The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience is a show for aspiring authors. The podcast is the creation of Kelton Reid, the author of Peace for the Wicked.
Every week, Reid sits down with a writer for a 30-minute conversation. The guest discusses their process in detail. The authors Reid interviews are prominent figures in the world of literature. They are New York Times bestselling authors and Pulitzer Prize winners. They are memoirists, YA authors, journalists, and TV writers.
As any author can confirm, the writing process is nebulous. Everyone's approach is unique. Some choose to write only when inspiration strikes. Others toil at it as they would any other day job. Developing a process that works is an essential part of becoming an author. It's no surprise that writers are curious about how to do it. So, The Writer Files allows listeners to discover how successful authors write.
Listeners learn, for example, that Bonnie Garmus reads her work out loud to make sure it flows. Juan Pablo Villalobos explains how he overcame imposter syndrome. Peter Heller always writes at least 1,000 words a day. He stops in the middle of a sentence so that starting is easier the next day. Tana French needs time to process the psychological implications of an event before she can write about it. Matt Haig admits that he doesn't have a routine. He spends many weeks thinking about writing without producing anything.
Aspiring writers will find some concrete resources in The Writer Files. Some of the episodes address common obstacles for authors. These include writer's block and ways to get unstuck. Reid talks to literary agents who have advice for getting published. Neuroscientist Michael Grybko records a couple of episodes with Reid. Together, they discuss the sometimes uneasy relationship between productivity and creativity.
It is sometimes difficult for aspiring authors to believe they'll ever be successful. Writing is hard and sometimes lonely. The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience may help such writers. The podcast gives those listeners the motivation to keep trying. New episodes of the podcast come out weekly.
Episodes