Episode 146 - Route 66, Research, and the Writer's Mind: Productivity Lessons from a Lifelong Storyteller

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

Mentioned in this episode

Places: Route 66

More episodes of Productivity Smarts

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Productivity Smarts podcast page.