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

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

The business and culture journalist and bestselling author of the recent book The Revenge of Analog, David Sax, dropped by 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.” If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In Part One of this file David Sax and I discuss: Writing at the intersections of business and culture Why your best ideas come to you in the shower The importance of impeccable research for great non-fiction A road map for cranking out 3,000-4,000 words a day How printing and editing your work on paper can improve 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 Two 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 How Wired Magazine’s Senior Maverick Kevin Kelly Writes: Part One How Oscar Nominee Emma Donoghue (Screenwriter of ‘Room’) Writes: Part One David Sax on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

The co-creator and co-writer of the #1 international hit podcast Welcome to Night Vale and New York Times bestselling co-author of the novel of same name, Jeffrey Cranor, dropped by the show to talk about the importance of collaboration, deadlines, and bad writing. In addition to producing and touring with the theater ensemble The New York Neo-Futurists, the playwright and author tours with live shows for the Night Vale Presents production banner, co-created with Joseph Fink. Night Vale Presents now produces four podcasts that regularly sit at the top of the charts — including Within the Wires, also created by the author — and recently published two volumes of episode transcripts that include extras for fans of their original show. Welcome to Night Vale has been described as “NPR meets The Twilight Zone,” a sci-fi broadcast about a small desert community where strange mythologies abound, and all conspiracy theory is potentially real. 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 Jeffrey Cranor and I discuss: The power of productive procrastination How ‘making the familiar strange’ produces great writing Why it’s really hard to be good all the time How the battle against expectation can surprise readers The art of great audiobooks as performance The Show Notes Audible is Offering a Free Audiobook Download with a 30-day Trial: Grab Your Free Audiobook Here – audibletrial.com/rainmaker Welcome To Night Vale Welcome To Night Vale on Facebook Night Vale Presents Jeffrey Cranor on Amazon Jeffrey Cranor’s website NY Neo-Futurists Theater Company Jeffrey Cranor on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The co-creator and co-writer of the #1 international hit podcast Welcome to Night Vale and New York Times bestselling co-author of the novel of same name, Jeffrey Cranor, dropped by the show to talk about the importance of collaboration, deadlines, and bad writing. In addition to producing and touring with the theater ensemble The New York Neo-Futurists, the playwright and author tours with live shows for the Night Vale Presents production banner, co-created with Joseph Fink. Night Vale Presents now produces four podcasts that regularly sit at the top of the charts — including Within the Wires, also created by the author — and recently published two volumes of episode transcripts that include extras for fans of their original show. Welcome to Night Vale has been described as “NPR meets The Twilight Zone,” a sci-fi broadcast about a small desert community where strange mythologies abound, and all conspiracy theory is potentially real. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In Part One of this file Jeffrey Cranor and I discuss: Why writing collaboratively can help you become less ‘precious’ about your work How a hit podcast producer and novelist divides his time An author’s comforts in coffee and sports talk radio Why the law of averages says you won’t always find the words The import of building a platform and setting a deadline for publish The Show Notes Audible is Offering a Free Audiobook Download with a 30-day Trial: Grab Your Free Audiobook Here – audibletrial.com/rainmaker How #1 Hit Podcast ‘Welcome to Night Vale’ Co-Creator Jeffrey Cranor Writes: Part Two Welcome to Night Vale Welcome to Night Vale on Facebook Night Vale Presents Jeffrey Cranor on Amazon Jeffrey Cranor’s website NY Neo-Futurists Theater Company Jeffrey Cranor on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

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. 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!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, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In Part One of this file Jodie Archer and I discuss: How a word nerd helped program a computer to predict bestsellers with a high degree of accuracy Why all writers of fiction should read The Bestseller Code How to turn years of research into an entertaining and educational non-fiction book The power of deadlines for beating procrastination The Show Notes Audible is Offering a Free Audiobook Download with a 30-day Trial: Grab Your Free Audiobook Here – audibletrial.com/rainmaker How the Author of The Bestseller Code Jodie Archer Writes: Part Two How Critically Acclaimed Literary Scholar Jonathan Gottschall Writes: Part One How Andy Weir (Bestselling Author of ‘The Martian’) Writes: Part One How ‘Sweetbitter’ Author Stephanie Danler Writes: Part One 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

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

The #1 New York Times bestselling author of 12 books, Jennifer Weiner, took a few minutes to talk with me about the writer’s life, her new memoir, and Revenge of the Nerds. 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!Before her prolific career as a novelist, Ms. Weiner started out as a small town newspaper reporter and freelancer, before signing her first big book deal for her novel Good in Bed (2001). Since then her books have spent over five years on the New York Times bestseller list, she has had a novel made into a major motion picture — In Her Shoes, starring Cameron Diaz and Toni Collette (2005) — contributed op-eds to the New York Times, executive produced a TV series, and published a children’s book (The Littlest Bigfoot). Her latest offering is the memoir Hungry Heart: Adventures in Life, Love, and Writing, and it “… is about yearning and fulfillment, loss and love, and a woman who searched for her place in the world, and found it as a storyteller.” 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 Jennifer Weiner and I discuss: How Creative People See the World Through Their Own Lenses Why Hard Work Alone Forges Enduring Writers Why Ebooks are Indispensable to Writers on the Go Why Just You Need Sit Down and Start Writing The Show Notes Audible is Offering a Free Audiobook Download with a 30-day Trial: Grab Your Free Audiobook Here – audibletrial.com/rainmaker JenniferWeiner.com So you want to be a novelist? Jennifer Weiner The Littlest Bigfoot – Jennifer Weiner Jennifer Weiner on Instagram Jennifer Weiner on Facebook Jennifer Weiner on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The #1 New York Times bestselling author of 12 books, Jennifer Weiner, took a few minutes to talk with me about the writer’s life, her new memoir, and Revenge of the Nerds. 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!Prior to her prolific career as a novelist, Ms. Weiner started out as a small town newspaper reporter and freelancer, before signing her first big book deal for her novel Good in Bed (2001). Since then her books have spent over five years on the New York Times bestseller list, she has had a novel made into a major motion picture — In Her Shoes, starring Cameron Diaz and Toni Collette (2005) — contributed op-eds to the New York Times, executive produced a TV series, and published a children’s book (The Littlest Bigfoot). Her latest offering is the memoir Hungry Heart: Adventures in Life, Love, and Writing, and it “… is about yearning and fulfillment, loss and love, and a woman who searched for her place in the world, and found it as a storyteller.” If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In Part One of this file Jennifer Weiner and I discuss: How Her Iconic Writing Mentors Joyce Carol Oates and John McPhee Helped Guide Her Why Ten Years and 10,000 Hours in the Trenches Is Par for the Course How Working in Busy Environments Boosts Your Productivity Great Tricks to Keep the Ink Flowing, without Opening a Vein 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 Author Jennifer Weiner Writes: Part Two JenniferWeiner.com So you want to be a novelist? Jennifer Weiner The Littlest Bigfoot – Jennifer Weiner Jennifer Weiner on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

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 … 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 One of the file Robert, Adam, and I discuss: How Longer Works of Writing Have Been Forced to Compete with Disposable Culture Why Herman Melville Died Penniless How the Novel has Stood the Test of Time The Role of Podcasting for Modern Writers Author Hugh Howey’s ‘Rock, Paper, Scissors’ Model of Book Retail The Show Notes Audible is Offering a Free Audiobook Download with a 30-day Trial: Grab Your Free Audiobook Here – audibletrial.com/rainmaker Is the Novel Dead? Part Two Get More from Robert Bruce at RobertBruce.com Find more from Adam Skolnick at AdamSkolnick.com How Andy Weir (Bestselling Author of ‘The Martian’) Writes: Part One How Bestselling Author Jay McInerney Writes: Part One The Passive Voice – After Months of Strong Sales, Bookstores See Drop in July Hugh Howey – Rock, Paper, Scissors Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Before kicking off the next season of the show, we wanted to share with you some highlights from our previous seasons. I don’t want to shortchange the most recent interviews with inspiring guests including Jay McInerney (’80s defining author of Bright Lights, Big City), Stephanie Danler (the bestselling author of Sweetbitter), the co-founder of Wired magazine Kevin Kelly, or How Neuroscientist Michael Grybko Defined Writer’s Block for us. But I do want to dig into the archives with you and pull out a few of my favorites from a handful of the other 40 authors The Writer Files has cross-examined to learn how they keep the ink flowing, the cursor moving, and avoid writer’s block. You’ll find links to the these shows in the show notes and past episodes are easy to find in the archives of your favorite podcast app, in iTunes, or at WriterFiles.fm. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, click subscribe in iTunes, to automatically see new interviews. In this “Best of” Volume One, we’ll hear from a handful of past guests, including: Advice Columnist and Critic Heather Havrilesky on Social Media and Managed Procrastination NYTimes Bestselling Author of ‘The Martian’ Andy Weir on Productivity vs Laziness Bestselling Debut Novelist Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney on Beating Fear and Procrastination Bestselling Thriller Author Mark Dawson on How to Publish Over a Million Words in a Year And Bestselling Author Ann Handley on the Only Reason to Write a Book Listen to The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience below ... Download MP3 Subscribe by RSS Subscribe in iTunes The Show Notes Audible is Offering a Free Audiobook Download with a 30-day Trial: Grab Your Free Audiobook Here – audibletrial.com/rainmaker How Advice Columnist and Author Heather Havrilesky Writes: Part Two How Andy Weir (Bestselling Author of ‘The Martian’) Writes: Part One How Bestselling Debut Novelist Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney Writes: Part Two How Bestselling Thriller Author Mark Dawson Writes: Part One How Bestselling Author Ann Handley Writes Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The bestselling author of 11 books, including the eighties defining Bright Lights, Big City, Jay McInerney, took a break to chat with me about his new book, the writing process, and some timeless tips from his mentor, Raymond Carver. Vanity Fair called Mr. McInerney “Our modern-day Fitzgerald,” and his most recent book — Bright, Precious Days — is described as “… a sexy, vibrant, cross-generational New York story — a literary and commercial triumph of the highest order.” The author is a renowned short story writer, screenwriter, and actor, who has lived in New York for three decades and rubbed elbows with a laundry list of literary lions, including his mentors Tobias Wolff and Raymond Carver. In addition to fiction, Jay writes a highly regarded wine column for Town & Country magazine, and has written several essay collections on wine. The author most recently joined the Prince Street podcast as a culinary and arts correspondent and has interviewed director Francis Ford Coppola, author Stephanie Danler, and celebrity chefs including Eric Ripert, to name a few. Join us for this two-part interview, and if you’re a fan of the show, please subscribe in iTunes to automatically see new interviews, and help other writers find us. In Part Two of the file Jay McInerney and I discuss: The Author’s Astute Anatomical Analogy for Writer’s Block How a Short Story Became a Series of Bestselling Novels Why Writers Need to Stretch the Boundaries of Their Genres The Big City as Creative Muse Some Timeless Advice from Raymond Carver on the Importance of Discipline The Show Notes JayMcInerney.com Bright, Precious Days: A novel – Jay McInerney Prince Street Podcast Jay McInerney: why Gatsby is so great Jay McInerney on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The bestselling author of 11 books, including the eighties defining Bright Lights, Big City, Jay McInerney, took a break to chat with me about his new book, the writing process, and some timeless tips from his mentor, Raymond Carver. Vanity Fair called Mr. McInerney “Our modern-day Fitzgerald,” and his most recent book — Bright, Precious Days — is described as “… a sexy, vibrant, cross-generational New York story — a literary and commercial triumph of the highest order.” The author is a renowned short story writer, screenwriter, and actor, who has lived in New York for three decades and rubbed elbows with a laundry list of literary lions, including his mentors Tobias Wolff and Raymond Carver. In addition to fiction, Jay writes a highly regarded wine column for Town & Country magazine, and has written several essay collections on wine. The author most recently joined the Prince Street podcast as a culinary and arts correspondent and has interviewed director Francis Ford Coppola, author Stephanie Danler, and celebrity chefs including Eric Ripert, to name a few. Join us for this two-part interview, and if you’re a fan of the show, please subscribe in iTunes to automatically get new interviews, and help other writers find us. In Part One of the file Jay McInerney and I discuss: Why It’s Not a Bad Thing to Be Compared to Your Betters How to Incorporate Your Passions into Your Writing Why You Need to Sit at Your Desk Every Day and Listen to the Voices in Your Head The Author’s Process of Discovery at the Level of Language How the Right Soundtrack Can Inspire Your Writing The Show Notes How Bestselling Author Jay McInerney Writes: Part Two JayMcInerney.com Bright, Precious Days: A novel – Jay McInerney Prince Street Podcast Jay McInerney: why Gatsby is so great Book Excerpt: Jay McInerney on Joy Division’s Heyday Jay McInerney on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The instant national bestselling author of the acclaimed debut novel Sweetbitter, Stephanie Danler, stopped by the show to chat with me about her not-so-overnight success as a rising literary star. Ms. Danler signed a six-figure deal with Knopf for her first book, the coming-of-age story of a young woman transplanted into New York City’s upscale, cutthroat restaurant world. Bestselling author Jay McInerney called Sweetbitter “… a stunning debut novel, one that seems destined to help define a generation,” and the book has been compared to Anthony Bourdain’s Kitchen Confidential. Before returning to her love of writing, and earning an MFA in Fiction from The New School in NY, Ms. Danler spent much of her life working in the food and wine industry. Stephanie has also written essays for The Paris Review, Vogue, Literary Hub, and Travel + Leisure. Join us for this two-part interview, and if you’re a fan of the show, please subscribe in iTunes to automatically see new interviews, and help other writers find us. In Part Two of the file Stephanie Danler and I discuss: The Dichotomy of Procrastination and Deadlines Why Relationships Are Important to Writers On the Deconstruction and Sanctity of Creativity How Great Writers Leave ‘Blood on the Page’ Some Great Advice on Why You Just Need to Finish The Show Notes How ‘Sweetbitter’ Author Stephanie Danler Writes: Part One Sweetbitter: A novel – Stephanie Danler StephanieDanler.com with Links to Essays by Stephanie Danler This is Water – David Foster Wallace Stephanie Danler on Instagram Stephanie Danler on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The instant national bestselling author of the acclaimed debut novel Sweetbitter, Stephanie Danler, stopped by the show to chat with me about her not-so-overnight success as a rising literary star. Ms. Danler signed a six-figure deal with Knopf for her first book, the coming-of-age story of a young woman transplanted into New York City’s upscale, cutthroat restaurant world. Bestselling author Jay McInerney called Sweetbitter “… a stunning debut novel, one that seems destined to help define a generation,” and the book has been compared to Anthony Bourdain’s Kitchen Confidential. Before returning to her love of writing, and earning an MFA in Fiction from The New School in NY, Ms. Danler spent much of her life working in the food and wine industry. Stephanie has also written essays for The Paris Review, Vogue, Literary Hub, and Travel + Leisure. Join us for this two-part interview, and if you’re a fan of the show, please subscribe in iTunes to automatically see new interviews, and help other writers find us. In Part One of the file Stephanie Danler and I discuss: Why You Should Write What You Know and Love The Unglamorous Yet Rewarding Work of Promoting a New Book Why Cultural Artifacts Are Great for Research An Author’s Careful Balance of Daily Beverage Consumption Why the Old Rules of Productivity Shouldn’t Apply to Writers The Show Notes How ‘Sweetbitter’ Author Stephanie Danler Writes: Part Two Sweetbitter: A novel – Stephanie Danler StephanieDanler.com with Links to Essays by Stephanie Danler One Writer on Loving and Letting Go of Her Drug-Dependent Father – Stephanie Danler for Vogue Stephanie Danler on Instagram Stephanie Danler on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New York Times bestselling author and co-founder of Wired magazine, Kevin Kelly, stopped by the show to chat with me about his journey from travel journalist to famed futurist. Mr. Kelly’s storied and winding career has taken him around the world in search of visions of the new digital frontier. Kevin is a renowned TED speaker and author of multiple bestsellers including his latest, The Inevitable: Understanding the 12 Technological Forces That Will Shape Our Future, a title that offers an optimistic roadmap of how new technologies will shape humanity. Dubbed “the Most Interesting Man in the World” by Tim Ferris, Mr. Kelly began writing on the internet near its inception and never looked back. He has taken gigs including Editor for the Whole Earth Review, and presently Senior Maverick at Wired magazine, a magazine he co-founded in 1993, and where he served as Executive Editor until 1999. Join us for this two-part interview, and if you’re a fan of the show, please click “subscribe” to automatically see new interviews, and help other writers find us. In Part Two of the file Kevin Kelly and I discuss: Why the Author Can’t Write on the Road The Importance of Delegation as a Writer The Cool Tools Kevin Kelly Uses to Get Words on the Page A Futurist’s Expansive Definition of Creativity How Lateral Thinking Can Improve Your Writing Why Steven Spielberg Asked Mr. Kelly to Predict the Future The Show Notes Kevin Kelly’s Personal Website The Inevitable: Understanding the 12 Technological Forces That Will Shape Our Future – Kevin Kelly 1,000 True Fans The Act of Creation – Arthur Koestler Oblique Strategies Writer Emergency Pack – John August Kevin Kelly on Google+ Kevin Kelly on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New York Times bestselling author and co-founder of Wired magazine, Kevin Kelly, stopped by the show to chat with me about his journey from travel journalist to famed futurist. Mr. Kelly’s storied and winding career has taken him around the world in search of visions of the new digital frontier. Kevin is a renowned TED speaker and author of multiple bestsellers including his latest, The Inevitable: Understanding the 12 Technological Forces That Will Shape Our Future, a title that offers an optimistic roadmap of how new technologies will shape humanity. Dubbed “the Most Interesting Man in the World” by Tim Ferris, Mr. Kelly began writing on the internet near its inception and never looked back. He has taken gigs including Editor for the Whole Earth Review, and presently Senior Maverick at Wired magazine, a magazine he co-founded in 1993, and where he served as Executive Editor until 1999. Join us for this two-part interview, and if you’re a fan of the show, please click “subscribe” to automatically see new interviews, and help other writers find us. In Part One of the file Kevin Kelly and I discuss: How an Amateur Photographer Became a Bestselling Author and Digital Visionary The Future of Artificial Intelligence How a Technologist Keeps His Finger on the Pulse of the Future Why You Should Write to Understand Your Ideas The Importance of the Incubation Phase for Writers The Show Notes How Wired Magazine s Senior Maverick Kevin Kelly Writes: Part Two Kevin Kelly’s Personal Website The Inevitable: Understanding the 12 Technological Forces That Will Shape Our Future – Kevin Kelly 1,000 True Fans Cool Tools Website Kevin Kelly on Google+ Kevin Kelly on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to another guest segment of ‘The Writer’s Brain’ where we pick the brain of a neuroscientist about the elements of great writing. This week’s show covers some possible origins and solutions to an ailment known only to writers. Research scientist Michael Grybko, of the Department of Psychology at the University of Washington, returned to help me pinpoint the mysteries of writer’s block from a scientific standpoint. If you missed the first three installments of The Writer’s Brain — on How Neuroscience Defines Creativity, Empathy, and Storytelling — you can find all of them in the show notes and on writerfiles.fm. Join us for this two-part interview, and if you’re a fan of the show, please click “subscribe” to automatically see new interviews, and help other writers find us. In Part Two of the file Michael Grybko and I discuss: 3 Symptoms of Writer’s Block and How to Cure Them How Your Emotions Have a Profound Effect on Your Creativity Why Achieving Small, Attainable Goals Rewards Your Brain How Changing Work Venues Boosts Your Productivity Hemingway’s Personal Tricks for Getting Words on the Page The Importance of Regular Rituals for Eliminating Doubt The Show Notes Wired to Create: Unraveling the Mysteries of the Creative Mind The End of Reflection – Teddy Wayne How To Concentrate Automatically Without Even Trying Seven Tips From Ernest Hemingway on How to Write Fiction Around the Writer’s Block: Using Brain Science to Solve Writer’s Resistance 8 Strange Rituals of Productive Writers Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to another guest segment of ‘The Writer’s Brain’ where we pick the brain of a neuroscientist about the elements of great writing. This week’s show covers some possible origins and solutions to an ailment known only to writers. Research scientist Michael Grybko, of the Department of Psychology at the University of Washington, returned to help me pinpoint the mysteries of writer’s block from a scientific standpoint. If you missed the first three installments of The Writer’s Brain — on How Neuroscience Defines Creativity, Empathy, and Storytelling — you can find all of them in the show notes and on writerfiles.fm. Join us for this two-part interview, and if you’re a fan of the show, please click “subscribe” to automatically see new interviews, and help other writers find us. In Part One of the file Michael Grybko and I discuss: Why Writers Argue about the Definition of Writer’s Block What Happens When Your Creativity Dries Up How to Find Your Most Productive Writing Time Why Writers Need to Unplug to Recharge How an ‘Incubation Phase’ Can Improve Your Writing The Show Notes How to Beat Writer’s Block – Maria Konnikova This Is Your Brain on Writing – New York Times Famous Writers’ Sleep Habits vs. Literary Productivity, Visualized – Maria Popova Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 JaneFriedman.com Publishing 101: A First-Time Author’s Guide to Getting Published, Marketing and Promoting Your Book, and Building a Successful Career, by Jane Friedman The Great Courses: How to Publish Your Book The Hot Sheet: Essential Publishing Industry Newsletter for Authors Alain de Botton Roxane Gay Kevin Kelly Jane Friedman on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 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. In Part One of the file Jane Friedman and I discuss: Why There’s No Such Thing as an ‘Aspiring Writer’ How Changing Venues Can Improve Your Focus Why You Need to Address Your Greatest Fears to get Words on the Page How to Harness the Cloud for Your Word-Processing Listen to The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience below ... Download MP3 Subscribe by RSS Subscribe in iTunes The Show Notes How Publishing Consultant, Educator, and Author Jane Friedman Writes: Part Two JaneFriedman.com Publishing 101: A First-Time Author’s Guide to Getting Published, Marketing and Promoting Your Book, and Building a Successful Career, by Jane Friedman The Great Courses: How to Publish Your Book The Hot Sheet: Essential Publishing Industry Newsletter for Authors Jane Friedman on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. 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! 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 The Nest by Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney LeechBlock: A Simple Free Productivity Tool (for Firefox Web Browser) Freedom: Internet, Social Media, and App Blocker Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. 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! 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. In Part One of the file Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney and I discuss: How a Failed Short Story Became a Bestselling Book The Difference Between Copywriting and Fiction Why Writers Need to Eliminate Distractions The Double-edged Sword of Working from Home How to Avoid the Impostor Syndrome of a Big Writing Project Listen to The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience below ... Download MP3 Subscribe by RSS Subscribe in iTunes The Show Notes How Bestselling Debut Novelist Cynthia D Aprix Sweeney Writes: Part Two The Nest by Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. 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 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 ... Download MP3 Subscribe by RSS Subscribe in iTunes The Show Notes How to Be a Person in the World: Ask Polly’s Guide Through the Paradoxes of Modern Life (Available July 12, 2016), by Heather Havrilesky Heather’s ‘Ask Polly’ Column and Essays for New York Magazine How to Write (The Awl) Heather’s Blog Tweetdeck for Twitter Heather Havrilesky on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. 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 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 Listen to The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience below ... Download MP3 Subscribe by RSS Subscribe in iTunes The Show Notes How Advice Columnist and Author Heather Havrilesky Writes: Part Two How to Be a Person in the World: Ask Polly’s Guide Through the Paradoxes of Modern Life (Available July 12, 2016), by Heather Havrilesky Heather’s ‘Ask Polly’ Column and Essays for New York Magazine How to Write (The Awl) Heather’s Blog Heather Havrilesky on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wildly prolific, bestselling novelist — Dean Wesley Smith — has been a full-time writer since the ’80s, and he made a visit to the show to talk about how he has written (and ghostwritten) hundreds of titles over the years. 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! In edition to being the CFO of a traditional publisher, he is a non-fiction author, educator, and multi-genre writer whose short fiction has appeared in over 20 anthologies. Dean shared with me the habits and habitats of a hyper-prolific fictionist who has written dozens of Star Trek novels, film novelizations, and a handful of licensed properties for favorites including Smallville, Spider-Man, X-Men, Aliens, and Men in Black. Join us for this two-part interview. If you missed the first half you can find it here. In Part Two of the file Dean Wesley Smith and I discuss: The ‘Midnight Disease’ of a Highly Prolific Author How to Find the Intersection of Creativity and Entertainment Why Writers Must Never Stop Learning The Courage Required to ‘Dare to Be Bad’ Why Great Writers Aren’t Always the Best Dinner Guests Listen to The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience below ... Download MP3 Subscribe by RSS Subscribe in iTunes The Show Notes DeanWesleySmith.com Non-Fiction Titles by Dean Wesley Smith (including Heinlein s Rules and Writing into the Dark) The Works of John D. MacDonald Dean Wesley Smith on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wildly prolific, bestselling novelist — Dean Wesley Smith — has been a full-time writer since the ’80s, and he made a visit to the show to talk about how he has written (and ghostwritten) hundreds of titles over the years. 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! In edition to being the CFO of a traditional publisher, he is a non-fiction author, educator, and multi-genre writer whose short fiction has appeared in over 20 anthologies. Dean shared with me the habits and habitats of a hyper-prolific fictionist who has also written dozens of Star Trek novels, film novelizations, and a handful of licensed properties for favorites including Smallville, Spider-Man, X-Men, Aliens, and Men in Black. Join us for this two-part interview. In Part One of the file Dean Wesley Smith and I discuss: How ‘Heinlein’s Rules’ Can Change Your Writing Process Why Writers Have to Be Readers First How a Dedicated Writing Computer Can Boost Your Productivity The Origins of Writer’s Block Why You Should Always Write Yourself into a Corner Listen to The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience below ... Download MP3 Subscribe by RSS Subscribe in iTunes The Show Notes How Bestselling Hybrid Author Dean Wesley Smith Writes: Part Two DeanWesleySmith.com Non-Fiction Titles by Dean Wesley Smith (including Heinlein s Rules and Writing into the Dark) Freewrite: Your Distraction-Free Writing Tool How to Beat Writer’s Block by Maria Konnikova for The New Yorker Dean Wesley Smith on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gonzo essayist and creative non-fiction author — Kent Russell — dropped by to chat about his hybrid reportage on the margins of society, and the process of a big city, freelance journalist. 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! Mr. Russell’s critically lauded first collection — I Am Sorry to Think I Have Raised a Timid Son — was recently re-released in paperback, and Vanity Fair called it, “A ludicrously smart, tragicomic man-on-the-edge memoir in essays.” The acclaimed writer has been compared to David Foster Wallace by the New York Times Book Review, and his writing has appeared in The New York Times Magazine, Tin House, The New Republic, Harper’s, GQ, n+1, The Believer, and Grantland. Join us for this two-part interview. If you missed the first half you can find it here. In Part Two of the file Kent Russell and I discuss: Why Procrastination is Just as Important as Writing How to Break Away from Genre Constraints Why a Generous Point of View Can Make You a Better Writer The Joys and Tactile Sensations of Mechanical Keyboards How to Tell the One Story that Only You Can Tell Listen to The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience below ... Download MP3 Subscribe by RSS Subscribe in iTunes The Show Notes I Am Sorry to Think I Have Raised a Timid Son – by Kent Russell Letter of Recommendation: Hangovers – Kent Russell for the NYTimes Magazine ‘Timid Son’ Celebrates Mambas And Manly Men – NPR Interview with Kent Russell Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gonzo essayist and creative non-fiction author — Kent Russell — dropped by to chat about his hybrid reportage on the margins of society, and the process of a big city, freelance journalist. 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! Mr. Russell’s critically lauded first collection — I Am Sorry to Think I Have Raised a Timid Son — was recently re-released in paperback, and Vanity Fair called it, “A ludicrously smart, tragicomic man-on-the-edge memoir in essays.” The acclaimed writer has been compared to David Foster Wallace by The New York Times Book Review, and his writing has appeared in The New York Times Magazine, Tin House, The New Republic, Harper’s, GQ, n+1, The Believer, and Grantland. Join us for this two-part interview. In Part One of the file Kent Russell and I discuss: The Promiscuity of Freelance Writers Why You Should Overwrite Your First Drafts How to Research Your Stories Like RoboCop Why All Writing Is (Still) Rewriting A Writer’s Reliance on Cloud Word Processing Listen to The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience below ... Download MP3 Subscribe by RSS Subscribe in iTunes The Show Notes How Long-Form Journalist Kent Russell Writes: Part Two I Am Sorry to Think I Have Raised a Timid Son – by Kent Russell Letter of Recommendation: Hangovers – Kent Russell for the NYTimes Magazine ‘Timid Son’ Celebrates Mambas And Manly Men – NPR Interview with Kent Russell Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Author and entrepreneur-hacker — Jonny Nastor — dropped in this week to talk about the transition from podcast to bestselling book, and how he helps digital entrepreneurs and creatives find shortcuts to success. 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! Mr. Nastor is the author of the bestseller Hack the Entrepreneur: How to Stop Procrastinating, Build a Business, and Do Work That Matters, a book that combines the wisdom of over 200 interviews with successful entrepreneurs from Jonny’s hit podcast of the same name. Jon’s own remarkable journey has taken him from punk rock musician, to internet entrepreneur, podcaster, educator, author, and a guy who somehow still finds time to be a husband, father, and world traveler in-between. Join us for this two-part interview. If you missed the first half you can find it here. In Part Two of the file Jon Nastor and I discuss: How to Come to Terms with Procrastination Jonny’s Unique Definition of Creativity for Writers and Entrepreneurs The Effectiveness of Simple Sentences Why You Should Quit When You’re Done, Not When You’re Tired Listen to The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience below ... Download MP3 Subscribe by RSS Subscribe in iTunes The Show Notes HacktheEntrepreneur.com Hack the Entrepreneur: How to Stop Procrastinating, Build a Business, and Do Work That Matters – by Jon Nastor Jon Nastor Articles for Copyblogger Jon Nastor Articles for Entrepreneur Jon Nastor Articles for Foundr Jonny Nastor on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Author and entrepreneur-hacker — Jonny Nastor — dropped in this week to talk about the transition from podcast to bestselling book, and how he helps digital entrepreneurs and creatives find shortcuts to success. 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! Mr. Nastor is the author of the bestseller Hack the Entrepreneur: How to Stop Procrastinating, Build a Business, and Do Work That Matters, a book that combines the wisdom of over 200 interviews with successful entrepreneurs from Jonny’s hit podcast of the same name. Jon’s own remarkable journey has taken him from punk rock musician, to internet entrepreneur, podcaster, educator, author, and a guy who somehow still finds time to be a husband, father, and world traveler in-between. Join us for this two-part interview. In Part One of the file Jon Nastor and I discuss: Why Most Writers Suck at Grammar The Importance of the DIY Mindset for Authors How to Get into Flow State and Write for 18 Hours Straight The Value of Outlining Your Projects Listen to The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience below ... Download MP3 Subscribe by RSS Subscribe in iTunes The Show Notes How Punk Rock Entrepreneur Jonny Nastor Writes: Part Two HacktheEntrepreneur.com Hack the Entrepreneur: How to Stop Procrastinating, Build a Business, and Do Work That Matters – by Jon Nastor Jon Nastor Articles for Copyblogger Jon Nastor Articles for Entrepreneur Jon Nastor Articles for Foundr Jonny Nastor on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Acclaimed horror author — Jonathan Janz — stopped by this week to talk about his passions, his workmanlike process as a writer, and the skeletons in his closet. 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! Award-winning horror and zombie maestro Brian Keene called Janz, “One of the best writers in modern horror to come along in the last decade.” In addition to being a multi-genre author, Jonathan leads a double life as a full-time high school educator and family man. He is the author of nine novels and recently signed an 11-book deal to offer limited-run, collector’s editions of his books. Jonathan’s tenth novel — Children of the Dark — lands March 15th, 2016, and it has been likened by critics to Stephen King’s work. Join us for this two-part interview. If you missed the first half you can find it here. In Part Two of the file Jonathan Janz and I discuss: The Faustian Curse of All Talented Writers Why Empathy is Crucial to Finding Creative Success How Your Success as a Writer Depends on Your Work Ethic Why Reading Is Just as Important as Writing The Secret to Overcoming Your Terror of the Blank Page Listen to The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience below ... Download MP3 Subscribe by RSS Subscribe in iTunes The Show Notes JonathanJanz.com Jonathan Janz on Amazon Jonathan on Facebook Jonathan on Goodreads Jonathan on Instagram Jonathan on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Acclaimed horror author — Jonathan Janz — stopped by this week to talk about his passions, his workmanlike process as a writer, and the skeletons in his closet. 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! Award-winning horror and zombie maestro Brian Keene called Janz, “One of the best writers in modern horror to come along in the last decade.” In addition to being a multi-genre author, Jonathan leads a double life as a full-time high school educator and family man. He is the author of nine novels and recently signed an 11-book deal to offer limited-run, collector’s editions of his books. Jonathan’s tenth novel — Children of the Dark — lands March 15th, 2016, and it has been likened by critics to Stephen King’s work. Join us for this two-part interview. In Part One of the file Jonathan Janz and I discuss: Why Rejection Should Only Strengthen Your Determination The Value of Humility for Writers How to Write 1000 Words an Hour without Distraction Why Nothing Is Lost on Writers The Secret of True Creative Expression Listen to The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience below ... Download MP3 Subscribe by RSS Subscribe in iTunes The Show Notes How Acclaimed Horror Author Jonathan Janz Writes: Part Two JonathanJanz.com Jonathan Janz on Amazon Jonathan on Facebook Jonathan on Goodreads Jonathan on Instagram Jonathan on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

National bestselling poet — Tyler Knott Gregson — visited the podcast to discuss his writing process and his journey to finding success. 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 New York Times called Mr. Gregson “the literary equivalent of a unicorn: a best-selling celebrity poet.” His latest collection recently “… hit No. 3 on Nielsen s top 10 best-selling poetry titles, ahead of Dante, Homer, Seamus Heaney and Khalil Gibran.” The author is also a professional photographer and multimedia artist who started his writing career as a humble freelance copywriter. His love of words, vintage typewriters, and photography have combined to inspire a new digital art form. Tyler boasts over 500,000 social media followers that have translated into two bestselling volumes of poetry with a third on the way. In this file, Tyler Knott Gregson and I discuss: Literary Unicorns and Celebrity Poets How a Hobby Turned into a Bestselling Book The Impostor Syndrome that Comes with Finding Success as a Writer Upcycled Art and the Hybrid Digital-Analog Revolution How a Daily Writing Practice Really Adds Up Why Nature is the Greatest Creative Muse in History Listen to The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience below ... Download MP3 Subscribe by RSS Subscribe in iTunes The Show Notes Web Poets Society: New Breed Succeeds in Taking Verse Viral (NY Times) Poetry by Tyler Knott Gregson on Amazon Tyler Knott Gregson on Instagram TylerKnott.com Tyler on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Prolific, international bestselling authorpreneur, Mark Dawson, dropped by to talk about self-publishing versus traditional publishing, and the productivity hacks that have helped him publish over 23 books. 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! Mr. Dawson’s multiple thriller series, and self-publishing savvy, have helped him to build a vast, hungry audience of readers and unparalleled levels of success. In addition to international bestsellers, and stellar ratings from fans, Mark has become an indie author advocate and online marketing authority for writers. Join us for this two-part interview. If you missed the first half, you can find it here. In Part Two of the file, Mark Dawson and I discuss: How an 80s TV Show Can Inspire Your Writing Why Great Writers Have to Understand Story First How to Write Page-Turning Fiction Why You Should Leave Out the Parts that Readers Skip Best Practices for New Writers Listen to The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience below ... Download MP3 Subscribe by RSS Subscribe in iTunes The Show Notes MarkJDawson.com Amazon Pays $450,000 A Year To This Self-Published Writer BookFunnel SelfPublishingFormula.com The Business Behind Writing and Selling with Mark Dawson – Authorpreneur Podcast Interview Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Prolific, international bestselling authorpreneur, Mark Dawson, dropped by to talk about self-publishing versus traditional publishing, and the productivity hacks that have helped him publish over 23 books. 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! Mr. Dawson’s multiple thriller series, and self-publishing savvy, have helped him to build a vast, hungry audience of readers and unparalleled levels of success. In addition to international bestsellers, and stellar ratings from fans, Mark has become an indie author advocate and online marketing authority for writers. Join us for this two-part interview. In Part One of the file Mark Dawson and I discuss: The Challenges and Rewards of the Writer’s Life Why If Your Process Isn’t Broken … You Don’t Need to Fix It How to Write (and Publish) One Million Words in One Year What a Bestselling Author Does to Unwind Listen to The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience below ... Download MP3 Subscribe by RSS Subscribe in iTunes The Show Notes How Bestselling Thriller Author Mark Dawson Writes: Part Two MarkJDawson.com Amazon Pays $450,000 A Year To This Self-Published Writer BookFunnel SelfPublishingFormula.com The Business Behind Writing and Selling with Mark Dawson – Authorpreneur Podcast Interview Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New York Times bestselling author and New Yorker columnist, Maria Konnikova, took a beat from her hectic schedule to talk with me about her new book and the writer’s process. 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! Her latest book — The Confidence Game: Why We Fall for It . . . Every Time — examines the psychology of the con, and The New York Times Book Review wrote, “Konnikova … is an insightful analyst of the dark art of the scam.” As Forbes describes 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.” In addition to her past work as a TV producer for Charlie Rose, Ms. Konnikova 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, among many others. 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 Listen to The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience below ... Download MP3 Subscribe by RSS Subscribe in iTunes The Show Notes MariaKonnikova.com The Confidence Game: Why We Fall for It . . . Every Time Maria Konnikova New Yorker Contributor Page The Joy of Psyching Myself Out by M. Konnikova Freedom App The Paris Review Interviews Maria Konnikova on Facebook Maria Konnikova on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Award-winning journalist and author, Adam Skolnick, returned to the podcast and we got down to brass tacks about his writer’s journey, his new book, and the globetrotting life of a travel writer. 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! Adam’s first narrative nonfiction book — One Breath: Freediving, Death, and the Quest to Shatter Human Limits — was recently published by Crown Archetype, and it’s based on his award-winning New York Times sports coverage of the death of the greatest American free diver of all time. One Breath has been compared to other classics of extreme sports journalism — like Jon Krakauer s Into Thin Air — and early reviews have been very positive. In addition to his most recent work, Adam is the author and co author of 25 Lonely Planet guidebooks, and has written for publications as varied as ESPN.com, Men’s Health, Outside, BBC, Playboy Magazine, and The NY Times. Join us for this two-part interview. If you missed the first half you can find it here. In Part Two of the file Adam Skolnick and I discuss: How to Infuse Your Life with More Creativity What Kindness, Collaboration, and Community Bring to Your Writing How an Author’s Favorite Quote Reflects Their Psyche The Most Eccentric Writers’ Dinner Ever Why There’s No Room for Self-Doubt on First Drafts Listen to The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience below ... Download MP3 Subscribe by RSS Subscribe in iTunes The Show Notes AdamSkolnick.com OneBreathbook.com One Breath Book Trailer When ‘One Breath’ Tests Life: Author Explores Extreme Freediving – NPR Interview Adam Skolnick Adam Skolnick on Instagram Adam Skolnick on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Award-winning journalist and author, Adam Skolnick, returned to the podcast to get down to brass tacks about his writer’s journey, his new book, and the globetrotting life of a travel writer. 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! Adam’s first narrative nonfiction book — One Breath: Freediving, Death, and the Quest to Shatter Human Limits — was recently published by Crown Archetype, and it’s based on his award-winning New York Times sports coverage of the death of the greatest American freediver of all time. One Breath has been compared to other classics of extreme sports journalism — like Jon Krakauer s Into Thin Air — and early reviews have been very positive. In addition to his most recent work, Adam is the author and co author of 25 Lonely Planet guidebooks, and has written for publications as varied as ESPN.com, Men’s Health, Outside, BBC, Playboy Magazine, and The NY Times. Join us for this two-part interview. In Part One of the file Adam Skolnick and I discuss: What It’s Like to do Environmental Work with Jack Johnson How to Become an Award-Winning Journalist … without Taking a Writing Class Why You Should Tell the Stories that Come to You Simple Hacks to Help You Beat Writer’s Block How Daily Word Counts Can Keep Your Writing on Track Listen to The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience below ... Download MP3 Subscribe by RSS Subscribe in iTunes The Show Notes AdamSkolnick.com OneBreathbook.com One Breath Book Trailer Jack Johnson Is Sailing In Search Of Plastic Smog When ‘One Breath’ Tests Life: Author Explores Extreme Freediving – NPR Interview Adam Skolnick Adam Skolnick on Instagram Adam Skolnick on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

International bestselling author and critically acclaimed screenwriter of Room — Emma Donoghue — talked with me about her writing process and adapting her best known work into an award-winning movie. 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! In addition to writing for the screen, stage, and radio over her prolific career, the multi-genre author has had her popular fiction translated into over 40 languages. Her 2010 novel Room was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize and won a New York Times Book of the Year award, among others. The film adaptation of the book has been nominated for four Oscars — including Best Adapted Screenplay — for Ms. Donoghue’s stunning first full-length script. Room (2015) boasts 54 international award wins and 102 nominations (as of this writing), including nods from The Golden Globes, Critics Choice Movie Awards, Screen Actors Guild Awards, AFI Awards, Independent Spirit Awards, and the Toronto International Film Festival. Join us for this two-part interview. If you missed the first half you can find it here: How Emma Donoghue (Bestselling Author of Room ) Writes: Part One In Part Two of the file Emma Donoghue and I discuss: Why Setting Constraints Can Help Your Writing How Writing for Yourself Is the Key to Success Why a Great Screenwriter Can’t Recall any Movie Quotes How Planning Is the Rope that Guides Your Writing through the Wilderness Listen to The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience below ... Download MP3 Subscribe by RSS Subscribe in iTunes The Show Notes EmmaDonoghue.com Weekend Read App Workflowy App Room Movie on IMDb The Business Podcast: Lenny Abrahamson & Emma Donoghue Bring ‘Room’ to the Screen Emma Donoghue on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

International bestselling author and critically acclaimed screenwriter of Room — Emma Donoghue — talked with me about her writing process and adapting her best known work into an award-winning movie. 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! In addition to writing for the screen, stage, and radio over her prolific career, the multi-genre author has had her popular fiction translated into over 40 languages. Her 2010 novel Room was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize and won a New York Times Book of the Year award, among others. The film adaptation of the book has been nominated for four Oscars — including Best Adapted Screenplay — for Ms. Donoghue’s stunning first full-length script. Room (2015) boasts 54 international award wins and 102 nominations (as of this writing), including nods from The Golden Globes, Critics Choice Movie Awards, Screen Actors Guild Awards, AFI Awards, Independent Spirit Awards, and the Toronto International Film Festival. Join us for this two-part interview. In Part One of the file Emma Donoghue and I discuss: How Getting Fired Can Boost Your Writing Career Why You Don’t Need a Magic Pen to Get It Done How Writing Is Like Sex Why Research and Preparation Informs Great Writing Listen to The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience below ... Download MP3 Subscribe by RSS Subscribe in iTunes The Show Notes How Emma Donoghue (Bestselling Author of Room ) Writes: Part Two EmmaDonoghue.com Weekend Read App Workflowy App Room Movie on IMDb Emma Donoghue on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. 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 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 Goinswriter.com Jeff Goins on Medium The Art of Work Book The Portfolio Life Podcast with Jeff Goins Exit Through the Gift Shop — Documentary Jeff Goins on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. 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 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. In Part One of the file Jeff Goins and I discuss: How to Think Like a Professional Writer Why You Need to Be Intentional about Your Next Project The Myths of Very Productive Writers Jeff’s Systematic ‘Workout’ for Effortless Writing Why You Need to Pare Down Your To-Do List Listen to The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience below ... Download MP3 Subscribe by RSS Subscribe in iTunes The Show Notes How Bestselling Author Jeff Goins Writes: Part Two Goinswriter.com Jeff Goins on Medium The Art of Work Book The Portfolio Life Podcast with Jeff Goins Jeff Goins on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The most fascinating news on the internet always seems to find its way into Dave Pell’s carefully curated — and always entertaining — NextDraft email newsletter. 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! Mr. Pell has turned his addiction for getting the scoop into a vast and loyal following of A-list media heads. He calls NextDraft his “modern-day column,” and the infectious, one-man curation engine is hard to delete (although he believes his friends do it often). In addition to being a successful venture capitalist, Dave carves out time to do a weekly podcast with veteran journalist Phil Bronstein called What Hurts, a unique blend of “fascinating news and personal angst.” In this file Dave Pell and I discuss: The Downside of Technology How to Turn an Addiction to News into an Audience Video Game Music as a Productivity Hack Why You Should Always Delete Your First Paragraph The Real Difference Between Writing and Podcasting How Tony Soprano Raised Dave Pell’s Stock Listen to The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience below ... Download MP3 Subscribe by RSS Subscribe in iTunes The Show Notes NextDraft: The Day’s Most Fascinating News from Dave Pell ‘What Hurts’ Podcast By Phil Bronstein and Dave Pell Dave Pell on Medium Publishing Lessons from Dave Pell, the Most Fascinating Email Newsletter Writer in the Business Dave Pell on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Prolific, multi-brand entrepreneur Joanna Penn has turned her passion for writing into a successful career as both an educator and bestselling indie author. 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! As her dark, alter ego — J.F.Penn — she has notched chart-toppers on both The New York Times and USA Today bestsellers lists. As a nonfiction writer, professional speaker, podcaster, and entrepreneur, she’s been voted one of The Guardian UK’s Top 100 Creative Professionals. Her site — TheCreativePenn.com — offers both publishing and marketing resources and is regularly voted a Top 10 website for writers. Join us for this two-part interview. If you missed the first half you can find it here: How Bestselling Author Joanna Penn Writes: Part One In Part Two of the file Joanna Penn and I discuss: Why It’s Still Hard to Write a Book in the Future How Getting Lost Can Inspire Your Writing Why the ‘Destination’ (and Reward of Writing) is the Journey How Trusting Your Creative Curiosity Can Reap Rewards Listen to The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience below ... Download MP3 Subscribe by RSS Subscribe in iTunes The Show Notes The Creative Penn J.F. Penn Thriller Author The Creative Penn Podcast Books by Steven Pressfield Joanna Penn on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Prolific, multi-brand entrepreneur Joanna Penn has turned her passion for writing into a successful career as both an educator and bestselling indie author. 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! As her dark, alter ego — J.F.Penn — she has notched chart-toppers on both The New York Times and USA Today bestsellers lists. As a nonfiction writer, professional speaker, podcaster, and entrepreneur, she’s been voted one of The Guardian UK’s Top 100 Creative Professionals. Her site — TheCreativePenn.com — offers both publishing and marketing resources and is regularly voted a Top 10 website for writers. Join us for this two-part interview. In Part One of the file Joanna Penn and I discuss: How to Turn Your Passion into a Career The Cumulative Successes of Creating Every Day How Rewarding Your Inner Child Can Boost Productivity Why Input Equals Output for Writers How to Write Books While Competing in an Ultra-Marathon Listen to The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience below ... Download MP3 Subscribe by RSS Subscribe in iTunes The Show Notes How Bestselling Author Joanna Penn Writes : Part Two The Creative Penn J.F. Penn Thriller Author The Creative Penn Podcast Noisli.com Joanna Penn on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mr. Gottschall is the author or editor of seven books, including The Storytelling Animal — a New York Times Editor’s Choice Selection and a finalist for the LA Times Book Prize — and most recently he published a fascinating book titled The Professor in the Cage: Why Men Fight and Why We Like to Watch. 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! As a Distinguished Fellow at the English Department of Washington & Jefferson College his work lands at the intersection of science and art and is frequently covered in outlets like The New York Times, Scientific American, The New Yorker, The Atlantic, and NPR. For his latest book he personally climbed into the cage to research the world of mixed martial arts, violence, masculinity, and why society is attracted to violent spectacle. Join us for this two-part interview. If you missed the first half you can find it here: How Critically Acclaimed Literary Scholar Jonathan Gottschall Writes: Part One In Part Two of the file Jonathan Gottschall and I discuss: Why Creativity Is Not the Hard Part for Writers How Great Writing is Like Grasping for a Handful of Water How Our Memories Fool Us with Stories A Great Reminder that Writing is Work, Not Magic Listen to The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience below ... Download MP3 Subscribe by RSS Subscribe in iTunes The Show Notes JonathanGottschall.com Jonathan Gottschall’s Author Page on Amazon ‘When Writers Attack: On Boxing, Norman Mailer, and the art of Getting Hit’ by Jonathan Gottschall Jonathan Gottschall on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices