The Written Scene

Scott Ehrig-Burgess, the Library Foundation SD's Director of Community Engagement & Library Shops, has been working in bookstores and libraries for nearly three decades. As a result of it, he still has the ISBN of a Harry Potter book burned into memory, a number he can easily repeat if requested. Not that he wants to or anything. He just can.

In this episode of The Written Scene, Scott discusses what a typical day on the job looks like, the importance of working in a creative job as a creative person, MFA program experiences, different energies between poetry and fiction, the ways self-publishing is easier and better than before, why it's harder for bookstores to say no to self-published books, first sentences and why they're important, summer reading as a kid and competing with arrogant classmates, reading movie screenplay adaptations in his youth, the difference between poetry and song lyrics, no age limit for going back to school and having no expiration age to becoming a writer, the different levels on the path of a published author, being intellectually and ethically consistent while still enjoying work by horrible people, and so much more.

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Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era

For Scott Ehrig-Burgess, the Director of Community Engagement & Library Shops for the Library Foundation SD, working in an artistic environment is important for any writer. It can, though, have its downside.

Please enjoy this teaser with Scott ahead of next week's full episode of The Written Scene. Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss it.

Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era

Author and retired lawyer Julie Potiker never planned to write a book but eventually learned a powerful lesson by saying yes to something she never planned.

In this episode of The Written Scene, Julie discusses how her writing path was heavily carved by medical concerns, consuming enough knowledge to want to write a book about it, needing evidence-based information in life, how the arts and nature positively interact with the brain, the random ideas about what a poetry book should be, how her poetry is becoming less mindful and more poetic, being a theater kid, when financial stability scares away a career in the arts, the ways the education system can and should be flexible, how the writing taught in law school plays a role in creative writing, what SNAP is and how to use it as a creative person, the power of pets and the poems they inspire, and much more.

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Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era

For author and retired lawyer Julie Potiker, teaching a class on mindfulness that already taught her so much was a natural move.

Please enjoy this brief teaser with Julie ahead of next week's full episode of The Written Scene. Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss it.

Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era

The world is full of artists but not the specific artist you are. When it comes to creating art, Chris Mancini, an author, comedian, producer, and more, says to find what's missing and create that art.

In this episode of The Written Scene, Chris talks about how crowdfunding and podcasting overlap and create supporters at the same time, getting lost in worlds unlike our own for a little needed escape, having the most fun with writing dialogue, knowing when a collaboration with other artists just clicks, the various things gained from reading a book more than once, what attracts him to new art, what's necessary to have a successful Kickstarter campaign, how marketing our art is a job itself, building an audience from scratch, why comics was the right format for his art, the messes behind the scenes that audiences don't see, and (somehow) much more.

Go here for more info on Alpha Cat #1 and make sure to support the Kickstarter project for Alpha Cat #2. Click this link to be a part of something fantastic.

Please be sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share this and all episodes of The Written Scene. Click or tap here to join our once-a-month newsletter.

Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era

The world can feel like a rough place sometimes. When it comes to entertainment he creates or consumes, writer and producer Chris Mancini often seeks out other worlds to get lost in.

Please enjoy this teaser with Chris ahead of next week's full episode of The Written Scene. Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss it.

Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era

Author, retired teacher, and activist Ernie McCray discovered athletic interests early on in childhood. Still, even with the sports accolades, of which there are many, it was his desire to teach that became his career.

In this episode of The Written Scene, Ernie talks about being both an athlete and writer at the same time, the intelligence of athletes, having a librarian to guide you on your reading path, growing up in a household full of music, childhood experiences in a segregated country, when it finally dawned on him that he might be really good at sports, wanting to teach from an early age, how writing used to be a processing tool but at 88 years old it's a cognitive skills check (and he's passing), the different reader reactions between his poetry and his blog, rarely having writer's block due to constantly reacing to life through writing, taking risks with sharing social justice driven art, and much more.

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Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era

Author Ernie McCray learned that being part of things gave him joy. Writing and playing sports became his way to play the part he wanted.

Please enjoy this teaser ahead of next week's full episode of The Written Scene with Ernie.

Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era

When it comes to life and the inevitable tragedies that tag along, author and journalist Sandra Younger is a big believer that you get to write and tell your own story.

In this episode of The Written Scene, Sandra talks about what tragedy does in a journalistic mind, why being a nosy journalist can be useful, making an expensive deal with her publisher in order to relaunch a book, choosing your own story after a tragedy, feeling like you told the perfect story for Oprah, when deadlines and the panic monster become your writing routine, flourishing as a writer with support and accountability from others, all the ways the writing process is messy, ignoring the urge to edit while writing the first draft, the differences between a writer and a storyteller, a sneak peak into her new story, being ready for critique when feeling vulnerable as a writer, making sure characters fit the story and knowing when to cut them if they don't, and much.

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Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era

If there's one thing an author knows it's just how powerful writing about tragedy can be. When author Sandra Younger's house burned down in a once historic wildfire, the idea of telling the story of what happened became impossible to ignore.

Please enjoy this teaser ahead of next week's full episode of The Written Scene with Sandra.

Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era