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

The New York Times bestselling novelist, award-winning adventure writer, and journalist, Peter Heller, spoke with me about his early life as a starving poet, breaking into journalism, how he makes things up for a living, and what it's like to be compared to your heroes. Peter is a longtime contributor to NPR, and a former contributing editor at Outside Magazine, Men’s Journal, and National Geographic Adventure. He received an MFA from the Iowa Writers' Workshop in fiction and poetry, is the author of four nonfiction books, and winner of the National Outdoor Book Award for Literature. Heller is also a notable bestselling author of a half-dozen novels including The Dog Stars – a lauded breakout bestseller, now published in 22 languages – The Painter, and Celine (a finalist for the LA Times Book Prize that won the prestigious Reading the West Book Award, shared in the past by Western writer Cormac McCarthy). His latest novel, and Edgar Award Nominee, The River, has been called a "... heart-pounding survival story of .... two college students on a wilderness canoe trip – [and] a gripping tale of a friendship tested by fire, white water, and violence." The New York Times called The River, “[A] modern-day survival tale .... [with] the urgency of a thriller.” [This episode is sponsored by Ulysses. Go to⁠⁠ ⁠ulys.app/writeabook⁠⁠⁠ to download Ulysses, and use the code FILES at checkout to get 25% off the first year of your yearly subscription."] [Discover⁠⁠ The Writer Files Extra⁠⁠: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at⁠⁠ writerfiles.fm⁠⁠] [If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please⁠⁠ click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews⁠⁠. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file Peter and I discussed: How the author channels his fictional characters The only way to start a novel Why once you start "making it up" you can never go back Productivity hacks for writing 1000 words a day, rain or shine The importance of connecting with your #writingcommunity And fantastic advice from other award-winning authors to help you relax and let it rip Show Notes: ⁠The River: A novel⁠⁠ by Peter Heller [Amazon] ⁠peterhellerauthor.com⁠ ⁠⁠Peter Heller on Amazon⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Peter Heller on Facebook⁠⁠ ⁠Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer⁠⁠ ⁠⁠diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Kelton Reid Instagram⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Author, educator, and award-winning architect, Donald M. Rattner, stopped by this week to expound on invaluable research into the latest psychology and productivity studies to offer practical tips for designing your writing space for maximum creative output. “Unfortunately, once you go down this rabbit hole, you could go on and on forever...” – Donald M. Rattner Donald has an art history degree from Columbia (where he graduated with honors), and a Masters of Architecture from Princeton. He's now the founder of an award-winning architecture firm and a "Creativity Architect" whose work (on the psychology of creative spaces) has been featured on CNN, in The New York Times, Work Design Magazine, Better Humans, Town & Country, and many others. His latest book, My Creative Space: How to Design Your Home to Stimulate Ideas and Spark Innovation, offers "48 Techniques to Boost Your Creativity at Home, According to Science." The book has a coffee table slash textbook feel to it and includes "... over 200 high-quality photos of interiors from around the world, [from] top-tier architects, designers, and creatives." So guess what we're going to dig into today? A quick note, I'm changing up the format of the show to present longer episodes presented in a single part, as opposed to two-parters split for a shorter, drive-time experience. Reach out on Twitter or over at the writerfiles.fm if you like the longer episode format better, I appreciate your feedback. Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Donald M. Rattner and I discussed: The often disparate and misleading definitions of creativity Why writers have such a unique relationship to their creative space Science-based techniques to boost your creative output Secrets behind why creativity is a 24-hour occupation The optimal noise and clutter levels for idea generation Why nature plays such a critical role in creativity and productivity And so much more! Show Notes: DonaldRattner.com My Creative Space: How to Design Your Home to Stimulate Ideas and Spark Innovation by Donald M. Rattner [Amazon] Donald M. Rattner on Medium Donald M. Rattner on Facebook Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Part Two of this file the international bestselling hybrid author and crime novelist, Adam Croft, returned to chat with me from overseas about the processes, productivity hacks, and professionalism that have helped him become one of the most successful independently published authors in the world, and why writers need to develop a business mindset to do the same. "Writing more books is going to earn you more money, and that should always be your priority.” – Adam Croft Adam's previous career was as a freelance designer and editor, but his hard work and persistence over ten years have helped him become one of the biggest selling authors of the last decade. How did Adam go on to sell close to two million books in over 120 countries in such a short time? We'll dig into his inspiring story, including the stories behind his breakthrough worldwide bestseller Her Last Tomorrow, and his crime thriller Knight & Culverhouse series, which knocked J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Cursed Child off the top spot in Canada only weeks after Her Last Tomorrow was also #1 in the same country. His multiple bestsellers have also made him an authority on indie publishing, and he's been featured on BBC television, BBC Radio, the BBC World Service, The Guardian, The Huffington Post, The Bookseller and many other media outlets. Adam now shares his unique expertise of the craft at The Indie Author Mindset where he offers to help "... authors cut through the overwhelming — and often conflicting — information that’s out there [with] solid help and information." And Adam was kind enough to drop some of that wisdom here for you today, so I’ll tease the promo code I’ve also put in the show notes – WRITERFILES – for a 50% discount on every course at The Indie Author Mindset just for listeners of this show. Simply go to courses.indieauthormindset.com and pop that in there. Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey This episode of the Writer Files is brought to you by Words Matter by Wix. Looking for that burst of inspiration to break your writer's block? Or maybe you just need some quick grammar and style tips? Words Matter has tons of articles to help you become a better writer, plus invites to intensive in-person writing workshops. Visit wix.com/wordsmatter/blog to learn more. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. If you missed the first half of this show you can find it right here, and you can find all previous episodes of the show in the archives at writerfiles.fm, and find the last 100 eps on Apple Podcasts (or wherever you tune in), and in the show notes. Stay tuned ... In Part Two of this file Adam Croft and I discussed: Why the author doesn't sit still or look back The uphill battle ahead for aspiring indie authors How Adam stays organized and energized as an author slash entrepreneur The productivity hacks that help him stay prolific Why writers need to treat their craft with the respect it deserves And cutting through the bullsh*t of self-publishing Show Notes: Words Matter by Wix Use promo code WRITERFILES for 50% discount on any of Adam's online courses at The Indie Author Mindset 'The Writer's Brain' on Procrastination: Part One AdamCroft.net Partners in Crime podcast The Indie Author Mindset on Facebook The Indie Author Mindset The Indie Author Mindset: How Changing Your Way of Thinking Can Transform Your Writing Career by Adam Croft [Amazon] Adam Croft Readers Group on Facebook Adam Croft on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The international bestselling hybrid author and crime novelist, Adam Croft, spoke with me from overseas about the processes, productivity hacks, and professionalism that have helped him become one of the most successful independently published authors in the world, and why writers need to develop a business mindset to do the same. "Writing more books is going to earn you more money, and that should always be your priority.” – Adam Croft Adam's previous career was as a freelance designer and editor, but his hard work and persistence over ten years have helped him become one of the biggest selling authors of the last decade. How did Adam go on to sell close to two million books in over 120 countries in such a short time? We'll dig into his inspiring story, including the stories behind his breakthrough worldwide bestseller Her Last Tomorrow, and his crime thriller Knight & Culverhouse series, which knocked J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Cursed Child off the top spot in Canada only weeks after Her Last Tomorrow was also #1 in the same country. His multiple bestsellers have also made him an authority on indie publishing, and he's been featured on BBC television, BBC Radio, the BBC World Service, The Guardian, The Huffington Post, The Bookseller and many other media outlets. Adam now shares his unique expertise of the craft at The Indie Author Mindset where he offers to help "... authors cut through the overwhelming — and often conflicting — information that’s out there [with] solid help and information." And Adam was kind enough to drop some of that wisdom here for you today. Stay tuned for Part Two of this series for a promo code just for Writer Files listeners! Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey This episode of the Writer Files is brought to you by Words Matter by Wix. Looking for that burst of inspiration to break your writer's block? Or maybe you just need some quick grammar and style tips? Words Matter has tons of articles to help you become a better writer, plus invites to intensive in-person writing workshops. Visit wix.com/wordsmatter/blog to learn more. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In Part One of this file Adam Croft and I discussed: The nine book "overnight success" How Adam's past life as a freelancer and small business owner helped him in self-publishing The three facets of a successful indie author mindset Why the author's not interested in chasing the latest gold rush And what it's like to outsell your heroes Show Notes: Words Matter by Wix AdamCroft.net Partners in Crime podcast The Indie Author Mindset on Facebook The Indie Author Mindset The Indie Author Mindset: How Changing Your Way of Thinking Can Transform Your Writing Career by Adam Croft [Amazon] Adam Croft Readers Group on Facebook Adam Croft on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New York Times bestselling author, Joseph Finder, took a timeout to talk with me about how to write prescient, cutting-edge suspense, his writing rituals, overcoming impostor syndrome, and how to come to terms with a business built on rejection. "My objective is not to present research...my objective is to make people turn the pages." – Joseph Finder The award-winning author is known for his "cutting-edge suspense ripped straight from the headlines." He's written 16 novels and counting, including Judgment, The Switch, Guilty Minds, The Fixer, Suspicion, and the international bestseller Killer Instinct. Two of his bestselling novels – Paranoia and High Crimes – have been turned into major motion pictures, and Vanished, Finder's instant bestseller, introduced readers to “private spy” Nick Heller. His latest is House on Fire: A Novel (A Nick Heller Novel), focusing on "... a wealthy family who owns a pharmaceutical company at the epicenter of the opioid crisis." The Washington Post said of the book, the thriller “Takes ‘ripped from the headlines’ to a new level," and The New York Times called Finder, "The master of a complex suspense formula." He is a founding member of the International Thriller Writers, as well as a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and the Association of Former Intelligence Officers. He is a graduate of Yale College and the Harvard Russian Research Center. Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey This episode of the Writer Files is brought to you by Words Matter by Wix. Looking for that burst of inspiration to break your writer's block? Or maybe you just need some quick grammar and style tips? Words Matter has tons of articles to help you become a better writer, plus invites to intensive in-person writing workshops. Visit wix.com/wordsmatter/blog to learn more. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Joseph Finder and I discussed: How setting himself a hard deadline helped him publish his first novel Powerful motivating factors for believable character development Why a writer's research needs to be like an iceberg Turning your writing into a ritual for success Why every novel presents its own unique challenges And the perils of selling the rights to a long-running fictional character Show Notes: Words Matter by Wix Creating Quality Content - Part 1: Research & Planning JosephFinder.com House on Fire: A Novel (A Nick Heller Novel) - by Joseph Finder [Amazon] America's Opioid Epidemic - NPR's Throughline Podcast Joseph Finder on Facebook Joseph Finder on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Part Two of this file we return with an exclusive look into the process behind not only how a writer gets paid to ghostwrite a title for a celebrity, but also the writing, researching, and indie publishing of a book that has sat on top of the Amazon charts for over a year. “If you’re struggling to figure out what to write, it means you don’t know what you want to say." – Adam Skolnick Note: We had to get special permission from the incredible human and author, David Goggins, to share this story – so this is truly an exclusive – but it’s no secret that the book was written by my good friend. A huge thank you to Mr. Goggins and his spirit, generosity, and ethos. From ideation of his bestselling book Can't Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds – by Author David Goggins – to publishing with Lioncrest, and the experimental new media formats like an audiobook/podcast and beyond, this is a glimpse behind the camouflage curtain. “... Can't Hurt Me, shares [Goggins's] astonishing life story and reveals that most of us tap into only 40% of our capabilities. He calls this The 40% Rule, and his story illuminates a path that anyone can follow to push past pain, demolish fear, and reach their full potential.” The writer (or ghostwriter) is an award-winning international journalist, author, serial pundit, and “bad penny” Adam Skolnick, our own international correspondent. Adam’s narrative nonfiction book is available in paperback — One Breath: Freediving, Death, and the Quest to Shatter Human Limits — is based on his award-winning New York Times sports coverage of the death of the greatest American freediver of all time. The book has been compared to other classics of extreme sports journalism — like Jon Krakauer’s Into Thin Air, and National Geographic Traveller called it “A vicarious thrill that you can enjoy in a little over 300 pages ... unless you read it in the bath...” If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. If you missed the first half of this show you can find it right here. And if you’ve missed previous episodes of The Writer Files you can find them all in the show notes, in the archives at writerfiles.fm, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in. In Part Two of this file Adam Skolnick and I discussed: The importance of a large social following for non-fiction authors How timing plays such a big role in self-publishing success Why an audiobook/podcast hybrid might be the next big thing for authors The Golden Age for ghostwriting opportunities How David Goggins's inspiring message goes beyond cookie cutter self-help And why "there is no finish line" Show Notes: Can't Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds – by Author David Goggins [Amazon] AdamSkolnick.com The Environmental Threat of Trump's Wall by Adam Skolnick Adam Skolnick on Instagram Adam Skolnick on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to a special edition of the show we traditionally call “Writer Porn.” To kick off 2020 we have a very enlightening show for you that you're not going to want to miss. It’s an exclusive look into the process behind not only how a writer gets paid to ghostwrite a title for a celebrity, but also the writing, research, and indie publishing of a book that has sat on top of the Amazon charts for over a year! Did it beat Michelle Obama in 2019? TK “If you’re struggling to figure out what to write, it means you don’t know what you want to say." – Adam Skolnick Note: We had to get special permission from the incredible human and author, David Goggins, to share this story – so this is truly an exclusive – but it’s no secret that the book was written by my good friend. A huge thank you to Mr. Goggins and his spirit, generosity, and ethos. From ideation of his bestselling book Can't Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds – by Author David Goggins – to publishing with Lioncrest, and the experimental new media formats like an audiobook/podcast and beyond, this is a glimpse behind the camouflage curtain. “In Can't Hurt Me, [Goggins] shares his astonishing life story and reveals that most of us tap into only 40% of our capabilities. He calls this The 40% Rule, and his story illuminates a path that anyone can follow to push past pain, demolish fear, and reach their full potential.” The writer (or ghostwriter) is an award-winning international journalist, author, serial pundit, and “bad penny” Adam Skolnick, our own international correspondent. Adam’s narrative nonfiction book is available in paperback — One Breath: Freediving, Death, and the Quest to Shatter Human Limits — is based on his award-winning New York Times sports coverage of the death of the greatest American freediver of all time. The book has been compared to other classics of extreme sports journalism — like Jon Krakauer’s Into Thin Air, and National Geographic Traveller called it “A vicarious thrill that you can enjoy in a little over 300 pages ... unless you read it in the bath...” The Writer Files is now available on Alexa! Because Apple Podcasts are available on Alexa-enabled Amazon devices in the United States, now all you have to do is say, "Alexa, play The Writer Files on Apple Podcasts." She will probably grant your wish ;-) Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Adam Skolnick and I discussed: A definition of ghostwriting How Adam got tapped to ghostwrite for author and endurance athlete David Goggins Why Goggins turned down a major book publishing deal and decided to self-publish (with Adam still attached) The Joe Rogan effect for authors How Adam made the decision to help write David's story And the unique research and drafting process that went into a bestseller ... Show Notes: Words Matter by Wix How We Built the Wix Brand Voice Author Accelerator Can't Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds – by Author David Goggins [Amazon] AdamSkolnick.com 21 Productivity Hacks from 21 Prolific Writers: Part One Adam Skolnick on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Acclaimed, award-winning Mexican author and critic, Juan Pablo Villalobos, spoke with me from Barcelona, Spain about making difficult subjects accessible to young adults, the challenge of shifting from fiction to non-fiction, and why finding the right voice and POV is so important to telling your story. “If you know perfectly where you're going, the reader will feel the same ... he or she will get bored.” – Juan Pablo Villalobos The tragicomic, avant-garde author (known to his friends as J.P.) has published film and literary criticism, short stories, and award-winning novels now translated into 15 languages. His novels include Down the Rabbit Hole, shortlisted for the Guardian First Book Award (2011), as well as I Don’t Expect Anyone to Believe Me, a Herralde Prize (2016) winner soon to be published in English. New York Times bestselling author Roxane Gay has called his writing “Excellent satire ... hilarious and smart, [that] takes on class in Mexico ... in a really useful way.” The author's latest is a departure into Young Adult, narrative non-fiction titled The Other Side: Stories of Central American Teen Refugees Who Dream of Crossing the Border. In a Kirkus starred review the heavily researched – and very timely book – was called, "A ... compilation of stories from unaccompanied Central American teen refugees who make tremendous sacrifices to cross the U.S.-Mexico border." Told in short vignettes, the author spoke with me about how he employed the narrative techniques of fiction in order to protect the protagonists’ identities and to address the difficult subject matter gathered in interviews, and inspired by immigrant minors seeking asylum from both violence and poverty. This is, quite obviously, the last show of the year and thank you for all of your support in 2019. Happy New Year! We'll be back with some incredible interviews in 2020, including an exclusive with a chart-topping ghostwriter who you may know (spoiler alert: he's been a recurring guest on the show), a self-publishing phenom, an Emmy Award-winning TV writer, an expert on optimizing your creative space or office, a NY Times bestselling suspense writer, and way more neuroscience for your brain! Also, The Writer Files is now available on Alexa! Because Apple Podcasts are available on Alexa-enabled Amazon devices in the United States, now all you have to do is say, "Alexa, play The Writer Files on Apple Podcasts." She will probably grant your wish ;-) Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Juan Pablo Villalobos and I discussed: The importance of unpredictability, point of view, and surprising yourself as a writer Why writing is (still) rewriting How the author told the stories of asylum seekers in the first person, and the challenging research process behind his latest work The power of literature for sharing difficult subjects with young readers How the author revisited Kurt Vonnegut's writing only after being compared to him And advice to scribes on why every writer's process should be unique Show Notes: Author Accelerator The Other Side: Stories of Central American Teen Refugees Who Dream of Crossing the Border by Juan Pablo Villalobos [Amazon] Juan Pablo Villalobos – Amazon author page Juan Pablo Villalobos on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tony Award-winning Broadway producer, writer, and artrepreneur, Ken Davenport, stopped by this week to talk with me about what it takes to consistently create hit musical theatre, his passion for storytelling, and lessons on today's business of Broadway. “I'm on a mission to help 5000 shows get produced by 2025.” – Ken Davenport Over his storied career Mr. Davenport has had multiple Tony Award wins and nominations for his productions including 2018's Best Revival of a Musical for Once on This Island. His lengthy list of credits also includes The Play That Goes Wrong, Groundhog Day (Tony nomination), Awakening (Tony nomination), Macbeth starring Alan Cumming, Godspell, Kinky Boots (Broadway – Tony Award, National Tour, Toronto and West End), The Visit (Tony nomination), Mothers and Sons (Tony nomination), The Bridges of Madison County, Chinglish, Oleanna starring Bill Pullman and Julia Stiles, and Will Ferrell’s You’re Welcome America, to name only a few. Ken is a co-founder of TEDxBroadway whose productions have been produced internationally in over 25 countries and his one-of-a-kind production and marketing savvy have been featured in the New York Times, MSNBC, Fox News, BBC and even Jay Leno's "Tonight Show" monologue. His blog and podcast about the business of Broadway – TheProducersPerspective.com – have also been featured in Vanity Fair, New York Magazine, and The Gothamist and he's written several books including How to Succeed in the Arts . . . or in Anything, and How to Write a Script in 30 Days. NOTE: This episode is marked explicit because we say a word that means "poop" a few times, as my daughter pointed out. Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Ken Davenport and I discussed: Why theatre is the original storytelling medium Secrets behind the intensely collaborative, NASCAR-like process to making a hit How creating a musical is like getting 17 people to recreate the Mona Lisa The power of deadlines and the greatest challenge of capturing an audience's attention Why ideas are worth nothing without a sh*tty first draft And advice and free resources for writers who want to break into Broadway Show Notes: Author Accelerator TheProducersPerspective.com 30 Day Script Challenge Davenport Theatrical Ken Davenport on Instagram Ken Davenport on Facebook Ken Davenport on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Part Two of this file the Academy Award nominated screenwriter, actor, and author, Kim Krizan, returned to discuss how she came to work with director Richard Linklater on the critically acclaimed Before Sunrise film series, her lifelong study of femme fatales, and the pioneering work of author Anaïs Nin. "I write so the endangered thoughts roaming naked and vulnerable through the misty jungles of my mind aren't slain by the guns of practical living." – Kim Krizan Kim earned her Masters degree in English and Literature and while she was writing her thesis – titled "Anaïs Nin and The Psychology of Creativity" – she auditioned for a film part on a lark. As a result, she went on to act in some of acclaimed director Richard Linklater's best known films including Slacker, Dazed and Confused, and even played herself in Waking Life. After taking interest in her Masters thesis, Linklater and Krizan went on to co-write the lauded film Before Sunrise (1995), featuring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy, and they collaborated on the entire award-winning trilogy. It's no surprise that her in-depth studies of the life of a visionary author also led to her latest book – Spy in the House of Anaïs Nin – "...a penetrating look at Nin’s incredible life and famous diary...Firmly placing Nin in her historical context as a feminist and visionary." *A note on the audio quality of this episode, Kim did join me via telephone for this interview.* Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. If you missed the first half of this show you can find it right here. And if you’ve missed previous episodes of The Writer Files you can find them all in the show notes, in the archives at writerfiles.fm, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in. In Part Two of this file Kim Krizan and I discussed: Why the liminal hours between waking and sleeping are so valuable for writers How Kim befriended Anaïs Nin's family and was granted access to her secret letters, papers, and original manuscripts What drove Nin to become the most groundbreaking self-published female author of her time How Nin's visionary work predicted the future The secrets of a literary legend and the many (often broke) famous authors she befriended and loved And why you're allowed to write a piece of crap and risk failure early on Show Notes: Author Accelerator How Oscar Nominated Screenwriter Kim Krizan Writes: Part One Spy in the House of Anaïs Nin by Kim Krizan [Amazon] Kim Krizan's author page on Amazon The Wild, Impassioned World of Anaïs Nin’s Diaries - Kim Krizan for Literary Hub Kim Krizan on IMDB.com Kim Krizan on Facebook Kim Krizan on Instagram Kelton Reid on Twitter Please click the PayPal Donate button to support The Writer Files with a secure PayPal donation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Academy Award nominated screenwriter, actor, and author, Kim Krizan, joined me this week to discuss how she came to work with director Richard Linklater on the critically acclaimed Before Sunrise film series, her lifelong study of femme fatales, and the pioneering work of author Anaïs Nin. "I write so the endangered thoughts roaming naked and vulnerable through the misty jungles of my mind aren't slain by the guns of practical living." – Kim Krizan Kim earned her Masters degree in English and Literature and while she was writing her thesis – titled "Anaïs Nin and The Psychology of Creativity" – she auditioned for a film part on a lark. As a result, she went on to act in some of acclaimed director Richard Linklater's best known films including Slacker, Dazed and Confused, and even played herself in Waking Life. After taking interest in her Masters thesis, Linklater and Krizan went on to co-write the lauded film Before Sunrise (1995), featuring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy, and they collaborated on the entire award-winning trilogy. It's no surprise that her in-depth studies of the life of a visionary author also led to her latest book – Spy in the House of Anaïs Nin – "...a penetrating look at Nin’s incredible life and famous diary...Firmly placing Nin in her historical context as a feminist and visionary." *A note on the audio quality of this episode, Kim did join me via telephone for this interview.* Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page. In Part One of this file Kim Krizan and I discussed: The effects her study of the experimental life of a literary pioneer had on her own path to creativity How her travels abroad influenced her screenwriting Why boredom is so important for writers How your observation of stranger's interactions is often interpreted into the language of storytelling And how to outsmart your own inner critic Show Notes: Author Accelerator How Oscar Nominated Screenwriter Kim Krizan Writes: Part Two Spy in the House of Anaïs Nin by Kim Krizan [Amazon] Kim Krizan's author page on Amazon The Wild, Impassioned World of Anaïs Nin’s Diaries - Kim Krizan for Literary Hub Kim Krizan on IMDB.com Kim Krizan on Facebook Kim Krizan on Instagram Kelton Reid on Twitter Please click the PayPal Donate button to support The Writer Files with a secure PayPal donation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Part Two of this file the showrunner and Executive Producer of Netflix's Daybreak, Aron Eli Coleite, returned to chat with me about what it takes to survive high school (at the apocalypse), paying his dues in Hollywood, and the collaborative nature of world-building and scriptwriting for TV. "Surviving high school is like surviving the apocalypse," – Aron Eli Coleite Aron is a comic book writer, TV writer, and producer best known for his work on the popular NBC series Heroes and the CBS series Star Trek Discovery. His latest is the dark, zombie comedy series Daybreak starring Matthew Broderick, co-created with Brad Peyton for Netflix. It's been called “Mad Max meets Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” by SyFy.com and is based on Brian Ralph's graphic novel series of the same name. Aron also helped co-develop the newest version of Locke & Key for Netflix - including co-writing the first episode with comic book series creator Joe Hill. His upcoming projects include adapting Amulet for 20th Century Fox. Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. If you missed the first half of this show you can find it right here. And if you’ve missed previous episodes of The Writer Files you can find them all in the show notes, in the archives at writerfiles.fm, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in. In Part Two of this file Aron Eli Coleite and I discussed: Secrets behind how a hit Netflix show is written and produced Why the writers on Daybreak are like an elite special forces unit The importance of diverse voices in TV writing How "The Hero's Journey" plays such a big part in episodic storytelling Why Aron got into television writing early in his career And his advice to aspiring scribes looking to break into TV Show Notes: Author Accelerator How Netflix Showrunner Aron Eli Coleite Writes: Part One Daybreak on Netflix The Only Podcast Left - Daybreak on Spotify Aron Eli Coleite on IMDB.com Aron Eli Coleite on Wikipedia Daybreak on Facebook Daybreak on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Please click the PayPal Donate button to support The Writer Files with a secure PayPal donation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Showrunner and Executive Producer of Netflix's Daybreak, Aron Eli Coleite, took a break to chat with me about what it takes to survive high school (at the apocalypse), paying his dues in Hollywood, and the collaborative nature of world-building and scriptwriting for TV. "Surviving high school is like surviving the apocalypse," – Aron Eli Coleite Aron is a comic book writer, TV writer, and producer best known for his work on the popular NBC series Heroes and the CBS series Star Trek Discovery. His latest is the dark, zombie comedy series Daybreak starring Matthew Broderick, co-created with Brad Peyton for Netflix. It's been called “Mad Max meets Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” by SyFy.com and is based on Brian Ralph's graphic novel series of the same name. Aron also helped co-develop the newest version of Locke & Key for Netflix - including co-writing the first episode with comic book series creator Joe Hill. His upcoming projects include adapting Amulet for 20th Century Fox. Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page. In Part One of this file Aron Eli Coleite and I discussed: How his lifelong love of comic books boosted his career What it was like to earn his stripes working with Tim Kring on Crossing Jordan and the groundbreaking Heroes series Why his latest show terrifies him as a writer How so much iconic film and TV informed the unique genre-bending world of Daybreak Why cliffhangers are so important for propelling your audience to a finale And the difference between writing for the streaming model vs. episodic TV Show Notes: Author Accelerator Daybreak on Netflix The Only Podcast Left - Daybreak on Spotify Aron Eli Coleite on IMDB.com Aron Eli Coleite on Wikipedia Daybreak on Facebook Daybreak on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Please click the PayPal Donate button to support The Writer Files with a secure PayPal donation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Part Two of this file the award-winning, New York Times bestselling narrative nonfiction author, Andrew Maraniss, returned to chat about what it was like to grow up around so many famous journalists, why he chooses to weave social issues into sports history, and some age-old wisdom on how to beat writer's block. "Just get started.” – Andrew Maraniss Andrew is the son of Pulitzer Prize winning Washington Post journalist and author, David Maraniss, so it's no surprise that he has writing in his blood (and a touch of impostor syndrome). His winding path to bestseller started out as a history writing assignment at Vanderbilt University that only years later became his award-winning book Strong Inside: Perry Wallace and the Collision of Race and Sports in the South. His lauded basketball biography went on to become a bestseller, and received the 2015 Lillian Smith Book Award for civil rights and the RFK Book Awards’ Special Recognition Prize for social justice, the first sports-related book to ever receive either honor. The author's latest, Games of Deception: The True Story of the First U.S. Olympic Basketball Team at the 1936 Olympics in Hitler's Germany, is a Young Adult title that chronicles "...the remarkable true story of the birth of Olympic basketball." The book has been called "An insightful, gripping account of basketball and bias," and investigative journalist and No. 1 bestselling author Bob Woodward called it, "Shocking and triumphant." Andrew is a Visiting Author at Vanderbilt University Athletics and a contributor to ESPN’s TheUndefeated.com. He has appeared on NPR’s All Things Considered, NBC’s Meet The Press, MSNBC’s Morning Joe, ESPN’s Keith Olbermann Show, ESPN Radio, and many others. Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. If you missed the first half of this show you can find it right here. And if you’ve missed previous episodes of The Writer Files you can find them all in the show notes, in the archives at writerfiles.fm, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in. In Part Two of this file Andrew Maraniss and I discussed: Why narrative nonfiction is so valuable in the fiction-heavy Young Adult genre The importance of embedding relevant social issues into stories for younger audiences Apocryphal wisdom on how to beat writer's block and build momentum How being related to a Pulitzer Prize winning writer might give you impostor syndrome The viral nature of basketball's genesis and rise to international fame And why the writing community and indie bookstores are more vital than ever for important stories Show Notes: Author Accelerator How NY Times Bestselling Nonfiction Author Andrew Maraniss Writes: Part One AndrewMaraniss.com Games of Deception: The True Story of the First U.S. Olympic Basketball Team at the 1936 Olympics in Hitler's Germany Hardcover – by Andrew Maraniss Andrew Maraniss at The Undefeated.com Andrew Maraniss on Instagram Andrew Maraniss on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Please click the PayPal Donate button to support The Writer Files with a secure PayPal donation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Award-winning, New York Times bestselling narrative nonfiction author, Andrew Maraniss, stopped by to chat about what it was like to grow up around so many famous journalists, why he chooses to weave social issues into sports history, and some age-old wisdom on how to beat writer's block. "Just get started.” – Andrew Maraniss Andrew is the son of Pulitzer Prize winning Washington Post journalist and author, David Maraniss, so it's no surprise that he has writing in his blood (and a touch of impostor syndrome). His winding path to bestseller started out as a history writing assignment at Vanderbilt University that only years later became his award-winning book Strong Inside: Perry Wallace and the Collision of Race and Sports in the South. His lauded basketball biography went on to become a bestseller, and received the 2015 Lillian Smith Book Award for civil rights and the RFK Book Awards’ Special Recognition Prize for social justice, the first sports-related book to ever receive either honor. The author's latest, Games of Deception: The True Story of the First U.S. Olympic Basketball Team at the 1936 Olympics in Hitler's Germany, is a Young Adult title that chronicles "...the remarkable true story of the birth of Olympic basketball." The book has been called "An insightful, gripping account of basketball and bias," and investigative journalist and No. 1 bestselling author Bob Woodward called it, "Shocking and triumphant." Andrew is a Visiting Author at Vanderbilt University Athletics and a contributor to ESPN’s TheUndefeated.com. He has appeared on NPR’s All Things Considered, NBC’s Meet The Press, MSNBC’s Morning Joe, ESPN’s Keith Olbermann Show, ESPN Radio, and many others. Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In Part One of this file Andrew Maraniss and I discussed: His circuitous path to a full time writing career The untold story of the origins of the first U.S. Olympic basketball team and the young men who played on it Why they were overshadowed by the atmosphere surrounding the Berlin Olympic Games in Nazi Germany The importance of this story (and so many stories like it) in today’s political climate Show Notes: Author Accelerator How NY Times Bestselling Nonfiction Author Andrew Maraniss Writes: Part Two AndrewMaraniss.com Games of Deception: The True Story of the First U.S. Olympic Basketball Team at the 1936 Olympics in Hitler's Germany Hardcover – by Andrew Maraniss Andrew Maraniss at The Undefeated.com Andrew Maraniss on Instagram Andrew Maraniss on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Please click the PayPal Donate button to support The Writer Files with a secure PayPal donation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bestselling children's author and publishing coach, Laurie Wright, joined me this week to talk about her mission to help the emotional welfare of kids around the world, how she self-published a bestseller, and tools and resources for writer's aspiring to pen their own illustrated children's books. “I've realized, quickly, that what they say about 80% of people wanting to write a book really is true.” – Laurie Wright The former kindergarten teacher and mom of three saw an opportunity in the classroom for both parents and educators seeking solutions to get their kids to overcome "learned helplessness," and undertake simple problem-solving. She crowdfunded her first self-published, illustrated children's book in 2016, the hugely popular Amazon bestseller, I Can Handle It (a Mindful Mantras book), now translated into seven languages. The book established her as a childhood mental health authority – even though her background is in education – and since 2016 Laurie has gone on to publish 11 kid's books, three of which are bestsellers. Her Mindful Mantra books are described as "... quick, simple to read, useful resources for parents and teachers ... [that offer] a common language ... to help children self-regulate." Laurie has turned her passion for helping other educators and aspiring children's writers into a lucrative coaching business and podcast that both provide tips and tools on how to write, self-publish, and market your book. Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Laurie Wright and I discussed: How 10 years as a kindergarten teacher (and mom) informs her work The greatest challenge she faced self-publishing an illustrated book Why quiet time with books is so important for young readers The new age of self-publishing and the barrier to entry for traditionally publishing kid's books How she turned her self-publishing know-how into entrepreneurial ventures Why children's authors face so much self-doubt And advice and free resources for authors dreaming about writing their own illustrated children's books Show Notes: Author Accelerator lauriewrighter.com The Writer's Way - podcast lauriewrightmedia.com creativewrighter.com I Can Handle It (Mindful Mantras) - by Laurie Wright [Amazon] Laurie Wright on Amazon Laurie Wright on YouTube Laurie Wright on Facebook Laurie Wright on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

International and New York Times bestselling author, Tess Gerritsen, dropped by to chat with me about the role of luck in finding success as a writer, where she draws inspiration for her thrillers, her love-hate relationship with writing for the screen, and her unique creative process. “Make every single chapter feel that somebody is off balance, that something is not right. That is what propels readers to read the next chapter.” – Tess Gerritsen The award-winning author graduated from medical school at the University of California, San Francisco, and began her writing career in earnest while on maternity leave from her work as a physician. She published her first romantic thriller in 1987 and never looked back. Her books have since topped the charts in both the US and abroad, and sold more than 30 million copies in 40 countries. Tess has now written 28 novels, including the acclaimed Rizzoli & Isles series (which inspired the TNT TV series of the same name starring Angie Harmon and Sasha Alexander), as well as both romantic suspense and medical & crime thrillers. Though she's been dubbed the “medical suspense queen,” her latest novel, The Shape of Night, is a departure in genre that Tess describes as an "erotic psychological thriller" with both supernatural and Gothic elements. Publishers Weekly said of the book, “This supernatural thriller from bestseller Gerritsen ranks with the best of her crime fiction. . . .[A] magnetic haunted house story [that] will keep readers riveted from the very first page.” And #1 New York Times bestselling author Lisa Gardner wrote, "Gerritsen is at her atmospheric best in this spine-tingling tale of a lone woman, an old house, and all the secrets everyone tries to hide.” Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Tess Gerritsen and I discussed: Her winding journey to bestseller and a "ten book" overnight success Why she prefers to pen novels over writing for Hollywood Navigating the mysteries and fairy dust of the publishing industry Tricks to master storytelling in any genre The secret to writing drafts that will never get lost in the cloud And her creativity hacks for beating writer's block Show Notes: Author Accelerator TessGerritsen.com The Shape of Night: A Novel by Tess Gerritsen [Amazon] The 13 Scariest Books Written This Year Tess Gerritsen on Facebook Tess Gerritsen on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Part Two of this file bestselling author, Kim Petersen, returned to talk with me about tactics to tap into age-old wisdom, quiet your inner critic, get back to basics, rediscover your voice, and recharge your creative batteries. “With how our lifestyles are, and the technology, we seem to have also become more disconnected from ourselves.” – Kim Petersen The award-winning, USA Today Bestselling, Australian author of fantasy, paranormal, and dystopian fiction, writes The Ascended Angels Chronicles, and co-authors the Stone the Crows series. Her latest is a foray into non-fiction titled Creative Writing Energy: Tools to Access Your Higher-Creative Mind - co-authored with colleague, romance writer Catherine Evans. It's been described as a book "...written for creatives about developing pathways to access the higher-creative mind...alternative ways..." and tools for unlocking your creativity. Before you dismiss this episode as a little "woo-woo," I assure you that we dig into the reasons behind the current shift for creatives toward alternative ways of thinking, New Age modalities, and a generation of writers looking to tune-out the noise and live more authentically. Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. If you missed the first half of this show you can find it right here. And if you’ve missed previous episodes of The Writer Files you can find them all in the show notes, in the archives at writerfiles.fm, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in. In Part Two of this file Kim Petersen and I discussed: Why writers are the bedrock of the long-standing tradition of making meaning of the world How the author incorporates divination into her storytelling process Why prolific writers throughout history have used tools for jumpstarting their creativity How ancient, esoteric practices can unplug your inner critic, FOMO, and beat "resistance" Why getting back in touch with your voice is so important And how to conjure your inner child (no, not by jumping off the garage Kim, lol) Show Notes: Author Accelerator KimPetersen.com WhisperingInkPress.com Creative Writing Energy: Tools to Access Your Higher-Creative Mind [Amazon] CatherineEvansAuthor.com Creative Writing Energy on Patreon Oblique Strategies - created by Brian Eno How millennials replaced religion with astrology and crystals - LA Times Kim Petersen on Facebook Kim Petersen on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Please click the PayPal Donate button to support The Writer Files with a secure PayPal donation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bestselling author, Kim Petersen, spoke with me about tactics to tap into age-old wisdom, quiet your inner critic, get back to basics, rediscover your voice, and recharge your creative batteries. “With how our lifestyles are, and the technology, we seem to have also become more disconnected from ourselves.” – Kim Petersen The award-winning, USA Today Bestselling, Australian author of fantasy, paranormal, and dystopian fiction, writes The Ascended Angels Chronicles, and co-authors the Stone the Crows series. Her latest is a foray into non-fiction titled Creative Writing Energy: Tools to Access Your Higher-Creative Mind - co-authored with colleague, romance writer Catherine Evans. It's been described as a book "...written for creatives about developing pathways to access the higher-creative mind...alternative ways..." and tools for unlocking your creativity. Before you dismiss this episode as a little "woo-woo," I assure you that we dig into the reasons behind the current shift for creatives toward alternative ways of thinking, New Age modalities, and a generation of writers looking to tune-out the noise and live more authentically. Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In Part One of this file Kim Petersen and I discussed: Her journey to finding her writing identity (or, how it found her) Why she chose to write about her own writing rituals and routines How technology is draining our creative batteries Why younger generations are turning away from traditional belief systems and finding alternative means to recharge The nuts and bolts of a good foundation for creativity Why writers need to dip back into the great mystery through storytelling Show Notes: Author Accelerator KimPetersen.com WhisperingInkPress.com Creative Writing Energy: Tools to Access Your Higher-Creative Mind [Amazon] CatherineEvansAuthor.com Creative Writing Energy on Patreon Oblique Strategies - created by Brian Eno How millennials replaced religion with astrology and crystals - LA Times Kim Petersen on Facebook Kim Petersen on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Please click the PayPal Donate button to support The Writer Files with a secure PayPal donation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Part Two of this file the award-winning novelist, speaker, and activist Talia Carner spoke with me about the intensive research processes that go into her novels, why she chose fiction to write about global social issues, the real-life crisis happening right before our eyes, and what we can do about it. “I take a skeleton out of the closet and dance with it. The skeleton being the many social issues around the globe that vie for attention.” – Talia Carner Ms. Carner writes suspense novels with a social message and her latest historical novel, The Third Daughter, aims to turn the issue of sex trafficking into real-world activism. Talia's mission is to transform the lessons of the past into action in the present. Her fifth book has been described as, “A frightening journey into the New World of the late 1800s, told by a trusting young woman lured from Russia and forced into prostitution in Buenos Aires.” Before becoming a professional novelist the author had a corporate career in the magazine business, started her own business as a marketing consultant for Fortune 500 companies, was a counselor and lecturer for the Small Business Administration, and even a member of the United States Information Agency. Talia is a popular international speaker who has keynoted close to 300 events on pressing social issues facing women around the globe. To learn more about human trafficking in the USA – and what you can do to help stop it – you can find a wealth of information that the author has provided for us in her article here: Take Action Against Trafficking This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. If you missed the first half of this show you can find it right here. And if you’ve missed previous episodes of The Writer Files you can find them all in the show notes, in the archives at writerfiles.fm, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in. In Part Two of this file Talia Carner and I discussed: Why fiction writers are like comedians The importance of historical fiction for unearthing the skeletons in society’s closet The current crisis of sex trafficking, not only abroad, but right here in the US How we can educate and protect our children Why we need to apply lessons from the past to enact change now And her two big pieces of advice for aspiring fiction writers Show Notes: Author Accelerator How to Write Impactful Historical Fiction with Award-Winning Author Talia Carner: Part One TaliaCarner.com The Third Daughter: A Novel by Talia Carner [Amazon] Take Action Against Trafficking Protect Now, an educational program against sex trafficking taught in schools “The Man From Buenos Aires” by Sholem Aleichem (Translated from Hebrew by Talia Carner) Talia Carner on Facebook Talia Carner on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Award-winning novelist, speaker, and activist Talia Carner spoke with me about the intensive research processes that go into her novels, why she chose fiction to write about global social issues, the real-life crisis happening right before our eyes and what we can do about it. “I take a skeleton out of the closet and dance with it. The skeleton being the many social issues around the globe that vie for attention.” – Talia Carner Ms. Carner writes suspense novels with a social message and her latest historical novel, The Third Daughter, aims to turn the issue of sex trafficking into real-world activism. Talia's mission is to transform the lessons of the past into action in the present. Her fifth book has been described as, “A frightening journey into the New World of the late 1800s, told by a trusting young woman lured from Russia and forced into prostitution in Buenos Aires.” Before becoming a professional novelist the author had a corporate career in the magazine business, started her own business as a marketing consultant for Fortune 500 companies, was a counselor and lecturer for the Small Business Administration, and even a member of the United States Information Agency. Talia is a popular international speaker who has keynoted close to 300 events on pressing social issues facing women around the globe. To learn more about human trafficking in the USA – and what you can do to help stop it – you can find a wealth of information that the author has provided for us in her article here: Take Action Against Trafficking This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In Part One of this file Talia Carner and I discussed: How the writer's natural form of expression is somewhere in the 100,000 word range Why historical fiction is so challenging to write well How she used researchers to trace details of landmarks long forgotten What it's like to channel characters from the distant past and write prose incorporating other languages What sparks the ideation that fuels her writing mission And why writers need to cull ideas from issues that move them most Show Notes: Author Accelerator How to Write Impactful Historical Fiction with Award-Winning Author Talia Carner: Part Two TaliaCarner.com The Third Daughter: A Novel by Talia Carner [Amazon] Take Action Against Trafficking Protect Now, an educational program against sex trafficking taught in schools Talia Carner on Facebook Talia Carner on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Part Two of this file the award-winning actress, comedian, and screenwriter, Jorjeana Marie, returned to talk with me about fulfilling her childhood dream of writing for Disney, how writers can rewire their inner-critic, improv as a writing (and life) philosophy, and secrets for beating block and creating countless ideas. “In improv the philosophy is, there are no mistakes.” – Jorjeana Marie The talented multi-hyphenate storyteller started out writing and producing plays during her stint at NYU's Dramatic Writing Program, and has gone on to write for several animated television shows, including a popular kids' series for Disney. Jorjeana is also an actress with extensive film and TV experience, as well as a prolific, award-winning audiobook narrator who has voiced over 300 titles for multiple NY Times bestsellers. She writes and performs comedy regularly on stage at UCB, The Improv, and The Comedy Store, and teaches improvisation to students across the country, including at studios in Hollywood where she's coached writers of all genres. Her recent book, Improv for Writers: 10 Secrets to Help Novelists and Screenwriters Bypass Writer’s Block and Generate Infinite Ideas is aimed at "...Aspiring and professional writers, novelists, screenwriters ... suffering from writer’s block and even those new to the craft." New York Times bestselling author Gayle Forman said of the book, “Jorjeana Marie’s generous, joyful, and oh-so-useful book shows writers—both seasoned and new—how to unleash their creativity and find their best story.” Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. If you missed the first half of this show you can find it right here. And if you’ve missed previous episodes of The Writer Files you can find them all in the show notes, in the archives at writerfiles.fm, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in. In Part Two of this file Jorjeana Marie and I discussed: Reasons writers need to be in the present moment and less self-conscious How to turn off your inner-critic and jumpstart your creativity What it's like to work with and write for iconic Disney characters Why writers should unbox their childhood dreams and literary inspirations Her conspiracy theories about Shakespeare And why unplugging and creating boundaries are both so critical for beating block Show Notes: Author Accelerator JorjeanaMarie.com Improv for Writers: 10 Secrets to Help Novelists and Screenwriters Bypass Writer's Block and Generate Infinite Ideas by Jorjeana Marie [Amazon] On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King [Amazon] The 3 A.M. Epiphany: Uncommon Writing Exercises that Transform Your Fiction by Brian Kiteley [Amazon] Jorjeana Marie on Instagram Jorjeana Marie on Facebook Jorjeana Marie on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Please click the PayPal Donate button to support The Writer Files with a secure PayPal donation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Award-winning actress, comedian, and screenwriter, Jorjeana Marie, took a break to talk with me about fulfilling her childhood dream of writing for Disney, how writers can rewire their inner-critic, improv as a writing (and life) philosophy, and secrets for beating block and creating countless ideas. “In improv the philosophy is, there are no mistakes.” – Jorjeana Marie The talented multi-hyphenate storyteller started out writing and producing plays during her stint at NYU's Dramatic Writing Program, and has gone on to write for several animated television shows, including a popular kids' series for Disney. Jorjeana is also an actress with extensive film and TV experience, as well as a prolific, award-winning audiobook narrator who has voiced over 300 titles for multiple NY Times bestsellers. She writes and performs comedy regularly on stage at UCB, The Improv, and The Comedy Store, and teaches improvisation to students across the country, including at studios in Hollywood where she's coached writers of all genres. Her recent book, Improv for Writers: 10 Secrets to Help Novelists and Screenwriters Bypass Writer’s Block and Generate Infinite Ideas is aimed at "...Aspiring and professional writers, novelists, screenwriters ... suffering from writer’s block and even those new to the craft." New York Times bestselling author Gayle Forman said of the book, “Jorjeana Marie’s generous, joyful, and oh-so-useful book shows writers—both seasoned and new—how to unleash their creativity and find their best story.” This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In Part One of this file Jorjeana Marie and I discussed: How to use improv to quickly generate some pages What it's like to work with Dave Chapelle and go on stage after Chris Rock Why successful storytelling starts with letting go of expectations How to use time-tested methods of writing on your feet to jumpstart your creativity Why writers need keep it fun to surprise themselves And how constraints and little bit of pressure can be so rewarding Show Notes: Author Accelerator JorjeanaMarie.com Improv for Writers: 10 Secrets to Help Novelists and Screenwriters Bypass Writer's Block and Generate Infinite Ideas by Jorjeana Marie [Amazon] Jorjeana Marie on Facebook Jorjeana Marie on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Please click the PayPal Donate button to support The Writer Files with a secure PayPal donation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Part Two of this file the New York Times bestselling memoirist and journalist, Lisa Brennan-Jobs, returned to talk about her decades long journey to publication, why it's so important to find yourself in the pages, the meaning of memory, and the impostor syndrome that all writers face ... especially the kids of celebrities. "Writing can be the master, it can't be the servant of your time.” – Lisa Brennan-Jobs Lisa is a Brooklyn based writer whose father was the widely worshipped tech pioneer and entrepreneur, Steve Jobs, best known as the co-founder of Apple. Her first book, Small Fry, is her lauded memoir about growing up being shuffled between single parents in Silicon Valley during the 1980s and '90s, always in the orbit of her celebrity dad and struggling artist mom. Small Fry was a New York Times, New Yorker, and People Magazine Top 10 Book of the Year for 2018, and Best Book of the Year for the LA Times, NPR, Amazon, GQ, Vogue (UK), and Publishers Weekly. The book has been called, “Beautiful, literary, and devastating,” by the New York Times Book Review, “A masterly Silicon Valley gothic,” by Vogue, and “Mesmerizing, discomfiting reading,” by The New Yorker. This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. If you missed the first half of this show you can find it right here. And If you’ve missed previous episodes of The Writer Files you can find them all in the archives at writerfiles.fm, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in. In Part Two of this file Lisa Brennan-Jobs and I discussed: How being bored and uncomfortable can lead to breakthrough Why the writing process needs to be the master, not the servant, of your time The importance of not rushing to publish How the author minimizes distractions and comparative thinking while she writes What it's like to travel through time and get the things you’ve always longed for How big words can distract from the impact of your story And why you need to write the stories you thought you might take to your grave Show Notes: Author Accelerator How NY Times Bestselling Memoirist Lisa Brennan-Jobs Writes: Part One LisaBrennanJobs.net Small Fry by Lisa Brennan-Jobs [Amazon] Lisa Brennan-Jobs on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Please click the PayPal Donate button to support The Writer Files with a secure PayPal donation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The New York Times bestselling memoirist and journalist, Lisa Brennan-Jobs, joined me this week to talk about her decades long journey to publication, why it's so important to find yourself in the pages, the meaning of memory, and the impostor syndrome that all writers face ... especially the kids of celebrities. "You find yourself in a whole net, in a constellation of stories, each one connecting to another. It was amazing how much I remembered.” – Lisa Brennan-Jobs Lisa is a Brooklyn based writer whose father was the widely worshipped tech pioneer and entrepreneur, Steve Jobs, best known as the co-founder of Apple. Her first book, Small Fry, is her lauded memoir about growing up being shuffled between single parents in Silicon Valley during the 1980s and '90s, always in the orbit of her celebrity dad and struggling artist mom. Small Fry was a New York Times, New Yorker, and People Magazine Top 10 Book of the Year for 2018, and Best Book of the Year for the LA Times, NPR, Amazon, GQ, Vogue (UK), and Publishers Weekly. The book has been called, “Beautiful, literary, and devastating,” by the New York Times Book Review, “A masterly Silicon Valley gothic,” by Vogue, and “Mesmerizing, discomfiting reading,” by The New Yorker. This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In Part One of this file Lisa Brennan-Jobs and I discussed: What it's like to be a writer with a celebrity parent The author's up-and-down, ten-year writing process peppered by the occasional profound revelation How the author's childhood memories returned to her so vividly Why shame and emotion are so helpful to unearthing the geological layers of fact in memoir and vice versa How she overcame writer's block, impostor syndrome, and her own doubts and fears to write a bestselling memoir And why part of writing a memoir is about bringing into consciousness things that were previously unconscious Show Notes: Author Accelerator How NY Times Bestselling Memoirist Lisa Brennan-Jobs Writes: Part Two LisaBrennanJobs.net Small Fry by Lisa Brennan-Jobs [Amazon] Lisa Brennan-Jobs on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Please click the PayPal Donate button to support The Writer Files with a secure PayPal donation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Part Two of another special edition of The Writer Files called "The Writer's Brain," a guest series with neuroscientist Michael Grybko, we dig further into the dreaded procrastination – a malady we all battle – what it is, how science looks at it, the difference between constructive and destructive procrastination, and some tips on how to overcome it. "Never put off till tomorrow what you can do the day after tomorrow." – Mark Twain We're all guilty of it, let's be honest, it's really normal to procrastinate. Who among us hasn't waited until the last minute to do something tedious or uncomfortable like contest a speeding ticket, study for a test? Today, you're far more likely to grab your smartphone and search longingly for those little red notification flags from a social media app, or to pop open a rainbow colored game for that quick hit of dopamine your brain loves so much. I'm guilty of dusting and straightening every shelf and book in my office until they look conspicuously like modern art before I'll sit down to write an important email or a blog post. The truth is that procrastination is built into the human condition -- clearly we can't do everything on our to-do lists at the same time -- but why has it become so frowned upon in our culture of late? And how can we reframe procrastination since we know it's so integral to the creative process? Luckily, research scientist Michael Grybko returned to the podcast to help me find some answers from the perspective of neuroscience. Stay tuned ... This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. If you missed the first half of this show you can find it right here. And If you’ve missed previous episodes of 'The Writer's Brain' you can find them all in the archives at writerfiles.fm, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in. In Part Two of this file Michael Grybko and I discuss: Why your inner-critic, stress, and anxiety hijack your productivity so easily Practical tips for breaking out of the wicked feedback loop of procrastination How social media, FOMO, and notifications mess with your self esteem and ability to focus Why we need to take breaks, practice mindfulness, and be nicer to ourselves How to trick yourself into being more productive And how to short circuit your amygdala, change your habits, and bootstrap incremental progress toward your goals The Show Notes: Author Accelerator Challenges on the Writer's Journey with Prominent Book Editor Peter Guzzardi: Part One Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear [Amazon] Procrastination: A Scientific Guide on How to Stop Procrastinating Behave: The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst by Robert M. Sapolsky Why Your Procrastination Might Not Be as Bad as You Think Why Your Brain Loves Procrastination ‘The Writer’s Brain’ on Productivity vs. Creativity: Part One The Best of 'The Writer's Brain' Part One: Creativity The Best of ‘The Writer’s Brain’ Part Two: Empathy The Best of ‘The Writer’s Brain’ Part Three: Storytelling The Best of ‘The Writer’s Brain’ Part Four: Writer’s Block The Best of ‘The Writer’s Brain’ Part Five: Fake News The Writer's Brain on Impostor Syndrome: Part One Productivity vs. Creativity, the Content Creator’s Catch-22 Rethink Your Definition of Productivity to Squash Uninspired Filler How to Outsmart Writer s Block with Neuroscience Kelton Reid on Twitter Please click the donate button to support the podcast with a secure PayPal donation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to another special edition of The Writer Files called "The Writer's Brain," a guest series with neuroscientist Michael Grybko, and in this episode we dig into the dreaded procrastination – a malady we all battle – what it is, how science looks at it, the difference between constructive and destructive procrastination, and some tips on how to overcome it. "To achieve great things, two things are needed: a plan, and not quite enough time." - Leonard Bernstein We're all guilty of it, let's be honest, it's really normal to procrastinate. Who among us hasn't waited until the last minute to do something tedious or uncomfortable like contest a speeding ticket, study for a test? Today, you're far more likely to grab your smartphone and search longingly for those little red notification flags from a social media app, or to pop open a rainbow-colored game for that quick hit of dopamine your brain loves so much. I'm guilty of dusting and straightening every shelf and book in my office until they look conspicuously like modern art before I'll sit down to write an important email or a blog post. The truth is that procrastination is built into the human condition -- clearly, we can't do everything on our to-do lists at the same time -- but why has it become so frowned upon in our culture of late? And how can we reframe procrastination since we know it's so integral to the creative process? Luckily, research scientist Michael Grybko returned to the podcast to help me find some answers from the perspective of neuroscience. Stay tuned ... This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page. If you missed previous episodes of The Writer's Brain you can find them all in the show notes, in the archives at writerfiles.fm, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in. In Part One of this file Michael Grybko and I discuss: The creative upside to "present bias" and delay How neuroscience defines procrastination Why writers often struggle with the bad kind How your brain's emotional, stress, and impulse responses can derail your productivity Why smartphones, shrinking attention spans, and "social acceleration" make it so hard to get meaningful work done And helpful hints on how to get out of that wicked feedback loop and back on track The Show Notes: 'The Writer's Brain' on Procrastination: Part Two Why Your Procrastination Might Not Be as Bad as You Think ‘The Writer’s Brain’ on Productivity vs. Creativity: Part One The Best of 'The Writer's Brain' Part One: Creativity The Best of ‘The Writer’s Brain’ Part Two: Empathy The Best of ‘The Writer’s Brain’ Part Three: Storytelling The Best of ‘The Writer’s Brain’ Part Four: Writer’s Block The Best of ‘The Writer’s Brain’ Part Five: Fake News The Writer's Brain on Impostor Syndrome: Part One ‘The Writer’s Brain’ on Impostor Syndrome: Part Two Rethink Your Definition of Productivity to Squash Uninspired Filler How to Outsmart Writer s Block with Neuroscience Kelton Reid on Twitter Support the podcast with a secure PayPal donation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to another special edition of the show with some thoughts on the malady that we rarely care to whisper of ... even on our most prolific days. We’ll kick off the show with the iconic, international bestselling author of 14 novels, including the era-defining Generation X: Tales for an Accelerated Culture – Douglas Coupland – with his thoughts on the subject. "I don't believe in writer's block. Think about it -- when you were blocked in college and had to write a paper, didn't it always manage to fix itself the night before the paper was due? Writer's block is having too much time on your hands." – Jodi Picoult Last year I wrote a piece for Copyblogger titled "How to Outsmart Writer’s Block with Neuroscience" – there are lots of good resources embedded there – and that piece explored a handful of solutions to the accursed ailment. I wanted to revisit it here with some past podcast guests thrown in for humor and context. As you know if you’ve listened to enough of The Writer Files, I dig into the habits, habitats and brains of dozens of renowned and prolific authors, and I ask them roughly the same questions about their unique process as a survey of contemporary writers. We’ve always billed the podcast as a hybrid of "Inside the Writer’s Studio" meets "The Proust Questionnaire," and this makes for a treasure trove of knowledge to pick and choose from for writers. And just a reminder that you can find the entire archive at writerfiles.fm, where you can also support the show by just clicking the little yellow PayPal donation button on any of the episodes. So we’ll kick it off with a little refresher course on the miracle of the human brain. Stay tuned ... This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page. Show Notes: Author Accelerator How to Outsmart Writer’s Block with Neuroscience - Kelton Reid for Copyblogger The Best of ‘The Writer’s Brain’ Part Four: Writer’s Block How to Kill Writer’s Block and Become a Master Copywriter in Only 3 Hours a Day The Physics of Productivity: Newton’s Laws of Getting Stuff Done – James Clear How to Beat Writer’s Block – Maria Konnikova Inside the Race to Hack the Human Brain - WIRED Please click the PayPal Donate button to support The Writer Files with a secure PayPal donation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Part Two of this file the prominent book editor-turned-author, Peter Guzzardi, spent some time with me this week to discuss how he pulled back the curtain on the writer's life, finding courage in front of the blank screen, and important lessons from the Yellow Brick Road for creatives. "Somehow, despite having made a career of helping writers with their second and third and fourth drafts, I must have been harboring hopes that my first try would displace Shakespeare from his perch atop the literary pantheon." – Peter Guzzardi Peter has been a professional book editor for nearly 40 years. After getting his start in marketing, writing catalog copy in New York City, he moved to the editorial side where he eventually took the reins at Harmony Books, an imprint of Random House, Inc. Mr. Guzzardi has worked with some incredibly talented authors over the years, including Stephen Hawking on A Brief History of Time, Deepak Chopra on dozens of books, Douglas Adams on his Hitchhiker novels, Carol Burnett, Martin Amis, Arianna Huffington, and even Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Like so many aspiring writers who "swear they're going to finally write that book," Peter decided to throw his hat in the ring and write about the wisdom he'd accumulated on his own journey. The result of that hard work is his recently published Emeralds of Oz: Life Lessons From Over the Rainbow, an apropos title for 2019, the 80th anniversary of the film classic, The Wizard of Oz. Emeralds of Oz is a book in the "...tradition of All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten ... life lessons drawn from the most beloved movie of all time," and Carol Burnett said, "I loved this book as much as I loved the movie." This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. If you missed the first half of this show you can find it right here. And If you’ve missed previous episodes of The Writer Files you can find them all in the archives at writerfiles.fm, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in. In Part Two of this file Peter Guzzardi and I discussed: Why the writer's journey is so iterative Lessons from the Yellow Brick Road for writers Why being compassionate with yourself is so important The reality that no book is ever really finished How fear can be so motivational in the face of adversity And the perils of being overly ambitious in your early drafts Show Notes: Author Accelerator PeterGuzzardi.com Emeralds of Oz: Life Lessons from Over the Rainbow by Peter Guzzardi [Amazon] The Wizard of Oz at 80: how the world fell under its dark spell - Luiza Sauma for The Guardian Peter Guzzardi on Instagram Peter Guzzardi on Twitter Peter Guzzardi on Facebook Kelton Reid on Twitter Please click the PayPal Donate button to support The Writer Files with a secure PayPal donation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Prominent book editor-turned-author, Peter Guzzardi, spent some time with me this week to discuss how he pulled back the curtain on the writer's life, finding courage in front of the blank screen, and important lessons from the Yellow Brick Road for creatives. "One thing I love about this work is the variety. I’ve edited novels by authors as different as Ruth Rendell and Martin Amis, memoirs by Tony Curtis...and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar..." – Peter Guzzardi Peter has been a professional book editor for nearly 40 years. After getting his start in marketing, writing catalog copy in New York City, he moved to the editorial side where he eventually took the reins at Harmony Books, an imprint of Random House, Inc. Mr. Guzzardi has worked with some incredibly talented authors over the years, including Stephen Hawking on A Brief History of Time, Deepak Chopra on dozens of books, Douglas Adams on his Hitchhiker novels, Carol Burnett, Martin Amis, Arianna Huffington, and even Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Like so many aspiring writers who "swear they're going to finally write that book," Peter decided to throw his hat in the ring and write about the wisdom he'd accumulated on his own journey. The result of that hard work is his recently published Emeralds of Oz: Life Lessons From Over the Rainbow, an apropos title for 2019, the 80th anniversary of the film classic, The Wizard of Oz. Emeralds of Oz is a book in the "...tradition of All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten ... life lessons drawn from the most beloved movie of all time," and Carol Burnett said, "I loved this book as much as I loved the movie." This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In Part One of this file Peter Guzzardi and I discussed: How he came to rub elbows with so many celebrity authors The unique skillsets of great editors and their importance to the publishing industry Why the challenges the author faced birthing his own book were so different than he could have imagined How he found courage in front of the blank page The importance of crappy first drafts and turning off your inner critic Show Notes: PeterGuzzardi.com Emeralds of Oz: Life Lessons from Over the Rainbow by Peter Guzzardi [Amazon] The Wizard of Oz at 80: how the world fell under its dark spell - Luiza Sauma for The Guardian Peter Guzzardi on Instagram Peter Guzzardi on Twitter Peter Guzzardi on Facebook Kelton Reid on Twitter Please click the PayPal Donate button to support The Writer Files with a secure PayPal donation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The author, podcaster, and Executive Director of National Novel Writing Month (AKA NaNoWriMo), Grant Faulkner, joined me this week to talk about the Fitbit for novelists, how to write a novel in a month (not just in November), why tracking your writing progress is a built-in reward system, and why you can't wait for inspiration to just get started. "No matter who you are, where you live, how old you are, or what your background is, your story matters." - Grant Faulkner Grant is a writer, speaker, and educator whose day job is to help run the non-profit, National Novel Writing Month, the world's largest writing event where every year 500,000 people commit to writing a novel in November, including 100,000 kids and teens via The Young Writers Program. And Grant reminded me that NaNoWriMo provides year-round "...structure, community, and encouragement to help [writers of all ages and backgrounds] find their voice, achieve [their] creative goals, and build new worlds." 2019 is the 20th anniversary of the "seat-of-your-pants" creative writing marathon, and "...thousands of NaNoWriMo novels have been published, including best-sellers like Water for Elephants, The Night Circus, Wool, and many others." Mr. Faulkner is the author of a book of essays on creativity titled Pep Talks for Writers, and his teen writing guide, Brave the Page, is forthcoming from Viking this August, 2019. Grant also hosts a weekly inspirational podcast on writing and publishing called Write-minded, and his writing has appeared in dozens of publications including The New York Times, Writer's Digest, and Poets & Writers. If you think you're ready to write a novel, stay tuned... This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Grant Faulkner and I discussed: The magic of coffee and early morning writing sessions Why jumping in and writing your novel from word one to the end of your first draft without self-editing is so valuable How a goal and a deadline can help you give birth to your book Why writers fool themselves into thinking they've written more than they really have How "just getting started" can help you overcome the perils of procrastination Why the author preaches Robert Frost's mantra "No surprise in the writer, no surprise in the reader." Show Notes: Author Accelerator National Novel Writing Month (AKA NaNoWriMo) The Young Writers Program Pep Talks for Writers: 52 Insights and Actions to Boost Your Creative Mojo by Grant Faulkner [Amazon] Brave the Page by Grant Faulkner [Amazon] GrantFaulkner.com Write-minded Podcast Grant Faulkner on Instagram Grant Faulkner on Facebook Grant Faulkner on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Please click the PayPal Donate button to support The Writer Files with a secure PayPal donation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Part Two of this file the bestselling author and creativity coach, Jennifer Louden, returned to talk with me about her twisty career path, the wicked feedback loop of procrastination, how to find your voice, and solutions for getting unstuck and back to writing. "How do you get your creative & scary sh*t done? And how do you keep getting it done ... even when life is hard and busy and full of distractions?" - Jennifer Louden Jennifer has been a professional writer since the early '90s and is considered a personal growth pioneer. Her first book, The Woman’s Comfort Book, was the bestseller that launched her career and she's since published six additional books with over a million copies in print in nine languages. The author is also an international speaker and educator on the subject of self-care and has written a column for Martha Stewart magazine, been quoted by author Brene Brown in not one but two of her books, been profiled in dozens of major magazines, and appeared on hundreds of TV and radio programs including Oprah. In addition to writing books Jennifer is also an entrepreneur who teaches writing and self-care retreats that regularly sell out. She has created a large online community that touts, "Whether you’re a novelist, essayist ... artist or thought leader, [her] mission is to help you write more, share your ideas more boldly, and make your creative work a priority." This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. If you missed the first half of this show you can find it right here. And If you’ve missed previous episodes of The Writer Files you can find them all in the archives at writerfiles.fm, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in. In Part Two of this file Jennifer Louden and I discussed: Why writers don't need to "freak out" when they get derailed How to re-center and tap back into your creative well The reasons writers lose their way trying to be "commercial" Why Jennifer decided to self-publish her next book How to overcome negativity bias and other tricks your brain plays on you Why you can't wait until you feel inspired or comfortable to write Show Notes: Author Accelerator JenniferLouden.com The Get Unstuck and Back to Creating - Email Signup & Guide Page Two Books Jennifer Louden on Amazon Jennifer Louden on YouTube Jennifer Louden on Instagram Jennifer Louden on Facebook Jennifer Louden on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Please click the PayPal Donate button to support The Writer Files with a secure PayPal donation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bestselling author and creativity coach, Jennifer Louden, dropped by this week to talk with me about her twisty career path, the wicked feedback loop of procrastination, how to find your voice, and solutions for getting unstuck and back to writing. "Claim your voice. Share your voice. Get your scary sh*t done." - Jennifer Louden Jennifer has been a professional writer since the early '90s and is considered a personal growth pioneer. Her first book, The Woman’s Comfort Book, was the bestseller that launched her career and she's since published six additional books with over a million copies in print in nine languages. The author is also an international speaker and educator on the subject of self-care and has written a column for Martha Stewart magazine, been quoted by author Brene Brown in not one but two of her books, been profiled in dozens of major magazines, and appeared on hundreds of TV and radio programs including Oprah. In addition to writing books Jennifer is also an entrepreneur who teaches writing and self-care retreats that regularly sell out. She has created a large online community that touts, "Whether you’re a novelist, essayist ... artist or thought leader, [her] mission is to help you write more, share your ideas more boldly, and make your creative work a priority." This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In Part One of this file Jennifer Louden and I discussed: How a struggling dyslexic screenwriter became a bestselling author The reasons writers might fall out of love and then back in love with their writing How to get unstuck by pulling back the curtain on your brain's weaknesses Why Jennifer brings compassion and cognitive awareness to jump-starting creativity How finding the "why" for your writing can reignite your spark Why technical writing hacks won't solve the deeper issues of why you're not writing Show Notes: Author Accelerator JenniferLouden.com Jennifer Louden on Amazon Jennifer Louden on YouTube Jennifer Louden on Instagram Jennifer Louden on Facebook Jennifer Louden on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Please click the PayPal Donate button to support The Writer Files with a secure PayPal donation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Part Two of this file the top-ranked New York literary agent, Mark Gottlieb – of Trident Media Group – returned to enlighten me about all things publishing including what it's like to work at one of the world's leading agencies, how to stand out as a writer, and the kinds of projects he's looking for right now. "When approaching a publisher without that built-in platform, all you can really say to them is this is a great book. Please make an editorial evaluation." - Mark Gottlieb Mark grew up around books and bestselling authors, and the writing life had an influence on him from an early age. Inspired to go into the family business, he graduated with a degree in writing, literature & publishing, and began his career at Penguin. He's since gone on to become one of the top-ranked agents on Publishers Marketplace and has represented numerous award-winning and New York Times bestselling authors. Trident Media Group is a prominent New York agency that represents a diverse stable of over 1,000 bestselling and emerging authors across a wide range of genres in fiction and nonfiction. Mark has optioned books for both film and TV and is actively building a client list of authors at TMG. He previously ran their audiobook department, and has worked in foreign rights. He has a passion for working directly with authors to help them manage and build their careers using the unique resources available to him at one of the world's leading literary agencies. If you're interested in an insider's take on how to get traditionally published today, stick around, this is a good one. This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. If you missed the first half of this show you can find it right here. And If you’ve missed previous episodes of The Writer Files you can find them all in the archives at writerfiles.fm, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in. In Part Two of this file Mark Gottlieb and I discussed: How to stand out as a writer today (including the importance of platform, timing, and talent) Why authors can't put the cart before the horse and the difference between selling non-fiction and fiction manuscripts The secrets of successful authors that aspiring writers can steal How a literary agent can improve an author's marketing and promotion plan The most critical time leading up to your "book's birthday" All the different ways big agencies think of your work beyond the book deal And Mark's sage advice and tips for authors ready to seek representation Show Notes: Author Accelerator Publishing Secrets from Top NY Literary Agent Mark Gottlieb: Part One Mark Gottlieb at Trident Media Group Trident Media Group Trident Media Group: Submissions Link LiteraryAgentMarkgottlieb.com - Mark's blog with author resources about all things writing, literature and publishing Publishers Marketplace How Professional Comedy Writer & Author James Breakwell Writes: Part One The Long Flight Home by Alan Hlad Autocomplete: The Book by Justin Hook Mark Gottlieb on Instagram Mark Gottlieb on Facebook Mark Gottlieb on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Please click the PayPal Donate button to support The Writer Files with a secure PayPal donation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Top-ranked New York literary agent, Mark Gottlieb – of Trident Media Group – dropped by this week to enlighten me about all things publishing including what it's like to work at one of the world's leading agencies, how to stand out as a writer, and the kinds of projects he's looking for right now. "There's a lot out there that can really overwhelm an author when they're trying to figure out how to find an agent or how to get published." - Mark Gottlieb Mark grew up around books and bestselling authors, and the writing life had an influence on him from an early age. Inspired to go into the family business, he graduated with a degree in writing, literature & publishing, and began his career at Penguin. He's since gone on to become one of the top-ranked agents on Publishers Marketplace and has represented numerous award-winning and New York Times bestselling authors. Trident Media Group is a prominent New York agency that represents a diverse stable of over 1,000 bestselling and emerging authors across a wide range of genres in fiction and nonfiction. Mark has optioned books for both film and TV and is actively building a client list of authors at TMG. He previously ran their audiobook department, and has worked in foreign rights. He has a passion for working directly with authors to help them manage and build their careers using the unique resources available to him at one of the world's leading literary agencies. If you're interested in an insider's take on how to get traditionally published today, stick around, this is a good one. This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In Part One of this file Mark Gottlieb and I discussed: What it's like to grow up hanging out with Dean Koontz and Tom Clancy How to avoid overwhelm when you start your journey to publication Tried-and-true recommendations and resources for aspiring authors ready to reach out to an agent How to use Publishers Marketplace as your giant Rolodex for book publishing Why authors might choose traditional over self-publishing How agents advocate for authors to make sure they take advantage of every possible opportunity in publishing And the enduring power of paper books, audiobooks, indie bookstores, and the power of the #writingcommunity Show Notes: Author Accelerator Publishing Secrets from Top NY Literary Agent Mark Gottlieb: Part Two Mark Gottlieb at Trident Media Group Trident Media Group Trident Media Group: Submissions Link LiteraryAgentMarkgottlieb.com - Mark's blog with author resources about all things writing, literature and publishing Publishers Marketplace How Professional Comedy Writer & Author James Breakwell Writes: Part One How WNYC Podcast Host and Author of ‘Bored and Brilliant’ Manoush Zomorodi Writes Left to Their Own Devices: How Digital Natives Are Reshaping the American Dream Kindle Edition by Julie M. Albright (Amazon) Mark Gottlieb on Instagram Mark Gottlieb on Facebook Mark Gottlieb on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Please click the PayPal Donate button to support The Writer Files with a secure PayPal donation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Part Two of this file the prolific, award-winning, #1 New York Times and international bestselling author, Sherrilyn Kenyon, returned to talk about what it's like to be a literary legend with over 70 million copies of her books in print in over 100 countries. "When the characters have chosen you ... you need to go tell their stories, because nobody else can do it, and they picked you for the job. Are you really going to disappoint them?" - Sherrilyn Kenyon Sherrilyn is considered one of the most popular and influential writers in the world and the multi-genre author is best known for urban fantasy and paranormal romance, including her popular Dark-Hunters series (Amazon), now also a NY Times bestselling manga. Since her debut in the mid-90s she has placed more than 80 novels on the NY Times list in all formats and genres, including YA, children’s books, coloring books, historical romance (under the pen name Kinley MacGregor), and even graphic novels – her Lords of Avalon novels were adapted by Marvel. Ms. Kenyon's path to bestselling novelist was winding one, as you'll hear, but through all the ups and downs she has cultivated an incredibly loyal fan community who call themselves Menyons who even design tattoos in honor of her more popular genre-bending books. Her latest bestseller in the expansive Dark-Hunters series, titled Stygian, is described as a "...blend of tortured heroes, strong heroines, [and] historical mythology...." Stygian was named one of best Science Fiction & Fantasy of the year by Kobo and Publishers Weekly has called her work, "A delicious balance of suspense and sensuality." This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. If you missed the first half of this show you can find it right here. And If you’ve missed previous episodes of The Writer Files you can find them all in the archives at writerfiles.fm, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in. In Part Two of this file Sherrilyn Kenyon and I discussed: Why she prefers her PC over a Mac Her unique workflow and organizational hacks for keeping all of her characters and worlds straight Why her intense workload and work ethic require "combat napping" On viewing creativity as an adventure How great writers make a human connection (and a huge shoutout to copywriters) And the author's great advice on storytelling and your obligation to the characters who choose you Show Notes: Author Accelerator Audible is Offering a Free Audiobook Download with a 30-day Trial: Grab Your Free Audiobook Here – audibletrial.com/writerfiles How New York Times Bestselling Author Sherrilyn Kenyon Writes: Part One Sherrilyn Kenyon's Amazon Author Page Stygian: A Dark-Hunter Novel by Sherrilyn Kenyon SherrilynKenyon.com Sherrilyn Kenyon on Facebook Sherrilyn Kenyon on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Please click the PayPal Donate button to support The Writer Files with a secure PayPal donation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Prolific, award-winning, #1 New York Times and international bestselling author, Sherrilyn Kenyon, joined me this week to talk about what it's like to be a literary legend with over 70 million copies of her books in print in over 100 countries. "To me, the characters are why I write. They're family. And I love the worlds." - Sherrilyn Kenyon Sherrilyn is considered one of the most popular and influential writers in the world and the multi-genre author is best known for urban fantasy and paranormal romance, including her popular Dark-Hunters series (Amazon), now also a NY Times bestselling manga. Since her debut in the mid-90s she has placed more than 80 novels on the NY Times list in all formats and genres, including YA, children’s books, coloring books, historical romance (under the pen name Kinley MacGregor), and even graphic novels – her Lords of Avalon novels were adapted by Marvel. Ms. Kenyon's path to bestselling novelist was winding one, as you'll hear, but through all the ups and downs she has cultivated an incredibly loyal fan community who call themselves Menyons who even design tattoos in honor of her more popular genre-bending books. Her latest bestseller in the expansive Dark-Hunters series, titled Stygian, is described as a "...blend of tortured heroes, strong heroines, [and] historical mythology...." Stygian was named one of best Science Fiction & Fantasy of the year by Kobo and Publishers Weekly has called her work, "A delicious balance of suspense and sensuality." This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In Part One of this file Sherrilyn Kenyon and I discussed: How she started out as one of the first female web developers in the '90s Why the author's determination and resilience through good times and bad led to her success (and superstition) How she stays sane, focused, and organized writing hundreds of characters across multiple genres (and how she still finds her car keys) On writer's block and why the author set aside an unfinished book for ten years before finishing it Show Notes: Author Accelerator Audible is Offering a Free Audiobook Download with a 30-day Trial: Grab Your Free Audiobook Here – audibletrial.com/writerfiles How New York Times Bestselling Author Sherrilyn Kenyon Writes: Part Two Sherrilyn Kenyon's Amazon Author Page Stygian: A Dark-Hunter Novel by Sherrilyn Kenyon SherrilynKenyon.com Sherrilyn Kenyon on Facebook Sherrilyn Kenyon on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Please click the PayPal Donate button to support The Writer Files with a secure PayPal donation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Part Two of this special edition of the show the author, educator, book coach and founder of Author Accelerator, Jennie Nash, returned to go deeper on tools and strategies for writers on the winding, sometimes daunting journey, to finishing your big, scary book. "Writing a book is a noble endeavor, it does something no other art does." - Jennie Nash Jennie started her career in publishing at Random House and has over 30 years experience in all facets of the industry. She also taught at the UCLA Extension Writers' Program for 12 years and has spoken at writing conferences across the country. She's the author of seven books including a self-help book for writers – The Writer's Guide to Agony and Defeat (Amazon) – and has written hundreds of magazine articles for national publications. For nearly a decade now Jennie has been coaching authors "from inspiration to publication" (including Lisa Chron, author of Wired for Story and Story Genius, and Sam Polk, author of For the Love of Money: A Memoir), helping them to land top New York agents and book deals with major publishers. As the founder of Author Accelerator, described as "A personal trainer for your writing life," she and her team of book coaches now provide writers the blueprint so often lacking in the traditional publishing world ... including the tools, nurturing, and encouragement needed to finish their work and get it into the world successfully. In a serendipitous turn of events, after this interview Author Accelerator became a sponsor of this show, and I'll tell you all about a resource they've created just for listeners of this show during our chat. This conversation is tailor-made for writers just starting out or well along on your journey to publish. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. If you missed the first half of this show you can find it right here. And if you’ve missed previous episodes of The Writer Files you can find them all in the archives at writerfiles.fm, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in. In Part Two of this file Jennie Nash and I discussed: Why there is no such thing as a truly "original story" How book coaches keep up with trends and best practices across multiple genres Why authors need to understand the universe they're writing in The key to getting the most out of your investment in writing retreats, conferences, courses, and coaching The three top reasons writers want and need to write a book And why you have a duty to take the risk, be intentional, and persevere and write your book Show Notes: Author Accelerator The Writer's Guide to Agony and Defeat: The 43 Worst Moments in the Writing Life and How to Get Over Them by Jennie Nash (Amazon) For the Love of Money: A Memoir by Sam Polk Wired for Story: The Writer's Guide to Using Brain Science to Hook Readers from the Very First Sentence by Lisa Cron Daisy Jones & The Six: A Novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid Author Accelerator on Facebook Jennie Nash on Twitter Author Accelerator on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Please click the PayPal Donate button to support The Writer Files with a secure PayPal donation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Author, educator, book coach and founder of Author Accelerator, Jennie Nash, joined me this week in a special edition of the show dedicated to unearthing tools and strategies for writers on the winding, sometimes daunting journey, to finishing your big, scary book. "Writing a book is like childbirth." - Jennie Nash Jennie started her career in publishing at Random House and has over 30 years experience in all facets of the industry. She also taught at the UCLA Extension Writers' Program for 12 years and has spoken at writing conferences across the country. She's the author of seven books including a self-help book for writers – The Writer's Guide to Agony and Defeat (Amazon) – and has written hundreds of magazine articles for national publications. For nearly a decade now Jennie has been coaching authors "from inspiration to publication" (including Lisa Chron, author of Wired for Story and Story Genius, and Sam Polk, author of For the Love of Money: A Memoir), helping them to land top New York agents and book deals with major publishers. As the founder of Author Accelerator, described as "A personal trainer for your writing life," she and her team of book coaches now provide writers the blueprint so often lacking in the traditional publishing world ... including the tools, nurturing, and encouragement needed to finish their work and get it into the world successfully. In a serendipitous turn of events, after this interview Author Accelerator became a sponsor of this show, and I'll tell you all about a resource they've created just for listeners of this show during our chat. This conversation is tailor-made for writers just starting out or well along on your journey to publish. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In Part One of this two part file Jennie Nash and I discussed: Why the stages of writing a book are like the stages of grief How Jennie came up with a winning formula for helping writers bring their books to life The questions so many writers forget to ask before they start writing their book The frustrations and roadblocks authors run up against in the middle of a book How to make meaningful progress toward finishing Creativity and the myth of the lone genius And why writers can't wait around to be picked Show Notes: Author Accelerator The Writer's Guide to Agony and Defeat: The 43 Worst Moments in the Writing Life and How to Get Over Them by Jennie Nash (Amazon) For the Love of Money: A Memoir by Sam Polk Wired for Story: The Writer's Guide to Using Brain Science to Hook Readers from the Very First Sentence by Lisa Cron Daisy Jones & The Six: A Novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid Author Accelerator on Facebook Jennie Nash on Twitter Author Accelerator on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Please click the PayPal Donate button to support The Writer Files with a secure PayPal donation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Part Two of this file the multi-hyphenate and bestselling author of over 20 books, Elizabeth Ann Atkins, returned to share her inspiring and winding journey from Pulitzer Prize nominated journalist to groundbreaking novelist, ghostwriter, educator, TV host, and health & wellness expert. "When you write from that intuitive voice, it's your truth. And writing from that is your power." - Elizabeth Ann Atkins She received a Master's degree in Journalism from Columbia University and her writing has appeared in the New York Times, the San Diego Tribune, Essence, Ebony and the Detroit News, for her articles on race which were nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. Elizabeth has written 20 books, including novels White Chocolate, Dark Secret (Amazon), and Twilight (a collaboration with Billy Dee Williams), and she's also one half of the indie publishing duo Two Sisters Writing and Publishing, with sibling Catherine, where the two share the mission to promote diverse voices in the book world. Their credo is to "... publish quality anthologies of exceptional short fiction and inspirational nonfiction..." and "... books by authors of color, [and] women writers." They offer consulting, editing, and ghostwriting services as well. Elizabeth has been featured on Oprah, Montel, NPR, Good Morning America Sunday and CBS Evening News, and also co-hosts a weekly TV talk show, MI Healthy Mind, with a focus on mental health and wellness. She is presently working on her memoir. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. If you missed the first half of this show you can find it right here. And if you’ve missed previous episodes of The Writer Files you can find them all in the show notes, in the archives at writerfiles.fm, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in. In Part Two of this file Elizabeth Ann Atkins and I discussed: How intuitive writing can give your voice a turbo boost Why unplugging from notifications and the internet is so important to avoid burnout The importance of exercise for staying sane and getting into a flow state How the author juggles multiple deadlines and stays so prolific The power of rituals and routines for productivity How to use self-awareness and naps to supercharge your output And more inspired advice from an author with one amazing laugh Show Notes: Two Sisters Writing and Publishing Elizabeth Ann Atkins' author page on Amazon Power Journal: A 28-Day Challenge (Amazon) Gods Answer is Know by Elizabeth Ann Atkins - Godsanswerisknow.com "Mental training changes brain structure and reduces social stress" - Science Daily Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill (Amazon) Two Sisters Writing - @2sisterswriting on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Please click the PayPal Donate button to support The Writer Files with a secure PayPal donation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The multi-hyphenate and bestselling author of over 20 books, Elizabeth Ann Atkins, joined me this week to share her inspiring and winding journey from Pulitzer Prize nominated journalist to groundbreaking novelist, ghostwriter, educator, TV host, and health & wellness expert. "I'm trying to help people see ourselves through our hearts and spirits instead of through our skin, our religions, and all the labels and divisions." - Elizabeth Ann Atkins She received a Master's degree in Journalism from Columbia University and her writing has appeared in the New York Times, the San Diego Tribune, Essence, Ebony and the Detroit News, for her articles on race which were nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. Elizabeth has written 20 books, including novels White Chocolate, Dark Secret, and Twilight (a collaboration with Billy Dee Williams), and she's also one half of the indie publishing duo Two Sisters Writing and Publishing, with sibling Catherine, where the two share the mission to promote diverse voices in the book world. Their credo is to "... publish quality anthologies of exceptional short fiction and inspirational nonfiction..." and "... books by authors of color, [and] women writers." They offer consulting, editing, and ghostwriting services as well. Elizabeth has been featured on Oprah, Montel, NPR, Good Morning America Sunday and CBS Evening News, and also co-hosts a weekly TV talk show, MI Healthy Mind, with a focus on mental health and wellness. She is presently working on her memoir. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In Part One of this two part file Elizabeth Ann Atkins and I discussed: How the author wrote herself into American literature What it's like to write a novel with Billy Dee Williams of Star Wars fame Why the author leans toward underdog and against-the-odds stories How she combines her passion for writing and health and wellness in her work The power of journaling and meditation for writers And how mindfulness and writing notes by hand can help you cut through all of those modern distractions Show Notes: How Bestselling Author Elizabeth Ann Atkins Writes: Part Two Two Sisters Writing and Publishing Elizabeth Ann Atkins' author page on Amazon Power Journal: A 28-Day Challenge Gods Answer is Know by Elizabeth Ann Atkins - Godsanswerisknow.com "Mental training changes brain structure and reduces social stress" - Science Daily "Here's why writing things out by hand makes you smarter" - Business Insider Two Sisters Writing - @2sisterswriting on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Please click the PayPal Donate button to support The Writer Files with a secure PayPal donation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Part Two of another special edition of The Writer Files focused squarely on creativity and how to keep the creative juices flowing under duress, New York Times bestselling author, Austin Kleon, returned to talk about his journey, a wariness of technology, and his new book. "Do good work and share it with people." - Austin Kleon Austin Kleon has been deemed “one of the most interesting people on the Internet” (The Atlantic Magazine), and he is “a writer who draws,” best known for illustrated creativity manifestos Steal Like an Artist and Show Your Work! His latest, Keep Going: 10 Ways to Stay Creative in Good Times and Bad (Amazon), is the third book in his "box set." It offers ten simple, timeless, practical "...rules for how to stay creative, focused, and true to yourself — for life." Important messages for writers. His work has been translated into over twenty languages and featured on NPR’s Morning Edition, PBS Newshour, and The Wall Street Journal. Mr. Kleon speaks about “creativity in the digital age” for organizations as varied as Pixar, Google, SXSW, TEDx, and The Economist. If you missed the first half of this show you can find it right here. And If you’ve missed previous episodes of The Writer’s Brain you can find them all in the show notes, in the archives at writerfiles.fm, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In Part Two of this two part file Austin Kleon and I discussed: Why unplugging is so important for writers A return to the importance of 'productive procrastination' The unsolvable tension for creatives between connection and disconnection The author's love of being lazy Why we need to redefine productivity The zen of Getting Things Done How 'you can be woke without waking to the news' Show Notes: This podcast is produced solely by yours truly and New Media Dojo, my production moniker, and I'm incredibly thankful to you for your continued listenership and loyalty. Please leave us a comment or question and visit the archives at writerfiles.fm where I humbly ask you to support the show with an anonymous, secure donation to help us keep going with more great writerly content. For listeners who donate $25 or more and leave me a message, I will include your name and the type of writing you're working on, on air or in the show notes. Just head over to writerfiles.fm and click the Donate button. Thank you, sincerely – Kelton Please click the donate button to support the podcast with a secure PayPal donation How to Stay Creative with Bestselling Author Austin Kleon: Part One AustinKleon.com Keep Going: 10 Ways to Stay Creative in Good Times and Bad by Austin Kleon (Amazon) Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon (Amazon) Show Your Work! by Austin Kleon How Bestselling Author Austin Kleon Writes: Part One Man's Search for Meaning by Victor Frankl Getting Things Done by David Allen 'The Writer's Brain' on Productivity vs. Creativity: Part One Austin Kleon on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to another special edition of The Writer Files focused squarely on creativity and how to keep the creative juices flowing under duress. New York Times bestselling author, Austin Kleon, returned to talk about his journey, a wariness of technology, and his new book. "Writers aren't born, they are made." - Austin Kleon Austin Kleon has been deemed “one of the most interesting people on the Internet” (The Atlantic Magazine), and he is “a writer who draws,” best known for illustrated creativity manifestos Steal Like an Artist and Show Your Work! His latest, Keep Going: 10 Ways to Stay Creative in Good Times and Bad (Amazon), is the third book in his "box set." It offers ten simple, timeless, practical "...rules for how to stay creative, focused, and true to yourself — for life." Important messages for writers. His work has been translated into over twenty languages and featured on NPR’s Morning Edition, PBS Newshour, and The Wall Street Journal. Mr. Kleon speaks about “creativity in the digital age” for organizations as varied as Pixar, Google, SXSW, TEDx, and The Economist. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews In Part One of this two part file Austin Kleon and I discussed: How to stay inspired in crazy times Why life is hard and creative work is harder How to think of creativity like the movie Groundhog's Day Why you should stay mindful and 'practice in public' The importance of lists, rituals, routines, and writing every day And the authors that have shaped Austin's skepticism of technology and his creative journey Show Notes: This podcast is produced solely by yours truly and New Media Dojo, my production moniker, and I'm incredibly thankful to you for your continued listenership and loyalty. Please leave us a comment or question and visit the archives at writerfiles.fm where I humbly ask you to support the show with an anonymous, secure donation to help us keep going with more great writerly content. For listeners who donate $25 or more and leave me a message, I will include your name and the type of writing you're working on, on air or in the show notes. Just head over to writerfiles.fm and click the Donate button. Thank you, sincerely – Kelton Support The Writer Files with a secure PayPal donation How to Stay Creative with Bestselling Author Austin Kleon: Part Two AustinKleon.com Keep Going: 10 Ways to Stay Creative in Good Times and Bad by Austin Kleon (Amazon) Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon Show Your Work! by Austin Kleon How Bestselling Author Austin Kleon Writes: Part One Daily Rituals: How Artists Work by Mason Currey 'The Writer's Brain' on Productivity vs. Creativity: Part One How WNYC Podcast Host and Author of 'Bored and Brilliant' Manoush Zomorodi Writes Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neil Postman (Amazon) The Real World of Technology by Ursula M. Franklin Austin Kleon on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Part Two of another special edition of The Writer Files called “The Writer’s Brain,” with guest host neuroscientist Michael Grybko, we’ll dig back into the inextricable link between productivity and creativity, and the Catch-22 so many writers face as a result. This all began when Michael and I started a conversation about why we need to rethink our definition of productivity. As busyness, the cult of productivity, and multitasking seem to take over our lives, it’s easy to forget that the origins of the word productivity comes from the Latin, productivitas. Translation: creative power. Creativity — a topic Michael and I have discussed at length — is the beating heart of change, progress, and innovation, but our work-life scales are bending dangerously toward more busywork, distraction, inefficiency, and overall dissatisfaction. Truly scaling creativity requires productivity, so a balance must be struck between the two. Writing is a great example of this push and pull in the human brain. Luckily, research scientist Michael Grybko returned to the podcast to help me find some answers from the perspective of neuroscience. If you missed the first half of this show you can find it right here. And If you’ve missed previous episodes of The Writer’s Brain you can find them all in the show notes, in the archives at writerfiles.fm, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In Part Two of this file Michael Grybko and I discuss: Why professional writers, musicians, and athletes all share similar brain activity How adrenaline, mind-wandering, dreams, and the default mode network affect productivity and creativity Einstein’s theory of “combinatory play” for greater productivity Why your brain’s ability to filter out irrelevant information is so important to creativity And tips for anyone “drowning in data and starved for wisdom” The Show Notes ‘The Writer’s Brain’ on Productivity vs. Creativity: Part One The Best of 'The Writer's Brain' Part One: Creativity The Best of ‘The Writer’s Brain’ Part Two: Empathy The Best of ‘The Writer’s Brain’ Part Three: Storytelling The Best of ‘The Writer’s Brain’ Part Four: Writer’s Block The Best of ‘The Writer’s Brain’ Part Five: Fake News The Writer s Brain on Impostor Syndrome: Part One Productivity vs. Creativity, the Content Creator’s Catch-22 Rethink Your Definition of Productivity to Squash Uninspired Filler How to Outsmart Writer s Block with Neuroscience Mapping Creativity in the Brain: New research sheds some light on the neuroscience of improvising – The Atlantic This Is Your Brain on Writing Kelton Reid on Twitter Please click the donate button to support the podcast with a secure PayPal donation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to another special edition of The Writer Files called “The Writer’s Brain,” a guest series with neuroscientist Michael Grybko, and in this episode we’ll dig into the inextricable link between productivity and creativity, and the Catch-22 so many writers face as a result. This all began when Michael and I started a conversation about why we need to rethink our definition of productivity. As busyness, the cult of productivity, and multitasking seem to take over our lives, it’s easy to forget that the origins of the word productivity comes from the Latin, productivitas. Translation: creative power. Creativity — a topic Michael and I have discussed at length — is the beating heart of change, progress, and innovation, but our work-life scales are bending dangerously toward more busywork, distraction, inefficiency, and overall dissatisfaction. Truly scaling creativity requires productivity, so a balance must be struck between the two. Writing is a great example of this push and pull in the human brain. Luckily, research scientist Michael Grybko returned to the podcast to help me find some answers from the perspective of neuroscience. If you’ve missed previous episodes of The Writer’s Brain you can find them all in the show notes, in the archives at writerfiles.fm, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In Part One of this file Michael Grybko and I discuss: How neuroscience views the complex interplay between productivity and creativity Why writers often struggle to finish longer projects The great irony of the “10 year overnight success” How memory plays such a big part in productivity Why so many writing instructors prescribe “life experience” for great writing How always on, open concept workspaces can actually hinder both productivity and creativity And the close study of musicians, artists, and the pitfalls of mapping creativity in the brain The Show Notes: ‘The Writer’s Brain’ on Productivity vs. Creativity: Part Two The Best of 'The Writer's Brain' Part One: Creativity The Best of ‘The Writer’s Brain’ Part Two: Empathy The Best of ‘The Writer’s Brain’ Part Three: Storytelling The Best of ‘The Writer’s Brain’ Part Four: Writer’s Block The Best of ‘The Writer’s Brain’ Part Five: Fake News The Writer s Brain on Impostor Syndrome: Part One Productivity vs. Creativity, the Content Creator’s Catch-22 Rethink Your Definition of Productivity to Squash Uninspired Filler How to Outsmart Writer s Block with Neuroscience Mapping Creativity in the Brain: New research sheds some light on the neuroscience of improvising – The Atlantic This Is Your Brain on Writing Kelton Reid on Twitter Please click the donate button to support the podcast with a secure PayPal donation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Happy holidays from the Writer Files, this is just a quick update that we are on hiatus until 2019. Thank you so much for listening and helping us find our audience! I hope 2018 has been a creative, productive, and successful year for your writing life and career, and that you’re setting some ambitious goals for 2019. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews, and leave us a rating or a review on APPLE PODCASTS to help your fellow scribes find us. I am very looking forward to wiping the slate clean myself and we have some great episodes to look forward to to kick off the podcast when we return in January. We'll start the next year with a Writer's Brain episode, featuring my esteemed serial co-host and friend, neuroscientist Michael Grybko. He and I got a chance to sit down over coffee in the studio to talk about the fascinating, inextricable link between productivity and creativity on a double-wide special edition of the podcast. Of course we have more bestselling authors and journalists in the queue where we ll continue our study of their habits, habitats, and brains to learn their secrets. We'll have more self-publishing superstars in the mix for 2019 and of course more writer porn, so stay tuned for episodes with the illustrious Adam Skolnick and the reclusive Robert Bruce. I hope you learned as much as I did about how successful writers keep the ink flowing, the cursor moving and avoid writer s block, and I also hope you had a chance to reflect on all you’ve accomplished or hope to accomplish in the coming year. A big shout out to my two associate producers this year, long time collaborator Clare Garrett, and more recently, the talented Claire Emerson. This show couldn't happen without your help. You can also explore our archives to find interviews with notable guests that include bestselling authors John Scalzi (Old Man’s War), Greg Iles (Natchez Burning), Jay McInerney (Bright Lights, Big City), Kevin Kelly (founder of WIRED magazine), Emma Donoghue (Oscar Nominee for Room), Maria Konnikova (The Confidence Game), Andy Weir (The Martian), Dan Buettner (The Blue Zones), Austin Kleon (Steal Like an Artist), Daniel Pink (When), and many others. Thank you for tuning in, catch you next year! Show Notes: Please click the donate button to support the podcast with a secure PayPal donation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Part Two of this file the audiobook publisher, award-winning podcast producer, and internationally acclaimed speaker, Tina Dietz, returned to wrap up our chat about her passion for helping authors grow their audiences, why you should produce an audiobook, and the bright future of audio content. 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! Tina is an entrepreneur and content marketing expert who has been featured on ABC, Inc.com, Huffington Post, and Forbes (to name a few), and her company, StartSomething Creative Business Solutions, helps authors and entrepreneurs expand their audiences with audio content. She is an award-winning podcaster and an expert in leveraging and repurposing content, and her company specializes deeply in audiobook production and publishing for one simple reason … It’s “… the fastest growing, in-demand segment of the book publishing industry,” and the barrier to entry is dropping rapidly. Tina and her cohorts love to help authors expand their audiences, income, influence, and opportunities. If you missed the first half you can find it here. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In Part Two of this file Tina Dietz and I talk about: The surprising truth about who should, and who should not, narrate their own audiobook How to decide whether to invest the time and money in professional voice narration or go DIY The art and science that goes into a bestselling audiobook Why you can’t rush professionally produced audio Where to send your audiobook once it s finished The future of audio content and smart coffee makers And why you need to fall in love with your own voice and message The Show Notes: The Bright Future of Audiobooks with Tina Dietz: Part One StartSomething Creative Business Solutions – StartSomethingPositive.com StartSomething Creative Business Solutions on Facebook ACX Findaway Tina’s Blog & Free Resources (incl. Secrets of the 3 Billion Dollar Audiobook World) Tina Dietz on LinkedIn Tina Dietz on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Please click the donate button to support the podcast with a secure PayPal donation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week audiobook publisher, award-winning podcast producer, and internationally acclaimed speaker, Tina Dietz, took a timeout to chat with me about her passion for helping authors grow their audiences, why you should produce an audiobook, and the bright future of audio content. Tina is an entrepreneur and content marketing expert who has been featured on ABC, Inc.com, Huffington Post, and Forbes (to name a few), and her company, StartSomething Creative Business Solutions, helps authors and entrepreneurs expand their audiences with audio content. She is an award-winning podcaster and an expert in leveraging and repurposing content, and her company specializes deeply in audiobook production and publishing for one simple reason … It’s “… the fastest growing, in-demand segment of the book publishing industry,” and the barrier to entry is dropping rapidly. Tina and her cohorts love to help authors expand their audiences, income, influence, and opportunities. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In Part One of this file Tina Dietz and I talk about: The Renaissance of audiobooks, the fastest growing format in publishing When authors should start thinking about audiobook production The importance of reading your book out loud for editing Tina’s twisty journey from voice acting to helping authors’ tell their own stories with audio Why audiobooks are more popular than ever And who can benefit the most from publishing an audiobook today The Show Notes: The Bright Future of Audiobooks with Tina Dietz: Part Two StartSomething Creative Business Solutions – StartSomethingPositive.com StartSomething Creative Business Solutions on Facebook The Messengers: A Podcast Documentary Tina’s Blog & Free Resources (incl. Secrets of the 3 Billion Dollar Audiobook World) Tina Dietz on LinkedIn Kelton Reid on Twitter Please click the donate button to support the podcast with a secure PayPal donation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Part Two of this file the acclaimed New York Times bestselling sci-fi author, Richard K. Morgan, spoke with me from overseas about his winding journey from English tutor to bestseller, having his novel adapted for the small screen, what it’s like to write for Marvel comics, and his unique take on creativity and the writing life. Richard is best known as the award-winning author of the noir sci-fi novel Altered Carbon (Amazon), a New York Times Notable and Philip K. Dick Award winner, that was recently turned into a hit Netflix series. [Beware: Some ‘explicit’ language.] The author of the hard-boiled, “carbon-black,” futuristic thriller series, the Takeshi Kovacs novels (including Altered Carbon), also writes the dark fantasy series A Land Fit for Heroes (The Steel Remains, The Cold Commands, and The Dark Defiles). His award-winning novels also include stand-alones Market Forces (also optioned for film) and Thirteen, and he’s the author of two volumes of Black Widow comics for Marvel, as well as the Crysis 2 and Syndicate computer games. His latest novel, Thin Air, is described as “an atmospheric tale of corruption and abduction set on Mars” and it’s a return to his signature hardboiled sci-fi that The New York Times Book Review called, “Ferociously readable.” Join us for this two-part interview. If you missed the first half you can find it here. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In Part Two of the file Richard K. Morgan and I discussed: The writing life and the fallacy of “a hard day’s writing” How exercise, unplugging, and reading a lot jumpstart creativity Why good writers live inside of their work Richard’s candid takes on the incredible influence of Bladerunner and the critics reviews of the Altered Carbon Netflix series Why serious writers need grit, stamina, and self-confidence And his entreaty to all aspiring novelists The Show Notes: How Bestselling Sci-Fi Author Richard K. Morgan Writes: Part One Thin Air: A Novel – Richard K. Morgan (Amazon) RichardKMorgan.com Fragments of a Jet-lagged Dream – Richard K. Morgan Richard K. Morgan on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Please click the donate button to support the podcast with a secure PayPal donation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Acclaimed New York Times bestselling sci-fi author, Richard K. Morgan, spoke with me from overseas about his winding journey from English tutor to bestseller, having his novel adapted for the small screen, what it’s like to write for Marvel comics, and his unique take on creativity and the writing life. Richard is best known as the award-winning author of the noir sci-fi novel Altered Carbon (Amazon), a New York Times Notable and Philip K. Dick Award winner, that was recently turned into a hit Netflix series. [Beware: Some ‘explicit’ language.] The author of the hard-boiled, “carbon-black,” futuristic thriller series, the Takeshi Kovacs novels (including Altered Carbon), also writes the dark fantasy series A Land Fit for Heroes (The Steel Remains, The Cold Commands, and The Dark Defiles). His award-winning novels also include stand-alones Market Forces (also optioned for film) and Thirteen, and he’s the author of two volumes of Black Widow comics for Marvel, as well as the Crysis 2 and Syndicate computer games. His latest novel, Thin Air, is described as “an atmospheric tale of corruption and abduction set on Mars” and it’s a return to his signature hardboiled sci-fi that The New York Times Book Review called, “Ferociously readable.” Join us for this two-part interview. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In Part One of the file Richard K. Morgan and I discussed: His American literary doppelganger The door that finally opened and dumped him onto the red carpet How The Sopranos helped change the zeitgeist toward darker fiction Why luck plays such a big part in success for writers The author’s hallucinatory visit to the set of the Altered Carbon Netflix series The two distinct DNA types of writers and the fallacy of block The Show Notes: How Bestselling Sci-Fi Author Richard K. Morgan Writes: Part Two Thin Air: A Novel – Richard K. Morgan (Amazon) RichardKMorgan.com Fragments of a Jet-lagged Dream – Richard K. Morgan Richard K. Morgan on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Please click the donate button to support the podcast with a secure PayPal donation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices