Write About Now

Bestselling author David Elliott joins the show to talk about the crazy way he inked his first publishing deal, where he comes up with his book ideas, and the biggest mistake people make writing for kids. Elliott has written over 20 picture books and young adult novels, including And Here’s to You! Finn Throws a Fit, and Bull. His latest book is Voices: The Final Hours of Joan of Arc. Based on transcripts from two of her trials, the book paints an intimate portrait of the mysterious heroine.

Are you tired of that voice in your head that's always telling you that your writing's awful? Then this episode's for you. I speak to psychologist Dr. Liana Georgoulis and meditation expert Heather Hayward about silencing the inner critic and writing free of judgment and anxiety. Both women have developed tried-and-true techniques to help you work through the tough times. Be sure to listen all the way to the end, when Heather gives a free guided meditation tailored for writers.

"There are so many better rap songs than 'Walk This Way'...but I would argue there is no more important song," says Geoff Edgers, author of the new book, Walk This Way: Run-DMC, Aerosmith, and the Song That Changed American Music Forever. We take a deep dive into the story behind the song, time-traveling back to the 80s when hip hop wasn't even on the radio and hair metal and new wave ruled MTV. Geoff also shares never-before-heard studio footage from the historic collaboration. www.writeaboutnowmedia.com

Last June, twelve young Thai soccer players and their coach were trapped in a flooded cave for nine days. Heavy rains kept rescuers out and sealed the boys in. When two British cave divers finally found the boys, the world breathed a sigh of relief. But how would they get the boys out? Marc Aronson details this gripping story in his new book, Rising Water: The Story of The Thai Cave Rescue. On this episode, he recounts the events in vivid details and explains the difficult process of writing the book.

Lance Ulanoff talks about the latest gadgets and news from the world of consumer electronics. Lance is a veteran journalist who writes a regular tech column for Medium.com. He also makes frequent appearances as a 'techspert' on Live with Kelly and Ryan and the Today Show. A former Editor-at-Large of Mashable, Lance also served as Editor in Chief of PCMag.com. On the show, we rage against spam calls and 3D and celebrate rumbas and Air Pods. Plus. Lance predicts what our world could look like in 20 years.

When Claire Hoffman was in kindergarten, her family moved from NYC to a meditation community in Iowa. Hoffman’s fascinating memoir, Greetings from Utopia Park: Surviving a Transcendent Childhood, recounts her unusual upbringing. Her story resonates with me because I also grew up in a spiritual group. On the podcast, we compare notes – why people join cults, the promise and the danger of Utopian communities, and the complex feelings many children of spiritual communities have to confront.

Benjamin Dreyer is Copy Chief at Random House and author of the new bestselling book, Dreyer's English: An Utterly Correct Guide to Clarity and Style. If you have a question about grammar, he's your guy. On the podcast, he drops his knowledge about the words and sentences you should avoid, the classic grammar rules you should ignore, the proper use of pronouns, adverbs, which, that, as well as, and more! He also recommends avoiding the exclamation point. Oh, well.

Katherine Rosman knows her way around a great story. As a staff writer for the New York Times Style section and, previously, the Wall Street Journal, she pens fascinating and often funny pieces about culture and the media. On this episode, she takes us through the lifespan of two recent stories that lit up the internet. She also speaks openly about her thoughts on writing (not a fan), her obsessive reporting habits (fan), and how even someone with her credentials struggles with impostor syndrome.

Patrick Burleigh joins the show to talk about his viral story for New York Magazine and Epic.com entitled, "A Four Year Old Trapped in a Teenager's Body." The moving and funny personal essay recounts his childhood living with a rare genetic mutation called testotoxicosis, which caused him to go through puberty -- muscle development, body hair, hormonal sex drive -- at a very early age. Burleigh is now an LA-based actor and writer, known for Ping-Pong Diplomacy and Ant-Man and the Wasp.

As editor-in-chief of Entrepreneur Magazine, host of two popular business podcasts, public speaker, and novelist, Jason Feifer not only talks a good game—he plays it. He's always dreaming up new ideas and executing them, while simultaneously working a full-time job. Along the way, Jason's become a sought-after thought leader in entrepreneurship. On the pod, we talk about how to "work your next job," manage your time, find your writing "voice," master public speaking, and become a thought leader yourself.