Matthew Wayne Selznick Creates

093: In Conversation with Transcendental Horror Author Darius Jones

Listen Later

How about another in-depth, deep-diving, evergreen conversation about creative writing, finding success as we each define it, and staying healthy and sane in the process? In Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick 093, I speak with transcendental horror author and speculative poet Darius Jones.

Our conversation covers the deeper, emotionally resonant value of horror and “weird” fiction, how Darius fills the “fiction-shaped void” in his soul, why the pandemic and a pair of astronomy binoculars led to publishing fantastical epic poetry, the value of rejection, the importance of meditation and stoicism, and…yep, a whole heck of a lot more.

The conversation with Darius Jones was recorded on May 24th, 2023. The rest of this episode was recorded on August 23, 2023.

About Darius Jones

Darius Jones writes cosmic horror, weird fiction, dark fantasy — or, taken together and as he likes to call it, transcendental horror, as well as speculative poetry and sometimes historical fiction.

His stories and poems have appeared in Strange Horizons, The No Sleep Podcast, Starline Magazine, and elsewhere. He is a member of the Horror Writers Association, the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association, and the Science Fiction and Fantasy Poetry Association.

Learn more about Darius Jones by visiting dariusjoneswriter.com. You can also find Darius on Twitter and Instagram. Make sure you check out Darius Jones on Amazon, too.

Links and Topics Mentioned in This Episode
  • My day job? I’m a creative services provider helping authors, podcasters and other creators. How can I help you?
  • Brave Men Run, the first novel in history with a simultaneous release in paperback, several e-book formats, and free podcast edtions. A Parsec Award nominee!
  • That Blaise Pascal quote about brevity. And that other one about a god-shaped hole.
  • The Scholastic Book Fair (and the Bookmobile before that!) is an invaluable resource for young writers and readers.
  • Lon Chaney, Sr.
  • All the episodes of shows in the Escape Artists family of podcasts featuring my own writing or dramatic narration. Featuring works by Mike Resnick, Tim Pratt, Cat Rambo, Holly Black, and more!
  • Deception by Philip Roth, a remarkable book composed entirely of dialogue.
  • The Great Dismal Swamp.
  • What is Trap music?
  • What is zazen meditation?
  • The Rejectomancy blog.
  • The stoic philosophy of Epicurus.
  • The works of short story master Guy de Maupassant.
  • Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi and his classic Flow.
  • Maybe you would like to be a future guest on Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick? Learn more!
  • Big thanks to my Multiversalists patron community, including Amelia Bowen, Ted Leonhardt, Chuck Anderson, J. C. Hutchins, Jim Lewinson, and Pearl Zare! I’m incredibly grateful for the support of my patrons. If Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick brings you joy, become a patron!
  • The Multiversalists patron member community receives the uncut, unedited version of every episode. For this episode, patrons get almost forty minutes of additional content! Want in on that?
    • Become a patron for at least $5.00 per month (start with a free seven-day trial / cancel any time) and get a bunch of other perks and special access, too.
    • Every month the member community has at least twenty members, I will donate 10% of net patron revenue to 826 National in support of literacy and creative writing advocacy for children. Let’s go!

      • Love Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick and have the desire and means to make a one-time donation in support of the show? Donate via PayPal or leave a tip via Ko-Fi, with my grateful thanks.

      This episode has extra content only available for patron members of the Multiversalists community! If you're a patron member at the Bronze level or above, please log in! Click here to learn more about the benefits of membership.

      This content is by Matthew Wayne Selznick and came from his website.
      ...more
      View all episodesView all episodes
      Download on the App Store
      Matthew Wayne Selznick CreatesBy Matthew Wayne Selznick
      • 4.7
      • 4.7
      • 4.7
      • 4.7
      • 4.7

      4.7

      3 ratings