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

Bestselling author, Fred Waitzkin, spoke with me about journalism, Searching for Bobby Fischer, the thin veil between fiction and non-fiction, and the Zen of his latest novel ANYTHING IS GOOD.
Fred Waitzkin is the journalist and internationally acclaimed bestselling author of Searching for Bobby Fischer, made into the Academy Award-nominated film of the same name.
His work has appeared in Esquire, New York Magazine, The New York Times Sunday Magazine, The New York Times Book Review, Outside, Sports Illustrated, and Forbes, among other publications.
Fred Waitzkin’s fourth novel, Anything Is Good, is described as a “... hypnotically compelling tale of a man haunted by the fate of his childhood buddy, and of that friend’s pleasures and misfortunes as he navigates an unhoused life.”
Pulitzer Prize-winning author Geraldine Brooks said of the book, “Anything Is Good, based on the true story of a brilliant and beleaguered childhood friend, offers a deeply affecting dive into the lives of the unhoused.”
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In this file Fred Waitzkin and I discussed:
Finding his unique voice as a journalist
Why great writers blend non-fiction and fiction
How he chose the subject matter of his latest book
The evolution of his process as a novelist
Why he hates the question, “What’s next?”
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
FredWaitzkin.com
Anything Is Good by Fred Waitzkin (Amazon)
Fred Waitzkin Amazon Author Page
Fred Waitzkin on Facebook
Fred Waitzkin on Instagram
Kelton Reid on Twitter
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NOTE: This is an updated replay of my amazing chat with New York Times bestselling author, Jami Attenberg, in honor of the start of #1000WordsofSummer that kicked off June 1st! Take a listen to learn more about how to jump in and get going. You can always sign up at 1000wordsofsummer.substack.com to get a letter each day from Jami encouraging you to write 1000 words, additional notes from contributing authors, on writing, creativity, and productivity, and there are write-alongs, a slack channel, and of course the book. Enjoy!
New York Times bestselling author, Jami Attenberg, spoke with me about documenting the process of being a writer online and off, building a global literary movement, and her latest, 1000 Words: A Guide to Staying Creative, Focused, and Productive All-Year Round.
Jami Attenberg is the New York Times bestselling author of seven books of fiction, including The Middlesteins, All Grown Up, and her recent memoir, I Came All This Way to Meet You. Her work has been published in 16 languages, she is the founder of the annual #1000WordsofSummer project and maintains the popular Craft Talk newsletter.
Jami Attenberg’s latest is 1000 Words: A Writer's Guide to Staying Creative, Focused, and Productive All Year Round. “Inspired by [her] wildly popular literary movement #1000WordsofSummer, this writer’s guide features encouraging essays on creativity, productivity, and writing from [over 50] acclaimed authors including Roxane Gay, Lauren Groff, Celeste Ng, Meg Wolitzer, and Carmen Maria Machado.”
Lit Hub said of the book, “It will be the new Bird by Bird, you heard it here first.” A Booklist, Starred Review called it “A fantastic set of essays… Readers of this collection will feel surrounded and bolstered by like-minded people who have been in the trenches.”
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In this file Jami Attenberg and I discussed:
The blessing and the curse of knowing you’re a writer 
How she built an online writing community into a literary movement
Her tongue-in-cheek approach to the craft
The reason she uses the seasons as a metaphor for writers
How to harness the power of write-alongs
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
JamiAttenberg.com
1000wordsofsummer.substack.com
1000 Words: A Writer's Guide to Staying Creative, Focused, and Productive All Year Round by Jami Attenberg (Amazon)
Jami Attenberg Amazon Author Page
Jami Attenberg on Twitter
Jami Attenberg on Instagram
Kelton Reid on Twitter
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Bestselling author, podcaster, blogger, speaker, and my friend Jeff Goins, recently brought me along on a creative journey called Hey, Creator! and it was some of the most fun I’ve had as a podcast producer. I also learned a lot from Jeff.
We’re back with another episode from the first season we did together titled “On Mixtapes, or Curation vs. Creation.”
Jeff Goins helps creative people succeed. Through his bestselling books, courses, coaching, and speeches, he shares his ongoing transformation journey, inspiring creators to discover their voice and share it with the world.
He is also the founder of Fresh Complaint, a bespoke creative agency that helps authors, thought leaders, and entrepreneurs turn their stories and ideas into books that change the way people think.
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In this file Jeff Goins and I discussed:
How to make a perfect playlist
Why taste is integral to all creation
What it takes to turn a piece of creative curation into an actual work of art
Why what you leave out is more important than what remains
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
goinswriter.com
freshcomplaint.com
Hey, Creator! Podcast
Jeff Goins Amazon Author Page
Kelton Reid on Twitter
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Writers, publishing experts, and hosts of the Hungry Authors podcast, Liz Morrow and Ariel Curry, spoke with me about the biggest mistake you can make as a writer, the mindset needed to persevere, and their much-anticipated publishing guide.
Ariel Curry is a writer and editor at Ariel Curry Editorial with over 10 years of experience in traditional publishing. Her partner in crime at hungryauthors.com is Liz Morrow, a traditionally published ghostwriter for entrepreneurs, thought leaders, and business experts who specializes in personal and professional development and memoir.`
Their forthcoming debut as co-authors is Hungry Authors: The Indispensable Guide to Planning, Writing, and Publishing a Nonfiction Book (August 6, 2024), available for preorder now.
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In this file Ariel, Liz and I discussed:
The definition of “book mapping”
Seeing the underlying code of The Matrix
How to publish kick-ass nonfiction
Some big names whose books flopped
Why publishing a book is within every writer’s reach
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
hungryauthors.com
Hungry Authors: The Indispensable Guide to Planning, Writing, and Publishing a Nonfiction Book by Liz Morrow and Ariel Curry (Amazon)
Hungry Authors - Podcast w/ Ariel Curry & Liz Morrow
Kelton Reid on Twitter
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Award-winning, New York Times bestselling author April Henry, spoke with me about winning the Edgar Award, killing people on paper, and researching her latest cat-and-mouse survival story, STAY DEAD.
April Henry is the acclaimed bestseller of mysteries for adults and over 15 novels for teens, including the bestselling Girl, Stolen; Girl Forgotten; The Girl I Used to Be (Edgar nominated and winner of the Anthony Award for Best YA Mystery), and most recently winner of the 2024 Edgar Award in the Best Young Adult category for her novel, GIRL FORGOTTEN (2023).
Her latest novel, Stay Dead (May 28, 2024), is described as “... a thrilling murder mystery featuring a teen with an assassin on her trail fighting to uncover the truth behind a government cover-up.”
New York Times bestselling author Ellie Marney called it a “Pacy survival tale, eco-thriller, and murder mystery all rolled into one."
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[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]
In this file April Henry and I discussed:
A crazy thing that happened to her after she won the Edgar
The postcard she got from Roald Dahl that started it all
How she made the transition to full-time writer
Why she trained with real FBI agents
Her love of the treadmill desk
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
aprilhenry.com
Stay Dead by April Henry (Amazon)
April Henry Amazon Author Page
Kelton Reid on Twitter
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Bestselling author, podcaster, blogger, speaker, and my friend Jeff Goins, brought me along on a creative journey not too long ago called Hey, Creator! and it was some of the most fun I’ve had as a podcast producer.
Here’s an episode from the last season we did together titled “How to Finish the First Draft of Anything.”
Jeff Goins helps creative people succeed. Through his bestselling books, courses, coaching, and speeches, he shares his ongoing journey of transformation, inspiring creators to discover their voice and share it with the world.
He is also the founder of Fresh Complaint, a bespoke creative agency that helps authors, thought leaders, and entrepreneurs turn their stories and ideas into books that change the way people think.
[Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm]
[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]
In this file Jeff Goins and I discussed:
Why the first step to finishing is to begin
The secret to getting unstuck
Why nothing is ever really finished
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
goinswriter.com
freshcomplaint.com
Hey, Creator! Podcast
Jeff Goins Amazon Author Page
Kelton Reid on Twitter
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