Is the Novel Dead? Part Two

In this special edition of the show, two writers joined me to opine the death of one of the most influential forms in the history of the written word. I posed the question that many great writers have pondered stretching across the last two centuries …
Is the novel dead? And maybe a more up-to-date version of that question is, did the internet kill books?

Of course these are famous — almost cliché — theoretical discussions that writers often chew on over stiff drinks, and they raise hackles for those of us who adore them.
What you won’t find here is a highbrow literary dissertation, or even a very strict definition as to what the novel is or isn’t. But you will find a lively discussion between friends who care about the writing life and its future.
Robert Bruce is a writer, voice actor, and copywriter, as well as the Vice President of Rainmaker Digital and the guy who runs the Rainmaker FM podcast network.
Adam Skolnick is an award-winning journalist, author, and a returning guest on the show. His first book, One Breath, was published by Crown last January, and his work has appeared in publications including Playboy, The New York Times, and many others.
If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews as soon as they’re published.
If you missed the first half of this show, you can find it right here.
In Part Two of the file Robert, Adam, and I

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Is the Novel Dead? Part One

In this special edition of the show, two writers joined me to opine the death of one of the most influential forms in the history of the written word. I posed the question that many great writers have pondered stretching across the last two centuries …
Is the novel dead? And maybe a more up-to-date version of that question is, did the internet kill books?

Of course these are famous — almost cliché — theoretical discussions that writers often chew on over stiff drinks, and they raise hackles for those of us who adore them.
What you won’t find here is a highbrow literary dissertation, or even a very strict definition as to what the novel is or isn’t. But you will find a lively discussion between friends who care about the writing life and its future.
Robert Bruce is a writer, voice actor, and copywriter, as well as the Vice President of Rainmaker Digital and the guy who runs the Rainmaker FM podcast network.
Adam Skolnick is an award-winning journalist, author, and a returning guest on the show. His first book, One Breath, was published by Crown last January, and his work has appeared in publications including Playboy, The New York Times, and many others.
If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews as soon as they’re published.
In Part One of the file Robert, Adam, and I discuss:

How longer works of writing have been forced to compete with disposable culture
Why Herman

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The Best of The Writer Files: Volume One

Before kicking off the next season of the show, we wanted to share with you some highlights from our previous seasons.
I don’t want to shortchange the most recent interviews with inspiring guests including Jay McInerney (’80s defining author of Bright Lights, Big City), Stephanie Danler (the bestselling author of Sweetbitter), the co-founder of Wired magazine Kevin Kelly, or How Neuroscientist Michael Grybko Defined Writer’s Block for us.
But I do want to dig into the archives with you and pull out a few of my favorites from a handful of the other 40 authors The Writer Files has cross-examined to learn how they keep the ink flowing, the cursor moving, and avoid writer’s block.

You’ll find links to these shows in the show notes on Rainmaker FM, and past episodes are easy to find in the archives of your favorite podcast app, in iTunes, or at WriterFiles.fm.
If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, click subscribe in iTunes to automatically see new interviews.
In this “Best of” Volume One, we’ll hear from a handful of past guests, including:

Advice columnist and critic Heather Havrilesky on social media and managed procrastination
NYTimes Bestselling Author of The Martian Andy Weir on productivity vs. laziness
Bestselling debut novelist Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney on beating fear and procrastination
Bestselling thriller author Mark Dawson on how to publish more than a million words in a year
Bestselling author Ann Handley on the only reason to write a book

Listen to this Episode Now
The post The Best of The

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How Bestselling Author Jay McInerney Writes: Part Two

The bestselling author of 11 books, including the eighties-defining Bright Lights, Big City, Jay McInerney, took a break to chat with me about his new book, the writing process, and some timeless tips from his mentor, Raymond Carver.
Vanity Fair called Mr. McInerney “Our modern-day Fitzgerald,” and his most recent book — Bright, Precious Days — is described as “… a sexy, vibrant, cross-generational New York story — a literary and commercial triumph of the highest order.”

The author is a renowned short story writer, screenwriter, and actor who has lived in New York for three decades and rubbed elbows with a laundry list of literary lions, including his mentors Tobias Wolff and Raymond Carver.
In addition to fiction, Jay writes a highly regarded wine column for Town & Country magazine and has written several essay collections on wine.
The author most recently joined the Prince Street podcast as a culinary and arts correspondent and has interviewed director Francis Ford Coppola, author Stephanie Danler, and celebrity chefs including Eric Ripert, to name a few.
Join us for this two-part interview, and if you’re a fan of the show, please subscribe in iTunes to automatically see new interviews and help other writers find us.
If you missed the first half, you can find it right here.
In Part Two of the file Jay McInerney and I discuss:

The author’s astute anatomical analogy for writer’s block
How a short story became a series of bestselling novels
Why writers need to stretch the boundaries of their genres
The

Original Source

How Bestselling Author Jay McInerney Writes: Part One

The bestselling author of 11 books, including the eighties-defining Bright Lights, Big City, Jay McInerney, took a break to chat with me about his new book, the writing process, and some timeless tips from his mentor, Raymond Carver.
Vanity Fair called Mr. McInerney “Our modern-day Fitzgerald,” and his most recent book — Bright, Precious Days — is described as “… a sexy, vibrant, cross-generational New York story — a literary and commercial triumph of the highest order.”
The author is a renowned short story writer, screenwriter, and actor who has lived in New York for three decades and rubbed elbows with a laundry list of literary lions, including his mentors Tobias Wolff and Raymond Carver.
In addition to fiction, Jay writes a highly regarded wine column for Town & Country magazine, and has written several essay collections on wine.
The author most recently joined the Prince Street podcast as a culinary and arts correspondent and has interviewed director Francis Ford Coppola, author Stephanie Danler, and celebrity chefs including Eric Ripert, to name a few.
Join us for this two-part interview, and if you’re a fan of the show, please subscribe in iTunes to automatically get new interviews and help other writers find us.
In Part One of the file Jay McInerney and I discuss:

Why it’s not a bad thing to be compared to your betters
How to incorporate your passions into your writing
Why you need to sit at your desk every day and listen to the voices in your head
The author’s

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How Critically Acclaimed Literary Scholar Jonathan Gottschall Writes: Part One

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.
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 spectacles.
Listen to The Writer Files for this two-part interview.
In Part One of the file, host Kelton Reid and Jonathan Gottschall 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

Click Here to Listen toThe Writer Files on iTunes
Click Here to Listen on Rainmaker.FM
About the authorRainmaker.FMRainmaker.FM is the premier digital marketing and sales podcast network. Get on-demand digital business and marketing advice from experts, whenever and wherever you want it.

The post How Critically Acclaimed Literary Scholar Jonathan Gottschall Writes: Part One appeared first on Copyblogger.

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How Hollywood Screenwriter and Film Director John August Writes: Part Two

Critically acclaimed screenwriter and director John August stopped by The Writer Files to chat with host Kelton Reid about his writing process, the film business, and his hit podcast Scriptnotes.
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 Kelton and John 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, host Kelton Reid and John August 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

Click Here to Listen toThe Writer Files on iTunes
Click Here to Listen on Rainmaker.FM
About the authorRainmaker.FMRainmaker.FM is the premier digital marketing and sales podcast network. Get on-demand digital business and marketing advice from experts, whenever and wherever you want it.

The post How Hollywood Screenwriter and Film Director John August Writes: Part Two appeared first

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How Hollywood Screenwriter and Director John August Writes: Part One

Critically acclaimed screenwriter and director John August stopped by The Writer Files to chat with host Kelton Reid about his writing process, the film business, and his hit podcast Scriptnotes.
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 Kelton and John for this two-part interview.
In Part One of the file, host Kelton Reid and John August 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 handwriting first drafts helps your process
Why public writing sprints can boost your output

Click Here to Listen toThe Writer Files on iTunes
Click Here to Listen on Rainmaker.FM
About the authorRainmaker.FMRainmaker.FM is the premier digital marketing and sales podcast network. Get on-demand digital business and marketing advice from experts, whenever and wherever you want it.

The post How Hollywood Screenwriter and Director John August Writes: Part One appeared first on Copyblogger.

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How Michelle Miller (Writer and Producer of ‘The Underwriting’) Writes: Part Two

From wildly successful transmedia serial writer to internationally published author, this week’s guest on The Writer Files — Michelle Miller — has tapped into her former life in high finance to create a hit franchise in The Underwriting.
Billed as social satire, Ms. Miller’s original 12-part serial drew angel investors that helped her build it into a viral, multimedia maelstrom.
Her marriage of the cutthroat worlds of both investment banking and tech landed her a traditional publishing deal, and her debut novel is now being developed into a television series.
Tune in to 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, host Kelton Reid and Michelle Miller 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

Click Here to Listen toThe Writer Files on iTunes
Click Here to Listen on Rainmaker.FM
About the authorRainmaker.FMRainmaker.FM is the premier digital marketing and sales podcast network. Get on-demand digital business and marketing advice from experts, whenever and wherever you want it.

The post How Michelle Miller (Writer and Producer of ‘The Underwriting’) Writes: Part Two appeared first on Copyblogger.

Original Source

How Michelle Miller (Writer and Producer of ‘The Underwriting’) Writes: Part One

From wildly successful transmedia serial writer to internationally published author, this week’s guest on The Writer Files — Michelle Miller — has tapped into her former life in high finance to create a hit franchise in The Underwriting.
Billed as social satire, Ms. Miller’s original 12-part serial drew angel investors that helped her build it into a viral, multimedia maelstrom.
Her marriage of the cutthroat worlds of both investment banking and tech landed her a traditional publishing deal, and her debut novel is now being developed into a television series.
Tune in to this two-part interview.
In Part One of the file, host Kelton Reid and Michelle Miller discuss:

Why transmedia is redefining author marketing
How different workouts can change your writing mindset
The creative space between sleeping and waking
Why you don’t procrastinate the fun stuff
One perfect analogy for writer’s block

Click Here to Listen toThe Writer Files on iTunes
Click Here to Listen on Rainmaker.FM
About the authorRainmaker.FMRainmaker.FM is the premier digital marketing and sales podcast network. Get on-demand digital business and marketing advice from experts, whenever and wherever you want it.

The post How Michelle Miller (Writer and Producer of ‘The Underwriting’) Writes: Part One appeared first on Copyblogger.

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