Street Writers

In the second half of our interview, Marshall Curry discusses the podcast that inspired him to make his award winning short film, The Neighbor’s Window (which you can see for free on YouTube and Vimeo). Marshall’s inspiration is The Living Room, by Diane Weipert (you can hear it on the podcast series, Love and Radio). Marshall also talks about his upcoming plans, which include a fictionalized version of a true story about a garbage man in Oklahoma who wants to build the largest haunted house attraction in America. We also discuss a small silver lining of the COVID tragedy: it’s easier to get remote appointments with producers, instead of flying to various locations to meet.

We’re thrilled to welcome to the podcast the Academy Award winner, four-time Academy Award nominee and an old friend, Marshall Curry. In the first half of our interview, Marshall gives us some great tips on finding inspiration from the habits and processes of other writers, and establishing your own work process.

Mark hits us with another of his tradeMARKED acronyms — SWT —  "Take A Swing At This": possibly the most inspirational POV to come out of the pandemic when it comes to writing. Dan continues spreading the virus theme with a "They Beat Us To The Punch" share on Jennifer Wright's informative and irreverent history of plagues (and plague heroes), "Get Well Soon." (https://www.amazon.com/Get-Well-Soon-Historys-Plagues/dp/1627797467) Then it's more "Grease, Grit and Crime in COVID Time", a nod to Mark's fiction podcast, also good for your earbuds. (https://anchor.fm/greasegritandcrime) How's this listen working for you, writers? Leave a review. Subscribe! And invite new writers and writing fans to join in: https://anchor.fm/streetwriters Questions, comments, whatever you got, send 'em in: streetwriters.podcast@gmail.com Rather talk about it? Record an audio message so we can get your comments in future episodes: https://anchor.fm/streetwriters/message #amwriting #writing #keepwriting #writingtips #creativity

Well, this being the summer of quarantine, and taking the advice of our recent fabulous guest, renowned copywriter and creative writer Tom Elia, we’ve released some raw cuts of our interview with Tom that entertained the hell out of us (and hopefully, you too). We discussed the paradox of Web creative that was better 15 years ago than it is today, and trying to find the balance between business writing and creative writing. We’re breaking our format rules for this raw version—but hey, we all know that rules are made for breaking every now and then.

Here’s the second half of our interview with award-winning copywriter and creative writer, Tom Elia. Tom reads from a New Yorker article he’s jealous of, Thirty-six Thousand Feet Under the Sea. He then discusses what he’s working on, what he should be working on, and trying to find the meaning of sports rivalries in COVID times.

This week, we’re joined by award-winning copywriter and creative writer, Tom Elia, who graces us with his sonorous rendition of Peyton Manning’s “Chicken Parm, you taste so good.” It’s a campaign Tom created with his partner for Nationwide Insurance. Tom also gives us a tip on getting out of writer’s block and ruts with oblique strategies.

This episode's "Take A Swing At This" is all about writing a "Dear John" to your inner bad mojo.  For "They Beat Us To The Punch," Dan talks cadavers, by way of Mary Roach's excellent book on the subject, Stiff. (https://www.amazon.com/Mary-Roach/e/B001H6MAHM). And in "Hit Us With Your Best Shot", Mark gives an update on his new dramatic podcast, "Grease, Grit and Crime in COVID Time." https://anchor.fm/greasegritandcrime Enjoying this listen?  Leave a review. Subscribe! And invite new writers and writing fans to join in: https://anchor.fm/streetwriters Questions, comments, whatever you got, send 'em in: streetwriters.podcast@gmail.com Rather talk about it? Record an audio message so we can get your comments in future episodes: https://anchor.fm/streetwriters/message  #amwriting #writing #keepwriting #writingtips #creativity #productivity #streetwriting

Be like water. Bruce Lee said it about martial arts, but Mark says it also applies to writing—learning how to go with flow, sometimes pouring through, sometimes taking a different direction. But always fluid. Dan raves about an old comic book series, Marshal Law. And Mark introduces his new podcast: Grease, Grit and Crime in COVID Time.

Protect your passion and produce. Or, as Mark calls it, PYPAP. This acronym is your reminder to ride your passion all the way to a finished work, and then get that work out there. Mark has a few tips to help. Dan falls in love with the writing of Jamis MacNiven at PacificVoyages.net. And Mark describes helping a mutual friend, Kevin Sitek, launch his seminar on helping college students find jobs and internships in these crazy times.

Turn that writing frown upside down as "Take A Swing At This" pummels negative words that keep your writing down. "They Beat Us To The Punch: finds Mark pulling out his copy of Esquire for exquisite pairings — and writing by Jeff Gordinier. And Dan laments not winning a movie theater with his cinematic essay in "Hit Us With Your Best Shot" Dig what you hear? Leave a review. Subscribe! And invite new listeners to join in: https://anchor.fm/streetwriters Hit us with questions, comments, whatever you got at: streetwriters.podcast@gmail.com 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

Mobile technology and sophisticated apps have created a new type of video editing called lean in editing. That’s when you pick up your phone or iPad when you have a few minutes and just continue editing, versus locking down at a workstation. Mark thinks, why not use this approach in writing? It gives you a fresh perspective and reassurance that you could write anywhere you go. Dan then raves about the animated series, The Clone Wars, on the Disney Channel. And Mark reads an excerpt from his 15-year-old, satirical dystopian play that feels like it was written yesterday. Listen wherever you get podcasts or at the link below. ‪#onwriting #howtowrite #writinginspiration #writingpodcast #podcastonwriting #writingtips #podcast #funnypodcast #applepodcasts #podcasters #writing #podcasts

Writing putting you under pressure? "Take A Swing At This" lets you off the hook, with a tip to aim low and never be disappointed. Mark's got high marks for Blake Crouch and his Wayward Pines tales in "They Beat Us To The Punch." And for "Hit Us With Your Best Shot", Dan shares tales of his old Nighbreed adventures, with a few words from his afterword to the collected edition.  Dig what you hear? Leave a review. Subscribe! And invite new listeners to join in: https://anchor.fm/streetwriters Hit us with questions, comments, whatever you got at: streetwriters.podcast@gmail.com 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

Move your mental camera around your scene, as "Take A Swing At This" introduces the idea of "cinematic angles" to your writing. Mark yada-yada-yadas about an envy-worthy Jerry Seinfeld interview in "They Beat Us To The Punch." And for "Hit Us With Your Best Shot" Dan channels his inner "In Search Of", role-playing script selections from a new piece of audio fiction. Dig what you hear? Leave a review. Subscribe! And invite new listeners to join in: https://anchor.fm/streetwriters Hit us with questions, comments, whatever you got at: streetwriters.podcast@gmail.com 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

Writing takes perseverance, insight, practice, and, according to Mark, stubbornness. You create something with your writing, so you need to protect it. That doesn’t mean ignoring feedback or foregoing revisions; it means protecting the idea you created in the first place. Dan reads an excerpt from the inspiring Making Comics, by Linda Barry. And Mark introduces a new addition: Street Writers Stories.

Think of your writing style as a light switch. It can either be an on/off switch (you’re writing or you’re not) or a dimmer switch (you’re thinking about writing but not quite writing). Mark is a fan of the former, because thinking about writing all day without actually doing it can drive you crazy. Dan reads an excerpt from an interview of a master, Ray Bradbury. And Mark reads another excerpt from his short story, X-Communicated. Listen wherever you get podcasts.

Next time you get your back up when someone dings your writing, "Take A Swing At This" idea of never defending your work. Mark thinks Silicon Valley's  is worth comedy envy when it comes to "They Beat Us To The Punch." And Dan takes a walk down memory monster lane for "Hit Us With Your Best Shot", with an excerpt from the foreword to the collected edition of his Nightbreed comics. (https://www.amazon.com/Clive-Barkers-Nightbreed-Archive-Vol-ebook/dp/B01KW5909Y/) Dig what you hear? Leave a review. Subscribe! And invite new listeners to join in: https://anchor.fm/streetwriters Hit us with questions, comments, whatever you got at: streetwriters.podcast@gmail.com 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

‪To journal, or not to journal. And if you are a journaler, what belongs in your journal? Well, if you’re doing it for therapeutic purposes, whatever the hell you want. But if you’re a writer, take the extra step of finding the gem in your journal entry. Twist and shape it to be more inspiring and intriguing. Dan then gets on the Tiger bandwagon and finds jealousy-invoking creativity of the director and writers. And Mark reads from his noir short story, X-communicated. Listen wherever you get podcasts. ‬

Dan gets his fancy Blue Yeti mic to work (so he doesn't sound like Mr. Roboto) just in time for him and Mark to "Take A Swing At This" — "this" being writing a "mission statement" to help focus your next writing project. Mark continues the (faux) biz theme with a view askew "They Beat Us To The Punch" — a peculiar jealousy of overwrought corporate-speak. And one good thing comes out of the pandemic, as Dan re-discovers an old Daredevil comic  proposal for "Hit Us With Your Best Shot", sharing out a couple of paragraphs of how he used to pitch a comic book. (See a video capture of the cybercomic that came out of the proposal here: https://youtu.be/dE1SD3Css50) Dig what you hear? Leave a review. Subscribe! And invite new listeners to join in: https://anchor.fm/streetwriters Hit us with questions, comments, whatever you got at: streetwriters.podcast@gmail.com Plus send us an audio message so we can get your comments in future episodes: https://anchor.fm/streetwriters/message #amwriting #writing #keepwriting

‪It takes a big head to be a writer. And at some point, you’ll need to fit your entire story in that cabeza grande. @MarkBellusci explains that only by absorbing your story over and over again will you get a complete understanding of each of your characters and plot lines. @DanChichester then raves about the Expanse, which he feels breaks the sci-fi mold of most dystopian stories. And Mark reads an excerpt from his new video for a nonprofit called The Harvest Group. ‬

It's not quite the musical ear-worm of "Toss A Coin To Your Witcher," but in "Take A Swing At This" we focus on rewarding your audience with "gold coins" in your writing, all along the way.  (Watch out for flying chickens.) "They Beat Us To The Punch" has Mark taking us on a tour of Russia, including  "poetry" from Martin Cruz Smith's latest, Siberian Dilemma. And for "Hit Us With Your Best Shot" Dan goes behind the scenes of some comic book writing, with a descriptive 2-page spread that brings a creepy underworld above ground. (We're still in remote recording mode, so please forgive any warping sounds from connecting over the overtaxed interwebs!) Dig what you hear? Leave a review. Subscribe! And invite new listeners to join in: https://anchor.fm/streetwriters Hit us with questions, comments, whatever you got at: streetwriters.podcast@gmail.com Plus send us an audio message so we can get your comments in future episodes: https://anchor.fm/streetwriters/message #amwriting #writing #keepwriting #writ