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

Journalist, hit entertainment podcaster, and debut novelist, Bobby Finger, spoke to me about writing for Jezebel, turning a screenplay into a novel, and his debut, "The Old Place."Bobby Finger is a writer and co-host of the popular celebrity and entertainment podcast, Who? Weekly, "The podcast that tells you everything you need to know about celebrities you don’t."His debut novel is The Old Place, described as "A bighearted and moving debut about a wry retired schoolteacher whose decade-old secret threatens to come to light and send shockwaves through her small Texas town."It has been named Washington Post‘s 10 Noteworthy Books for September, People‘s Best New Books, Town & Country’s 45 Must-Read Books of Fall, New York’s 25 Notable New Releases, Kirkus Review‘s 150 Most Anticipated Fall Books, LitHub‘s Most Anticipated Books of 2022, among many others.New York Times bestselling author Emma Straub said of the book, “I loved being inside this skillful novel—at the planning parties for church fundraisers, learning to drive with a can of beer in the cupholder, and in the heads of some wonderfully tangy old Texan ladies. Bobby Finger has built a rich world in The Old Place, and I will think of it every time I make toast.”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 Bobby Finger and I discussed: Growing up in a small Texas town His start in copywriting and freelance journalism Writing screenplays in the margins Becoming a full-time podcaster How to write autofiction with a twist What happens when people leave, and those left behind And a lot more! Show Notes: whoweekly.us The Old Place By Bobby Finger (Amazon) Bobby Finger on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bestselling, award-winning author A.M. Homes, spoke to me about getting sued by J.D. Salinger, the irony of winning the Women's Prize for Fiction, and her latest "The Unfolding."A.M. Homes is a TV producer, art critic, and the author of 13 books, including the bestselling memoir The Mistress’s Daughter. Her last novel, May We Be Forgiven, was the winner of the 2013 Women’s Prize for Fiction.Her latest novel is The Unfolding, described as a "... darkly comedic alternative history that takes us into the heart of a fractured family living in a divided country."New York Times bestselling author Salman Rushdie called the book, “A terrific black comedy, written almost entirely in pitch-perfect dialogue, that feels terrifyingly close to the unfunny truth.”A.M. Homes was a Co-Executive Producer and Writer on David E. Kelly and Stephen King’s, Mr. Mercedes, and a writer/producer of the Showtime series The L Word.Her work has been translated into 22 languages and appears frequently in Art Forum, Harpers, Granta, McSweeney's, The New Yorker, The New York Times, and Zoetrope. She is a Contributing Editor to Vanity Fair, Bomb and Blind Spot, and she has taught in the Creative Writing Program at Princeton.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 A.M. Homes and I discussed: Her early struggles with dyslexia Why awards and votes of confidence are so important for writers How she helped hire Dennis Lehane to write for Mr. Mercedes  Her strange obsession with George Washington and her claim to Capitol Hill How to write your way out of a jam And a lot more! Show Notes: amhomesbooks.com The Unfolding: A Novel by A.M. Homes (Amazon) A.M. Homes on Facebook A.M. Homes on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJusticeBestselling, award-winning author Candice Carty-Williams, spoke to me about the tragicomic nature of being, winning "Book of the Year" at the British Book Awards, and her latest "People Person."Candice Carty-Williams is a TV producer, culture writer, and author of the international bestseller Queenie, a book that was named a best book of the year by NPR, TIME, PARADE, The Guardian, Good Housekeeping, Marie Claire, and many others.She also became the first black woman to win the "Book of the Year" award at the British Book Awards for Queenie in 2020.Her latest novel is People Person, a book described as an "... insightful novel about the power of family — even when they seem like strangers." The Guardian called it, “A big-hearted story of a young woman coming to terms with her complicated London family from the author of the game-changing Queenie.”Candice created and launched the Guardian 4th Estate BAME Short Story Prize in 2016, the first initiative of its kind in book publishing for underrepresented writers. She has written for The Guardian, i-D, Vogue, every iteration of The Sunday Times (London), BEAT magazine, Black Ballad, and more.Her original drama, "Champion," will be airing on BBC One in the U.K., and on Netflix globally, in 2023.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 Candice Carty-Williams and I discussed: Her early career in book marketing and the disparities she saw in publishing The inciting incident that inspired her latest How to balance humor and depth in fiction Why tragedy plus time equals comedy Great advice from Toni Morrison And a lot more! Show Notes: candicecartywilliams.com People Person By Candice Carty-Williams (Amazon) Guardian 4th Estate BAME Short Story Prize Candice Carty-Williams on Instagram Candice Carty-Williams on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJusticeAward-winning journalist and debut memoirist, Casey Parks, spoke to me about her lifelong reverence for journalism, the emotional cost of writing a memoir, and her debut "Diary of a Misfit."Casey Parks is a reporter for The Washington Post who covers gender and family issues. She spent a decade at The Oregonian writing about race and LGBTQ+ issues and was a finalist for the Livingston Award.A former Spencer Fellow at Columbia University, Parks was awarded the 2021 J. Anthony Lukas Work-in-Progress Award for her debut memoir, Diary of a Misfit: A Memoir and a Mystery. Described as "... a sweeping journalistic saga about sexuality and gender, family trauma and the redemptive force of love...," Publishers Weekly – in a starred review – called the book, “A tantalizing blend of personal history and reportage .... A brilliantly rendered and complex portrait of Southern life alongside a tender exploration of queer belonging [and] a marvel to witness.”Casey's articles have appeared in The New York Times Magazine, The New Yorker, The Oxford American, ESPN, USA Today, and The Nation.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 Casey Parks and I discussed: Earning $50 per story at the outset of her career ... ... to working in a virtual newsroom for The Washington Post Why that first byline in the New Yorker changes everything Asking permission to tell the stories of ghosts Why you can never take "no" as the final answer And a lot more! Show Notes: caseyparks.com Diary of a Misfit: A Memoir and a Mystery By Casey Parks (Amazon) Casey Parks for The Washington Post In the Deep South, a Search for Queer Identity - The New York Times Book Review Casey Parks on Facebook Casey Parks on Instagram Casey Parks on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJustice2021 winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, Abdulrazak Gurnah, spoke to me about life after becoming a laureate, the difference between authors and writers, and his latest novel "Afterlives." The Nobel Prize in Literature 2021 was awarded to Abdulrazak Gurnah "for his uncompromising and compassionate penetration of the effects of colonialism and the fate of the refugee in the gulf between cultures and continents"The Tanzanian-born British novelist and Professor Emeritus of English at the University of Kent, has written short stories, essays, and ten novels including Paradise (shortlisted for the Booker Prize), By the Sea (longlisted for the Booker Prize and a finalist for the LA Times Book Award), and Desertion.His latest novel, Afterlives, has been described as "... a sweeping, multi-generational saga of displacement, loss, and love, set against the brutal colonization of east Africa"The New York Times Book Review called the author, "... a master of the art form who understands human failings in conflicts both political and intimate — and how these shortcomings create afflictions from which nations and individuals continue to suffer, needlessly, generation after generation."Stay calm and write on ...Discover The Writer Files ExtraGet '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 Abdulrazak Gurnah and I discussed: Finding global readers and acclaim two years after the UK release of his latest book The irony of becoming a Nobel laureate in literature  Why he always writes the final episode first The intergenerational trauma of war and how he chooses his protagonists Why you may be in the wrong business And a lot more! Show Notes: Afterlives: A Novel by Abdulrazak Gurnah The Nobel Prize in Literature 2021 Abdulrazak Gurnah Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJusticePushcart Prize-winning short story writer and debut novelist, LaToya Watkins, spoke to me about landing the cover of Publishers Weekly's Writers to Watch Fall 2022, the legacy of William Faulkner, and her debut "Perish."LaToya Watkins holds a PhD from the University of Texas at Dallas and her writing has appeared in A Public Space, The Sun, McSweeney's, Kenyon Review, The Pushcart Prize Anthology, and elsewhere.Her debut is Perish, a novel "... about a Black Texan family, exploring the effects of inherited trauma and intergenerational violence as the family comes together to say goodbye to their matriarch on her deathbed."It has been named A Most Anticipated Book of 2022 by Good Morning America, Essence, Esquire, The Millions, among others, and named Amazon’s best debuts in August 2022. The New York Times Book Review called Watkins’s Perish, "... an impressive feat of storytelling ... a difficult read and a tender story of silences and secrets."Stay calm and write on ...Discover The Writer Files ExtraGet '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 LaToya Watkins and I discussed: How she went from first-generation college grad to being compared to Alice Walker and Toni Morrison Carving out the time to write as a mother of three  How writing short stories prepared her to write the novel Why it takes her two hours to find her flow state Writing about intergenerational trauma and the cost of slavery And a lot more! Show Notes: latoyawatkins.com Perish: A Novel by LaToya Watkins Writers to Watch Fall 2022 - PW Has Texas Finally Found Its William Faulkner? LaToya Watkins on Instagram LaToya Watkins on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJusticeLongtime literary critic and publishing insider, Bethanne Patrick, spoke to me about how she became a famed reviewer, where she puts all the books, and her new investigative podcast "Missing Pages."Bethanne Patrick is a writer, author, and critic whose monthly column on hot books appears in The Washington Post. An influencer in the book world, Bethanne (@TheBookMaven) has over 200K Twitter followers and originated the popular #FridayReads tag.She is also host to the all-new podcast Missing Pages, which investigates the good (rarely), the bad (frequently), and the messy (always) of the publishing industry.Described as an investigative podcast, "Missing Pages uncovers the power struggles, mistaken identities, and unfathomably bad behavior within the secretive world of book publishing. Each episode brings in authors, experts, publishing insiders, and a circus of NYC media elites to tell the real story; unfit for print."Bethanne's book reviews and author profiles have appeared in The Los Angeles Times, Poets & Writers magazine, NPR Books, Lit Hub and many others. She is the author of two books for National Geographic, an editor of an anthology for Regan Arts, and is currently writing a memoir for Counterpoint Press.Stay calm and write on ...Discover The Writer Files ExtraGet '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 Bethanne Patrick and I discussed: How she became a self-styled book "maven" The logistical issues of receiving 20 books a week What it's like cracking the Cosa Nostra of publishing  Why disruption in the publishing industry can't come fast enough How to start your career by writing reviews And a lot more! Show Notes:bethannepatrick.comMissing Pages on Apple PodcastsInside the Push to Diversify the Book Business - NY TimesDOJ v. PRH: Agents, Publishers Move Center Stage by Bethanne Patrick for PWBethanne Patrick for The Washington PostBethanne Patrick on InstagramBethanne Patrick on FacebookBethanne Patrick on TwitterKelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJustice#1 New York Times bestselling author, Mark Greaney, returned to talk about hanging out on the red carpet with Netflix "The Gray Man" stars Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans, turning a failed screenplay into a hit audio play, and his latest, "Armored.""Even if you finish a whole book and it doesn't get published, I promise you you're a much better author at the end of that process than you were at the beginning..." – Mark GreaneyMark's debut international thriller, The Gray Man, was published in 2009 and became a national bestseller and highly sought-after Hollywood property. He's released twelve in that series to date including the #1 New York Times bestseller One Minute Out.Netflix has now turned the first book in The Gray Man series into a blockbuster movie starring Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans, available now.His latest is Armored, a novel inspired by the author's popular Audible Original drama. Publishers Weekly wrote that the protagonist, Joshua Duffy, "... proves to be more than just a hardened military tactician. Readers will hope he’ll be back for an encore." A feature film adaptation of Armored is now in development with Sony.Mark is also the #1 New York Times bestselling author or co-author of seven Tom Clancy novels – he co-wrote Clancy’s final three Jack Ryan thrillers prior to his passing.Stay tuned until the show's end for a preview of the Audiobook, audio excerpted courtesy Penguin Random House Audio from Armored by Mark Greaney, read by Adam Gold.Stay calm and write on ...Discover The Writer Files ExtraGet '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 Greaney and I discussed: His 15-year, overnight success How he continues to hit regular deadlines and write two books a year What it was like to see his Gray Man on the big screen  Why it's less important to be 100% accurate than to be entertaining And a lot more! Show Notes:How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Mark Greaney Writes: Part OneMarkGreaneybooks.comTHE GRAY MAN | Official Trailer | NetflixArmored by Mark Greaney (Amazon Affiliate)Mark Greaney Amazon author pageMark Greaney on InstagramMark Greaney on FacebookMark Greaney on TwitterKelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJusticeNew York Times and #1 Sunday Times bestselling author, Sarah Pearse, spoke to me about Agatha Christie's legacy, how to write plausible police procedurals, and the place that inspired her latest, "The Retreat."Sarah Pearse is the author of The Sanatorium, a stunning crime fiction debut, instant New York Times and international bestseller, as well as a Reese’s Book Club selection and critical success.Her second novel, The Retreat, is Book Two in her bestselling Detective Elin Warner series, and another locked-room style thriller People magazine called, "The Shining but with a full house.”New York Times bestselling author Ashley Audrain said of the book, “Sarah Pearse has expertly crafted another eerie, atmospheric thriller that will have you looking over your shoulder as you read. A wonderfully chilling story of grief, revenge, and family secrets. An absorbing escape!”Sarah Pearse studied English literature and creative writing at the University of Warwick before completing a postgraduate diploma in broadcast journalism and has worked in marketing and publicity for a variety of household brands.Stay calm and write on ...Discover The Writer Files ExtraGet '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 Sarah Pearse and I discussed: The best writing advice she's ever received How this #writermom wrote a bestseller on maternity leave Using folklore, famously haunted, and sacred places in your writing What mind maps and natural descriptions can do for your setting The best way to conquer your nerves and win the day Her thoughts on rejection And a lot more! Show Notes:sarahpearse.co.ukThe Retreat: A Novel by Sarah Pearse (Amazon Affiliate)The Sanatorium: A Novel by Sarah Pearse (Amazon Affiliate)Sarah Pearse on FacebookSarah Pearse on InstagramSarah Pearse on TwitterKelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJusticeAddendum:Hey just a quick addendum on this week's redux, I am out of town this week and enjoying the sweatiest summer of all time with my kids, but I wanted to revisit a fantastic episode with now National Book Award Winner, Sir Walter Raleigh Award for Fiction Winner, Pushcart Prize nominee, NAACP Image Award nominee, and Carnegie Medals For Excellence Longlist nominee Jason Mott. Congrats! Enjoy, I’ll catch you next week with some fresh writerly wisdom.New York Times bestselling author, Jason Mott, took a timeout to talk with me about the high-wire act of building Hell of a Book, talking about race in America, and NOT working with Brad Pitt.Jason is the author of The Returned, a New York Times bestseller that was turned into a TV series that ran for two seasons.His fourth novel is titled Hell of a Book, and is described as a "... funny and honest [work of fiction] that goes to the heart of racism, police violence, and the hidden costs exacted upon Black Americans, and America as a whole."The book has been named to dozens of "Must Read" lists for 2021 including Entertainment Weekly, The NY Post, GMA, USA Today, Fortune's 21 Most Anticipated Books Coming out in the Second Half of 2021 and more. Charles Yu, author of National Book Award winner Interior Chinatown called the book, "Playful, searching, raw and necessary..."Jason has BFA in fiction and an MFA in Poetry, both from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. His poetry and fiction have appeared in various literary journals.Stay calm and write on ...Discover The Writer Files ExtraGet '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 Jason Mott and I discussed: What it's like to write a book in your head for a decade Why he dared to dream to become a writer How to build a technically complex novel, draft by draft His study and love of film noir And why writers need to be nicer to themselves Show Notes: JasonMottAuthor.com Hell of a Book: A Novel by Jason Mott Jason Mott Amazon author page Jason Mott on Facebook Jason Mott on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices