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

#PodcastersForJusticeNew York Times bestselling author, Clare Pooley, spoke to me about rising from the ashes, writing as therapy, her nostalgia for the bygone commute, and her latest "Iona Iverson’s Rules for Commuting."Clare's blog-to-memoir deal, The Sober Diaries, was published in 2017 to critical acclaim. Her debut novel - The Authenticity Project – was a New York Times bestseller. Inspired by her own experiences, it's been translated into thirty-two languages, was a Radio 2 Bookclub pick, and winner of the RNA Debut Novel Award.Her latest, Iona Iverson’s Rules for Commuting, is described as "... a heartwarming story about the joy of friendships, and the unexpected places they can be forged." Kirkus Reviews called the book “A soothing story where bad things happen yet are overcome, and friendship leads the way to personal acceptance and rebirth.”Bestselling author Mary Laura Philpott called the book, "... a feel-good ensemble story [for] fans of quirky London-set fare such as Ted Lasso."Clare graduated from Cambridge University, and spent twenty years in the world of advertising, before becoming a full-time writer. Stay calm and write on ...In this file Clare Pooley and I discussed: Why making up stories is not a proper job (wink, wink) Her unique creative process (spoiler: it starts in the dark) Big Magic and harnessing the creative muse The necessity of coffee to the writing life How she embraced the life of a #writerwarrior   And a lot more! Show Notes:clarepooley.comIona Iverson's Rules for Commuting: A Novel by Clare Pooley [Amazon Affiliate]Clare Pooley's Amazon Author Page [Amazon Affiliate]Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert [Amazon Affiliate]Lessons in Chemistry: A Novel by Bonnie Garmus [Amazon Affiliate]Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine: A Novel by Gail Honeyman  [Amazon Affiliate]Clare Pooley on FacebookClare Pooley on InstagramClare Pooley on TwitterKelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJusticeMexican-American writer and historian, Isabel Cañas, spoke to me about how to binge-write a novel, her fear of the dark, and swinging for the fences with her gothic debut "The Hacienda."Isabel is a speculative fiction writer, and world traveler – currently working on her Ph.D. dissertation in medieval Islamic literature – who writes fiction inspired by her research and heritage.Her debut novel is the highly-anticipated gothic, The Hacienda, "... a haunted house story with a Latinx refresh .... partly inspired by a home Isabel lived in when she was a child — one she still believes to this day is haunted."Described by The Washington Post as, “[A] gothic tale of doomed love and vengeful spirits." NY Times bestselling author Roshani Chokshi called the book, “A hypnotic, sinister tale that is equal parts terrifying and luxurious ... a nightmare lined with velvet.”In this file Isabel Cañas and I discussed: Writing fantasy fan fiction and her convoluted juvenilia  Why horror demands vulnerability from the author On haunted houses and ghosts of colonialism and diaspora Zero-drafting How to write 4000 words a day And a lot more! Stay calm and write on ...Show Notes:isabelcanas.comThe Hacienda by Isabel Cañas [Amazon Affiliate]Isabel Cañas on FacebookIsabel Cañas on InstagramIsabel Cañas on TwitterKelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJusticeNew York Times bestselling author, Emma Straub, spoke to me about why everything in life is timing, how to write a book for yourself, time travel, and her latest "This Time Tomorrow."Emma is the bestselling author of five novels — including All Adults Here, The Vacationers, Modern Lovers, and Laura Lamont’s Life in Pictures — the short story collection Other People We Married. Her books have been published in 20 countries. Her latest, This Time Tomorrow, has been named One of the Most Anticipated Books of 2022 by Vogue, Oprah, Entertainment Weekly, Glamour, Good Housekeeping, Marie Claire, Harper’s Bazaar, Reader’s Digest, Today, Parade, Thrillist, Pop Sugar, Lithub and more.Described as "...a moving father-daughter story and a playful twist on the idea of time travel," author Michael Chabon called the book "...a beautifully made, elegant music box of a novel that sets in motion its clever clockwork of delight—then breaks your heart with its bittersweet, lingering song.”Emma and her husband also own Books Are Magic, a popular independent bookstore in Brooklyn, New York. In this file Emma Straub and I discussed:Why getting an MFA helped her slow down her writingHow she met everyone in publishing at an indie bookshop The unique perspective of XennialsHow to find confidence and pages while being off-balance Why she'd drink less Olde English if she could go back And a lot more!Stay calm and write on ...emmastraub.netThis Time Tomorrow a Novel by Emma Straub'This Time Tomorrow' is the time travel book millennials need - USA TodayEmma Straub on FacebookEmma Straub on InstagramEmma Straub on TwitterKelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJusticeAward-winning author and Pulitzer Prize finalist, Hernan Diaz, spoke to me about rejection, his unusual path to literary stardom, subverting reader expectations, and his latest novel "Trust."Hernan was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for fiction and the PEN/Faulkner Award. His first novel, "In the Distance," won the Saroyan International Prize, the Cabell Award, the Prix Page America, and the New American Voices Award, among other distinctions.His latest novel, Trust, has been named one of 2022’s Most Anticipated Books by The New York Times, OprahDaily, The Today Show, Vogue, Vulture, AV Club, and more.Described as "...an immersive story and a brilliant literary puzzle .... about money, power, intimacy, and perception," The NY Times called Trust, “Intricate, cunning and consistently surprising ..."Hernan holds a Ph.D. from NYU, edits an academic journal at Columbia University, and is also the author of Borges, Between History and Eternity. His stories and essays have appeared in The Paris Review, Granta, Playboy, The Yale Review, McSweeney’s, and elsewhere.In this file Hernan Diaz and I discussed: Why the path to publication is a Catch-22 for authors The lonely road to Pulitzer nominee and disorientation of fame What he learned from Jorge Luis Borges Re-mapping the isthmus of referential reality How he unlearned academic writing  And a lot more! Stay calm and write on ...hernandiaz.netTrust by Hernan Diaz (Amazon Affiliate)Hernan Diaz Amazon Author Page (Amazon Affiliate)A Debut Novel. A Tiny Press. A Pulitzer Finalist. – NY TimesKelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJusticeAward-winning author and broadcaster, Elizabeth Day, talked to me candidly about How to Fail, hanging out with Gloria Steinem, genre equality, and how she wrote her compeller, "Magpie."Elizabeth is a novelist, lauded journalist, and host of the chart-topping podcast, How To Fail, which has featured guests including Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Gloria Steinem, and Brene Brown.Her latest novel, Magpie, was published in the UK in September 2021 and became an instant Sunday Times bestseller. Described as "... a taut, psychological suspense novel about a perfect couple and their seemingly perfect roommate...," bestselling author Matt Haig called it "...a clever, suspenseful read with a brilliant central pivot."Elizabeth was a staff feature writer for the Observer for eight years and her writing has appeared in The Telegraph, The Times, the Guardian, New York Magazine, Vogue, Grazia, Elle, and Vanity Fair. She is also a contributing editor for Harper's Bazaar.Stay calm and write on ...In this file Elizabeth Day and I discussed: How failure makes us human Cooking pasta for Stanley Tucci Why we don't call Jonathan Franzen a "Domestic Thriller" writer Writing about the struggles women go through to become mothers Booking an Airbnb to finish her book And a lot more! Show Notes:elizabethdayonline.co.ukMagpie by Elizabeth Day (Amazon Affiliate)Elizabeth Day Amazon Author Page (Amazon Affiliate)Elizabeth Day on FacebookElizabeth Day on InstagramElizabeth Day on TwitterKelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJusticeCritically acclaimed and award-winning author, Michelle Huneven, talked to me about her former life as an LA food critic, how to write self-referential fiction, and the spiritual detective work behind her latest novel "Search."Michelle's books have been New York Times Notables and finalists for the LA Times Book Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award. She is the recipient of a Whiting Award for Fiction, a Guggenheim Fellowship, and a James Beard Award for feature writing with recipes.Her fifth novel, Search, was named one of the "10 Most Anticipated Fiction Books of 2022" by Kirkus and is described as "... a sharp and funny novel of a congregational search committee, told as a memoir with recipes."Michelle received her MFA from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and teaches creative writing at UCLA.In this file Michelle Huneven and I discussed: How she draws "psychic juice" from her fiction writing What 20 min. a day can do for your writing routine The "ground aversion" writers face to finishing And a lot more! Stay calm and write on ...Show Notes:MichelleHuneven.comSearch: A Novel by Michelle Huneven (Amazon Affiliate)Michelle Huneven Amazon Author Page (Amazon Affiliate)My Antonia by Willa Cather (Amazon Affiliate)What She Ate: Six Remarkable Women and the Food That Tells Their Stories by Laura Shapiro (Amazon Affiliate)Michelle Huneven on InstagramMichelle Huneven on TwitterKelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJusticeEmmy-nominated screenwriter and author, Sascha Rothchild, spoke to me about her humble beginnings in LA, working with Marc Maron on GLOW, and how to write a "bingeable" thriller like her debut, "Blood Sugar."Sascha has written and produced lauded TV shows including GLOW (2017), The Bold Type (2017), and The Carrie Diaries (2013), and was named Variety's “10 TV Writers to Watch” 2015.Her long-form journalism, "How to Get Divorced by 30," was adapted into both an acclaimed memoir and screenplay for Universal Studios.Her debut novel is Blood Sugar, a psychological, noir thriller, named one of the most anticipated reads of 2022 by PopSugar, BookPage, and Crimereads. It's described as "...the story of the most likable murderess you will ever meet," and bestselling author Samantha Downing called it “...a fascinating story, wicked sharp writing, and an unforgettable narrator .... [that] needs to be on your 2022 reading list.”In this file Sascha Rothchild and I discussed: The feeling of powerlessness that comes with publishing your debut Why she needs to wake up and write something every day How to write a novel in the gaps What writers need to know about the frustration of the craft Taking Jane Austen to high tea And a lot more! Stay calm and write on ...Show Notes:SaschaRothchild.comBlood Sugar by Sascha Rothchild (Amazon Affiliate)Sascha Rothchild on IMDbCirce by Madeline Miller (Amazon Affiliate) Sascha Rothchild on InstagramSascha Rothchild on TwitterKelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Andrew Lipstein reads excerpts from "Last Resort," backed by an original Storybound remix with sound design and arrangement by Jude Brewer.Andrew Lipstein is a writer based in Brooklyn. His debut novel "Last Resort" is out now from Farrar, Straus & Giroux in the US, and Weidenfeld & Nicolson in the UK. His second novel will be published in 2023, also by FSG and W&N.He also works on the product design team at Kabbage, a fintech startup, and was previously at Meural, an art tech startup and his writing has appeared in Interview, the Los Angeles Review of Books, The Brooklyn Rail, The Millions, VICE, McSweeney's, The Rumpus, Electric Literature & more.Storybound is hosted by Jude Brewer and brought to you by The Podglomerate and Lit Hub Radio. Let us know what you think of the show on Instagram and Twitter @storyboundpod.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]Show Notes: Last Resort: A Novel by Andrew Lipstein (Amazon Affiliate) Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJusticeThe bestselling author and educator, Jennifer Close, spoke with me about writing her first book on unemployment, how to write a novel in 12 weeks, and her latest, "Marrying the Ketchups."  Jennifer is the bestselling author of Girls in White Dresses, The Smart One, and The Hopefuls.Her latest is Marrying the Ketchups (available from Knopf | April 26, 2022), described as a "comedy of manners about three generations of a Chicago restaurant family," and "... a love letter to shared meals and to the family-owned restaurants we all keep coming back to."Jennifer has an M.F.A. in Fiction from The New School and currently teaches creative writing at Catapult. She worked in New York in print magazines for many years and has taught creative writing at George Washington University.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 Jennifer Close and I discussed: How writers can use fear as a motivator Why actually "marrying the ketchups" is a little gross What workshopping a novel from start to finish can do for you The difference between scheduling for time vs. word count Why writing doesn't always look like writing And a lot more! Show Notes: Marrying the Ketchups: A novel by Jennifer Close (Amazon Affiliate) Jennifer Close Amazon Author Page (Amazon Affiliate) Let's Not Do that Again by Grant Ginder (Amazon Affiliate) Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott (Amazon Affiliate) 12-Week Novel Draft Generator w/ Instructor Jennifer Close Jennifer Close on Instagram Jennifer Close on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJusticeAward-winning international journalist, author, and serial pundit, Adam Skolnick, returned for a mostly uncensored chat about assholes, mind-altering substances, the craft of writing, and the meaning of Jack Kerouac's 100th birthday.  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 ghostwriter and narrator of David Goggins’ bestselling memoir and audiobook Can’t Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds, and co-hosts The Rich Roll Podcast, on the "Roll On" edition.Get ready, we cover some ground here and had a lot of fun along the way.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]Show Notes: How to Ghostwrite a Bestseller with Author Adam Skolnick: Part One AdamSkolnick.com Can't Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds – by Author David Goggins (Amazon Affiliate) Jack Kerouac Amazon Author Page On the Centenary of Jack Kerouac’s Birth, Rarely Seen Archival Material from His Publisher ‹ Literary Hub The Wet and the Dry: A Drinker's Journey by Lawrence Osborne (Amazon Affiliate) Malorie Kerouac on Instagram Adam Skolnick on Instagram Adam Skolnick on The Rich Roll Podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices