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Dan Patterson is a writer and reporter. He writes primary for CBS Interactive’s business technology site Techrepublic. In this interview Dan talks about the push and pull between creating assets that people will click on and creating journalistic work that has real substance and what your day looks like as a full-time news reporter. We also discuss what it was like for Dan reporting on the 2016 campaign trail, how to be a great interviewer and why being a reporter is a great career if your an introvert. Head over to this episode's show notes page for a detailed list of topics we explored, key takeaways, relevant links and all the ways you can connect with Dan – http://workhacks.com/danpatterson

Christina is a human being and a trained grief therapist who helps people start over after loss. She’s also someone who’s gone through a lot of loss herself and because of this her mission in life is to help free people from the chains of grief. She is author of the book Second Firsts and is working on her next book, which at the time of this interview is in the book proposal process. In this interview Christina talks about writing a book about your life experience, secretly writing a fiction book at the same time as writing a non-fiction book and the fact that if you don’t write your book, someone else will. We also discuss how there’s no such thing as writers block, there’s just fear and how productivity and happiness are the same thing. Head over to this episode's show notes page for a detailed list of topics we explored, key takeaways, relevant links and all the ways you can connect with Christina – http://workhacks.com/christinarasmussen

Amy Jo Martin is the author of the NY Times best selling book Renegades Write the Rules. In addition to being a great writer, she’s also a speaker, entrepreneur and rookie scientific researcher. She’s spent most of her professional career in marketing and helping her clients like Hilton Worldwide, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Shaquille O'Neal navigate social media. Interesting Amy Jo fact: She used to live on a boat and now lives in a treehouse in the forest with two of her favorite Australians. In this interview Amy Jo talks about writing a business book as a way to close a chapter on a part of your life in a way that honors it and allows you to move forward and why you should write a business book as quickly as possible. We also discuss social media fatigue, why writing is so hard and the power of serotonin. Head over to this episode's show notes page for a detailed list of topics we explored, key takeaways, relevant links and all the ways you can connect with Amy Jo – http://workhacks.com/amyjomartin

Jocelyn K. Glei is a writer who writes about work and creativity in the Age of Distraction. Prior to becoming a full-time writer, Jocelyn was the Founding Editor and Director of the 99U where she lead editorial as well as the creation of The 99U Book Series and the curation of the popular 99U Conference. Her first book, Unsubscribe, is a modern guide to getting rid of email anxiety, avoiding distraction, and spending more time on the work that matters. In this interview Jocelyn talks about how can we make our creative work as addictive as social media and why the old adage and expression “plan the work and then work the plan” is great advice for writers. We also discuss completion bias, visualizing your writing progress by piling all the printed drafts of your writing project on your desk (stacked one on top of the other), and why it’s oh-so-important to remember that the best productivity system is personal, not prescribed. Head over to this episode's show notes page for a detailed list of topics we explored, key takeaways, relevant links and all the ways you can connect with Jocelyn – http://workhacks.com/jocelynkglei

Jason Zook is a writer and entrepreneur whose made over a million dollars wearing t-shirts, sold his last name (twice), wrote the first-ever fully sponsored book titled Creativity for Sale and is most recently selling his future. Yup, you read that right. He’s a maker of all kinds of digital things. He makes courses, products and software. In this interview Jason talks why you should avoid perfection it at all costs, wow to be more productive by time blocking your calendar and why it’s ok to throw away 90% of what you write. We also discuss minimalism, imposture syndrome and the importance of writing your own story. 
 Head over to this episode's show notes page for a detailed list of topics we explored, key takeaways, relevant links and all the ways you can connect with Jason – http://workhacks.com/jasonzook

Scott Hoffman is one of the founding partners of Folio Literary Management, a literary agency based in New York City. As a literary agent Scott serves as both a business manager and artistic advisor to authors. In this interview Scott talks about what it’s like be a literary agent, the things he looks for when considering a new author and his Market Author Promise framework that helps authors evaluate their book ideas. We also discuss why Scott created an online course to help authors called Right Book, Right Now. Head over to this episode's show notes page for a detailed list of topics we explored, key takeaways, relevant links and all the ways you can connect with Scott – http://workhacks.com/scotthoffman

Matthew writes thriller novels. He writes a new thriller every year and has a lot to say about what it takes to be able to do that (and how you can too.) In this interview Matthew talks about how to write by getting away from your computer, why writing truly is rewriting and how the tactics behind writing fiction and non-fiction are practically the same. We also discuss once you know the grand arc of your writing project remember to be incredibly generous with yourself when writing your first rough draft. Let it be messy. Just get the words on the page because you can’t clean up nothing. Head over to this episode's show notes page for a detailed list of topics we explored, key takeaways, relevant links and all the ways you can connect with Matthew – http://workhacks.com/matthewquirk

Steve Hall is an epic content creator. I In this interview Steve talks about why motivation is critical to any writing project and what it’s like when you’re writing about the news and not knowing what you’re going to write about much in advance of the actual writing. We also discuss email productivity and and the benefits of using folders, search and email tracking software to make you email life better. 

Cebo Campbell makes things. Cebo uses all the tools in his toolbox. Whether it be with code, with colors or with words, Cebo is always expressing himself. In this interview Cebo talks the challenges our fast-paced world presents to all of us who’d like to learn and master new creative skills, the problem with expecting you’ll be able to learn things quickly and how to sustain routines and creativity while traveling. We also discuss writing an entire novel using the standard Text Edit app on the Mac and a simple organization system for your notes and drafts that doesn’t require any fancy apps or tools. Head over to this episode's show notes page for a detailed list of topics we explored, key takeaways, relevant links and all the ways you can connect with Cebo – http://workhacks.com/cebocampbell

Sally Tamarkin is Senior Fitness Editor at Buzzfeed, where she writes and edits health and fitness content for Buzzfeed Health. Sally is also really into self-care and has a podcast of her own with her best friend Katharine Heller, where she answers questions from her listeners and offers helpful advice. In this interview Sally talks about the challenge of knowing too much about your topic, the freedom that comes with allowing yourself to write in a fun, casual and accessible way, and her on-again, off-again relationship with case studies and scientific research. We also discuss the right ratio between researching, writing and editing, why people prefer to get their advice from real people like them rather than well-polished experts who use big words and the secret sauce to writing really great headlines. Head over to this episode's show notes page for a detailed list of topics we explored, key takeaways, relevant links and all the ways you can connect with Sally – http://workhacks.com/sallytamarkin

Chantel is a writer and editor for creative entrepreneurs. Her superpower is helping authors and business owners be braver writers. In this interview Chantel talks about loving books and helping them get made and how good editors are a gift to all writers because they can walk the messy path of writing with you and give you some perspective outside of yourself. We also discuss the four different kinds of editors that you can leverage to help you during various stages of the writing process and how the culture of content creation right has turned everyone into communicators in ways we’ve never seen before. Head over to this episode's show notes page for a detailed list of topics we explored, key takeaways, relevant links and all the ways you can connect with Chantel – http://workhacks.com/chantelhamilton

Sharí helps leaders and entrepreneurs be more persuasive. Everything she writes and teaches is based off of personally studying under master influencers, including CIA field agents, hostage negotiators, con-artists, HUMINT officers, interrogators, trial attorneys, mentalists, undercover law enforcement, and even pick-up artists. In this interview Sharí talks about what to listen for and look for in order to be more observant and more influential in conversations, how the best creativity happens inside (not outside) the box and when you’re feeling overwhelmed remember all books are really team projects. We also discuss how a true artist has to know when to walk away and as writers we too need to have the discipline to say “this is done” with our writing. Head over to this episode's show notes page for a detailed list of topics we explored, key takeaways, relevant links and all the ways you can connect with Sharí – http://workhacks.com/sharialexander

Ray Wert tells stories for a living. He owns his own company Tiny Toy Car that helps automakers and anyone who wants to tell an automotive story to tell the stories that are going to engage the audiences that they want to target. Right now he is working for General Motors as a Professional Storyteller to help tell the story of how they are transforming the future of transportation. In this interview Ray talks about always being honest when you tell stories to your readers, not telling stories you don’t believe in and how, as a writer, your job is not to hammer your point home. But rather, you’re job is to prove the point and pull the audience with you. We also discuss the definition of a story, which to Ray is just a fact plus emotional appeal and, because of this, if you don’t find the story you’re telling interesting, your reader won’t either. Head over to this episode's show notes page for a detailed list of topics we explored, key takeaways, relevant links and all the ways you can connect with Ray – http://workhacks.com/raywert

Rhonda Britten is an expert in helping people master emotional fear. She helps you understand how fear works and how to identify your fear so that it never runs your life. In this interview Rhonda talks about honoring the voice in your head and the ideas that come to you, because that’s the muse and the more you honor the muse the more it will come to visit. She also shares how, in the book writing process, you’ve got to be willing to let yourself go. You’ve got to let yourself wander in the future and the past and allow you mind to go wherever it wants to. And, when you have ideas, stop to write them down no matter what you’re doing. They are the pieces that will come together and you need them all. Head over to this episode's show notes page for a detailed list of topics we explored, key takeaways, relevant links and all the ways you can connect with Rhonda – http://workhacks.com/rhondabritten

Chris Brogan is CEO of Owner Media Group where he helps individuals and small businesses put more winds on their board. He reverse engineers everything that he does to help independent-type owners figure out what there going to do to make themselves more successful after they’ve taken the plunge. He’s also a New York Times best-selling author of eight books in counting and is currently working on a new book about what you can learn about business from video games. In this interview Chris talks about strengthening the connection to the idea force inside of you, what it’s like writing subsequent books when your first book hit the New York Times bestseller list and the experience of writing with a co-author and the pros and cons to writing a book with someone else. We also discuss why when you dispense with praise and criticism your life gets better and how negative reviews of your work are positives in disguise.  Head over to this episode's show notes page for a detailed list of topics we explored, key takeaways, relevant links and all the ways you can connect with Chris – http://workhacks.com/chrisbrogan

Faris Yakob has been thinking about advertising, the internet and brands for a long time. He is the author of Paid Attention and the co-founder of a strategy and innovation consultancy, Genius Steals with his wife Rosie. Together they’ve been living on the road for 3 years, working with brands, agencies and startups thinking about problems and solving them with creativity. In this interview we talk a lot about attention – why it’s our most valuable resource and how the great giants of our age (think Google and Facebook) have gotten very good mining it from us. Faris also shares his need to be slightly bored in order to want to write with any consistency, what it’s like trying to write a book when you have a short attention span and why he pushes back on the notion that clarity is the most important job as a writer. Get a detailed list of topics we explored, key takeaways, relevant links and all the ways you can connect with Faris – http://workhacks.com/farisyakob

Tommy Bahler is a singer, composer, songwriter, arranger, producer and author who strives to always be in service to others. He’s a bit of a legend in the world of music. He’s worked with Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra, Cher, Billy Joel, Tina Turner, Stevie Wonder and more. In this interview Tommy shares what it was like growing up with a father who never told him what to do, how the prologue to Aesop’s Fables changed his life and what happened in the left side of his brain when he decided to write a novel. We talk about how doubt shuts the door to imagination, why mistakes are really discoveries (just steps along the journey towards your goal) and when doubts creep in, how to excuse it without a fight. When asked what he does Tommy says I change perspectives. I help people see another way. One without guilt, without fear, without regret. Head over to this episode's show notes page for a detailed list of topics we explored, key takeaways, relevant links and all the ways you can connect with Tommy – http://workhacks.com/tommybahler

Pam Slim is a writer, speaker and small business coach. She loves working with business owners and is passionate about the healthy, thriving, creative ecosystem of people who are creating community and overall economic wellbeing for all. During our conversation Pam shares some staggering stats on how small business owners contribute to the overall economy, which I just had no idea about, and how she uses the conversations she has with small business owners all over the country to fuel her writing. We also talked about what the writing process is like when you're an extroverted thinker and listener, the act of writing through discomfort, how writing a book is hard but finding those moments where you can totally break through, and how deadlines can motivate you to get your writing done. In this interview Pam offers a lot of simple, practical and easy to implement advice that will help you find and improve your creative practice and writing process. Head over to this episode's show notes page for a detailed list of topics we explored, key takeaways, relevant links and all the ways you can connect with Pam – http://workhacks.com/pamslim

Georgia Clark is a novelist, an Australian and a New Yorker who went to school for screenwriting and filmmaking and believes the reason she’s a published novelist is, in part, because she’s a failed screenwriter. And today, if you happen to be reading this on the day of this episodes release, Georgia popping champagne to celebrate the launch of her 3rd book, The Regulars, into the world. It’s her first adult fiction novel and although it’s titled The Regulars, there’s nothing regular about it. And, I have to say, Georgia is far from your regular, run-of-the-mill writer. Her regimented writing process and unwavering work ethic will leave you inspired to tighten up your own craft. In her interview we talk about what it’s like to move to NYC in your 20’s and try to scrape together an income as a freelance writer, the similarities between being a novelist with a book coming out and being an entrepreneur, and why investing in your passion by choosing to write what you want to write about (vs what you think the market wants you to write) is the best path to success. Head over to this episode's show notes page for a detailed list of topics we explored, key takeaways, relevant links and all the ways you can connect with Georgia – http://workhacks.com/georgiaclark

Jenny Blake is an author, career and business strategist and speaker. Although she’s written two books, Jenny doesn’t consider herself a writer. She writes because she values big ideas and original thinking and presenting an original approach, process or lens on a known idea. If you feel like writing isn’t your strength, this interview is for you. We talk about the three stages of the writing process, co-creating with a force bigger than yourself and why Jenny thinks of a book launch like buying a serendipity lottery ticket. Get the complete show notes for this episode at workhacks.com/jennyblake