The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience Podglomerate
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“Learn how acclaimed writers keep the ink flowing, the cursor moving, and avoid writer’s block.”
Each week, host Kelton Reid chats with guests like Nobel Prize winner Abdulrazak Gurnah, on life after becoming a laureate; #1 New York Times bestselling author, Emily Henry on her past life as a YA mid-lister; Celebrated author, Walter Mosley, on his conflicted feelings after winning a National Book Award; NY Times bestselling author, Lisa Scottoline, on what she learned from literary lion Philip Roth; #1 NY Times bestselling author Dennis Lehane on what he borrowed from Clint Eastwood; and bestselling author, Matt Haig, on the process behind his novel, The Midnight Library, and serial guest hosts: neuroscientist Michael Grybko, journalist Adam Skolnick, and short story writer Robert Bruce.
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How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Ernest Cline Writes: Part One
#1 New York Times bestselling novelist and screenwriter, Ernest Cline, spoke to me about what inspired him to become a novelist, the success of Ready Player One, and his love letter to Austin, Texas, the mostly true tall tale BRIDGE TO BAT CITY.
Ernest Cline is the bestselling author of Ready Player One, Ready Player Two, and Armada, and co-screenwriter of the film adaptation of Ready Player One, directed by Steven Spielberg.
His debut middle-grade novel, BRIDGE TO BAT CITY (on sale 4/9/24; ages 8 & up), is described as “... a mostly true tall tale about a recently orphaned girl and her mission to help a family of displaced bats find a new home under the Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin, Texas.”
His books have been published in over fifty countries and have spent more than 100 weeks on The New York Times bestsellers list.
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In Part One of this file Ernest Cline and I discussed:
The signposts on the road to becoming a writer
His change of fortune (and opinion) as a screenwriter
The big idea behind Ready Player One
Why 90% of Stephen King’s protagonists are school teachers or writers
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
Bridge to Bat City by Ernest Cline (Amazon)
Ernest Cline Amazon Author Page
Kelton Reid on Twitter
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How NY Times Bestselling Author Garrard Conley Writes
New York Times bestselling memoirist turned novelist, Garrard Conley, spoke with me about going from activist to fictionist, the isolation of being an artist, and his debut novel All the World Beside.
Garrard Conley is the New York Times bestselling author of the memoir Boy Erased, as well as the creator and co-producer of the podcast UnErased: The History of Conversion Therapy in America. His memoir became a major motion picture starring Nicole Kidman, Russell Crowe, and Lucas Hedges, directed by Joel Edgerton.
His debut novel is titled All the World Beside and described as “... an electrifying, deeply moving novel about the love story between two men in Puritan New England.”
Tess Gunty, National Book Award-winning author of Rabbit Hutch, called the book an “... accomplishment of breathtaking prose, expert pacing, and extraordinary psychological intelligence...” Garth Greenwell wrote, “... this novel contains some of the finest writing I've encountered in recent American fiction.”
Garrard’s work has been published by The New York Times, Oxford American, Time, and Virginia Quarterly Review, among others. Conley is a graduate of Brooklyn College’s MFA program, where he was a Truman Capote Fellow specializing in fiction, and he is an assistant professor of creative writing at Kennesaw State University.
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In this file Garrard Conley and I discussed:
What it was like to work with Radiolab on a podcast
Setting out to write “The Queer Scarlett Letter”
His intense historical research process
How he inhabits his stories
Why writers can’t skimp on what the audience wants
How to un-Tik-Tok-ify your brain
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
garrardconley.com
All the World Beside: A NOVEL By Garrard Conley (Amazon)
Garrard Conley Amazon Author Page
Garrard Conley on Instagram
Garrard Conley on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter
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Book Publicity Crash Course with Dir. of PR & Founder Leah Paulos
Director of Publicity and Press Shop PR Founder, Leah Paulos, spoke with me about how authors can cut through the noise in a challenging news cycle, when to build your platform, and demystifying the book biz.
Leah Paulos is the Founder and Director of Publicity at Press Shop PR an independent book publicity firm based in Brooklyn. The Press Shop team has worked on campaigns for over 300 authors since its launch in 2012, including the #1 bestselling campaigns for ON TYRANNY by Timothy Snyder, MARCH by Rep. John Lewis, and WELCOME TO THE UNIVERSE by Neil deGrasse Tyson.
She also recently launched Book Publicity School to bring Press Shop’s expertise and guidance to more authors at an affordable price. The School offers workshops, coaching, and online groups to help authors advocate for their work as effectively as possible.
Leah has spoken on book publicity at Columbia Journalism School, CUNY Graduate Center, and as part of her regular workshop series, Book Publicity for Literary Agents.
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In this file Leah Paulos and I discussed:
Why authors need a “Big Fat Book Promo” spreadsheet
What works in social media now, and what’s a waste of time
How and when to build an effective author platform
What kind of promotion an author should expect from their publisher
Why a full press, media, and event campaign doesn't make sense for every author
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
pressshoppr.com
bookpublicityschool.com
Book Publicity School on Facebook
Kelton Reid on Twitter
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How Oscar-Nominated Scribe & Novelist Iris Yamashita Writes: Part Two
Oscar-nominated screenwriter turned novelist, Iris Yamashita, returns to chat with me about the difference between writing for the ear and the screen, fusing plotting and pantsing, and her anticipated follow-up thriller Village in the Dark.
Iris Yamashita has been working in Hollywood for over 15 years and was nominated for a “Best Original Screenplay” Oscar for the movie Letters from Iwo Jima (directed by Clint Eastwood).
The sequel to her debut novel City Under One Roof is Village in the Dark, described as a riveting mystery perfect for fans of Twin Peaks, Mare of Easttown, and True Detective.
An Amazon Editor’s Pick for Best Mystery, Thriller & Suspense – New and continuing series. Kirkus Reviews called the book, “A sharp and gritty mystery with a compelling sociopolitical undercurrent.”
Iris continues to work in Hollywood, developing for both film and streaming media. She has taught screenwriting at UCLA and the American Film Institute.
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In this file Iris Yamashita and I discussed:
Why you need to have a beginning, middle, and end in mind no matter what you’re writing
What it’s like to be both the writer and the director as a novelist
How to write for audio drama
Why filmmakers don’t like to read
Learning the rules so you can break them
How to keep your dreams alive
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
Village in the Dark by Iris Yamashita (Amazon)
Amazon Author Page for Iris Yamashita
www.irisyamashita.com
Iris Yamashita on Facebook
Iris Yamashita on Instagram
Kelton Reid on Twitter
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How Bestselling Author Adelle Waldman Writes
Bestselling author, Adelle Waldman, spoke with me about her former life as a journalist, writerly wish fulfillment, and going undercover for her latest workplace novel, Help Wanted.
Adelle Waldman is a journalist and the bestselling author of The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P., which was named a best book of the year by The New Yorker, Economist, NPR, The New Republic, Slate, Bookforum, The Guardian and many others.
Her latest novel, Help Wanted, is from W.W. Norton in March of 2024, and described as a “funny, eye-opening tale of work in contemporary America.” It has been named one of New York Magazine's "23 Books We Can’t Wait to Read in 2024," VOGUE’s Best Books of the Year So Far, ELLE’s Best (and Most Anticipated) Fiction of 2024, Lit Hub’s Most Anticipated Books of 2024, and one of Kirkus’s Most Anticipated Books of 2024.
A starred Kirkus Review called the book, "The workplace dramedy of the year." Publishers Weekly said of the book, "A bracing and worthwhile glimpse of the high stakes faced by low-wage workers."
Adelle attended Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and her writing has appeared in The New Yorker, New York Times, and Wall Street Journal, among others.
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In this file Adelle Waldman and I discussed:
Why she turned to journalism as a day job
Writing a hard-to-like protagonist
The breakout success of her first novel
How co-workers and friends at a Big Box store inspired her latest
Found comedy, unfortunate nerds, unrealistic dreams
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
adellewaldman.com
Help Wanted: A Novel by Adelle Waldman (Amazon)
Adelle Waldman Amazon Author Page
Kelton Reid on Twitter
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How Acclaimed Newbery Honor-Winning Author Veera Hiranandani Writes
Newbery Honor-winning children’s author, Veera Hiranandani, spoke with me about her former life in publishing, why no word is ever wasted, and her anticipated middle-grade novel Amil and The After.
Veera Hiranandani is an award-winning author of several books for young people, and a faculty member with the MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults program at The Vermont College of Fine Arts.
Amil and The After is her latest work of children’s fiction, a stand-alone sequel to her Newbery Honor winner, The Night Diary. It was named an Amazon Best Book of the Month (January 2024).
A starred Kirkus Reviews called the book, “…a masterpiece of nuance, vulnerability, and emotional complexity. A quietly brilliant, deeply insightful story of living in uncertain times.”
Veera earned her MFA in fiction writing at Sarah Lawrence College and was a former book editor at Simon & Schuster.
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In this file Veera Hiranandani and I discussed:
Why writing is like slow cooking
How to write historical fiction if you’re not good at history
Why you need to follow your writerly instincts
The importance of accountability partners, learning from your mistakes
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
VeeraHiranandani.com
Amil and the After By Veera Hiranandani (Bookshop.org)
Veera Hiranandani Amazon Author Page
Veera Hiranandani on Instagram
Kelton Reid on Twitter
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Customer Reviews
Very informative
I have ADHD so listening to this episode let me understand that I am not the only one struggling to sit down and write. It also helped with some suggestions I could use.
A great listen!
If you’re a writer (and even if you’re not), you’ll find listening to The Writer Files to be time well spent. Kelton Reid knows how to interview a writer and keeps it interesting.
My Favorite Podcast on Writing
Just began listening to the show, starting from the first episodes and absolutely love it. Such a fantastic show for writers.