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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ANECDOTE

Creative Household Shaped His Norms

David Coggins grew up with an artist father and interior-designer mother which normalized creative life at home.
Their house brimmed with books, theater friends, and regular cultural conversation that shaped his comfort with art.

INSIGHT

Early Exposure Makes Art A Real Option

Early exposure and encouragement made pursuing art feel like a legitimate life choice rather than a rebellion.
Coggins argues liberal arts and literary education give deep human understanding worth preserving.

ADVICE

Seek Mentors And Then Teach Back

Find mentors who live the craft and let their sensibilities rub off on you.
Teach and edit others to solidify your own skills and spread the craft generously.

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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