of 54.

The Nest has been described as “… an acutely perceptive …. novel about four adult siblings and the fate of their shared inheritance…” and bestselling author Elizabeth Gilbert called it, “A masterfully constructed, darkly comic, and immensely captivating tale.”

Join us for this two-part interview, and if you’re a fan of the show, please click “subscribe” to automatically see new interviews with your favorite authors, and help other writers find us.

If you missed the first half you can find it right here.

In Part Two of the file Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney and I discuss:

Why You Can’t Give in to Feeling Paralyzed
How to Channel Your Creative Inspiration
The Importance of Curiosity and Humility for Writers
Why Writing is Like Driving at Night
The Necessity of Drudgery to Keep the Ink Flowing

Listen to The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience below ...

Download MP3 Subscribe by RSS Subscribe in iTunes The Show Notes

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How Bestselling Debut Novelist Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney Writes: Part One

6 juni 2016 | 23 min

How Advice Columnist and Author Heather Havrilesky Writes: Part Two

23 maj 2016 | 43 min

New York magazine’s “Ask Polly” advice columnist, Heather Havrilesky, stopped by the show to chat about her process and the many hats she has worn over her 20 year career as a critic, cartoonist, columnist, and essayist.

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The author s new book — How to Be a Person in the World: Ask Polly’s Guide Through the Paradoxes of Modern Life (available July, 2016) — is a collection inspired by her popular advice column.

Bestselling author and comedian Patton Oswalt said about the author, “…that rare writer who can dish out tangy snark but never fails to aim the knife back at her own damaged, hilarious heart …” and called the book, “Required reading.”

In addition to her Best Seller List column for Bookforum, Heather is the author of the memoir Disaster Preparedness, and was Salon.com’s TV critic for seven years. Her writing has appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine, The Los Angeles Times, Slate, The Awl, NPR’s All Things Considered, and several anthologies.

Join us for this two-part interview, and if you’re a fan of the show, please click the “subscribe” button to automatically see new interviews with your favorite authors, and help other writers find us.

If you missed the first half you can find it here.

In Part Two of the file Heather Havrilesky and I discuss:

The Author’s Old-School Suspicion of ‘The Cloud’
A Comparison of Microsoft Word vs. Scrivener
Why Social Media Can Help with a Writer’s Solitude
The Upside of Procrastination
How to Harness the Power of the Editing Process
Why Hopelessness Can Lead to Great Writing
How Your Greatest Weakness Can Become Your Greatest Strength

Listen to The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience below ...

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How Advice Columnist and Author Heather Havrilesky Writes: Part One

16 maj 2016 | 40 min

New York magazine’s “Ask Polly” advice columnist, Heather Havrilesky, stopped by the show to chat about her process and the many hats she has worn over her 20 year career as a critic, cartoonist, columnist, and essayist.

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The author s new book — How to Be a Person in the World: Ask Polly’s Guide Through the Paradoxes of Modern Life (available July, 2016) — is a collection inspired by her popular advice column.

Bestselling author and comedian Patton Oswalt said about the author, “…that rare writer who can dish out tangy snark but never fails to aim the knife back at her own damaged, hilarious heart …” and called the book, “Required reading.”

In addition to her Best Seller List column for Bookforum, Heather is the author of the memoir Disaster Preparedness, and was Salon.com’s TV critic for seven years. Her writing has appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine, The Los Angeles Times, Slate, The Awl, NPR’s All Things Considered, and several anthologies.

Join us for this two-part interview, and if you’re a fan of the show, please click the “subscribe” button to automatically see new interviews with your favorite authors, and help other writers find us.

In Part One of the file Heather Havrilesky and I discuss:

Why You Should Never Give Up Your Dreams of Being a Writer
How to Embrace the Scribe’s Daily Descent into Madness
Why You Need to Find Your Most Productive Hours
How a Daily Writing Exercise Helps You Hit Deadlines
How to Turn off Your Inner Critic and Get in Shape at the Same Time

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How Bestselling Hybrid Author Dean Wesley Smith Writes: Part Two

9 maj 2016 | 25 min

How Bestselling Hybrid Author Dean Wesley Smith Writes: Part One

2 maj 2016 | 26 min

How Long-Form Journalist Kent Russell Writes: Part Two

25 april 2016 | 33 min

How Long-Form Journalist Kent Russell Writes: Part One

18 april 2016 | 34 min

How Punk Rock Entrepreneur Jonny Nastor Writes: Part Two

4 april 2016 | 25 min

How Punk Rock Entrepreneur Jonny Nastor Writes: Part One

28 mars 2016 | 25 min

How Acclaimed Horror Author Jonathan Janz Writes: Part Two

21 mars 2016 | 44 min

How Acclaimed Horror Author Jonathan Janz Writes: Part One

14 mars 2016 | 33 min

How Bestselling Poet Tyler Knott Gregson Writes

7 mars 2016 | 48 min

How Bestselling Thriller Author Mark Dawson Writes: Part Two

29 februari 2016 | 29 min

How Bestselling Thriller Author Mark Dawson Writes: Part One

22 februari 2016 | 30 min

How Bestselling Author Maria Konnikova Writes

8 februari 2016 | 34 min

How Award-Winning Sports & Travel Writer Adam Skolnick (Author of One Breath ) Writes: Part Two

1 februari 2016 | 27 min

How Award-Winning Sports & Travel Writer Adam Skolnick (Author of One Breath ) Writes: Part One

25 januari 2016 | 36 min

How Oscar Nominee Emma Donoghue (Screenwriter of ‘Room’) Writes: Part Two

11 januari 2016 | 19 min

How Oscar Nominee Emma Donoghue (Screenwriter of ‘Room’) Writes: Part One

4 januari 2016 | 26 min

How Bestselling Author Jeff Goins Writes: Part Two

21 december 2015 | 51 min

The bestselling author of The Art of Work: A Proven Path to Discovering What You Were Meant to Do — Jeff Goins — stopped by for a marathon return to The Writer Files to cap off 2015.

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His popular blog — Goinswriter.com — offers free tips on writing and creativity to help writers build an audience, get attention, and learn what it takes to turn pro.

In addition to being an entrepreneur, speaker, consultant, and author of four books, Jeff hosts The Portfolio Life podcast where he shares ideas to help listeners pursue work that matters and discover their true voice.

Join us for this two-part interview. If you missed the first half you can find it here: How Bestselling Author Jeff Goins Writes: Part One.

REMINDER: The Writer Files will be taking the last week of the year off but will return with new guests in January.

Season Three writer interviews include: Emma Donoghue (bestselling author and Golden Globe nominated screenwriter of Room), Adam Skolnick (award-winning journalist and author of One Breath), NYTimes bestselling author and New Yorker columnist Maria Konnikova, horror writer Jonathan Janz, bestselling thriller author Mark Dawson, and celebrity poet Tyler Knott Gregson, to name a few.

In Part Two of the file Jeff Goins and I discuss:

Why Your Best Ideas Are Worthless Until You Act on Them
The Spirituality of Writing
Why You Can’t Wait for the Muse to Inspire You
How Hemingway Got Famous from Stealing
Great Writing Advice for the New Year

Listen to The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience below ...

Download MP3 Subscribe by RSS Subscribe in iTunes The Show Notes

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How Bestselling Author Jeff Goins Writes: Part One

14 december 2015 | 40 min

How NextDraft’s Dave Pell Writes

7 december 2015 | 46 min

How Bestselling Author Joanna Penn Writes: Part Two

30 november 2015 | 24 min

How Bestselling Author Joanna Penn Writes: Part One

23 november 2015 | 31 min

How Critically Acclaimed Literary Scholar Jonathan Gottschall Writes: Part Two

16 november 2015 | 27 min

How Critically Acclaimed Literary Scholar Jonathan Gottschall Writes: Part One

9 november 2015 | 24 min

How Hollywood Screenwriter and Director John August Writes: Part Two

2 november 2015 | 24 min

How Hollywood Screenwriter and Director John August Writes: Part One

26 oktober 2015 | 28 min

How Michelle Miller (Writer and Producer of ‘The Underwriting’) Writes: Part Two

19 oktober 2015 | 28 min

How Michelle Miller (Writer and Producer of ‘The Underwriting’) Writes: Part One

12 oktober 2015 | 30 min

How Joe Berkowitz (Journalist and Fast Company Editor) Writes: Part Two

5 oktober 2015 | 38 min

How Joe Berkowitz (Journalist and Fast Company Editor) Writes: Part One

28 september 2015 | 34 min

How Andy Weir (Bestselling Author of ‘The Martian’) Writes: Part Two

21 september 2015 | 29 min

How Andy Weir (Bestselling Author of ‘The Martian’) Writes: Part One

14 september 2015 | 25 min

How Neuroscientist Michael Grybko Defines Storytelling

24 augusti 2015 | 40 min

How Bestselling Author Hugh Howey Writes

10 augusti 2015 | 30 min

How Veteran Podcaster and Content Marketer Jerod Morris Writes

3 augusti 2015 | 48 min

How Bestselling Author Daniel Pink Writes

27 juli 2015 | 31 min

How ProBlogger's Darren Rowse Writes

20 juli 2015 | 44 min

How Pamela Wilson (VP of Educational Content for Copyblogger) Writes

13 juli 2015 | 51 min

How Novelist and Prolific Podcaster Brad Listi Writes

6 juli 2015 | 46 min

How Bestselling Author Austin Kleon Writes: Part Two

29 juni 2015 | 35 min

How Bestselling Author Austin Kleon Writes: Part One

22 juni 2015 | 49 min

How Neuroscientist Michael Grybko Defines Empathy

15 juni 2015 | 34 min

Writer Porn: Standing Desks, Binge Reading, and James Patterson s MasterClass

8 juni 2015 | 46 min

How Copywriter and Entrepreneur James Chartrand (of Men with Pens) Writes

1 juni 2015 | 31 min

How Sarah Stodola (Author of Process: The Writing Lives of Great Authors ) Writes

18 maj 2015 | 27 min

How Chief Content Officer Sonia Simone Writes

11 maj 2015 | 24 min

How Bestselling Author Ann Handley Writes

4 maj 2015 | 34 min

How Neuroscientist Michael Grybko Defines Creativity

27 april 2015 | 28 min

How Award-Winning Journalist Adam Skolnick Writes

20 april 2015 | 35 min

Sometimes word nerds just need a place to talk shop, and that s what we intend to do here. In this episode of the The Writer Files I ve asked award-winning journalist Adam Skolnick to join me on a guest segment we’re calling Writer Porn.

Adam is an award-winning, globetrotting travel journalist, which is kind of a rare thing these days. He is the author and co author of 25 Lonely Planet guidebooks, and has written for publications as varied as the New York Times (for whom he won a big award from the Associated Press Sports Editors last year), ESPN.com, Wired, Men’s Health, Outside, BBC, and Playboy Magazine.

He recently finished his first narrative non-fiction book based on his award-winning NY Times coverage of the death of the greatest American free diver of all time, titled One Breath (slated for publication in January).

Adam and I talk about how a page one New York Times story became a book, the secret literary legacy of Playboy Magazine, debunking Jack Kerouac’s prolificness, and tips and tricks to staying focused when you re working on multiple projects across multiple timezones.

In this 29-minute file Adam Skolnick and I discuss:

How a Tragic New York Times Story Became a Book
What a Globetrotting Journalist Does to Get a Story
The Secret Literary Legacy of Playboy Magazine
What Mr. Skolnick Has in Common with Hunter S. Thompson
One Great Trick to Stay Focused on Multiple Deadlines
Busting The Urban Legend of Jack Kerouac’s “On the Road”
Why You Shouldn’t Compare Yourself to Other Writers
How to Stay Organized When You Have a Ton of Research

The Show Notes

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How Demian Farnworth (Copyblogger's Chief Content Writer) Writes

13 april 2015 | 37 min

The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience

“Learn how acclaimed writers keep the ink flowing, the cursor moving, and avoid writer’s block.

Om podden

Avsnitt

How to Finish the First Draft of Anything with Jeff Goins: Redux

How NY Times Bestselling Author Penn Cole Writes

How PEN/Bellwether Award-Winner Fabienne Josaphat Writes

14 Timeless Storytelling Principles with Author Douglas Vigliotti: Part One

How NY Times Bestselling Author Christina Lynch Writes

How Award-Winning & Bestselling Author A.M. Homes Writes: Redux

How 'It's Always Sunny' Creator and Star Rob McElhenney Writes: Redux

It’s a Matter of Taste: Part Two with Jeff Goins

It’s a Matter of Taste: Part One with Jeff Goins

How Bestselling Crime Novelist Walter Mosley Writes: Redux

Creative Idiots with Jeff Goins

How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Anne Lamott Writes

How NY Times Bestselling Author Ashley Audrain Writes: Redux

How Critically Acclaimed Debut Author Bryan VanDyke Writes

How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Mark Oshiro Writes

How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Emily Henry Writes: Part Two - Redux

How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Dennis Lehane Writes: Redux

Show Notes:

How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Jennifer Lynn Barnes Writes: Part Two

How Award-Winning Author Alex Temblador Writes

How to Plan, Write & Publish Nonfiction with Hungry Authors Hosts Ariel Curry & Liz Morrow: Part Two

How Bestselling Author Natalie Goldberg Writes

How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Lev Grossman Writes

How Lauded Debut Author Isabel Banta Writes

How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Jodi Picoult Writes

How Critically Acclaimed Author Tracy O'Neill Writes

Living the Dream with Jeff Goins

How Bestselling Author Fred Waitzkin Writes

How NY Times Bestselling Author Jami Attenberg Writes: Redux

On Mixtapes, or Curation vs. Creation with Jeff Goins

How to Plan, Write & Publish Nonfiction with Hungry Authors Hosts Ariel Curry & Liz Morrow: Part One

How NY Times Bestselling Author April Henry Writes

How to Finish the First Draft of Anything with Jeff Goins

How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Mark Sullivan Writes

How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Tom Straw Writes

How CNN Chief Climate Correspondent Bill Weir Writes

How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Tomi Adeyemi Writes

How Stanford Prof. & Comms Expert Matt Abrahams Writes

How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Ernest Cline Writes: Part Two

How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Ernest Cline Writes: Part One

How NY Times Bestselling Author Garrard Conley Writes

Book Publicity Crash Course with Dir. of PR & Founder Leah Paulos

How Oscar-Nominated Scribe & Novelist Iris Yamashita Writes: Part Two

How Bestselling Author Adelle Waldman Writes

How Acclaimed Newbery Honor-Winning Author Veera Hiranandani Writes

How NY Times Bestselling Author Emma Straub Writes: Redux

In this file Emma Straub and I discussed:

How to Land a Book Deal with Agent & Author Lucinda Halpern: Part Two

How NY Times Bestselling Author Ann Napolitano Writes

How NY Times Bestselling Author Jami Attenberg Writes

Best of 2023 - Hot Takes and Shootin’ the Breeze with Adam Skolnick: Part Two

Best of 2023 - Hot Takes and Shootin’ the Breeze with Adam Skolnick: Part One

Myth-Busting Book Publishing with Agent Lucinda Halpern: Redux

How Acclaimed Debut Novelist Jo Segura Writes

The Art and Craft of TV Drama with Aaron Tracy: Part Two

How National Book Award Winner & Bestselling Author James McBride Writes: Redux

How Publishing Legend Charles Scribner III Writes

How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Jim Butcher Writes

How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Susan Wiggs Writes: Part Two

How Literary Critic & Publishing Insider Bethanne Patrick Writes: Part Two

How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Andrew Child Writes

How Acclaimed Debut Novelist Molly McGhee Writes

How Award-Winning Climate Journalist Amy Westervelt Writes

How Acclaimed Debut Novelist Isa Arsén Writes

How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Laurell K. Hamilton Writes: Part Two

How Booker Prize-Winning Author Anne Enright Writes

How Bestselling Author & TV Producer Dwain Worrell Writes

How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Jennifer Lynn Barnes Writes: Part One

How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author James Rollins Writes

How Internationally Bestselling Author Lucy Clarke Writes

How to Write with ADHD and Coach Skye Waterson

How Acclaimed TV Writer/Producer Adam Lorenzo Writes

How National Book Award Winner & Bestselling Author James McBride Writes

How Critically Acclaimed Memoirist Melissa Bond Writes

How NY Times Bestselling Author Tracey Lange Writes

How Critically Acclaimed Author Hilary Leichter Writes