Life as a Writer with David Coggins - [Making Media, EP.38]

Sep 28, 2023

David Coggins, a writer known for his creative identity, discusses his writing process, his parents' influence, and his recent assignment in Cuba. He also talks about the importance of editor-writer relationships, the impact of reflection and perspective, and his writing rituals. The podcast explores the experience of being edited by a family member and offers a recommendation for creatives.

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Introduction

00:00 • 2min

Creative Upbringing and the Influence of Mentors

01:42 • 10min

The Importance of the Editor-Writer Relationship

11:48 • 11min

Reflecting on Perspective and Appreciation

23:09 • 7min

The Experience of Editing and Being Edited

30:28 • 2min

Writing Rituals and Habits

32:22 • 14min

Filmmakers' Approaches and a Recommendation for Creatives

46:39 • 2min

Today we have a special guest on Making Media. There are few people who write and live like David Coggins. David has a way of maintaining his creative identity while still adopting many of today's tools. He writes books, and he writes on his Substack, The Contender.

We talked to David about his process for writing, what he is or is not sacred about, how his parents normalized creative acts in his house growing up, and we get some great recommendations. Please enjoy this interview with David Coggins.

For the full show notes, transcript, and links to the best content to learn more, check out the episode page here.

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Show Notes

(00:02:00) - (First question) His experience having parents who work in creative fields

(00:07:30) - Finding people who expose you to interesting things

(00:10:15) - How to find an editor

(00:12:33) - The transition from writing online to writing a book

(00:16:00) - Conveying a theme effectively in a book

(00:18:30) - Documenting emotions and experiences

(00:24:00) - Balancing travel and book writing

(00:28:53) - Editing a family member’s work

(00:30:40) - Scheduled writing versus writing in the moment

(00:33:00) - Favorite types of written media

(00:35:00) - Advice for aspiring young writers

(00:39:30) - The impact of location on writing

(00:44:40) - Defining a successful book

(00:45:45) - One piece of work every creative should experience