The Written Scene

This episode with Gill Sotu , a writer and performer and so much more, is one of those episodes where two people who enjoy doing the same thing could probably talk for hours about it. Listen to hear what teachers from our past can do for our writing, how your mindset can be a professional deal breaker, a little geeking out on diversity of thought, how a movie was his entrance into slam poetry, and...

When it comes to performing, writer and all around artist Gill Sotu still gets nervous after all these years. What helps, though, is knowing he's prepared and has practiced for moments like this.  Enjoy this brief teaser ahead of next week's full episode of The Written Scene with Gill Sotu. As always, please be sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share this and all episodes of The Written Scene....

For New York Times bestseller Matt de la Peña , realizing he was in his zone as a Young Adult author came after he wrote his first book, Ball Don't Lie . Listen in to hear how this revelation came about, as well as the difficulties of telling heavy stories to kids, how pickup basketball games were where he learned storytelling, the role of identity and location in his stories, what having a small...

According to New York Times bestselling writer Matt de la Peña , sometimes the market needs a little shove in the right direction. And who knows? Your story might be the one to help make that happen. Enjoy this brief teaser of next week's full episode of The Written Scene with Matt de la Peña. Be sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share this and all episodes with friends, family, frenemies, ever...

Whoever said writing had to be so serious? Well, in this episode with Kristen Fogle , a writer, teacher, executive director, mom, actress, and singer (to name a few things), silliness abounds. But things do get serious, too. Promise. The conversation includes why understanding rhetoric is useful for writers, why to not be too precious when it comes to the rules, a shared birthday, a little local S...

Sometimes, for a writer, it helps to know your astrology sign. You know, if you believe in that sorta stuff. For writer, teacher, and executive director Kristen Fogle , it's hard to ignore it. It's also hard to ignore fun birthday coincidences. Enjoy this brief teaser ahead of next week's full episode of The Written Scene with Kristen Fogle. Please be sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share thi...

Poet, educator, and long-time nurse Susan J. Farese has a heavy but serendipitous origin story of her entry into the world of poetry. In this episode of The Written Scene , Susan shares how her path has shown her what reinventing throughout life can offer, how readiness and being alert is a boon to your career as a writer and communicator, the various ways of being creative as a teacher, and much...

Poet, nurse, teacher and more, Susan Farese has her hand in many creative and non-creative endeavors in life. And all of them, especially the creative ones, have taught her a valuable thing when it comes to her own writing. Enjoy this brief teaser of next week's full episode of The Written Scene . And as always, be sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share this and all episodes.  If you'd like to...

Poet, teacher, editor, and all around special human being Michael Klam knows a thing or seven million about writing. In this episode of The Written Scene , Michael talks about how as a writer it's important to often consider yourself before your audience, what studying another language can do for your own, how teaching is rewarding and political but can teach you a great deal about empathy, and mu...

According to poet, teacher, and wise owl Michael Klam, the role of the audience at a poetry reading, himself included, is important on multiple levels.  Enjoy this brief teaser of next week's full episode of The Written Scene with Michael. As always, please be sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share this and all episodes. Click or tap here to sign up for our once-a-month newsletter. All good th...

Musician and multi-media artist Parker Edison may have that laid back vibe but it doesn't take long to see, hear, and feel just how driven and motivated he is. In this episode of The Written Scene , Parker shares how his parents' music and literature tastes influenced his, his long-game writing process, and why San Diego is the unknown creativity powerhouse.  Do not miss The Parker Edison Project...

It helps to have hip, cool parents who know what you really should be listening to and reading. For musician and multi-media artist Parker Edison , his parents musical and literary influences have shaped who he is as an artist today. Please be sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share this and all episodes of The Written Scene . We also have a once-a-month newsletter that you can subscribe to by...

In this episode of The Written Scene , writer and storyteller Kevin Cullen explains how Dungeons & Dragons was his writing gateway drug, why writing is an exhausting and taxing job but doing a lot of creative things is still important, and what it means to be a method writer (hint: think method acting). Also, for those with sensitive ears, this has sensitive language. Your "after dark" warning is...

As writer and storyteller Kevin Cullen explains, for artists, perhaps consumption isn't a sin at all. In fact, we both agree that when it comes to our craft, consumption is necessary. Enjoy this brief teaser of next week's full episode of The Written Scene with Kevin.  Subscribed to the newsletter yet? Once a month emails about upcoming guests and other fun things to know and think about. Sign up...

In this week's episode with poet and professor Leonora "Leo" Simonovis , we'll hear what it means to live off the land and not be from it, how the way we're taught has an affect on the way we write as writers, and what is worth sacrificing to be a writer. Leo's recent collection of poetry: Study of the Raft Leo's favorite Venezuelan poet: Hanni Ossott (7 poemas en español) As always, please be sur...

Any writer will tell you at some point they've used writing as therapy. For poet and professor Leonora Simonovis , it only became obvious that's what she was doing when she was writing her book,  Study of the Raft .   Enjoy this brief teaser of next week's full episode of The Written Scene and be sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share.  Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era

Well, it's been one calendar year of The Written Scene and there's no better way to celebrate than with yet another great interview. In this episode, we'll hear from poet, professor, and publisher Katie Manning as she talks about how any and all education is good for your writing, how the publication process isn't the only thing but making it a game makes it fun, and what the full and wide range o...

On this Valentine's Day, do something you love and listen to this Written Scene teaser with poet, professor, and publisher Katie Manning as she talks about something she loves, writing.  Subscribe now ahead of next week's full episode and as always, be sure to rate, review, and share this and all episodes of The Written Scene. Signed up for the newsletter yet? Well, here's your chance. Click or ta...

Many of us spend a fair amount of time wondering about space and how we fit in it. For historian, professor, and storyteller T.J. Tallie , his focus is the duality of occupying two spaces at once. In this episode of The Written Scene , T.J. talks about that first book feeling, what a day of research looks and feels like, and the concept of historical orphanage. Please be sure to subscribe, rate, r...

Any well written character arc involves a challenge to their norm. For historian, writer, and professor TJ Tallie, he prefers to experience it himself.  Enjoy this brief teaser of next week's full episode of The Written Scene . Please be sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share this and all episodes. Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era

It doesn't take long to find out that writer and multi-media artist Ramel Wallace is a storyteller through and through. In this episode, Ramel talks about how he was a reserved kid and had to learn how to communicate, how community is an awareness of dimensionality (his words), and when it comes down to it, he just wants to do it all. Please be sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share this and a...

For storyteller Ramel Wallace, one of the greatest storytelling moments happened for him as a child... while watching wrestling. Enjoy this brief teaser of next week's full episode of The Written Scene.  Subscribe, rate, review, and share because, well, you know you want to. It's ok. You can admit it. Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era

In this episode of The Written Scene, we'll hear from Nicole Paquin, a writer, singer, real estate agent, and more, about how community in writing is important, why she took a very large amount of writing classes through various means, and what writing has taught her about herself. Visit Nicole's site to find out more about her and writing, including her novel Sofia Madison and the Voice Within ....

For many writers, the act of writing is very therapeutical. For writer and actor Nicole Paquin, this was especially true. Until she realized she had a talent she shouldn't ignore. Enjoy this brief teaser of next week's full episode of The Written Scene with Nicole Paquin. Please be sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share this and all episodes of The Written Scene. Make it a New Year's resolutio...

For writer, teacher, and all around creative artist Brendan Praniewicz, everything seems normal and expected. Or does it? Listen in to hear why Brendan hates setting deadlines and goals, how callings are found if they don't find you first, and what he's learned from the large amount of writing he's submitted for publication. Find out all the rad things Brendan is involved in, from writing to photo...