Writing and Editing

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My guest on this episode is Hillary Webb. She has a background touching on very diverse aspects of life and living. Her bachelor’s degree is in journalism from New York University, her masters is in philosophy from Goddard College, and her doctorate is in existential psychology from Saybrook University. Hillary now teaches at Goddard and is a cultural anthropologist. She also writes books (four so far) and studies, as she puts it, “cross-cultural perspectives on human consciousness.” And so her latest book is called The Friendliest Place in the Universe: Love, Laughter, and Stand-Up Comedy in Berlin: An Anthropological Memoir. I found her really fascinating to talk to. She combines a deep knowledge of her subjects with a very clear, accessible, and personal way of expressing it in both writing and speaking. Please listen.  

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Wayne presents a 10-item admittedly non-comprehensive list.

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My guest on this episode is Miracle Sims. She’s a busy and creative person, but our discussion focused on religion generally, and on her podcast God, Sex, and Love. Miracle has published several books, including her very open memoir about single life as a Christian, The Cultivation Period: A Single Christian Journey. She has an associate’s degree in theatre from Gordon College, and in addition to being a writer, she is also an actor, singer, and songwriter. She was a genuine pleasure to talk to—smart, funny, and open—and we proved that a Christian and an atheist can in fact have a civilized conversation.

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My guest for this episode is Mark W. Travis, a film and video director, and author of the #1 bestselling book Directing Feature Films as well as The Film Director’s Bag of Tricks. People call him the “director’s director,” because he has trained and guided directors, writers, and actors on how to bring their stories and characters to life. His focus is always on storytelling and characters, and he's able to read each artist, re-aligning them with their unconscious creative intentions, and so elevating their stories and performances. I was kind of blown away by my conversation with Mark. He is extremely knowledgeable and insightful about his craft, and my interview itself turned out to be a mini-lesson in film for me. Please have a listen to this outstanding practitioner and teacher.

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My guest for this episode is Donnie Boivin. After serving in the Marine Corps, he he eventually landed his first sales job and has spent over 20 years learning what it takes to be successful in sales, business, and life. He is the Founder and CEO of the Success Champions family of companies, which among other things includes consulting, a podcast, and a magazine. Donnie was an excellent guest, straight-talking, genuine, and funny. What he says in his own profile came to life in my conversation with him: “Get ready to have your fire lit and start chasing your own dreams.”

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My guest on this episode is Jesse Filipko. He’s been teaching young people filmmaking for 15 years, and has produced podcasts for over a decade with shows about film, high school, and virtual reality. He is also one of the brothers on the excellent podcast The Brothers Dim, where there’s modesty and self-deprecation in the title, because the episodes are casual but intelligent discussions about film and many other things. He was a great guest on Editing Writing. Please listen.

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Shanti Hershenson’s first two novellas were published when she was in the sixth grade, although she had been writing even before then. Shanti writes in a variety of genres, mostly Science Fiction but Fantasy and Historical Fiction as well. She has now published 12 novels and she’s only 14 years old. She was fascinating to talk to: she was enthusiastic, she knew what she was talking about, and she was confident and smart in a very sort of casual way. Please have a listen to our conversation.

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My guest for this episode is Mark A. Herschberg. Mark is the author of an excellent book called The Career Toolkit: Essential Skills for Success That No One Taught You. Mark has had a career in diverse sectors, launching and developing new ventures at startups, in Fortune 500 companies, and in academia. He helped start the Undergraduate Practice Opportunities Program at MIT, the “career success accelerator,” where he teaches annually. Mark’s education includes a B.S. in physics, a B.S. in electrical engineering & computer science, and an M.Eng. in electrical engineering & computer science. He has worked with the Harvard Business School and with many non-profits as well. Mark has written other works as well, including the provocative “Book Publishers are an Anachronism.” On a lighter note, he was once one of the top-ranked ballroom dancers in the country and now lives in New York City, where he is known for his diverse cufflink collection. Talking to him was a breeze and a pleasure: he knows a lot, and he is as articulate a speaker as he is skilled a writer.

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My guest for this episode is Wendy Fedan. Wendy is an award-winning full-time freelance illustrator/designer, and last year she launched Create a Way Design & Publishing. She calls herself a “book shepherd,” leading and helping other authors through the self-publishing process. In addition to the books she’s designed (mostly picture books which she’s also illustrated), Wendy also has her own novel series called Somewhere In-Between, exploring her personal interest in the paranormal. She graduated from the Cleveland Institute of Art where she now teaches continuing education courses for teens and adults.

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My guest on this episode is Jennifer Westbrook. She describes her passion as “helping women entrepreneurs earn a full-time income doing the work they love.” Jennifer is a former practicing lawyer, advising clients in the area of antitrust and trade practices. She now owns JenWestWriting, created based on her love for business strategy, web design, and copywriting. Please listen.