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

We are rebroadcasting this incredible look into the process behind not only how a writer gets paid to ghostwrite a title for a celebrity, but also the writing, research, and indie publishing of a book that sat on top of the Amazon charts for over a year! Did it finally beat Michelle Obama’s competing bestseller? Stay tuned to find out.We had to get special permission from the incredible human and author, David Goggins, to share this story, but it’s no secret that the book was co-written by my good friend Adam Skolnick.Adam is an award-winning independent journalist and author covering adventure sports, environmental issues, and civil rights for outlets such as The New York Times, Outside, ESPN, BBC, and Men’s Health, among others. He is also the author of One Breath, was the narrator of David Goggins’ bestselling audiobook for Can’t Hurt Me, and co-hosts The Rich Roll Podcast, on the "Roll On" edition.Adam returns later this month for the next installment of How to Ghostwrite a Bestseller to talk about his journey with David to his latest bestseller Never Finished: Unshackle Your Mind and Win the War Within. A huge thank you to Mr. Goggins.Stay calm and write on ...[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 Adam Skolnick and I discussed: A definition of ghostwriting How Adam got tapped to ghostwrite for author and endurance athlete David Goggins Why Goggins turned down a major book publishing deal and decided to self-publish (with Adam still attached) The Joe Rogan effect for authors How Adam made the decision to help write David's story And the unique research and drafting process that went into a bestseller ... Show Notes: AdamSkolnick.com Never Finished: Unshackle Your Mind and Win the War Within – by David Goggins (Amazon) Can't Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds – by David Goggins (Amazon) Adam Skolnick on Instagram Adam Skolnick on The Rich Roll Podcast A Mostly Uncensored Chat with Award-Winning Journo Adam Skolnick 21 Productivity Hacks from 21 Prolific Writers: Part One 21 Productivity Hacks from 21 Prolific Writers: Part Two Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJusticeViolinist and lauded debut novelist, Brendan Slocumb, spoke to me about how both music and writing saved his life, the darker side of the classical music world, and his debut "The Violin Conspiracy."Brendan Slocumb is an accomplished violinist and concertmaster who has performed with major symphonies, has a degree in music education, and has over twenty-five years of teaching in the classroom and in his private studio.His critically acclaimed debut novel, The Violin Conspiracy, has been described as, "Part mystery thriller, part character study of a young Black man trying to make his way in the world of classical music..." It was a GMA Book Club Pick and named a Publishers Weekly Top Ten Mystery/Thriller, NPR’s Books We Love 2022, Audible’s 13 Best Debuts of 2022, and earned two Goodreads Choice Award nominations for Best Debut Novel and Best Mystery Thriller.Publishers Weekly called the book "[A] gripping debut. . . . Slocumb sensitively portrays Ray’s resilience in the face of extreme racism. The author is off to a promising start.”Brendan hosts the podcast How Music Can Save Your Life, is a Nobel Teacher of distinction, and serves as an educational consultant for the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.Stay calm and write on ...Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your InboxIf you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please "Follow" us to automatically see new interviews.In this file Brendan Slocumb and I discussed: How he finds time to tour, write, practice for his string quartet, and teach students for an upcoming recital Why the Pandemic forced him to become a prolific novelist What it's like to sign your first paperback for a fan The importance of practice, routine, and banging out 3000 words a day  Why writers need to walk, stretch, and hit the gym And a lot more! Show Notes: brendanslocumb.com The Violin Conspiracy - By Brendan Slocumb (Amazon) How Music Can Save Your Life Podcast Brendan Slocumb on Facebook Brendan Slocumb on Instagram Brendan Slocumb on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJustice#1 international bestselling author of over 40 novels, Jeffery Deaver, returns to rap about his prolific output, an award-winning handbook for mystery writers, and the latest Colter Shaw novel, "Hunting Time."Jeffery Deaver is a former journalist, musician, and attorney best known for his Lincoln Rhyme series – now a hit NBC TV show – and the novel, The Bone Collector, adapted for the big screen starring Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie.The "master of suspense" has been nominated for eight Edgar Awards and served two terms as president of Mystery Writers of America, and was recently named a Grand Master of MWA, whose ranks include Agatha Christie, Mary Higgins Clark, and Walter Mosely.His latest is Hunting Time (A Colter Shaw Novel), described as "... a riveting thriller, as reward seeker Colter Shaw plunges into the woods and races the clock in a case where nothing is quite what it seems." Kirkus Reviews described the book as "A fleet, irresistible tale."Jeffery has sold over 50 million books worldwide in 150 countries, and been translated into 35 languages. He has also published three collections of short stories.Stay calm and write on ...Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your InboxIf you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please "Follow" us to automatically see new interviews.In this file Jeffery Deaver and I discussed: Pandemic survival How he finds the solitude of the writing life What it's like to be mentioned in the same breath as Agatha Christie How he keeps his Edgar Award nomination streak alive Why books are better than Netflix How the author structures his novels with questions and conflicts  And a lot more! Show Notes: JefferyDeaver.com How to Write Commercial Fiction with NY Times Bestselling Author Jeffery Deaver Hunting Time (A Colter Shaw Novel) By Jeffery Deaver (Amazon) How to Write a Mystery: A Handbook from Mystery Writers of America (Amazon) Jeffery Deaver Amazon author page NaturalReader app Jeffery Deaver on Instagram  Jeffery Deaver on Facebook Jeffery Deaver on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A quick note that this week we're resurfacing Part One of an enlightening chat I had with #1 internationally bestselling author Jeffery Deaver about his process for writing “ticking-time bomb suspense,” near the start of the Pandemic. Next week we are going to catch up with the author for the second part of that interview series with Jeff to talk about his latest novel and a lot more about the writing life. Until then …The #1 internationally bestselling author of over 40 novels, Jeffery Deaver, took a few minutes to discuss his advice on how to write emotionally engaging fiction, the merits of plotters vs. pantsers, and a 5-step process for writing your novel."Rejection is just a speed bump ... it's not a brick wall. Keep at it." – Jeffery DeaverJeffery is a former journalist, musician, and attorney best known for his Lincoln Rhyme series – now a hit NBC TV show – and the novel, The Bone Collector, adapted for the big screen starring Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie.The "master of suspense" has been nominated for seven Edgar Awards and has gone on to sell 50 million books worldwide, translated into 35 languages.His thriller featured here is a sequel to The Never Game – The Goodbye Man (A Colter Shaw Novel Book 2) – and once again features Colter Shaw, a rugged survivalist and "reward-seeker."One of Bookpage's "Most Anticipated Mysteries and Thrillers" of 2020, Publishers Weekly said of the book, “Deaver balances suspense and plausibility perfectly ... This is a perfect jumping-on point for readers new to one of today’s top contemporary thriller writers.”Stay calm and write on ...Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your InboxIf you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please "Follow" us to automatically see new interviews.In this file Jeffery Deaver and I discussed: Why suspense writers are like airline pilots Wisdom from Joyce Carol Oates and the importance of outlining How having your novel read aloud to you can improve your prose A simple formula for writing "roller-coaster" fiction And much more! Show Notes: JefferyDeaver.com The Goodbye Man (A Colter Shaw Novel) by Jeffery Deaver [Amazon] Jeffery Deaver Amazon author page NaturalReader app Jeffery Deaver on Instagram  Jeffery Deaver on Facebook Jeffery Deaver on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJusticeAward-winning author and filmmaker, Priyanka Kumar, spoke to me about the language of cinema, her Zen leanings, returning to the solace of nature, and her latest, "Conversations with Birds."Priyanka Kumar is a graduate of the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts and an alumna of the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference. She is also the award-winning writer, director, and producer of the feature documentary The Song of the Little Road, starring Martin Scorsese and Ravi Shankar.Her latest is Conversations with Birds, a Publishers Weekly “Top Ten Nonfiction Book for Fall 2022,” a Bookshop.org “Read Outside the Big Five” selection, and Apple, November Best Books of the Month, and been described in a Kirkus, starred review as, “An eloquent depiction of how birding engenders a deep love of our ecosystems and a more profound understanding of ourselves."Priyanka's debut novel, Take Wing and Fly Here, was published in 2013 to critical acclaim, and her essays and criticism have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Review of Books, and many others. Stay calm and write on ...Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your InboxIf you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please "Follow" us to automatically see new interviews.In this file Priyanka Kumar and I discussed: How to find the perfect cover art Growing up in the most biodiverse part of the world Why we face unprecedented distraction The importance of bird song How technology rewires our creative spirit  Why you need to replace your insipid lawn with xeriscaping And a lot more! Show Notes: priyankakumar.com Conversations with Birds By Priyanka Kumar (Amazon) Priyanka Kumar Author Page on Amazon Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJustice"Writing, at its best, is a lonely life." – Ernest HemingwayErnest Hemingway scholar and author, Professor Mark Cirino, spoke to me about the ethos of the late literary lion, how Hemingway outlived his myth, and his mission to uncover Hem's truest sentence.Dr. Cirino hosts the popular Hemingway Society-sponsored podcast, One True Podcast. He is also the author of eight books about American literature as a writer or editor. His most recent is One True Sentence: Writers & Readers on Hemingway’s Art (2022), with Michael Von Cannon.Described as "A selection of the greatest sentences by the master, Ernest Hemingway..." selected and examined by contemporary authors. Publishers Weekly called it “A revelatory compendium ... a rewarding tapestry ... readers are likely to come away with a deepened understanding of—and even awe at—Hemingway’s vast talent.”Mark Cirino serves as an editor for Kent State University Press’s Reading Hemingway series, and served as a consultant on the film adaptation of Hemingway's "Across the River and into the Trees." He taught creative writing and literature at NYU, and now teaches literature at the University of Evansville.Stay calm and write on ...Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your InboxIf you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please "Follow" us to automatically see new interviews.In this file Mark Cirino and I discussed:  Why "Writing, at its best, is a lonely life" The importance of finding your writing community How The Sun Also Rises made Hem a literary celebrity The only thing you have to do as a writer Why each writing project requires new discipline An open invitation to Bob Dylan And a lot more! Show Notes: Dr. Mark Cirino - Professor and Department Chair One True Sentence: Writers & Readers on Hemingway’s Art by Mark Cirino and Michael Von Cannon (Amazon) Mark Cirino Author Page on Amazon One True Podcast: Hosted by Mark Cirino and produced by Michael Von Cannon Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJusticeAward-winning and #1 NY Times bestselling author, Robert Crais, spoke to me about breathing life into the ur detective novel, the legacy of Raymond Chandler, his love of LA, and his latest, "Racing the Light."Robert Crais is the author of 23 novels, 19 of which feature private investigator Elvis Cole and his laconic ex-cop partner, Joe Pike. The first in the series, The Monkey’s Raincoat, won the Anthony and Macavity Awards and was nominated for the Edgar Award.The latest is Racing the Light, described as "... a pulse-pounding read and Elvis Cole's most dangerous case yet." Bestselling author David Baldacci called it "... another grand slam for the master storyteller Robert Crais. If there’s a better dynamic duo than Elvis Cole and Joe Pike in all of crime fiction, I’m not aware of it.”On Reader's Digest's list of "30 new books we can't wait to read in 2022," Kirkus Reviews said that, "... [Crais] keeps the traditional detective novel alive and well."In a previous life Robert Crais was an Emmy-nominated TV writer/producer and spent several years writing scripts for classic television series like Hill Street Blues, Cagney & Lacey, and Miami Vice.Stay calm and write on ...Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your InboxIf you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please "Follow" us to automatically see new interviews.In this file Robert Crais and I discussed: Burning out as a TV writer and chasing the dream of becoming a novelist Why he never anticipated fame How his novel LA Requiem changed the trajectory of his career When your author name gets bigger than the title Why he'll always be a meticulous outliner And a lot more! Show Notes: How #1 New York Times Bestselling Author Robert Crais Writes: Part Two robertcrais.com Racing the Light (An Elvis Cole and Joe Pike Novel Book 19) by Robert Crais (Amazon) Robert Crais Author Page on Amazon Robert Crais on Facebook Robert Crais on Instagram Robert Crais on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJusticeNote: Hey, just a quick note that the podcast is on hiatus this week but we’re bringing back a fan favorite. Here is my interview with the amazing Tana French from late 2020, at the height of the pandemic. Catch you soon and thanks for your support!The New York Times bestselling crime novelist, Tana French, took a break to talk with me about her early training as an actress, her definition of creativity, and how to write through the tough times."I didn't know if I could write a book. I'd written short stories and really galactically bad teenager poetry, but I'd never tried to write a book before." — Tana FrenchThe author has written eight mystery novels and is considered a master of suspense and the modern psychological thriller. Her work has been compared to writers including James Ellroy and Donna Tartt, and has been called "incandescent" by Stephen King, and "absolutely mesmerizing" by Gillian Flynn.Her novels have sold over three million copies and won numerous awards, including the Edgar and Barry awards, the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Best Mystery/Thriller, and the Irish Book Award for Crime Fiction.Her latest bestseller, The Searcher, is her second stand-alone novel, and she was described by The Washington Post as "...the most important crime novelist to emerge in the past 10 years."Stay tuned for a clip from The Searcher audiobook at the break, “... excerpted courtesy [of] Penguin Random House Audio ... read by Roger Clark.”Stay calm and write on ...Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your InboxIf you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please "Follow" us to automatically see new interviews.In this file Tana French and I discussed: Her "galactically" bad poetry The archaeological dig that inspired “In the Woods,” her Edgar-winning 2007 debut novel How she came to riff on the Western genre in her latest And why writers need to fight off the struggle of isolation Show Notes: TanaFrench.com The Searcher: A Novel by Tana French [Amazon] Tana French Amazon page The Essential Tana French, The New York Times Tana French on FaceBook Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJusticeAward-winning, queer, Jamaican-American writer, videographer, activist, and debut memoirist, Prince Shakur, spoke to me about James Baldwin's legacy, writing towards his father's murder, and his latest, "When They Tell You To Be Good."Prince Shakur is a freelance journalist, videomaker, and New York Times recognized organizer whose debut memoir, When They Tell You To Be Good, is about his "political coming of age in Obama and Trump’s America." It is a Powell's Holiday Pick for 2022 and a TIME, Poets & Writers, Publishers Weekly, them, The Week, Debutiful, and Book Riot Best “Book of Fall.”Described as an exploration of "... his radicalization and self-realization through examinations of place, childhood, queer identity, and a history of uprisings," the memoir won the Hurston/Wright Crossover Award and has earned him residencies with Sangam House, La Maison Baldwin, The Studios of Key West, and The Atlantic Center for the Arts. As a freelance journalist Shakur has penned numerous op-eds, essays, and features in Teen Vogue, Daily Dot, CodaStory, Cultured Magazine, AfroPunk, and more. His writings have been used in university classrooms, including Nikkita Oliver’s Prison Abolition course offered at the University of Washington.Stay calm and write on ...Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your InboxIf you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please "Follow" us to automatically see new interviews.In this file Prince Shakur and I discussed: How he hustled as a young freelance journalist The black, queer, activist experience Why he feels the need to push past the notion of "bearing witness" What it's like to navigate anti-blackness abroad The urgency of artwork in the face of death Why artist residencies and grants are so important for writers And a lot more! Show Notes: princeshakur.com When They Tell You To Be Good by Prince Shakur (Amazon) Prince Shakur on Instagram Prince Shakur on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Award-winning and New York Times bestselling author, Deanna Raybourn, spoke to me about how she still feels like a debut author, why she doesn't read reviews, and her new contemporary thriller "Killers of a Certain Age."Deanna Raybourn is the author of 19 books including the award-winning, New York Times bestselling Lady Julia Grey series, as well as the USA Today bestselling and Edgar Award-nominated Veronica Speedwell Mysteries, and several stand-alone works.Her latest is Killers of a Certain Age, described as "a witty contemporary spy thriller perfect for fans of Killing Eve and Ocean’s Eight." An instant New York Times bestseller and an Amazon Best Book of Month 2022, Buzzfeed said of the book, “This Golden Girls meets James Bond thriller is a journey you want to be part of."Deanna Raybourn graduated with a double major in English and history from the University of Texas at San Antonio.Stay tuned until the end of the show for a preview of the Audiobook, excerpted courtesy Penguin Random House Audio from Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn, read by Jane Oppenheimer and Christina Delaine.Stay calm and write on ...Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your InboxIf you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please "Follow" us to automatically see new interviews.In this file Deanna Raybourn and I discussed: Why her agent told her to stop writing for a whole year What it feels like to get that first three-book deal How she came to writing older women doing kick-ass things When she turns into a feral author in her pajamas Why writers need to trust their inner voice And a lot more! Show Notes: deannaraybourn.com Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn (Amazon) Deanna Raybourn on Instagram Deanna Raybourn on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices