Episode 146 - Route 66, Research, and the Writer's Mind: Productivity Lessons from a Lifelong Storyteller
From Productivity Smarts by Gerald J. Leonard
May 12, 2026 · 31 min · Season 1 · Episode 146
About this episode
In this episode, Gerald J. Leonard interviews Annette LaFortune Murray about her creative productivity and research on Route 66.
What does it take to stay creatively productive for five decades? In this episode of Productivity Smarts, host Gerald J. Leonard sits down with Annette LaFortune Murray, storyteller, educator, and Route 66 expert, to unpack the habits and mindset behind five decades of prolific, purposeful creativity. Annette shares how she spent years researching the life of Cyrus Avery, the visionary behind America's most iconic highway, and how that deep dive transformed her approach to writing and productivity. From structuring her peak energy hours (8 to 10 AM) to using the BIC (Butt in Chair) method, Annette reveals how she balances disciplined focus with intentional breaks, field trips, and real world inspiration. She discusses overcoming writer's block by "trying on a new hat," using virtual writing communities on Zoom to combat isolation, and organizing research with visual templates borrowed from award winning authors. Annette also emphasizes the power of mentorship, peer critique, and reading work aloud to sharpen its impact. Her four keys, listen and look, write down the thought, stay happy with your work, and read it aloud, offer a practical framework that writers and creators at any…
People in this episode
Host: Gerald J. Leonard
Guest: Annette LaFortune Murray
Topics covered
- creativity
- writing
- productivity
- research
- mentorship
Keywords
- creativity
- writing habits
- productivity techniques
- Cyrus Avery
- writer's block
Mentioned in this episode
Places: Route 66
More episodes of Productivity Smarts
- Episode 150 - The Real Map of Life with Dr. James Smith · June 9, 2026 · 41 min
- Episode 149 - Hold My Beer, I'm Going to Change My Life with Brian Dixon · June 2, 2026 · 37 min
- Episode 148 - Rainbow Gold: Building a Business That's Both the Journey and the Destination · May 26, 2026 · 34 min
- Episode 147 - The PhotoReading Whole Mind System · May 19, 2026 · 45 min
- Episode 145 - Crack the LUCK Code: How to Change Your Business and Personal Life Using the 4 Personality Expressions · May 5, 2026 · 39 min
- Episode 144 - Gray Divorce: My Life, Rewritten · April 28, 2026 · 38 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Productivity Smarts podcast page.