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

How NY Times Bestselling Author James Swallow Writes: Part One


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Award-winning New York Times, Sunday Times, and Amazon #1 bestselling author, James Swallow, spoke with me about his superhero origin story, how he found success channeling his own anger, and the most important lessons he's learned along the way.

"I try to make the details as authentic as I possibly can ... because a lot of the action in my books is 'heightened reality.'" – James Swallow

James is a former journalist and British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) nominated scriptwriter who has written for video games, TV, and radio.

The prolific author of over 50 books – who has written sci-fi for storied franchises including Star Trek, Dr. Who, and Stargate – is best known for his espionage thrillers.

His Marc Dane series – with over 750,000 books in print worldwide – includes novels Nomad, Exile, Ghost, Shadow, and his forthcoming novel Rogue, the fifth in the bestselling series featuring "Britain's answer to Jason Bourne," out May 28th (from Zaffre Books).

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In this file James Swallow and I discussed:

  • Why the pandemic feels like "almost the end of the world"
  • The renaissance of "high-speed, low-drag" thrillers inspired by the '80s
  • His theories on the fallibility of action heroes
  • How his journalism and TV writing experience set him up for success
  • Why writers are always writing ... even when they're not
  • His greatest influences
  • And much more!
  • Show Notes:

    • www.jswallow.com
    • Rogue by James Swallow [Amazon]
    • James Swallow on Amazon 
    • James Swallow on Twitter
    • Kelton Reid on Twitter
    •  

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

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