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

In Part Two of this special edition of the show we traditionally call “writer porn” I’ve invited back my old friend, award-winning international journalist, author, pundit, and bad penny, Adam Skolnick, to discuss with me a piece I wrote recently for Copyblogger titled, “5 Things Only Serious Writers Do.” There are never enough words to thank all of you who reached out last week with your sweet thoughts, virtual hugs, and notes of encouragement following the sadder half of the show. So on to the matter at hand … As writers we all have our varied neuroses, methods of madness, well-worn manuals, muses, writer porn, and incantations that we feel grant us the strength to face the blank page. But there are five fundamental things that set serious writers apart from the crowd, and Adam and I are going to discuss them. You can find 5 Things Only Serious Writers Do here to follow along. Adam Skolnick’s narrative nonfiction book, One Breath: Freediving, Death, and the Quest to Shatter Human Limits — based on his award-winning New York Times sports reporting — is now available in paperback. In addition to his recent journalism, Adam has visited 45 countries and contributed to over 30 Lonely Planet guidebooks. He has written for ESPN.com, Men s Health, Outside, BBC, Playboy Magazine, and The NY Times, and has appeared on NPR. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. If you missed the first half you can find it right here. In Part Two of this file some highlights include: How all serious writers share a connective tissue Why work ethic outlasts talent every time The fallacy of motivation vs the power of habit and small incremental steps Why sitting down and getting started is often the hardest thing for writers What to write when you don’t know what to say On shitty first drafts as grist for the mill The unglamorous origins of the sentence Why deadlines are the pressure that make a diamond The Show Notes Sign up here if you’d like details about Copyblogger’s “small but mighty” checklist to help you publish great content every time 5 Things Only Serious Writers Do: Part One More Writer Files in the Archives at Copyblogger 5 Things Only Serious Writers Do– Kelton Reid for Copyblogger What s Your Writing Productivity Type? (with Bec Evans of Prolifiko): Part One How to Write a Lot: A Practical Guide to Productive Academic Writing The Best of The Writer s Brain Part Four: Writer s Block On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction How to Write a Book Without Losing Your Mind– Olga Khazan for The Atlantic Several Short Sentences About Writing– Verlyn Klinkenborg How WNYC Podcast Host and Author of ‘Bored and Brilliant’ Manoush Zomorodi Writes How to Be Bored– Eva Hoffman Adam Skolnick on Instagram OneBreathbook.com AdamSkolnick.com Adam Skolnick on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to a special edition of The Writer Files, we’re back from an extended summer hiatus. My old friend, the award-winning international journalist, author, pundit, and bad penny, Adam Skolnick, turned up this week to discuss with me a piece I wrote recently for Copyblogger titled, 5 Things Only Serious Writers Do. But before Adam and I get into it I wanted to explain why I’ve been away from the microphone for so long. It’s a heartbreaking story, and if you’re not into tragedies, feel free to fast-forward to the good stuff (or simply skip to Part Two). I apologize for the weight of it, but it seemed only right to share the story here for curious listeners. A tremendous thank you is in order for those of you throughout the many communities who have reached out with your support, love, and thoughts for my family over the last few months. There are not enough words. Adam Skolnick’s narrative nonfiction book, One Breath: Freediving, Death, and the Quest to Shatter Human Limits — based on his award-winning New York Times sports reporting — is now available in paperback. In addition to his recent journalism, Adam has visited 45 countries and contributed to over 30 Lonely Planet guidebooks. He has written for ESPN.com, Men s Health, Outside, BBC, Playboy Magazine, and The NY Times, and has appeared on NPR. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In Part One of this file Adam and I discuss: Why the show has been on hiatus for so long How human beings crowd source grief and loss in times of tragedy, and the limits of empathy Adam’s recent globetrotting journalism, including his piece on the Thai soccer team rescue And what it’s like to be a hired ghost writer The Show Notes Sign up here if you’d like details about our Copyblogger’s “small but mighty” checklist to help you publish great content every time More Writer Files in the Archives at Copyblogger 5 Things Only Serious Writers Do– Kelton Reid for Copyblogger How Divers Found the Thai Soccer Team Shooting For Truth – Adam Skolnick visits director Chris Weitz on the set of his new film, Operation Finale– Longreads Adam Skolnick on Instagram OneBreathbook.com AdamSkolnick.com Adam Skolnick on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Part Two of another special edition of the show we traditionally call “writer porn,” writer, educator, and co-founder of Prolifiko, Bec Evans, returned to conclude our chat about writer personality types, productivity secrets, and understanding your writing psychology. Rainmaker.FM is Brought to You By Discover why more than 80,000 companies in 135 countries choose WP Engine for managed WordPress hosting. Start getting more from your site today! Bec is the co-founder of Prolifiko, a new digital coach aimed at helping writers beat writer’s blocks and find writing routines that work best for them. It’s been called the “Fitbit for writers,” by The Times (of London). Prolifiko, set to launch in April, 2018, is a system based on neuroscience and psychology designed to help writers reflect on and improve their productivity with a “small-steps” methodology. Ms. Evans has worked with thousands of writers throughout her career and used to run the Ted Hughes Arvon Centre for Writing, an international writing school in the UK (home of the late poet-laureate Ted Hughes). She writes about productivity, writing habits and routines, and is currently working on a book about innovation. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. If you missed the first half you can find it right here. In Part Two of this file Bec Evans and I talk about: Why there’s never been a “one-size-fits-all” productivity track for writers Tricks and tools for beating procrastination Why you need to build a practical, manageable system to support your craft The number one thing that separates good writers from great writers What a regular writing habit does to your brain One critical piece of advice writers can’t ignore Listen to The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience below ... Download MP3 Subscribe by RSS Subscribe in iTunes The Show Notes If you’re ready to see for yourself why more than 201,344 website owners trust StudioPress — the industry standard for premium WordPress themes and plugins — swing by StudioPress.com for all the details. Prolifiko – Digital writing coach Productivity coaching for writers – Prolifiko Writing personality survey – Prolifiko Writing productivity types the quiz results are in! The writing productivity secrets of best selling authors from podcaster Kelton Reid – Prolifiko blog The Ted Hughes Arvon Centre The Best of ‘The Writer’s Brain’ Part Four: Writer’s Block How Bestselling Thriller Author Mark Dawson Writes: Part One Prolifiko on Twitter Prolifiko on Facebook Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to another special edition of the show we traditionally call “writer porn,” and this week the writer, educator, and co-founder of Prolifiko, Bec Evans, stopped by to chat with me about writer personality types, productivity secrets, and understanding your writing psychology. Rainmaker.FM is Brought to You By Discover why more than 80,000 companies in 135 countries choose WP Engine for managed WordPress hosting. Start getting more from your site today! Bec is the co-founder of Prolifiko, a new digital coach aimed at helping writers beat writer’s blocks and find writing routines that work best for them. It’s been called the “Fitbit for writers,” by The Times (of London). Prolifiko, set to launch in April, 2018, is a system based on neuroscience and psychology designed to help writers reflect on and improve their productivity with a “small-steps” methodology. Ms. Evans has worked with thousands of writers throughout her career and used to run the Ted Hughes Arvon Centre for Writing, an international writing school in the UK (home of the late poet-laureate Ted Hughes). She writes about productivity, writing habits and routines, and is currently working on a book about innovation. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In Part One of this file Bec Evans and I talk about: How simple psychology, persuasive technology, and a dash of neuroscience can help writers understand their process Why small behavior and habit changes can have such a big impact What your ideal writing routine says about your productivity type The pros and cons of daily vs binge writing Why writers can’t wait for inspiration The psychology of good writing Listen to The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience below ... Download MP3 Subscribe by RSS Subscribe in iTunes The Show Notes If you’re ready to see for yourself why more than 201,344 website owners trust StudioPress — the industry standard for premium WordPress themes and plugins — swing by StudioPress.com for all the details. Prolifiko – Digital writing coach Productivity coaching for writers – Prolifiko courses Writing personality survey – Prolifiko Writing productivity types the quiz results are in! The writing productivity secrets of best selling authors from podcaster Kelton Reid – Prolifiko blog The Ted Hughes Arvon Centre What s the secret of good writing? Oliver Burkeman How to Outsmart Writer’s Block with Neuroscience How Bestselling Author Austin Kleon Writes: Part One Prolifiko on Twitter Prolifiko on Facebook Bec Evans on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Part Two of this special edition of the show we traditionally call “writer porn” I’ve invited back award-winning international journalist, author, and serial pundit, Adam Skolnick, to discuss a piece I wrote for Copyblogger.com last year titled, “21 Productivity Hacks from 21 Prolific Writers.”Over the last four years, I ve been given the fantastic opportunity to interview a wide range of more than 70 prolific, renowned, and bestselling authors for The Writer Files series.As you may know, each interview digs into the habits, habitats, and brains of these writers, and I ask them all roughly the same set of questions on how they get words consistently onto the page.So, I sifted through the extensive series archives (including the written interviews) and cherry-picked 21 highlights on productivity from these writers for you. You’ll definitely notice some themes from their advice on keeping the ink flowing and the cursor moving.You can go to 21 Productivity Hacks from 21 Prolific Writers to follow along. Audio snippets have been excerpted here from the available podcast episodes.Guest host Adam Skolnick’s narrative nonfiction book, One Breath: Freediving, Death, and the Quest to Shatter Human Limits — based on his award-winning New York Times sports reporting — is now available in paperback.In addition to his recent journalism, Adam has visited 45 countries and contributed to over 30 Lonely Planet guidebooks. He has written for ESPN.com, Men s Health, Outside, BBC, Playboy Magazine, and The NY Times, and has appeared on NPR.If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.In Part Two of this file some highlights include: Emma Donoghue (Oscar nominee and international bestselling author of Room) on outlining and pre-planning Maria Konnikova (New York Times bestselling author and New Yorker columnist) on standing desks and staying offline Mark Dawson (international bestselling author and entrepreneur) on finding time to publish a million words in a year Kevin Kelly (New York Times bestselling author and co-founder of Wired magazine) on first drafts and formulating ideas And more great tips from Adam and I as we round out all 21 productivity hacks Listen to The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience below ... Download MP3 Subscribe by RSS Subscribe in iTunes The Show Notes If you’re ready to see for yourself why more than 201,344 website owners trust StudioPress — the industry standard for premium WordPress themes and plugins — swing by StudioPress.com for all the details. 21 Productivity Hacks from 21 Prolific Writers – Kelton Reid for Copyblogger More Writer Files in the Archives at Copyblogger A journalist won her first tournament in under a year of being coached by a poker legend – USA Today The Best of ‘The Writer’s Brain’ Part One: Creativity The Best of ‘The Writer’s Brain’ Part Five: Fake News How Bestselling Author Douglas Coupland Writes Adam Skolnick on Instagram OneBreathbook.com AdamSkolnick.com Adam Skolnick on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this special edition of the show I’ve invited back award-winning international journalist, author, and serial pundit, Adam Skolnick, to discuss a piece I wrote for Copyblogger.com last year titled, “21 Productivity Hacks from 21 Prolific Writers.”Over the last four years, I've been given the fantastic opportunity to interview a wide range of more than 70 prolific, renowned, and bestselling authors for The Writer Files series.As you may know, each interview digs into the habits, habitats, and brains of these writers, and I ask them all roughly the same set of questions on how they get words consistently onto the page.So, I sifted through the extensive series archives (including the written interviews) and cherry-picked 21 highlights on productivity from these writers for you. You’ll definitely notice some themes from their advice on keeping the ink flowing and the cursor moving.You can go to 21 Productivity Hacks from 21 Prolific Writers to follow along. Audio snippets have been excerpted here from the available podcast episodes.Guest host Adam Skolnick’s narrative nonfiction book, One Breath: Freediving, Death, and the Quest to Shatter Human Limits — based on his award-winning New York Times sports reporting — is now available in paperback.In addition to his recent journalism, Adam has visited 45 countries and contributed to over 30 Lonely Planet guidebooks. He has written for ESPN.com, Men s Health, Outside, BBC, Playboy Magazine, and The NY Times, and has appeared on NPR.If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.In Part One of this file some highlights include: Seth Godin (bestselling author of 18 books) on the power of deadlines Elizabeth Gilbert (#1 New York Times bestselling author of Eat Pray Love) on the inefficiency of perfectionism Joanna Penn (New York Times bestselling indie author and entrepreneur) on scheduling and writing every day Andy Weir (bestselling author of The Martian) on motivation And more great tips from Adam and I as we discuss all 21 productivity hacks The Show Notes 21 Productivity Hacks from 21 Prolific Writers – Kelton Reid for Copyblogger More Writer Files in the Archives at Copyblogger Being Busy Is Killing Our Ability to Think Creatively – Derek Beres for Big Think When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing – Daniel Pink AdamSkolnick.com Adam Skolnick on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  In Part Two of this special edition of the show we call “The Writer’s Brain,” a guest series with neuroscientist Michael Grybko, we dig into a phenomenon known as “impostor syndrome,” an experience many writers struggle with. The Experience Known as “Impostor Syndrome” The experience known as “impostor syndrome” has been recognized in over 70% of the population across a wide range of demographics. Everyone from bestselling authors, to A-list celebrities, and even genius-level scientists, have all admitted to feeling a kind of isolation from not wanting to be outed as a “fraud,” even though they’re far from it. And it’s not just limited to high-achievers; it’s been found in men and women across a wide variety of groups, including those about to launch a new creative project or career, teachers, students, entrepreneurs, and many others. Across all demographics, success tends to create an even deeper sense of the impostor experience, and although not considered a clinical psychological syndrome, the effects can be debilitating to writers at any level of experience or professional standing. These feelings of self-doubt can snowball if not addressed, and leave you with a sinking depression, anxiety, and a sense of dread at taking on new or challenging tasks. Luckily, research scientist Michael Grybko returned to the podcast to help me find some answers about the origins of anxiety in the human brain, and how to address the impostor experience from both a scientific and layperson’s perspective. 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. And if you missed the first half of this show you can find it right here. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In Part Two of this file Michael Grybko and I discuss: Why the “writer as athlete” trope undervalues the power of the human brain Small steps you can take to rewire your anxiety How writers can harness their interactional expertise to beat impostor experience Why you don’t need a PhD to sound like an expert Tips and tricks for overcoming your unfounded self-doubt Why a page a day keeps the impostor syndrome away The Show Notes:   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 What Happens When We Turn the World’s Most Famous Robot Test on Ourselves? – Evan Selinger for The Atlantic How a Famous Robot Test Can Help You Beat Impostor Syndrome – Kelton Reid for Copyblogger Sociologist fools physics judges – Nature (International Journal of Science) How to Outsmart Writer s Block with Neuroscience – Kelton Reid for Copyblogger This Is Your Brain on Writing The Physics of Productivity – James Clear Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to a 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 a phenomenon known as “impostor syndrome,” an experience many writers struggle with. The Experience Known as “Impostor Syndrome” The experience known as “impostor syndrome” has been recognized in over 70% of the population across a wide range of demographics. Everyone from bestselling authors, to A-list celebrities, and even genius-level scientists, have all admitted to feeling a kind of isolation from not wanting to be outed as a “fraud,” even though they’re far from it. And it’s not just limited to high-achievers; it’s been found in men and women across a wide variety of groups, including those about to launch a new creative project or career, teachers, students, entrepreneurs, and many others. Across all demographics, success tends to create an even deeper sense of the impostor experience, and although not considered a clinical psychological syndrome, the effects can be debilitating to writers at any level of experience or professional standing. These feelings of self-doubt can snowball if not addressed, and leave you with a sinking depression, anxiety, and a sense of dread at taking on new or challenging tasks. Luckily, research scientist Michael Grybko returned to the podcast to help me find some answers about the origins of anxiety in the human brain, and how to address the impostor experience from both a scientific and layperson’s perspective. 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. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In Part One of this file Michael Grybko and I discuss: How neuroscience can find a lens to look at the “impostor syndrome” Why some doubt and anxiety is good for you The problem with too much fear and the avoidance response Why the impostor phenomenon and writer’s block are similar How your whole brain plays a role in your fear of the blank page The Show Notes: 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 How a Famous Robot Test Can Help You Beat Impostor Syndrome – Kelton Reid for Copyblogger How to Outsmart Writer s Block with Neuroscience – Kelton Reid for Copyblogger This Is Your Brain on Writing Robogator robot in rat study of fear versus foraging Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to a special edition of The Writer Files called “The Best of the Writer s Brain,” a series neuroscientist Michael Grybko and I started in 2015 where I enlisted his help to give us a tour of the inner workings of the writer’s process.  Rainmaker.FM is Brought to You By   Discover why more than 80,000 companies in 135 countries choose WP Engine for managed WordPress hosting. Start getting more from your site today! This is Part Five of the series and a rebroadcast of the Fact vs. Fiction edition of “The Writer’s Brain,” in which we discuss fake news, how it works, why it’s damaging, and how to combat it. As we wrap up our Summer hiatus before the upcoming season, I thought I d put all of these enlightening episodes in one place … The Writer Files is a nonpartisan show in its attempt to explore all facets of the writing life, and in the last few months you can’t seem to throw a rock without hitting a social media article about fake news or alternative facts — especially on Twitter and Facebook. Fake news isn’t new — some form of it has existed since the beginning of printed news, including examples by leaders of the American Revolution concocting stories to stoke the political engine (see: Benjamin Franklin or John Adams, historically) — but it seems to be on everyone’s mind now, especially since November, 2016. Luckily research scientist Michael Grybko — of the Department of Psychology at the University of Washington — returned to the podcast to help me find some answers. If you missed the first four episodes of The Best of ‘The Writer s Brain’ you can find them on writerfiles.fm, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your podcasts. In this episode Michael Grybko and I discuss: The problem with the proliferation of biased fake news in our social media feeds Why people disregard evidence that is contrary to their strongly held beliefs How your emotional state can change the way you react to information that challenges your beliefs Why fake news works and the fallibility of our brains How to combat fake news with your own analytical curiosity Helpful tips to stop yourself from sharing false information Why you need to do your homework Show Notes: 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 Fake news? That’s a very old story. – Robert G. Parkinson Medium, and The Reason You Can’t Stand the News Anymore. – Sean Blanda Fake News Expert On How False Stories Spread And Why People Believe Them – Craig Silverman on NPR’s ‘Fresh Air’ [Transcript] Most Americans Who See Fake News Believe It, New Survey Says – The Ipsos poll conducted for BuzzFeed News Content Curation in an Age of Fake News, with Dave Pell – Unemployable podcast with Brian Clark Neural correlates of maintaining one’s political beliefs in the face of counterevidence – Sam Harris How to Overcome Political Irrationality About Facts – Olga Khazan Data shows that using science in an argument just makes people more partisan – Dan Kopf Trump’s Lies vs. Your Brain – Maria Konnikova How Bestselling Author Maria Konnikova Writes The Data That Turned the World Upside Down – Hannes Grassegger and Mikael Krogerus How To Recognize A Fake News Story – Nick Robins-Early Snopes.com – Internet reference source for urban legends, folklore, myths, rumors, and misinformation Emergent is a real-time rumor tracker Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to a special edition of The Writer Files called “The Best of the Writer’s Brain,” a series neuroscientist Michael Grybko and I started in 2015 where I enlisted his help to give us a tour of the inner workings of the writer’s process. Q: Have you ever wondered why writer’s block is such a widely disputed malady, if it’s curable, or even real? As we wrap up our Summer hiatus before the upcoming season, I thought I d put all of these enlightening episodes in one place … In Part Four of the series I invited my friend, research scientist Michael Grybko — of the Department of Psychology at the University of Washington — back on the show to help me pinpoint some possible origins and solutions to an ailment known only to writers. If you missed the first three episodes of The Best of ‘The Writer s Brain’ you can find them on writerfiles.fm, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your podcasts. In this file Michael Grybko and I discuss: Why writers argue about the definition of writer’s block What happens when your creativity dries up Why writers need to unplug to recharge 3 symptoms of writer’s block and how to cure them How small, attainable goals reward your brain Why changing work venues boosts productivity Hemingway’s personal tricks for getting words on the page The importance of regular rituals for eliminating self-doubt The Show Notes:   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 How to Beat Writer’s Block – Maria Konnikova This Is Your Brain on Writing – New York Times Famous Writers’ Sleep Habits vs. Literary Productivity, Visualized – Maria Popova How Bestselling Author Austin Kleon Writes: Part One Wired to Create: Unraveling the Mysteries of the Creative Mind The End of Reflection – Teddy Wayne How To Concentrate Automatically Without Even Trying Seven Tips From Ernest Hemingway on How to Write Fiction Around the Writer’s Block: Using Brain Science to Solve Writer’s Resistance 8 Strange Rituals of Productive Writers Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices