Creatively Genuine

Episodes

1. 16

   AWOL at the Holiday Inn

   How do you take a family legend that no one alive can truly confirm, and then turn that legend into a scene in your creative nonfiction novel? The backstory of whether a family member deserted the Marine Corps during Christmas 1942.

   Dec 15, 2017

   17m
2. 15

   Messing with the timeline

   The movie Dunkirk had a profound inspiration on how I tell the story of my father’s abduction and the investigation into what happened 60 years later. Why? Messing with the chronology proved to be profound.

   Dec 13, 2017

   10m
3. 14

   “Based on a true story”

   If you walked into the nonfiction section of Barnes & Noble and pulled a book out from the memoir shelf, and you read that the book is “based on a true story,” how would you feel? Today on Creatively Genuine, talking the creative part of creative nonfiction novel writing.

   Dec 12, 2017

   13m
4. 13

   Don’t overlook the second hook

   Your opening scene to the first chapter isn’t the only hook you should be concerned about as a writer. There’s another hook that’s just as vital to keeping the reader interested.

   Dec 11, 2017

   9m
5. 12

   Quick Sunday writing session

   Dropping by quickly to say hello on this Sunday afternoon.

   Dec 10, 2017

   0m
6. 11

   It’s not journalism

   Saturday morning, and after finishing Chapter One of the manuscript, I discuss the difference between straight journalism and creative nonfiction and why for my book I chose the latter.

   Dec 9, 2017

   18m
7. 10

   “I will kill that boy.”

   I bet that title caught your attention. Today I continue work on Chapter One of my creative nonfiction novel, in which my grandmother in 1957 threatens to kill the baby my grandfather has with his teenage mistress. I also discuss why I reject the idea of daily word counts for writers and focus...

   Dec 9, 2017

   14m
8. 9

   My father’s kidnapper

   It’s day one of the effort to write a review draft of my creative nonfiction novel, For Him I Sing, and it begins with a kidnapping. My father’s kidnapping in 1957, to be specific. On this episode I explore that story, why I use it for my opening, and I even read the first page and a half.

   Dec 6, 2017

   17m
9. 8

   Stealing Christmas Trees

   Now that Thanksgiving is done, it’s time for holiday and Christmas traditions. In this episode, I share a scene from my book where my grandfather would engage in the kind of Christmas tradition you wouldn’t want to replicate.

   Nov 24, 2017

   4m
10. 7

    Thankful for the story

    Dropping by with a deep sense of gratitude, especially for the story that came to me, that I experienced, that I’m gonna tell.

    Nov 23, 2017

    2m
11. 6

    Twice a goodbye

    The last visit to a house near Cincinnati my parents have lived in for 14 prompts thoughts of saying goodbye to places where you grew up or changed the direction of your life.

    Nov 22, 2017

    9m
12. 5

    Overcoming publishing fears

    Fear can prohibit freelancers from publishing blogs, podcasts, photography, or any form of creative content. Today, I’m talking about how fear held me back and what we can all do to overcome it.

    Oct 10, 2017

    8m
13. 4

    Are you an “aspiring” writer?

    Should you describe yourself as a “writer” or “aspiring writer” if you haven’t yet published your book?

    Oct 4, 2017

    3m
14. 3

    Going to a writers conference?

    Writers conferences. They can be helpful, and they can be overwhelming. I use personal experience to offer a few tips to help you use these conferences to your advantage.

    Sep 5, 2017

    13m
15. 2

    A little #amwriting advice

    Why blocking out two hours for writing works, and how to get out of a manuscript rut. Plus, why you should write a book out of your own personal experience.

    Aug 29, 2017

    7m
16. 1

    Your 30s is a crossroads

    How my 30s humbled me. • Your 30s is a crossroads, it's not a destination • I value time as I approach 40 more than I ever did.

    Aug 26, 2017

    4m