Melanie Figg has been writing poetry since college. Since then, her poems, essays, and reviews have been published in more than 70 print and online literary journals.

Her poetry chapbook 'Hurry, Love', was published in standard & fine arts editions, and her full-length collection of poems 'Trace', won the Many Voices Project competition, and Kirkus Reviews not only gave it a prestigious Kirkus-starred review but also named it one of the Best Indie Books of 2020. 

She also has received six awards for Excellence in Teaching from The Loft Literary Center, the University of Utah, and the Jerome Foundation, and she currently teaches workshops at The Writer's Center, Hugo House, The Loft Literary Center, as well as at regional book festivals and in private homes in the DC area. 

You can learn more about her classes and workshops here: https://www.melaniefigg.net/classes--workshops.html

In this interview, Figgs talks about what inspired her to start writing and creating stories, what makes a good teacher, how she balances her work, finding time to write, how students find her and how she determines who she works with, why she likes being a coach and dealing with people's inner critic and procrastination.

Want more? Steal my first book, Ink by the Barrel - Secrets From Prolific Writers right now for free. Simply head over to www.brockswinson.com to get your free digital download and audiobook. If you find value in the book, please share it with a friend as we’re giving away 100,000 copies this year. It’s based on over 400 interviews here at Creative Principles. Enjoy!

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60 seconds and it really helps convince some of the hard-to-get guests to sit down and have a chat (simply scroll to the bottom of your iTunes Podcast app and click “Write Review"). Enjoy the show!

Ep450 - Melanie Figg, Poet-Mentor-Coach 'Trace'

“I was a theater kid, so I started out writing plays,” says David Zabel. “But I started to think, what does a movie script look like or what does a play look like? Once I had access to those things to see how they worked, I started writing screenplays and had ideas for TV pilots. That pilot opened a few doors of me.”

An agent helped him get his first job on the series JAG, which later led to Star Trek: Voyager, Dark Angel, and ER. “It came out of my love for drama and dramatic theory. All of this came for his love to tell stories to live audiences. 

“That relationship between being a writer, how it’s performed, and how it’s perceived — where it worked, where it didn’t work — I consider that as one of my stronger points as a writer, which is writing for actors.”

Working with so many live performances, he started to see where actors needed less lines to portray the same emotions on stage and later in film and television. “If they understand what you’re trying to convey, it’s better to do it with the greatest economy of language that you can apply.” The same was true in the editing bay. “It’s humbling,” he jokes. 

This economy of language certainly relates to the latest series created by Zabel, The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon. The spinoff series stars Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon, where he was arguably the most stoic character on the series. 

“It was an interesting challenge,” he jokes about the stoic character who is also now in a land where he doesn’t speak the language. “I felt like that was a classic American character. This laconic hero, the man without a name that you see a lot in Clint Eastwood, Steve McQueen, or Gary Cooper and people like that.”

“I was excited for that kind of storytelling that wasn’t so expository. Norman, as an actor, relishes the idea of living in a world without speechifying. That’s how he wants to play drama. The challenge is to put people around him who have stories that are compelling, that draw him into their story. He’s not looking to get into other people’s lives and he’s not talking, so people have to be irresistible to him, for him to resonate with them. He’s the reluctant hero but he’s got a heart that makes him hard to walk away.”

As for actors who have been playing characters over a long period of time (about 13 years for Norman Reedus), Zabel says, “You have to lean into the knowledge that they have. It was also true on ER and other shows I’ve done. We learn each other’s rhythms and it becomes symbiotic. That’s one of the joys of television, to dance that dance together.”

Want more? Steal my first book, Ink by the Barrel - Secrets From Prolific Writers right now for free. Simply head over to www.brockswinson.com to get your free digital download and audiobook. If you find value in the book, please share it with a friend as we’re giving away 100,000 copies this year. It’s based on hundreds of interviews here at Creative Principles. 

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60-seconds and it really helps convince some of the hard-to-get guests to sit down and have a chat (simply scroll to the bottom on your iTunes Podcast app and click “Write Review"). Enjoy the show!

Ep542 - David Zabel, Creator ‘The Walking Dead - Daryl Dixon’

At twenty-six, Gaby Laurent felt like her life was just beginning. Newly married and pregnant with her first child, she was on top of the world. But that joy was shattered when a routine blood test led to a diagnosis of AML Leukemia-and the treatment she needed could harm her baby or save them both. As a mother and cancer survivor, Gaby navigated the complexities of motherhood, adoption, and addiction, confronting the darkest depths of the human spirit.

More than a personal narrative, her memoir WRINKLES WELCOME provides a roadmap for finding strength in adversity. Gaby's journey will help you discover hope in the darkest times and inspire you to live your life to the fullest. 

In this interview, we talk about her love for writing, blogging during her cancer diagnosis, shifting from fiction to memoir, her writing process and learning curve, social media, the purpose of the memoir, and more. You can get her book right here on September 17th:

https://www.gabylaurentwrites.com/

Full disclosure, Gaby’s been a friend for many years, and this project actually got started in my course, How to Write a Non-Fiction Book in 12 Weeks. You can watch Gaby and other students go from idea to published book in that video course. Anyone who orders Gaby’s book, email my assistant and I’ll send you that full course for free (marionne.munoz@BrockSwinson.com).

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60 seconds and it really helps convince some of the hard-to-get guests to sit down and have a chat (simply scroll to the bottom of your iTunes Podcast app and click “Write Review"). Enjoy the show!

Ep568 - Gaby Laurent, Author & Memoirist ‘Wrinkles Welcome’

Pat Casey and Josh Miller first met in junior high detention in Minnesota, forming a creative partnership that began with a local late-night cable variety show and the ultra-low-budget film HEY STOP STABBING ME!

Today, they’re best known as the writers of the blockbuster SONIC THE HEDGEHOG franchise for Paramount Pictures, including the latest film, SONIC 3, which introduces Shadow, voiced by Keanu Reeves.

In this interview, we talk about the development of their writing partnership, their work on the SONIC THE HEDGEHOG films, the process of writing for Jim Carrey, pop culture references in their work, and much more.

Want more? Steal my first book, INK BY THE BARREL - SECRETS FROM PROLIFIC WRITERS right now for free. Simply head over to www.brockswinson.com to get your free digital download and audiobook. If you find value in the book, please share it with a friend as we’re giving away 100,000 copies this year. It’s based on over 400 interviews here at Creative Principles. Enjoy!

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60 seconds and it really helps convince some of the hard-to-get guests to sit down and have a chat (simply scroll to the bottom of your iTunes Podcast app and click “Write Review"). Enjoy the show!


Ep610 - Pat Casey & Josh Miller, Screenwriters ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ Franchise

Ian Seabrook is a highly acclaimed Director of Photography, celebrated for his mastery of underwater cinematography. His recent work includes lensing both underwater and main unit photography for the upcoming thriller LAST BREATH starring Woody Harrelson, Simu Liu, and Finn Cole.

Seabrook's extensive filmography features blockbuster hits like INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY and DEADPOOL 2. His television credits include WEDNESDAY, SHOGUN, LOST IN SPACE, and SEE.

In his latest work, LAST BREATH, we follow seasoned deep-sea divers as they battle the raging elements to rescue their crew mate trapped hundreds of feet below the ocean's surface.

In this interview, we talk about his decision to pursue film and the lack of formal education in underwater cinematography at the time, the complexities of underwater filming, the cinematography in Last Breath, and much more.

Want more? Steal my first book, INK BY THE BARREL - SECRETS FROM PROLIFIC WRITERS right now for free. Simply head over to www.brockswinson.com to get your free digital download and audiobook. If you find value in the book, please share it with a friend as we’re giving away 100,000 copies this year. It’s based on over 400 interviews here at Creative Principles. Enjoy!

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60 seconds and it really helps convince some of the hard-to-get guests to sit down and have a chat (simply scroll to the bottom of your iTunes Podcast app and click “Write Review"). Enjoy the show!


Ep628 - Ian Seabrook, Underwater Director of Photography ‘Last Breath’

Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson are the creators, showrunners, writers, and executive producers of the hit Showtime drama series, YELLOWJACKETS. 
 
YELLOWJACKETS, equal parts survival epic, psychological horror story and coming-of-age drama, is the saga of a team of wildly talented high school girls soccer players who become the (un)lucky survivors of a plane crash deep in the remote northern wilderness. The series chronicles their descent from a complicated but thriving team to savage clans, while also tracking the lives they’ve attempted to piece back together nearly 25 years later, proving that the past is never really past and what began out in the wilderness is far from over.

YELLOWJACKETS stars Emmy Award-nominee Melanie Lynskey, Tawny Cypress, and Emmy Award-nominee Christina Ricci.

In this interview, we talk about the pros and cons of working as a writing partnership, the challenges and rewards of writing original content versus writing for existing shows, what they look for when hiring writers for their staff, the specific difficulties of writing a show with two timelines, and much more.

Want more? Steal my first book, INK BY THE BARREL - SECRETS FROM PROLIFIC WRITERS right now for free. Simply head over to www.brockswinson.com to get your free digital download and audiobook. If you find value in the book, please share it with a friend as we’re giving away 100,000 copies this year. It’s based on over 400 interviews here at Creative Principles. Enjoy!

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60 seconds and it really helps convince some of the hard-to-get guests to sit down and have a chat (simply scroll to the bottom of your iTunes Podcast app and click “Write Review"). Enjoy the show!

Ep636 - Ashley Lyle & Bart Nickerson, Creators-Showrunners-Executive Producers ‘Yellowjackets’

David Koepp is a highly successful screenwriter best known for his work on some of Hollywood's biggest blockbusters. With a career spanning decades, he has worked on the scripts for iconic films such as JURASSIC PARK, MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE, SPIDER-MAN, and WAR OF THE WORLDS. 

His latest work, JURASSIC WORLD: REBIRTH, follows the story five years after JURASSIC WORLD: DOMINION. In it, an expedition ventures into isolated equatorial regions, aiming to extract DNA from three massive prehistoric creatures for a groundbreaking medical breakthrough.

In this interview, we talk about the original JURASSIC PARK film and his process for adapting the later films, his experience working on SPIDER-MAN and MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE, the longevity of franchises, and much more!

Want more? Steal my first book, INK BY THE BARREL - SECRETS FROM PROLIFIC WRITERS, right now for free. Simply head over to www.brockswinson.com to get your free digital download and audiobook. If you find value in the book, please share it with a friend as we’re giving away 100,000 copies this year. It’s based on over 400 interviews here at Creative Principles. Enjoy!

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60 seconds, and it really helps convince some of the hard-to-get guests to sit down and have a chat (simply scroll to the bottom of your iTunes Podcast app and click “Write Review"). Enjoy the show!

Ep648 - David Koepp, Screenwriter ‘Jurassic World: Rebirth’

Sam Lansky is making his feature film screenwriting debut with Sony's I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER. This highly anticipated new installment of the cultural phenomenon franchise boasts an all-star cast, including Madelyn Cline, Chase Sui Wonders, Tyriq Withers, Jonah Hauer-King, and Sarah Pidgeon. Additionally, Jennifer Love Hewitt and Freddie Prinze Jr. will reprise their iconic roles from the original films.

Sam is the author of two critically acclaimed books: THE GILDED RAZOR, a satirical memoir of his misadventures as a New York City teen; and BROKEN PEOPLE, a novel set in the world of Los Angeles neoshamanism.

In this interview, we talk about the challenges of breaking into the film industry without connections or financial support, the role of journalism and online platforms (like Twitter) in building a writing career, the approach to updating the I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER franchise for a new generation, and much more.

Want more? Steal my first book, INK BY THE BARREL - SECRETS FROM PROLIFIC WRITERS, right now for free. Simply head over to www.brockswinson.com to get your free digital download and audiobook. If you find value in the book, please share it with a friend as we’re giving away 100,000 copies this year. It’s based on over 400 interviews here at Creative Principles. Enjoy!

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60 seconds, and it really helps convince some of the hard-to-get guests to sit down and have a chat (simply scroll to the bottom of your iTunes Podcast app and click “Write Review"). Enjoy the show!

Ep654 - Sam Lansky, Writer ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’

Kristina Stanley is the bestselling author of SECRETS TO OUTLINING A NOVEL, SECRETS TO EDITING SUCCESS, and SECRETS TO WRITING A SERIES, as well as the award-winning STONE MOUNTAIN MYSTERIES SERIES. 

In 2019, she developed a brand-new structural editing software, Fictionary. After years of outlining and editing in complex Excel spreadsheets, she designed the program she always wished she had. Since then, Fictionary has grown fast, now offering Fictionary Live!, an in-depth program of outlining, writing, and editing courses, and StoryTeller software, which supports writers through their entire writing journey.

In this interview, we talk about misconceptions about writing, the importance of outlining and the different approaches, Fictionary, and much more.

Want more? Steal my first book, INK BY THE BARREL - SECRETS FROM PROLIFIC WRITERS, right now for free. Simply head over to www.brockswinson.com to get your free digital download and audiobook. If you find value in the book, please share it with a friend as we’re giving away 100,000 copies this year. It’s based on over 400 interviews here at Creative Principles. Enjoy!

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60 seconds, and it really helps convince some of the hard-to-get guests to sit down and have a chat (simply scroll to the bottom of your iTunes Podcast app and click “Write Review"). Enjoy the show!

Ep657 - Kristina Stanley, Author and CEO of Fictionary

Jeffrey Doe is an Emmy-nominated filmmaker whose work has premiered at Sundance, Cannes, and Telluride. Starting his career as an editor of MTV Award-winning music videos, Jeff then transitioned to documentary, cutting WE SOLD OUR SOULS FOR ROCK ’N ROLL for famed “rock-u-mentary” director Penelope Spheeris and the Grammy Award-winning RUNNIN’ DOWN A DREAM for director Peter Bogdanovich, about the life and career of the late Tom Petty.

Most recently, he directed WICK IS PAIN, the never-before-seen footage and story behind the John Wick phenomenon, from independent film to billion-dollar franchise.

In this interview, we talk about the two types of documentaries: archival vs. verite, the importance of conflict and drama in documentaries, his latest work WICK IS PAIN, his approach to note-taking and organizing footage, and much more.

Want more? Steal my first book, INK BY THE BARREL - SECRETS FROM PROLIFIC WRITERS, right now for free. Simply head over to www.brockswinson.com to get your free digital download and audiobook. If you find value in the book, please share it with a friend as we’re giving away 100,000 copies this year. It’s based on over 400 interviews here at Creative Principles. Enjoy!

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60 seconds, and it really helps convince some of the hard-to-get guests to sit down and have a chat (simply scroll to the bottom of your iTunes Podcast app and click “Write Review"). Enjoy the show!


Ep658 - Jeffrey Doe, Director ‘Wick Is Pain’

Jeremy Saulnier is best known for his low-budget revenge thriller BLUE RUIN, which he wrote, directed, and cinematographed. He followed up with GREEN ROOM, a claustrophobic horror film about a punk band trapped with white supremacists, starring Anton Yelchin and Patrick Stewart.
Most recently, he directed REBEL RIDGE. The film follows a former Marine who becomes entangled in a violent conflict with a corrupt small-town police chief after an attempt to post bail for his cousin escalates unexpectedly.

In this interview, we talk about self-funding and financial strategies for filmmaking, his film REBEL RIDGE, the collaborative and evolving nature of stunt choreography on set, the challenge of creating good endings, and much more.

Want more? Steal my first book, INK BY THE BARREL - SECRETS FROM PROLIFIC WRITERS, right now for free. Simply head over to www.brockswinson.com to get your free digital download and audiobook. If you find value in the book, please share it with a friend as we’re giving away 100,000 copies this year. It’s based on over 400 interviews here at Creative Principles. Enjoy!

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60 seconds, and it really helps convince some of the hard-to-get guests to sit down and have a chat (simply scroll to the bottom of your iTunes Podcast app and click “Write Review"). Enjoy the show!

Ep659 - Jeremy Saulnier, Director ‘Rebel Ridge,’ ‘Blue Ruin’ & ‘Green Room’

John McKeever is a versatile writer, actor, and director with a diverse portfolio spanning television, stand-up, and digital media. His writing credits include work for MTV, TruTV, NBC, and Comedy Central, and as a stand-up comedian, he was recognized as a New Face at the 2014 Just for Laughs Festival in Montreal.

McKeever has appeared on Comedy Central’s Adam Devine’s House Party, HBO’s High Maintenance, and was a regular on TruTV’s Almost Genius. In 2017, he wrote, directed, and starred in the Comedy Central pilot Delco Proper. He later co-wrote and directed the hugely popular YouTube sketch series Gilly & Keeves, culminating in the 2022 release of Gilly & Keeves: The Special, which he produced alongside longtime collaborator Shane Gillis.

He is currently showrunning and directing Season 2 of Tires, his hit Netflix series.

Tires follows Will, an unqualified heir, who attempts to turn his auto repair business around while enduring torment from his now-employee cousin, Shane.

In this interview, we talk about overcoming gatekeepers and the DIY mindset; how he's learned to identify whether an idea is better suited for standup, a sketch, a TV show, or a movie; the origin and development of TIRES; scripted vs. improvised dialogue, and much more.

Want more? Steal my first book, INK BY THE BARREL - SECRETS FROM PROLIFIC WRITERS, right now for free. Simply head over to www.brockswinson.com to get your free digital download and audiobook. If you find value in the book, please share it with a friend as we’re giving away 100,000 copies this year. It’s based on over 400 interviews here at Creative Principles. Enjoy!

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60 seconds, and it really helps convince some of the hard-to-get guests to sit down and have a chat (simply scroll to the bottom of your iTunes Podcast app and click “Write Review"). Enjoy the show!

Ep660 - John McKeever, Showrunner Shane Gillis Comedy, ‘Tires’

Tony Tost is the showrunner of season two of Poker Face. His first feature film as a writer-director -- the modern-day western crime film Americana starring Sydney Sweeney, Paul Walter Hauser, and Halsey -- will hit theaters this summer.

In this interview, we talk about challenges and rejections in Hollywood, strategies for getting films made, advice for aspiring screenwriters, and much more.

As a special note, this was part of our new LIVE interview series in partnership with Buzztown, a community for serious screenwriters, where students also participated in this interview. You can learn more or join the waitlist here: https://www.scriptmastermind.com/pr 

Want more? Steal my first book, INK BY THE BARREL - SECRETS FROM PROLIFIC WRITERS, right now for free. Simply head over to www.brockswinson.com to get your free digital download and audiobook. If you find value in the book, please share it with a friend as we’re giving away 100,000 copies this year. It’s based on over 400 interviews here at Creative Principles. Enjoy!

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60 seconds, and it really helps convince some of the hard-to-get guests to sit down and have a chat (simply scroll to the bottom of your iTunes Podcast app and click “Write Review"). Enjoy the show!

Ep661 - Tony Tost, Writer ‘Americana,’ ‘Poker Face’ & ‘Longmire’

Nate Bargatze is a stand-up comedian known for his clean, family-friendly humor and deadpan delivery. He gained popularity through appearances on late-night shows and has released multiple comedy specials, including THE TENNESSEE KID, THE GREATEST AVERAGE AMERICAN, and YOUR FRIEND, NATE BARGATZE.

In addition to his stand-up career, he hosts a podcast called THE NATELAND PODCAST, and just published the book, BIG DUMB EYES.

In this interview, we talk about why he decided to be a “clean comic,” his writing process, THE BREADWINNER, hosting the Emmy’s, his recent appearances on SNL, his company and how he helps up-and-coming comedians.

Want more? Steal my first book, INK BY THE BARREL - SECRETS FROM PROLIFIC WRITERS, right now for free. Simply head over to www.brockswinson.com to get your free digital download and audiobook. If you find value in the book, please share it with a friend as we’re giving away 100,000 copies this year. It’s based on over 400 interviews here at Creative Principles. Enjoy!

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60 seconds, and it really helps convince some of the hard-to-get guests to sit down and have a chat (simply scroll to the bottom of your iTunes Podcast app and click “Write Review"). Enjoy the show!

Ep662 - Nate Bargatze, Comedian & Writer ‘Your Friend, Nate Bargatze’ & ‘The Breadwinner’

With a career spanning over 25 years, Gary Oldman is one of the most respected and recognized actors of his generation. He has earned critical acclaim for his iconic roles, including Sirius Black in the HARRY POTTER series, Commissioner Jim Gordon in Christopher Nolan's BATMAN trilogy, and Winston Churchill in DARKEST HOUR, for which he won an Academy Award for Best Actor.

He has received numerous awards and nominations throughout his career, including three Academy Award nominations and two Emmy nominations for his recent work in SLOW HORSES.

In this interview, Oldman talks about becoming typecast as a villain in films, anonymity and public life, his role in the TV series SLOW HORSES, and much more.

Want more? Steal my first book, INK BY THE BARREL - SECRETS FROM PROLIFIC WRITERS, right now for free. Simply head over to www.brockswinson.com to get your free digital download and audiobook. If you find value in the book, please share it with a friend as we’re giving away 100,000 copies this year. It’s based on over 400 interviews here at Creative Principles. Enjoy!

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60 seconds, and it really helps convince some of the hard-to-get guests to sit down and have a chat (simply scroll to the bottom of your iTunes Podcast app and click “Write Review"). Enjoy the show!

Ep663 - Gary Oldman, Actor ‘Slow Horses’ & ‘Darkest Hour’

David Gelb is an award-winning director and producer. He is best known for directing the critically acclaimed documentary JIRO DREAMS OF SUSHI, which ushered in a new wave of food-focused cinematography and storytelling.

Following the success of Jiro, Gelb went on to create Netflix’s longest-running series, Chef's Table, now in its tenth season, as well as a new companion series, Street Food. The series has been nominated for multiple Emmys and has won multiple James Beard awards.

In this interview, we talk about his early influences and beginnings plus his transition to documentaries, his time working with Robert Downey Jr., what inspired him to create CHEF'S TABLE, the challenges of documentary filmmaking and working with "legends,” and much more. 

Want more? Steal my first book, INK BY THE BARREL - SECRETS FROM PROLIFIC WRITERS, right now for free. Simply head over to www.brockswinson.com to get your free digital download and audiobook. If you find value in the book, please share it with a friend as we’re giving away 100,000 copies this year. It’s based on over 400 interviews here at Creative Principles. Enjoy!

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60 seconds, and it really helps convince some of the hard-to-get guests to sit down and have a chat (simply scroll to the bottom of your iTunes Podcast app and click “Write Review"). Enjoy the show!

Ep664 - David Gelb, Director & Producer ‘Chef's Table’ & ‘Jiro Dreams of Sushi’

Abigail Rubenstein has over a decade of experience writing and editing. She got her start at Law360, a news service for business lawyers. 

Abby also helped run the newsroom at two digital media startups focused on business and academic research.

In this interview, we talk about Morning Brew's identity and content, their editorial process, the challenges around the news industry, and much more.

Want more? Steal my first book, INK BY THE BARREL - SECRETS FROM PROLIFIC WRITERS, right now for free. Simply head over to www.brockswinson.com to get your free digital download and audiobook. If you find value in the book, please share it with a friend as we’re giving away 100,000 copies this year. It’s based on over 400 interviews here at Creative Principles. Enjoy!

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60 seconds, and it really helps convince some of the hard-to-get guests to sit down and have a chat (simply scroll to the bottom of your iTunes Podcast app and click “Write Review"). Enjoy the show!

Ep665 - Abigail Rubenstein, Managing Editor of ‘Morning Brew”

Brad Ingelsby is an EMMY AWARD-NOMINATED writer, producer, and creator. He gained widespread acclaim as the creator, writer, and executive producer of HBO's hit limited series, MARE OF EASTTOWN, which starred Kate Winslet. 

Ingelsby has since created and written the new HBO limited series, TASK, starring Mark Ruffalo and Tom Pelphrey. His recent film work includes the Apple TV+ thriller ECHO VALLEY and THE LOST BUS, an adaptation of Lizzie Johnson's book about the 2018 Camp Fire, starring Matthew McConaughey and America Ferrera.

In this interview, we talk about his writing process, why he doesn’t outline, and why he considers himself an “awful pitcher.” Plus, his projects THE LOST BUS, TASK, and MARE OF EASTTOWN. 

As a special note, this was part of our new LIVE interview series in partnership with Buzztown, a community for serious screenwriters, where students also participated in this interview. You can learn more or join the waitlist here: https://www.scriptmastermind.com/pr  

Want more? Steal my first book, INK BY THE BARREL - SECRETS FROM PROLIFIC WRITERS, right now for free. Simply head over to www.brockswinson.com to get your free digital download and audiobook. If you find value in the book, please share it with a friend as we’re giving away 100,000 copies this year. It’s based on over 400 interviews here at Creative Principles. Enjoy!

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60 seconds, and it really helps convince some of the hard-to-get guests to sit down and have a chat (simply scroll to the bottom of your iTunes Podcast app and click “Write Review"). Enjoy the show!

Ep666 - Brad Ingelsby, Writer ‘Task,’ ‘Mare of Easttown’ & ‘The Lost Bus’

Emmy-nominated writer Seth Reiss made his feature film debut with Mark Mylod’s THE MENU in 2022, which he co-wrote and executive produced with Will Tracy, and received a WGA nomination for Searchlight Pictures. He is currently a supervising writer on LATE NIGHT WITH SETH MEYERS, for which he has received five Emmys and five WGA nominations. 

Reiss’ new writing and producing project includes Sony Pictures’ A BIG BOLD BEAUTIFUL JOURNEY starring Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell. 

A BIG BOLD BEAUTIFUL JOURNEY follows two strangers who meet at a mutual friend's wedding and have the chance to relive important moments from their pasts, illuminating the path that led them to the present and gaining the opportunity to change their futures.

In this interview, we talk about how Seth is balancing his role at LATE NIGHT WITH SETH MEYERS with screenwriting alongside Will Tracy, which led to the successful film THE MENU, and now his new film A BIG BOLD BEAUTIFUL JOURNEY. We also discuss how his writing philosophy favors high-concept premises that quickly focus on emotional, layered characters, with RUSHMORE as a key influence. Reiss also talks about his unproduced film FELLAS AND GALS, and gives advice for aspiring writers.

Want more? Steal my first book, INK BY THE BARREL - SECRETS FROM PROLIFIC WRITERS, right now for free. Simply head over to www.brockswinson.com to get your free digital download and audiobook. If you find value in the book, please share it with a friend as we’re giving away 100,000 copies this year. It’s based on over 400 interviews here at Creative Principles. Enjoy!

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60 seconds, and it really helps convince some of the hard-to-get guests to sit down and have a chat (simply scroll to the bottom of your iTunes Podcast app and click “Write Review"). Enjoy the show!


Ep667 - Seth Reiss, Writer ‘A Big Bold Beautiful Journey’ & ‘The Menu’

It’s almost Halloween! To celebrate, we've curated a compilation of the best moments from our interviews with the masters of horror.

First, we have James DeMonaco, who shares with us the origin of THE PURGE, which was inspired by a real-life road rage incident. Then we have Drew Hancock talking about his film COMPANION, which he describes as “Barbie with bloodstains,” followed by Bruce Campbell, who details the dangerous stunts from his early work on THE EVIL DEAD. After that, we have Sam Lansky, who talks about his approach to writing an updated version of I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER for the current generation, and lastly, we have Philip Gelatt talking about one of his latest projects, FIRST WORD ON HORROR, a fifteen-part documentary series that profiles five of the finest horror writers working today. 

This episode is brought to you by AutoCrit—the all-in-one platform to plan, write, analyze, and edit your books. 

With comprehensive editing and analysis tools for fiction and nonfiction writers, and a vibrant community featuring courses like Nightmare Fuel starting October 6th and the Writing Iconic Killer Characters Workshop starting October 14th, AutoCrit gives you the tools and support serious writers need.

Pro membership normally costs 30 dollars a month, but Creative Principals listeners can get LIFETIME membership for one fee.

Head to www.autocrit.com/brock for more information.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60 seconds, and it really helps convince some of the hard-to-get guests to sit down and have a chat (simply scroll to the bottom of your iTunes Podcast app and click “Write Review"). Enjoy the show!


Ep668 - Best of Horror with James DeMonaco, Drew Hancock, Bruce Campbell, Sam Lansky & Philip Gelatt

Craig Davidson has published five books of literary fiction, including RUST AND BONE, which was the inspiration for a Golden Globe–nominated feature film of the same name; the Scotiabank Giller Prize–nominated novel CATARACT CITY; and the novel THE SATURDAY NIGHT GHOST CLUB, which was a finalist for the Rogers Writers Trust Fiction Prize.

He also writes horror fiction under the name Nick Cutter: THE TROOP, THE DEEP, LITTLE HEAVEN, THE HANDYMAN METHOD, and THE QUEEN, amongst others.

In this interview, we talk about Craig’s key influences (including Stephen King and Anne Rice) and how his work under the Nick Cutter name allowed him to explore the horror genre with books like THE TROOP. We also talk about his writing process, the validation of having Stephen King blurb his book, and much more.

This episode is brought to you by AutoCrit—the all-in-one platform to plan, write, analyze, and edit your books. 

With comprehensive editing and analysis tools for fiction and nonfiction writers, and a vibrant community featuring courses like Nightmare Fuel starting October 6th and the Writing Iconic Killer Characters Workshop starting October 14th, AutoCrit gives you the tools and support serious writers need.

Pro membership normally costs 30 dollars a month, but Creative Principals listeners can get LIFETIME membership for one fee.

Head to www.autocrit.com/brock for more information.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60 seconds, and it really helps convince some of the hard-to-get guests to sit down and have a chat (simply scroll to the bottom of your iTunes Podcast app and click “Write Review"). Enjoy the show!

Ep669 - Craig Davidson (Nick Cutter), Author ‘The Troop,’ ‘The Deep’ & ‘The Queen’

David DiGilio is the writer, showrunner, and executive producer of Amazon’s hit series THE
TERMINAL LIST, starring Chris Pratt, Constance Wu, and Taylor Kitsch, and based on the
NYTimes best-selling novels written by former Navy SEAL, Jack Carr (see Episode 548).

The show’s character-driven action and authenticity have sparked not just a second season, but also a prequel titled THE TERMINAL LIST: DARK WOLF, starring Kitsch, Pratt, Tom Hopper, Luke Hemsworth, and more. 

In this interview, we talk about David’s transition from an aspiring movie star and actor to a screenwriter, his show THE TERMINAL LIST: DARK WOLF, plus much more.

Want more? Steal my first book, INK BY THE BARREL - SECRETS FROM PROLIFIC WRITERS, right now for free. Simply head over to www.brockswinson.com to get your free digital download and audiobook. If you find value in the book, please share it with a friend as we’re giving away 100,000 copies this year. It’s based on over 400 interviews here at Creative Principles. Enjoy!

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60 seconds, and it really helps convince some of the hard-to-get guests to sit down and have a chat (simply scroll to the bottom of your iTunes Podcast app and click “Write Review"). Enjoy the show!

Ep670 - David DiGilio, Showrunner ‘The Terminal List: Dark Wolf’

Will Tracy is an Emmy-winning writer and producer. He wrote the screenplay for BUGONIA, the latest film from director Yorgos Lanthimos starring Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons. The film is based on a South Korean film, and it follows two conspiracy-obsessed men who kidnap the CEO of a powerful company, believing her to be an alien responsible for environmental collapse and the dying of the bees. 

Prior to this in film, he co-wrote and executive-produced THE MENU –we interviewed his co-writer Seth Reiss back in Episode 667– and served as a writer and executive producer on the HBO series Succession, earning three Emmy Awards and a Writers Guild Award for the episode “Tern Haven.” 

In this interview, we talk about Will’s start at THE ONION and his time working on the HBO drama SUCCESSION, his latest film BUGONIA, and much more.

Seth's Episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep667-seth-reiss-writer-a-big-bold-beautiful/id1292130289?i=1000730424291

This episode is brought to you by AutoCrit—the all-in-one platform to plan, write, analyze, and edit your books. 

With comprehensive editing and analysis tools for fiction and nonfiction writers, and a vibrant community featuring courses like Nightmare Fuel starting October 6th and the Writing Iconic Killer Characters Workshop starting October 14th, AutoCrit gives you the tools and support serious writers need.

Pro membership normally costs 30 dollars a month, but Creative Principals listeners can get LIFETIME membership for one fee.

Head to www.autocrit.com/brock for more information.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60 seconds, and it really helps convince some of the hard-to-get guests to sit down and have a chat (simply scroll to the bottom of your iTunes Podcast app and click “Write Review"). Enjoy the show!

Ep671 - Will Tracy, Writer ‘Bugonia,’ ‘The Menu’ & ‘Succession’

Aziz Ansari is an award-winning writer, director, producer, actor, and stand-up comedian.
This fall, Ansari makes his feature film directorial debut with GOOD FORTUNE, which he
wrote and stars in opposite Keanu Reeves, Seth Rogen, Sandra Oh, and Keke Palmer. 

The film follows a well-meaning but rather inept angel named Gabriel who meddles in the lives of a struggling gig worker and a wealthy venture capitalist.

Previously, Ansari starred, wrote, directed, and executive produced MASTER OF NONE, a Netflix original series that he co-created with Alan Yang (PARKS AND RECREATION). 

In this interview, we talk about the motivation for his film GOOD FORTUNE, an original theatrical comedy starring Seth Rogen and Keanu Reeves that uses a classic angel trope to explore modern wealth inequality and the struggle of unrepresented characters. He also shares his process for developing rich side characters, why he creates his own projects, and his advice for aspiring directors.

Want more? Steal my first book, INK BY THE BARREL - SECRETS FROM PROLIFIC WRITERS, right now for free. Simply head over to www.brockswinson.com to get your free digital download and audiobook. If you find value in the book, please share it with a friend as we’re giving away 100,000 copies this year. It’s based on over 400 interviews here at Creative Principles. Enjoy!

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60 seconds, and it really helps convince some of the hard-to-get guests to sit down and have a chat (simply scroll to the bottom of your iTunes Podcast app and click “Write Review"). Enjoy the show!

Ep672 - Aziz Ansari, Writer & Director ‘Good Fortune’

Ilona Six is an independent film producer best known for producing and selling THE HUMAN CENTIPEDE trilogy. A cult horror classic that became a worldwide success. She has worked across development, production, sales, and distribution on a wide range of bold independent films. Today, through The Film Business Club, she mentors the next generation of filmmakers, helping them with the business side of filmmaking.

In this interview, we discuss the shift in the film industry's business, including how to market and build buzz for films, strategies for pitching to investors, current methods for independent filmmakers to recoup their money, distribution strategies, and tips for approaching distributors.

This episode is brought to you by AutoCrit—the all-in-one platform to plan, write, analyze, and edit your books.

With comprehensive editing and analysis tools for fiction and nonfiction writers, and a vibrant community featuring courses like Nightmare Fuel starting October 6th and the Writing Iconic Killer Characters Workshop starting October 14th, AutoCrit gives you the tools and support serious writers need.

Pro membership normally costs 30 dollars a month, but Creative Principals listeners can get LIFETIME membership for one fee.

Head to www.autocrit.com/brock for more information. 

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60 seconds, and it really helps convince some of the hard-to-get guests to sit down and have a chat (simply scroll to the bottom of your iTunes Podcast app and click “Write Review"). Enjoy the show!

Ep673 - Ilona Six, Film Business Strategist & Film Producer ‘The Human Centipede’

Marcus Kliewer is a writer and stop-motion animator. His debut novel WE USED TO LIVE HERE began life as a serialized short story on Reddit. Film rights were snapped up by Netflix, and it was acquired by Simon & Schuster in the US for publication even before it had been extended into a full-length novel.

His new novel, THE CARETAKER, comes out next year (April 21, 2026) and follows a young woman who accepts a caretaking job from Craigslist only to discover the position has consequences far greater—and more dangerous—than she ever could have imagined.

In this interview, we talk about his horror writing philosophy and approach, his first book WE USED TO LIVE HERE, writing on Reddit, and much more.

This episode is brought to you by AutoCrit—the all-in-one platform to plan, write, analyze, and edit your books.

With comprehensive editing and analysis tools for fiction and nonfiction writers, and a vibrant community featuring courses like Nightmare Fuel starting October 6th and the Writing Iconic Killer Characters Workshop starting October 14th, AutoCrit gives you the tools and support serious writers need.

Pro membership normally costs 30 dollars a month, but Creative Principals listeners can get LIFETIME membership for one fee.

Head to www.autocrit.com/brock for more information. 

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60 seconds, and it really helps convince some of the hard-to-get guests to sit down and have a chat (simply scroll to the bottom of your iTunes Podcast app and click “Write Review"). Enjoy the show!

Ep674 - Marcus Kliewer, Author ‘We Used to Live Here’ & ‘The Caretaker’

David is the director, writer and producer of the IN SEARCH OF DARKNESS trilogy for CreatorVC, which debuted in 2019 as a critically acclaimed four-and-a-half-hour documentary about ’80s horror movies. The long-form follow-ups IN SEARCH OF DARKNESS: PART II (2020) and IN SEARCH OF DARKNESS: PART III (2022) were highly lauded by fans and critics alike and extended the journey through ’80s horror cinema to an epic 14-and-a-half hour film experience. The trilogy can be seen on Shudder, Amazon Prime and AMC+.

David is also the director/writer/producer of IN SEARCH OF TOMORROW (2022), a five-hour documentary about ’80s Sci-Fi movies. 

In this interview, we talk about the curation process and selection of films, post-production challenges, the fan-focused approach and community integration, and much more.

This episode is brought to you by AutoCrit—the all-in-one platform to plan, write, analyze, and edit your books.

With comprehensive editing and analysis tools for fiction and nonfiction writers, and a vibrant community featuring courses like Nightmare Fuel starting October 6th and the Writing Iconic Killer Characters Workshop starting October 14th, AutoCrit gives you the tools and support serious writers need.

Pro membership normally costs 30 dollars a month, but Creative Principals listeners can get LIFETIME membership for one fee.

Head to www.autocrit.com/brock for more information. 

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60 seconds, and it really helps convince some of the hard-to-get guests to sit down and have a chat (simply scroll to the bottom of your iTunes Podcast app and click “Write Review"). Enjoy the show!

Ep675 - David Weiner Returns, Director ‘In Search of Darkness: 1995–1999’

Bekah Brinkmeier is a USA Today bestselling author and ghostwriter behind more than 85 novels. When she’s not deep in a draft, she’s teaching at AutoCrit, speaking at author events, or coaching fellow writers—especially neurodivergent creatives—on how to wrangle their ideas and actually finish what they start. 

In this interview, we talk about her path to becoming a full-time writer, her ghostwriting experience and the lessons learned, the business and marketing side of publishing, AutoCrit, and much more.

This episode is brought to you by AutoCrit—the all-in-one platform to plan, write, analyze, and edit your books.

With comprehensive editing and analysis tools for fiction and nonfiction writers, and a vibrant community featuring courses like Nightmare Fuel starting October 6th and the Writing Iconic Killer Characters Workshop starting October 14th, AutoCrit gives you the tools and support serious writers need.

Pro membership normally costs 30 dollars a month, but Creative Principals listeners can get a LIFETIME membership for one fee.

Head to www.autocrit.com/brock for more information.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60 seconds, and it really helps convince some of the hard-to-get guests to sit down and have a chat (simply scroll to the bottom of your iTunes Podcast app and click “Write Review"). Enjoy the show!

Ep676 - Bekah Brinkmeier, Author & Self Publishing Coach at AutoCrit

John-Michael Powell is an Emmy Award–winning filmmaker and co-founder of Midnight Road Entertainment. His latest feature, VIOLENT ENDS, will be released theatrically by IFC Films.
VIOLENT ENDS is a southern-gothic revenge thriller set deep in the Ozark Mountains. The film chronicles the life of Lucas Frost, an honest man and one-half of a pair of star-crossed lovers, whose fate is inextricably tied to the crime family that raised him—a family whose only enduring legacy is violence.
In this interview, we talk about editing as a vital skill set for directing, his film VIOLENT ENDS, the non-linear path to a career in filmmaking, and much more.

This episode is brought to you by AutoCrit—the all-in-one platform to plan, write, analyze, and edit your books.

With comprehensive editing and analysis tools for fiction and nonfiction writers, and a vibrant community featuring courses like Nightmare Fuel starting October 6th and the Writing Iconic Killer Characters Workshop starting October 14th, AutoCrit gives you the tools and support serious writers need.

Pro membership normally costs 30 dollars a month, but Creative Principals listeners can get a LIFETIME membership for one fee.

Head to www.autocrit.com/brock for more information.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60 seconds, and it really helps convince some of the hard-to-get guests to sit down and have a chat (simply scroll to the bottom of your iTunes Podcast app and click “Write Review"). Enjoy the show!

Ep677 - John-Michael Powell, Filmmaker ‘Violent Ends’

Eve Hewson, daughter of U2’s Bono and Ali Hewson, is an Irish actress who landed her first major role in 2011’s This Must Be the Place, opposite Sean Penn. Since this role, she’s been in an array of films and shows, like Enough Said, Bridge of Spies, The Knick, Robin Hood, Tesla, and The Luminaries. 

Eve’s most recent project is called Behind Her Eyes. Simona Brown plays Louise, a single mother who has an affair with her psychiatrist boss David (Tom Bateman). Her life takes a strange turn when she later befriends his wife Adele (Eve Hewson), and she finds herself caught in a web of secrets and lies where nothing is what it seems. 

In this interview, Eve talks about growing up in a creative world, the benefits of having an Irish accent, how characters choose you, why she didn’t like the character of Lucy in The Knick, how to play the Hollywood game, and how to look for mentors in any career. 

If it’s your first time listening, make sure to subscribe and visit my new website for information on the YouTube channel, the blog, this podcast, and my new book ‘Ink by the Barrel’ which takes advice from these 200+ interviews at the link below…

Join the email list here: www.writerfieldnotes.com

Ep253 - Eve Hewson, Actress ‘Behind Her Eyes,’ ‘Bridge of Spies,’ & ‘The Knick’

Welcome to Creative Principles, I'm your host Brock Swinson. Here I'll be speaking with writers, directors, actors, musicians and more. We'll discuss the habits, routines, and methods of a creative life.

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