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

How NY Times Bestselling Author Christina Lynch Writes

Nov 22, 2024

Christina Lynch, a New York Times bestselling author, shares her journey from fashion burnout to writing whimsical tales. She discusses her latest novel, 'Pony Confidential,' narrated by a grumpy yet lovable pony, and explores the emotional impact of writing during challenging times. Christina reveals her experience with collaborative writing in TV, working alongside Conan O'Brien, and how a game with a fellow writer sparked her bestseller. With humor and heart, she emphasizes resilience in the face of rejection and the support needed for creative growth.

38:53

Episode guests

Christina Lynch

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Christina Lynch highlights the importance of resilience in a novelist's journey, emphasizing that rewriting is essential for success despite rejections.

Her diverse experiences in journalism and television significantly shaped her storytelling, contributing to the unique narrative style seen in 'Pony Confidential.'

Deep dives

The Journey of a Novelist

Christina Lynch emphasizes the significant challenges of becoming a successful novelist, stressing the necessity of developing a thick skin in the face of rejection. After submitting her early novel and receiving what she later recognized as a compassionate rejection letter, she initially shelved her dreams of writing, questioning her abilities. The process of rewriting and revising became integral to her journey, demonstrating that perseverance is crucial in the writing career. Lynch shares that much of her work involves substantial revisions, often transforming entire drafts, a testament to the belief that writing, at its core, is a continuous cycle of writing and rewriting.

Intro

2min

Navigating the Writing Landscape: Insights from a Bestselling Author

3min

The Writer's Journey: From Rejections to Resilience

6min

Navigating Distractions: The Benefits of Focused Reading Technology

2min

The Art of Collaborative Writing

7min

A Pony's Heartfelt Quest in a Hilarious Mystery

3min

Creativity and Challenges in Storytelling

12min

Hopeful Aspirations in Rural Life

2min

New York Times bestselling author Christina Lynch spoke with me about working with Harvard pal Conan O’Brien, gang writing for TV, her nom de plume, and her new novel, PONY CONFIDENTIAL, featuring a grumpy pony.

Christina Lynch is the author of Sally Brady's Italian Adventure, The Italian Party, and – under the pen name Magnus Flyte – co-author of New York Times bestseller City of Dark Magic and City of Lost Dreams.

Her latest mystery, Pony Confidential (Berkley/PRH), is “... an epic saga, narrated by a pony, about the bond between animals and their humans.” It was named an NPR “Book of the Day,” Amazon Top 100 Books of 2024, an Indie Next Pick for November, and many other “most anticipated” lists.

Christina Lynch was an editor on the Harvard Lampoon, the Milan correspondent for W magazine, and wrote for TV on the writing staffs of Unhappily Ever After and Stephen King’s The Dead Zone among others. She teaches at College of the Sequoias.

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In this file Christina Lynch and I discussed:

End-of-semester panic and counseling her students

Why she burned out on fashion and disappeared in Tuscany

How a game with a fellow writer turned into a bestseller

What her most recent success has meant to her

The crazy story behind her latest novel

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

clynchwriter.com

Pony Confidential By Christina Lynch (Amazon)