It's back to a bit of Rod Serling advice for "Take a Swing at This", as Dan institutes a dialogue loyalty test, of sorts. Mark rates the podcast "May I Elaborate" (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/may-i-elaborate-daily-wisdom-from-jb-smoove/id1562371862)  as worth a "They Beat Us To The Punch." And in "Hit Us With Your Best Shot" it's writing about businesses Dan's never heard of before — as well as continued favorites in the Grease, Grit and Crime in COVID Time podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/grease-grit-and-crime-in-covid-time/id1518637609) and the storymaze.substack.com newsletter. This episode was edited with the amazing online audio editor, Descript. Check it out at https://www.descript.com/?lmref=pYsXLQ Hit us with questions, comments, whatever you got at: [email protected] Plus send us an audio message so we can get your comments in future episodes: https://anchor.fm/streetwriters/message ‪#onwriting #howtowrite #writinginspiration #writingpodcast #podcastonwriting #writingtips #podcast #funnypodcast #applepodcasts #podcasters #writing #podcastlife #stamford #stamfordlocal‬

Under pressure: yeah, all have way too much of it, but sometimes it can help your writing. Mark discusses how to reach a higher gear by creating a deadline for yourself and writing under pressure, purposely. Dan reads an inspiring paragraph from Story, by writing guru, Robert McKee. And Mark and Dan give updates on Grease, Grit and Crime and Storymaze. ‪#onwriting #howtowrite #writinginspiration #writingpodcast #podcastonwriting #writingtips #podcast #funnypodcast #applepodcasts #podcasters #writing #podcastlife #stamford #stamfordlocal‬

For "Take a Swing at This" Dan turns to master storyteller Rod Serling, and his advice to listen to your characters with your eyes closed to see who's who. (If anybody!) Mark's "They Beat Us To The Punch" is all about Jonathan Lethem's "Gun, with Occasional Music: A Novel" an homage to noir in a totally original way. And in "Hit Us With Your Best Shot" Dan encourages folks to check out his storymaze.substack.com newsletter, but also observes some new storytelling angles that have come out of some recent tech articles he's written. Hit us with questions, comments, whatever you got at: [email protected] Plus send us an audio message so we can get your comments in future episodes: https://anchor.fm/streetwriters/message #amwriting #writing #keepwriting #writingtips #creativity #productivity #streetwriting

Well, you’re reading this: that’s a good sign. Because Mark talks about the need for writers to read. Moves are great, shows are fabulous, podcasts are the bomb, but there’s no substitute for the written word. So read, read, read. Dan then raves about the Errol Morris documentary, The Thin Blue Line. And the boys pitch the podcast, Grease, Grit and Crime in Covid Time, and storymaze.substack.com ‪#onwriting #howtowrite #writinginspiration #writingpodcast #podcastonwriting #writingtips #podcast #funnypodcast #applepodcasts #podcasters #writing #podcastlife #stamford #stamfordlocal‬

Dan says, bring the love — to yourself. As writers, we’re good at berating ourselves. Well now it’s time to admire what you’re doing this very moment, and to appreciate your commitment to the craft. Mark reads a passage from an amazing f**king book, The Price You Pay, by Aiden Truhen. And the guys talk about their latest, in Mark’s podcast, Grease, Grit and Grime in COVID Time, and Dan’s newsletter, storymaze.substack.com ‪#onwriting #howtowrite #writinginspiration #writingpodcast #podcastonwriting #writingtips #podcast #funnypodcast #applepodcasts #podcasters #writing #podcastlife #stamford #stamfordlocal‬

The Master of Acronyms is back! For "Take a Swing at This" Marc lays out the challenge and power of TOD: Text or Die. For "They Beat Us To The Punch" Dan is all over 2034, a new too close for comfort military thriller of a near-future global conflict between the US and China. And in "Hit Us With Your Best Shot" Dan brings in his new newsletter (storymaze.substack.com), and Mark updates on his latest Grease, Grit & Crime in COVID Time — plus his short story journaling.  Hit us with questions, comments, whatever you got at: [email protected] Plus send us an audio message so we can get your comments in future episodes: https://anchor.fm/streetwriters/message #amwriting #writing #keepwriting #writingtips #creativity #productivity #streetwriting

Pity. Envy. Adore. Aka, PEA. Dan discusses how to use the PEA acronym to help shape the characters you create. Mark reads a passage from Quite Ugly One Morning by Christopher Brookmyer that evokes a smoke-filled, aristocratic English club. Dan touches on the growing popularity of his newsletter, which you can subscribe to at storymaze.substack.com. And Mark introduces The Black Hole, a new dramatic podcast episode at Grease, Grit and Crime in COVID Time. Listen wherever you get podcasts, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify and the link below. ‪#onwriting #howtowrite #writinginspiration #writingpodcast #podcastonwriting #writingtips #podcast #funnypodcast #applepodcasts #podcasters #writing #podcastlife‬

Want to turbo charge your journaling? Go from first to third. Mark discusses the benefits of simply shifting your journal entry from first person (“I feel like ...”) to third person (“He believed that ...”). It provides opportunities to enrich your entries by bringing more storytelling aspects to them. Dan gets back to his mythology roots by reading from “Heroes,” from Stephen Fry. Dan also introduces us to his free newsletter that shows off his serious writing chops (storymaze.substack.com), while Mark touches on another episode at his podcast, Grease, Grit and Crime in COVID Time. ‪#onwriting #howtowrite #writinginspiration #writingpodcast #podcastonwriting #writingtips #podcast #funnypodcast #applepodcasts #podcasters #writing #podcastlife‬

We're back with Pt. 2 of our interview with writer, instructor, TED Talker and novelist Kio Stark, author of the influential and inspirational "When Strangers Meet: How People You Don’t Know Can Transform You.". In "They Beat Us To The Punch," she brings out the heartache of Bluets, but Maggie Nelson And in "Hit Us With Your Best Shot," Kio takes us behind the scenes of her new novel, with a taste of its characters and (maybe) timeline. Find out more about Kio at http://www.kiostark.com/ Take a page from Kio's book: don't be a stranger! Leave a review. Subscribe! And invite new listeners to join in: https://anchor.fm/streetwriters Hit us with questions, comments, whatever you got at: [email protected] Plus send us an audio message so we can get your comments in future episodes: https://anchor.fm/streetwriters/message #amwriting #writing #keepwriting #writingtips #creativity #productivity #streetwriting

Writer, instructor, TED Talker and novelist Kio Stark joins us on the Street. Among her works, Kio is the author of the influential and inspirational "When Strangers Meet: How People You Don’t Know Can Transform You."  In "Take A Swing At This" she shares her warmup techniques for her writer, especially those inspired by the Palegic School. (https://pelagicschool.net/) More details on Kio can be found on her site at http://www.kiostark.com/ Take a page from Kio's book: don't be a stranger! Leave a review. Subscribe! And invite new listeners to join in: https://anchor.fm/streetwriters Hit us with questions, comments, whatever you got at: [email protected] Plus send us an audio message so we can get your comments in future episodes: https://anchor.fm/streetwriters/message #amwriting #writing #keepwriting #writingtips #creativity #productivity #streetwriting