thewritingcoach's podcast

Welcome to The Writing Coach. On this podcast, I speak with the instructors, editors, coaches, and mentors who help writers and authors create their art, build their audience, and sell their work.

 

In episode #106 of The Writing Coach podcast, I speak with author and writing coach J. Thorn.

J. Thorn has published two million words and has sold more than 185,000 books worldwide. In March of 2014 Thorn held the #5 position in Horror alongside his childhood idols Dean Koontz and Stephen King (at #4 and #2 respectively). He is an official member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, the Horror Writers Association, and the Great Lakes Association of Horror Writers.

J. earned a B.A. in American History from the University of Pittsburgh and a M.A. from Duquesne University. He is a full-time writer, part-time professor at John Carroll University, co-owner of Molten Universe Media, podcaster, FM radio DJ, musician, and a certified Story Grid nerd.

During our discussion, J. describes:

  • How he has approached work and productivity throughout the COVID-19 pandemic
  • Why writing a novel is like having a baby
  • The way music has influenced his writing
  • How he approaches each writing and publishing project as an experiment
  • Why he made the decision to leave his day job to pursue writing full-time
  • And much more!

For full show notes visit http://www.kevintjohns.com

Direct download: WC_106.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:02pm EDT

In episode #105 of The Writing Coach podcast, I speak with David Puretz.

David Puretz is the author of The Escapist, a debut literary fiction novel exploring themes of mental health and self-discovery.He is the Editorial Director of the literary journal Global City Review and the creator and founder of the quarterly burly bird zine, which is sponsored by Fortroyal Foundation, a non-profit for the conservation and preservation of the arts. Puretz received an MFA in Creative Writing from The City College of New York and was a trailblazer for Ithaca College’s BA in Writing. Currently, Puretz resides in New York City where he teaches writing at Yeshiva University. Kaye is the author of Your Book, Your Brand: The Step-by-Step Guide to Launching Your Book and Boosting Your Sales, and the creator of Branding Outside the Box, where she helps authors and entrepreneurs become more memorable.

Click below to listen now:

Direct download: WC105_1.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:07pm EDT

Welcome to The Writing Coach. On this podcast, I speak with the instructors, editors, coaches, and mentors who help writers and authors create their art, build their audience, and sell their work.

 

In episode #104 of The Writing Coach podcast, I speak with veteran publicist, social media pro, and brand manager Dana Kaye.

In 2009, Dana founded Kaye Publicity, Inc., a boutique PR company specializing in publishing and entertainment. Known for her innovative ideas and knowledge of current trends, she coaches her clients on how to identify and establish their unique personal brands.

Kaye is the author of Your Book, Your Brand: The Step-by-Step Guide to Launching Your Book and Boosting Your Sales, and the creator of Branding Outside the Box, where she helps authors and entrepreneurs become more memorable.

During our discussion, Dana describes:

  • What exactly is an “author brand” and why is it important?
  • How authors can best use podcasts, emails lists, and social media
  • The important difference between publicity and marketing
  • How booking marketing has changed over the last decade
  • The role networking plays in selling books
  • And much more!

Click below to listen now:

Direct download: WC_104.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:27pm EDT

In episode #103 of The Writing Coach podcast, I speak with architect and author Donald M. Rattner.

Donald is the author of My Creative Space: How to Design Your Home to Stimulate Ideas and Spark Innovation and the principal of Donald M. Rattner, Architect. As a consultant, he draws on scientific research to help individuals and organizations maximize occupant creativity in workplace, residential, wellness, hospitality, and retail environments.

An educator and author as well as practitioner, Rattner’s publications include entries in professional reference books, and numerous contributions to print and online channels. He has taught at the University of Illinois, New York Academy of Art, New York University, Parsons School of Design, and online

During our discussion, Donald describes:

  • How manipulating your environment can stimulate creativity
  • Why he spent nearly as much time gathering the images for his book as he did writing it
  • How scientific research helps give validity to the creativity techniques he recommends
  • Why mood and ambiance such as lighting, room temperature, scent, and sound, influence mental processing
  • How certain physical characteristics in the built environment can heighten creativity, including tall ceilings, calming hues, the display of art, access to beautiful views, and more!

Click below to listen now!

Direct download: WC_103.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:10am EDT

Welcome to The Writing Coach. On this podcast, I speak with the instructors, editors, coaches, and mentors who help writers and authors create their art, build their audience, and sell their work.

In episode #102 of The Writing Coach podcast, I speak with author and story coach, Marc Graham.

Marc is an actor, speaker, story coach, shamanic practitioner, and whiskey aficionado. His first novel, Of Ashes and Dust, won the Paul Gillette Memorial Writing Contest and National Writers Association Manuscript Contest. 

When struggling to write his next novel, he turned to one of the most ancient forms of storytelling for inspiration: mythology. Graham discovered that Norse runes (an ancient form of divination) can play an effective role in killing writer’s block. He demonstrates the technique in his new book, Runes for Writers: Boost Your Creativity and Destroy Writer’s Block.

During our discussion, Marc describes:

  • How a traditional Christian upbringing eventually led to a wider exploration of spiritual beliefs and a search for universal truths
  • The challenges and joys of writing historical fiction
  • How conventional storytellers can engage in the same creatives practices as the ancient and modern shaman of indigenous civilizations to deepen their writing
  • Techniques for effectively working research into your fiction writing
  • How synchronicities help point him in the direction of what story he should pursue next
  • The power story and how it can play a role in helping to heal the world’s social ills
  • And much more!

The Writing Coach Episode #102 Show Notes

Check out Marc’s website.

Learn more about my children’s book: Rocket Princess vs. Snaggletooth the Dragon.

Direct download: WC102.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:19pm EDT

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