Creative Principles

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!