Cary DiCristina - Why Men Stopped Reading Fiction (and How to Bring Them Back)
Nonsense-Free Kristin
Why modern fiction feels message-driven
Cary argues modern fiction often emphasizes messages over story, creating a gap for male readers.
Screenwriter turned indie novelist Cary DiChristina joins the show to discuss his 15-year journey through Hollywood and why he finally decided to bypass the gatekeepers to publish his own stories. Cary explains the transition from writing for the screen to writing for the page, revealing why the “compromise” of film production pales in comparison to the total creative freedom of a novel.
Cary also tackles the state of modern fiction, explaining why he believes men have stopped reading and how to write authentic female characters without falling into the “Girl Boss” tropes that plague modern media.
In This Episode
* Hollywood vs. Indie Freedom: Cary shares the reality of spending 15 years pitching scripts to producers and why turning his screenplay, Redemption Window, into a novel finally gave him the audience he was chasing.
* Screenwriting vs. Prose: The difference between writing a “technical design document” for a film crew and writing a novel that allows you to play God and get inside a character’s head.
* Where Have All the Male Readers Gone?: A frank discussion on why men have tuned out of modern fiction and the shift from story-driven narratives to “message-heavy” lectures.
* Authentic Female Characters: How to write strong female leads (like his protagonist) without resorting to inauthentic “Mary Sue” or “Girl Boss” archetypes.
* Serializing on Substack: Cary’s strategy of releasing the first seven chapters for free to build a readership before asking for the sale, and why “truth in advertising” matters.
* Put Up or Shut Up: Tough love for aspiring writers who have “ideas” but haven’t put in the work to finish a “vomit draft”.
Guest Links
Cary DiCristina
* READ REDEMPTION WINDOW: https://amzn.to/49Zcd2B
* Substack: The Unknown Creative
* YouTube: @carydicristina6016
Kristin’s Links
* Services & Content
* Editing Services: nonsensefreeeditor.com
* Newsletter: https://www.fictionalinfluence.com
* YouTube: https://youtube.com/@nonsensefreekristin
Timestamps
00:00 - Introduction and Common Writer’s Dream
00:34 - Guest Introduction: Cary’s Hollywood Journey
01:10 - Transition from Screenwriting to Novel Writing
01:49 - Interview Begins: Cary’s Background and Career
03:10 - Challenges and Realizations in Screenwriting
06:30 - Turning a Screenplay into a Novel
10:48 - Differences Between Screenwriting and Novel Writing
16:41 - The State of Modern Fiction and Publishing
27:37 - The Pressure on Young Women
28:06 - Echo Chambers and Social Media
29:10 - Generational Differences in Parenting
30:16 - Millennials and Lack of Real-Life Experiences
31:32 - Conflict Avoidance in Younger Generations
33:33 - Serializing Books on Substack
39:31 - Staying Indie in Publishing
46:00 - Advice for Aspiring Writers
49:40 - Where to Find the Book
About This Podcast
Nonsense-Free Kristin is where independent authors and creators learn to build their platforms, master their craft, and create on their own terms—without begging for permission from gatekeepers who hate them.
New episodes weekly.
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