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

The bestselling author of The Art of Work: A Proven Path to Discovering What You Were Meant to Do — Jeff Goins — stopped by for a marathon return to The Writer Files to cap off 2015. 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! His popular blog — Goinswriter.com — offers free tips on writing and creativity to help writers build an audience, get attention, and learn what it takes to turn pro. In addition to being an entrepreneur, speaker, consultant, and author of four books, Jeff hosts The Portfolio Life podcast where he shares ideas to help listeners pursue work that matters and discover their true voice. Join us for this two-part interview. If you missed the first half you can find it here: How Bestselling Author Jeff Goins Writes: Part One. REMINDER: The Writer Files will be taking the last week of the year off but will return with new guests in January. Season Three writer interviews include: Emma Donoghue (bestselling author and Golden Globe nominated screenwriter of Room), Adam Skolnick (award-winning journalist and author of One Breath), NYTimes bestselling author and New Yorker columnist Maria Konnikova, horror writer Jonathan Janz, bestselling thriller author Mark Dawson, and celebrity poet Tyler Knott Gregson, to name a few. In Part Two of the file Jeff Goins and I discuss: Why Your Best Ideas Are Worthless Until You Act on Them The Spirituality of Writing Why You Can’t Wait for the Muse to Inspire You How Hemingway Got Famous from Stealing Great Writing Advice for the New Year Listen to The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience below ... Download MP3 Subscribe by RSS Subscribe in iTunes The Show Notes Goinswriter.com Jeff Goins on Medium The Art of Work Book The Portfolio Life Podcast with Jeff Goins Exit Through the Gift Shop — Documentary Jeff Goins on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The bestselling author of The Art of Work: A Proven Path to Discovering What You Were Meant to Do — Jeff Goins — stopped by for a marathon return to The Writer Files to cap off 2015.   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! His popular blog — Goinswriter.com — offers free tips on writing and creativity to help writers build an audience, get attention, and learn what it takes to turn pro. In addition to being an entrepreneur, speaker, consultant, and author of four books, Jeff hosts The Portfolio Life podcast where he shares ideas to help listeners pursue work that matters and discover their true voice. Join us for this two-part interview. In Part One of the file Jeff Goins and I discuss: How to Think Like a Professional Writer Why You Need to Be Intentional about Your Next Project The Myths of Very Productive Writers Jeff’s Systematic ‘Workout’ for Effortless Writing Why You Need to Pare Down Your To-Do List Listen to The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience below ... Download MP3 Subscribe by RSS Subscribe in iTunes The Show Notes How Bestselling Author Jeff Goins Writes: Part Two Goinswriter.com Jeff Goins on Medium The Art of Work Book The Portfolio Life Podcast with Jeff Goins Jeff Goins on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The most fascinating news on the internet always seems to find its way into Dave Pell’s carefully curated — and always entertaining — NextDraft email newsletter.   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! Mr. Pell has turned his addiction for getting the scoop into a vast and loyal following of A-list media heads. He calls NextDraft his “modern-day column,” and the infectious, one-man curation engine is hard to delete (although he believes his friends do it often). In addition to being a successful venture capitalist, Dave carves out time to do a weekly podcast with veteran journalist Phil Bronstein called What Hurts, a unique blend of “fascinating news and personal angst.” In this file Dave Pell and I discuss: The Downside of Technology How to Turn an Addiction to News into an Audience Video Game Music as a Productivity Hack Why You Should Always Delete Your First Paragraph The Real Difference Between Writing and Podcasting How Tony Soprano Raised Dave Pell’s Stock Listen to The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience below ... Download MP3 Subscribe by RSS Subscribe in iTunes The Show Notes NextDraft: The Day’s Most Fascinating News from Dave Pell ‘What Hurts’ Podcast By Phil Bronstein and Dave Pell Dave Pell on Medium Publishing Lessons from Dave Pell, the Most Fascinating Email Newsletter Writer in the Business Dave Pell on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Prolific, multi-brand entrepreneur Joanna Penn has turned her passion for writing into a successful career as both an educator and bestselling indie author.   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! As her dark, alter ego — J.F.Penn — she has notched chart-toppers on both The New York Times and USA Today bestsellers lists. As a nonfiction writer, professional speaker, podcaster, and entrepreneur, she’s been voted one of The Guardian UK’s Top 100 Creative Professionals. Her site — TheCreativePenn.com — offers both publishing and marketing resources and is regularly voted a Top 10 website for writers. Join us for this two-part interview. If you missed the first half you can find it here: How Bestselling Author Joanna Penn Writes: Part One In Part Two of the file Joanna Penn and I discuss: Why It’s Still Hard to Write a Book in the Future How Getting Lost Can Inspire Your Writing Why the ‘Destination’ (and Reward of Writing) is the Journey How Trusting Your Creative Curiosity Can Reap Rewards Listen to The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience below ... Download MP3 Subscribe by RSS Subscribe in iTunes The Show Notes The Creative Penn J.F. Penn Thriller Author The Creative Penn Podcast Books by Steven Pressfield Joanna Penn on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Prolific, multi-brand entrepreneur Joanna Penn has turned her passion for writing into a successful career as both an educator and bestselling indie author.   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! As her dark, alter ego — J.F.Penn — she has notched chart-toppers on both The New York Times and USA Today bestsellers lists. As a nonfiction writer, professional speaker, podcaster, and entrepreneur, she’s been voted one of The Guardian UK’s Top 100 Creative Professionals. Her site — TheCreativePenn.com — offers both publishing and marketing resources and is regularly voted a Top 10 website for writers. Join us for this two-part interview. In Part One of the file Joanna Penn and I discuss: How to Turn Your Passion into a Career The Cumulative Successes of Creating Every Day How Rewarding Your Inner Child Can Boost Productivity Why Input Equals Output for Writers How to Write Books While Competing in an Ultra-Marathon Listen to The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience below ... Download MP3 Subscribe by RSS Subscribe in iTunes The Show Notes How Bestselling Author Joanna Penn Writes : Part Two The Creative Penn J.F. Penn Thriller Author The Creative Penn Podcast Noisli.com Joanna Penn on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mr. Gottschall is the author or editor of seven books, including The Storytelling Animal — a New York Times Editor’s Choice Selection and a finalist for the LA Times Book Prize — and most recently he published a fascinating book titled The Professor in the Cage: Why Men Fight and Why We Like to Watch.   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! As a Distinguished Fellow at the English Department of Washington & Jefferson College his work lands at the intersection of science and art and is frequently covered in outlets like The New York Times, Scientific American, The New Yorker, The Atlantic, and NPR. For his latest book he personally climbed into the cage to research the world of mixed martial arts, violence, masculinity, and why society is attracted to violent spectacle. Join us for this two-part interview. If you missed the first half you can find it here: How Critically Acclaimed Literary Scholar Jonathan Gottschall Writes: Part One In Part Two of the file Jonathan Gottschall and I discuss: Why Creativity Is Not the Hard Part for Writers How Great Writing is Like Grasping for a Handful of Water How Our Memories Fool Us with Stories A Great Reminder that Writing is Work, Not Magic Listen to The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience below ... Download MP3 Subscribe by RSS Subscribe in iTunes The Show Notes JonathanGottschall.com Jonathan Gottschall’s Author Page on Amazon ‘When Writers Attack: On Boxing, Norman Mailer, and the art of Getting Hit’ by Jonathan Gottschall Jonathan Gottschall on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mr. Gottschall is the author or editor of seven books, including The Storytelling Animal — a New York Times Editor’s Choice Selection and a finalist for the LA Times Book Prize — and most recently he published a fascinating book titled The Professor in the Cage: Why Men Fight and Why We Like to Watch.   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! As a Distinguished Fellow at the English Department of Washington & Jefferson College his work lands at the intersection of science and art and is frequently covered in outlets like The New York Times, Scientific American, The New Yorker, The Atlantic, and NPR. For his latest book he personally climbed into the cage to research the world of mixed martial arts, violence, masculinity, and why society is attracted to violent spectacle. Join us for this two-part interview. In Part One of the file Jonathan Gottschall and I discuss: Why Writers Need to Chase What Scares Them How ‘Drugs’ Can Boost Your Productivity Why Writing 365 Days a Year May Not Be Ideal The Sad Reality of Writer’s Block Listen to The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience below ... Download MP3 Subscribe by RSS Subscribe in iTunes The Show Notes JonathanGottschall.com Jonathan Gottschall’s Author Page on Amazon Jonathan Gottschall on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter How Critically Acclaimed Literary Scholar Jonathan Gottschall Writes: Part Two Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Critically acclaimed screenwriter and director John August stopped by the show to chat with me about his writing process, the film business, and his hit podcast Scriptnotes.   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! Since his breakthrough film debut Go (1999), John has penned an impressive list of big budget Hollywood films from Charlie’s Angels (2000), to a handful of Tim Burton films including Big Fish (2003), and Frankenweenie (2013). The prolific author has also worked in TV, on Broadway, creates his own writing apps, and is a voting member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He currently produces the Scripnotes Podcast with co-host Craig Mazin where they discuss the ins-and-outs of the screenwriting business. Join us for this two-part interview. If you missed Part One you can find it here: How Hollywood Screenwriter and Director John August Writes: Part One In Part Two of the file John August and I discuss: Creativity and How Writers Perceive the Future One Great Tool Writers Can Use to Get Unstuck Why a Screenwriter’s ‘Road to Hell’ is Paved with Adverbs How to Read Oscar Nominated Screenplays on Your Phone Why You Need to Write the Stories You Like to Read Listen to The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience below ... Download MP3 Subscribe by RSS Subscribe in iTunes The Show Notes JohnAugust.com John August on IMDb.com Scripnotes Podcast The Writer Emergency Pack John’s Quote-Unquote Apps Including ‘Highland’ and ‘Weekend Read’ John August on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Critically acclaimed screenwriter and director John August stopped by the show to chat with me about his writing process, the film business, and his hit podcast Scriptnotes.   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! Since his breakthrough film debut Go (1999), John has penned an impressive list of big budget Hollywood films from Charlie’s Angels (2000), to a handful of Tim Burton films including Big Fish (2003), and Frankenweenie (2013). The prolific author has also worked in TV, on Broadway, creates his own writing apps, and is a voting member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He currently produces the invaluable Scriptnotes podcast with co-host Craig Mazin where they discuss the ins-and-outs of the screenwriting business. Join us for this two-part interview. In Part One of the file John August and I discuss: How a Journalism Major Became a Hollywood Director Why Screenwriting Is Truly a Team Sport What It’s Like to Rewrite a Film Like ‘Iron Man’ How Hand Writing First Drafts Helps Your Process Why Public Writing Sprints Can Boost Your Output Listen to The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience below ... Download MP3 Subscribe by RSS Subscribe in iTunes The Show Notes How Hollywood Screenwriter and Film Director John August Writes: Part Two JohnAugust.com John August on IMDb.com Scripnotes Podcast John August on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From incredibly successful transmedia serial writer to internationally published author, this week’s guest — Michelle Miller — has tapped into her former life in high finance to create a hit franchise in The Underwriting.   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! Billed as social satire, Ms. Miller’s original 12-part serial drew angel investors that helped her build it into a viral, multi-media maelstrom. Her marriage of the cutthroat worlds of investment banking and tech landed her a traditional publishing deal, and her debut novel is now being developed into a TV series. Join us for this two-part interview. If you missed the first half, you can find it here: How Michelle Miller (Writer and Producer of ‘The Underwriting’) Writes: Part One In Part Two of the file Michelle Miller and I discuss: The Slippery Definition of ‘Creativity’ How Curiosity and Authenticity Are Essential to Great Writing Why You Need to Be Cool … Like a Cucumber Shakespeare’s Renewed Social Relevance … on The Writer Files How Traveling Creates a Vulnerability that Can Open Your Mind Listen to The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience below ... Download MP3 Subscribe by RSS Subscribe in iTunes The Show Notes hashtagmm.com — Michelle Miller’s Website The Underwriting (Book) Michelle Miler on Instagram Michelle Miler on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices