The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience

How Bestselling Thriller Writer Samantha Downing Writes


Listen Later

#PodcastersForJustice

Internationally bestselling thriller author, Samantha Downing, took a break to chat about her "20-year, overnight" success, writing psychopaths, and how to write a novel in six months.

Samantha's debut novel, My Lovely Wife – about a married couple teaming up to commit murder – was a #1 international bestseller that earned Edgar and ITW Thriller Award nominations and an Amazon Best Thriller of the Month selection.

Her latest bestseller, psychological thriller, For Your Own Good, has been called “A perfect summer book,” by NPR and described as "...a twisted and compulsively readable spin on the teacher-student relationship."

New York Times bestselling author B.A. Paris called it, a "... wonderfully dark, twisty and compelling thriller set in a prestigious private school." And the book has been recently optioned by Robert Downey Jr. and Greg Berlanti for a series adaptation at HBO Max.

Stay calm and write on ...

Discover The Writer Files Extra

You can now have The Writer Files podcast dropped right into your email inbox every time there’s a new show. No more shaking your podcast app!

As a subscriber, Kelton will send you added insights, the chance to get TWF merch (like "Stay Calm and Write On" t-shirts anyone?), curated collections of shows like The Publishing Series and The Writer’s Brain, updates, and occasional special offers. Learn more at the link below and take our AuthorPods podcasting course survey.

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 Samantha Downing and I discussed:
  • Why she chose to showcase the insular world of an elite private school as the setting for her latest
  • How psychopaths tend to hide in plain sight
  • Her unique creative process and how she cranks out pages
  • Why there are stacks of unfinished manuscripts she never goes back to
  • And why writers need to love the craft and be ready when opportunity knocks
Show Notes:
  • SamanthaDowning.com
For Your Own Good by Samantha Downing
  • Samantha Downing Amazon author page
  • A Sickness Spreads, A Parent Dies, And A Mystery Unfolds In 'For Your Own Good' – NPR
  • Samantha Downing on Facebook
  • Samantha Downing on Instagram
  • Kelton Reid on Twitter
  • Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    ...more
    View all episodesView all episodes
    Download on the App Store

    The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and NeuroscienceBy Kelton Reid

    • 4.5
    • 4.5
    • 4.5
    • 4.5
    • 4.5

    4.5

    211 ratings


    More shows like The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience

    View all
    The Book Review by The New York Times

    The Book Review

    3,879 Listeners

    On Being with Krista Tippett by On Being Studios

    On Being with Krista Tippett

    10,379 Listeners

    The New Yorker: Fiction by WNYC Studios and The New Yorker

    The New Yorker: Fiction

    3,314 Listeners

    The Creative Penn Podcast For Writers by Joanna Penn

    The Creative Penn Podcast For Writers

    614 Listeners

    Helping Writers Become Authors by K.M. Weiland

    Helping Writers Become Authors

    961 Listeners

    Otherppl with Brad Listi by Brad Listi

    Otherppl with Brad Listi

    502 Listeners

    Writing Excuses by Mary Robinette Kowal, DongWon Song, Erin Roberts, Dan Wells, and Howard Tayler

    Writing Excuses

    1,291 Listeners

    The History of Literature by Jacke Wilson / The Podglomerate

    The History of Literature

    1,093 Listeners

    The History of Standup by Wayne Federman & Andrew Steven / The Podglomerate

    The History of Standup

    335 Listeners

    Micheaux Mission by The Podglomerate / Micheaux Mission

    Micheaux Mission

    211 Listeners

    Freelance to Founder by Millo / The Podglomerate

    Freelance to Founder

    69 Listeners

    Writer's Routine by Dan Simpson

    Writer's Routine

    299 Listeners

    Book Dreams by Eve Yohalem and Julie Sternberg / The Podglomerate

    Book Dreams

    57 Listeners

    Fiction Writing Made Easy by Savannah Gilbo

    Fiction Writing Made Easy

    1,427 Listeners

    The Shit No One Tells You About Writing by Bianca Marais, Carly Watters and CeCe Lyra

    The Shit No One Tells You About Writing

    746 Listeners

    Trail Weight by Andrew Steven / The Podglomerate

    Trail Weight

    62 Listeners

    Poured Over by Barnes & Noble

    Poured Over

    295 Listeners

    31 for 31 by Chris Boniello, Jamie Lansdowne, and Cody Mason

    31 for 31

    14 Listeners

    NPR's Book of the Day by NPR

    NPR's Book of the Day

    606 Listeners

    Essential Guide to Writing a Novel by James Thayer

    Essential Guide to Writing a Novel

    356 Listeners

    Writers on Writing by Barbara DeMarco-Barrett and Marrie Stone

    Writers on Writing

    72 Listeners

    No Write Way with V. E. Schwab by V. E. Schwab (Author)

    No Write Way with V. E. Schwab

    67 Listeners