Creative Writing Life

Ross Berger joined the Creative Writing Life podcast to discuss writing video games and to share what it's like to teach at USC. IMDb - https://pro.imdb.com/name/nm1785725/credits His books: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B1P5JP6H https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07XH3N3D2 FROM ROSS: I'm a consumer-focused creative leader with over fifteen years of content creation experience, who's worked for both SMB and Fortune 500 companies. I embrace the future of content and have a long track record of working on new content platforms before they reach mainstream (YouTube, Virtual Reality, app creation). As a constant learner and trend predictor, I define my professional areas of expertise in two ways: Writing, Narrative Design, and Transmedia Strategy. I have written for television, new media, second-screen experiences, virtual reality, and video games. I've also helped companies develop entertainment franchises and soon-to-be-released brands through the writing of story bibles and content road-maps. Today, the different ways in which stories are told and brands are communicated require nimble thinking, intense collaboration, and a fluency in different media. I rise to the occasion under such demands. Project Management and Producing. I'm not just a creative. I'm also someone who welcomes the managerial demands of a project. Where 40% of my day is devoted to content creation, 60% is set aside for managing relationships with stakeholders, overseeing budgets and schedules, and leading co-workers and vendors to reach the quality bar for any given deliverable. I thrive on collaboration and do my level-best to remove any obstacle that a co-worker might face in their day-to-day. --- Learn more from Paul's and Justin's books, both on Amazon! Go Ahead and Ask Creative Writing Life

Jenny Frankfurt joined us to discuss the Finish Line Script Competition, being a manager, and all sort of fun creative talk. https://finishlinescriptcomp.com ABOUT JENNY Jenny Frankfurt is the founder of the Finish Line Script Competition. Finish Line is based on the idea that rewriting is essential to being a successful writer and we provide development notes when requested in order for writers to rewrite and resubmit new drafts (for free) throughout the competition. This mimics a studio, network or production company process and helps the writer prepare for a serious career in the entertainment industry. Prior to Finish Line and her work as a script consultant, Jenny was a film and television literary manager/producer with her own company, Highstreet Management based in Los Angeles. Highstreet represented writers around the globe, specializing but not limited to breaking UK, European & Australian writers and directors into the US market. She sold television shows (both reality and fiction), features and staffed television shows for almost 20 years. Jenny began her career in representation after graduating from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts by working at the William Morris Agency in New York where she worked for a legendary film, tv and playwright’s agent, who represented such writers as Eric Bogosian, William Mastrosimone, Warren Leight, Eric Overmyer and Jon Robin Baitz. From NYC Jenny moved to Los Angeles where she worked at ICM with clients such as Susan Sarandon, Louis Malle, Johnny Depp, Lasse Hallstrom and Will Smith. After deciding management would give her more freedom to produce and influence her client’s careers she started working with manager Rick Yorn and clients such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Cameron Diaz, Claire Danes and Benicio Del Toro among others. Jenny tried her own hand at producing the independent feature JOHNNY HIT AND RUN PAULINE, to which Emma Thompson was attached as Executive Producer. Jenny then started working with manager Benny Medina at Handprint Entertainment, representing talent, literary and production clients. She soon became Head of Handprint’s Literary Department. --- Learn more from Paul's and Justin's books, both on Amazon! Go Ahead and Ask Creative Writing Life

 Ashley Scott Meyers on NFTs for Movies Check out his film!  https://tubitv.com/movies/654467/the-rideshare-killer ABOUT ASHLEY  After graduating from college Ashley Scott Meyers moved from his childhood home in Annapolis, Maryland, to Los Angeles, California to pursue a career as a screenwriter. During his first three years in Los Angeles, Meyers wrote or co-wrote eight feature length screenplays, earned his first few dollars as a screenwriter, and saw two of his original screenplays get produced. Meyers sold Dish Dogs to 7.23 Productions. Dish Dogs was co-written with long time friend and writing partner, Nathan Ives. It's a semi-fictitious account of their travels across the country working as dish washers ("dish dogs") in various restaurants. Dish Dogs stars Sean Astin, Mattew Lillard, Brian Dennehy, Shannon Elizabeth, Maitland Ward, and Richard Moll. Independent producer / director Douglas DeMarco produced Meyers' screenplay Reunion which eventually found distribution in some art house theaters around the world. During his initial years in Los Angeles, Meyers returned to school and earned a Masters degree in Mass Communications, with a screenwriting emphasis, at Cal State, Northridge (CSUN). Over the next few years Meyers continued to option and sell many screenplays. Some of the highlights include: Rushlight, a film noir script Meyers wrote while at CSUN was produced and stars Josh Henderson, Beau Bridges, Aidan Quinn, and Haley Webb. Meyers was hired to write a martial arts action screenplay by Big Boss Creative entitled, Ninja Apocalypse. It stars Ernie Reyes Jr, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa and Christian Oliver. Man Overboard, also co-written with Nathan Ives, was sold to and produced by Treasure Entertainment. It's a broad comedy anchored in the world of boat sales. It won the Los Angeles Film & Script Festival. Meyers co-wrote a feature comedy script, Turkey Day, with Mark Brown (Barbershop) that was optioned to Evergreen Pictures, LLC (based at Universal). Ashley Scott Meyers' writing credits are listed on the Internet Movie Database (imdb.com) at this URL: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0583488/ Please leave reviews for the  Creative Writing Life Podcast!  #creativewriting #podcast 

Rich Hosek, Arnold Rudnick, and Loyd Aurbach discuss writing a book on poltergeists, trio of authors, and going from screenwriting to the novel world. Check out A Raney/Daye Investigation - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08K7L2P8Y   More links:   https://www.richhosek.com/ https://www.amazon.com/stores/Loyd-Auerbach/author/B001HCZ2Y4?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true https://www.amazon.com/stores/Arnold-Rudnick/author/B002RDPLAW?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0395923/ imdb.com/name/nm0748860/ imdb.com/name/nm1992963/  Enjoy the #CreativeWriting Life #Podcast Enjoy the #CreativeWriting Life #Podcast !!! 

PT Hylton joins Justin and Paul to discuss:    Roadmap Writers  Screenwriting Management  Writing novels and creating audiobooks P.T. Hylton lives in Eastern Tennessee where he spends his time hiking, reading, and absently plucking on a guitar. He loves strong coffee, brown ale, and a good plot twist. He does his best writing when his beagle is snoring at his feet. https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B00J8K7KWY/about #creativewriting #screenwriting

Gerald Hanks joins Paul and Justin to discuss the VOTE Screenplay Writing Method, Contests, and Managers. https://www.networkisa.org/profile/geraldhanks Biography Gerald Hanks has written several award-winning short films from such festivals as the Houston International Film Festival, the Texas Shorts festival, and the West Coast International Film Festival. His feature comedy script, "Scaredy Cat", made the finals of the National Lampoon Comedy Gold Screenwriting contest. His feature drama script, "Prodigal", won the Kairos Prize for Spiritually Uplifiting Screenplays. Gerald has been a screenwriting judge for various contests, as well as providing script consultations for private clients. Gerald has also presented and modereated panels on the screenwriting process at sci-fi conventions, including Houston's Comicpalooza and Lafayette's Louisana Comic-Con. You can find our more about Gerald's approach to screenwriting as his blog, Story Into Screenplay (www.storyintoscreenplay.com).

Nathan Graham Davis joins the group to discuss breaking BACK into Hollywood, getting old scripts made, and going pro as a screenwriter!  Screenwriter | Author | Producer FROM NATE:  I write about things that fascinate, thrill, and scare me. With a background in the business and financial worlds, I enjoy finding ways to get stuff made. Keep an eye out for AFTERMATH, directed by Patrick Lussier and starring Dylan Sprouse, Mason Gooding, Dichen Lachman, and Megan Stott. Coming out later this year! Representation: Jeff Belkin @ Zero Gravity Check out Going Pro, the latest series on my YouTube, following my attempt to turn my momentum into a full-time screenwriting and producing carer. FIND HIS CREDITS: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm10181436/ #Screenwriter #Screenwriting

This week on the Creative Writing Life podcast, Chip Street joins Justin and Paul to discuss #screenplay #options! Watch the YouTube video here - https://youtu.be/QS4lfrK48G4  21 Things You Need To Know About Screenplay Options: The Indie Screenwriter's Guide To Protecting Yourself And Getting The Best Deal Kindle Edition by Chip Street GET THE BOOK  Chip Street on Optioning Your Screenplay 21 Things You Need To Know About Screenplay Options: The Indie Screenwriter's Guide To Protecting Yourself And Getting The Best Deal Are you an indie screenwriter looking to protect yourself and secure the best deal in a screenplay option? Look no further than Chip Street's 21 Things You Need To Know About Screenplay Options: The Indie Screenwriter's Guide. Based on his own experiences and negotiations, Chip offers valuable insight and tips on navigating the option process. He even enlisted the help of a top lawyer to mark up contracts and go over potential points of concern or negotiation. With Chip's guidance, you'll feel more informed and confident in your own negotiations. And, with Chip's own successful track record as a professional screenwriter in various genres, you can trust that his advice is well-informed and effective. Don't miss out on Chip Street's expert advice in 21 Things You Need To Know About Screenplay Options: The Indie Screenwriter's Guide. Protect yourself and secure the best deal for your screenplay today. About the Author Chip Street is a professional screenwriter in a variety of genres. His feature screenplay "Rocket Summer" has sold and is looking for funding and distribution. He also has multiple options on other properties, and dozens of shorts and industrials produced. IMDB credits include screenwriter (additional writer), story consultant, short screenwriter, art director, and director. He's also been a screenplay contest judge and a juror for film festivals. Placements include: Semi-finalist Slamdance (co-writer). Top 20% Austin FF (co-writer). Top 15% Nicholl. Finalist Shriekfest Screenplay Competition. Chip's articles on writing and storytelling have been cited, referenced, or quoted by SimplyScripts, Script Magazine, the BlueCat Newsletter, IndieWire, JohnAugust.com, Bleeding Cool, ScriptTips, Scriptchat, MovieOutline.com, No Film School, and Wikipedia.

Justin and Paul discuss writing tools for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and how we can all leverage AI to improve our process. Such tools include ChatGPT, SudoWrite, and NovelAI.  https://chat.openai.com https://www.sudowrite.com/app https://novelai.net

Justin and Paul discuss what they did in 2022 and how they are working to achieve their 2023 writing goals. Listen in for advice on how to set writer goals and achieve them.  #Screenwrting #NovelWriting #Game Writing

20Books Vegas just opened up again for registration, so Brian Drake joined us AGAIN to discuss the conference with Justin. Also, this year, Justin joined a Skyrim designer to discuss writing for games.  http://20booksvegas.com/ What is 20Books Vegas all about? Here’s the introduction speeches and high-powered author panel from 20Books Vegas 2022. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTrqmZBt-FWUWnxWD2x5Ucg 20Books Vegas 2022 was by far the biggest and best of the 20Books shows (we’ve had a bunch). It is the biggest show in the world focused on self-publishing although there is something for every author, traditional or indie. Why would you come to Las Vegas in November to be with up to 2500 authors, publishers, and industry professionals? Because we believe that everyone deserves a chance to succeed if they take the knowledge and experience and apply it to their author business. What if you could ask a question of someone who is where you want to be? What would that question be? Vegas gives you that opportunity. We had over 300 authors making full-time money from their writing. There will be something for everyone. Be warned, no one is going to carry you and make you an overnight sensation. You have to do that for yourself by applying what over 100 guest speakers have to offer. Are you ready to excel, reap the rewards of your good work? Then take control of your author career. There is no other conference like 20Books Vegas. This show is predicated on the principle of giving back. It is run without any profit. We run this show because philanthropy is a part of our lives. We make our money off our fiction. We don’t need to make it from other authors. So we don’t. We get our reward when we see others We have our Live Events YouTube Channel so you can see the types of presentations we have made along with our daily material. Please follow the 20Booksto50k(R) Live Events channel for a great source of information on all things publishing. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTrqmZBt-FWUWnxWD2x5Ucg

Adrienne Young and Isabel Ibañez discuss their new release for writers - The Storyteller's Workbook https://www.amazon.com/dp/0593539435 About the Author Adrienne Young is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Fable duology and the Sky in the Deep duology. She is a foodie with a deep love of history and travel and a shameless addiction to coffee. When she’s not writing, you can find her on her yoga mat, sipping wine over long dinners, or disappearing into her favorite art museums. She lives with her documentary filmmaker husband and their four little wildlings in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Isabel Ibañez is an award-winning designer and the author of Woven in Moonlight, a finalist for the William C. Morris Award and Time’s 100 Best Fantasy Books of All Time, Written in Starlight, and Together We Burn. Her designs have been sold in nationwide brands such as Anthropologie, Crate & Barrel, and Paper Source in the form of greeting cards, notepads, and journals. THE BOOK: Your companion to writing a novel from start to finish, with thoughtful prompts, calendars, and checklists to guide you along the way. Wherever you are on your journey as a writer, The Storyteller’s Workbook is your one-stop shop for planning, writing, and pitching your novel. Find the space and freedom to create authentically with just enough structure and guidance to get you to the finish line.

Join us as we discuss fun lives in writing for books, film, and games!  Go Ahead and Ask! https://www.amazon.com/Go-Ahead-Ask-Interviews-Screenwriting/dp/B09WRFNMV5 Creative Writing Life - https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Writing-Life-Justin-Sloan-ebook/dp/B07YR2FMYK Creative Writing Career - https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Writing-Career-Justin-Sloan-ebook/dp/B07YR2SHJ4

What are the basics in terms of creative writing? Justin and Paul dive into all of that! Enjoy.

Hudson Phillips joined Justin and Paul to discuss screenwriting and how to develop awesome characters. Enjoy!  Writer & Producer of @thisworldalonefilm and #guacamoleyesterdays 📖 Writing Unforgettable Characters now available on Amazon! hudsonwrites.com From Hudson:  I'm a screenwriter from Atlanta, GA that writes big, breezy genre films with equal parts humor and heart. I wrote and produced the feature film This World Alone which was released on Hulu in 2021. I previously had a script optioned by Lions Gate Films and have been hired to write three indie features in the past two years. I also founded the organization ScriptBlast, which helps struggling screenwriters navigate the ups and downs of the writing journey, and host the ScriptBlast Screenwriting Podcast. Additionally, I've spoken across the U.S. on screenwriting and indie film and have been featured on numerous podcasts including Show Don't Tell, Making Movies is Hard, and the AFC Indie Filmmaking Podcast. https://www.instagram.com/hudsonphillips/?hl=en https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4107902/

Author Troy Lambert joined Justin and Paul to discuss PLOTTR and 20BooksVegas! Plottr: Plan Your Books The Way You Think Outline faster, organize smarter, and turbocharge your productivity today with the #1 visual book planning software for writers. https://plottr.com/  How Plottr Will Help You Outline Your Books Visualize Your Plot Points Plottr lets you easily arrange (and rearrange) your scenes, plots, and character arcs so you can quickly find your way to the end of your tale — no corkboard required. ABOUT TROY, FROM TROY I’m Troy Lambert. I’ve been writing full time for a little over a decade now, with a part-time job thrown in from time to time for a variety of reasons, most of which I won’t go into here. I’ve always wanted to be a writer. When I was six, I penned the as-yet-unpublished book, George and the Giant Castle. It was an uphill battle from there, until I did one thing: I gave in. Let me explain. A Series of Name Tags and Hairnets I knew this was the career for me, really the only career for me. But everyone I told laughed. “That’s great,” they told me. “But what will you do for money?” So I believed them and embarked on a journey of more than three decades that included a series of nametags, hairnets, and potential careers that ended–well, not as well as I had hoped. I finally decided I needed to give this writing thing a real shot, right around the time that self-publishing became a thing.

Amanda Innes joins Justin and Paul to discuss writing, theater, publishing novels, and PA work.  ABOUT AMANDA Amanda Innes has been a production assistant on film sets, a dogsbody for community theaters, a performer of Shakespeare, an instructor for summer camps, and worked for major publishing houses before turning her attention to her own writing. She grew up in Texas, went to graduate school in Massachusetts, and now lives in Northern California. Grab her books on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Amanda-Innes/e/B096LDB8DL And especially THE GHOSTS OF MARSHLEY PARK: https://www.amazon.com/Ghosts-Marshley-Park-Amanda-Innes/dp/0578894866

Ashley Poprick joined Justin and Paul to chat about the Austin Film Festival, game writing, and the new game writing panels the #AFF is putting on.  From Ashley I’m Ashley “Ash” Poprik and I’m a game writer with 4+ years of game writing and 7+ years of screenwriting experience working in highly-collaborative studios. I have a knack for crafting memorable characters, snappy text, and whimsical stories. I have written for a variety of companies including Insomniac Games, Hasbro, and BonusXP. Here you can find my portfolio of professional works as well as some writing samples. Please, take a look around! I’ve recently redecorated the place :) https://ashleypoprik.com/

James Ridgley joined Justin and Paul to discuss filmmaking. He also shared his information on performing standup as well as on cruise ships, sketches, and going from juggling to microbudget films.  His IMDb - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0725927 About James James Ridgley grew up as a latch-key kid in West Los Angeles attending IPS, a program within University High School; an highly experimental learning environment which involved Landmark training and other "therapy" type instruction. Also where he attended a Metaphysics class which lead to an actual one time telepathic communication from his teacher from across the city. This would later affect his current screenwriting efforts in the Spiritual Drama/Dramedy genre (Perhaps a just made up genre.) That same year in High School he started his career performing a Comedy-Juggling act around the world, working as an Opening Act for Ray Charles; Marilyn McCoo; worked with Penn and Teller, Pee Wee Herman, the late great Bill Hicks, Bob Saget and others. He performed Stand-Up in the 80's and 90's and dabbled in screenwriting. While the screenplay "DC DOG" got him noticed, along with a 2nd Place standing in Kodak's Short Script Film Awards for his original script "Where Life Begins" it didn't lead to production so he went to film school to learn the art himself. From this naive position he ended up with jobs in editorial and then mostly as a Production Sound Mixer, working with his favorite directors: Mark Pellington, Mike Mills, and Victor Salva. In between he writes and directs his own projects and has a slew of Screenplays ready to market.

PJ McIlvaine joins Justin and Paul to chat about writing picture books, screenplays and so much more.  https://pjmacwriter.com for her website! ABOUT: PJ McIlvaine is a prolific kid lit writer/author/screenwriter/writer/journalist. PJ’s debut middle-grade supernatural historical mystery from Darkstroke Books (April 2022) VIOLET YORKE, GILDED GIRL: GHOSTS IN THE CLOSET about the misadventures of a poor little rich girl who can see ghosts in NYC 1912 is now available on Amazon Kindle and paperback. PJ’s second picture book DRAGON ROAR about a sick, lonely dragon who has lost his fierce roar and the brave village girl who helps him find it again through acts of kindness (October 2021) from MacLaren-Cochrane Publishing with artwork by Logan Rogers.  PJ’s debut picture book LITTLE LENA AND THE BIG TABLE  (May 2019) with  illustrations by  Leila Nabih is about a little girl who discovers that sitting at the big table isn’t all it’s cracked up to be from Big Belly Book Co. In September 2023, PJ’s debut Young Adult Alternate History Adventure THE CONUNDRUM OF CHARLEMAGNE CROSSE set in Victorian London featuring an evil Queen Victoria, a determined heiress, a psycho cat, lobotomies, corsets, solar eclipses, and doomed romance from Orange Blossom Books  https://www.orangeblossombooks.com/ Coming in 2024-2027: a Creature Feature series and a standalone about a cookie thief for Young Dragons Press, an imprint of Oghma Creative Media. PJ is also a co-host of #PBPitch, the premiere Twitter pitch party for picture book creators. PJ has been published in numerous outlets including The New York Times and Newsday. PJ is also a regular contributor for the Children’s Book Insider newsletter, writing about the path to publication and featuring interviews with established and debut kid lit authors. In addition, PJ’s critically acclaimed Showtime original family movie MY HORRIBLE YEAR with Mimi Rogers, Karen Allen and Eric Stoltz, was nominated for a Daytime Emmy.  It’s still in the ether at You Tube. PJ is a born and bred New Yorker and is proud to call Eastern Long Island her home.  When she’s not writing or running after her four rambunctious grandchildren or tending to the capricious needs of Luna, a feisty French Bulldog who has a thing about feet, power tools, and following commands. PJ loves all kinds of international noir thrillers, period pieces, pizza, CSNY, John Hiatt, Steve Earle, Bruce Springsteen, horror movies, Stephen King, vanilla ice cream, and pretty much anything with Ted Levine.

Robert People speaks about writing your first book and more!  Find his books and more at robertpeople.com. FROM ROBERT: Hi, everybody! My name is Robert People and you’ve reached People’s Court. I am an author with six self-published books and I am also a poet and an aspiring professional screenwriter. I’ve completed several works and at the moment and I’m still looking for agency representation. Hopefully, I will not be looking for long! I retired from the Army in 2018 after 21 years of service. I am married and we have two children. Some of my hobbies include writing, reading, exercising, traveling and spending time with my family. I also look to encourage those around me whenever I can, so if you don’t mind that, you can expect to see that also. My posts will touch on just about anything. NOTE: If you’re on a mobile device and do not see “Archives” and dates listed on the right side of the page, just scroll to the bottom and click on “View Full Site,” and you should see them there. Thanks for visiting! Blog:https://pplscrt79.wordpress.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/PeoplesCourt79 Facebook: https://facebook.com/robert.people.9 You can also email me at: Robert.People.79@gmail.com -- Please leave a review and share the word!

In preparation for the #AFF22 panel on Interactive Storytelling, Philip Balli joined us to discuss the Austin Film Festival, Writing Games, and Working in TV. He has a wealth of information to share!  https://austinfilmfestival.com/festival-and-conference-aff/panelists-and-awardees/ About Philip: Philip is a Laredo, TX native with an MFA in screenwriting from the University of Texas at Austin. He has experience serving in various support staff positions in TV writers’ rooms for shows such as Fargo (FX) and Parasite (HBO). Prior to that, he was a research assistant to writer/director Noah Hawley. As an adjunct instructor, Philip has taught an introduction to screenwriting course at Texas A&M International University. Currently, he is a full-time game writer & narrative designer at OrionGames, an all-remote indie studio working on its first title, the action-adventure Arto. When he isn’t writing, Philip is playing video games (mostly story-driven or narrative adventure games), watching Bluey with his daughters, or reading fantasy/sci-fi book series. The AFF panel for 2022 (with Justin Sloan and Ashley Poprik): Interactive Storytelling: The New Frontier Video games have developed from small, linear play-through adventures to massive multiplayer games with open worlds and branching narratives. So how has this evolution led to a growing commitment to story, and how has this interactive medium affected the way we tell and consume stories? Join this conversation on the challenges and opportunities that come with interactive storytelling. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm12090996/

This week Collin Lieberg joined Justin and Paul to discuss writing groups such as the Virtual Happy Hour (VHH), the Austin Film Festival, and Creative Development. Enjoy!  https://twitter.com/collinlieberg From Collin: Due to being a nerd (before it was cool), as well as years living abroad and feeling out of place, I write drama and genre stories about outsiders struggling to fit in.  I have a background in academia, management, marketing, and retail that all inform my characters and stories. For two years I have run a monthly #VirtualHappyHour #VHH Zoom mixer to chat and connect with friends old and new.

Isabel Dréan chatted with Justin and Paul about what it's been like for her to write fun screenplays - Christmas and not - and to direct movies. She shared some great advice on not giving away power. Listen to find out what that means!  Check out her movies, to include The Holiday Switch and Christmas on the Rocks.  Her IMDb – https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2605838/ ABOUT ISABEL: Originally from Montreal, Canada, Isabel Dréan is an award-winning director/producer. Psychological thriller and suspense are her forte. Isabel's passion for thrillers and horror has pushed her to experiment with various contemporary themes in the genre, her favorites being female revenge, empowerment, #metoo, and women overcoming the impossible. As a director, producer, and screenwriter, she is currently developing a variety of projects, features, shorts, and series with a range of well-established and independent producers. Nothing excites her more than the creative process and the journey. "Every day is a creative adventure!"

Former Marine Mark R. Clifford wrote The Typhoon Coast and joined Justin and Paul to discuss writing historical thrillers and his other endeavors. Enjoy! Website: https://typhooncoast.com/ The book: https://www.amazon.com/Typhoon-Coast-Mark-R-Clifford/dp/B0875ZKL2Y About Mark:  Mark R. Clifford is a proud fourth-generation San Franciscan. He is the second-born in an Irish Catholic family of seven, making him a self-declared expert in the pseudoscience of birth order characteristics. Mark served in the Marine infantry for ten years and as a Police Officer for over a quarter-century. His debut novel, TYPHOON COAST, is about what troubles him. In the Marines, Mark rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant. He received Special Operations training while attached to the 3rd Marine Division in Okinawa and was operating in the Philippines in 1991 during the historic eruption of Mount Pinatubo. His law enforcement career was equally eclectic. He rose to the sergeant’s rank and served in many assignments to include SWAT and undercover narcotics. Mark still calls the San Francisco Bay Area home. He and his wife have been married for almost thirty years and have raised three beautiful children. He has written for the San Jose Mercury, Contra Costa Times, Military Experience & The Arts magazine, San Leandro Times, and read his works at the famous Cody’s Books in Berkeley. He is the current Program Chair for the California Writers Club. Mark is passionate about inspiring leaders to turn their stories into service. In his retirement, Mark mentors veterans transitioning to civilian life at musician Zac Brown’s Camp Southern Ground.

James Moorer talks screenwriting as a gift, Roadmap Writers, why we write, and pancakes. He recommends DuPars at The Grove, by the way.  Bio, from James:  I was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, and from a very early age I loved books and fantastic stories. I wrote my first play in elementary school and performed it along with some of my fellow students. My desire to write went crazy after reading a Truman Capote story in Esquire magazine. I’ve since, had two books published and moved to LA to become a working screenwriter. I am also notoriously known for my love of pancakes and the go to authority on where the best places are in town to find them. Visit his website: https://jamesmoorer.com Learn more about his movies: IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3150339 Check out his Hammerjaxxfilms.com And READ HIS BOOK on Amazon :)   Two For The Pain: An Eddie Gideon Mystery

This week we spoke with James Mason about loglines! He's putting together a book on loglines, so be sure to check out the episode and then stay tuned to hear when he publishes.  https://www.facebook.com/screenrioter  Join Justin and Paul in another episode of Creative Writing Life!  Paul's book - GO AHEAD AND ASK - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09WRFNMV5 Justin's book - CREATIVE WRITING CAREER - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07YR2SHJ4

This week, Justin and Paul spoke with Chad Ayinde about making comics and writing screenplays, moving to Los Angeles, and attending the WGF Veterans Writing Project. Enjoy!  The WGF Veterans Writing Project - https://www.wgfoundation.org/programs/the-veterans-writing-project  Learn more about his comics -- https://www.battlebornecomics.com/battlebornebasics  From Chad: After a college wrestling career, 12-years as an Army Noncommissioned Officer, a brief stint as an Under Armour Director for Tactical Fitness, and a Senior Consultant for Human Performance Analytics... I decided to venture into my passion career. In 2020, I established Battleborne Comics: Creative content forged from combat, a veteran owned comic book studio with a mission of "establishing entertainment industry inroads for aspiring veteran creators". Since then, I've been blessed to write/oversee four comic titles, two Best Screenplay competition wins, and direct my first ever movie short (Chapter & Hearse: The Misadventures of the Mob's Most Mediocre Assassin). An interview with Chad - https://medium.com/authority-magazine/how-chad-ayinde-of-battleborne-comics-is-helping-to-make-the-entertainment-industry-more-diverse-48747ec5898e

Justin Sloan shares his experience with the WGF's Veterans Writing Project - enjoy!

Justin and Paul look back at their writing over the first half of 2022, including screenwriting successes, books published, and more. Also, what's next? Come find out! 

Dave Chesson joined us to chat about his book writing and formatting tool ATTICUS.  https://www.atticus.io/ Atticus is an easy, all-in-one writing and formatting tool that helps authors generate beautiful, professional-quality ebooks and print books. In this episode of Self Publishing Insiders, we’re chatting with Dave about the origins of the software, where it’s going, and more importantly, where it can take authors and publishers in the future. You might also know Dave from Kindlepreneur. https://kindlepreneur.com

Author Jason Vandevelde is a member of the Elder Tree NFT team, and has done writing on at least 20 NFT projects. He shares his experience working on NFT projects, writing for Fiverr, and more. Enjoy! ELDER TREE NFT: Story nerds dedicated to taking your NFT projects to new heights through writing, storytelling, and consulting services. www.eldertreenft.com

Justin and Paul share their thoughts on writing in other people's worlds and on contract. How do you read their minds?! 

Justin and Paul chat with Mark Fielding about writing Web 3 and NFT -- to include stories and copy writing.  Learn more about Mark here:  https://metaverse-writer.io/portfolio/  https://linktr.ee/markfielding

Justin and Paul discuss ghostwriting on services such as Fiverr, Upwork, Reedsy, and more. Ever thought about earning a living by writing for other people? Come on by and listen :)

Justin and Paul discuss the new book that Paul released, titled "GO AHEAD AND ASK" - full of great Q&As about screenwriting.  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09WRFNMV5 Got a question about screenwriting? -What makes for a good script? -What are some Do's and Don't's when it comes to writing a script? -Are screenwriting contests worth it? -What's your favorite kind of pie? (okay, not technically about screenwriting, but still a very important topic) These are just some of the questions posed to over 100 professionals within the screenwriting community - from writers to filmmakers to consultants via interviews on the screenwriting blog Maximum Z. While there may be a wide range of answers, they're all about one thing - helping you become a better writer, offering invaluable guidance and information. In addition to offering help for writers, each interview also provides recommendations of numerous kinds of pie to enjoy. When it comes to writing a script for film or TV, a play, a comic book, or a webcomic, there are going to be lots of questions. This book can help, so...Go Ahead And Ask!

This week Justin and Paul talk Pitching Hollywood Studios and Changes to the Nicholl Fellowship. Enjoy! 

Gregory Blair joined us to share his experience with acting, writing, and directing, and how each of these skills feed each other.  Award-winning actor/writer/director/producer Gregory Blair was born and bred in Southern California. He studied throughout Los Angeles--including UCLA--as well as abroad at Cambridge University. He is the recipient of a Geoffrey Award for Best Character Actor, an EOTM Award for Best Director and a Claw Award for Best Screenplay. He is also the author of the Stonewall Award winning novel "Spewing Pulp", "The Ritual", and "Little Shivers" as well as the stage plays "Cold Lang Syne" and "Nicholas Nickleby". He is known for his animated manner, quirky intensity and expressive eyebrows. His IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2489045/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm 

This week B. Earl shared his experience writing for such NFT projects as Chiwawows and Marvel projects as a new Spiderman comic. Interested in NFT Writing? Blockchain and Web3 and all that? Check it out!  From B. Earl:  I have been working in the entertainment business for the past 20 years ranging from documentaries to graphic novels to feature films to community building. Currently I am writing for Marvel Comics while producing projects with my creative partner, Taboo, under our SkyView Way Studios banner. We have projects currently set up with Cartoon Network and Gaumont. I am also heavily involved in the blockchain space, using NFTs as storytelling nodes for both community and world-building. The current project I am running and creating is called Chiwawows (www.chiwawows.com) which is built on the Solana Blockchain. I have two other story-driven NFT projects in development called Realms of Avalon and Angryfoot. My focus is to create multi-media experiences in entertainment using new and emerging technologies that engage communities into creative activity. Having founded the largest comic book club in LA in 2008 called COMIC BOOK SUNDAY! (CBS!), with members around the globe, my finger is on the pulse of what is trending across the board and my access to those creators is unparalleled.

Justin and Paul spoke with Arie Kaplan on writing for kids in games, books, tv, and more!  Arie Kaplan is the author of more than two dozen books, including "LEGO Star Wars: Face Off," "LEGO Star Wars: The Official Stormtrooper Training Manual," "The Jurassic Park Little Golden Book," "Swashbuckling Scoundrels: Pirates in Fact and Fiction," and the award-winning "From Krakow to Krypton: Jews and Comic Books." He has also written several graphic novels, including "Speed Racer: Chronicles of the Racer," "Shadow Guy and Gamma Gal: Heroes Unite," "The Penguins of Madagascar: Penguins on a Mission," and "The New Kid from Planet Glorf." In addition to his career as an author, Arie is a screenwriter for television, video games, comic books, and transmedia. Links from Arie:  1) I'm currently writing the scripts for a mobile game called "eQuoo: The Next Generation: Lodestar," which is out now from PsycApps. Here's a link to the "eQuoo" page of my website. On that page, you can see an "eQuoo" game trailer, a poster, and some info about the core concepts behind the game: https://www.ariekaplan.com/game-writing/equoo-the-next-generation-lodestar/ 2) Recently, I wrote a freelance episode of the Netflix animated series "Charlie's Colorforms City." The episode, titled "Charlie and Little Bo Peep," is streaming now. For more info - including a clip from the episode - check out this link: http://www.ariekaplan.com/television-writing/charlies-colorforms-city/ 3) Here's the "Game Writing" section of my website, where you can see highlights from my career as a game writer (aka screenwriter for video games): http://www.ariekaplan.com/game-writing/ 4) Here's the link to the "Television Writing" section of my site, where you can see some highlights from my career as a television comedy writer (e.g. my work as a staff writer on the late, lamented TV series "TruTV Presents: World's Dumbest"): http://www.ariekaplan.com/television-writing/ 5) Here's my Amazon Author Page, where you can see some of the books (and graphic novels) I've written over the years: https://www.amazon.com/author/ariekaplan 6) Here's the link to the "Humor, Fiction, & Essay" page of my site: http://www.ariekaplan.com/humor-fiction-and-essays/

Justin and Paul are joined by Rebecca Murga to discuss AFI, Disney Directing, and Filmmaking!  Visit her website at: http://www.rebeccamurga.com/about Rebecca Murga is a Chicago-born, Latinx filmmaker who produces and directs films, commercials, and documentaries for clients such as ABC, CBS, HBO, Mundo FOX, AT&T, and A&E Networks. She is currently the Director of the AFI Directing Workshop for Women (DWW), a hands-on training program committed to increasing the number of women and gender non-binary artists working professionally as narrative screen directors. Rebecca served as a Captain in the US Army and deployed to Iraq, Kuwait, and Afghanistan. She was awarded a Bronze Star for her work as one of the first women attached to Special Operations in Afghanistan. She currently works with the John Mayer Foundation, Heart and Armor, advocating for women in the military. As one of the WGA writers in the Dan Lin / Rideback TV incubator produced by Rideback Television with financing and other support by MRC, Rebecca is experienced in collaborating with producers, designers, editors and executives from creative development to post-production. Rebecca was selected for and has completed the AFI Directing Workshop for Women, the Disney / ABC Directing Program, Ryan Murphy Television Directing Program and has been the recipient of several grants including the National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP) grant, the Panavision New Filmmakers Grant, and The Nancy Malone Directing Award. Rebecca is a passionate advocate for veterans and women's issues with articles published in The New York Times and The Global Journal. She has appeared on ABC's "Good Morning America," and "The View." Most recently, she was featured on NPR as the director of a short film “War Ink” which tells veteran's war stories through their tattoos. Find her on IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5176113/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1

Join Justin and Paul as they talk with Hayato Mitsuishi of Kevin's Entertainment. We discussed the film festival he used to run in Los Angeles, Japanese cinema, and more fun topics. Enjoy!  KEVIN'S ENTERTAINMENT Kevin's Entertainment is a Los Angeles based production and talent management company leading business initiatives that bring Hollywood and the Japanese entertainment industry closer together. Our expertise lie in working with both the US and Japan to create and promote content that can be enjoyed by a global audience. Our clientele in both countries include major studios, ad agencies, talent agencies, and production companies. We also manage actors and film directors.

Join Justin and Paul as they discuss the upcoming film CRYPTO with Amy Duboff and James Fox.  When a burned-out game developer uncovers a mysterious message embedded in a cryptocurrency algorithm, her quest for answers quickly devolves into a deadly game of cat and mouse. COMING 2022 STARRING  Mikayla Iverson DIRECTED BY  James Fox SCREENPLAY BY  Amy Kay DuBoff & James Fox More about the movie: https://www.crypto-movie.com Watch the Teaser HERE. ABOUT THE GUESTS AMY DUBOFF: Amy Kay DuBoff is an award-winning and USA Today bestselling author specializing in sci-fi and space fantasy. Dubbed by her readers a modern “Queen of Space Opera,” she is most known for her acclaimed Cadicle Universe. The second book in her standalone Dark Stars Trilogy, A Light in the Dark, was a 2018 Nebula finalist for the Andre Norton Award. Amy’s short fiction has been published by NewCon Press, Seventh Seal Press, and numerous indie publications. Amy co-wrote the feature film screenplay for CRYPTO (2022), a sci-fi technothriller now in post-production. JAMES FOX: Native American and Californian, James Fox is a natural storyteller. After graduating from the Academy of Art in San Francisco, with a BFA in Directing, he became the Founder of Dawnrunner Inc. and has championed the company through numerous award-winning projects over fifteen years. As a writer, Fox devotes his energies to the careful crafting of compelling characters and diverse worlds.

Join Justin and Paul as they talk about Ghostwriting on Fiverr, Kuprik, Reedsy, and also Pitch Fests. Other fun advice is included, and discussions on what we're reading/watching. www.Kuprik.com www.Fiverr.com

Brian Drake returns to the Creative Writing Life podcast to discuss the 2021 20BooksVegas writers conference. Enjoy!  http://20booksvegas.com/ Here is some information on the conf: What is 20Books Vegas all about? Here’s a short video to show the energy. https://vimeo.com/254950940 20Books Vegas 2022 is by far the biggest and best of the 20Books shows (we’ve had ten so far). It is the biggest show in the world focused on self-publishing although there is something for every author, traditional or indie. Why would you come to Las Vegas in November to be with 2500 authors and publishers? Because we believe that everyone deserves a chance to succeed if they take the knowledge and experience and apply it to their author business. What if you could ask a question of someone who is where you want to be? What would that question be? Vegas gives you that opportunity. With up to 20 authors making seven figures a year and hundreds making a full-time living, there will be something for everyone. Be warned, no one is going to carry you and make you an overnight sensation. You have to do that for yourself by applying what over 100 guest speakers have to offer. Are you ready to excel, reap the rewards of your good work? Then take control of your author career. There is no other conference like 20Books Vegas. This show is predicated on the principle of giving back. It is run without any profit. We run this show because philanthropy is a part of our lives. We make our money off our fiction. We don’t need to make it from other authors. So we don’t. We get our reward when we see others We have our Live Events YouTube Channel so you can see the types of presentations we have made along with our daily material. Please follow the 20Booksto50k(R) Live Events channel for a great source of information on all things publishing. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTrqmZBt-FWUWnxWD2x5Ucg 20Books Vegas 2022 Facebook Group

Drew joins the team to discuss Japanese Cinema! Drew Avera is a Navy veteran, musician, and the bestselling author of the Dead Planet series and the Alorian Wars. He was born and raised in rural Mississippi and grew up with a deep affection for comic books and science fiction movies and television shows. At one point he boasted a comic book collection with more than 1,000 issues.

Justin and Paul discuss lessons learned from 2021, paths ventured, and what's next in their grand journey. Enjoy!

Justin and Paul talk pitching your novels and screenplays at pitch sesssions.  Enjoy! 

Justin and Paul discuss self publishing. If you're considering getting your book out there, here are some thoughts! Also, did you check out the Creative Writing Career book from Justin yet?  https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Writing-Career-Justin-Sloan-ebook/dp/B07YR2SHJ4 Creative Writing Career is a resource to help writers go from aspiring to professional, full-time writers. The book includes information on the writing process and ways to improve one’s craft, but mostly focuses on how to get discovered and where to concentrate energy in the meantime. The content of the book is supplemented by writer interviews, featuring incredibly gifted authors, game writers, and screenwriters who share the wisdom they have gained. Interviews include writers with credits at or on Pixar, O-Dark-Thirty, Borderlands, Assassins Creed 2, Ninja Boy, and the Traveler's Gate trilogy.

Drew Edwards joined Justin and Paul to chat about creating the Halloween Man comics. Enjoy!  https://www.facebook.com/halloweenmancomic/ https://twitter.com/halloweenmancom What is Halloween Man? Here you go!  Murdered by a monster on Halloween night, Solomon Hitch was resurrected to fight back against the darkness as Halloween Man! Superdeformed includes some of the best loved tales from the popular webcomic. Includes art by Nicola Scott (Secret Six, Birds of Prey), Benjamin Hall (Dead@17: Protectorate) and David Baldeón (Nomad: Girl Without A World). Halloween Man is a 21st Century Beauty and the Beast story that brings together the most amazing aspects of horror, superheroes, and science fiction. Meet Solomon Hitch, the Halloween Man himself – a misunderstood monster with the power of the horror movie sequel, a heart of gold, and a taste for living flesh – and his lady love Lucy Chaplin, the world’s most glamorous mad scientist. With his friends by his side, he just might smash evil, save the world – and maybe even save his soul!

Justin and Paul chat about Loglines, Film School, and Opportunities.  Enjoy!  P.S. This was a script we recorded a while back and was in the can. So hopefully it's not too dated!

Justin and Paul are joined by VO Artist and host of The Working Writers Podcast Brad Staggs. Enjoy!  About Bradd:  Multi-faceted Writer and Voice-Over Actor. A 24-year plus veteran and member of the Indiana National Guard's 38th Infantry Division. A 46Z, Public Affairs NCOIC, who specialises in video, audio, and graphic production. 12-year Public Relations Representative for Muscatatuck Urban Training Center in Butlerville, IN. Builder and curator of the Muscatatuck Museum and Programming Director of Radio Muscatatuck, an FM radio station. Public Affairs methodology and video/radio station operations instructor. https://www.bradstaggsvo.com/ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-working-writer/id1571032667

Justin and Paul chat about making an awesome comic/graphic novel with Tristan Vick! Also Japan and whatnot, because why not? Tristan Vick is the author of the science fiction series Jegra: Gladiatrix of the Galaxy and zompoc series Bitten along with 14 other published novels. He now ventures into comics with his debut creator-owned series Daughter of Wolves. Check out the Kickstarter -- https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/regolith-comics/daughter-of-wolves-issue-1?fbclid=IwAR3knNupWP85Fr6sW6A3oLtuvFzqdd20VZUvxVz359KANR1KHOLaK9A3Q8k Check out Tristan's books on Amazon -- https://www.amazon.com/Tristan-Vick/e/B005359NBO

Dustin Brady writes funny, action-packed books for kids. Although he regularly gets locked out of his own accounts for forgetting passwords, Dustin still remembers the Super Mario Bros. 3 Game Genie code for infinite lives. It’s SLXPLOVS. Dustin lives in Cleveland, Ohio, with his wife, kids, and a small dog named Nugget. Check out his books on Amazon. https://amzn.to/3fBKJDm

Writer Jon Kohan joined the team to talk making a living by writing on Fiverr.  https://www.fiverr.com/jonkohan Screenwriter for film and television with credits including the Ernie and Cerbie, Family Game Night (high critic rating), Deer Grandma, Spilled Paint (award winning) and many others. If you need help with anything related to screenwriting, don't settle for someone that's never actually made a film. Hire me! NOTE: No such thing as a stupid question. Feel free to ask me anything. I pride myself on being a hard worker, team player, and honest. Enjoy! 

Ramsey Anderson shares his experience with the WGF's Veterans Writing Project.  More about Ramsey: 6+ years of experience as the Director of Audio Visual Services and Sales. During that time, lead the daily operations of the AV dept., was involved in sales, trained technicians, sub-rented equipment, managed audio/ video recordings, processed reports and hired/terminated employees. Customer service and positive survey scores have always been in keeping with the successful AV team. 10+ years of experience as an audio/ video/ lighting/ IT engineer at upscale hotels, conference centers and TV studios located through out California. Ranging from events with 10,000+ attendees to small executive meetings they all share a commitment to excellence. Additionally, Ramsey is a video producer, editor and screen writer. Information on the WGF's Veterans Writing Project: https://www.wgfoundation.org/programs/the-veterans-writing-project 

Join us as we discuss screenwriting and The Successful Screenwriter podcast with the amazing Geoffrey D. Calhoun!  IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7867218/ Geoffrey D. Calhoun is the best selling author of The Guide For Every Screenwriter and host of the #1 international podcast The Successful Screenwriter. His screenwriting career began over ten years ago and was almost completely by accident. He initially studied photography but it wasn't until he was approached by a close friend that he dived into screenwriting. There he truly found his passion. As an autodidact, Geoffrey threw himself into the craft which has resulted in several nominations and awards including the coveted Louis Mitchell Award for Excellence in Screenwriting, voted best author, and has also been listed as a Top 100 Indie Writer in the World. Geoffrey has optioned several screenplays and has worked with many other writers and producers as a script consultant, screenwriter, and a re-writer for various stages of development and production with his company WeFixYourScript.com. Geoffrey has even done a little acting. He also teaches advanced rewriting at Script University. Recently he was named as director of the Script Summit Screenplay Contest. Check out his book on Amazon - The Guide for Every Screenwriter! 

Nick Morris joins the duo to discuss writing the screenplay for the film BECKY. Nick won Amateur Showdown with his script, “There Was a Little Girl.” Nick soon received a phone call from a producer who wanted to make it. Three years later, the film, now titled, “Becky,” is being released! BECKY: A teenager's weekend at a lake house with her father takes a turn for the worse when a group of convicts wreaks havoc on their lives. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm10686634/?ref_=fn_al_nm_2 Also, here's an interview with him: http://scriptshadow.net/screenwriter-interview-with-nick-morris-writer-of-becky/

Brian Fitzpatrick is an award-winning author, screenwriter, and speaker. Imagine being just 7 years old and accidentally watching the horror classic, Night of the Living Dead. For author, Brian Fitzpatrick, that’s precisely what happened. It became the catalyst for a life-altering path forward. After a week of sleepless nights, he became fascinated with the idea that he could be so scared, yet be perfectly safe. Fitzpatrick swiftly put pen to paper and has been creating horror and science fiction tales ever since. Fitzpatrick keeps current with medical technology for his business career serving the telecommunication needs of local hospitals, investigates the paranormal with his team of ghost hunters, and has spent a lifetime weaving imaginative stories for table top role-playing games. Fitzpatrick grew up absorbing the works of Steven Spielberg, John Carpenter, George Lucas, Stephen King, Anne Rice, and Clive Barker. For over a decade, Fitzpatrick has turned his focus to screenwriting where he would go on to place in the quarterfinals in four of the biggest contests the industry has to offer: Final Draft Big Break Screenplay Competition, PAGE International Screenwriting Contest, the Screencraft Sci-Fi/Fantasy Screenplay Competition, and most recently, The Script Lab 2019 Screenplay Competition. He then converted his most popular screenplay, Mechcraft, into a novel. Published in February of 2018, the Mechcraft novel placed quarterfinals in the Screencraft Sci-fi/Fantasy Novel Competition, receive a 5-star rating from Readers’ Favorite, and hit #3 on Amazon for the YA Science Fiction category. In 2020, Fitzpatrick signed a 3-book deal with publisher, Black Rose Writing. BRW will be releasing all 3 Mechcraft novels in 2021. Brian resides in southern California with his wife, son, dog, cat, and 7 chickens. Become part of the Mechcraft community across all social media: @AuthorBrianFitzpatrick Official author site: http://www.brianfitzpatrickbooks.com/

Author Jonathan P. Brazee chats self publishing and writing military science fiction with the Creative Writing Life podcast. Enjoy!  And check out his bestseller, SENTENCED TO WAR.  https://www.amazon.com/Jonathan-P.-Brazee/e/B007E4W0GC #MilitarySciFi #JonathanBrazee  From the author:  I am a retired Marine infantry colonel and now a full-time writer living in Colorado Springs with my wife Kiwi and twin baby girls, Danika Dawn and Darika Marie. I am a two-time Nebula Award Finalist, a Dragon Award Finalist, and a USA Today Bestselling writer. I published my first work back in 1978, a so-so short story titled "Secession." Since then, I have been published in newspapers, magazines, and in book format in fiction, political science, business, military, sports, race relations, and personal relations fields. I returned to writing fiction in 2009, and I currently have over 75 titles published, 44 being novels. My novelette, "Weaponized Math," was a finalist for the 2017 Nebula Award, "Fire Ant" was a finalist for the 2018 Nebula Award for Best Novella, and "Integration" was a finalist for the 2018 Dragon Award for Best Military Science Fiction or Fantasy Novel. My undergraduate degree was earned at the U. S. Naval Academy (Class of 1979), and I have attended graduate school at U. S. International University and the University of California, San Diego, earning a masters and doctorate. I am a lifetime member of the Disabled American Veterans, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the US. Naval Academy Alumni Association, and the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America where I'm serving as the chairman of SFWA Ed, our professional education program. I have rather eclectic tastes. I have won awards in photography, cooking, writing, and several sports, earning national championships in rugby and equestrian events. When I'm not writing, I'm reading, cooking, going to the gym, or traveling. I attend quite a few cons over the course of a year, and love meeting other people who love books. I write because I love it. I only hope that others might read my work and get a bit of enjoyment or useful information out of my efforts. If you would like to join my email list and find out about new books or promotions, please sign up at http://eepurl.com/bnFSHH. My website is http://jonathanbrazee.com. My Twitter is @jonathanbrazee

Justin and Paul talk about #filmschools and learning the craft of #CreativeWriting. Enjoy! 

Justin and Paul discuss Story Revisions and Writing Contained Stories - enjoy! 

Justin and Paul chat with Justin G. Dyck, the director of Anything for Jackson.  After a successful festival run, Justin G. Dyck’s Anything for Jackson made its debut on Shudder. Starring Julian Richings, Sheila McCarthy, and Konstantina Mantelos, the film is centered around a grieving pair of grandparents who kidnap a young woman in hopes of transferring the soul of their deceased grandson into her soon-to-be born child, and as expected, things don’t exactly go according to plan. It's a great one, but he's done more movies. Check out his IMDB and the episode. 

Justin and Paul speak with Eve Edelson about her experience making short films and running a festival.  FROM EVE: I'm a writer and filmmaker living in the San Francisco Bay Area. I started out in theater, training at the Drama Studio London at Berkeley. I've crewed on films,  made 6 shorts and run the Weird Film Festival, now in its 7th year. My play Scamoramaland, about people who prank email scammers,  produced in San Francisco, was based on my website scamorama.com and my book of the same name published by The Disinformation Company. Find her credits on IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3655331

Bob Saenz wrote Extracurricular Activities (2019) and has done many other awesome work. He shares his experience with us.  Also, you can grab his book on Amazon - THAT'S NOT THE WAY IT WORKS. ABOUT BOB SAENZ Bob is a screenwriter and actor, his written and produced works include Hallmark's "Help for the Holidays", "Rescuing Madison", "Sweet Surrender", On the 12th Day of Christmas", "Sound of Christmas", "The Right Girl", "Christmas in Love", both the theatricals "Church People", and the black comedy thriller "Extracurricular Activities". He does rewrites and polishes on film and TV projects for Producers and Production Companies. His acting roles include a 6-year recurring character run on the TV show "Nash Bridges", Hallmark's "Valley of Light", Francis Ford Coppola's "Jack", David Fincher's "Zodiac", Finn Taylor's "Unleashed", "Church People", and "The Village Barbershop", among dozens of others. He was a radio DJ on KYCY in San Francisco, played the last 10 years in the 60's rock band The BSides, and has done voice work on video games, documentaries, and commercials.

Justin and Paul discuss writing tools! Also, we bring back the old CWC Will Wight episode. Enjoy! About Will Wight Will Wight is the #1 Kindle Best Selling author of the Traveler's Gate trilogy, the Elder Empire cycle, and the Cradle series, with other titles available in alternate dimensions. He can smell fear, taste anger, and hear joy. Will lives in Orlando, among the creatures of swamp and sea. He graduated from the University of Central Florida, where he received degrees in Creative Writing and Bear Surgery. Visit his website at www.WillWight.com for ancient knowledge, book news, and a deep sense of personal satisfaction. If you begin having unexplained visions of Will Wight more than once a day, please move to an approved Wight-proof shelter immediately.

Justin and Paul speak with Noah A. Waters III on writing and directing, along with being a stand up comedian.  Noah is FilmMaker (Writer/Director), a Stand Up Comedian, a playwright, musician, and novelist. He is a combat vet having served both in the US ARMY and in several Private Military outfits as a Mercenary. Noah is a Free Mason of the 32nd degree with Scottish Rite, York Rite Mason, a knighted member of the Knights Templar and several other orders as well as a member of Veterans in Film & Television. Check out his new crowdfunding campaign -  https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/relationship-killers-a-mental-health-dark-comedy/x/2638349#/ https://linktr.ee/RelationshipKillersFilm https://linktr.ee/NoahAWatersIII

Paul and Justin discuss Final Draft vs. Movie Magic Screenwriting Software. What do you think? How about other tools?  Enjoy!

Author Jonathan Fesmire, originally from Santa Cruz, California, now lives in Southern California with his son. By day, he’s a copywriter, by evening a steampunk author, and at all times, a dedicated dad. Though Jonathan started out writing fantasy, he has moved completely to steampunk, enchanted with its aesthetics, possibilities, and implications. He’s a fan of the stories, the art, and the gadgets, and enjoys interacting with the community. https://www.jonathanfesmire.com

Chris Mancini is a Writer, Director, Comedian, Podcaster, and Father. He's written comedy, horror, soap operas, comics, and parenting books. They are all more closely related than you think. In addition to film and TV work, Chris' published works include Pacify Me: A Handbook for the Freaked Out New Dad from Simon and Schuster and Long Ago and Far Away from Starburns Press. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0541449/

Justin and Paul talk with M.D. Presley about worldbuilding in movies and books. Enjoy!  --- https://www.amazon.com/M.D.-Presley/e/B01IAX3M4Y Never passing up the opportunity to speak about himself in the third person, M.D. Presley is not nearly as clever as he thinks he is. Born and raised in Texas, he spent several years on the East Coast and now waits for the West Coast to shake him loose. His favorite words include defenestrate, callipygian, and Algonquin. The fact that monosyllabic is such a long word keeps him up at night. M.D. Presley is a proud member of Sigil Independent, a guild for self-published fantasy authors including Dyrk Ashton, Ben Galley, Rob Hayes, Alec Hutson, Michael McClung, D.E. Olesen, Benedict Patrick, M.L. Spencer, Phil Tucker, and Timandra Whitecastle.

Justin and Paul speak with Ryan Estabrooks about writing and directing and making webseries. https://www.ryanestabrooks.com/ https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4712536/ Ryan Estabrooks was born and raised in Midwest City, Oklahoma and as a child, became fascinated with writing. They started out using comic books as inspiration to create their own during preschool using markers, lots of paper, and whatever else they could find. Around age 12, they were given a small camcorder and experimented with it, creating shorts and skits with anyone from the neighborhood who would help out. They didn't realize at the time that this was the start of their filmmaking career. They started writing screenplays as a teenager and went to several film chapters at local colleges, trying to get it read by anyone who would give them the time. At the same time, their obsession with music led to them making their own songs on a cheap computer with a $10 mic from Radioshack. From there, they learned electronic production, piano and guitar - before heading out to Nashville to study audio engineering. After graduating from college, they studied acting with the Street Theatre Company and appeared in several plays throughout Nashville. They also plunged headfirst into photography as an extension of their love for film and the visual arts. All of these creative interests are poured into their films, which tend to be colorful, energetic, and a little off-kilter. They've worked on projects for Nickelodeon, PBS, WarnerMedia, SYFY, Sony and more. Their influences include Jean-Luc Godard, Vera Chytilova, John Cassavetes, Agnes Varda, Stanley Kubrick, Spike Lee, Dennis Hopper, and Rainer Werner Fassbinder. Enjoy!

The team discusses genre writing, and then we play an old episode of CREATIVE WRITING CAREER episode: Bob Goodman discusses superhero writing. 

Paul and Justin discuss screenplay contests and visual novels.  Screenplay contests include:   Nicholl Austin Film Festival Page  Others?

Justin and Paul share updates on their screenwriting, books, and Kickstarter!

Justin and Paul discuss what's up with their writing, as well as why HBO Max and Disney Plus are great for writers (and fun!). 

Steven Konkoly joins the guys to discuss writing thrillers that connect with readers, researching your stories, and writing for Thomas and Mercer. Find Steven at: https://stevenkonkoly.com/ Paul's Blog: https://maximumz.blog/ Justin's Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/Justin-Sloan/e/B00OJPAM0K/ PT's Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/P.T.-Hylton/e/B00J8K7KWY/ Get the Creative Writing Life book: https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Writing-Life-Justin-Sloan-ebook/dp/B07YR2FMYK/

Jeremy Flagg talks about his writing origins, dystopian worlds, and what defines a great superhero story. Find Jeremy at: https://remyflagg.com/ Paul's Blog: https://maximumz.blog/ Justin's Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/Justin-Sloan/e/B00OJPAM0K/ PT's Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/P.T.-Hylton/e/B00J8K7KWY/ Get the Creative Writing Life book: https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Writing-Life-Justin-Sloan-ebook/dp/B07YR2FMYK/

Karen Inglis is the author of numerous Children’s and Middle Grade books. She joins the guys to talk about reading as a writer, marketing, getting reviews on Children’s Books, and where she finds inspiration. Find Karen at: https://kareninglisauthor.com/ Paul's Blog: https://maximumz.blog/ Justin's Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/Justin-Sloan/e/B00OJPAM0K/ PT's Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/P.T.-Hylton/e/B00J8K7KWY/ Get the Creative Writing Life book: https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Writing-Life-Justin-Sloan-ebook/dp/B07YR2FMYK/

Mal Cooper is the author and architect of the Aeon 14 universe and the author of numerous books for authors. She joins the guys to discuss building a universe, launching a book, and why she remains passionate about helping other authors. Find Mal at: https://www.aeon14.com/ Paul's Blog: https://maximumz.blog/ Justin's Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/Justin-Sloan/e/B00OJPAM0K/ PT's Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/P.T.-Hylton/e/B00J8K7KWY/ Get the Creative Writing Life book: https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Writing-Life-Justin-Sloan-ebook/dp/B07YR2FMYK/

Mark was a key figure at Telltale Games, and now he’s got a new game out called Nick Bounty & The Dame with the Blue Chewed Shoe. He talks to the guys about designing compelling games, breaking into video game writing, and what led to the creation of Nick Bounty & The Dame with the Blue Chewed Shoe. Find Mark at: http://www.pinheadgames.com/ Paul's Blog: https://maximumz.blog/ Justin's Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/Justin-Sloan/e/B00OJPAM0K/ PT's Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/P.T.-Hylton/e/B00J8K7KWY/ Get the Creative Writing Life book: https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Writing-Life-Justin-Sloan-ebook/dp/B07YR2FMYK/

Nick Thacker is the author of the Harvey Bennett Thriller series. He also creates music, is working on a new co-written series, and somehow finds time to sleep somewhere in there. He joins the podcast to give his take on how he approaches his genre, how he works with beta readers, and how he creates soundtracks for books. Find Nick at: https://nickthacker.com/ Paul's Blog: https://maximumz.blog/ Justin's Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/Justin-Sloan/e/B00OJPAM0K/ PT's Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/P.T.-Hylton/e/B00J8K7KWY/ Get the Creative Writing Life book: https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Writing-Life-Justin-Sloan-ebook/dp/B07YR2FMYK/

The guys discuss their writing schedules in these odd times. Then they talk about Brandon Sanderson’s lecture series on YouTube and launch into other online resources they’ve found helpful. Brandon Sanderson’s Lecture Series: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6HOdHEeosc&list=PLSH_xM-KC3Zv-79sVZTTj-YA6IAqh8qeQ Paul's Blog: https://maximumz.blog/ Justin's Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/Justin-Sloan/e/B00OJPAM0K/ PT's Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/P.T.-Hylton/e/B00J8K7KWY/ Get the Creative Writing Life book: https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Writing-Life-Justin-Sloan-ebook/dp/B07YR2FMYK/

Novelist Wayne Stinnett joins us to discuss his unique brand of Caribbean adventure stories. He talks about creating characters people love, developing a series, and writing about compelling locations. Paul's Blog: https://maximumz.blog/ Justin's Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/Justin-Sloan/e/B00OJPAM0K/ PT's Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/P.T.-Hylton/e/B00J8K7KWY/ Get the Creative Writing Life book: https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Writing-Life-Justin-Sloan-ebook/dp/B07YR2FMYK/

Filmmaker Attila Korosi joins the guys to discuss the power of hard work, how his upbringing in Yugoslavia shaped him, how he managed to get his films made despite moving to LA with no connections. Paul's Blog: https://maximumz.blog/ Justin's Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/Justin-Sloan/e/B00OJPAM0K/ PT's Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/P.T.-Hylton/e/B00J8K7KWY/ Get the Creative Writing Life book: https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Writing-Life-Justin-Sloan-ebook/dp/B07YR2FMYK/

Screenwriter and novelist Dwayne Alexander Smith talks about writing thrillers, bringing your skills to multiple mediums, and balancing a career as a screenwriter, novelist, and producer. Find his books at: https://www.amazon.com/Dwayne-Alexander-Smith/e/B00L96G4FO Paul's Blog: https://maximumz.blog/ Justin's Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/Justin-Sloan/e/B00OJPAM0K/ PT's Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/P.T.-Hylton/e/B00J8K7KWY/ Get the Creative Writing Life book: https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Writing-Life-Justin-Sloan-ebook/dp/B07YR2FMYK/

Paul’s fresh off the San Francisco Writers conference, and he shares what he learned. Plus, should you pay for notes on your scripts? The eternal debate rages on. Paul's Blog: https://maximumz.blog/ Justin's Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/Justin-Sloan/e/B00OJPAM0K/ PT's Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/P.T.-Hylton/e/B00J8K7KWY/ Get the Creative Writing Life book: https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Writing-Life-Justin-Sloan-ebook/dp/B07YR2FMYK/

Joel Searls took his military and theater experience to Hollywood and worked his way up from the mailroom to production roles and beyond. In this interview, he discusses his journey, what the average writer outside Hollywood doesn’t know, and the power of perseverance. Paul's Blog: https://maximumz.blog/ Justin's Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/Justin-Sloan/e/B00OJPAM0K/ PT's Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/P.T.-Hylton/e/B00J8K7KWY/ Get the Creative Writing Life book: https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Writing-Life-Justin-Sloan-ebook/dp/B07YR2FMYK/

The guys share their thoughts on the Oscars, the winners, and what writers can learn from the movies that won the big awards. They also discuss what awards mean to them and how they define success as writers.  Paul's Blog: https://maximumz.blog/ Justin's Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/Justin-Sloan/e/B00OJPAM0K/ PT's Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/P.T.-Hylton/e/B00J8K7KWY/ Get the Creative Writing Life book: https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Writing-Life-Justin-Sloan-ebook/dp/B07YR2FMYK/

Where do you find inspiration? How do you keep it flowing? And what do you do when it’s just not working? That’s what the guys discuss in this week’s episode. Tune in to hear some of their best tips for staying inspired. Paul's Blog: https://maximumz.blog/ Justin's Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/Justin-Sloan/e/B00OJPAM0K/ PT's Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/P.T.-Hylton/e/B00J8K7KWY/ Get the Creative Writing Life book: https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Writing-Life-Justin-Sloan-ebook/dp/B07YR2FMYK/

Brian Drake is the author of numerous successful spy novels. He joins the guys to discuss the ups and downs of working with publishers, writing great action scenes, and some of his favorite thrillers. You can find out more about Brian and his work at www.briandrakebooks.com Paul's Blog: https://maximumz.blog/ Justin's Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/Justin-Sloan/e/B00OJPAM0K/ PT's Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/P.T.-Hylton/e/B00J8K7KWY/ Get the Creative Writing Life book: https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Writing-Life-Justin-Sloan-ebook/dp/B07YR2FMYK/

What makes your writing you?  One of the best ways to find out is by stretching your comfort zone. Whether it’s writing in new genres or approaching your stories in a new way, trying new things can help you figure out what works for you and what doesn’t. Then you can take those lessons back to what you are comfortable writing.  In this episode, the guys discuss how they’ve pushed their own limits, what has worked, and what hasn’t. Then they discuss using those learnings to pitch yourself as a writer. Paul's Blog: https://maximumz.blog/ Justin's Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/Justin-Sloan/e/B00OJPAM0K/ PT's Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/P.T.-Hylton/e/B00J8K7KWY/ Get the Creative Writing Life book: https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Writing-Life-Justin-Sloan-ebook/dp/B07YR2FMYK/

Bryan Cohen is an author, teacher, blurb master, and the host of the Sell More Books podcast. He talks about Amazon ads, blurbs, and how writing is like improve comedy. Join Bryan’s 5 Day Amazon Ad Challenge at https://bryancohen.lpages.co/amazon-ad-profit-challenge-landing-jan-2020/ Paul's Blog: https://maximumz.blog/ Justin's Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/Justin-Sloan/e/B00OJPAM0K/ PT's Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/P.T.-Hylton/e/B00J8K7KWY/ Get the Creative Writing Life book: https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Writing-Life-Justin-Sloan-ebook/dp/B07YR2FMYK/

Feedback is a part of the writer’s life. How do you give it? How do you react to feedback from others? We’re going to break down the good, the bad, and the ugly of feedback and notes. Paul's Blog: https://maximumz.blog/ Justin's Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/Justin-Sloan/e/B00OJPAM0K/ PT's Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/P.T.-Hylton/e/B00J8K7KWY/ Get the Creative Writing Life book: https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Writing-Life-Justin-Sloan-ebook/dp/B07YR2FMYK/

This week, science fiction and superhero novelist Jeffrey H. Haskell joins the show to talk about how he got into writing, the difference between urban fantasy and superheroes, and how understanding why people read a certain genre is more important than hitting the genre’s tropes. Check out Jeff’s books at: https://www.amazon.com/Jeffery-H-Haskell/e/B01I2W55SO Paul's Blog: https://maximumz.blog/ Justin's Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/Justin-Sloan/e/B00OJPAM0K/ PT's Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/P.T.-Hylton/e/B00J8K7KWY/ Get the Creative Writing Life book: https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Writing-Life-Justin-Sloan-ebook/dp/B07YR2FMYK/

This week, the guys share their tips for staying focused and productive. PT talks about writing with a partner. Justin talks about dictation. Paul talks about working on his short film script and the struggles of writing in coffee shops. Paul's Blog: https://maximumz.blog/ Paul's Creative Writing Career episode: https://creativewritingcareer.simplecast.fm/96e960d3 Justin's Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/Justin-Sloan/e/B00OJPAM0K/ PT's Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/P.T.-Hylton/e/B00J8K7KWY/ Get the Creative Writing Life book: https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Writing-Life-Justin-Sloan-ebook/dp/B07YR2FMYK/

This week, we talk screenwriting contests. How do you decide which ones to enter? What can you expect to get out of them? How valuable is the feedback? Paul, Justin, and PT are here to break it down for you. Paul recommends checking out - https://filmfreeway.com/ Paul's Blog: https://maximumz.blog/ Paul's Creative Writing Career episode: https://creativewritingcareer.simplecast.fm/96e960d3 Justin's Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/Justin-Sloan/e/B00OJPAM0K/ PT's Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/P.T.-Hylton/e/B00J8K7KWY/ Get the Creative Writing Life book: https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Writing-Life-Justin-Sloan-ebook/dp/B07YR2FMYK/

This week, we share an interview with Elias Madias, writer on the awesome video game Shadow of Mordor. He talkings about how he came up in the industry through being a Director’s Assistant, how he found a writing partner and bust down the first door in his way (to get to Disney!), and how he got into games (the secret? Connections. Networking. Duh). This interview first appeared on the Creative Writing Career podcast way back on episode two. Plus, Paul, Justin, and PT talk about adaptations. How do you go about adapting a work into another medium? What do you need to consider when writing in another person’s world? Tune in and find out! Paul's Blog: https://maximumz.blog/ Paul's Creative Writing Career episode: https://creativewritingcareer.simplecast.fm/96e960d3 Justin's Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/Justin-Sloan/e/B00OJPAM0K/ PT's Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/P.T.-Hylton/e/B00J8K7KWY/ Get the Creative Writing Life book: https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Writing-Life-Justin-Sloan-ebook/dp/B07YR2FMYK/

This week, Paul, Justin, and PT talk about conferences. What’s the point of going to conferences? How do you know which ones are worth attending? What do you do if you wind up on a panel? Tune in and find out! Paul's Blog: https://maximumz.blog/ Paul's Creative Writing Career episode: https://creativewritingcareer.simplecast.fm/96e960d3 Justin's Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/Justin-Sloan/e/B00OJPAM0K/ PT's Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/P.T.-Hylton/e/B00J8K7KWY/ Get the Creative Writing Life book: https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Writing-Life-Justin-Sloan-ebook/dp/B07YR2FMYK/

Welcome to the Creative Writing Life! This week, Paul, Justin, and PT talk about creating stories. Where do you start? What are the stages in the process? How is creating a story for a novel different from a screenplay or a video game? How do you create your villain?  Plus, Justin shares his experience creating stories at Telltale Games. Paul's Blog: https://maximumz.blog/ Paul's Creative Writing Career episode: https://creativewritingcareer.simplecast.fm/96e960d3 Justin's Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/Justin-Sloan/e/B00OJPAM0K/ PT's Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/P.T.-Hylton/e/B00J8K7KWY/ Get the Creative Writing Life book: https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Writing-Life-Justin-Sloan-ebook/dp/B07YR2FMYK/

Welcome to the Creative Writing Life!  This week, Paul, Justin, and PT talk about networking for writers.  Paul's Blog: https://maximumz.blog/ Paul's Creative Writing Career episode: https://creativewritingcareer.simplecast.fm/96e960d3 Justin's Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/Justin-Sloan/e/B00OJPAM0K/ PT's Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/P.T.-Hylton/e/B00J8K7KWY/