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

In anticipation of the third part in our series! Yale educator and TV writer/producer, Aaron Tracy, returns to chat with me about surviving the WGA writer’s strike, finally teaching the podcast at Yale, and his latest audio thriller on Audible, Nowhere Man, starring Lee Pace and Zosia Mamet. Aaron Tracy also teaches “The Art and Craft of Television Drama” at Yale University, and his TV credits inc...

In anticipation of the third part in our series! Yale educator and TV writer/producer, Aaron Tracy, spoke with me about what it takes to make it as a TV writer, breaking into the audio drama space, producing Audible’s most successful original fiction series, and working on the upcoming “Supreme” with Eva Longoria. Aaron Tracy teaches “The Art and Craft of Television Drama” at Yale University, and...

Bestselling and award-winning author, Emma Grey, spoke with us about the long path to publication, the catharsis of writing through grief, and her latest unexpected love story, START AT THE END. Emma Grey is the award-winning author of seven books, including the USA Today and international bestsellers, The Last Love Note and Pictures of You. Her newest book, Start at the End, publishing April 7, 2...

Happy pub' day Elizabeth! Award-winning author and journalist Elizabeth Arnott spoke with us about her early studies of serial killers, a wild journalism career, and her latest period-set crime novel THE SECRET LIVES OF MURDERERS' WIVES. Elizabeth Arnott has written critically acclaimed historical fiction as Lizzie Pook (her maiden name). As a journalist, she covered everything from true crime to...

New York Times Notable author and journalist, Emily Listfield, spoke with us about quitting her waitressing job after her first advance, the true value of beta readers, and the rich people behaving badly in her latest thriller REASONS TO LIE.  Emily Listfield is the author of seven previous novels, including a New York Times Notable Book of the Year, It Was Gonna Be Like Paris. She is the former e...

In anticiapation of the second part in this series! New York Times bestselling author, Emma Straub, spoke to me about why everything in life is timing, how to write a book for yourself, time travel, and her latest This Time Tomorrow. Emma is the bestselling author of six novels — including All Adults Here, The Vacationers, Modern Lovers, and Laura Lamont’s Life in Pictures — the short story colle...

New York Times and #1 internationally bestselling author, Gregg Hurwitz, returns to chat with us about his unflagging curiosity and fascinating research process, how to find your true writing voice, and his 11th Orphan X novel, ANTIHERO. Gregg Hurwitz is the award-winning and internationally bestselling author of 27 novels including the lauded ORPHAN X series. His work has appeared in 33 languages...

Acclaimed debut novelist Rosie Storey spoke with us about her rejection advice for writers, chasing personal authenticity, and the "accidental catfishing" at the heart of DANDELION IS DEAD. Rosie Storey left her corporate career to finish her hotly anticipated debut novel, Dandelion Is Dead. The book received significant buzz in early 2026, including a January 2026 Indie Next selection, an exclusi...

Award-winning author and journalist Elizabeth Arnott spoke with us about her early studies of serial killers, a wild journalism career, and her latest period-set crime novel THE SECRET LIVES OF MURDERERS' WIVES. Elizabeth Arnott has written critically acclaimed historical fiction as Lizzie Pook (her maiden name). As a journalist, she covered everything from true crime to Arctic exploration and app...

In anticipation of the author's return to the pod ... New York Times and #1 internationally bestselling author, Gregg Hurwitz, spoke with me about why all writing is a process of self-discovery, how to humanize a trained assassin, and the latest Orphan X thriller, THE LAST ORPHAN. Gregg Hurwitz is an award-winning and internationally bestselling author of 23 thrillers including the ORPHAN X series...

#1 New York Times bestselling author Dean Koontz spoke with me about his secret desire to run away with the carnival, struggling as a young writer, finding his voice, the evolution of his process, and his latest novel THE FRIEND OF THE FAMILY. International bestselling author Dean Koontz was a senior in college when he won an Atlantic Monthly fiction competition. He has never looked back. Koontz h...

Listen to a replay of 2025's other 3rd most popular episode (it was a statistical tie)! Bestselling author and literary agent Betsy Lerner spoke with me about being a “late bloomer,” what 35 years in publishing has taught her, and portraying mental illness in her debut novel SHRED SISTERS. Betsy Lerner is the author of the popular advice book to writers, The Forest for the Trees, and the memoirs F...

Listen to a replay of 2025's 3rd most popular episode! #1 New York Times bestselling author Marissa Meyer spoke with me about cutting her teeth on fanfiction, working briefly in publishing, and THE HAPPY WRITER, a guide to writing with less stress and more JOY. Marissa Meyer is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Lunar Chronicles, Heartless, The Renegades Trilogy, and Instant Karma, as...

Listen to a replay of 2025's 2nd most popular episode! Thank you for your ears and we look forward to a raucous writerly 2026 ... Award-winning TV writer/producer turned novelist Georgia Jeffries spoke with me about why Cagney and Lacey was her film school, teaching screenwriting at USC, and the ghosts, grief, and grievance in her debut novel THE YOUNGER GIRL. Georgia Jeffries is the Emmy-nominate...

Cheers! Welcome to our year-end Holiday Party for 2025. How Long Did Famous Novels Take to Write (infographic)? Kafka’s diaries are heartening Why We Should Keep Notebooks (According to Joan Didion) Milena on being more intentional as a reader/writer The last chapter of Stephen Pressfield’s The War of Art and his blurb of Adam’s American Tiger Who couldn’t use 3 years uninterrupted in a cabin in t...

Listen to a replay of 2025's most popular episode! New York Times bestselling author, journalist, and entrepreneur Emma Knight spoke to me about finding the courage to write fiction, the Loch Ness Monster of motherhood, and her breakout debut novel The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus. Emma Knight is an author, journalist, Co-Founder and Head of Brand at Greenhouse, an award-winning organic bevera...

Part 1 of 2 Throwback to a Pre-Pandemic podcast! Pete has some big news on the radar … The New York Times bestselling novelist, award-winning adventure writer, and journalist, Peter Heller, spoke with me about his early life as a starving poet, breaking into journalism, how he makes things up for a living, and what it's like to be compared to your heroes. Peter is a longtime contributor to NPR, an...

Part 2 of 2 Bestselling author and award-winning journalist Adam Skolnick returns to chat with us about the mystery of the creative process, why timing is everything in crafting a story, and his much-anticipated debut novel, AMERICAN TIGER. I am joined by my co-host Milena Gonzalez. Adam Skolnick is an author and award-winning journalist who covers travel, adventure and endurance sports, and the e...

Part 1 of 2 Bestselling author and award-winning journalist Adam Skolnick spoke with us about earning his 10,000 hours, living with yours truly in a trailer in the mountains, and his much-anticipated debut novel, AMERICAN TIGER. I am joined by my co-host Milena Gonzalez. Adam Skolnick is an author and award-winning journalist who covers travel, adventure and endurance sports, and the environment....

#1 New York Times bestselling author Mitch Albom spoke with us about his humble beginnings as a sports journalist, the origins of Tuesdays with Morrie, and the universal themes he explores in his latest novel TWICE. I am joined by a co-host this week, none other than The Book Babe, Milena Gonzalez. Mitch Albom is the internationally acclaimed author of 12 New York Times bestselling books. He is be...

Bestselling author and award-winning podcaster Barbara DeMarco-Barrett spoke with me about producing 20+ years of Writers on Writing, why writers don’t retire, and her debut noir short story collection POOL FISHING. Barbara DeMarco-Barrett’s first book Pen on Fire: A Busy Woman’s Guide to Igniting the Writer Within, was an Los Angeles Times bestseller and honored with an American Society of Journa...

#1 New York Times bestselling author E. Lockhart spoke with us about her past life in academia, falling in love with the YA scene, and returning to the world of TikTok favorite We Were Liars with her latest beachy gothic WE FELL APART. I am joined by a co-host this week, none other than The Book Babe, Milena Gonzalez. E. Lockhart is author of #1 New York Times bestsellers We Were Liars (also now a...

In honor of Novel November and every writer who needs 1000 Words, I'm republishing author Jami Attenberg's interview. Keep calm and write on ... 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...

#bookstagram influencer, reviewer, and writer Milena Gonzalez (aka Diary of a Book Babe) returns to speak to me about hanging out with Jeneva Rose and Penny Zang, her latest five-star finds, and her top book pick of 2025. Milena Gonzalez graduated from the University of California, Irvine with a double major in Literary Journalism and English. She spent eight years as owner, designer, and screen p...

National Book Award Finalist Amber McBride spoke with me about finding her authentic voice, getting yelled at by kids, near-death experiences and the story behind her latest novel-in-verse THE LEAVING ROOM. Amber McBride is an award-winning author, poet, and former assistant professor of poetry, writing, and protest literature. Her debut young adult novel, Me (Moth) was a finalist for the National...