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

In Part Two of this file the award-winning novelist, speaker, and activist Talia Carner spoke with me about the intensive research processes that go into her novels, why she chose fiction to write about global social issues, the real-life crisis happening right before our eyes, and what we can do about it. “I take a skeleton out of the closet and dance with it. The skeleton being the many social issues around the globe that vie for attention.” – Talia Carner Ms. Carner writes suspense novels with a social message and her latest historical novel, The Third Daughter, aims to turn the issue of sex trafficking into real-world activism. Talia's mission is to transform the lessons of the past into action in the present. Her fifth book has been described as, “A frightening journey into the New World of the late 1800s, told by a trusting young woman lured from Russia and forced into prostitution in Buenos Aires.” Before becoming a professional novelist the author had a corporate career in the magazine business, started her own business as a marketing consultant for Fortune 500 companies, was a counselor and lecturer for the Small Business Administration, and even a member of the United States Information Agency. Talia is a popular international speaker who has keynoted close to 300 events on pressing social issues facing women around the globe. To learn more about human trafficking in the USA – and what you can do to help stop it – you can find a wealth of information that the author has provided for us in her article here: Take Action Against Trafficking This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. If you missed the first half of this show you can find it right here. And if you’ve missed previous episodes of The Writer Files you can find them all in the show notes, in the archives at writerfiles.fm, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in. In Part Two of this file Talia Carner and I discussed: Why fiction writers are like comedians The importance of historical fiction for unearthing the skeletons in society’s closet The current crisis of sex trafficking, not only abroad, but right here in the US How we can educate and protect our children Why we need to apply lessons from the past to enact change now And her two big pieces of advice for aspiring fiction writers Show Notes: Author Accelerator How to Write Impactful Historical Fiction with Award-Winning Author Talia Carner: Part One TaliaCarner.com The Third Daughter: A Novel by Talia Carner [Amazon] Take Action Against Trafficking Protect Now, an educational program against sex trafficking taught in schools “The Man From Buenos Aires” by Sholem Aleichem (Translated from Hebrew by Talia Carner) Talia Carner on Facebook Talia Carner on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Award-winning novelist, speaker, and activist Talia Carner spoke with me about the intensive research processes that go into her novels, why she chose fiction to write about global social issues, the real-life crisis happening right before our eyes and what we can do about it. “I take a skeleton out of the closet and dance with it. The skeleton being the many social issues around the globe that vie for attention.” – Talia Carner Ms. Carner writes suspense novels with a social message and her latest historical novel, The Third Daughter, aims to turn the issue of sex trafficking into real-world activism. Talia's mission is to transform the lessons of the past into action in the present. Her fifth book has been described as, “A frightening journey into the New World of the late 1800s, told by a trusting young woman lured from Russia and forced into prostitution in Buenos Aires.” Before becoming a professional novelist the author had a corporate career in the magazine business, started her own business as a marketing consultant for Fortune 500 companies, was a counselor and lecturer for the Small Business Administration, and even a member of the United States Information Agency. Talia is a popular international speaker who has keynoted close to 300 events on pressing social issues facing women around the globe. To learn more about human trafficking in the USA – and what you can do to help stop it – you can find a wealth of information that the author has provided for us in her article here: Take Action Against Trafficking This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In Part One of this file Talia Carner and I discussed: How the writer's natural form of expression is somewhere in the 100,000 word range Why historical fiction is so challenging to write well How she used researchers to trace details of landmarks long forgotten What it's like to channel characters from the distant past and write prose incorporating other languages What sparks the ideation that fuels her writing mission And why writers need to cull ideas from issues that move them most Show Notes: Author Accelerator How to Write Impactful Historical Fiction with Award-Winning Author Talia Carner: Part Two TaliaCarner.com The Third Daughter: A Novel by Talia Carner [Amazon] Take Action Against Trafficking Protect Now, an educational program against sex trafficking taught in schools Talia Carner on Facebook Talia Carner on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Part Two of this file the award-winning actress, comedian, and screenwriter, Jorjeana Marie, returned to talk with me about fulfilling her childhood dream of writing for Disney, how writers can rewire their inner-critic, improv as a writing (and life) philosophy, and secrets for beating block and creating countless ideas. “In improv the philosophy is, there are no mistakes.” – Jorjeana Marie The talented multi-hyphenate storyteller started out writing and producing plays during her stint at NYU's Dramatic Writing Program, and has gone on to write for several animated television shows, including a popular kids' series for Disney. Jorjeana is also an actress with extensive film and TV experience, as well as a prolific, award-winning audiobook narrator who has voiced over 300 titles for multiple NY Times bestsellers. She writes and performs comedy regularly on stage at UCB, The Improv, and The Comedy Store, and teaches improvisation to students across the country, including at studios in Hollywood where she's coached writers of all genres. Her recent book, Improv for Writers: 10 Secrets to Help Novelists and Screenwriters Bypass Writer’s Block and Generate Infinite Ideas is aimed at "...Aspiring and professional writers, novelists, screenwriters ... suffering from writer’s block and even those new to the craft." New York Times bestselling author Gayle Forman said of the book, “Jorjeana Marie’s generous, joyful, and oh-so-useful book shows writers—both seasoned and new—how to unleash their creativity and find their best story.” Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page.   If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. If you missed the first half of this show you can find it right here. And if you’ve missed previous episodes of The Writer Files you can find them all in the show notes, in the archives at writerfiles.fm, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in. In Part Two of this file Jorjeana Marie and I discussed: Reasons writers need to be in the present moment and less self-conscious How to turn off your inner-critic and jumpstart your creativity What it's like to work with and write for iconic Disney characters Why writers should unbox their childhood dreams and literary inspirations Her conspiracy theories about Shakespeare And why unplugging and creating boundaries are both so critical for beating block Show Notes: Author Accelerator JorjeanaMarie.com Improv for Writers: 10 Secrets to Help Novelists and Screenwriters Bypass Writer's Block and Generate Infinite Ideas by Jorjeana Marie [Amazon] On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King [Amazon] The 3 A.M. Epiphany: Uncommon Writing Exercises that Transform Your Fiction by Brian Kiteley [Amazon] Jorjeana Marie on Instagram Jorjeana Marie on Facebook Jorjeana Marie on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Please click the PayPal Donate button to support The Writer Files with a secure PayPal donation     Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Award-winning actress, comedian, and screenwriter, Jorjeana Marie, took a break to talk with me about fulfilling her childhood dream of writing for Disney, how writers can rewire their inner-critic, improv as a writing (and life) philosophy, and secrets for beating block and creating countless ideas. “In improv the philosophy is, there are no mistakes.” – Jorjeana Marie The talented multi-hyphenate storyteller started out writing and producing plays during her stint at NYU's Dramatic Writing Program, and has gone on to write for several animated television shows, including a popular kids' series for Disney. Jorjeana is also an actress with extensive film and TV experience, as well as a prolific, award-winning audiobook narrator who has voiced over 300 titles for multiple NY Times bestsellers. She writes and performs comedy regularly on stage at UCB, The Improv, and The Comedy Store, and teaches improvisation to students across the country, including at studios in Hollywood where she's coached writers of all genres. Her recent book, Improv for Writers: 10 Secrets to Help Novelists and Screenwriters Bypass Writer’s Block and Generate Infinite Ideas is aimed at "...Aspiring and professional writers, novelists, screenwriters ... suffering from writer’s block and even those new to the craft." New York Times bestselling author Gayle Forman said of the book, “Jorjeana Marie’s generous, joyful, and oh-so-useful book shows writers—both seasoned and new—how to unleash their creativity and find their best story.” This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page.   If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In Part One of this file Jorjeana Marie and I discussed: How to use improv to quickly generate some pages What it's like to work with Dave Chapelle and go on stage after Chris Rock Why successful storytelling starts with letting go of expectations How to use time-tested methods of writing on your feet to jumpstart your creativity Why writers need keep it fun to surprise themselves And how constraints and little bit of pressure can be so rewarding Show Notes: Author Accelerator JorjeanaMarie.com Improv for Writers: 10 Secrets to Help Novelists and Screenwriters Bypass Writer's Block and Generate Infinite Ideas by Jorjeana Marie [Amazon] Jorjeana Marie on Facebook Jorjeana Marie on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Please click the PayPal Donate button to support The Writer Files with a secure PayPal donation   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Part Two of this file the New York Times bestselling memoirist and journalist, Lisa Brennan-Jobs, returned to talk about her decades long journey to publication, why it's so important to find yourself in the pages, the meaning of memory, and the impostor syndrome that all writers face ... especially the kids of celebrities."Writing can be the master, it can't be the servant of your time.” – Lisa Brennan-JobsLisa is a Brooklyn based writer whose father was the widely worshipped tech pioneer and entrepreneur, Steve Jobs, best known as the co-founder of Apple.Her first book, Small Fry, is her lauded memoir about growing up being shuffled between single parents in Silicon Valley during the 1980s and '90s, always in the orbit of her celebrity dad and struggling artist mom.Small Fry was a New York Times, New Yorker, and People Magazine Top 10 Book of the Year for 2018, and Best Book of the Year for the LA Times, NPR, Amazon, GQ, Vogue (UK), and Publishers Weekly.The book has been called, “Beautiful, literary, and devastating,” by the New York Times Book Review, “A masterly Silicon Valley gothic,” by Vogue, and “Mesmerizing, discomfiting reading,” by The New Yorker.This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page.If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.If you missed the first half of this show you can find it right here. And If you’ve missed previous episodes of The Writer Files you can find them all in the archives at writerfiles.fm, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in.In Part Two of this file Lisa Brennan-Jobs and I discussed: How being bored and uncomfortable can lead to breakthrough Why the writing process needs to be the master, not the servant, of your time The importance of not rushing to publish How the author minimizes distractions and comparative thinking while she writes What it's like to travel through time and get the things you’ve always longed for How big words can distract from the impact of your story And why you need to write the stories you thought you might take to your grave Show Notes: Author Accelerator How NY Times Bestselling Memoirist Lisa Brennan-Jobs Writes: Part One LisaBrennanJobs.net Small Fry by Lisa Brennan-Jobs [Amazon] Lisa Brennan-Jobs on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Please click the PayPal Donate button to support The Writer Files with a secure PayPal donation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The New York Times bestselling memoirist and journalist, Lisa Brennan-Jobs, joined me this week to talk about her decades long journey to publication, why it's so important to find yourself in the pages, the meaning of memory, and the impostor syndrome that all writers face ... especially the kids of celebrities. "You find yourself in a whole net, in a constellation of stories, each one connecting to another. It was amazing how much I remembered.” – Lisa Brennan-Jobs Lisa is a Brooklyn based writer whose father was the widely worshipped tech pioneer and entrepreneur, Steve Jobs, best known as the co-founder of Apple. Her first book, Small Fry, is her lauded memoir about growing up being shuffled between single parents in Silicon Valley during the 1980s and '90s, always in the orbit of her celebrity dad and struggling artist mom. Small Fry was a New York Times, New Yorker, and People Magazine Top 10 Book of the Year for 2018, and Best Book of the Year for the LA Times, NPR, Amazon, GQ, Vogue (UK), and Publishers Weekly. The book has been called, “Beautiful, literary, and devastating,” by the New York Times Book Review, “A masterly Silicon Valley gothic,” by Vogue, and “Mesmerizing, discomfiting reading,” by The New Yorker. This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In Part One of this file Lisa Brennan-Jobs and I discussed: What it's like to be a writer with a celebrity parent The author's up-and-down, ten-year writing process peppered by the occasional profound revelation How the author's childhood memories returned to her so vividly Why shame and emotion are so helpful to unearthing the geological layers of fact in memoir and vice versa How she overcame writer's block, impostor syndrome, and her own doubts and fears to write a bestselling memoir And why part of writing a memoir is about bringing into consciousness things that were previously unconscious Show Notes: Author Accelerator How NY Times Bestselling Memoirist Lisa Brennan-Jobs Writes: Part Two LisaBrennanJobs.net Small Fry by Lisa Brennan-Jobs [Amazon] Lisa Brennan-Jobs on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Please click the PayPal Donate button to support The Writer Files with a secure PayPal donation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Part Two of another special edition of The Writer Files called "The Writer's Brain," a guest series with neuroscientist Michael Grybko, we dig further into the dreaded procrastination – a malady we all battle – what it is, how science looks at it, the difference between constructive and destructive procrastination, and some tips on how to overcome it. "Never put off till tomorrow what you can do the day after tomorrow." – Mark Twain We're all guilty of it, let's be honest, it's really normal to procrastinate. Who among us hasn't waited until the last minute to do something tedious or uncomfortable like contest a speeding ticket, study for a test? Today, you're far more likely to grab your smartphone and search longingly for those little red notification flags from a social media app, or to pop open a rainbow colored game for that quick hit of dopamine your brain loves so much. I'm guilty of dusting and straightening every shelf and book in my office until they look conspicuously like modern art before I'll sit down to write an important email or a blog post. The truth is that procrastination is built into the human condition -- clearly we can't do everything on our to-do lists at the same time -- but why has it become so frowned upon in our culture of late? And how can we reframe procrastination since we know it's so integral to the creative process? Luckily, research scientist Michael Grybko returned to the podcast to help me find some answers from the perspective of neuroscience. Stay tuned ... This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. If you missed the first half of this show you can find it right here. And If you’ve missed previous episodes of 'The Writer's Brain' you can find them all in the archives at writerfiles.fm, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in. In Part Two of this file Michael Grybko and I discuss: Why your inner-critic, stress, and anxiety hijack your productivity so easily Practical tips for breaking out of the wicked feedback loop of procrastination How social media, FOMO, and notifications mess with your self esteem and ability to focus Why we need to take breaks, practice mindfulness, and be nicer to ourselves How to trick yourself into being more productive And how to short circuit your amygdala, change your habits, and bootstrap incremental progress toward your goals The Show Notes: Author Accelerator Challenges on the Writer's Journey with Prominent Book Editor Peter Guzzardi: Part One Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear [Amazon] Procrastination: A Scientific Guide on How to Stop Procrastinating Behave: The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst by Robert M. Sapolsky Why Your Procrastination Might Not Be as Bad as You Think Why Your Brain Loves Procrastination ‘The Writer’s Brain’ on Productivity vs. Creativity: Part One The Best of 'The Writer's Brain' Part One: Creativity The Best of ‘The Writer’s Brain’ Part Two: Empathy The Best of ‘The Writer’s Brain’ Part Three: Storytelling The Best of ‘The Writer’s Brain’ Part Four: Writer’s Block The Best of ‘The Writer’s Brain’ Part Five: Fake News The Writer's Brain on Impostor Syndrome: Part One Productivity vs. Creativity, the Content Creator’s Catch-22 Rethink Your Definition of Productivity to Squash Uninspired Filler How to Outsmart Writer s Block with Neuroscience Kelton Reid on Twitter Please click the donate button to support the podcast with a secure PayPal donation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to another special edition of The Writer Files called "The Writer's Brain," a guest series with neuroscientist Michael Grybko, and in this episode we dig into the dreaded procrastination – a malady we all battle – what it is, how science looks at it, the difference between constructive and destructive procrastination, and some tips on how to overcome it."To achieve great things, two things are needed: a plan, and not quite enough time." - Leonard BernsteinWe're all guilty of it, let's be honest, it's really normal to procrastinate.Who among us hasn't waited until the last minute to do something tedious or uncomfortable like contest a speeding ticket, study for a test?Today, you're far more likely to grab your smartphone and search longingly for those little red notification flags from a social media app, or to pop open a rainbow-colored game for that quick hit of dopamine your brain loves so much.I'm guilty of dusting and straightening every shelf and book in my office until they look conspicuously like modern art before I'll sit down to write an important email or a blog post.The truth is that procrastination is built into the human condition -- clearly, we can't do everything on our to-do lists at the same time -- but why has it become so frowned upon in our culture of late?And how can we reframe procrastination since we know it's so integral to the creative process?Luckily, research scientist Michael Grybko returned to the podcast to help me find some answers from the perspective of neuroscience.Stay tuned ...This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page.If you missed previous episodes of The Writer's Brain you can find them all in the show notes, in the archives at writerfiles.fm, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in.In Part One of this file Michael Grybko and I discuss: The creative upside to "present bias" and delay How neuroscience defines procrastination Why writers often struggle with the bad kind How your brain's emotional, stress, and impulse responses can derail your productivity Why smartphones, shrinking attention spans, and "social acceleration" make it so hard to get meaningful work done And helpful hints on how to get out of that wicked feedback loop and back on track The Show Notes: 'The Writer's Brain' on Procrastination: Part Two Why Your Procrastination Might Not Be as Bad as You Think ‘The Writer’s Brain’ on Productivity vs. Creativity: Part One The Best of 'The Writer's Brain' Part One: Creativity The Best of ‘The Writer’s Brain’ Part Two: Empathy The Best of ‘The Writer’s Brain’ Part Three: Storytelling The Best of ‘The Writer’s Brain’ Part Four: Writer’s Block The Best of ‘The Writer’s Brain’ Part Five: Fake News The Writer's Brain on Impostor Syndrome: Part One ‘The Writer’s Brain’ on Impostor Syndrome: Part Two Rethink Your Definition of Productivity to Squash Uninspired Filler How to Outsmart Writer s Block with Neuroscience Kelton Reid on Twitter Support the podcast with a secure PayPal donation   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to another special edition of the show with some thoughts on the malady that we rarely care to whisper of ... even on our most prolific days. We’ll kick off the show with the iconic, international bestselling author of 14 novels, including the era-defining Generation X: Tales for an Accelerated Culture – Douglas Coupland – with his thoughts on the subject. "I don't believe in writer's block. Think about it -- when you were blocked in college and had to write a paper, didn't it always manage to fix itself the night before the paper was due? Writer's block is having too much time on your hands." – Jodi Picoult Last year I wrote a piece for Copyblogger titled "How to Outsmart Writer’s Block with Neuroscience" – there are lots of good resources embedded there – and that piece explored a handful of solutions to the accursed ailment. I wanted to revisit it here with some past podcast guests thrown in for humor and context. As you know if you’ve listened to enough of The Writer Files, I dig into the habits, habitats and brains of dozens of renowned and prolific authors, and I ask them roughly the same questions about their unique process as a survey of contemporary writers. We’ve always billed the podcast as a hybrid of "Inside the Writer’s Studio" meets "The Proust Questionnaire," and this makes for a treasure trove of knowledge to pick and choose from for writers. And just a reminder that you can find the entire archive at writerfiles.fm, where you can also support the show by just clicking the little yellow PayPal donation button on any of the episodes. So we’ll kick it off with a little refresher course on the miracle of the human brain. Stay tuned ... This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page. Show Notes: Author Accelerator How to Outsmart Writer’s Block with Neuroscience - Kelton Reid for Copyblogger The Best of ‘The Writer’s Brain’ Part Four: Writer’s Block How to Kill Writer’s Block and Become a Master Copywriter in Only 3 Hours a Day The Physics of Productivity: Newton’s Laws of Getting Stuff Done – James Clear How to Beat Writer’s Block – Maria Konnikova Inside the Race to Hack the Human Brain - WIRED Please click the PayPal Donate button to support The Writer Files with a secure PayPal donation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Part Two of this file the prominent book editor-turned-author, Peter Guzzardi, spent some time with me this week to discuss how he pulled back the curtain on the writer's life, finding courage in front of the blank screen, and important lessons from the Yellow Brick Road for creatives. "Somehow, despite having made a career of helping writers with their second and third and fourth drafts, I must have been harboring hopes that my first try would displace Shakespeare from his perch atop the literary pantheon." – Peter Guzzardi Peter has been a professional book editor for nearly 40 years. After getting his start in marketing, writing catalog copy in New York City, he moved to the editorial side where he eventually took the reins at Harmony Books, an imprint of Random House, Inc. Mr. Guzzardi has worked with some incredibly talented authors over the years, including Stephen Hawking on A Brief History of Time, Deepak Chopra on dozens of books, Douglas Adams on his Hitchhiker novels, Carol Burnett, Martin Amis, Arianna Huffington, and even Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Like so many aspiring writers who "swear they're going to finally write that book," Peter decided to throw his hat in the ring and write about the wisdom he'd accumulated on his own journey. The result of that hard work is his recently published Emeralds of Oz: Life Lessons From Over the Rainbow, an apropos title for 2019, the 80th anniversary of the film classic, The Wizard of Oz. Emeralds of Oz is a book in the "...tradition of All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten ... life lessons drawn from the most beloved movie of all time," and Carol Burnett said, "I loved this book as much as I loved the movie." This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. If you missed the first half of this show you can find it right here. And If you’ve missed previous episodes of The Writer Files you can find them all in the archives at writerfiles.fm, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in. In Part Two of this file Peter Guzzardi and I discussed: Why the writer's journey is so iterative Lessons from the Yellow Brick Road for writers Why being compassionate with yourself is so important The reality that no book is ever really finished How fear can be so motivational in the face of adversity And the perils of being overly ambitious in your early drafts Show Notes: Author Accelerator PeterGuzzardi.com Emeralds of Oz: Life Lessons from Over the Rainbow by Peter Guzzardi [Amazon] The Wizard of Oz at 80: how the world fell under its dark spell - Luiza Sauma for The Guardian Peter Guzzardi on Instagram Peter Guzzardi on Twitter Peter Guzzardi on Facebook Kelton Reid on Twitter Please click the PayPal Donate button to support The Writer Files with a secure PayPal donation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices