Ep: 117: Dean Koontz: 500 million books sold and counting

Dean Koontz is an author with fourteen number one hardback bestsellers and sixteen number one paperback bestsellers. His books have sold more than 500 million copies in thirty eight languages.  His latest book is titled: Going Home in the Dark.

 

Summary:

In this engaging conversation, Dean Koontz shares insights into his writing process, the challenges of genre blending, and the impact of his childhood on his career.

He discusses the importance of character development, the role of fear in creativity, and the necessity of maintaining a unique voice in writing. Koontz reflects on his journey to success, the influence of supportive relationships, and the balance between creative freedom and market expectations.

Dean shares insights into his creative process, daily writing routine, and the importance of character development. He discusses overcoming writer’s block, the role of revision, and the impact of his upbringing on his writing themes. Koontz emphasizes the significance of resilience in the face of early career challenges and defines excellence in art and writing.

Takeaways:

  • Dean Koontz has sold over 500 million books worldwide.
  • He emphasizes the importance of character development in storytelling.
  • Koontz believes in blending genres to create unique narratives.
  • His childhood experiences shaped his perspective on happiness and resilience.
  • He faced challenges with publishers regarding genre labeling.
  • Koontz advocates for writing in one’s own voice and style.
  • He highlights the significance of support from loved ones in his career.
  • Fear of failure drives him to push creative boundaries.
  • Koontz believes talent is a grace that must be polished through hard work.
  • He finds joy in overcoming challenges in his writing process.
  • Writers should embrace different ideas, even if they are unfamiliar.
  • Flow state allows for deep immersion in writing.
  • Characters can take on a life of their own.
  • Trusting characters’ free will enriches the story.
  • Self-doubt is a common struggle for writers.
  • Revision is key to achieving perfection in writing.
  • Resilience is crucial in overcoming early career setbacks.

Notes

Book: Going Home in the Dark

Personal Website: Dean Koontz

Ep 58: Alan Alda: Actor, Director, Author, Communications guru

Alan Alda is an actor, director, author, and communications guru.  He has received 6 Emmys and been nominated 34 times. He has also been nominated 3 times for a Tony and once for an Oscar. He is most known for playing Dr. Hawkeye Pierce on the TV series MASH and has been inducted into the Television Hall of Fame. He is also an accomplished author with a number of New York Times bestselling books, the latest one titled: If I Understood You, Would I Have This Look on My Face? My Adventures in the Art and Science of Relating and Communicating.  He is the co-founder of The Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science at Stony Brook University. And he is also the host of his own podcast called Clear and Vivid.

 

Some interesting insights from this episode:

  • The only kind of formal training Alan had was improvisation which is equally valuable in real life as it is in acting. If you’re able to connect with another person, things happen between you that would never happen otherwise.
  • “You have to get your brain so devoted to what you’re doing and to how you understand what you’re doing that the rest of your body comes along with it.”
  • In regards to acting, “it’s hard stuff but I’m ecstatic and I love it. There’s a wonderful feeling of flying when it goes well.”
  • “If we all thought a little bit more like scientists, we might make better decisions.”
  • “The most impressive scientists attack their own ideas before anybody else can.”
  • External awards like an Emmy aren’t nearly as motivating to him as the internal reward to getting better at his craft.
  • “Rather that strive for excellence, it’s better to strive for pretty damn good.”

Ep. 26: Daniel Pink: Behavioral science guru and bestselling author.

Daniel Pink is the author of several New York Times bestselling books about business, work and behavior including A Whole New Mind, Drive and To Sell is Human.  His articles have appeared in The New York Times, Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, Wired and a number of other publications.  His TED talk on the science of motivation is one of the 10 most watched TED talks of all time.  His latest book is titled WHEN: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing.

 

Some interesting insights from this episode:

  • Curiosity is more important than planning. If you simply follow your curiosity, that in itself is a pretty good plan.
  • Learn about our chronotype and how it has a massive effect on our performance.
  • To optimize your day, you should do analytic work during the peak, the administrative work during the trough, and the creative work during the recovery.
  • Napping has been shown to improve reaction time, increase alertness and boost memory.
  • Having coffee first thing in the morning can actually be counterproductive.
  • Learn when it’s advantageous to go first when you’re competing for business and when you’re better off going last.
  • There’s really no such thing as a midlife “crisis”. But most of us do hit a natural slump in our lives that we eventually overcome.

 

Show Notes:

Daniel Pink’s Book: WHEN: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing https://www.amazon.com/When-Scientific-Secrets-Perfect-Timing/dp/0735210624/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1517698858&sr=8-1&keywords=when+the+scientific+secrets+of+perfect+timing%2C+daniel+pink

 Daniel Pink’s TED Talk: The Puzzle of Motivation  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrkrvAUbU9Y

Daniel Pink’s Website: www.danpink.com