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

Critically acclaimed author, Hilary Leichter, spoke to me about why she thinks of herself as a realist, how her life imitates art, finding a novel hidden in her closet, and her latest, TERRACE STORY.Hilary Leichter is an award-winning short story writer, and author of the novel Temporary, which was a finalist for The Center for Fiction First Novel Prize and an NYPL Young Lions Fiction Prize, that was also longlisted for the PEN/Hemingway Award, was named a New York Times Editors’ Choice as well as a Best Book of 2020 by NPR, Elle, Vulture, and Publishers Weekly.Her latest novel, Terrace Story (Ecco; on sale: August 29, 2023), is described as “... an intimate exploration of time, a fable about love,[and] an epic daydream for a broken-hearted world.” Booklist said of the book, “Terrace Story is fun and profound, fickle and erudite. It is an irresistibly cool book.”Hernan Diaz, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Trust, said of the author, ”Hilary Leichter, [is] one of our most original novelists, [and] amazes us again with a beautifully unclassifiable novel. Step out onto the terrace, where space and time, cause and effect, and fiction and reality have been redefined and gorgeously subverted. Terrace Story isn’t a novel you merely read; it’s a book you inhabit.”Hilary teaches at Columbia University where she is the Undergraduate Creative Writing Adviser in Fiction. Her writing has appeared in The New Yorker, n+1, The New York Times, Conjunctions, and elsewhere. Her work in Harper’s Magazine won the 2021 National Magazine Award in Fiction.[Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm][If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]In this file Hilary Leichter and I discussed:   Why it never seems to get easier Sling-shotting from rejection to literary darling Why her first book was about a woman with many jobs set in the gig economy The writing habits she fears are unhealthy Revisiting The Poetics of Space The definition of “reverse research” And a lot more! Show Notes: hilaryleichter.com Terrace Story: A Novel By Hilary Leichter (Amazon)  Andrea Bartz Amazon Author Page How Pulitzer Prize-Winning Author Hernan Diaz Writes: Redux Hilary Leichter on Instagram Hilary Leichter on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New York Times bestselling author and journalist, Andrea Bartz, spoke to me about her previous life as a magazine editor, how to write feminist psychological thrillers, and all the tension, twists, and toxic relationships in her latest novel THE SPARE ROOM.Andrea Bartz is a Brooklyn-based writer and editor whose last thriller, We Were Never Here, was a Reese’s Book Club pick and an instant New York Times bestseller that’s in development at Netflix.Her latest, The Spare Room, is described as a “... a dark, twisted, sultry tale about a lockdown pod that turns deadly,” and was named ​​a People Magazine Best New Book, Marie Claire’s July Book Club Pick, an Elle.com Best New Summer Book, a Glamour Best New Summer Thriller, and a Goodreads’ Most Anticipated Mysteries & Thrillers of 2023, among many others.People Magazine called it, “A fresh and sexy ride, perfect for reading poolside,” and #1 New York Times bestselling author Lucy Foley called it, “Sexy, atmospheric, deliciously creepy, and ingeniously plotted: the best kind of up-all-night page-turner.”[Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm][If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]In this file Andrea Bartz and I discussed:  How she decided to turn the domestic suspense genre on its head What happens when life hits the “Stop” button  The loneliness, fear, and claustrophobia that helped her write the latest How she taps her inner journalist to write fiction Turning the dial to “11” on human relationships  And a lot more! Show Notes: Andreabartz.com The Spare Room By Andrea Bartz (Amazon)  Andrea Bartz Amazon Author Page Pacemaker.press Andrea Bartz on Instagram Andrea Bartz on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Critically acclaimed author, Andrew Lipstein, spoke to me about failure as an MFA, how he sold his first novel, why time spent not writing is also important, and his latest THE VEGAN.Andrew Lipstein is a Brooklyn-based writer who also works in finance and has a mathematics degree. His debut novel, Last Resort, was named a Top 10 Book of the Year by Slate, a 2022 Best Book by The New Yorker, a 2022 Best Book by Vulture, and a New York Times Editors’ Choice.His latest, The Vegan is described as a book about “....high finance, moral reckonings, veganism … guilt, greed, and how far we'll go to be good.” It was named one of Town & Country’s Must-Read Books of Summer, an i-D Magazine, ELLE, Literary Hub, and Our Culture Magazine’s Most Anticipated Book of 2023.Author Andrew Martin called it, “Crime and Punishment for the Brooklyn brownstone set," and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Joshua Cohen called it, “... a meaty comedy with a bleeding heart, highly recommended for all animals who read."[Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm][If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]In this file Andrew Lipstein and I discussed:  Why he chose to use a pseudonym to sell his first book The moral ambiguities of money Why having a great editor feels like cheating What to do if you can’t find the time to write Why all of our best ideas come to us in the shower And a lot more! Show Notes: alipstein.com The Vegan By Andrew Lipstein (Amazon)  Andrew Lipstein Amazon Author Page Andrew Lipstein on Instagram Andrew Lipstein on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#1 New York Times bestselling author, Susan Wiggs, spoke to me about why writers need to follow their bliss, how her stories come together like patchwork quilts, and her most “summery” novel yet, WELCOME TO BEACH TOWN.Susan Wiggs is the award-winning, #1 New York Times bestselling author of over 50 published novels, with a combined 25 million copies in print, published in 30 countries, and translated into over 20 languages.Her latest, Welcome to Beach Town: A Novel, is described as the “... tale of an idyllic California beach town forced to reckon with scandal when a high school valedictorian’s speech reveals secrets that shake the town to its core.”Kristy Woodson Harvey, New York Times bestselling author of The Summer of Songbirds called the book ​​"... a masterclass in storytelling…. a novel, [where] one thing is for sure: In this beach town, there is always more happening than meets the eye," and Booklist called it, "The perfect beach read...full of surf, rediscovered love, and second chances."[Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm][If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]In this file, Susan Wiggs and I discussed:  Why no one will pay you to be an “aspiring writer”  How her writing has changed over her 36-year career Her immersive research process Why she never reads her published books How a left-handed, office supply geek writes all her prose And a lot more! Show Notes: Susanwiggs.com Welcome to Beach Town: A Novel by Susan Wiggs (Amazon)  Susan Wiggs Amazon Author Page Susan Wiggs on Instagram Susan Wiggs on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New York Times bestselling author and educator, Helen Schulman, spoke to me about her winding path to bestseller, why a writing career is 90% sweat and rejection, and how the #MeToo movement inspired her latest novel, LUCKY DOGS.Helen Schulman is the New York Times bestselling author of seven novels, including Come with Me and This Beautiful Life, and she is currently the Fiction Chair of the Creative Writing Program at The New School.Her latest, Lucky Dogs, is described as a novel that “... lays bare what happens to women—no matter how fortunate they may appear to be on the surface—whose lives have been warped by brutality and misogyny.”Best-selling author Jennifer Egan called the book, "Part thriller, part Hollywood satire [and] a brash, sometimes heartbreaking saga in which trauma and self-preservation converge across decades and continents. This is Helen Schulman's best novel yet."Helen Schulman’s fiction, non-fiction, and reviews have appeared in such places as Vanity Fair, Time, Vogue, GQ, The New York Times Book Review, and The Paris Review. She also serves as Executive Director for WriteOn NYC, a fellowship program that provides free creative writing instruction to underserved New York City school children.[Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm][If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]In this file, Helen Schulman and I discussed:  Why her latest book isn’t funny  Her intensive research process Why she wrote her latest from bed Her passion for helping underprivileged kids discover a love of writing How to tell if a writer is going to “make it” And a lot more! Show Notes: Helen Schulman | The New School Lucky Dogs: A Novel By Helen Schulman (Amazon)  Helen Schulman Amazon Author Page WriteOn NYC – Connecting passionate writers to New York City students Aspen Words Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New York Times bestselling author, James Swallow, returns to chat with me about the solitary life of a writer, his undying love of ‘80s and ‘90s cinema, why you’re only as good as your last title, and his latest novel DARK HORIZON.James Swallow is the Award-winning New York Times, Sunday Times, and Amazon #1 bestselling author, former journalist, and British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) nominated scriptwriter who has written for video games, TV, and radio.His latest, Dark Horizon, is described as stemming from, "A fatal crash and a brutal murder in an English village [that] sets off a deadly chain of events leading from the stormy skies over the Mediterranean to an explosive confrontation on a remote airstrip in North Africa.”The prolific author of over 50 titles and millions of books in print worldwide has written sci-fi for storied franchises including Star Trek, Dr. Who, Stargate, and is best known for his espionage thrillers.[Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm][If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]In this file, James Swallow and I discussed:  The definition of “book head” What it’s like for a novelist to be stuck in an airport Why he makes his protagonists deliberately fallible How videogames have eclipsed most popular media Why you can’t automate the hardest part of writing And a lot more! Show Notes: How NY Times Bestselling Author James Swallow Writes: Part One www.jswallow.com James Swallow on Amazon  James Swallow on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New York Times bestselling author, Ashley Audrain, spoke to me about giving herself permission to write sh*tty first drafts, writing in public, and her second novel THE WHISPERS.Ashley Audrain’s debut novel, The Push, was a New York Times, Sunday Times (London), #1 international bestseller, and a Good Morning America Book Club pick. It has sold in more than 40 territories, and a limited TV series is currently in development. Her latest, The Whispers, is described as “ … a propulsive page-turner about four families whose lives are changed when the unthinkable happens – and what is lost when we give in to our own worst impulses.”The New York Times Book Review wrote, "Expertly, subtly and powerfully rendered …. [The Whispers] delivers a sucker-punch ending you’ll have to read twice to believe.” And #1 New York Times bestselling author Carley Fortune called it, “[An] electrifying … razor-sharp page-turner.”Ashley Audrain previously worked as the publicity director of Penguin Books Canada, and prior to that, worked in public relations.[Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm][If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]In this file, Ashley Audrain and I discussed:  Why she felt intimidated by writers while working in PR How to write claustrophobic, voyeuristic fiction Why she is drawn to the darker side of literature Tapping into the messiness of midlife ennui How to escape your kids And a lot more! Show Notes: ashleyaudrain.com The Whispers By Ashley Audrain (Amazon)  Ashley Audrain Amazon Author Page Ashley Audrain on Instagram Ashley Audrain on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Internationally bestselling authors, Lynne & Valerie Constantine – AKA Liv Constantine – spoke to me about the importance of writers’ conferences, how to write perfidy with your best friend, and their latest thriller THE SENATOR'S WIFE.Liv Constantine is the pen name of sisters Lynne and Valerie Constantine who are the WSJ, USA Today, and Internationally bestselling authors of Reese’s Book Club pick The Last Mrs. Parrish, which has sold over 500,000 copies and is soon to be adapted for NetflixTheir latest, The Senator's Wife, is described as “... a psychological thriller that upends the private lives of those who walk the halls of power. Because when you have it all, you have everything to lose.”#1 New York Times bestselling author A. J. Finn called the book, “The Hand That Rocks the Cradle meets The West Wing, a high-stakes paranoia thriller, slippery as a politician’s handshake, that's both sophisticated and irrepressibly fun.”Lynne is a former marketing executive with a Master’s degree in Business from Johns Hopkins University who also writes The Jack Logan series under the pen name L.C. Shaw.Early in her career, Valerie worked in Washington D.C. as a White House Assistant in the President’s Scheduling and Advance Office planning presidential trips and travel.[Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm][If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]In this file, Lynne, Valerie and I discussed:  How to team up with your sister to write a thriller Setting a book in the halls of power, Washington, D.C. How they plot their novels over Zoom Why they call Thiller Fest their “summer camp” The importance of freelance editors And a lot more! Show Notes: livconstantine.com The Senator's Wife by Liv Constantine (Amazon)  Liv Constantine Amazon Author Page thrillerwriters.org Liv Constantine on Instagram Liv Constantine on Facebook Liv Constantine on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New York Times bestselling author, Fiona Barton, spoke to me about why so many famous journalists have turned to crime fiction, the power of the deadline, and her latest hit novel LOCAL GONE MISSING.Fiona Barton is the award-winning journalist and New York Times bestselling author of novels The Widow, The Child, and The Suspect – all three featuring journalist Kate Waters.Her latest thriller, Local Gone Missing, follows a new protagonist in Detective Elise King and follows the brewing changes of a small seaside town. Kirkus Reviews said of the book, “Barton presents such an embarrassment of riches … Layers and layers of unlovely revelations about people who seemed perfectly nice.” And BookPage wrote, “Thanks to Barton’s airtight plotting and impeccable characteri­zation, a minibreak by the sea will never seem relaxing again."In her past life, Fiona was a senior writer at the Daily Mail, a news editor at the Daily Telegraph, and chief reporter at the Mail on Sunday. She has trained and worked with journalists all over the world.[Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm][If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]In this file, Fiona Barton and I discussed:  What it was like to be a Chief Reporter in the UK during the 90s and Noughties  Why crime reporters don’t have time to write fiction How she made the transition to bestselling novelist Why journalism is so akin to crime fiction The definition of a “duvet writer” How to beat procrastination And a lot more! Show Notes: fionabartonauthor.com Local Gone Missing By Fiona Barton (Amazon) Fiona Barton Amazon Author Page Fiona Barton on Facebook Fiona Barton on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#1 New York Times bestselling author, Carley Fortune, spoke to me about her storied career as a journalist, writing a breakout hit in just four months, and her latest novel, MEET ME AT THE LAKE.Carley Fortune is an award-winning Canadian journalist and the #1 New York Times and #1 Globe and Mail bestselling author of Meet Me at the Lake and Every Summer After. Her latest, Meet Me at the Lake, is described as a “...love story about two strangers who come together when they need each other most. Once, in their early twenties, and again a decade later.”GMA said of the book, "Fortune explores the aftermath of losing a beloved parent and reclaiming a relationship in this unputdownable, witty, soulful and stirring novel." And New York Times bestselling author Jill Santopolo called Meet Me at The Lake “... a beautiful, heart-tugging, love story about secrets, lies, missed connections and second chances.”Carley has worked as an editor at some of Canada’s top publications, including The Globe and Mail, Chatelaine, Toronto Life, and a now-defunct weekly paper, The Grid. She was most recently the Executive Editor of Refinery29 Canada.[Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm][If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]In this file, Carley Fortune and I discussed: What prompted her to reclaim her creative energyHow to write 80 thousand words in just four monthsWhy writers need to keep their expectations realistic and protect their mental healthHow she starts planning her novels Why extroverted writers need to get into real clothes and out of the houseAnd a lot more!Show Notes:carleyfortune.comMeet Me at the Lake By Carley Fortune (Amazon) Carley Fortune Amazon Author PageCarley Fortune on InstagramCarley Fortune on TwitterKelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices