SW 017 - Use Your Hobby to Strengthen Your Writing

I've been working on Eve of Destruction (kickass cover, right?) for six months now, which is like GRRM time in indie publishing. In the midst of grinding through edits, I've been working on several other hobby projects as well. While Steven Pressfield might call this resistance, it got me thinking about the benefits of allowing your mind to wander, absorb and learn from your hobbies, and how you can fold those skills into your writing. I'm a DIY nerd, so my hobbies are building things, but the points I talk about could easily apply to team sports, travel or any other hobby.

Other notes:

Create If Writing with Kirsten Oliphant

Self Publishing Journeys by Paul Teague

Deep Work by Cal Newport

The Awkward Thoughts of Kamau Bell

On Intelligence by Jeff Hawkins and Sandra Blakeslee

AuthorLife by J Thorn

Thanks for listening!

SW - 015 An Interview with Josh Hayes of Keystroke Medium

In this episode, Josh Hayes jumps in for the first Speculative Work Interview. This wide-ranging conversation covers Josh's transition from a career in law enforcement to writing full-time, his philosophy about building teams like Keystroke Medium, and what he hopes to accomplish in this next exciting phase of his author career.

Bio: Josh Hayes is the author of three novels: Terra Nova, Bloodlines and Wings of Redemption, co-written with Richard Fox, with publication in many anthologies, including Chris Kennedy's Four Horsemen Universe. Josh served six years in the Air Force before leaving for a second career in law enforcement. He recently left service as a police officer to write full time, and since then, his publishing company slash podcast slash community Keystroke Medium has gone into high gear, producing a massive amount of content from podcasts and events to anthologies. On top of all that, he's a husband and the father of four young children.

For more information on Josh and his writing, please visit his webpage: www.joshhayeswriter.com

Josh is also the co-host of Keystroke Medium, with Scott Moon, Ralph Kern and Chuck Manley For the best author interviews, news and craft discussion, visit www.keystrokemedium.com. Their live shows broadcast every Monday night at 8pm CST at www.youtube.com/c/keystrokemedium

SW 014 - My Favorite Podcasts (2019)

Today I share the current list of podcasts I'm listening to and why they're worth your time.

Mentioned in today's episode:

• American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America by Colin Woodard
• Demon-Haunted World by Carl Sagan
• Calypso by David Sedaris
• Jeremy Fielding on YouTube
• Aeon 14 Podcast - Michael Cooper, me, Jen McDonnel, Lisa Richman, Amy Duboff, Andrew Dobell, Jenny Green
• Sentence to Paragraph with Darryll Lynne Evans and Molly Martin
• Joanna Penn's Creative Penn Podcast
• Science Fiction and Fantasy Marketing Podcast - Lindsey Buroker, Joe Lallo, Jeff Poole
• Keystroke Medium: Scott Moon, Josh Hayes, Ralph Kern, Jon Evans, Devon Ford, Guy DeMarco, Chuck Manley
• Writer's Journey with Lauren Moore and Kalene Williams
• Sci-Fi Shenanigans
• How do you Write with Rachel Herron
• Create If Writing with Kristen Oliphant
• Sell More Books Show with Bryan Cohen and Jim Kukral
• The Career Author Podcast with J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon
• Writer's Well with J Thorn and Rachel Herron
• Coode Street Podcast with Gary Wolfe and Jonathan Strahan
• Ground Up Show with Matt D'Avela
• Darknet Diaries with Jack Rhysider
• Akimbo with Seth Godin
• Rationally Writing - Alexander Wales and Daystar Eld
• Stark Reflections with Mark Lefebvre
• Mark Dawson's Self Publishing Show with James Blatch
• Awkward Author with Alyssa Grosso
• Self Publishing Journeys with Paul Teague
• Clarkesworld Audio
• Lightspeed Audio

Thanks for listening!

SW 007 - End of Year Accounting for Writers

Should you hire an accountant? Maybe not. I'm using one, but I talk about why and what questions you might ask yourself before making the decision.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Revolt of the Public by Martin Gurri

Blackfish City by Sam Miller

Future of Violence

Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction

Joe Solari's Youtube Channel

Subscribe to my Youtube Channel so I can give it a name! (I have one subscriber... you could be number 2!)

Thanks for listening.

SW 006 - Should You Join a Writing Group?

In this episode I talk about some things I wish I had known when I first joined a critique group. Should I have joined an accountability or mastermind group instead? How do critique groups work and what are some common pitfalls you might need to look out for?

Mentioned in this episode:

Atomic Habits by James Clear

Keystroke Medium Podcast

Quick Sips Reviews

If you'd take a second to subscribe to my youtube channel, you'll help me get to a 100 subs so I can set a custom URL, which would be great.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClaNJoAeDQoAY56qFOPo7SQ

Thanks for listening! See you next week.

The Speculative.Work Podcast 005 - Goals for 2019 and Atomic Habits

Everybody loves a goals show! Let's throw down the gauntlet for 2019 so I can look back and either be pleased with my progress or shed tears in my beer.

I talk about production, health and financial goals for 2019, as well establishing a strong author brand.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Atomic Habits by James Clear

Word Count Tracker (excel doc download)

Thanks for listening!