The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience
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How Senior BuzzFeed Writer and Author of ‘Startup’ Doree Shafrir Writes: Part Two
9 mei 2017 · 24 min
In Part Two of this interview the senior culture writer for Buzzfeed News and author of the debut novel Startup, Doree Shafrir, took a few minutes to talk with me about the early days at Gawker, her highly-anticipated fiction debut, and her tips for getting words onto the page.
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Start getting more from your site today!The veteran online journalist started out at the Philadelphia Weekly before taking a position at Gawker in 2006. She went on to work as an editor and staff writer for Rolling Stone, The New York Observer, and has contributed to publications including The New York Times, The New Yorker, Slate, The Awl, New York Magazine, The Daily Beast, and WIRED.
Her whip-smart debut novel is Startup, a satirical skewering of startup culture in New York City “…that proves there are some dilemmas that no app can solve.”
Vanity Fair’s Nick Bilton, former tech and business columnist for the New York Times, said of the book, “I was hooked from the first page and found myself lost in a beautifully-written fiction that so succinctly echoes today’s bizarre reality.”
Doree also co-hosts a podcast with husband and Nerdist alum, TV writer Matt Mira, titled “Matt and Doree’s Eggcellent Adventure,” described as an “…unintentionally hilarious journey through the world of infertility.”
If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.
If you missed the first half you can find it right here.
In Part Two of this file Doree Shafrir and I discuss: Lees meerThe reality and frustration of writer’s block
Why she made the revelatory move from Microsoft Word to Scrivener
How the author manages stress (hint: HGTV)
The city as muse
Why done is sometimes better than good
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How Senior BuzzFeed Writer and Author of ‘Startup’ Doree Shafrir Writes: Part One
2 mei 2017 · 27 min
The senior culture writer for Buzzfeed News and author of the debut novel Startup, Doree Shafrir, took a few minutes to talk with me about the early days at Gawker, her highly-anticipated fiction debut, and her tips for getting words onto the page.
Rainmaker.FM is Brought to You By Discover why more than 80,000 companies in 135 countries choose WP Engine for managed WordPress hosting.
Start getting more from your site today!The veteran online journalist started out at the Philadelphia Weekly before taking a position at Gawker in 2006. She went on to work as an editor and staff writer for Rolling Stone, The New York Observer, and has contributed to publications including The New York Times, The New Yorker, Slate, The Awl, New York Magazine, The Daily Beast, and WIRED.
Her whip-smart debut novel is Startup, a satirical skewering of startup culture in New York City “…that proves there are some dilemmas that no app can solve.”
Vanity Fair’s Nick Bilton, former tech and business columnist for the New York Times, said of the book, “I was hooked from the first page and found myself lost in a beautifully-written fiction that so succinctly echoes today’s bizarre reality.”
Doree also co-hosts a podcast with husband and Nerdist alum, TV writer Matt Mira, titled “Matt and Doree’s Eggcellent Adventure,” described as an “…unintentionally hilarious journey through the world of infertility.”
If you’re a fan of The Writer Files you can find us on Apple Podcasts, and please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews as soon as they’re published.
In Part One of this file Doree Shafrir and I discuss: Lees meerThe writer’s journey from Gawker content creator to buzzworthy debut novelist
How her user-generated Tumblr got her a book deal
Why she doesn’t own her personal domain name
How to research and create a believable antagonist
The challenges she faced making the shift from journo to fictionist
The Show Notes:
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How Hugo Award Winning Sci-Fi Author John Scalzi Writes: Part Two
18 april 2017 · 38 min
The Hugo winner and multiple New York Times bestselling science fiction author, John Scalzi, took a break from his whirlwind new book tour to chat with me about The Collapsing Empire, the timely importance of great storytelling, and what makes a writer truly great.
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Start getting more from your site today!His wildly popular debut novel, Old Man’s War, began as a serialized blog before attracting attention from an agent. Its 2006 publication earned him a Hugo nomination and multiple awards.
Since then he’s written dozens of novels including New York Times bestsellers The Last Colony, Fuzzy Nation, Redshirts (2013’s Hugo winner for Best Novel), and Lock In. His work has been translated into over 20 languages and multiple projects have been optioned for film and TV.
It’s no surprise that the prolific author has been a professional writer since the early ’90s. In addition to his award-winning blog, “Whatever,” John has written: freelance journalism, novellas, short stories, a wide-range of non-fiction, video games, been a Creative Consultant for a hit TV series, and remains a Critic at Large for the LA Times.
In 2015 the author signed a multi-million dollar deal with Tor Books for 13 titles over 10 years, and the first of those is The Collapsing Empire, a bestselling interstellar space opera that’s been described as “Game of Thrones meets Dune.”
If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.
In Part Two of this file John Scalzi and I discuss: Lees meerWhy this isn’t the worst time in human history … by a long shot
The writer’s unique workflow and technological polyglotism
Creativity as a survival instinct
How luck and persistence can play a part in your success as a writer
Why you really only need to focus on the things you can control
The Show Notes:
If you’re ready to see for yourself why ov…
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How Hugo Award Winning Sci-Fi Author John Scalzi Writes: Part One
11 april 2017 · 36 min
The Hugo winner and multiple New York Times bestselling science fiction author, John Scalzi, took a break from his whirlwind new book tour to chat with me about The Collapsing Empire, the timely importance of great storytelling, and what makes a writer truly great.
Rainmaker.FM is Brought to You By Discover why more than 80,000 companies in 135 countries choose WP Engine for managed WordPress hosting.
Start getting more from your site today!His wildly popular debut novel, Old Man’s War, began as a serialized blog before attracting attention from an agent. Its 2006 publication earned him a Hugo nomination and multiple awards.
Since then he’s written dozens of novels including New York Times bestsellers The Last Colony, Fuzzy Nation, Redshirts (2013’s Hugo winner for Best Novel), and Lock In. His work has been translated into over 20 languages and multiple projects have been optioned for film and TV.
It’s no surprise that the prolific author has been a professional writer since the early ’90s. In addition to his award-winning blog, “Whatever,” John has written: freelance journalism, novellas, short stories, a wide-range of non-fiction, video games, been a Creative Consultant for a hit TV series, and remains a Critic at Large for the LA Times.
In 2015 the author signed a multi-million dollar deal with Tor Books for 13 titles over 10 years, and the first of those is The Collapsing Empire, a bestselling interstellar space opera that’s been described as “Game of Thrones meets Dune.”
If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.
In Part One of this file John Scalzi and I discuss: Lees meerHow publishing is like giving birth
The secret behind most overnight successes
How a prolific sci-fi writer researches ideas
On beating laziness, and the author’s daily ritual
The writer’s greatest challenge
The Show Notes:
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How Bestselling Author Greg Iles Writes: Part Two
4 april 2017 · 23 min
In Part Two of this file, the hyper-prolific, #1 New York Times bestselling author, Greg Iles, returned to chat with me about the conclusion to his epic trilogy, his unique writing process, and making the move to television.
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Start getting more from your site today!At 16 novels and counting — all but one of which have hit bestsellers lists — Greg has been called the “…William Faulkner for the Breaking Bad generation,” and his books have been adapted for film, translated into over 20 languages, and published in more than 35 countries.
His epic Natchez Burning trilogy clocks in at close to 750,000 words and started out as a single novel that he expanded after a near death experience — a car crash that left him in a coma — which ultimately changed his mind about how he wanted to write it.
His final installment in the series, Mississippi Blood, concludes the story of Southern lawyer Penn Cage, (the protagonist of six of his books including The Quiet Game, Turning Angel, and New York Times #1 bestseller The Devil’s Punchbowl).
Iles’s epic tale of “… love and honor, hatred and revenge … explores how the sins of the past continue to haunt the present,” and Stephen King described the series as “… extraordinarily entertaining and fiendishly suspenseful.”
If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.
If you missed the first half you can find it right here.
In Part Two of this file Greg Iles and I discuss: Lees meerThe author’s take on writer’s block
A tour of Greg’s “space shuttle” desk setup
The mad science of how the author intertwined multiple narratives and historical flashbacks over three epic novels
Why truly creative people never get bored
Some great writing advice from a truly prolific author
The Show Notes
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How Bestselling Author Greg Iles Writes: Part One
28 maart 2017 · 21 min
The hyper-prolific, #1 New York Times bestselling author, Greg Iles, took a few minutes to chat with me this week about the conclusion to his epic trilogy, his unique writing process, and making the move to television.
Rainmaker.FM is Brought to You By Discover why more than 80,000 companies in 135 countries choose WP Engine for managed WordPress hosting.
Start getting more from your site today!At 16 novels and counting — all but one of which have hit bestsellers lists — Greg has been called the “…William Faulkner for the Breaking Bad generation,” and his books have been adapted for film, translated into over 20 languages, and published in more than 35 countries.
His epic Natchez Burning trilogy clocks in at close to 750,000 words and started out as a single novel that he expanded after a near death experience — a car crash that left him in a coma — which ultimately changed his mind about how he wanted to write it.
His final installment in the series, Mississippi Blood, concludes the story of Southern lawyer Penn Cage, (the protagonist of six of his books including The Quiet Game, Turning Angel, and New York Times #1 bestseller The Devil’s Punchbowl).
Iles’s epic tale of “… love and honor, hatred and revenge … explores how the sins of the past continue to haunt the present,” and Stephen King described the series as “… extraordinarily entertaining and fiendishly suspenseful.”
If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.
In Part One of this file Greg Iles and I discuss: Lees meerWhy the author decided to take a break from rock’n’roll to start writing novels
The importance of finding your unique writing voice
How Greg tries to go as long as possible without writing a word
On the author’s frenetic writing sprints and impressive word counts
Why writers need to not “overthink” the process
The Show Notes
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How New Yorker Writer and Author of ‘The Rules Do Not Apply’ Ariel Levy Writes
21 maart 2017 · 34 min
The New Yorker staff writer, award-winning journalist, and author of a new memoir The Rules Do Not Apply, Ariel Levy, took a moment out of her hectic schedule to rap with me about the writing life, advice from the impeccable Gay Talese, and turning her personal story into a book.
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Start getting more from your site today!The author was a contributing editor for New York magazine for 12 years before becoming a staff writer at The New Yorker where she has written acclaimed pieces on a wide range of subjects from swimmer Diana Nyad to the hallucinogen ayahuasca.
Ariel’s work has appeared in The Washington Post, Vogue, Slate, Men’s Journal, and many others. She was the editor of The Best American Essays 2015, a collection in which she was also anthologized in 2008.
Her latest, The Rules Do Not Apply, is a book based on her heartbreaking personal story, “Thanksgiving in Mongolia.” After winning the National Magazine Award for Essays and Criticism, she expanded it into a memoir “… about a woman overcoming dramatic loss and finding reinvention.”
Bestselling author David Sedaris said of the book, “Every deep feeling a human is capable of will be shaken loose by this profound book.”
If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.
In this file Ariel Levy and I discuss: Lees meerHow an award-winning journalist started out as a gossip columnist
Why it was easy for the author to turn the lens onto her own painful past
How to report a great story for The New Yorker
Analog writer hacks for creating order from chaos
How great writers are like chocolate
The Show Notes
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The Rules Do Not Apply: A Memoir – Ariel Levy
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How the Author of ‘The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can’t Stand Positive Thinking’ Oliver Burkeman Writes: Part Two
14 maart 2017 · 24 min
In the second half of this file, The Guardian writer, psychology journalist, and author of the critically acclaimed book The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can’t Stand Positive Thinking, Oliver Burkeman, dropped by the program to talk to me about the writer’s journey, turning a weekly column into a book, and rethinking positive thinking.
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Start getting more from your site today!Oliver writes about social psychology, self-help culture, productivity, and the science of happiness for his columns in both The Guardian (based in Brooklyn, New York), and Psychologies magazine. He has also interviewed a laundry list of celebrities ranging from Al Gore to Jerry Seinfeld.
In his critically acclaimed book, The Antidote (2012), the author went undercover into the heart of the “happiness industrial complex” to explore why our relentless pursuit of happiness and success often leaves us feeling the opposite.
The author looked to academics, psychologists, Buddhists, business consultants, philosophers, and many others in a unique search for an “… alternative path to happiness and success that involves embracing failure, pessimism, insecurity, and uncertainty – the very things we spend our lives trying to avoid.”
The Los Angeles Times said of the book, “Burkeman’s tour of the ‘negative path’ to happiness makes for a deeply insightful and entertaining book.”
If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.
If you missed the first half you can find it right here.
In Part Two of this file Oliver Burkeman and I discuss: Lees meerModest goal setting and how to be productive when you’re depressed
The fallacies of overcoming ‘resistance’
How to interview Jerry Seinfeld
Why you need to just do a little writing every day
The Show Notes
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How the Author of ‘The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can’t Stand Positive Thinking’ Oliver Burkeman Writes: Part One
7 maart 2017 · 24 min
The Guardian writer, psychology journalist, and author of the critically acclaimed book The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can’t Stand Positive Thinking, Oliver Burkeman, dropped by the program to talk to me about the writer’s journey, turning a weekly column into a book, and rethinking positive thinking.
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!Oliver writes about social psychology, self-help culture, productivity, and the science of happiness for his columns in both The Guardian (based in Brooklyn, New York), and Psychologies magazine. He has also interviewed a laundry list of celebrities ranging from Al Gore to Jerry Seinfeld.
In his critically acclaimed book, The Antidote (2012), the author went undercover into the heart of the “happiness industrial complex” to explore why our relentless pursuit of happiness and success often leaves us feeling the opposite.
The author looked to academics, psychologists, Buddhists, business consultants, philosophers, and many others in a unique search for an “… alternative path to happiness and success that involves embracing failure, pessimism, insecurity, and uncertainty – the very things we spend our lives trying to avoid.”
The Los Angeles Times said of the book, “Burkeman’s tour of the ‘negative path’ to happiness makes for a deeply insightful and entertaining book.”
If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.
In Part One of this file Oliver Burkeman and I discuss: Lees meerThe author’s lifetime love of journalism
How his own challenges with time management lead to his latest book project
Why constraints can improve your productivity
Time-tested advice for getting words onto the page
The Show Notes
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How Journalist and Author of ‘The Power of Meaning’ Emily Esfahani Smith Writes: Part Two
28 februari 2017 · 22 min
In the second half of this file, the psychology and culture journalist, editor, and author of the recent book The Power of Meaning, Emily Esfahani Smith, returned to talk to me about the writing life and why our search for meaning is so important right now.
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Start getting more from your site today!Emily has an M.A. in applied positive psychology, and in addition to being a columnist for The New Criterion, Emily’s writing has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Time, The Atlantic, New York Magazine and other publications.
The author is also an editor at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, where she manages “…an initiative to build purpose and community throughout the nation.”
The author’s new book, The Power of Meaning: Crafting a Life That Matters, explores the latest insights in positive psychology as well as thinkers throughout history — from George Eliot, Aristotle, Buddha, and even Louis C.K. — to find answers on why our pursuit of happiness often leaves us unhappy, and how we can lead more meaningful lives.
Bestselling author Daniel Pink said, “The Power of Meaning deftly tells the stories of people, contemporary and historical, who have made the quest for meaning the mission of their lives. This powerful yet elegant book will inspire you to live a life of significance.”
If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.
If you missed the first half you can find it right here.
In Part Two of this file Emily Esfahani Smith and I discuss: Lees meerThe power of outlines and how to give yourself permission to write badly
Why novelty helps you connect the dots in new ways
How an old library can inspire new ideas
The uniquely human pursuit of meaning and why we could all use a little more of it right now
The Show Notes
If you’re ready to see for yourself why ov…
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How Journalist and Author of ‘The Power of Meaning’ Emily Esfahani Smith Writes: Part One
21 februari 2017 · 21 min
The psychology and culture journalist, editor, and author of the recent book The Power of Meaning, Emily Esfahani Smith, stopped by the show this week to talk to me about the writing life and why our search for meaning is so important right now.
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Start getting more from your site today!Emily has an M.A. in applied positive psychology, and in addition to being a columnist for The New Criterion, Emily’s writing has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Time, The Atlantic, New York Magazine and other publications.
The author is also an editor at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, where she manages “…an initiative to build purpose and community throughout the nation.”
The author’s new book, The Power of Meaning: Crafting a Life That Matters, explores the latest insights in positive psychology as well as thinkers throughout history — from George Eliot, Aristotle, Buddha, and even Louis C.K. — to find answers on why our pursuit of happiness often leaves us unhappy, and how we can lead more meaningful lives.
Bestselling author Daniel Pink said, “The Power of Meaning deftly tells the stories of people, contemporary and historical, who have made the quest for meaning the mission of their lives. This powerful yet elegant book will inspire you to live a life of significance.”
If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.
In Part One of this file Emily Esfahani Smith and I discuss: Lees meerWhy you can’t let your fear of failure stop you from writing
The extensive research that went into her investigation of an age-old question
How the author discovered the four pillars of meaning
The Show Notes
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How Screenwriter and ‘All Our Wrong Todays’ Author Elan Mastai Writes: Part Two
7 februari 2017 · 33 min
In Part Two of this interview, award-winning screenwriter and author of the debut novel All Our Wrong Todays, Elan Mastai, returned to talk about his fiction debut, the science of time travel, and finding inspiration in dark places.
The writer and producer has written movies for both indie and Hollywood studios, including scripts for Fox, Sony, Warner Brothers, and Paramount.
His most recent film – What If, a comedy starring Daniel Radcliffe, Zoe Kazan, Adam Driver, and Mackenzie Davis – premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2013. Elan won the Canadian Academy Award and the Writers Guild of Canada Award for his script, and the movie played in over 30 countries.
His new novel – All Our Wrong Todays – is a sci-fi tinged, time-travel romance and much buzzed about debut that is rumored to have landed the writer a seven-figure book deal worth north of a million dollars.
The book has been described as “Dark Matter meets Back to the Future,” and even prior to the book’s publication, the film rights were sold to Paramount Pictures.
Andy Weir, bestselling author of The Martian, called it, “A thrilling tale of time travel and alternate timelines with a refreshingly optimistic view of humanity’s future.”
If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.
If you missed the first half you can find it right here.
In Part Two of this file Elan Mastai and I discuss: Lees meerWhy you should double check your facts before sending your manuscript to a celebrity
How music can influence your writing style
Why you need to give yourself permission to write badly
The writer as entrepreneur whose one product is the inside of their brain
Why your writing is a like a time machine
The Show Notes
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How Screenwriter and ‘All Our Wrong Todays’ Author…
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Behind the Scenes: How ‘The Writer Files’ Is Produced
31 januari 2017 · 1 uur 4 min
This is a special edition of the show where we take a glimpse behind the scenes at how we produce the program, and the people responsible for it. As Rainmaker.FM approaches it’s 2nd anniversary, I thought it apropos to examine how we got here.
This is going to be fun!
It may seem like I’m just a guy in a garage – like so many podcasters – who interviews writers and then frantically scrambles to produce the show in the margins of my real job as a multimedia producer for Rainmaker Digital.
I do host and help produce the show of course, but I don’t record it in my garage, sorry. But you will learn how and where I do it. This week I also get the rare opportunity to shine a light on my talented production team and how this all happens.
Note: The conclusion of my chat with screenwriter and author of All Our Wrong Todays, Elan Mastai will be published Feb. 7th, the day his new book comes out.
If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.
In this episode our production team and I talk about: Lees meerHow the show made the jump from a written interview to a podcast format with Robert Bruce
The process we use to book our writers with Caroline Early
How I research, record interviews, and write for the show’s website
Why the raw audio for the shows needs a little massaging from a pro audio engineer with Toby Lyles
How it all comes together to beam to your phone or desktop, and nestle neatly in your ears with Clare Garrett
The Show Notes
Begin your free, 14-day trial of the Rainmaker Platform and start building your own digital marketing and sales platform today at Rainmaker.FM/Platform
StudioPress.com
Unusually Short Stories at RobertBruce.com
Proust Questionnaire – Wikipedia
Here’s How Brian Clark Writes – The inaugural issue of The Writer Files
Longform Podcast #226: Terry Gross
ScheduleOnce.com – Scheduling platform
Caroline Early on Twitter
Shure SM7B Vocal Dynamic Microphone, Cardioid
Auralex soundproofing
Call Re…
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How Screenwriter and ‘All Our Wrong Todays’ Author Elan Mastai Writes: Part One
24 januari 2017 · 33 min
The award-winning screenwriter and author of the debut novel All Our Wrong Todays, Elan Mastai, dropped by the show this week to talk about his fiction debut, the science of time travel, and finding inspiration in dark places.
The writer and producer has written movies for both indie and Hollywood studios, including scripts for Fox, Sony, Warner Brothers, and Paramount.
His most recent film – What If, a comedy starring Daniel Radcliffe, Zoe Kazan, Adam Driver, and Mackenzie Davis – premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2013. Elan won the Canadian Academy Award and the Writers Guild of Canada Award for his script, and the movie played in over 30 countries.
His new novel – All Our Wrong Todays – is a sci-fi tinged, time-travel romance and much buzzed about debut that is rumored to have landed the writer a seven-figure book deal worth north of a million dollars.
The book has been described as “Dark Matter meets Back to the Future,” and even prior to the book’s publication, the film rights were sold to Paramount Pictures.
Andy Weir, bestselling author of The Martian, called it, “A thrilling tale of time travel and alternate timelines with a refreshingly optimistic view of humanity’s future.”
If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.
In Part One of this file Elan Mastai and I discuss: Lees meerHis grandfather’s vintage sci-fi collection and how it inspired him
How he launched his screenwriting career by translating Pulp Fiction into a kid’s movie
Why writers need to know their weaknesses
How the busy screenwriter and producer found time to write a novel
The hard science of time travel and storytelling
The Show Notes
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How Screenwriter and ‘All Our Wrong Todays’ Author Elan Mastai Writes: Part Two
All Our Wrong Toda…
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How the Editor of ‘Scratch: Writers, Money, and the Art of Making a Living’ Manjula Martin Writes: Part Two
17 januari 2017 · 23 min
In Part Two of this file the writer and managing editor of Francis Ford Coppola’s award-winning magazine Zoetrope: All-Story, Manjula Martin, returns to the show this week to talk about her new book and “…the realities of making a living in the writing world.”
Manjula is the founder of the website Who Pays Writers?, an invaluable service dedicated to helping freelance writers anonymously share current publication rates and their experiences getting paid.
As managing editor of Zoetrope: All-Story magazine, a title that has won every major story award including the National Magazine Award for Fiction, Ms. Martin sees to the quarterly publication of a stable of prominent contemporary writers and artists.
In her first book, Scratch: Writers, Money, and the Art of Making a Living, the editor has collected interviews and “…essays from today’s most acclaimed authors–from Cheryl Strayed to Roxane Gay to Jennifer Weiner, Alexander Chee, Nick Hornby, and Jonathan Franzen…” on the intersection of writing and commerce.
The New Republic said of the writer, “Manjula Martin has done more than perhaps anyone else to shed light on the financial nitty-gritty of the writing profession.”
Her writing has also appeared in the Virginia Quarterly Review, Pacific Standard, Aeon Magazine, Hazlitt Magazine, The Awl, SF Weekly, The Rumpus, and many others.
If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.
If you missed the first half you can find it right here.
In Part Two of this file Manjula Martin and I discuss: Lees meerProductivity, irregular hours, and the 400 hats of a working editor and writer
Why finding your writing flow is so important when you have a day job
One great hack for beating writer’s block
How creativity resists definition
Why writers need to share info about making a living
The Show Notes
If you’re ready to see for yourself why over 194,000 website owners trust StudioPress — the industry standard for premium WordPress themes …
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How the Editor of ‘Scratch: Writers, Money, and the Art of Making a Living’ Manjula Martin Writes: Part One
9 januari 2017 · 21 min
The writer and managing editor of Francis Ford Coppola’s award-winning magazine Zoetrope: All-Story, Manjula Martin, paid a visit to the show this week to talk about her new book and “…the realities of making a living in the writing world.”
Manjula is the founder of the website Who Pays Writers?, an invaluable service dedicated to helping freelance writers anonymously share current publication rates and their experiences getting paid.
As managing editor of Zoetrope: All-Story magazine, a title that has won every major story award including the National Magazine Award for Fiction, Ms. Martin sees to the quarterly publication of a stable of prominent contemporary writers and artists.
In her first book, Scratch: Writers, Money, and the Art of Making a Living, the editor has collected interviews and “…essays from today’s most acclaimed authors–from Cheryl Strayed to Roxane Gay to Jennifer Weiner, Alexander Chee, Nick Hornby, and Jonathan Franzen…” on the intersection of writing and commerce.
The New Republic said of the writer, “Manjula Martin has done more than perhaps anyone else to shed light on the financial nitty-gritty of the writing profession.”
Her writing has also appeared in the Virginia Quarterly Review, Pacific Standard, Aeon Magazine, Hazlitt Magazine, The Awl, SF Weekly, The Rumpus, and many others.
If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.
In Part One of this file Manjula Martin and I discuss: Lees meerWhy the school of real life is so valuable to writers
How an unpaid internship led to a dream job
The revenge of analog and print magazines
How a Tumblr became an inspiring collection of stories on the writing life
The Show Notes
If you’re ready to see for yourself why over 194,000 website owners trust StudioPress — the industry standard for premium WordPress themes and plugins — just go to Rainmaker.FM/StudioPress
How the Editor of ‘Scratch: Writers, Money, and the Art of Making a Living’ Manjula Martin…
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How Journalist and Bestselling Author of ‘The Revenge of Analog’ David Sax Writes: Part Two
19 december 2016 · 34 min
The business and culture journalist and bestselling author of the recent book The Revenge of Analog, David Sax, returned to the show to talk about the writing life, the importance of real things in a digital world, and the revenge of paper.
David is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in Bloomberg Businessweek, The New York Times, The New Yorker online, and other publications.
The author’s first book, Save the Deli, was an Los Angeles Times bestseller and won the James Beard Award for Writing and Literature.
His latest, The Revenge of Analog: Real Things and Why They Matter, “… looks at the resurgence of analog goods and ideas, during a time when we assumed digital would conquer all.” It was longlisted for the 2017 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence.
Kevin Kelly, founding editor of Wired magazine and author of The Inevitable, said of the book, “The better digital gets, the more important analog becomes….Sax s reporting is eye-opening and mind-changing.”
NOTE: This is the last episode of the year for us, due to the impending holiday break, but we will return with more great interviews for you in 2017. Thanks for listening!
If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.
In Part Two of this file David Sax and I discuss: Lees meerWhy you should work regular hours and the author’s ‘Cinderella Clause’
The significance of unplugging for writers
How to record your audiobook in the same studio as Drake
Why the reward is the work for sustaining your writing
The Show Notes
If you’re ready to see for yourself why over 194,000 website owners trust StudioPress — the industry standard for premium WordPress themes and plugins — just go to Rainmaker.FM/StudioPress
How Journalist and Bestselling Author of ‘The Revenge of Analog’ David Sax Writes: Part One
The Revenge of Analog: Real Things and Why They Matter
David Sax books on Amazon
What Barnes & Noble Doesn t Get About Bookstores – David Sax for The New Yorker
Is the No…
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How Journalist and Bestselling Author of ‘The Revenge of Analog’ David Sax Writes: Part One
12 december 2016 · 30 min
The business and culture journalist and bestselling author of the recent book The Revenge of Analog, David Sax, dropped by the show to talk about the writing life, the importance of real things in a digital world, and the revenge of paper.
David is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in Bloomberg Businessweek, The New York Times, The New Yorker online, and other publications.
The author’s first book, Save the Deli, was an Los Angeles Times bestseller and won the James Beard Award for Writing and Literature.
His latest, The Revenge of Analog: Real Things and Why They Matter,”…looks at the resurgence of analog goods and ideas, during a time when we assumed digital would conquer all.” It was longlisted for the 2017 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence.
Kevin Kelly, founding editor of Wired magazine and author of The Inevitable, said of the book, “The better digital gets, the more important analog becomes….Sax s reporting is eye-opening and mind-changing.”
If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.
In Part One of this file David Sax and I discuss: Lees meerWriting at the intersections of business and culture
Why your best ideas come to you in the shower
The importance of impeccable research for great non-fiction
A road map for cranking out 3,000-4,000 words a day
How printing and editing your work on paper can improve your writing
The Show Notes
If you’re ready to see for yourself why over 194,000 website owners trust StudioPress — the industry standard for premium WordPress themes and plugins — just go to Rainmaker.FM/StudioPress
How Journalist and Bestselling Author of ‘The Revenge of Analog’ David Sax Writes: Part Two
The Revenge of Analog: Real Things and Why They Matter
David Sax books on Amazon
What Barnes & Noble Doesn t Get About Bookstores – David Sax for The New Yorker
Is the Novel Dead? Part One
How Wired Magazine’s Senior Maverick Kevin Kelly Writes: Part One
How Oscar Nominee Emma Donoghue (…
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How the Bestselling Author of ‘The Blue Zones’ Dan Buettner Writes
5 december 2016 · 35 min
The multiple New York Times bestselling author of The Blue Zones books and National Geographic Fellow, Dan Buettner, dropped by the show to talk about his world travels, life-saving longevity research, and some fantastic advice for writers.
The author is an internationally recognized explorer who discovered five places in the world — called Blue Zones — where humans live the longest and healthiest, and his 2005 National Geographic cover story “The Secrets of Living Longer” was a finalist for a National Magazine Award.
Based on his Blue Zones work, Dan founded a company of the same name to share “the world’s best practices in longevity and well-being” and has helped to successfully raise life expectancy in American cities including both Minnesota and Los Angeles.
Mr. Buettner has been featured on Real Time with Bill Maher, CNN, the Late Show with David Letterman, Good Morning America, and the TODAY show to discuss his research.
His TED talk “How to live to be 100+” has been viewed almost 2.9 million times, and he has given more than 500 keynote speeches over the last 10 years.
If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.
In this file Dan Buettner and I discuss: Lees meerWise words from the author’s mentor George Plimpton
Why good stories are the Trojan Horse to winning over readers
How a decade of research and writing became a life-saving blueprint for American cities
The coffee shop effect for productive writing
One great trick for beating writer’s block
Why building your brand is so important for writers
The Show Notes
If you’re ready to see for yourself why over 194,000 website owners trust StudioPress — the industry standard for premium WordPress themes and plugins — just go to Rainmaker.FM/StudioPress
How Award-Winning Sports & Travel Writer Adam Skolnick (Author of ‘One Breath’) Writes: Part One
BlueZones.com
Dan Buettner books on Amazon
National Geographic Explorer – Dan Buettner
Dan Buettner’s TED talk …
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How #1 Hit Podcast ‘Welcome to Night Vale’ Co-Creator Jeffrey Cranor Writes: Part Two
28 november 2016 · 35 min
The co-creator and co-writer of the #1 international hit podcast Welcome to Night Vale and New York Times bestselling co-author of the novel of same name, Jeffrey Cranor, dropped by the show to talk about the importance of collaboration, deadlines, and bad writing.
In addition to producing and touring with the theater ensemble The New York Neo-Futurists, the playwright and author tours with live shows for the Night Vale Presents production banner, co-created with Joseph Fink.
Night Vale Presents now produces four podcasts that regularly sit at the top of the charts — including Within the Wires, also created by the author — and recently published two volumes of episode transcripts that include extras for fans of their original show.
Welcome to Night Vale has been described as “NPR meets The Twilight Zone,” a sci-fi broadcast about a small desert community where strange mythologies abound, and all conspiracy theory is potentially real.
If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.
If you missed the first half you can find it right here.
In Part Two of this file Jeffrey Cranor and I discuss: Lees meerThe power of productive procrastination
How ‘making the familiar strange’ produces great writing
Why it’s really hard to be good all the time
How the battle against expectation can surprise readers
The art of great audiobooks as performance
The Show Notes
Audible is Offering a Free Audiobook Download with a 30-day Trial: Grab Your Free Audiobook Here – audibletrial.com/rainmaker
Welcome To Night Vale
Welcome To Night Vale on Facebook
Night Vale Presents
Jeffrey Cranor on Amazon
Jeffrey Cranor’s website
NY Neo-Futurists Theater Company
Jeffrey Cranor on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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How #1 Hit Podcast ‘Welcome to Night Vale’ Co-Creator Jeffrey Cranor Writes: Part One
21 november 2016 · 32 min
The co-creator and co-writer of the #1 international hit podcast Welcome to Night Vale and New York Times bestselling co-author of the novel of same name, Jeffrey Cranor, dropped by the show to talk about the importance of collaboration, deadlines, and bad writing.
In addition to producing and touring with the theater ensemble The New York Neo-Futurists, the playwright and author tours with live shows for the Night Vale Presents production banner, co-created with Joseph Fink.
Night Vale Presents now produces four podcasts that regularly sit at the top of the charts — including Within the Wires, also created by the author — and recently published two volumes of episode transcripts that include extras for fans of their original show.
Welcome to Night Vale has been described as “NPR meets The Twilight Zone,” a sci-fi broadcast about a small desert community where strange mythologies abound, and all conspiracy theory is potentially real.
If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.
In Part One of this file Jeffrey Cranor and I discuss: Lees meerWhy writing collaboratively can help you become less ‘precious’ about your work
How a hit podcast producer and novelist divides his time
An author’s comforts in coffee and sports talk radio
Why the law of averages says you won’t always find the words
The import of building a platform and setting a deadline for publish
The Show Notes
Audible is Offering a Free Audiobook Download with a 30-day Trial: Grab Your Free Audiobook Here – audibletrial.com/rainmaker
How #1 Hit Podcast ‘Welcome to Night Vale’ Co-Creator Jeffrey Cranor Writes: Part Two
Welcome to Night Vale
Welcome to Night Vale on Facebook
Night Vale Presents
Jeffrey Cranor on Amazon
Jeffrey Cranor’s website
NY Neo-Futurists Theater Company
Jeffrey Cranor on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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How the Author of ‘The Bestseller Code’ Jodie Archer Writes: Part Two
14 november 2016 · 27 min
Literary scholar, publishing consultant, and co-author of the critically acclaimed book The Bestseller Code, Jodie Archer dropped by to chat with me about her journey, the coming revolution in publishing, and the insecurities that all writers face.
Rainmaker.FM is Brought to You By Discover why more than 80,000 companies in 135 countries choose WP Engine for managed WordPress hosting.
Start getting more from your site today!Before earning her PhD from Stanford, Ms. Archer studied English at Cambridge, worked in both journalism and TV, and became an acquisitions editor for Penguin UK publishing.
While at Stanford Jodie taught nonfiction and memoir writing, and researched both contemporary fiction and bestsellers. Upon completion of her doctoral work she was recruited by Apple where she was the lead in research on books.
Her book, The Bestseller Code, is based on her doctoral research with professor Matt Jockers, an algorithm that they tested over four years and refined by text mining over 20,000 contemporary novels.
The Guardian proclaimed that their book “… may revolutionize the publishing industry,” in part because their algorithm was able to predict bestselling books 80% of the time, based on a theme, plot, character and many other big data points.
If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.
If you missed the first half you can find it right here.
In Part Two of this file Jodie Archer and I discuss: Lees meerHow to use Google Docs to co-write a book
Why every writer is organized in their own disorganized way
How to get into your creativity zone
The worst question you can ask a book lover
Why authenticity is critical for your productivity
The Show Notes
Audible is Offering a Free Audiobook Download with a 30-day Trial: Grab Your Free Audiobook Here – audibletrial.com/rainmaker
The Bestseller Code: Anatomy of the Blockbuster Novel – Jodie Archer & Matt Jockers
ArcherJockers.com
Jodie Archer on Good Reads
Jodie Archer …
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How the Author of ‘The Bestseller Code’ Jodie Archer Writes: Part One
7 november 2016 · 25 min
Literary scholar, publishing consultant, and co-author of the critically acclaimed book The Bestseller Code, Jodie Archer dropped by to chat with me about her journey, the coming revolution in publishing, and the insecurities that all writers face.
Rainmaker.FM is Brought to You By Discover why more than 80,000 companies in 135 countries choose WP Engine for managed WordPress hosting.
Start getting more from your site today!Before earning her PhD from Stanford, Ms. Archer studied English at Cambridge, worked in both journalism and TV, and became an acquisitions editor for Penguin UK publishing.
While at Stanford Jodie taught nonfiction and memoir writing, and researched both contemporary fiction and bestsellers. Upon completion of her doctoral work she was recruited by Apple where she was the lead in research on books.
Her book, The Bestseller Code, is based on her doctoral research with professor Matt Jockers, an algorithm that they tested over four years and refined by text mining over 20,000 contemporary novels.
The Guardian proclaimed that their book “… may revolutionize the publishing industry,” in part because their algorithm was able to predict bestselling books 80% of the time, based on a theme, plot, character and many other big data points.
If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.
In Part One of this file Jodie Archer and I discuss: Lees meerHow a word nerd helped program a computer to predict bestsellers with a high degree of accuracy
Why all writers of fiction should read The Bestseller Code
How to turn years of research into an entertaining and educational non-fiction book
The power of deadlines for beating procrastination
The Show Notes
Audible is Offering a Free Audiobook Download with a 30-day Trial: Grab Your Free Audiobook Here – audibletrial.com/rainmaker
How the Author of The Bestseller Code Jodie Archer Writes: Part Two
How Critically Acclaimed Literary Scholar Jonathan Gottschall Writes: P…
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How Bestselling Sci-fi Thriller Author Blake Crouch Writes: Part Two
31 oktober 2016 · 22 min
International bestselling sci-fi and thriller novelist and screenwriter, Blake Crouch, took time-out from his busy schedule to talk to me about his mind-bending new book Dark Matter, and adapting his work for both film and TV.
Rainmaker.FM is Brought to You By Discover why more than 80,000 companies in 135 countries choose WP Engine for managed WordPress hosting.
Start getting more from your site today!The hybrid author has penned more than a dozen novels that have been translated into over 30 languages, and his short fiction has appeared in numerous publications.
In addition to having his Wayward Pines trilogy adapted into a #1 hit TV show by FOX, Blake wrote the screenplay for his latest novel, Dark Matter, for Sony Pictures. He also recently co-created Good Behavior, a TNT show based on his novellas, starring Michelle Dockery (set to premiere November 15th, 2016).
His novel Dark Matter was described by the NY Times as an, “… alternate-universe science fiction …. countdown thriller in which the hero must accomplish an impossible task,” and bestselling sci-fi author Andy Weir called it, “An exciting, ingeniously plotted adventure about love, regret, and quantum superposition.”
If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.
If you missed the first half you can find it right here.
In Part Two of this file Blake Crouch and I discuss: Lees meerThe author’s tips for conquering writer’s block
Why versioning and backing up drafts is crucial
How to lean into procrastination and find your most productive writing time
Why understanding that ‘everything’s been written,’ can set your creativity free
Why you need to write the kind of book you want to read
The Show Notes
Audible is Offering a Free Audiobook Download with a 30-day Trial: Grab Your Free Audiobook Here – audibletrial.com/rainmaker
BlakeCrouch.com
Dark Matter: A Novel – Blake Crouch
Blake Crouch on Facebook
Blake Crouch on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Learn more abou…
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How Bestselling Sci-fi Thriller Author Blake Crouch Writes: Part One
24 oktober 2016 · 23 min
International bestselling sci-fi and thriller novelist and screenwriter, Blake Crouch, took time-out from his busy schedule to talk to me about his mind-bending new book Dark Matter, and adapting his work for both film and TV.
Rainmaker.FM is Brought to You By Discover why more than 80,000 companies in 135 countries choose WP Engine for managed WordPress hosting.
Start getting more from your site today!The hybrid author has penned more than a dozen novels that have been translated into over 30 languages, and his short fiction has appeared in numerous publications.
In addition to having his Wayward Pines trilogy adapted into a #1 hit TV show by FOX, Blake wrote the screenplay for his latest novel, Dark Matter, for Sony Pictures. He also recently co-created Good Behavior, a TNT show based on his novellas, starring Michelle Dockery (set to premiere November 15th, 2016).
His novel Dark Matter was described by the NY Times as an, “… alternate-universe science fiction …. countdown thriller in which the hero must accomplish an impossible task,” and bestselling sci-fi author Andy Weir called it, “An exciting, ingeniously plotted adventure about love, regret, and quantum superposition.”
If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.
In Part One of this file Blake Crouch and I discuss: Lees meerThe power of self-publishing for a traditionally published author
Why in-depth research is so crucial to writing believable fiction
The importance of outlining for a bestselling author and screenwriter
How the right soundtrack can boost your creativity
The Show Notes
Audible is Offering a Free Audiobook Download with a 30-day Trial: Grab Your Free Audiobook Here – audibletrial.com/rainmaker
How Bestselling Sci-fi Thriller Author Blake Crouch Writes: Part Two
How Oscar Nominee Emma Donoghue (Screenwriter of ‘Room’) Writes: Part One
BlakeCrouch.com
Dark Matter: A Novel – Blake Crouch
Blake Crouch on Facebook
Blake Crouch on Twitter
K…
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How Bestselling Author Jennifer Weiner Writes: Part Two
17 oktober 2016 · 23 min
The #1 New York Times bestselling author of 12 books, Jennifer Weiner, took a few minutes to talk with me about the writer’s life, her new memoir, and Revenge of the Nerds.
Rainmaker.FM is Brought to You By Discover why more than 80,000 companies in 135 countries choose WP Engine for managed WordPress hosting.
Start getting more from your site today!Before her prolific career as a novelist, Ms. Weiner started out as a small town newspaper reporter and freelancer, before signing her first big book deal for her novel Good in Bed (2001).
Since then her books have spent over five years on the New York Times bestseller list, she has had a novel made into a major motion picture — In Her Shoes, starring Cameron Diaz and Toni Collette (2005) — contributed op-eds to the New York Times, executive produced a TV series, and published a children’s book (The Littlest Bigfoot).
Her latest offering is the memoir Hungry Heart: Adventures in Life, Love, and Writing, and it “… is about yearning and fulfillment, loss and love, and a woman who searched for her place in the world, and found it as a storyteller.”
If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.
If you missed the first half you can find it right here.
In Part Two of this file Jennifer Weiner and I discuss: Lees meerHow Creative People See the World Through Their Own Lenses
Why Hard Work Alone Forges Enduring Writers
Why Ebooks are Indispensable to Writers on the Go
Why Just You Need Sit Down and Start Writing
The Show Notes
Audible is Offering a Free Audiobook Download with a 30-day Trial: Grab Your Free Audiobook Here – audibletrial.com/rainmaker
JenniferWeiner.com
So you want to be a novelist? Jennifer Weiner
The Littlest Bigfoot – Jennifer Weiner
Jennifer Weiner on Instagram
Jennifer Weiner on Facebook
Jennifer Weiner on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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How Bestselling Author Jennifer Weiner Writes: Part One
10 oktober 2016 · 26 min
The #1 New York Times bestselling author of 12 books, Jennifer Weiner, took a few minutes to talk with me about the writer’s life, her new memoir, and Revenge of the Nerds.
Rainmaker.FM is Brought to You By Discover why more than 80,000 companies in 135 countries choose WP Engine for managed WordPress hosting.
Start getting more from your site today!Prior to her prolific career as a novelist, Ms. Weiner started out as a small town newspaper reporter and freelancer, before signing her first big book deal for her novel Good in Bed (2001).
Since then her books have spent over five years on the New York Times bestseller list, she has had a novel made into a major motion picture — In Her Shoes, starring Cameron Diaz and Toni Collette (2005) — contributed op-eds to the New York Times, executive produced a TV series, and published a children’s book (The Littlest Bigfoot).
Her latest offering is the memoir Hungry Heart: Adventures in Life, Love, and Writing, and it “… is about yearning and fulfillment, loss and love, and a woman who searched for her place in the world, and found it as a storyteller.”
If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.
In Part One of this file Jennifer Weiner and I discuss: Lees meerHow Her Iconic Writing Mentors Joyce Carol Oates and John McPhee Helped Guide Her
Why Ten Years and 10,000 Hours in the Trenches Is Par for the Course
How Working in Busy Environments Boosts Your Productivity
Great Tricks to Keep the Ink Flowing, without Opening a Vein
The Show Notes
Audible is Offering a Free Audiobook Download with a 30-day Trial: Grab Your Free Audiobook Here – audibletrial.com/rainmaker
How Bestselling Author Jennifer Weiner Writes: Part Two
JenniferWeiner.com
So you want to be a novelist? Jennifer Weiner
The Littlest Bigfoot – Jennifer Weiner
Jennifer Weiner on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Is the Novel Dead? Part Two
3 oktober 2016 · 36 min
In this special edition of the show, two writers joined me to opine the death of one of the most influential forms in the history of the written word. I posed the question that many great writers have pondered stretching across the last two centuries …
Rainmaker.FM is Brought to You By Discover why more than 80,000 companies in 135 countries choose WP Engine for managed WordPress hosting.
Start getting more from your site today!Is the novel dead? And maybe a more up-to-date version of that question is, did the Internet kill books?
Of course these are famous — almost cliche — theoretical discussions that writers often chew on over stiff drinks, and they raise hackles for those of us who adore them.
What you won’t find here is a highbrow literary dissertation, or even a very strict definition as to what the novel is or isn’t. But you will find a lively discussion between friends who care about the writing life and its future.
Robert Bruce is a writer, voice actor, and copywriter, as well as the Vice President of Rainmaker Digital and the guy who runs the Rainmaker.FM podcast network.
Adam Skolnick is an award-winning journalist, author, and a returning guest on the show. His first book, One Breath, was published by Crown last January, and his work has appeared in publications including Playboy, The New York Times, and many others.
If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews as soon as they’re published.
In Part Two of the file Robert, Adam, and I discuss: Lees meerHow Digital Culture Has Exploded Traditional Forms of Writing
On the Millenial Generation’s Preference for Paper Books
Why It’s so Hard to Define the Novel in the Internet Age
How Click-Bait is Killing Journalism
Why the Novel Will Never Die
The Show Notes
Audible is Offering a Free Audiobook Download with a 30-day Trial: Grab Your Free Audiobook Here – audibletrial.com/rainmaker
Get More from Robert Bruce at RobertBruce.com
Find more from Adam Skolnick at…
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Is the Novel Dead? Part One
26 september 2016 · 33 min
In this special edition of the show, two writers joined me to opine the death of one of the most influential forms in the history of the written word. I posed the question that many great writers have pondered stretching across the last two centuries …
Of course these are famous — almost cliche — theoretical discussions that writers often chew on over stiff drinks, and they raise hackles for those of us who adore them.
What you won’t find here is a highbrow literary dissertation, or even a very strict definition as to what the novel is or isn’t. But you will find a lively discussion between friends who care about the writing life and its future.
Robert Bruce is a writer, voice actor, and copywriter, as well as the Vice President of Rainmaker Digital and the guy who runs the Rainmaker.FM podcast network.
Adam Skolnick is an award-winning journalist, author, and a returning guest on the show. His first book, One Breath, was published by Crown last January, and his work has appeared in publications including Playboy, The New York Times, and many others.
If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews as soon as they’re published.
In Part One of the file Robert, Adam, and I discuss: Lees meerHow Longer Works of Writing Have Been Forced to Compete with Disposable Culture
Why Herman Melville Died Penniless
How the Novel has Stood the Test of Time
The Role of Podcasting for Modern Writers
Author Hugh Howey’s ‘Rock, Paper, Scissors’ Model of Book Retail
The Show Notes
Audible is Offering a Free Audiobook Download with a 30-day Trial: Grab Your Free Audiobook Here – audibletrial.com/rainmaker
Is the Novel Dead? Part Two
Get More from Robert Bruce at RobertBruce.com
Find more from Adam Skolnick at AdamSkolnick.com
How Andy Weir (Bestselling Author of ‘The Martian’) Writes: Part One
How Bestselling Author Jay McInerney Writes: Part One
The Passive Voice – After Months of Strong Sales, Bookstores See Drop in July
Hugh Howey …
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The Best of The Writer Files: Volume One
19 september 2016 · 32 min
Before kicking off the next season of the show, we wanted to share with you some highlights from our previous seasons.
I don’t want to shortchange the most recent interviews with inspiring guests including Jay McInerney (’80s defining author of Bright Lights, Big City), Stephanie Danler (the bestselling author of Sweetbitter), the co-founder of Wired magazine Kevin Kelly, or How Neuroscientist Michael Grybko Defined Writer’s Block for us.
But I do want to dig into the archives with you and pull out a few of my favorites from a handful of the other 40 authors The Writer Files has cross-examined to learn how they keep the ink flowing, the cursor moving, and avoid writer’s block.
You’ll find links to the these shows in the show notes and past episodes are easy to find in the archives of your favorite podcast app, in iTunes, or at WriterFiles.fm.
If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, click subscribe in iTunes, to automatically see new interviews.
In this “Best of” Volume One, we’ll hear from a handful of past guests, including:
Advice Columnist and Critic Heather Havrilesky on Social Media and Managed Procrastination
NYTimes Bestselling Author of ‘The Martian’ Andy Weir on Productivity vs Laziness
Bestselling Debut Novelist Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney on Beating Fear and Procrastination
Bestselling Thriller Author Mark Dawson on How to Publish Over a Million Words in a Year
And Bestselling Author Ann Handley on the Only Reason to Write a Book
Listen to The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience below ...
Download MP3 Subscribe by RSS Subscribe in iTunes The Show Notes Audible is Offering a Free Audiobook Download with a 30-day Trial: Grab Your Free Audiobook Here – audibletrial.com/rainmaker Lees meerHow Advice Columnist and Author Heather Havrilesky Writes: Part Two
How Andy Weir (Bestselling Author of ‘The Martian’) Writes: Part One
How Bestselling Debut Novelist Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney Writes: Part Two
How Bestselling Thriller Author Mark Dawson Writes… -
How Bestselling Author Jay McInerney Writes: Part Two
29 augustus 2016 · 22 min
The bestselling author of 11 books, including the eighties defining Bright Lights, Big City, Jay McInerney, took a break to chat with me about his new book, the writing process, and some timeless tips from his mentor, Raymond Carver.
Vanity Fair called Mr. McInerney “Our modern-day Fitzgerald,” and his most recent book — Bright, Precious Days — is described as “… a sexy, vibrant, cross-generational New York story — a literary and commercial triumph of the highest order.”
The author is a renowned short story writer, screenwriter, and actor, who has lived in New York for three decades and rubbed elbows with a laundry list of literary lions, including his mentors Tobias Wolff and Raymond Carver.
In addition to fiction, Jay writes a highly regarded wine column for Town & Country magazine, and has written several essay collections on wine.
The author most recently joined the Prince Street podcast as a culinary and arts correspondent and has interviewed director Francis Ford Coppola, author Stephanie Danler, and celebrity chefs including Eric Ripert, to name a few.
Join us for this two-part interview, and if you’re a fan of the show, please subscribe in iTunes to automatically see new interviews, and help other writers find us.
In Part Two of the file Jay McInerney and I discuss: Lees meerThe Author’s Astute Anatomical Analogy for Writer’s Block
How a Short Story Became a Series of Bestselling Novels
Why Writers Need to Stretch the Boundaries of Their Genres
The Big City as Creative Muse
Some Timeless Advice from Raymond Carver on the Importance of Discipline
The Show Notes
JayMcInerney.com
Bright, Precious Days: A novel – Jay McInerney
Prince Street Podcast
Jay McInerney: why Gatsby is so great
Jay McInerney on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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How Bestselling Author Jay McInerney Writes: Part One
22 augustus 2016 · 22 min
The bestselling author of 11 books, including the eighties defining Bright Lights, Big City, Jay McInerney, took a break to chat with me about his new book, the writing process, and some timeless tips from his mentor, Raymond Carver.
Vanity Fair called Mr. McInerney “Our modern-day Fitzgerald,” and his most recent book — Bright, Precious Days — is described as “… a sexy, vibrant, cross-generational New York story — a literary and commercial triumph of the highest order.”
The author is a renowned short story writer, screenwriter, and actor, who has lived in New York for three decades and rubbed elbows with a laundry list of literary lions, including his mentors Tobias Wolff and Raymond Carver.
In addition to fiction, Jay writes a highly regarded wine column for Town & Country magazine, and has written several essay collections on wine.
The author most recently joined the Prince Street podcast as a culinary and arts correspondent and has interviewed director Francis Ford Coppola, author Stephanie Danler, and celebrity chefs including Eric Ripert, to name a few.
Join us for this two-part interview, and if you’re a fan of the show, please subscribe in iTunes to automatically get new interviews, and help other writers find us.
In Part One of the file Jay McInerney and I discuss: Lees meerWhy It’s Not a Bad Thing to Be Compared to Your Betters
How to Incorporate Your Passions into Your Writing
Why You Need to Sit at Your Desk Every Day and Listen to the Voices in Your Head
The Author’s Process of Discovery at the Level of Language
How the Right Soundtrack Can Inspire Your Writing
The Show Notes
How Bestselling Author Jay McInerney Writes: Part Two
JayMcInerney.com
Bright, Precious Days: A novel – Jay McInerney
Prince Street Podcast
Jay McInerney: why Gatsby is so great
Book Excerpt: Jay McInerney on Joy Division’s Heyday
Jay McInerney on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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How ‘Sweetbitter’ Author Stephanie Danler Writes: Part Two
15 augustus 2016 · 30 min
The instant national bestselling author of the acclaimed debut novel Sweetbitter, Stephanie Danler, stopped by the show to chat with me about her not-so-overnight success as a rising literary star.
Ms. Danler signed a six-figure deal with Knopf for her first book, the coming-of-age story of a young woman transplanted into New York City’s upscale, cutthroat restaurant world.
Bestselling author Jay McInerney called Sweetbitter “… a stunning debut novel, one that seems destined to help define a generation,” and the book has been compared to Anthony Bourdain’s Kitchen Confidential.
Before returning to her love of writing, and earning an MFA in Fiction from The New School in NY, Ms. Danler spent much of her life working in the food and wine industry.
Stephanie has also written essays for The Paris Review, Vogue, Literary Hub, and Travel + Leisure.
Join us for this two-part interview, and if you’re a fan of the show, please subscribe in iTunes to automatically see new interviews, and help other writers find us.
In Part Two of the file Stephanie Danler and I discuss: Lees meerThe Dichotomy of Procrastination and Deadlines
Why Relationships Are Important to Writers
On the Deconstruction and Sanctity of Creativity
How Great Writers Leave ‘Blood on the Page’
Some Great Advice on Why You Just Need to Finish
The Show Notes
How ‘Sweetbitter’ Author Stephanie Danler Writes: Part One
Sweetbitter: A novel – Stephanie Danler
StephanieDanler.com with Links to Essays by Stephanie Danler
This is Water – David Foster Wallace
Stephanie Danler on Instagram
Stephanie Danler on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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How ‘Sweetbitter’ Author Stephanie Danler Writes: Part One
8 augustus 2016 · 28 min
The instant national bestselling author of the acclaimed debut novel Sweetbitter, Stephanie Danler, stopped by the show to chat with me about her not-so-overnight success as a rising literary star.
Ms. Danler signed a six-figure deal with Knopf for her first book, the coming-of-age story of a young woman transplanted into New York City’s upscale, cutthroat restaurant world.
Bestselling author Jay McInerney called Sweetbitter “… a stunning debut novel, one that seems destined to help define a generation,” and the book has been compared to Anthony Bourdain’s Kitchen Confidential.
Before returning to her love of writing, and earning an MFA in Fiction from The New School in NY, Ms. Danler spent much of her life working in the food and wine industry.
Stephanie has also written essays for The Paris Review, Vogue, Literary Hub, and Travel + Leisure.
Join us for this two-part interview, and if you’re a fan of the show, please subscribe in iTunes to automatically see new interviews, and help other writers find us.
In Part One of the file Stephanie Danler and I discuss: Lees meerWhy You Should Write What You Know and Love
The Unglamorous Yet Rewarding Work of Promoting a New Book
Why Cultural Artifacts Are Great for Research
An Author’s Careful Balance of Daily Beverage Consumption
Why the Old Rules of Productivity Shouldn’t Apply to Writers
The Show Notes
How ‘Sweetbitter’ Author Stephanie Danler Writes: Part Two
Sweetbitter: A novel – Stephanie Danler
StephanieDanler.com with Links to Essays by Stephanie Danler
One Writer on Loving and Letting Go of Her Drug-Dependent Father – Stephanie Danler for Vogue
Stephanie Danler on Instagram
Stephanie Danler on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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How Wired Magazine’s Senior Maverick Kevin Kelly Writes: Part Two
1 augustus 2016 · 34 min
New York Times bestselling author and co-founder of Wired magazine, Kevin Kelly, stopped by the show to chat with me about his journey from travel journalist to famed futurist.
Mr. Kelly’s storied and winding career has taken him around the world in search of visions of the new digital frontier.
Kevin is a renowned TED speaker and author of multiple bestsellers including his latest, The Inevitable: Understanding the 12 Technological Forces That Will Shape Our Future, a title that offers an optimistic roadmap of how new technologies will shape humanity.
Dubbed “the Most Interesting Man in the World” by Tim Ferris, Mr. Kelly began writing on the internet near its inception and never looked back. He has taken gigs including Editor for the Whole Earth Review, and presently Senior Maverick at Wired magazine, a magazine he co-founded in 1993, and where he served as Executive Editor until 1999.
Join us for this two-part interview, and if you’re a fan of the show, please click “subscribe” to automatically see new interviews, and help other writers find us.
In Part Two of the file Kevin Kelly and I discuss: Lees meerWhy the Author Can’t Write on the Road
The Importance of Delegation as a Writer
The Cool Tools Kevin Kelly Uses to Get Words on the Page
A Futurist’s Expansive Definition of Creativity
How Lateral Thinking Can Improve Your Writing
Why Steven Spielberg Asked Mr. Kelly to Predict the Future
The Show Notes
Kevin Kelly’s Personal Website
The Inevitable: Understanding the 12 Technological Forces That Will Shape Our Future – Kevin Kelly
1,000 True Fans
The Act of Creation – Arthur Koestler
Oblique Strategies
Writer Emergency Pack – John August
Kevin Kelly on Google+
Kevin Kelly on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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How Wired Magazine’s Senior Maverick Kevin Kelly Writes: Part One
25 juli 2016 · 34 min
New York Times bestselling author and co-founder of Wired magazine, Kevin Kelly, stopped by the show to chat with me about his journey from travel journalist to famed futurist.
Mr. Kelly’s storied and winding career has taken him around the world in search of visions of the new digital frontier.
Kevin is a renowned TED speaker and author of multiple bestsellers including his latest, The Inevitable: Understanding the 12 Technological Forces That Will Shape Our Future, a title that offers an optimistic roadmap of how new technologies will shape humanity.
Dubbed “the Most Interesting Man in the World” by Tim Ferris, Mr. Kelly began writing on the internet near its inception and never looked back. He has taken gigs including Editor for the Whole Earth Review, and presently Senior Maverick at Wired magazine, a magazine he co-founded in 1993, and where he served as Executive Editor until 1999.
Join us for this two-part interview, and if you’re a fan of the show, please click “subscribe” to automatically see new interviews, and help other writers find us.
In Part One of the file Kevin Kelly and I discuss: Lees meerHow an Amateur Photographer Became a Bestselling Author and Digital Visionary
The Future of Artificial Intelligence
How a Technologist Keeps His Finger on the Pulse of the Future
Why You Should Write to Understand Your Ideas
The Importance of the Incubation Phase for Writers
The Show Notes
How Wired Magazine s Senior Maverick Kevin Kelly Writes: Part Two
Kevin Kelly’s Personal Website
The Inevitable: Understanding the 12 Technological Forces That Will Shape Our Future – Kevin Kelly
1,000 True Fans
Cool Tools Website
Kevin Kelly on Google+
Kevin Kelly on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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How Neuroscientist Michael Grybko Defines Writer’s Block: Part Two
18 juli 2016 · 32 min
Welcome to another guest segment of ‘The Writer’s Brain’ where we pick the brain of a neuroscientist about the elements of great writing. This week’s show covers some possible origins and solutions to an ailment known only to writers.
Research scientist Michael Grybko, of the Department of Psychology at the University of Washington, returned to help me pinpoint the mysteries of writer’s block from a scientific standpoint.
If you missed the first three installments of The Writer’s Brain — on How Neuroscience Defines Creativity, Empathy, and Storytelling — you can find all of them in the show notes and on writerfiles.fm.
Join us for this two-part interview, and if you’re a fan of the show, please click “subscribe” to automatically see new interviews, and help other writers find us.
In Part Two of the file Michael Grybko and I discuss: Lees meer3 Symptoms of Writer’s Block and How to Cure Them
How Your Emotions Have a Profound Effect on Your Creativity
Why Achieving Small, Attainable Goals Rewards Your Brain
How Changing Work Venues Boosts Your Productivity
Hemingway’s Personal Tricks for Getting Words on the Page
The Importance of Regular Rituals for Eliminating Doubt
The Show Notes
Wired to Create: Unraveling the Mysteries of the Creative Mind
The End of Reflection – Teddy Wayne
How To Concentrate Automatically Without Even Trying
Seven Tips From Ernest Hemingway on How to Write Fiction
Around the Writer’s Block: Using Brain Science to Solve Writer’s Resistance
8 Strange Rituals of Productive Writers
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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How Neuroscientist Michael Grybko Defines Writer’s Block: Part One
11 juli 2016 · 29 min
Welcome to another guest segment of ‘The Writer’s Brain’ where we pick the brain of a neuroscientist about the elements of great writing. This week’s show covers some possible origins and solutions to an ailment known only to writers.
Research scientist Michael Grybko, of the Department of Psychology at the University of Washington, returned to help me pinpoint the mysteries of writer’s block from a scientific standpoint.
If you missed the first three installments of The Writer’s Brain — on How Neuroscience Defines Creativity, Empathy, and Storytelling — you can find all of them in the show notes and on writerfiles.fm.
Join us for this two-part interview, and if you’re a fan of the show, please click “subscribe” to automatically see new interviews, and help other writers find us.
In Part One of the file Michael Grybko and I discuss: Lees meerWhy Writers Argue about the Definition of Writer’s Block
What Happens When Your Creativity Dries Up
How to Find Your Most Productive Writing Time
Why Writers Need to Unplug to Recharge
How an ‘Incubation Phase’ Can Improve Your Writing
The Show Notes
How to Beat Writer’s Block – Maria Konnikova
This Is Your Brain on Writing – New York Times
Famous Writers’ Sleep Habits vs. Literary Productivity, Visualized – Maria Popova
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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How Publishing Consultant, Educator, and Author Jane Friedman Writes: Part Two
27 juni 2016 · 18 min
Award-winning blogger, publishing consultant, and author Jane Friedman, took a moment to talk with me about her writing process and the business of scribes.
Ms. Friedman is a digital media strategist with over 20 years in publishing, the co-founder and editor of The Hot Sheet, an “… essential publishing industry newsletter for authors,” as well as the author of the book Publishing 101, an astute collection of essential insights for first time authors.
In addition to her work as an accomplished blogger and former publisher of Writer’s Digest, Jane teaches about the current state of publishing and authorship as a professor at both the University of Virginia, and for The Great Courses.
Her expertise on new media and technology best practices for authors has been featured by NPR s Morning Edition, The Washington Post, the National Press Club, The Authors Guild, Publishers Weekly, PBS, and many others.
She is hard at work on her forthcoming book, The Business of Being a Writer (University of Chicago Press, 2017).
Join us for this two-part interview, and if you re a fan of the show, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews with your favorite authors, and help other writers find us.
If you missed the first half you can find it right here.
In Part Two of the file Jane Friedman and I discuss:
Why You Should Do Your Hardest Tasks First
A Thought on the Ephemeral Nature of Creativity
How to Develop Your Voice as a Writer
Why Discipline Can Take Your Writing from Good to Great
One Very Important Tip on Creating a Sustainable Career
Listen to The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience below ...
Download MP3 Subscribe by RSS Subscribe in iTunes The Show Notes JaneFriedman.com
Publishing 101: A First-Time Author’s Guide to Getting Published, Marketing and Promoting Your Book, and Building a Successful Career, by Jane Friedman
The Great Courses: How to Publish Your Book
The Hot Sheet: Essential Publishing Industry Newsletter for Authors… Lees meer -
How Publishing Consultant, Educator, and Author Jane Friedman Writes: Part One
20 juni 2016 · 19 min
Award-winning blogger, publishing consultant, and author Jane Friedman, took a moment to talk with me about her writing process and the business of scribes.
Ms. Friedman is a digital media strategist with over 20 years in publishing, the co-founder and editor of The Hot Sheet, an “… essential publishing industry newsletter for authors,” as well as the author of the book Publishing 101, an astute collection of insights for first time authors.
In addition to her work as an accomplished blogger and former publisher of Writer’s Digest, Jane teaches about the current state of publishing and authorship as a professor at both the University of Virginia, and for The Great Courses.
Her expertise on new media and technology best practices for authors has been featured by NPR s Morning Edition, The Washington Post, the National Press Club, The Authors Guild, Publishers Weekly, PBS, and many others.
She is hard at work on her forthcoming book, The Business of Being a Writer (University of Chicago Press, 2017).
Join us for this two-part interview, and if you re a fan of the show, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews with your favorite authors, and help other writers find us.
In Part One of the file Jane Friedman and I discuss:
Why There’s No Such Thing as an ‘Aspiring Writer’
How Changing Venues Can Improve Your Focus
Why You Need to Address Your Greatest Fears to get Words on the Page
How to Harness the Cloud for Your Word-Processing
Listen to The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience below ...
Download MP3 Subscribe by RSS Subscribe in iTunes The Show Notes How Publishing Consultant, Educator, and Author Jane Friedman Writes: Part Two
JaneFriedman.com
Publishing 101: A First-Time Author’s Guide to Getting Published, Marketing and Promoting Your Book, and Building a Successful Career, by Jane Friedman
The Great Courses: How to Publish Your Book
The Hot Sheet: Essential Publishing Industry Newsletter for Authors
Jane Friedman on… Lees meer -
How Bestselling Debut Novelist Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney Writes: Part Two
13 juni 2016 · 21 min
Instant New York Times bestselling author of The Nest, Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney, spoke with me about her life before fiction and how she gets words on the page. Lees meer
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Start getting more from your site today! Ms. Sweeney’s winding journey to bestselling author began with a journalism degree and lead to a career in Marketing Communications as a freelance copywriter and editor.
Her debut novel was a huge hit with critics and readers alike and skyrocketed onto bestseller lists. Most fascinating is that Cynthia penned the novel as a recent BFA graduate and then sold it in a seven figure publishing deal … at the age of 54.
The Nest has been described as “… an acutely perceptive …. novel about four adult siblings and the fate of their shared inheritance…” and bestselling author Elizabeth Gilbert called it, “A masterfully constructed, darkly comic, and immensely captivating tale.”
Join us for this two-part interview, and if you’re a fan of the show, please click “subscribe” to automatically see new interviews with your favorite authors, and help other writers find us.
If you missed the first half you can find it right here.
In Part Two of the file Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney and I discuss:
Why You Can’t Give in to Feeling Paralyzed
How to Channel Your Creative Inspiration
The Importance of Curiosity and Humility for Writers
Why Writing is Like Driving at Night
The Necessity of Drudgery to Keep the Ink Flowing
Listen to The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience below ...
Download MP3 Subscribe by RSS Subscribe in iTunes The Show Notes The Nest by Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney
LeechBlock: A Simple Free Productivity Tool (for Firefox Web Browser)
Freedom: Internet, Social Media, and App Blocker
Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney on Twitter
Kelton Reid on TwitterLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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How Bestselling Debut Novelist Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney Writes: Part One
6 juni 2016 · 21 min
Instant New York Times bestselling author of The Nest, Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney, spoke with me about her life before fiction and how she gets words on the page. Lees meer
Rainmaker.FM is Brought to You By Discover why more than 80,000 companies in 135 countries choose WP Engine for managed WordPress hosting.
Start getting more from your site today! Ms. Sweeney’s winding journey to bestselling author began with a journalism degree and lead to a career in Marketing Communications as a freelance copywriter and editor.
Her debut novel was a huge hit with critics and readers alike and skyrocketed onto bestseller lists. Most fascinating is that Cynthia penned the novel as a recent BFA graduate and then sold it in a seven-figure publishing deal … at the age of 54.
The Nest has been described as “… an acutely perceptive …. novel about four adult siblings and the fate of their shared inheritance…” and bestselling author Elizabeth Gilbert called it, “A masterfully constructed, darkly comic, and immensely captivating tale.”
Join us for this two-part interview, and if you’re a fan of the show, please click “subscribe” to automatically see new interviews with your favorite authors, and help other writers find us.
In Part One of the file Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney and I discuss:
How a Failed Short Story Became a Bestselling Book
The Difference Between Copywriting and Fiction
Why Writers Need to Eliminate Distractions
The Double-edged Sword of Working from Home
How to Avoid the Impostor Syndrome of a Big Writing Project
Listen to The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience below ...
Download MP3 Subscribe by RSS Subscribe in iTunes The Show Notes How Bestselling Debut Novelist Cynthia D Aprix Sweeney Writes: Part Two
The Nest by Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney
Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney on Twitter
Kelton Reid on TwitterLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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How Advice Columnist and Author Heather Havrilesky Writes: Part Two
23 mei 2016 · 41 min
New York magazine’s “Ask Polly” advice columnist, Heather Havrilesky, stopped by the show to chat about her process and the many hats she has worn over her 20 year career as a critic, cartoonist, columnist, and essayist. Lees meer
Rainmaker.FM is Brought to You By Discover why more than 80,000 companies in 135 countries choose WP Engine for managed WordPress hosting.
Start getting more from your site today! The author s new book — How to Be a Person in the World: Ask Polly’s Guide Through the Paradoxes of Modern Life (available July, 2016) — is a collection inspired by her popular advice column.
Bestselling author and comedian Patton Oswalt said about the author, “…that rare writer who can dish out tangy snark but never fails to aim the knife back at her own damaged, hilarious heart …” and called the book, “Required reading.”
In addition to her Best Seller List column for Bookforum, Heather is the author of the memoir Disaster Preparedness, and was Salon.com’s TV critic for seven years. Her writing has appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine, The Los Angeles Times, Slate, The Awl, NPR’s All Things Considered, and several anthologies.
Join us for this two-part interview, and if you’re a fan of the show, please click the “subscribe” button to automatically see new interviews with your favorite authors, and help other writers find us.
If you missed the first half you can find it here.
In Part Two of the file Heather Havrilesky and I discuss:
The Author’s Old-School Suspicion of ‘The Cloud’
A Comparison of Microsoft Word vs. Scrivener
Why Social Media Can Help with a Writer’s Solitude
The Upside of Procrastination
How to Harness the Power of the Editing Process
Why Hopelessness Can Lead to Great Writing
How Your Greatest Weakness Can Become Your Greatest Strength
Listen to The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience below ...
Download MP3 Subscribe by RSS Subscribe in iTunes The Show Notes How to Be a Person in the World: Ask Polly’s Gu… -
How Advice Columnist and Author Heather Havrilesky Writes: Part One
16 mei 2016 · 38 min
New York magazine’s “Ask Polly” advice columnist, Heather Havrilesky, stopped by the show to chat about her process and the many hats she has worn over her 20 year career as a critic, cartoonist, columnist, and essayist. Lees meer
Rainmaker.FM is Brought to You By Discover why more than 80,000 companies in 135 countries choose WP Engine for managed WordPress hosting.
Start getting more from your site today! The author s new book — How to Be a Person in the World: Ask Polly’s Guide Through the Paradoxes of Modern Life (available July, 2016) — is a collection inspired by her popular advice column.
Bestselling author and comedian Patton Oswalt said about the author, “…that rare writer who can dish out tangy snark but never fails to aim the knife back at her own damaged, hilarious heart …” and called the book, “Required reading.”
In addition to her Best Seller List column for Bookforum, Heather is the author of the memoir Disaster Preparedness, and was Salon.com’s TV critic for seven years. Her writing has appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine, The Los Angeles Times, Slate, The Awl, NPR’s All Things Considered, and several anthologies.
Join us for this two-part interview, and if you’re a fan of the show, please click the “subscribe” button to automatically see new interviews with your favorite authors, and help other writers find us.
In Part One of the file Heather Havrilesky and I discuss:
Why You Should Never Give Up Your Dreams of Being a Writer
How to Embrace the Scribe’s Daily Descent into Madness
Why You Need to Find Your Most Productive Hours
How a Daily Writing Exercise Helps You Hit Deadlines
How to Turn off Your Inner Critic and Get in Shape at the Same Time
Listen to The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience below ...
Download MP3 Subscribe by RSS Subscribe in iTunes The Show Notes How Advice Columnist and Author Heather Havrilesky Writes: Part Two
How to Be a Person in the World: Ask Polly’s Guide Through the Paradoxes o… -
How Bestselling Hybrid Author Dean Wesley Smith Writes: Part Two
9 mei 2016 · 23 min
Wildly prolific, bestselling novelist — Dean Wesley Smith — has been a full-time writer since the ’80s, and he made a visit to the show to talk about how he has written (and ghostwritten) hundreds of titles over the years. Lees meer
Rainmaker.FM is Brought to You By Discover why more than 80,000 companies in 135 countries choose WP Engine for managed WordPress hosting.
Start getting more from your site today! In edition to being the CFO of a traditional publisher, he is a non-fiction author, educator, and multi-genre writer whose short fiction has appeared in over 20 anthologies.
Dean shared with me the habits and habitats of a hyper-prolific fictionist who has written dozens of Star Trek novels, film novelizations, and a handful of licensed properties for favorites including Smallville, Spider-Man, X-Men, Aliens, and Men in Black.
Join us for this two-part interview. If you missed the first half you can find it here.
In Part Two of the file Dean Wesley Smith and I discuss:
The ‘Midnight Disease’ of a Highly Prolific Author
How to Find the Intersection of Creativity and Entertainment
Why Writers Must Never Stop Learning
The Courage Required to ‘Dare to Be Bad’
Why Great Writers Aren’t Always the Best Dinner Guests
Listen to The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience below ...
Download MP3 Subscribe by RSS Subscribe in iTunes The Show Notes DeanWesleySmith.com
Non-Fiction Titles by Dean Wesley Smith (including Heinlein s Rules and Writing into the Dark)
The Works of John D. MacDonald
Dean Wesley Smith on Twitter
Kelton Reid on TwitterLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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How Bestselling Hybrid Author Dean Wesley Smith Writes: Part One
2 mei 2016 · 24 min
Wildly prolific, bestselling novelist — Dean Wesley Smith — has been a full-time writer since the ’80s, and he made a visit to the show to talk about how he has written (and ghostwritten) hundreds of titles over the years. Lees meer
Rainmaker.FM is Brought to You By Discover why more than 80,000 companies in 135 countries choose WP Engine for managed WordPress hosting.
Start getting more from your site today! In edition to being the CFO of a traditional publisher, he is a non-fiction author, educator, and multi-genre writer whose short fiction has appeared in over 20 anthologies.
Dean shared with me the habits and habitats of a hyper-prolific fictionist who has also written dozens of Star Trek novels, film novelizations, and a handful of licensed properties for favorites including Smallville, Spider-Man, X-Men, Aliens, and Men in Black.
Join us for this two-part interview.
In Part One of the file Dean Wesley Smith and I discuss:
How ‘Heinlein’s Rules’ Can Change Your Writing Process
Why Writers Have to Be Readers First
How a Dedicated Writing Computer Can Boost Your Productivity
The Origins of Writer’s Block
Why You Should Always Write Yourself into a Corner
Listen to The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience below ...
Download MP3 Subscribe by RSS Subscribe in iTunes The Show Notes How Bestselling Hybrid Author Dean Wesley Smith Writes: Part Two
DeanWesleySmith.com
Non-Fiction Titles by Dean Wesley Smith (including Heinlein s Rules and Writing into the Dark)
Freewrite: Your Distraction-Free Writing Tool
How to Beat Writer’s Block by Maria Konnikova for The New Yorker
Dean Wesley Smith on Twitter
Kelton Reid on TwitterLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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How Long-Form Journalist Kent Russell Writes: Part Two
25 april 2016 · 31 min
Gonzo essayist and creative non-fiction author — Kent Russell — dropped by to chat about his hybrid reportage on the margins of society, and the process of a big city, freelance journalist. Lees meer
Rainmaker.FM is Brought to You By Discover why more than 80,000 companies in 135 countries choose WP Engine for managed WordPress hosting.
Start getting more from your site today! Mr. Russell’s critically lauded first collection — I Am Sorry to Think I Have Raised a Timid Son — was recently re-released in paperback, and Vanity Fair called it, “A ludicrously smart, tragicomic man-on-the-edge memoir in essays.”
The acclaimed writer has been compared to David Foster Wallace by the New York Times Book Review, and his writing has appeared in The New York Times Magazine, Tin House, The New Republic, Harper’s, GQ, n+1, The Believer, and Grantland.
Join us for this two-part interview. If you missed the first half you can find it here.
In Part Two of the file Kent Russell and I discuss:
Why Procrastination is Just as Important as Writing
How to Break Away from Genre Constraints
Why a Generous Point of View Can Make You a Better Writer
The Joys and Tactile Sensations of Mechanical Keyboards
How to Tell the One Story that Only You Can Tell
Listen to The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience below ...
Download MP3 Subscribe by RSS Subscribe in iTunes The Show Notes I Am Sorry to Think I Have Raised a Timid Son – by Kent Russell
Letter of Recommendation: Hangovers – Kent Russell for the NYTimes Magazine
‘Timid Son’ Celebrates Mambas And Manly Men – NPR Interview with Kent Russell
Kelton Reid on TwitterLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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How Long-Form Journalist Kent Russell Writes: Part One
18 april 2016 · 32 min
Gonzo essayist and creative non-fiction author — Kent Russell — dropped by to chat about his hybrid reportage on the margins of society, and the process of a big city, freelance journalist. Lees meer
Rainmaker.FM is Brought to You By Discover why more than 80,000 companies in 135 countries choose WP Engine for managed WordPress hosting.
Start getting more from your site today! Mr. Russell’s critically lauded first collection — I Am Sorry to Think I Have Raised a Timid Son — was recently re-released in paperback, and Vanity Fair called it, “A ludicrously smart, tragicomic man-on-the-edge memoir in essays.”
The acclaimed writer has been compared to David Foster Wallace by The New York Times Book Review, and his writing has appeared in The New York Times Magazine, Tin House, The New Republic, Harper’s, GQ, n+1, The Believer, and Grantland.
Join us for this two-part interview.
In Part One of the file Kent Russell and I discuss:
The Promiscuity of Freelance Writers
Why You Should Overwrite Your First Drafts
How to Research Your Stories Like RoboCop
Why All Writing Is (Still) Rewriting
A Writer’s Reliance on Cloud Word Processing
Listen to The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience below ...
Download MP3 Subscribe by RSS Subscribe in iTunes The Show Notes How Long-Form Journalist Kent Russell Writes: Part Two
I Am Sorry to Think I Have Raised a Timid Son – by Kent Russell
Letter of Recommendation: Hangovers – Kent Russell for the NYTimes Magazine
‘Timid Son’ Celebrates Mambas And Manly Men – NPR Interview with Kent Russell
Kelton Reid on TwitterLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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How Punk Rock Entrepreneur Jonny Nastor Writes: Part Two
4 april 2016 · 23 min
Author and entrepreneur-hacker — Jonny Nastor — dropped in this week to talk about the transition from podcast to bestselling book, and how he helps digital entrepreneurs and creatives find shortcuts to success. Lees meer
Rainmaker.FM is Brought to You By Discover why more than 80,000 companies in 135 countries choose WP Engine for managed WordPress hosting.
Start getting more from your site today! Mr. Nastor is the author of the bestseller Hack the Entrepreneur: How to Stop Procrastinating, Build a Business, and Do Work That Matters, a book that combines the wisdom of over 200 interviews with successful entrepreneurs from Jonny’s hit podcast of the same name.
Jon’s own remarkable journey has taken him from punk rock musician, to internet entrepreneur, podcaster, educator, author, and a guy who somehow still finds time to be a husband, father, and world traveler in-between.
Join us for this two-part interview. If you missed the first half you can find it here.
In Part Two of the file Jon Nastor and I discuss:
How to Come to Terms with Procrastination
Jonny’s Unique Definition of Creativity for Writers and Entrepreneurs
The Effectiveness of Simple Sentences
Why You Should Quit When You’re Done, Not When You’re Tired
Listen to The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience below ...
Download MP3 Subscribe by RSS Subscribe in iTunes The Show Notes HacktheEntrepreneur.com
Hack the Entrepreneur: How to Stop Procrastinating, Build a Business, and Do Work That Matters – by Jon Nastor
Jon Nastor Articles for Copyblogger
Jon Nastor Articles for Entrepreneur
Jon Nastor Articles for Foundr
Jonny Nastor on Twitter
Kelton Reid on TwitterLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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How Punk Rock Entrepreneur Jonny Nastor Writes: Part One
28 maart 2016 · 23 min
Author and entrepreneur-hacker — Jonny Nastor — dropped in this week to talk about the transition from podcast to bestselling book, and how he helps digital entrepreneurs and creatives find shortcuts to success. Lees meer
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Start getting more from your site today! Mr. Nastor is the author of the bestseller Hack the Entrepreneur: How to Stop Procrastinating, Build a Business, and Do Work That Matters, a book that combines the wisdom of over 200 interviews with successful entrepreneurs from Jonny’s hit podcast of the same name.
Jon’s own remarkable journey has taken him from punk rock musician, to internet entrepreneur, podcaster, educator, author, and a guy who somehow still finds time to be a husband, father, and world traveler in-between.
Join us for this two-part interview.
In Part One of the file Jon Nastor and I discuss:
Why Most Writers Suck at Grammar
The Importance of the DIY Mindset for Authors
How to Get into Flow State and Write for 18 Hours Straight
The Value of Outlining Your Projects
Listen to The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience below ...
Download MP3 Subscribe by RSS Subscribe in iTunes The Show Notes How Punk Rock Entrepreneur Jonny Nastor Writes: Part Two
HacktheEntrepreneur.com
Hack the Entrepreneur: How to Stop Procrastinating, Build a Business, and Do Work That Matters – by Jon Nastor
Jon Nastor Articles for Copyblogger
Jon Nastor Articles for Entrepreneur
Jon Nastor Articles for Foundr
Jonny Nastor on Twitter
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