The Creative Writing Life

Justin and Paul chat about Loglines, Film School, and Opportunities.  Enjoy!  P.S. This was a script we recorded a while back and was in the can. So hopefully it's not too dated!

Justin and Paul are joined by VO Artist and host of The Working Writers Podcast Brad Staggs. Enjoy!  About Bradd:  Multi-faceted Writer and Voice-Over Actor. A 24-year plus veteran and member of the Indiana National Guard's 38th Infantry Division. A 46Z, Public Affairs NCOIC, who specialises in video, audio, and graphic production. 12-year Public Relations Representative for Muscatatuck Urban Training Center in Butlerville, IN. Builder and curator of the Muscatatuck Museum and Programming Director of Radio Muscatatuck, an FM radio station. Public Affairs methodology and video/radio station operations instructor. https://www.bradstaggsvo.com/ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-working-writer/id1571032667

Justin and Paul chat about making an awesome comic/graphic novel with Tristan Vick! Also Japan and whatnot, because why not? Tristan Vick is the author of the science fiction series Jegra: Gladiatrix of the Galaxy and zompoc series Bitten along with 14 other published novels. He now ventures into comics with his debut creator-owned series Daughter of Wolves. Check out the Kickstarter -- https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/regolith-comics/daughter-of-wolves-issue-1?fbclid=IwAR3knNupWP85Fr6sW6A3oLtuvFzqdd20VZUvxVz359KANR1KHOLaK9A3Q8k Check out Tristan's books on Amazon -- https://www.amazon.com/Tristan-Vick/e/B005359NBO

Dustin Brady writes funny, action-packed books for kids. Although he regularly gets locked out of his own accounts for forgetting passwords, Dustin still remembers the Super Mario Bros. 3 Game Genie code for infinite lives. It’s SLXPLOVS. Dustin lives in Cleveland, Ohio, with his wife, kids, and a small dog named Nugget. Check out his books on Amazon. https://amzn.to/3fBKJDm

Writer Jon Kohan joined the team to talk making a living by writing on Fiverr.  https://www.fiverr.com/jonkohan Screenwriter for film and television with credits including the Ernie and Cerbie, Family Game Night (high critic rating), Deer Grandma, Spilled Paint (award winning) and many others. If you need help with anything related to screenwriting, don't settle for someone that's never actually made a film. Hire me! NOTE: No such thing as a stupid question. Feel free to ask me anything. I pride myself on being a hard worker, team player, and honest. Enjoy! 

Ramsey Anderson shares his experience with the WGF's Veterans Writing Project.  More about Ramsey: 6+ years of experience as the Director of Audio Visual Services and Sales. During that time, lead the daily operations of the AV dept., was involved in sales, trained technicians, sub-rented equipment, managed audio/ video recordings, processed reports and hired/terminated employees. Customer service and positive survey scores have always been in keeping with the successful AV team. 10+ years of experience as an audio/ video/ lighting/ IT engineer at upscale hotels, conference centers and TV studios located through out California. Ranging from events with 10,000+ attendees to small executive meetings they all share a commitment to excellence. Additionally, Ramsey is a video producer, editor and screen writer. Information on the WGF's Veterans Writing Project: https://www.wgfoundation.org/programs/the-veterans-writing-project 

Join us as we discuss screenwriting and The Successful Screenwriter podcast with the amazing Geoffrey D. Calhoun!  IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7867218/ Geoffrey D. Calhoun is the best selling author of The Guide For Every Screenwriter and host of the #1 international podcast The Successful Screenwriter. His screenwriting career began over ten years ago and was almost completely by accident. He initially studied photography but it wasn't until he was approached by a close friend that he dived into screenwriting. There he truly found his passion. As an autodidact, Geoffrey threw himself into the craft which has resulted in several nominations and awards including the coveted Louis Mitchell Award for Excellence in Screenwriting, voted best author, and has also been listed as a Top 100 Indie Writer in the World. Geoffrey has optioned several screenplays and has worked with many other writers and producers as a script consultant, screenwriter, and a re-writer for various stages of development and production with his company WeFixYourScript.com. Geoffrey has even done a little acting. He also teaches advanced rewriting at Script University. Recently he was named as director of the Script Summit Screenplay Contest. Check out his book on Amazon - The Guide for Every Screenwriter! 

Nick Morris joins the duo to discuss writing the screenplay for the film BECKY. Nick won Amateur Showdown with his script, “There Was a Little Girl.” Nick soon received a phone call from a producer who wanted to make it. Three years later, the film, now titled, “Becky,” is being released! BECKY: A teenager's weekend at a lake house with her father takes a turn for the worse when a group of convicts wreaks havoc on their lives. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm10686634/?ref_=fn_al_nm_2 Also, here's an interview with him: http://scriptshadow.net/screenwriter-interview-with-nick-morris-writer-of-becky/

Brian Fitzpatrick is an award-winning author, screenwriter, and speaker. Imagine being just 7 years old and accidentally watching the horror classic, Night of the Living Dead. For author, Brian Fitzpatrick, that’s precisely what happened. It became the catalyst for a life-altering path forward. After a week of sleepless nights, he became fascinated with the idea that he could be so scared, yet be perfectly safe. Fitzpatrick swiftly put pen to paper and has been creating horror and science fiction tales ever since. Fitzpatrick keeps current with medical technology for his business career serving the telecommunication needs of local hospitals, investigates the paranormal with his team of ghost hunters, and has spent a lifetime weaving imaginative stories for table top role-playing games. Fitzpatrick grew up absorbing the works of Steven Spielberg, John Carpenter, George Lucas, Stephen King, Anne Rice, and Clive Barker. For over a decade, Fitzpatrick has turned his focus to screenwriting where he would go on to place in the quarterfinals in four of the biggest contests the industry has to offer: Final Draft Big Break Screenplay Competition, PAGE International Screenwriting Contest, the Screencraft Sci-Fi/Fantasy Screenplay Competition, and most recently, The Script Lab 2019 Screenplay Competition. He then converted his most popular screenplay, Mechcraft, into a novel. Published in February of 2018, the Mechcraft novel placed quarterfinals in the Screencraft Sci-fi/Fantasy Novel Competition, receive a 5-star rating from Readers’ Favorite, and hit #3 on Amazon for the YA Science Fiction category. In 2020, Fitzpatrick signed a 3-book deal with publisher, Black Rose Writing. BRW will be releasing all 3 Mechcraft novels in 2021. Brian resides in southern California with his wife, son, dog, cat, and 7 chickens. Become part of the Mechcraft community across all social media: @AuthorBrianFitzpatrick Official author site: http://www.brianfitzpatrickbooks.com/

Author Jonathan P. Brazee chats self publishing and writing military science fiction with the Creative Writing Life podcast. Enjoy!  And check out his bestseller, SENTENCED TO WAR.  https://www.amazon.com/Jonathan-P.-Brazee/e/B007E4W0GC #MilitarySciFi #JonathanBrazee  From the author:  I am a retired Marine infantry colonel and now a full-time writer living in Colorado Springs with my wife Kiwi and twin baby girls, Danika Dawn and Darika Marie. I am a two-time Nebula Award Finalist, a Dragon Award Finalist, and a USA Today Bestselling writer. I published my first work back in 1978, a so-so short story titled "Secession." Since then, I have been published in newspapers, magazines, and in book format in fiction, political science, business, military, sports, race relations, and personal relations fields. I returned to writing fiction in 2009, and I currently have over 75 titles published, 44 being novels. My novelette, "Weaponized Math," was a finalist for the 2017 Nebula Award, "Fire Ant" was a finalist for the 2018 Nebula Award for Best Novella, and "Integration" was a finalist for the 2018 Dragon Award for Best Military Science Fiction or Fantasy Novel. My undergraduate degree was earned at the U. S. Naval Academy (Class of 1979), and I have attended graduate school at U. S. International University and the University of California, San Diego, earning a masters and doctorate. I am a lifetime member of the Disabled American Veterans, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the US. Naval Academy Alumni Association, and the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America where I'm serving as the chairman of SFWA Ed, our professional education program. I have rather eclectic tastes. I have won awards in photography, cooking, writing, and several sports, earning national championships in rugby and equestrian events. When I'm not writing, I'm reading, cooking, going to the gym, or traveling. I attend quite a few cons over the course of a year, and love meeting other people who love books. I write because I love it. I only hope that others might read my work and get a bit of enjoyment or useful information out of my efforts. If you would like to join my email list and find out about new books or promotions, please sign up at http://eepurl.com/bnFSHH. My website is http://jonathanbrazee.com. My Twitter is @jonathanbrazee