
The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience
by Kelton Reid
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2.1K to 7.8K🎙 Daily cadence·493 episodes·Last published 5d ago - Monthly Reach
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From 20 epsHost
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Recent episodes
How Critically Acclaimed Author & Podcaster Bobby Finger Writes: Part Two
Jun 19, 2026
45m 46s
How Acclaimed Debut Novelist and Podcaster Bobby Finger Writes: Part One - Redux
Jun 16, 2026
33m 53s
How Critically Acclaimed Debut Novelist & Food Journo Catherine Kurtz Writes
Jun 12, 2026
43m 27s
How Bestselling Author Meg Shaffer Writes
Jun 11, 2026
38m 49s
How Acclaimed Debut Author Darby Bozeman Writes
Jun 5, 2026
43m 39s
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| Date | Episode | Topics | Guests | Brands | Places | Keywords | Sponsor | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6/19/26 | ![]() How Critically Acclaimed Author & Podcaster Bobby Finger Writes: Part Two | Critically acclaimed novelist and entertainment podcaster, Bobby Finger, returns to speak with us about his weekly word counts, wedding DJs, Who? Weekly, and his latest beach read WE ARE GATHERED HERE TODAY. Bobby Finger is the author of The Old Place and Four Squares, and co-creator and cohost of the popular celebrity and entertainment podcast, Who? Weekly, "The podcast that tells you everything you need to know about celebrities you don’t." His third novel, We Are Gathered Here Today, was named a New York Times Summer's Best Beach Read. It’s described as The Wedding People meets The Celebrants, and a “...sharp and tender story [that] follows a recently engaged gay man who begins to question the idea of marriage while attending his cousin’s chaotic Wild West-themed wedding weekend.” Booklist called the book “… a perfect read for anyone confused by or suspicious of the wedding-industrial complex, which can leave happy celebrations feeling more like a second full-time job for young lovers.” Bobby previously worked as a staff writer for the culture website Jezebel from 2015 to 2018 and has contributed extensively to outlets like Vulture and The New York Times. [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file Bobby Finger, Milena, and I discussed: How his latest originally featured a death until his editor suggested everyone live, transforming it into a beach read Why he changed the book’s setting from fall to June at the`` publisher's request to position as summer release How a scene from the book became a part of the cover design The craziest thing he’s ever witnessed at a wedding IRL His next book and upcoming essay collection written with his podcast co-host And a lot more! Show Notes: whoweekly.us We Are Gathered Here Today By Bobby Finger (Amazon) Bobby Finger Amazon Author Page Bobby Finger on Instagram Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram Kelton Reid Instagram Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | 45m 46s | ||||||
| 6/16/26 | ![]() How Acclaimed Debut Novelist and Podcaster Bobby Finger Writes: Part One - Redux | Journalist, hit entertainment podcaster, and debut novelist, Bobby Finger, spoke to me about writing for Jezebel, turning a screenplay into a novel, and his debut, "The Old Place." Bobby Finger is a writer and co-host of the popular celebrity and entertainment podcast, Who? Weekly, "The podcast that tells you everything you need to know about celebrities you don’t." His debut novel is The Old Place, described as "A bighearted and moving debut about a wry retired schoolteacher whose decade-old secret threatens to come to light and send shockwaves through her small Texas town." It has been named Washington Post‘s 10 Noteworthy Books for September, People‘s Best New Books, Town & Country’s 45 Must-Read Books of Fall, New York’s 25 Notable New Releases, Kirkus Review‘s 150 Most Anticipated Fall Books, LitHub‘s Most Anticipated Books of 2022, among many others. New York Times bestselling author Emma Straub said of the book, “I loved being inside this skillful novel—at the planning parties for church fundraisers, learning to drive with a can of beer in the cupholder, and in the heads of some wonderfully tangy old Texan ladies. Bobby Finger has built a rich world in The Old Place, and I will think of it every time I make toast.” Stay calm and write on ... Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please "Follow" us to automatically see new interviews. In this file Bobby Finger and I discussed: Growing up in a small Texas town His start in copywriting and freelance journalism Writing screenplays in the margins Becoming a full-time podcaster How to write autofiction with a twist What happens when people leave, and those left behind And a lot more! Show Notes: whoweekly.us The Old Place By Bobby Finger (Amazon) Bobby Finger on Instagram Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram Kelton Reid Instagram Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | 33m 53s | ||||||
| 6/12/26 | ![]() How Critically Acclaimed Debut Novelist & Food Journo Catherine Kurtz Writes✨ | debut novelfood writing+4 | Catherine Kurtz | Guild of Food WritersInternational Chocolate Awards+7 | The Redfern Gallery | Catherine Kurtzdebut novelist+5 | — | 43m 27s | |
| 6/11/26 | ![]() How Bestselling Author Meg Shaffer Writes✨ | writing processfairy tales+4 | Meg Shaffer | Reader’s DigestWashington Post+3 | — | Meg ShafferTHE BOOK WITCH+6 | — | 38m 49s | |
| 6/5/26 | ![]() How Acclaimed Debut Author Darby Bozeman Writes✨ | writing processdebut authors+3 | Darby Bozeman | University of GeorgiaBook of the Month Club+1 | Portland, OregonAmerican South+1 | Darby BozemanSUMMER’S NEVER OVER+3 | — | 43m 39s | |
| 5/29/26 | ![]() How NY Times Bestselling Author John Kenney Writes✨ | writinghumor+3 | John Kenney | The New YorkerOgilvy+10 | — | John KenneyI See You’ve Called in Dead+5 | — | 53m 12s | |
| 5/22/26 | ![]() How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Ruta Sepetys Writes: Part Two✨ | historical fictionwriting process+4 | Ruta Sepetys | A Fortune of SandSalt to the Sea+3 | Detroit | Ruta Sepetyshistorical fiction+5 | — | 48m 33s | |
| 5/20/26 | ![]() How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Ruta Sepetys Writes: Part One - Redux✨ | writingstorytelling+4 | Ruta Sepetys | New York TimesBooklist+2 | — | Ruta Sepetyswriting guide+5 | — | 33m 39s | |
| 5/15/26 | ![]() How NY Times Bestselling Author Rosie Walsh Writes: Part Two✨ | writing communityaddictive plots+3 | Rosie Walsh | The Writer FilesAmazon+3 | — | Rosie Walshwriting community+6 | — | 45m 23s | |
| 5/13/26 | ![]() How NY Times Bestselling Author Rosie Walsh Writes: Part One✨ | writing processfiction+4 | Rosie Walsh | The Love of My LifeGhosted+1 | — | Rosie WalshThe Love of My Life+5 | — | 33m 23s | |
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| 5/8/26 | ![]() How NY Times Bestselling Authors Krista & Becca Ritchie Write✨ | collaborative writing processself-publishing+4 | Krista RitchieBecca Ritchie | New York TimesDangerously Ours+2 | — | New York Times bestselling authorscollaboration+6 | — | 37m 15s | |
| 5/1/26 | ![]() How NY Times Bestselling Author Kate Quinn Writes✨ | historical fictionmagical realism+4 | Kate Quinn | THE ASTRAL LIBRARYThe Alice Network+2 | — | Kate Quinnhistorical fiction+5 | — | 41m 15s | |
| 4/24/26 | ![]() How Booker Prize Nominated Author Charlotte Wood Writes✨ | writing processBooker Prize+4 | Charlotte Wood | The EconomistThe New York Times+6 | — | Charlotte WoodBooker Prize+5 | — | 43m 55s | |
| 4/17/26 | ![]() How Bestselling & Award-Winning Author Ramona Ausubel Writes✨ | writing processMFA programs+3 | Ramona Ausubel | National Book FoundationBarnes & Noble+14 | — | Ramona Ausubelwriting+5 | — | 44m 45s | |
| 4/15/26 | ![]() How Booker Prize-Winning Author Anne Enright Writes: Redux✨ | writing processliterary awards+4 | Anne Enright | TIMEThe Millions+8 | — | Anne EnrightThe Wren, The Wren+5 | — | 36m 07s | |
| 4/10/26 | ![]() How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Kelly Yang Writes✨ | writingburnout+4 | Kelly Yang | Harvard LawMarie Claire+3 | — | Kelly YangTHE TAKE+5 | — | 44m 31s | |
| 4/3/26 | ![]() How Author and Social Media Sensation “The Workout Witch” Liz Tenuto Writes✨ | somatic healingtrauma+4 | Liz Tenuto | HarperCollinsUSA Today+8 | — | somatic instructorhealing practices+5 | — | 43m 44s | |
| 3/27/26 | ![]() How NY Times Bestselling Author Emma Straub Writes: Part Two✨ | writing processcognitive dissonance+3 | Emma Straub | Books Are MagicAMERICAN FANTASY+7 | — | Emma StraubAMERICAN FANTASY+5 | — | 36m 50s | |
| 3/20/26 | ![]() How Award-Winning Journo & Author Ellen Huet Writes✨ | journalisminvestigative reporting+4 | Ellen Huet | Bloomberg NewsBloomberg Businessweek+4 | — | Ellen HuetOneTaste+5 | UlyssesFILES | 44m 37s | |
| 3/13/26 | ![]() How to Write a Hit Narrative Podcast with Aaron Tracy: Part Three✨ | narrative podcaststorytelling+3 | Aaron Tracy | Yale UniversityiHeartRadio+10 | — | narrative podcastAaron Tracy+3 | — | 44m 36s | |
| 3/12/26 | ![]() The Art and Craft of TV Drama with Aaron Tracy: Part Two - Redux✨ | TV dramawriting+4 | Aaron Tracy | Nowhere ManYale University+7 | — | TV writingaudio drama+4 | — | 41m 56s | |
| 3/10/26 | ![]() How to Write a Bestselling Audio Drama with Writer/Producer Aaron Tracy: Part One - Redux✨ | audio dramaTV writing+3 | Aaron Tracy | Yale UniversityiHeartRadio+7 | — | audio dramaTV writing+3 | — | 42m 42s | |
| 3/6/26 | ![]() How Bestselling Author Emma Grey Writes | Bestselling and award-winning author, Emma Grey, spoke with us about the long path to publication, the catharsis of writing through grief, and her latest unexpected love story, START AT THE END. Emma Grey is the award-winning author of seven books, including the USA Today and international bestsellers, The Last Love Note and Pictures of You. Her newest book, Start at the End, publishing April 7, 2026, is described as a “...sliding-doors novel … that explores second chances and unwritten endings.” Robinne Lee, author of The Idea of You wrote, "Emma Grey is a talented, beautiful writer, full of wit and wisdom and brilliant observations.” Sarah Damoff, author of The Bright Years called the book “... a tour de force of honest humanity.” Emma’s book Pictures of You won the gold medal in the American Independent Publisher Book Awards. Along with The Last Love Note, it received a starred review from the American Library Association. Both books were selected for two major American book clubs, including the Book of the Month and the Target Book Clubs. Her novels have attracted multiple foreign translations deals, a TV option, and Emma co-wrote a stage musical based on one of her teenage novels, which was selected for Broadway Unplugged in Sydney and by the Homegrown Initiative in Melbourne. [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file Emma Grey, Milena and I discussed: Why writers choose to have homework all the time Visiting Prince Edward Island to speak about Anne of Green Gables Why every reader takes away a unique thing from your writing How her audience feeds into the writing of each new book Striving for 100 rejections a year to become more resilient The #writingvanlife And a lot more! Show Notes: emmagrey.com.au Start at the End: A Novel – April 7, 2026 By Emma Grey (Amazon) Emma Grey Amazon Author Page linktr.ee/emmagreyauthor Emma Grey on Facebook Emma Grey on Instagram Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram Kelton Reid Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | 48m 15s | ||||||
| 3/3/26 | ![]() How Award-Winning Author & Journo Elizabeth Arnott Writes: Redux | Happy pub' day Elizabeth! Award-winning author and journalist Elizabeth Arnott spoke with us about her early studies of serial killers, a wild journalism career, and her latest period-set crime novel THE SECRET LIVES OF MURDERERS' WIVES. Elizabeth Arnott has written critically acclaimed historical fiction as Lizzie Pook (her maiden name). As a journalist, she covered everything from true crime to Arctic exploration and appeared in publications such as The Sunday Times, National Geographic, The New York Times Book Review, and The Guardian among others. She has described her much-anticipated latest historical crime novel as Mad Men with murders, and Lessons in Chemistry with a body count. The Secret Lives of Murderers’ Wives [available for pre-order and landing March 3, 2026; Berkley Hardcover], is a story that “... centers on three unlikely friends—all former wives of serial killers—and their efforts to solve a string of local killings in 1966 California.” The book was acquired in a heated seven-way auction and named one of “The Best Books for Book Clubs in 2026” by Glamour, and among “The 10 Most-Anticipated Mystery-Thriller Books of 2026” by Marie Claire. Parade wrote of the book, “... a story that feels like Bright Young Women collided with Mindhunter …. a propulsive, period-set whodunit perfect for anyone who loves early criminal profiling and Mad Men-era aesthetics with bite.” [This episode is sponsored by Ulysses. Go to ulys.app/writeabook to download Ulysses, and use the code FILES at checkout to get 25% off the first year of your yearly subscription."] [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file Elizabeth Arnott, Milena and I discussed: Elizabeth’s early obsession with the film Almost Famous Renting a flat above a brothel in grad school Her freewheeling freelance days traveling the globe for stories When her journalism career hit rock bottom The path to writing about the forgotten victims of violent crimes How to write a novel in six weeks And a lot more! Show Notes: Elizabeth Arnott on Instagram The Secret Lives of Murderers' Wives By Elizabeth Arnott – March 3, 2026 (Amazon) Elizabeth Arnott on Twitter Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram Kelton Reid Instagram Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | 43m 47s | ||||||
| 2/27/26 | ![]() How NY Times Notable Novelist Emily Listfield Writes | New York Times Notable author and journalist, Emily Listfield, spoke with us about quitting her waitressing job after her first advance, the true value of beta readers, and the rich people behaving badly in her latest thriller REASONS TO LIE. Emily Listfield is the author of seven previous novels, including a New York Times Notable Book of the Year, It Was Gonna Be Like Paris. She is the former editor-in-chief of Fitness magazine and executive editor of Parade's HealthyStyle. Her writing appears frequently in Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, Allure, the New York Times, and numerous other national publications. Her latest novel, Reasons to Lie (Thomas & Mercer; February 24, 2026)—described as “Gossip Girl meets Law and Order SVU,”—is a propulsive mystery set in the rarefied world of NYC’s elite and shaped by the bonds of female friendship. Oprah Daily included Reasons to Lie among their Most Anticipated Books of 2026. New York Times bestselling author Kate White called the book,“Taut, riveting, and laced with stunning and unsettling revelations…,” and author Elinor Lipman wrote, “REASONS TO LIE is set at the kind of snobby Manhattan school I love to hate. Highly enjoyable, flawlessly written, and highly recommended!” [This episode is sponsored by Ulysses. Go to ulys.app/writeabook to download Ulysses, and use the code FILES at checkout to get 25% off the first year of your yearly subscription."] [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file Emily Listfield, Milena and I discussed: Why some big ideas are best left to marinate The difference between writing short form journalism and the novel How female friendships are at the core to her life and so many other women Why she chose to skewer the world of an elite NY private school How the demands of caregiving pulled her unexpectedly away from her work Some helpful writerly slogans you can jot down to stick on your laptop And a lot more! Show Notes: emilylistfield.com Reasons to Lie – February 24, 2026 By Emily Listfield (Amazon) Emily Listfield Amazon Author Page Emily Listfield on Facebook Emily Listfield on Instagram Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram Kelton Reid Instagram Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | 43m 47s | ||||||
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Chart Positions
5 placements across 4 markets.
Chart Positions
5 placements across 4 markets.
