Podcast appearances and mentions of matthew wayne selznick

Matthew Wayne Selznick Creates is my audio journal as an independent author, creator, and creative services provider. In this episode, the subject is changing mailing list service providers, and how the process revealed two personality / psychological traits of mine that might benefit from a closer look… This episode was recorded on April 13, 2025, in the mobile studio of MWS Media in and around Huntington Beach, California. Links and Topics Mentioned in This Episode Kit, formerly known as ConvertKit, a popular mailing list service provider. Kit founder Nathan Barry and his podcast. Sendy, self-hosted, pay-once mailing list software. Amazon’s Simple Email Service. Mautic, an open source, free, self-hosted mailing list and customer management system application. MailerLite, another popular mailing list service provider. Seth Godin’s “people like us…” essay. Join the Multiversalists community and get a bunch of perks and access while providing ongoing support for MWSC and my other creative endeavors, with my thanks. Support the show with a one-time donation, with my thanks! Thanks to the Patron Members of the Multiversalists Community Thank you to J.C. Hutchins, thank you to Jim Lewinson, thank you Amelia Bowen, thank you Ted Leonhardt, thank you to Charles Eugene Anderson, thank you to Scott Roche, thank you to Harold Johnson, thank you to David Mackler, and thank you to Sam Cherubin, who joined in the days between recording this episode and typing these words. ~ Did you listen to this and decide you like the cut of my jib? Are you interested in directly benefiting from my quarter century of online indie publishing experience? Click to learn more about my services for writers, authors, and other creators! Never miss an episode! Join the Multiversalists community of readers, writers, friends, and fans at the free level. You'll also get your choice of one of three of my e-books!  Or (and!), find this podcast anywhere you get your podcasts, or subscribe manually by copying https://www.mattselznick.com/feed/podcast/sonitotum into your favorite podcast app. This content is by Matthew Wayne Selznick and came from his website.

Here it is, folks: the inauspicious debut of my latest podcast, Matthew Wayne Selznick Creates. What is This? I talked about it in Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick 107. This new show is my platform to simply… talk to you. Mostly about creating and the creative life as I (attempt to) live it, and so, mostly, to do with writing. But not just about those things. Which was one of the issues that kept me from recording and releasing Sonitotum episodes: the scope of that show was “making stuff, finding success as we each define it for ourselves, and staying healthy and sane in the process.” What if I wanted to talk about stuff that might only be charitably described as adjacent to that mission..? Another thing keeping me from podcasting was available time. So you’ll hear that Matthew Wayne Selznick Creates is… stripped down. It’s almost only every going to be just me, talking to you. I don’t want to take the time for intro music, or interstitials, or bed music, or any of that stuff that requires extra effort and takes extra time. The idea is to come as close as possible to just turning on a mic and talking, and then taking the path of least resistance toward getting it out to you. Episode Naming Because there’s really no set topic for each episode, the naming convention is a little different, too. This is an audio journal. So each episode will be “The Year-The Month Date.”  For example, this episode was recorded on two different days, so it’s called “2025-02 23 and 25.” The file name for the MP3 file will be mwsc_###_###.mp3, in which the first three-digit set is the episode number, and the second set is the total number of podcast episodes I’ve released. This episode was recorded on February 23 and 25, 2025. Links and Topics Mentioned in This Episode The Multiversalists community of friends, fans, and fellow creators. Consider becoming a patron member for extra benefits and to support this show! The lavalier microphone used to record this episode. All of my individual short stories and novelettes are available as hand-made, signed and numbered, limited edition chapbooks. While they last! “The Perfumed Air at Kwaanantag Bay” “The World Revolves Around You” “The News from Bewilder Pond” “Reggie vs Kaiju Storm Chimera Wolf” “Reggie vs Kaiju Storm Dragon Squidbat” “Cloak” My creative services for authors and podcasters Support the show with a one-time donation, with my thanks! Thanks to the Patron Members of the Multiversalists Community Thank you to J.C. Hutchins, thank you to Jim Lewinson, thank you Amelia Bowen, thank you Ted Leonhardt, thank you to Charles Eugene Anderson, thank you to Scott Roche, thank you to Harold Johnson, and thank you to David Mackler. This episode has extra content only available for patron members of the Multiversalists community! If you're a patron member at the Bronze level or above, please log in! Click here to learn more about the benefits of membership. ~ Did you listen to this and decide you like the cut of my jib? Are you interested in directly benefiting from my quarter century of online indie publishing experience? Click to learn more about my services for writers, authors, and other creators! Never miss an episode! Join the Multiversalists community of readers, writers, friends, and fans at the free level. You'll also get your choice of one of three of my e-books!  Or (and!), find this podcast anywhere you get your podcasts, or subscribe manually by copying https://www.mattselznick.com/feed/podcast/sonitotum into your favorite podcast app. This content is by Matthew Wayne Selznick and came from his website.

Podcasting, you know I just can’t quit you (after all, I never said I was quitting). In this solo episode of Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick, which is also a car-cast, I share a little of what’s been going on since the last episode (back in September), what’s on my mind in terms of my creative life, and yes, what’s next for me and this podcast… or, shall we say, me and podcasting. This episode was recorded on January 16, 2025. Links and Topics Mentioned in This Episode Remembering David Lynch Audio recording app Cogi (Android) Dave Winer’s Scripting News podcast (and blog — same feed) Harold Johnson’s Something That Happened Dave Slusher’s Evil Genius Chronicles My creative services for authors and podcasters Thanks to the Patron Members of the Multiversalists Community Thank you to J.C. Hutchins, thank you to Jim Lewinson, thank you Amelia Bowen, thank you Ted Leonhardt, thank you to Charles Eugene Anderson, thank you to Scott Roche, thank you to Harold Johnson, and thank you to David Mackler. ~ Did you listen to this and decide you like the cut of my jib? Are you interested in directly benefiting from my quarter century of online indie publishing experience? Click to learn more about my services for writers, authors, and other creators! Never miss an episode! Join the Multiversalists community of readers, writers, friends, and fans at the free level. You'll also get your choice of one of three of my e-books!  Or (and!), find this podcast anywhere you get your podcasts, or subscribe manually by copying https://www.mattselznick.com/feed/podcast/sonitotum into your favorite podcast app. This content is by Matthew Wayne Selznick and came from his website.

This solo episode of Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick is also a Scribtotum article, because it’s all about big things, big changes for the podcast, and big questions writers, authors, and all creators must ask themselves now and then. Mainly: Are you doing what really matters in your creative life? This episode was recorded on September 13, 2024. What follows is adapted and condensed from the transcript. Time and Money I’ve been doing a lot of thinking, assessing, researching and reading and thinking and researching some to get a good handle on the state of me… and that’s led me to some decisions. For episode 106 of my podcast, Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick, I was toying the addressing the challenges of time and money for most authors, indie or traditional. Usually, services are available where expertise and time are lacking… but those services, while (usually) fairly priced by service providers (like myself), are often outside of the budget of many authors. I quickly remembered that’s a universal not restricted to the creative space: when it comes to things that make your life easier or bring you closer to your goals, you can either pay with time, or with money. Thinking about it dovetailed with, and was soon overtaken by, how much thought I’d been giving to another aspect of time: how much we have left. Consideration given to time is relative to where you are in your life. When we’re young, there’s more time and less money, generally. As we get older, ideally, there’s more money… but without question, rich or poor, there is less time. A Mostly Arbitrary Calculation of Time Every time I turn around, someone I know, or a creator that I respect — and sometimes that’s the same person — has died. I’m 57 years old this year. I have, based on actuarial data, maybe thirty years left on this planet if I’m lucky. There’s no telling how much of that time will be spent in good mental and physical health. I have some clues. My maternal line, for which I have the most information, tends toward longevity (into their late seventies and early eighties) despite chronic illnesses. Me? I have some arthritis in my hands. I have hypertension, which I’ve tried and failed to reverse with lifestyle changes; I’ll have to resort to medicine soon. I have never smoked. I’m a healthy weight. All told, I’m in pretty good health, so if my direct ancestors lived as long as they did under a mountain of medical issues, it’s not unreasonable to assume I’ll make it at least into my eighties. Stil, that time goes quickly. Especially the end time, because the older you get, even in the best of circumstances, the less you can do. The clock is ticking. A Very Systematic Calculation of Money Financially, I’m in about as bad a state as I’ve been since my twenties, although the reasons aren’t the same as they were in the late eighties and into the nineties. Back then, it was to do with minimum wage jobs, poor choices, and living a “rock and roll” lifestyle (don’t get too excited; that pretty much just means sacrificing stability and wealth for attempts at art). Thanks to some medical issues (everyone is on the mend) and client contraction, 2024 has been rough, and most of my attention, most of my energy, most of my effort, has been dedicated to treading water as I circle the drain, leaving very little time and energy for creative work. Energy Crisis Still, the drive to do creative work persists, but there’s a dearth of energy, both at the beginning of the day (no sleep!) and the end (worked too hard!), from which to draw. You see, there’s one other thing that’s been going on this year. We’ve got an elderly cat who is relatively healthy except for some thyroid issues for which we have a pill… but Biggie is getting senile. He often wakes up scared, confused, and hungry in the middle of the night, yowling at the top of his lungs. A four AM feeding will calm him down, but he needs his food put right in front of his face and won’t eat unless a human sits there with him. The result?  All year, I’ve been running a sleep deficit that’s more and more dangerous the longer it goes on. That’s the situation, and while one way or another it’s not going to be permanent, it’s not going to end anytime soon. Faced with that, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about how I should dedicate my very limited time and, especially, energy. The One Thing The one thing I really want, and need, is to have the time and energy and opportunity for the deep focus intrinsic to creative work. By which I mean: To be able to focus, uninterrupted, on long thoughts. For me, creating fiction requires that. Long stretches of time for what the author and professor Cal Newport calls “deep work.” I read Newport’s Deep Work recently, leading me to quip on Threads that the experience was like being a fish flopping around in the desert watching a television with a picture of the ocean playing on it. So many things in that book described what I wanted; needed. Perfect situations; best possible circumstances… while knowing I’m in no position to reach them. Similarly, I read Atomic Habits by James Clear, which is full of evidence and science and research-based information and practices on positive habit formation with the goal of focusing more and accomplishing more. You could read those two books back-to-back; they complement each other well. In both books, I saw a version of myself that I had been. A version of myself I have been aspiring to, and for various reasons of environment and circumstance I have not been able to reacquire. This has been, for me, a terrible year for new fiction. I did write and release the novelette “Reggie vs. Kaiju Storm Dragon Squidbat,” and it’s funny, sometimes I forget I accomplished that. But I have not made much progress on Shadow of the Outsider, my next novel. That second book of the Outsider trilogy, which is part of the larger Shaper’s World storyworld… that’s my main thing right now, or it should be. The Energy / Focus / Creativity Equation But fiction is hard. Fiction requires, for me, good long stretches of uninterrupted focus. Focus requires energy. Uninterrupted time to focus requires opportunity. And opportunity has a literal cost. The time I spend working on fiction is deducted from time, and energy from billable client hours I know will contribute to paying the bills. The Podcasting Problem Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick takes considerable time and energy, if comparably little money. The interview episodes take especially long. The raw recording takes an hour and a half speaking to the guest, plus another ten to twenty minutes on the rest of the recording. It takes another 16 hours, give or take, to edit and produce the episode, and then edit and refine the transcript, research and write the show notes, create the thumbnail and feature image, edit and render the video version, upload that video, create the YouTube version, upload the audio edition, and get it all out there in the world. For solo episodes, it could be a lot less because I don’t have to edit two different people and balance their voices and make it all sound as good as possible. Recently, I found the very idea of working on the podcast exhausts me just thinking about it… which makes me not want to do it… which of course delays it. Even the most recent solo episode. I kept thinking about it, and then finally, late, I carved out the time to do it. Carving the time has to coincide with opportunity, as well. I’m very rarely alone in the house, and when I’m not, it’s very difficult to get uninterrupted, undisturbed time to do something like stand in front of a microphone for 45 minutes or so. I keep putting off doing the work required to publish a new episode of Sonitotum. And here’s the other thing about allocating that time, finding that time, allocating that time, sacrificing other things for that time: I like having the podcast as a venue through which to speak to you. And! I’ve realized it is not the best use of my time, or even very healthy for me. Maintaining the commitment to put out an episode of Sonitotum every two weeks, especially considering every other episode is a highly labor-intensive interview episode, is literally more work than it’s worth. Which is to write: The show has less than four dozen subscribers. Closer to three dozen subscribers. That’s a tiny, tiny audience. I’m grateful for those rarefied few, especially the patron members of our Multiversalist community. I’m grateful for the people who are listening. But, given all the things I want to do, all the things that have long-term and short-term value for me in terms of emotional gratification, creative gratification, and yes, financial gratification… the podcast does not register. It’s not a blip on that particular radar. That’s just a fact. It’s been a challenge to face the reality it’s not worth the commitment. I love the thirty-odd subscribers and other listeners, but my sense of obligation is it is misaligned with the value of the show. Editing, producing, and managing podcasts is one of services I offer. It’s hard for me to not think I should be drinking the Kool-Aid I make. Finally, October 15th, 2024 is the 20th anniversary of my very first podcast episode. Shouldn’t I have a consistent podcast to celebrate when that date comes around? I thought so. Most of this year I’ve been brainstorming how I might observe that anniversary. But as the months passed, and common sense and reality became more evident and spoke louder than my sense of obligation… I realized I really don’t care about the anniversary. Sure, it’s a feather in my cap. It’s certainly given me cause to reflect. Observing the anniversary as something that’s actually important or that matters now, beyond the creative and professional bragging rights? It is not worth the time that it would take from other creative endeavors I feel much stronger about. The Podcasting Solution Things that are, at least for now, out of my control, are not going anywhere or changing any time soon. I’m in a maintain ground, not gain ground, state. So, I need to make changes and adjustments to reflect what my life is like now, and to honor what I want to do with my life and what I want my life to mean over the next 30 years. I don’t want the burden of misaligned obligation, or to feel guilty when I don’t meet that obligation, I currently associate with Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick. That said, it doesn’t mean I’m no longer doing Sonitotum. What it does mean is I can’t, and I won’t, commit to a particular schedule or promise anything having to do with Sonitotum. This is a hard decision, but I am making it for the good of my own creative, and mental, and emotional, and physical health. It’s been a few days since I recorded that decision, in episode 106. At the time, I felt my chest tighten and my stomach go sideways… a time-and-distance-separated version of codependence I have with my listeners and patron members. That’s not real. Doing What Matters My obligations are to myself, and they include staying healthy and sane, which, in turn, includes making things that truly make me happy, which means taking the ideas and the stories inside of me and getting them out of me before I die. That’s my responsibility, and not just to myself. I believe every writer has a responsibility to get our stories out there so that they add value to the culture. They don’t mean anything if they’re not available to experience. There’s no opportunity for them to change lives in some small way or some large way if they don’t get written and published. I’m not writing and publishing often enough or fast enough. All I want to do is communicate with you in the way that is the most fulfilling and the most appropriate at the time. Maybe it’s a story, or an article. Maybe it’s a video, a podcast episode; maybe it’s a streaming experience. Nothing is stopping me from doing any of those things. The trouble comes when I feel as if I must do one of those things. One Thing That Still Nags at Me One thing that still troubles me is how my Multiversalist member patrons will take this decision. Patron members pledge at $5.00 per month, or more, to support my creative endeavors and be part of the Multiversalists community of readers, creators, friends, and fans. They pay that pledge, in part, to receive uncut, unedited editions of this podcast. That’s not going to happen as often, so I accept that some of them might go away. As for future patrons, there’s one less reason for new people to pledge. I wonder if I’m shooting myself in the foot. Then I remember so long as I make good use of the mental, physical, emotional, and creative energy, and time and opportunity, that would have gone into making an episode of Sonitotum every two weeks… so long as I’m dedicated to something creative that eventually gets released into the world… well, patron members are still helping to support the same mission. The Effort / Resources / Results Algorithm There’s only so much time, and there’s only so much energy, and so long as we live in a capitalist society with no universal basic income and healthcare that is maybe less expensive than it once was for some of us, but still not free, and all of the obligations of the real world pull at us, we have to change the things we can in order to do the things we must. One of the things I must do is make things. I believe we’re doing ourselves, and others, a disservice if we put disproportional energy into creative efforts that will have less impact and effect than others. I put way too much time into the Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick podcast relative to the value it has to the world and the value it has for me. I recommend we all, periodically, rerun that personal life algorithm. Make sure your output still matches what you truly want. Make sure what you’re doing and where you’re putting your energy, serves who you want to be, not who you were, or who you think you’re supposed to be. I Have Questions… and Suggestions What are you doing because you think you’re supposed to, or out of some sense of obligation? What are the things in your life that don’t serve you anymore, that aren’t serving anyone, relative to the effort you’re investing? Now: weigh that against the things you’re not giving as much time, energy, and opportunity that would serve you more, whether emotionally or physically or mentally or financially or, ideally, all of the above. Where are your priorities? Are they appropriate for now? These are the questions I’ve been asking myself. I’d love to hear about your own process of assessment. When was the last time you took a good, hard look at whether you’re doing things because you think you should and not because it’s good for you? Maybe you’re going through that now. What do you think about all this? Please scroll down and leave a comment, with my thanks. Meanwhile… If you’re subscribed to Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick, I recommend you stay. Or, if you’re not, I recommend you do. You can find the show anywhere you get your podcasts. I can’t say when the next episode will be, but there will be another episode, and another one after that, and another one after that. As always, the goal will be to share my experiences in my creative life with the aim of providing value to you, so that my experiences, my handwringing(!), might inform you, and educate you, and help you in your own creative endeavors. That’s not going to change. Thanks to the Patron Members of the Multiversalists Community Thank you to Zoe Kohen-Ley, thank you to J.C. Hutchins, thank you to Jim Lewinson, thank you Amelia Bowen, thank you Ted Leonhardt, and thank you to Charles Eugene Anderson. This episode has extra content only available for patron members of the Multiversalists community! If you're a patron member at the Bronze level or above, please log in! Click here to learn more about the benefits of membership. Postscript: I was listening to episode 160 of the Write Now podcast, and it really kind of put me over the edge to committing to this decision. In it, host Sarah Werner describes how she was supposed to have a regular podcast schedule, and that she had done like one episode in all of 2024. It caused her to assess why that is. A lot of it was so in sync with what I’ve been thinking about and dealing with, so I want to thank Sarah for being vulnerable and transparent about her decision. It certainly made me feel a little less alone and a little less insecure in the validity of my own decision. This content is by Matthew Wayne Selznick and came from his website.

Hey, look! It’s episode 105 of Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick, the podcast about making stuff (mostly writing), finding success as we each define it for ourselves, and staying healthy and sane in the process! This is an interview episode, this time featuring the author Juliet Kemp. From their website: Juliet Kemp (they/them) is a queer, non-binary, writer. They live in London by the river, with their partners, kid, and dog. The first book of their fantasy series, The Deep and Shining Dark, was on the Locus 2018 Recommended Reads list; the fourth and final book, The City Revealed, came out in 2023. They have written several novellas, and their short fiction has appeared in venues including Uncanny, Analog, and Cast of Wonders. They were short-listed for the WSFA Small Press Award in 2020 and 2023 and had a story in the anthology Trans-Galactic Bike Ride, which was Lambda Award shortlisted in 2021. When not writing or child-wrangling, Juliet knits, indulges their fountain pen habit, and tries to fit an ever-increasing number of plants into a microscopic back garden. They can be found on Twitter as @julietk, on Mastodon as @juliet@zirk.us, and on Bluesky as @julietk.bsky.social. Listen to hear us muse on fiction writing as a balm for anxiety, the challenges of defining just what sort of fantasy one has written, the validity of “comfort reads,” reaching the right readers, the benefits of working with a small press, procrastination and uncertainty, and why it’s okay to claim your writing as a priority in your life… and just how to go about actually doing that, too… This episode was recorded on August 19, 2024. The conversation with Juliet Kemp was recorded on February 5, 2024. Links and Topics Mentioned in This Episode What is Hopepunk? How about Solarpunk? Juliet mentions Greg Egan. I mention “the Killer Bs,” Greg Bear, Greg Benford, and David Brin. An Archive of Our Own is a haven for fan fiction. My Sonitotum episode on how to fix the Amazon bookstore. During the episode, I couldn’t recall the name of a tag-based reading recommendation website. It’s The StoryGraph. Juliet mentions digging the Doctor Who novelizations from the 1980s. I bring up Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Tarzan books and the shared world series Wildcards by George R. R. Martin and company. Juliet’s Marek series is published by Elsewhen Press. My oft-recommended choice for a full-screen / no-distractions / plain text editor, Q10, is recommended yet again! Speaking of focus: give Focus At Will a shot. Mechvibes gets another mention. Typewriter sounds for focus and momentum as your write! Big thanks to my Multiversalists patron community, including J. C. Hutchins, Zoë Kohen Ley, Jim Lewinson, Amelia Bowen, Ted Leonhardt, and Charles Anderson! I’m incredibly grateful for the support of my patrons. If Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick brings you joy, become a patron! Every month net earnings from my Multiversalist patron memberships is at least $100, I will donate 10% to 826 National in support of literacy and creative writing advocacy for children. Let’s go! Patron members get the uncut, unedited edition of every episode of Sonitotum. For this episode, that includes seventeen minutes of extra content just for them! This episode has extra content only available for patron members of the Multiversalists community! If you're a patron member at the Bronze level or above, please log in! Click here to learn more about the benefits of membership. This content is by Matthew Wayne Selznick and came from his website.

A week late, but you don’t care! Here’s episode 104 of Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick, the podcast about making stuff (mostly writing), finding success as we each define it for ourselves, and staying healthy and sane in the process! This is a solo episode in which I share how I’m using Obsidian, a knowledge management application, as a replacement for both Scrivener and story bible / worldbuilding software as I conceive and write my next novel, Shadow of the Outsider. This episode was recorded on July 10, 2024. Links and Topics Mentioned in This Episode Scrivener is arguably the most popular software for writers, with yWriter being a free and lightweight alternative. Obsidian is a free, cross-platform knowledge management application with tremendous flexibility balanced with broad compatibility and underlying simplicity. Other knowledge management applications include Notion, Microsoft OneNote, or Tana, but there are many others. It’s a rapidly growing niche. The people behind Obsidian previously created Dynalist, which I’ve talked about before. It’s a simple but flexible outlining and list making tool.  Obsidian uses plain text markdown files for maximum compatibility and future-proofing, but you don’t need to learn it to use it in Obsidian! SyncThing, with the companion tool SyncTrayzor, is an excellent free tool for syncing files across devices. Pandoc is a universal document converter that, through the use of a plugin, integrates with Obsidian. Excalidraw is an open-source infinite virtual whiteboard that, through the use of a plugin, integrates with Obsidian. I like to hear typewriter sounds when I’m writing on my computer. I use Mechvibes for that! Let me know if you’re interested in an online course detailing exactly how to install, set up, and use Obsidian just like I’m using it as a writing and storyworld bible application. My latest work of fiction is “Reggie vs Kaiju Storm Dragon Squidbat.” The giveaway of the chapbook edition of “Reggie vs Kaiju Storm Dragon Squidbat” sponsored by J. C. Hutchins has a winner! My day job always has a part to play in what’s news. Perhaps there’s something I can help you with? Big thanks to my Multiversalists patron community, including J. C. Hutchins, Zoë Kohen Ley, Jim Lewinson, Amelia Bowen, Ted Leonhardt, and Charles Anderson! I’m incredibly grateful for the support of my patrons. If Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick brings you joy, become a patron! Every month net earnings from my Multiversalist patron memberships is at least $100, I will donate 10% to 826 National in support of literacy and creative writing advocacy for children. Let’s go! Patron members get the uncut, unedited edition of every episode of Sonitotum. For this episode, that includes sixteen minutes of extra content just for them! This episode has extra content only available for patron members of the Multiversalists community! If you're a patron member at the Bronze level or above, please log in! Click here to learn more about the benefits of membership. This content is by Matthew Wayne Selznick and came from his website.

Episode 103 of Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick, the podcast about making stuff (mostly writing), finding success as we each define it for ourselves, and staying healthy and sane in the process… features a conversation with the horror and horrific fantasy author Thom Carnell. “Thom Carnell is a writer whose fiction has been featured in Swank magazine (adult content), Carpe Noctem magazine, and in the horror anthology Bloody Carnival from Pill Hill Press. He is best known for his insightful interviews and profiles in Carpe Noctem, Fangoria magazine, and on Dread Central & Twitchfilm.com. His novels (No Flesh Shall Be Spared, No Flesh Shall Be Spared: Don’t Look Back, and the upcoming Monolith Records) and short story collections (Moonlight Serenades, A String of Pearls, Tuxedo Junction, Horror Book, Tales from the Lazaretto, and the upcoming Open Late) are available through Amazon.com and Crossroad Press. Carnell is a graduate of the San Francisco College of Mortuary Science and worked as a certified eye enucleist and a Registered Polysomnographic Technologist. He lives in Bellingham, WA.” — adapted from Thom’s website at https://www.thomcarnell.com. Our extensive talk explores the connection between horror and humor, the lingering creative influence of early trauma and exposure to mortality, marketing cross-genre work, building a community of readers, the perspective and experience that comes with age, and lots, lots more. Also, your host tries to run a giveaway, and makes an offer. This episode was recorded on June 24, 2024. The interview portion was recorded on January 24, 2024. Links and Topics Mentioned in This Episode My latest work of fiction is “Reggie vs Kaiju Storm Dragon Squidbat.” Who was Esther Williams? What’s all this about bathing beauties? Fantasist Clive Barker is mentioned a few times in this episode. Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder comes up. Who is Jeffery Combs? Ike Quebec and Buddy Collette were American jazz saxophonists. Jazz big band composer Duke Ellington on keeping a band together (video clip). The Stoker Awards. Rodney Dangerfield was a well-loved genius among comedians. Horror author Jack Ketchum. Big thanks to my Multiversalists patron community, including J. C. Hutchins, Zoë Kohen Ley, Jim Lewinson, Amelia Bowen, Ted Leonhardt, and Charles Anderson! I’m incredibly grateful for the support of my patrons. If Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick brings you joy, become a patron! One of the perks of being a patron Multiversalist is receiving the uncut, unedited edition of every podcast episode. This time around, patrons get to hear almost forty minutes of additional conversation between Thom Carnell and myself. There’s a lot of good stuff I had to “cut for time” for the public episode! Become a patron and hear the rest! Every month net earnings from my Multiversalist patron memberships is at least $100, I will donate 10% to 826 National in support of literacy and creative writing advocacy for children. Let’s go! This episode has extra content only available for patron members of the Multiversalists community! If you're a patron member at the Bronze level or above, please log in! Click here to learn more about the benefits of membership. This content is by Matthew Wayne Selznick and came from his website.

In episode 102, I take the opportunity to catch up with you regarding my latest fiction release, the novelette “Reggie vs Kaiju Storm Dragon Squidbat.” Also, I talk about bringing my next project, the Shaper’s World novel SHADOW OF THE OUTSIDER, from the back burner to the front, and touch on the trepidation and fears I’m facing with regard to that work. This episode was recorded on June 9, 2024. Links and Topics Mentioned in This Episode This episode includes some follow-up to topics mentioned in the sixth anniversary episode. My latest work of fiction is “Reggie vs Kaiju Storm Dragon Squidbat.” It’s the latest work in my Daikaiju Universe storyworld. The first is “Reggie vs Kaiju Storm Chimera Wolf.” “…Dragon Squidbat” is inspired, in part, by 1970s Godzilla movies. …and in another part by certain works by H. P. Lovecraft. My day job always has a part to play in what’s news. Perhaps there’s something I can help you with? I’ve offset the impact of those aforementioned changes by driving deliveries for the time being. I use Affinity Publisher to create all my print works — paperbacks and chapbooks. The novel Light of the Outsider The novelette “The Perfumed Air at Kwaanantag Bay” As a musician, I’m affiliated both as a composer and publisher with ASCAP, the music licensing organization. I’ve signed on with LANDR to get my music distributed to the streaming and retail services and sites. I revist the Eisenhower Matrix, which is a visual prioritization and planning tool. Next episode: author Thom Carnell, who is, among other things, the co-founder of Carpe Noctem. Big thanks to my Multiversalists patron community, including J. C. Hutchins, Zoë Kohen Ley, Jim Lewinson, Amelia Bowen, Ted Leonhardt, and Charles Anderson! I’m incredibly grateful for the support of my patrons. If Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick brings you joy, become a patron! Every month net earnings from my Multiversalist patron memberships is at least $100, I will donate 10% to 826 National in support of literacy and creative writing advocacy for children. Let’s go! This episode has extra content only available for patron members of the Multiversalists community! If you're a patron member at the Bronze level or above, please log in! Click here to learn more about the benefits of membership. This content is by Matthew Wayne Selznick and came from his website.

In this 101st episode of Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick, the podcast about making stuff (mostly writing), finding success as we each define it for ourselves, and staying healthy and sane in the process… it’s a conversation with science fiction author AJ Super! AJ Super is the author of the Seven Stars Saga, a trilogy published by Aethon Books and Blackstone Audio. Writing full time, they devour fantasy and science fiction in every medium, and even experiment with writing and reading other speculative fiction now and again. They earned two Bachelors’ degrees from the University of Idaho in the Creative Writing and Theater programs, and they have been an author since they were old enough to write (and illustrate) a stapled-together ABC book, which is still packed away in a box of childhood memorabilia.  AJ is inspired by Ursula K. Le Guin, Anne McCaffery, Octavia E. Butler, Mercedes Lackey, and other amazing female science fiction and fantasy authors. They are active in several different writing communities and an SFWA member. They currently live in Idaho with their fuzz-brained kitties, supportive spouse, and a ridiculous collection of slippers. ~ from AJ Super’s official site Across this evergreen conversation we talk parental influence, everyone’s emo phase, writing for the ADHD reader, the negative consequences of a fast book release schedule, the ol’ planner / pantser dilemma, the meaning of art, emulating our literary heroes, maintaining a healthy creative (and life!) routine, and much, much more. This episode was recorded on May 28, 2024. The conversation with AJ Super was recorded on January 22, 2024. Links and Topics Mentioned in This Episode AJ Super’s publisher is Aethon Books. Their audiobooks come from Blackstone. Visit AJ Super’s Patreon page! A few non-genre authors come up in our discussion: Flannery O’Connor Raymond Carver Charles Bukowski In particular: Factotum, Love is a Dog from Hell, and The Days Run Away Like Wild Horses Over the Hills Ernest Hemingway F. Scott Fitzgerald and The Great Gatsby Sun Valley, Idaho, where Hemingway is buried. I bring up Julian May‘s work as an example of wonderful books that, due to changing social mores, may be overlooked today. Edgar Rice Burroughs and Sax Rhomer, too. That favorite James Baldwin quote of mine is mentioned via Octavia Butler’s (likely unintentional) paraphrase. Next episode: a solo update and news episode. Big thanks to my Multiversalists patron community, including J. C. Hutchins, Zoë Kohen Ley, Jim Lewinson, Amelia Bowen, Ted Leonhardt, and Charles Eugene Anderson! I’m incredibly grateful for the support of my patrons. If Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick brings you joy, become a patron! Every month net earnings from my Multiversalist patron memberships is at least $100, I will donate 10% to 826 National in support of literacy and creative writing advocacy for children. Let’s go! Patrons at the Bronze tier and above receive the uncut and unedited edition of every podcast episode, including this one, which has half an hour of extra content! This episode has extra content only available for patron members of the Multiversalists community! If you're a patron member at the Bronze level or above, please log in! Click here to learn more about the benefits of membership. This content is by Matthew Wayne Selznick and came from his website.

Six years and one day to the day after the very first episode, it’s time for episode 100 of Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick, the podcast about making stuff (mostly writing), finding success as we each define it for ourselves, and staying healthy and sane in the process. This is a solo episode (and a car cast) in which I take stock of my own state when it comes to making stuff, finding success, and staying healthy and sane… especially compared to how that was all going when the first episode of this podcast was released one hundred episodes and six years ago. Long-time listeners will recognize this as a return to the highly transparent, vulnerable solo episodes that were once the mainstay of this show. If these kinds of episodes appeal to you, be sure to let me know by leaving a comment! This episode was recorded on April 29, 2024. This episode took about seven hours to record, produce, and deliver to you. Links and Topics Mentioned in This Episode I was inspired to record this episode after going back and listening to the first and second episodes of Sonitotum. Guess who’s recorded 100 episodes of Sonitotum and has hypertension? This guy! I talk about my day job and the recent changes there. Perhaps there’s something I can help you with? I’ve offset the impact of those aforementioned changes by driving deliveries for the time being. My personal creative accomplishments since episode one of Sonitotum include: The novel Light of the Outsider The novelette “The Perfumed Air at Kwaanantag Bay” The non-fiction book Indie Author Marketing Infrastructure The novelette “Reggie vs Kaiju Storm Dragon Squidbat” 46 installments (60,000 words) of my free fiction serial Hazy Days and Cloudy Nights: “How It All Got Started” …and, of course, one hundred episodes of Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick What have I accomplished for my creator clients in the last six years? Produced or managed nearly a thousand podcast episodes for three clients. Edited, produced, and / or helped distribute two audiobooks. Helped bring sixteen books from eleven different authors into the world and / or to new readers. Created, developed, customized, or managed websites for eighteen clients. Provided comprehensive developmental editing services to three clients. I mentioned the Eisenhower Matrix, which is a visual prioritization and planning tool, and potentially throwing all things I want to do into it, and sharing that with you. I think that’s its own Scribtotum article, and perhaps a podcast episode… it’s not a small endeavor..! Now and then The Big Plan comes up as an object lesson in what doesn’t work for me. Next episode: author AJ Super. Big thanks to my Multiversalists patron community, including J. C. Hutchins, Zoë Kohen Ley, Jim Lewinson, Amelia Bowen, and Ted Leonhardt! I’m incredibly grateful for the support of my patrons. If Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick brings you joy, become a patron! Every month net earnings from my Multiversalist patron memberships is at least $100, I will donate 10% to 826 National in support of literacy and creative writing advocacy for children. Let’s go! This episode has extra content only available for patron members of the Multiversalists community! If you're a patron member at the Bronze level or above, please log in! Click here to learn more about the benefits of membership. This content is by Matthew Wayne Selznick and came from his website.

It’s time for the 99th Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick, the podcast about making stuff (mostly writing), finding success as we each define it for ourselves, and staying healthy and sane in the process. Settle in for an in-depth and evergreen conversation with historical and literary fiction author Maureen Morrissey! Maureen Morrissey is a writer for online publications and a published novelist; retired educator; and wife/mother/grandmother/dog mommy. She is an amateur photographer; traveler who loves to wander and wonder; and most recently, half-marathon runner. In her spare time, she attends live theater events and rock concerts, and investigates the integrity of roof top bars in her hometown NYC. Maureen has been a writer for as long as she remembers. She began writing her first novel, Woven: Six Stories, One Epic Journey in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic, the day after retiring from teaching fourth grade. It was published in November of 2020. She published a second novel, Sonder: Janie's Story in March 2022, and her third, Seeing is Believing in June 2023. She published a short story, “Win, Lose or Draw,” at the beginning of January 2024, and her most recent release is the children’s picture book Country Dog, City Dog. Find Maureen Morrissey at maureenmorrissey.com. The interview portion of this episode was recorded on January 18, 2024. The other bits were recorded on April 10, 2024. This episode took about eight hours fifteen minutes to record, produce, and delivery to you. Links and Topics Mentioned in This Episode My day job? I’m a creative services provider helping authors, podcasters and other creators. How can I help you? The book that drove Maureen to pursue independent publishing was Walter the Farting Dog by the multi-genre, multiple-award-winning author William Kotzwinkle. You know you want to click those links… I mentioned Norman MacLean, author of A River Runs Through It, as an author who wrote a masterwork late in life. Novels told through a linked collection of short stories or novellas are sometimes called composite novels. Examples include The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury, The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan, and The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros. There are many, many others! Maureen tags the Goosebumps books as an example of a “beach book” for kids. More on Louise Rosenblatt’s transactional theory of reading, which I contrast / supplement with my own position that the reader / author relationship is collaborative. The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows by John Koenig is a collection of various concepts for which there are only words in languages other than English. The flat earther who believes every person has their own personal sun came up in the conversation as an example of a wonderful and compelling unintentional metaphor. Maureen’s “Judge Not” article. The Cult of Done Manifesto from Bre Pettis and Kio Stark. By the time you’re listening to this episode or reading these show notes, my new novelette “Reggie versus Kaiju Storm Dragon Squidbat” will be available wherever you buy e-books and, of course, directly from my site! Big thanks to my Multiversalists patron community, including J. C. Hutchins, Zoë Kohen Ley, Jim Lewinson, Amelia Bowen, and Ted Leonhardt! I’m incredibly grateful for the support of my patrons. If Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick brings you joy, become a patron! Every month net earnings from my Multiversalist patron memberships is at least $100, I will donate 10% to 826 National in support of literacy and creative writing advocacy for children. Let’s go! This episode has extra content only available for patron members of the Multiversalists community! If you're a patron member at the Bronze level or above, please log in! Click here to learn more about the benefits of membership. This content is by Matthew Wayne Selznick and came from his website.

The 98th episode of Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick, the podcast about making stuff (mostly writing), finding success as we each define it for ourselves, and staying healthy and sane in the process, features a conversation with post-cyberpunk science fiction thriller author Bryan Chaffin. Bryan Chaffin is the author of science fiction thriller Accidental Intelligence. As of April 2024, he’s working on the follow up novel, Inside the Mirror, as well as multiple short stories set in this universe. In a past life, Bryan wrote about Apple and technology for 23 years as the cofounder and editor-in-chief of The Mac Observer. He and his business partner sold TMO in 2022, and Bryan has been busy living out his fantasy of writing fiction since. Today, Bryan lives with his dog Commander Ichabod Ezekiel Cromwell in Silicon Valley, where they both enjoy the fantabulous pastime of THROW THE DAMNED BALL! Find Bryan Chaffin — and sign up for his newsletter — at geektells.com. The interview portion of this episode was recorded on January 15, 2024. The other bits were recorded on April 01, 2024. Links and Topics Mentioned in This Episode My day job? I’m a creative services provider helping authors, podcasters and other creators. How can I help you? Bryan co-hosts a podcast called The Context Machine. Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett (as well as Ross MacDonald!) are some great hard-boiled / noir mystery / detective novelists. Check ’em out! We mention my novels Light of the Outsider and Brave Men Run in our discussion about Facebook and Amazon advertising. Patty Jansen is mentioned as an example of a very prolific author. Dan Simmons gave a young Bryan Chaffin his writing eureka moment, thanks to books like Summer of Night and the Hyperion Cantos series. We talk about selling books directly from our website, and I tell Bryan about what I use and recommend, MemberPress. Big thanks to my Multiversalists patron community, including J. C. Hutchins, Zoë Kohen Ley, Jim Lewinson, Amelia Bowen, and Ted Leonhardt! I’m incredibly grateful for the support of my patrons. If Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick brings you joy, become a patron! Every month net earnings from my Multiversalist patron memberships is at least $100, I will donate 10% to 826 National in support of literacy and creative writing advocacy for children. Let’s go! This episode has extra content only available for patron members of the Multiversalists community! If you're a patron member at the Bronze level or above, please log in! Click here to learn more about the benefits of membership. This content is by Matthew Wayne Selznick and came from his website.

It’s here! The premiere episode of the 2024 season of Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick, a podcast about making stuff (mostly writing!), finding success as we each define it for ourselves, and staying healthy and sane in the process! Listen to learn about the fifteen guests I’ve recorded for the season, what to expect across the planned twenty episodes to come, the Very Special Year in which this season takes place, how to support the show, and more! This episode was recorded on Tuesday, March 19, 2024. Links and Topics Mentioned in This Episode My day job? I’m a creative services provider helping authors, podcasters and other creators. How can I help you? Guests you’ll hear this season include: Bryan Chaffin Maureen Morrissey A.J. Super Thom Carnell Juliet Kemp Rosemary Jones A.J. Pagan IV Kristin Osani Wendy Van Camp Nicholas Snape Abby Goldsmith Nicole Wolverton Kevin McLaughlin Justine Manzano Big thanks to my Multiversalists patron community, including J. C. Hutchins, Zoë Kohen Ley, Jim Lewinson, Amelia Bowen, and Ted Leonhardt! I’m incredibly grateful for the support of my patrons. If Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick brings you joy, become a patron! Every month net earnings from my Multiversalist patron memberships is at least $100, I will donate 10% to 826 National in support of literacy and creative writing advocacy for children. Let’s go! This episode has extra content only available for patron members of the Multiversalists community! If you're a patron member at the Bronze level or above, please log in! Click here to learn more about the benefits of membership. This content is by Matthew Wayne Selznick and came from his website.

Episode 096 of Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick comes to you a couple months before the "official" beginning of the 2024 season of the show, which debuts on March 20, 2024. This interim episode presents a take on my new website design, and the renewed and expanded artistic commitment to my community, that's more vulnerable, transparent, and, sure, emotional than the "nuts and bolts" overview presented in this Scribtotum article. Read that article and listen to this episode for the whole story... and if you're inspired, become a Multiversalist! This episode was recorded on Saturday, January 13, 2024. Links and Topics Mentioned in This Episode My day job? I'm a creative services provider helping authors, podcasters and other creators. How can I help you? All Multiversalists, including free members, have access to Hazy Days and Cloudy Nights: "How It All Got Started," my free members-only serial set in my Sovereign Era storyworld. Web hosting for this website is provided by Dreamhost, which I mention in the episode. I also mention ConvertKit, my preferred mailing list service provider. The direct sales, membership, and (in the future) online courses functionality on this site are all powered by MemberPress with Stripe. Are you a writer or author? Want to be a future guest on Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick? Learn more! Big thanks to my Multiversalists patron community, including J. C. Hutchins and Zoë Kohen Ley! I'm incredibly grateful for the support of my patrons. If Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick brings you joy, become a patron! Every month net earnings from my Multiversalist patron memberships is at least $100, I will donate 10% to 826 National in support of literacy and creative writing advocacy for children. Let's go!

Hey! It's time for another episode of Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick! This time, I sit down and talk about making stuff (mostly writing), finding success as we each define it, and staying healthy and sane in the process with horror and "weird" fiction author Anna Ziegelhof! In our wide-ranging and free-wheeling discussion, we touch on the shift from writing as an escape to writing as a vocation, crafting fiction from a thematic germ, employing dream logic in magic realism and weird fiction, asking questions of characters, method writing, "plantsing," storyworlds and story wikis, anxiety vs. productive creativity... and much, much more. The conversation with Anna Ziegelhof was recorded on June 5th, 2023. The rest of this episode was recorded on October 11, 2023. About Anna Ziegelhof Anna Ziegelhof writes horror and science fiction short stories. In either genre, she likes philosophical stories with themes like identity, memory, and belonging. There's usually a spark of hope and whimsy, even in her darker stories. She also writes long-form fiction and has some science fiction novels and novellas in the works. Her short stories can be found in many different online and print publications, like The Horror Library volume 8, Luna Station, Solarpunk Magazine, The Future Fire, Daily Science Fiction, the Flametree Press anthology Footsteps in the Dark, in several horror anthologies, and on the Tales to Terrify and Flash Fiction podcasts. Anna is also an academic with a subject background in Sociology and Jewish Studies. She is a self-declared language-nerd and has been a language instructor, editor, translator, and, most recently, a linguist in the tech industry, working on Voice AI. She is currently on the editorial board of a magazine for academics who write fiction – AcademFic. She is a member of SFWA (Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association) and HWA (Horror Writers Association). Originally from Germany, she has lived abroad since 2008, first in England and then since 2015 in the San Francisco Bay Area. When she isn't writing she enjoys reading, traveling, encountering strange places, being in nature, looking at art, as well as singing in a chamber choir. You can find her on Instagram as @anna with a z (all one word) and at www.annaziegelhof.com. Also In This Episode Stick around after the conversation with Anna Ziegelhof for big news about what's coming next for Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick, and my creative endeavors in general! Links and Topics Mentioned in This Episode My day job? I'm a creative services provider helping authors, podcasters and other creators. How can I help you? The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association. The Horror Writers Association. The new wave science fiction movement of the mid-twentieth century. In the episode, I refer to it as "new fiction." Michael Moorcock's Eternal Champion, Elric, and Jerry Cornelius. A quick search reveals I'm far from the first person to draw a line from Jerry Cornelius to Austin Powers. The Avengers television series. The abandoned building "backrooms" internet meme. Vantablack, the blackest black that ever did black. I touch on difficulties I had approaching the point of view for Shadow of the Outsider, the follow-up to my novel Light of the Outsider. That flash fiction probably erroneously attributed to Hemingway that's almost a Zen koan. I swear I will try not to mention the damn David Simon quote for a few episodes. Pinky swear. Anna mentions a TED talk from JJ Abrams. I cannot promise this will be the last time Always Coming Home by Ursula K. Le Guin comes up on the podcast. But in my defense, I didn't mention it first! Hugh Howey's Silo storyworld. I talk about a writing exercise on writing bad guys. Are you a writer or author? Want to be a future guest on Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick? Learn more! Big thanks to my Multiversalists patron community, including Amelia Bowen, Ted Leonhardt, Chuck Anderson, J. C. Hutchins, Jim Lewinson, and Pearl Zare! I'm incredibly grateful for the support of my patrons. If Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick brings you joy, become a patron! The Multiversalists patron member community receives the uncut, unedited version of every episode. For this episode, patrons get almost fifteen minutes of additional content! Want in on that? Become a patron for at least $5.00 per month (start with a free seven-day trial / cancel any time) and get a bunch of other perks and special access, too. Every month the member community has at least twenty members, I will donate 10% of net patron revenue to 826 National in support of literacy and creative writing advocacy for children. Let's go! Love Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick and have the desire and means to make a one-time donation in support of the show? Donate via PayPal or leave a tip via Ko-Fi, with my grateful thanks.

Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick is back with another in-depth, evergreen podcast episode conversation on making stuff (mostly writing), finding success as we each define it, and staying healthy and sane in the process. This time around, I speak with multi-genre pulp author R. Jean Mathieu. He provides a fascinating perspective on the creative writing life, owing to his intersecting influences of Taoist philosophy, karate, and his Quaker beliefs. We talk about the difference between writing and publishing, especially as they pertain to difficult topics and "trigger" issues, the hidden rituals in our creative process, the importance of balance in all aspects of our lives, personal, professional, and creative (even as we strive to grow and challenge ourselves) and the "hat trick" that keeps it all moving forward... The conversation with R. Jean Mathieu was recorded on May 29th, 2023. The rest of this episode was recorded on September 26, 2023. About R. Jean Mathieu R. Jean Mathieu is the fiction writer of all trades. From award-winning stories of the Peace Corps and meditators on Mars to time-traveling mysteries of a Mexican detective solving his own murder, Mathieu revels in different genres, different voices, and cultural chop suey. Under other noms de plume, he writes romances, thrillers, pulp adventures, Westerns, and mysteries. Mathieu grew up in Morro Bay, California. He enrolled in college at fifteen, where he would spend the next ten years. With an Associate's degree in International Studies and $100 in his pocket, Mathieu traveled to China, alternately working as a teahouse server, organic farmhand, Hong Kong movie extra, and English teacher. Despite being deported thrice, he won his degree in Sociology (minoring in Business) over his five years in China, refining his craft along the way. He lives in San Luis Obispo with his wife Melissa and daughter Lyra, where they keep a good table when not writing side-by-side or chasing trains to the next adventure. A convinced Quaker, he attends Central Coast Friends Meeting in between writing and publishing his fiction, learning new languages, and practicing Uechi-ryu karate. You can find all his stories at Amazon.com and his commentary at RJeanMathieu.com. Links and Topics Mentioned in This Episode My day job? I'm a creative services provider helping authors, podcasters and other creators. How can I help you? Who are the Quakers? The Blade Runner soundtrack. Renaissance humanism. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi and his classic Flow make another appearance in a Sonitotum interview, just in case that's on your bingo card... The Big Chill. Fear of Flying by Erica Jong. How to Meditate: A Guide to Self Discovery by Lawrence LeShan. Writing the Other by Cynthia Ward and Nisi Shawl. The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association. My novel Light of the Outsider. The "fridging" literary trope. David Simon's famous (to me?) Believer interview. Another frequent mention, for those playing at home. Lester Dent's Doc Savage. The "Mary Sue" literary trope. Taoist philosophy. Jack London's No Mentor but Myself. Maybe you would like to be a future guest on Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick? Learn more! Big thanks to my Multiversalists patron community, including Amelia Bowen, Ted Leonhardt, Chuck Anderson, J. C. Hutchins, Jim Lewinson, and Pearl Zare! I'm incredibly grateful for the support of my patrons. If Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick brings you joy, become a patron! The Multiversalists patron member community receives the uncut, unedited version of every episode. For this episode, patrons get almost forty five minutes of additional content, almost all of it extra content with R. Jean Mathieu! Want in on that? Become a patron for at least $5.00 per month (start with a free seven-day trial / cancel any time) and get a bunch of other perks and special access, too. Every month the member community has at least twenty members, I will donate 10% of net patron revenue to 826 National in support of literacy and creative writing advocacy for children. Let's go! Love Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick and have the desire and means to make a one-time donation in support of the show? Donate via PayPal or leave a tip via Ko-Fi, with my grateful thanks.

How about another in-depth, deep-diving, evergreen conversation about creative writing, finding success as we each define it, and staying healthy and sane in the process? In Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick 093, I speak with transcendental horror author and speculative poet Darius Jones. Our conversation covers the deeper, emotionally resonant value of horror and "weird" fiction, how Darius fills the "fiction-shaped void" in his soul, why the pandemic and a pair of astronomy binoculars led to publishing fantastical epic poetry, the value of rejection, the importance of meditation and stoicism, and...yep, a whole heck of a lot more. The conversation with Darius Jones was recorded on May 24th, 2023. The rest of this episode was recorded on August 23, 2023. About Darius Jones Darius Jones writes cosmic horror, weird fiction, dark fantasy -- or, taken together and as he likes to call it, transcendental horror, as well as speculative poetry and sometimes historical fiction. His stories and poems have appeared in Strange Horizons, The No Sleep Podcast, Starline Magazine, and elsewhere. He is a member of the Horror Writers Association, the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association, and the Science Fiction and Fantasy Poetry Association. Learn more about Darius Jones by visiting dariusjoneswriter.com. You can also find Darius on Twitter and Instagram. Make sure you check out Darius Jones on Amazon, too. Links and Topics Mentioned in This Episode My day job? I'm a creative services provider helping authors, podcasters and other creators. How can I help you? Brave Men Run, the first novel in history with a simultaneous release in paperback, several e-book formats, and free podcast edtions. A Parsec Award nominee! That Blaise Pascal quote about brevity. And that other one about a god-shaped hole. The Scholastic Book Fair (and the Bookmobile before that!) is an invaluable resource for young writers and readers. Lon Chaney, Sr. All the episodes of shows in the Escape Artists family of podcasts featuring my own writing or dramatic narration. Featuring works by Mike Resnick, Tim Pratt, Cat Rambo, Holly Black, and more! Deception by Philip Roth, a remarkable book composed entirely of dialogue. The Great Dismal Swamp. What is Trap music? What is zazen meditation? The Rejectomancy blog. The stoic philosophy of Epicurus. The works of short story master Guy de Maupassant. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi and his classic Flow. Maybe you would like to be a future guest on Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick? Learn more! Big thanks to my Multiversalists patron community, including Amelia Bowen, Ted Leonhardt, Chuck Anderson, J. C. Hutchins, Jim Lewinson, and Pearl Zare! I'm incredibly grateful for the support of my patrons. If Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick brings you joy, become a patron! The Multiversalists patron member community receives the uncut, unedited version of every episode. For this episode, patrons get almost forty minutes of additional content! Want in on that? Become a patron for at least $5.00 per month (start with a free seven-day trial / cancel any time) and get a bunch of other perks and special access, too. Every month the member community has at least twenty members, I will donate 10% of net patron revenue to 826 National in support of literacy and creative writing advocacy for children. Let's go! Love Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick and have the desire and means to make a one-time donation in support of the show? Donate via PayPal or leave a tip via Ko-Fi, with my grateful thanks.

Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick 092 presents advice for introvert writers and authors, drawn from my own experience as an introvert usually without very much solitude or free time... presented at a time when... for the moment... I have both. This is a solo episode full of personal observations, reflections, admissions, and memories... all of which, I think you'll find, serve as stand-ins for issues faced by many authors, writers, and other creators. Also: a little bit about the show itself, how it's been going, and why I really need your help to make sure more people experience Sonitotum. This episode was recorded on Sunday, August 6th, 2023. Links and Topics Mentioned in This Episode My day job? I'm a creative services provider helping authors, podcasters and other creators. How can I help you? Brave Men Run -- A Novel of the Sovereign Era. Man, I loved my Micronauts toys! Hazy Days and Cloudy Nights: "How It All Got Started" is free weekly serial fiction... for you! Been getting back into the literal Shaper's World, the setting for my novel Light of the Outsider and the follow-up novelette, "The Perfumed Air at Kwaanantag Bay." I also mention a possible new story in my Daikaiju Universe storyworld, which so far only includes the short story "Reggie vs Kaiju Storm Chimera Wolf." Play with your gifts every day. And here's a mug you can have that will remind you... every day! I recommend Podcast Addict on Android for your podcast listening needs. Maybe you would like to be a future guest on Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick? Learn more! Big thanks to my Multiversalists patron community, including Amelia Bowen, Ted Leonhardt, Chuck Anderson, J. C. Hutchins, Jim Lewinson, and Pearl Zare! I'm incredibly grateful for the support of my patrons. If Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick brings you joy, become a patron! The Multiversalists patron member community receives the uncut, unedited version of every episode. For this episode, patrons get about ten minutes of additional content! Want in on that? Become a patron for at least $5.00 per month (start with a free seven-day trial / cancel any time) and get a bunch of other perks and special access, too. Every month the member community has at least twenty members, I will donate 10% of net patron revenue to 826 National in support of literacy and creative writing advocacy for children. Let's go! Love Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick and have the desire and means to make a one-time donation in support of the show? Donate via PayPal or leave a tip via Ko-Fi, with my grateful thanks.

In the latest in-depth and evergreen author interview on Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick, I speak with historical non-fiction biographer Teresa Wilhelm Waldof, author of Wilhelm's Way: The Inspiring Story of the Iowa Chemist Who Saved the Manhattan Project. If you're interested in the new Oppenheimer movie and another side of the true story of the Manhattan Project, you'll want to hear this conversation! Together Teresa and I discuss dogged commitment, the importance of a steadfast support network, external validation, and the responsibility to sustain a legacy for the sake of family and for the benefit of history. This episode was recorded on July 26th, 2023, the same day the world discovered Sinéad O'Connor had died. I talk a little bit about that before the interview. The conversation with Teresa Wilhelm Waldof was recorded on May 28th, 2023. About Teresa Wilhelm Waldof Teresa Wilhelm Waldof is the world's leading expert on the Ames Project section of the Manhattan Project. An independent scholar, her in-depth research provides for trade publication the first-ever account of the life of chemist Harley Wilhelm and the critical Manhattan Project work he led on the Iowa State campus. That book is Wilhelm's Way. Winner of the Iowa Historical Society Iowa History Awards Certificate of Merit and the Minnesota Book Award, Teresa holds a BA in speech communications and an MBA from the University of Minnesota. She lives in Rochester, Minnesota, with her family. You can find more about Teresa Wilhelm Waldof on her website. Links and Topics Mentioned in This Episode My day job? I'm a creative services provider helping authors, podcasters and other creators. How can I help you? Sinéad O'Connor. The Manhattan Project. The Ames Project. Rochester Writers Group. Maybe you would like to be a future guest on Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick? Learn more! Big thanks to my Multiversalists patron community, including Amelia Bowen, Ted Leonhardt, Chuck Anderson, and J. C. Hutchins! I'm incredibly grateful for the support of my patrons. If Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick brings you joy, become a patron! The Multiversalists patron member community receives the uncut, unedited version of every episode. For this episode, patrons get over forty minutes of additional content! Want in on that? Become a patron for at least $5.00 per month (start with a free seven-day trial / cancel any time) and get a bunch of other perks and special access, too. Every month the member community has at least twenty members, I will donate 10% of net patron revenue to 826 National in support of literacy and creative writing advocacy for children. Let's go! Love Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick and have the desire and means to make a one-time donation in support of the show? Donate via PayPal or leave a tip via Ko-Fi, with my grateful thanks.

It's time for another in-depth author interview on Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick!  This time around, I speak with romance author Debra Parmley (also find her on Amazon, Facebook, and Twitter)! And by the way, just in case you're thinking, "nah, I'm not a Romance fan; this isn't for me," I urge you to press "play."  This is a conversation about writing fiction, reading fiction, being part of the creative community, and perhaps more than anything, we talk about how to effectively balance a prolific creative writing life with a healthy, productive, full "real" life. There's something here for you, dear listener. Dig in! This episode was recorded on June 15th, 2023. The conversation with Debra Parmley was recorded on January 28th, 2023. About Debra Parmley Author Debra Parmley believes "Every day we are alive is a beautiful day," and she likes to give her readers and her story people a story that ends happily. An Air Force veteran's wife, Debra is most known for writing military romantic suspense. She writes gritty western historical romance, 1920's romance, contemporary romance, holiday romance, fairytale romance, time travel romance, and poetry. In her freelance work she has done interviews and written travel pieces. As Debra Bishop, she writes fantasy, fairy tales for all ages and children's books. Debra is married to her high sweetheart, whom she asked out after a five-dollar bet. After living in five states with her husband and two sons, and living for 23 years just outside Memphis, TN, she, and her husband sold everything and moved into a 43-foot motorhome, a 2010 Tiffin Allegro diesel bus. Debra now lives in their motorhome full-time with her husband as they travel the U.S. You can see her travels on her Beautiful Day Traveler blog and her Beautiful Day YouTube channel. The conversation with Debra Parmley was recorded on January 29th, 2023. The episode was recorded on July 12, 2023. Links and Topics Mentioned in This Episode My day job? I'm a creative services provider helping authors, podcasters and other creators. How can I help you? Debra was the Lambda Iota Tau English Honors Society first place winner in two categories at Marywood College. Debra's first short story was published in the anthology More Monsters from Memphis. Ozark Creative Writers. Western author Dusty Richards. Many classic novels, such as Heart of Darkness or The Old Man and the Sea, are, in fact, novellas. Why is Margaret Atwood not shelved in Science Fiction? Why is pop serial fiction writer Charles Dickens shelved in Literature? Debra and I talk genre, and if it really matters... More about Kindle Worlds. What is Pancreatitis? The Pomodoro method of balanced productivity. What is your faschia? Should you try sitting yoga? Maybe you would like to be a future guest on Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick? Learn more! Big thanks to my Multiversalists patron community, including Amelia Bowen, Ted Leonhardt, Chuck Anderson, and J. C. Hutchins! I'm incredibly grateful for the support of my patrons. If Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick brings you joy, become a patron! The Multiversalists patron member community receives the uncut, unedited version of every episode. For this episode, patrons get over forty minutes of additional content! Want in on that? Become a patron for at least $5.00 per month (start with a free seven-day trial / cancel any time) and get a bunch of other perks and special access, too. Every month the member community has at least twenty members, I will donate 10% of net patron revenue to 826 National in support of literacy and creative writing advocacy for children. Let's go! Love Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick and have the desire and means to make a one-time donation in support of the show? Donate via PayPal or leave a tip via Ko-Fi, with my grateful thanks.

Exhaustion calls for a brief (single episode) intermission of sorts in episode 089 of Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick. Listen to find out the what and the why! This episode was recorded on June 28th, 2023. Links and Topics Mentioned in This Episode My day job? I'm a creative services provider helping authors, podcasters and other creators. How can I help you? Melissa's Hip Replacement Recovery Fund. Next episode will feature an in-depth, evergreen conversation with the author Debra Parmley. Maybe you would like to be a future guest on Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick? Learn more! Big thanks to my Multiversalists patron community, including Amelia Bowen, Ted Leonhardt, Chuck Anderson, and J. C. Hutchins! If Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick brings you joy, become a patron! The Multiversalists patron member community receives the uncut, unedited version of every episode. This episode, that means about 120% more content. Want in on that? Become a patron for at least $5.00 per month (start with a free seven-day trial / cancel any time) and get a bunch of other perks and special access, too. Every month the member community has at least twenty members, I will donate 10% of net patron revenue to 826 National in support of literacy and creative writing advocacy for children. Let's go! Love Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick and have the desire and means to make a one-time donation in support of the show? Donate via PayPal or leave a tip via Ko-Fi, with my grateful thanks.

It's time for another in-depth author interview on Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick!  Enjoy a conversation with historical fantasy romance author Celia Lake (also find her on Amazon, Facebook, and Twitter)! We get a lot in with this one, including lots of juicy worldbuilding and process talk, the importance of regimens and planning to build a creative life, and dealing with chronic illness and a demanding full time job while still releasing almost two dozen books in four years! Celia Lake is a pen name, but there's a real person behind the books! Celia Lake spends her days as a librarian in the Boston (MA) metro area, and her nights and weekends at home happily writing, reading, and researching. Born and raised in Massachusetts to British parents, she naturally embraced British spelling, classic mysteries, and the Oxford comma before she learned there were any other options. This episode was recorded on June 15th, 2023. The conversation with Celia Lake was recorded on January 28th, 2023. Links and Topics Mentioned in This Episode My day job? I'm a creative services provider helping authors, podcasters and other creators. How can I help you? Celia mentions the Golden Age of Mystery, which included authors like Dorothy L. Sayers and Agatha Christie. The Iliad and The Odyssey... I mentioned the Robert Fagles translations, so that's what's linked here. My Sovereign Era storyworld begins with Brave Men Run -- and you can find the other titles (so far) in that series at that link, too! Of course we talk mosiac universes and shared storyworlds like Thieves' World and Wildcards! Celia talks about Becca Syme and the Better Faster Academy, which uses the Clifton Strengths assessment. Scrivener is an all-in-one application for planning, organizing, writing, and producing fiction and non-fiction works. Remarkably, the Vienna Philharmonic has a record of every concert every performed on their stage. Be sure to listen all the way to the end for an important announcement about the future of Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick! No, the show's not going anywhere! Maybe you would like to be a future guest on Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick? Learn more! Big thanks to my Multiversalists patron community, including Amelia Bowen, Ted Leonhardt, Chuck Anderson, and J. C. Hutchins! This episode took over thirteen hours to record, edit, produce, and publish, so I'm incredibly grateful for the support of my patrons. If Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick brings you joy, become a patron! The Multiversalists patron member community receives the uncut, unedited version of every episode. For this episode, patrons get almost thirty-five minutes of additional content! Want in on that? Become a patron for at least $5.00 per month (start with a free seven-day trial / cancel any time) and get a bunch of other perks and special access, too. Every month the member community has at least twenty members, I will donate 10% of net patron revenue to 826 National in support of literacy and creative writing advocacy for children. Let's go! Love Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick and have the desire and means to make a one-time donation in support of the show? Donate via PayPal or leave a tip via Ko-Fi, with my grateful thanks.

It's time for a solo episode of Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick! In addition to letting you know what I've been up to recently in my creative writing life, I discuss recent developments and revelations in artificial intelligence that have forced me to Take a Stand (capital T, capital S). Also: a little bit on the recent Amazon KDP categories update, and an interesting unintended consequence... This episode was recorded on June 6th, 2023. Links and Topics Mentioned in This Episode Stuff and things from Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick 087, more or less in order of mention. My day job? I'm a creative services provider helping authors, podcasters and other creators. How can I help you? Want to check out the interview with fantasy author Krista Walsh? My impressions and recollections of the 2023 SFWA Nebula Conference. The "Creative Family" encore episode of Sonitotum. Check out all the interview episodes of Sonitotum to date, and don't forget to buy something from some of these fine creators! I mention my work in progress, Shadow of the Outsider, which is a follow-up to my novel Light of the Outsider and the novelette "The Perfumed Air at Kwaanantag Bay.". What is epistolary fiction? What is a Large Language Model Generative AI? OpenAI is the company behind ChatGPT. O hai, follow me on Twitter. BookCorpus is a database of thousands of books scraped off Smashwords without the permission of the copyright holders. It's part of what taught ChatGPT. When you use ChatGPT, or tools that depend on ChatGPT, you're benefiting off the backs of uncompensated authors. My Statement of Ethics and Principles. I'm a full member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association and an authorpreneur member of the Alliance of Independent Authors. After my recent experience with the Amazon categories system, it's time to revisit my plan for how to FIX the Amazon store! Maybe you would like to be a future guest on Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick? Learn more! Big thanks to my Multiversalists patron community, including Amelia Bowen, Ted Leonhardt, Chuck Anderson, and J. C. Hutchins! This episode took over five hours to record, edit, produce, and publish, so I'm incredibly grateful for the support of my patrons. If Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick brings you joy, become a patron! The Multiversalists patron member community receives the uncut, unedited version of every episode. For this episode, patrons get almost fifteen minutes of additional content! Want in on that? Become a patron for at least $5.00 per month (start with a free seven-day trial / cancel any time) and get a bunch of other perks and special access, too. Every month the member community has at least twenty members, I will donate 10% of net patron revenue to 826 National in support of literacy and creative writing advocacy for children. Let's go! Love Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick and have the desire and means to make a one-time donation in support of the show? Donate via PayPal or leave a tip via Ko-Fi, with my grateful thanks.

This time on Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick: A conversation with the award-nominated, prolific Canadian urban and epic fantasy author Krista Walsh (also find her on Amazon, Facebook, and Instagram. We cover process, fiction as self-analysis, time management and productivity, writing software, community and team building, mental health and, as usual, so much more. It's a conversation full of laughter and, most importantly, lots of value for you, dear listener. Like many authors, Krista has been writing since she was old enough to hold a pen. At eight years old, she wrote three one-page ghost stories that she still feels are her best work. From plays and short stories through to fanfiction and novels, tales and adventures have always buzzed around in her head. After her first publication in April 2012, a short story in a dark fantasy anthology, Krista made her way through various collaborations and anthologies until she founded the self-publishing brand of Raven's Quill Press. On her blog, she hosted the Greylands serial, a project with five other authors that she proceeded to produce as her publishing debut in November 2013. Since then, she has released numerous epic and urban fantasy titles, with many more on the way. In 2019 Krista was nominated for the Faces magazine best author award. In her down time, she can be found wandering Ottawa, Ontario looking for inspiration, buried in a book, wrangling her toddler and keeping up with her Australian cattle dog. This episode was recorded on May 30th, 2023. The conversation with Krista Walsh was recorded on January 27th, 2023. Links and Topics Mentioned in This Episode My day job? I'm a creative services provider helping authors, podcasters and other creators. How can I help you? I mention my novelette "The Perfumed Air at Kwaanantag Bay," which instigated some emotional work I was only half-expecting. It's the follow up to my novel Light of the Outsider. Krista mentions the writing software applications Plottr, Scrivener, and Scapple, as well as the project management tool Hive. Both Krista and I bring up Atticus, which shows potential, but isn't quite ready for prime-time. I mention Dynalist, which, at the time of our conversation, I was using extensively. I've since moved to Obsidian, which is more flexible but also has a sharper learning curve. Try 'em both! Mindomo, a mind-mapping application. What is Bullet Journaling? Bookbub is a book discovery service and marketing tool helping authors reach new readers. Ereader News Today is another newsletter service Krista has found useful to market her works. My non-fiction book for independent authors, Indie Author Marketing Infrastructure. The newsletter swap marketing service Book Funnel is yet another way indie authors can share resources and reach readers. Krista mentions Newsletter Ninja, a resource on e-mail marketing. My mailing list service provider is ConvertKit. Mike Watt is the hardest working man in punk rock, and a national treasure. Krista credits the last episode of Parks and Recreation for her "bumper sticker" creed. Maybe you would like to be a future guest on Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick? Learn more! Big thanks to my Multiversalists patron community, including Amelia Bowen, Ted Leonhardt, Chuck Anderson, and J. C. Hutchins! This episode took over eleven hours to record, edit, produce, and publish, so I'm incredibly grateful for the support of my patrons. If Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick brings you joy, become a patron! The Multiversalists patron member community receives the uncut, unedited version of every episode. For this episode, patrons get almost thirty-five minutes of additional content! Want in on that? Become a patron for at least $5.00 per month (start with a free seven-day trial / cancel any time) and get a bunch of other perks and special access, too. Every month the member community has at least twenty members, I will donate 10% of net patron revenue to 826 National in support of literacy and creative writing advocacy for children. Let's go! Love Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick and have the desire and means to make a one-time donation in support of the show? Donate via PayPal or leave a tip via Ko-Fi, with my grateful thanks.

In this 85th episode of Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick, I present my thoughts and reflections after attending the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association 2023 58th Nebula Awards conference in Anaheim, California. Rather than a minute-by-minute recap of the conference and the 58th annual Nebula Awards ceremony, this is a more personal recollection of my experience, as well as musing on What It All Means (including, if I may be so bold, the very purpose and meaning of science fiction and fantasy in the twenty first century). Those recollections and musings come as more-or-less verbatim reading of an early draft of the Sonitotum article on the same subject. Listen and read! Also! Big news: You can now try my Multiversalists patron member community of readers, writers, friends, and fans with a FREE seven day trial before you commit! This episode was recorded on May 23th, 2023. Links and Topics Mentioned in This Episode My creative services for authors and other creators. A post I wrote about my mother, whose death was one of the many things that happened in the sixteen years since attending my last in-person events. The books and other written works I've released in that time and before. The "slight return" episode of Sonitotum that re-launched the podcast in 2022. The Alliance of Independent Authors. The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association. Consider joining! Maybe you would like to be a future guest on Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick? Learn more! The late George Perez. Voice actor Matthew Mercer. The Infinity Award for Octavia Bulter. Shadow of the Outsider is my work in progress, an epistolary fantasy novel and the follow-up to Light of the Outsider and "The Perfumed Air at Kwaanantag Bay." Hazy Days and Cloudy Nights: "How It All Got Started" is my ongoing serial fiction project available exclusively to members of my mailing list community of friends and fans. Get in on it for free! Next episode will feature my conversation with Canadian fantasy author Krista Walsh. Big thanks to my Multiversalists patron community, including Amelia Bowen, Ted Leonhardt, Chuck Anderson, and J. C. Hutchins! This episode took about six hours to record, edit, produce, and publish, so I'm incredibly grateful for the support of my patrons. If Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick brings you joy, become a patron! The Multiversalists patron member community receives the uncut, unedited version of every episode. For this episode, patrons get nearly 26% more content! Want in on that? Become a patron for at least $5.00 per month (FREE seven day trial to start; cancel any time) and get a bunch of other perks and special access, too. Every month the member community has at least twenty members, I will donate 10% of net patron revenue to 826 National in support of literacy and creative writing advocacy for children. Let's go! Love Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick and have the desire and means to make a one-time donation in support of the show? Donate via PayPal or leave a tip via Ko-Fi, with my grateful thanks.

This 84th episode of Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick is an encore episode re-presenting (with some new content) episode 006, "Your Creative Family." It's from June of 2018, so it's very likely new to you... whether you haven't heard it yet, or simply forgotten it! So, enjoy. From the Original Episode For many years, I've referred to Ray Bradbury as my "story father."  I've only recently given dedicated thought to what that actually means to me... and in the process, discovered there are other members of my story family, too! In this episode of Sonitotum, I unpack the concept of the "creative family," and invite you to take up this particular perspective as a way to add a level of accountability and quality control to your creative endeavors... and add meaning and impact to your work, too. Hint: it's all about love, really. This encore portions of this episode were recorded on June 13, 2018. New content was recorded on May 16th, 2023. Links and Topics Mentioned in This Episode The artwork for this episode features a photograph of picture frames on a wall from Travis Isaacs used via a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0) license. I've manipulated his image to include photos of Ray Bradbury, Ursula K. Le Guin, and two books from my personal collection. Ray Bradbury died June 5, 2012, a touch over six years before the original release of this episode. Here's the post I wrote where I first refer to him as my "story-father." R Is For Rocket is the Bradbury short story collection that got the ball rolling for me. My mass-market paperback edition is from 1978, when I was ten or eleven years old, but I may have read a library book edition before I owned my own copy. Ursula K. Le Guin wrote a remarkable proto-transmedia mosaic novel, Always Coming Home, that is not only a very moving, brilliant work, it also stands as a worldbuilding high-water mark in my mind. Even though I don't do the nightly Instagram thing these days, here's the post I mentioned on how gratitude will make you a better writer. Hazy Days and Cloudy Nights: "How It All Got Started" is my ongoing serial fiction project available exclusively to members of my mailing list community of friends and fans. Get in on it for free! Next episode will be all about my reflections and observations on the 2023 SFWA Nebula Conference in Anaheim, California. It was the first conference or convention of any kind I'd been to in... some time. Spoiler: it was great! Maybe you would like to be a future guest on Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick? Learn more! Big thanks to my Multiversalists patron community, including Amelia Bowen, Ted Leonhardt, Chuck Anderson, and J. C. Hutchins! This episode took about five hours to record, edit, produce, and publish, so I'm incredibly grateful for the support of my patrons. If Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick brings you joy, become a patron! The Multiversalists patron member community receives the uncut, unedited version of every episode. For this episode, patrons get nearly 50% more content! Want in on that? Become a patron for at least $5.00 per month (cancel any time) and get a bunch of other perks and special access, too. Every month the member community has at least twenty members, I will donate 10% of net patron revenue to 826 National in support of literacy and creative writing advocacy for children. Let's go! Love Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick and have the desire and means to make a one-time donation in support of the show? Donate via PayPal or leave a tip via Ko-Fi, with my grateful thanks.

This time on Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick: A conversation with the award-nominated Australian author of children's fantasy books and stories, Jeffery E. Doherty  (also find him on Amazon, Facebook, and Twitter!). Jeffery E. Doherty is also an illustrator, speaker, book reviewer, and book cover designer. His books include Paper Magic and his darkly humorous upper middle grade fantasy series The Guardians of St. Giles. Jeffery has created over a dozen book covers for IFWG Publishing and five covers for SQ Mag, including the May, 2014 edition, which won the Australian Shadow Award. Jeffery has worked as a nurse, a police officer, a learning support officer, and a librarian. He brings his experience from all those careers into his writing and art. Join us as we explore the cathartic power of creating and writing, the responsibility and privilege of writing for special needs children, legacy, seeking out challenges and growth as an author... and more! This episode was recorded on May 9th, 2023. The conversation with Jeffery Doherty was recorded on January 27th, 2023. Links and Topics Mentioned in This Episode Did you know you can name your own price (at least $1.00) for any of my e-books when you buy direct? My day job? I'm a creative services provider helping authors, podcasters and other creators. How can I help you? Creativity and post-traumatic stress disorder. What is spina bifida? Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. Norwegian singer Aurora. What do we mean by in medias res? Locke & Key comics and Netflix series. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie. Jeffery's hundred day painting challenge. NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. I'll be at the 2023 SFWA Nebula Conference. Will you be there? Say hi! Maybe you would like to be a future guest on Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick? Learn more! Big thanks to my Multiversalists patron community, including Amelia Bowen, Ted Leonhardt, Chuck Anderson, and J. C. Hutchins! This episode took eleven hours to record, edit, produce, and publish, so I'm incredibly grateful for the support of my patrons. If Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick brings you joy, become a patron! The Multiversalists patron member community receives the uncut, unedited version of every episode. For this episode, patrons get almost forty five minutes of additional content! Want in on that? Become a patron for at least $5.00 per month (cancel any time) and get a bunch of other perks and special access, too. Every month the member community has at least twenty members, I will donate 10% of net patron revenue to 826 National in support of literacy and creative writing advocacy for children. Let's go! Love Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick and have the desire and means to make a one-time donation in support of the show? Donate via PayPal or leave a tip via Ko-Fi, with my grateful thanks.

It's the 82nd episode of Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick. Let's talk about what our dreams have to say about our creative writing life and our mental health. My own subconscious has been poking at me -- sometimes with vigor -- for decades, always with the same stick: a recurring dream motif that I have come to call The Lost Apartment. Listen as I go into detail about these recurring dreams, what they seem to symbolize, and what it all has to do with staying healthy and sane while trying to make stuff (mostly writing) and find success in a creative life. This episode was recorded on May 2nd, 2023. Links and Topics Mentioned in This Episode Go back one episode to hear a great conversation with the author Anthony W. Eichenlaub. This is so close to the mid-century two-tiered end table I mention, it could almost be the same one. Anyone have half a grand so I can buy this thing and have it shipped to me? Keoki was a good dog. Read all about him. The concept of the memory palace usually refers to a mnemonic device. In this episode, I think of it as a visualization of the emergent property of my memory, creativity, and personality. That Sponges episode I mention. The next episode of Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick will feature a conversation with author Jeffery E. Doherty. I'll be at the 2023 SFWA Nebula Conference in Anaheim, California. Will you? Say hi! Maybe you would like to be a future guest on Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick? Learn more! Big thanks to my Multiversalists patron community, including Amelia Bowen, Ted Leonhardt, Chuck Anderson, and J. C. Hutchins! This episode took about six hours to record, edit, produce, and publish, so I'm incredibly grateful for the support of my patrons. If Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick brings you joy, become a patron! The Multiversalists patron member community receives the uncut, unedited version of every episode. For this episode, patrons get an extra 20% of content! Want in on that? Become a patron for at least $5.00 per month (cancel any time) and get a bunch of other perks and special access, too. Every month the member community has at least twenty members, I will donate 10% of net patron revenue to 826 National in support of literacy and creative writing advocacy for children. Let's go! Love Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick and have the desire and means to make a one-time donation in support of the show? Donate via PayPal or leave a tip via Ko-Fi, with my grateful thanks.

Science fiction and fantasy author Anthony W. Eichenlaub joins me in an in-depth discussion on the writing craft and writing life in Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick episode 081. Anthony W. Eichenlaub is the author of a wide range of science fiction and fantasy. His novels are a hodgepodge of cyberpunk westerns, space opera, and technothrillers. His short stories have appeared in numerous publications, including Daily Science Fiction, Little Blue Marble, and On-Spec Magazine. Anthony is a member and volunteer with SFWA, a member of the Rochester Writers Group, and a teaching artist at the Loft Literary Center. In his spare time, he enjoys landscaping, woodworking, and long walks with his lazy dog. Anthony has been writing for nearly twenty years, and he brings that expertise and experience to our conversation as we discuss... Beginning writing as an adult The influence of role playing games on fiction Story structure and "the dreaded middle" Marketing, goals, and planning Teaching Growing and developing as a writer and author ...and a whole lot more. This episode was recorded on April 26th, 2023. The conversation with Anthony W. Eichenlaub was recorded on January 24th, 2023. Links and Topics Mentioned in This Episode My day job? I'm a creative services provider helping authors, podcasters and other creators. How can I help you? My first novel, Brave Men Run, comes up as an example of a first book performing better than later works. I mention one of my favorite James Baldwin quotes. I recommend The Sparrow and Children of God by Mary Doria Russell. Anthony makes pens! There are pen-making kits you can use with a bit of woodturning / woodworking skill. Anthony was inspired to write fiction after leading fantasy role playing gaming sessions. He's far from the first author similarly driven! Books2Read is a service for authors that provides a "links page" to various online marketplaces. BookFunnel is an author marketing service that connects readers to authors via mailing list newsletter exchanges, among other methods. Humble Bundle offers collections of books, games, software, and other goodies for greatly reduced prices, with a portion of sales going to charity. Story Bundle is similar to Humble Bundle, with a focus on collections of books curated by authors, editors, and publishers. You probably know about Patreon -- it's what I use to run my Multiversalists member community -- but did you know co-founder Jack Conte and his partner Nataly Dawn have a cool band called Pomplamoose? When this episode was recorded, Anthony was working on a noir book, and so he was reading classic noir fiction authors like Raymond Chandler. Similarly, when I was preparing to write my literary fantasy novel Light of the Outsider, I read Theodore Sturgeon, Philip Roth, and Ursula K. Le Guin to get a particular tone and lyricism in my head. Maybe you would like to be a future guest on Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick? Learn more! Big thanks to my Multiversalists patron community, including Amelia Bowen, Ted Leonhardt, Chuck Anderson, and J. C. Hutchins! This episode took thirteen hours and forty-nine minutes to record, edit, produce, and publish, so I'm incredibly grateful for the support of my patrons. If Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick brings you joy, become a patron! The Multiversalists patron member community receives the uncut, unedited version of every episode. For this episode, patrons get almost forty five minutes of additional content! Want in on that? Become a patron for at least $5.00 per month (cancel any time) and get a bunch of other perks and special access, too. Every month the member community has at least twenty members, I will donate 10% of net patron revenue to 826 National in support of literacy and creative writing advocacy for children. Let's go! Love Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick and have the desire and means to make a one-time donation in support of the show? Donate via PayPal or leave a tip via Ko-Fi, with my grateful thanks.

Episode 080 of Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick, the podcast about making stuff (mostly writing), finding success as we each define it, and staying healthy and sane in the process, is a solo episode in which I share how I've tricked myself into a creative corner... how and why it happened... and what it might take to get out of it. If you find you might be sabotaging your creative writing life with some insidious mental trickery, I hope you'll find something valuable here. Also: I made a mug you might want involved with how you start your creative days... more about that in the episode, too. This episode was recorded on April 19th, 2023. Links and Topics Mentioned in This Episode The interview with playwright Monica Cross from Sonitotum 079. I'm still learning, messing around with, and bending to my will the knowledge management application Obsidian. This episode is, kinda sorta, an extension of the "Sponges" episode of Sonitotum, which you should listen to. The day this episode comes out is also the third anniversary of the day I finished the first draft of Light of the Outsider, my best novel as of this writing. Yes, it's even better than Brave Men Run, my first novel, which everyone loved! Did you know about the sequel to Brave Men Run, Pilgrimage..? "The Perfumed Air at Kwaanantag Bay" is my novelette from 2021. It's pretty special. You should check it out. Indie Author Marketing Infrastructure was my sole release in 2022. Looking to get started as an indie author? This book shows you what you really need, and how to get it. The "Play with Your Gifts Today" mug is available in 11 ounce and 15 ounce sizes. It's a neat thing! All this talk about my books reminds me that you might not realize you can name your own price (minimum $1.00) for any of my e-books when you buy direct from me! Hey! Scroll down and leave a comment! Maybe you would like to be a future guest on Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick? Learn more! Big thanks to my Multiversalists patron community, including Amelia Bowen, Ted Leonhardt, Chuck Anderson, and J. C. Hutchins! This episode took nearly five hours to record, edit, produce, and publish, so I'm incredibly grateful for the support of my patrons. If Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick brings you joy, become a patron! The Multiversalists patron member community receives the uncut, unedited version of every episode. For this episode, patrons get almost ten minutes of additional content! Want in on that? Become a patron for at least $5.00 per month (cancel any time) and get a bunch of other perks and special access, too. Every month the member community has at least twenty members, I will donate 10% of net patron revenue to 826 National in support of literacy and creative writing advocacy for children. Let's go! Love Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick and have the desire and means to make a one-time donation in support of the show? Donate via PayPal or leave a tip via Ko-Fi, with my grateful thanks.

Episode 079 of Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick features an interview with speculative playwright Monica Cross. Monica Cross (also find her on Facebook and Twitter) is a multiple-award winning playwright residing in northwestern Wisconsin. Her one-act play Cyrano on the Moon has been produced at fringe festivals in Tampa and Minneapolis, as well as several virtual productions. Wonder of Our Stage, Monica's first full-length play, was winner of the 2018 Players New Play Festival in Sarasota, FL, and went on to be included in their Summer Sizzler Series in 2019. She is a proud member of the Dramatists Guild and Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association. Her plays can be found on the New Play Exchange. Listen for new insights on the creative writing life and creative process from a perspective not usually heard in the world of independent publishing: the world of theater. Monica and I discuss... the niche of speculative theater and how it intersects with "traditional" plays and playwriting. how new playwrights' works are discovered, workshopped, and ultimately produced. commonalities between storytelling on the stage and in other media building a creative practice with dyslexia and ADHD... ... and a bunch of other stuff! It's a great exchange. I learned a lot... you will, too! This episode was recorded on April 11th, 2023. The conversation with Monica Cross was recorded on January 20th, 2023. Links and Topics Mentioned in This Episode My day job? I'm a creative services provider helping authors, podcasters and other creators. How can I help you? You probably know Cyrano de Bergerac by Edmond Rostand, but you've probably never read or seen the play. My first novel, Brave Men Run, comes up in our discussion of characters hobbled by their poor self-image. The 2014 International Science Fiction Theater Conference. Susan Lorie Parks' Fucking A Mister Burnes, A Post-Electric Play by Anne Washurn The book people scene from the François Trauffaut adaptation of Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451. Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett. Marjorie Prime by Jordan Harrison (you might also take in the film adaptation, but as we discuss in the episode, it's not the same experience...) She Kills Monsters by Qui Nguyen. The alchemist John Dee. The League of Resident Theaters. Edgar Allen Poe's The Masque of the Red Death adapted for the stage by Monica Cross. Rejection sensitivity is sometimes part of the ADHD experience. What is a dramaturg? Cheers to the comic book legend who never forgets my birthday, Danny Fingeroth. J. Michael Straczynski (find him on Twitter) is a screenwriter, show runner, novelist, and comic book writer. Chances are you've dug, perhaps fanatically, something he's done. The playwright Simon Stephens (find him on Twitter). Maybe you would like to be a future guest on Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick? Learn more! Big thanks to my Multiversalists patron community, including Amelia Bowen, Ted Leonhardt, Chuck Anderson, and J. C. Hutchins! This episode took nearly twelve hours to record, edit, produce, and publish, so I'm incredibly grateful for the support of my patrons. If Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick brings you joy, become a patron! The Multiversalists patron member community receives the uncut, unedited version of every episode. For this episode, patrons get almost forty minutes of additional content! Want in on that? Become a patron for at least $5.00 per month (cancel any time) and get a bunch of other perks and special access, too. Every month the member community has at least twenty members, I will donate 10% of net patron revenue to 826 National in support of literacy and creative writing advocacy for children. Let's go! Love Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick and have the desire and means to make a one-time donation in support of the show? Donate via PayPal or leave a tip via Ko-Fi, with my grateful thanks.

In episode 078 of Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick, the focus is on the balance between taking things in and acting on what you've absorbed. When is it okay to not be writing / creating? Why is that alleged downtime actually essential to the entire creative process? This episode was recorded on April 3rd, 2023. It took three hours and thirty-five minutes to record, edit, produce and mix down the audio, create and upload the MP3 files, create, render, and upload the YouTube edition, write the show notes, and schedule the episode for release. Links and Topics Mentioned in This Episode My day job? I'm a creative services provider helping authors, podcasters and other creators. How can I help you? Did you miss the conversation with author Rhiannon Held? The sponge meme mentioned is from this Scribtotum article. My exploration of Obsidian, a knowledge management application, continues.  It just might fit the bill as coming close as possible to my idea of the perfect software for fiction writers. No, not this kind of sponge. Listener feedback this episode comes from Multiversalist Member Patron Amy Bowen. She mentions NaNoWriMo, or National Novel Writing Month. Scrivener, a popular software application for writers, is mentioned. Also mentioned is the excellent mind-mapping application Mindomo. Shadow of the Outsider is my current work-in-progress, the follow-up to my latest novel Light of the Outsider and my latest novelette, "The Perfumed Air at Kwaanantag Bay." Hey! Did you know you can also listen and subscribe to Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick on YouTube? Next episode will feature a conversation with the speculative playwright Monica Cross. Be sure you've subscribed for free wherever you get your podcasts so you don't miss it! Maybe you would like to be a future guest on Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick? Learn more! Big thanks to my Multiversalists patron community, including Amelia Bowen, Ted Leonhardt, Chuck Anderson, and J. C. Hutchins! This episode took almost nine hours to record, edit, produce, and publish, so I'm incredibly grateful for the support of my patrons. If Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick brings you joy, become a patron! The Multiversalists patron member community receives the uncut, unedited version of every episode. For this episode, patrons get an additional ten minures (give or take) of content. Want in on that? Become a patron for at least $5.00 per month (cancel any time) and get a bunch of other perks and special access, too. Every month the member community has at least twenty members, I will donate 10% of net patron revenue to 826 National in support of literacy and creative writing advocacy for children. Let's go! Love Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick and have the desire and means to make a one-time donation in support of the show? Donate via PayPal or leave a tip via Ko-Fi, with my grateful thanks.

Episode 077 of Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick features an interview with author Rhiannon (R. Z.) Held. Rhiannon Held is the author of the Silver series of urban fantasy novels published by Tor. As R. Z. Held, she writes the Amsterdam Institute series of space opera novellas. Her short fiction, also under R. Z. Held, appears in Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Hybrid Fiction, and a number of other publications and anthologies. Rhiannon lives near Seattle, where she works as an archaeologist for an environmental compliance firm. At work, she mostly uses her degree for copy-editing technical reports; in writing, she uses it for cultural world-building; in public, she'll probably use it to check the mold seams on the wine bottle at dinner. Our conversation goes deep on... cultural worldbuilding deep time in fiction touching people through our stories balancing writing from the heart and following genre tropes reaching new readers the benefits of walking and "buffer zones" between our working and writing life... ...and a whole lot more. This one is chock full of good stuff.  Listen! This episode was recorded on March 27th, 2023. The conversation with Rhiannon Held was recorded on January 22nd, 2023. Links and Topics Mentioned in This Episode My day job? I'm a creative services provider helping authors, podcasters and other creators. How can I help you? Rhiannon mentions LARPing. That stands for Live Action Role Playing. Here's a little more about LARPs. Rhiannon also mentioned play-by-email role playing games... a modern(ish) version of play-by-mail games that started in the 1970s. Personal creative franchises (storyworlds) come up a lot on this show. In this episode, I mentioned Michael Moorcock's Eternal Champion, Stephen King's loosely interconnected Prime Earth, and Edgar Rice Burroughs' Pellucidar. Rhiannon mentions Chaco Culture and Mesa Verde. I bring up Kevin J. Anderson's walking / dictation routine. What is walking meditation? Rhiannon mentions NaNoWriMo, or National Novel Writing Month. Here is the episode where I reveal my proposal for fixing the Amazon bookstore. Rhiannon mentions the DARE program, which, surprisingly, is still a thing. Maybe you would like to be a future guest on Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick? Learn more! Big thanks to my Multiversalists patron community, including Amelia Bowen, Ted Leonhardt, Chuck Anderson, and J. C. Hutchins! This episode took almost nine hours to record, edit, produce, and publish, so I'm incredibly grateful for the support of my patrons. If Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick brings you joy, become a patron! The Multiversalists patron member community receives the uncut, unedited version of every episode. For this episode, patrons get an additional half hour of content, including an entire side conversation on Rhiannon Held's particular day to day life as an archaeologist, plus lots of other stuff. Want in on that? Become a patron for at least $5.00 per month (cancel any time) and get a bunch of other perks and special access, too. Every month the member community has at least twenty members, I will donate 10% of net patron revenue to 826 National in support of literacy and creative writing advocacy for children. Let's go! Love Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick and have the desire and means to make a one-time donation in support of the show? Donate via PayPal or leave a tip via Ko-Fi, with my grateful thanks.

A car-cast edition of Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick, episode 076 presents another possibly audacious proposal as a... means... to acquire the financial means to have the time and energy to engage in major creative projects in an all-out approach, rather than in bits and pieces as opportunity allows. Also: listener feedback! This episode was recorded on March 20th, 2023. Links and Topics Mentioned in This Episode My day job? I'm a creative services provider helping authors, podcasters and other creators. How can I help you? Did you miss last episode's in-depth conversation with author Joyce Reynolds-Ward? Check it out! Obsidian.md is a knowledge management application that works almost any way you want it. I'm investigating it as a possible platform to serve as my perfect / ideal software for creative writing -- a subject I went deep on in this episode of Sonitotum. Creator and developer Chrispian H. Burks offered excellent feedback and perspective on the feasibility of developing my dream writing software from whole cloth. He's also been a friend and fan for pretty much ever, so cheers, pal! Reader community member Brian reached out about Hazy Days and Cloudy Nights: "How It All Got Started," and really inspired this episode. Thanks, Brian! Brian -- like not a few members of my reader community over the years -- is keenly interested in an official audiobook for the canonical edition of my first novel, Brave Men Run -- A Novel of the Sovereign Era. The only Sovereign Era audiobook available so far is for my short story "The World Revolves Around You." One of the ongoing works in progress that might get a real speed boost from my proposal is Shadow of the Outsider, the next volume of my Shaper's World cycle, which so far includes the novel Light of the Outsider and the novelette "The Perfumed Air at Kwaanantag Bay." I mentioned the Scribtotum article in which I discuss the difference between systems and goals -- and the benefits of the former over the latter. The last time I did anything like a crowdfunding campaign, I kept it simple, I kept it small, and I rolled my own. You can read all about it in this Scribtotum article. This episode features some listener feedback from Multiversalist member patron Amelia Bowen. Thanks, Amy! Next episode features an interview with urban fantasy author Rhiannon Held. Be sure you're subscribed to Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick anywhere you get your podcasts so you don't miss it! Big thanks to my Multiversalists patron community, including Amelia Bowen, Ted Leonhardt, Chuck Anderson, and J. C. Hutchins! The Multiversalists patron member community receives the uncut, unedited version of every episode. Want in on that? Become a patron for at least $5.00 per month (cancel any time) and get a bunch of other perks and special access, too. Every month the member community has at least twenty members, I will donate 10% of net patron revenue to 826 National in support of literacy and creative writing advocacy for children. Let's go! Love Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick and have the desire and means to make a one-time donation in support of the show? Donate via PayPal or leave a tip via Ko-Fi, with my grateful thanks.

Episode 075 of Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick features an interview with author Joyce Reynolds-Ward. Joyce Reynolds-Ward (also find her on Twitter!) creates science fiction and fantasy works featuring themes of high-stakes family and political conflict, digital sentience, personal agency and control, realistic strong women, and (whenever possible) horses, frequently in Pacific Northwest settings. Joyce is a Self-Published Fantasy Blog Off semifinalist, a Writers of the Future semifinalist, and an Anthology Builder finalist. She is the Secretary of the Northwest Independent Writers Association, a fellow member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association, and a member of Soroptimists International. Joyce writes in a variety of storyworlds, including The Netwalk Sequence, Goddess's Honor, and The Martiniere books. She also has several stand-alone novels and other works out there in the world. Our conversation covers why and what she writes, her definition of success and how close she is to accomplishing it, worldbuilding, character-driven storytelling, working around genre restrictions and expectations, the slow build of organic community building, managing ADHD with systems and structure, and a whole lot more. This episode was recorded on March 15th, 2023. The conversation with Joyce Reynolds-Ward was recorded on January 18th, 2023. Links and Topics Mentioned in This Episode My day job? I'm a creative services provider helping authors, podcasters and other creators. How can I help you? Here is that episode of Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick in which I discuss the perfect software application for fiction writers. Then again, maybe I've found it... but it's going to take some tinkering. Learn about Obsidian. You'll have to listen to the episode to discover why I mention the song "Thunder Island" by Jay Ferguson. Ursula K. Le Guin comes up a lot on this podcast. This time around, Joyce and I talk about Always Coming Home and The Lathe of Heaven, two undeniable classics. Joyce mentions Hovenweep National Monument. Want one of those easels Joyce mentions? Check it out. Joyce mentions Scrivener, a writing software application you've probably heard of. Some of the authors Joyce mentions as reference points for her own work include Ivan Doig, Willa Cather, and John Steinbeck. Joyce, like myself, chafes at genre expectations and restrictions. Here is the Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick episode wherein I really get going about genres and tropes. Joyce mentions The Song of the Lark by Willa Cather as having a beautiful descriptive passage. Joyce calls author Phyllis Irene Radford a mentor. What is a tickler file? TinyLetter is one of many choices for your e-mail marketing services provider. I prefer ConvertKit. Looking for a way to do direct sales of your books and other creative products? I talk about Gumroad. Turns out Joyce uses the same web hosting company I've used for the better part of twenty years, Dreamhost. What is Amazon Vella? Like Joyce and myself, you might consider Draft2Digital for self-publishing distribution. Maybe you would like to be a future guest on Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick? Learn more! Big thanks to my Multiversalists patron community, including Amelia Bowen, Ted Leonhardt, Chuck Anderson, and J. C. Hutchins! The Multiversalists patron member community receives the uncut, unedited version of every episode. Want in on that? Become a patron for at least $5.00 per month (cancel any time) and get a bunch of other perks and special access, too. Every month the member community has at least twenty members, I will donate 10% of net patron revenue to 826 National in support of literacy and creative writing advocacy for children. Let's go! Love Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick and have the desire and means to make a one-time donation in support of the show? Donate via PayPal or leave a tip via Ko-Fi, with my grateful thanks.

In episode 074 of Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick,  I spell out the most important thing authors must consider when conceiving your social media marketing plan... or even if, indeed, you should have one. My advice might be a relief to you, or it might piss you off... because it's not necessarily what most folks are suggesting. This episode was recorded on March 6th, 2023. Links and Topics Mentioned in This Episode My day job? I'm a creative services provider helping authors, podcasters and other creators. How can I help you? You can now name your own price (at least a buck; upper limit determined by your generosity and means) on all of my e-books when you purchase them directly from me. Check out what's available. Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick can now be found on YouTube, if that's your thing when it comes to audio podcasts.  You can find the playlist here, and if you'd like notified whenever there's a new episode cross-posted to YouTube, be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel for free. Props to my client Walter Herbst, who found the sweet spot for his social media marketing over there at Reddit. Name your own price for my book Indie Author Marketing Infrastructure. It's all about... well, what it's all about is right there in the title! Through March 11, 2023, you'll find discounts on my books and many others during the Smashwords Read an E-Book Week promotion. Go shopping! Next episode features an interview with Joyce Reynolds-Ward. Be sure you're subscribed to Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick anywhere you get your podcasts so you don't miss it! Big thanks to my Multiversalists patron community, including Amelia Bowen, Ted Leonhardt, Chuck Anderson, and J. C. Hutchins! The Multiversalists patron member community receives the uncut, unedited version of every episode. Want in on that? Become a patron for at least $5.00 per month (cancel any time) and get a bunch of other perks and special access, too. Every month the member community has at least twenty members, I will donate 10% of net patron revenue to 826 National in support of literacy and creative writing advocacy for children. Let's go! Love Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick and have the desire and means to make a one-time donation in support of the show? Donate via PayPal or leave a tip via Ko-Fi, with my grateful thanks.

Episode 073 of Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick features an interview with author P. A. Cornell -- the first interview since episode 10 in 2018! P.A. Cornell is a Chilean-Canadian writer who penned her first speculative-fiction story as a third-grade assignment (a science-fiction piece about shape-shifting aliens). While her early publications were in non-fiction, she has been steadily selling her short fiction since 2016. An active member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association and 2002 graduate of the Odyssey Writing Workshop, her stories have appeared in several professional anthologies and genre magazines, including Galaxy's Edge, Cossmass Infinities, and Compelling Science Fiction, an  anthology from Flame Tree Press. Her debut science fiction novella Lost Cargo was published in 2022 by Mocha Memoirs Press. You can learn more at pacornell.com or find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Our conversation covers P. A.'s early and current influences, why and what she writes, her definition of success, developing the intuition to know when a story's going to work, creating around depression and anxiety, and a whole lot more. This episode was recorded on February 27th, 2023. The conversation with P. A. Cornell was recorded on January 18th, 2023. Links and Topics Mentioned in This Episode My day job? I'm a creative services provider helping authors, podcasters and other creators. How can I help you? You can now name your own price (at least a buck; upper limit determined by your generosity and means) on all of my e-books when you purchase them directly from me. Check out what's available. Why'd I move to a "name your own price" model? Listen to Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick 070 for the details, or you can read this Scribtotum article. Hazy Days and Cloudy Nights: "How It All Got Started" is a free fiction serial provided free and exclusively to the members of my mailing list community. Get a new installment of eighties-flavored fiction delivered to your inbox every week when you subscribe for free! Shadow of the Outsider is my current major work in progress. While we all wait, you can catch up with its predecessors, the novel Light of the Outsider and the novelette "The Perfumed Air at Kwaanantag Bay."  And don't forget -- you can name your own price for the e-books! The last time I published an interview in an episode of Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick was this conversation with musician Emma Wallace. What is felt art? P. A.'s great-uncle was a personal friend of Pablo Neruda. You should get to know him, too! What's a Drabble? Among P. A.'s contemporary influences are the authors Sarah Pinsker and Derrick Boden. Who was Lester Dent? Author Jeff VanderMeer's funny tweet (okay, one of...) If you're a writer and you haven't yet seen Barton Fink... fix that. I mentioned the web and smartphone app Focus@Will for background music to help you... well, focus! Both P. A. Cornell and I swear by the use of natural light light bulbs. Maybe you would like to be a future guest on Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick? Learn more! Big thanks to my Multiversalists patron community, including Amelia Bowen, Ted Leonhardt, Chuck Anderson, and J. C. Hutchins! The Multiversalists patron member community receives the uncut, unedited version of every episode. Want in on that? Become a patron for at least $5.00 per month (cancel any time) and get a bunch of other perks and special access, too. Every month the member community has at least twenty members, I will donate 10% of net patron revenue to 826 National in support of literacy and creative writing advocacy for children. Let's go! Love Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick and have the desire and means to make a one-time donation in support of the show? Donate via PayPal or leave a tip via Ko-Fi, with my grateful thanks.

What make the perfect software for fiction writers? What features are missing from all the usual suspects? In this park cast episode 072 of Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick, I wander around in the sunshine and suggest the specifications for what just might be the perfect software application of writers of all kinds. Listen to see if you agree, and by all means, add your wish list and suggestions in the comments! This episode was recorded on February 20th, 2023. Links and Topics Mentioned in This Episode This episode recorded at Central Park in Huntington Beach, California. My day job? I'm a creative services provider helping authors, podcasters and other creators. How can I help you? You can now name your own price (at least a buck; upper limit determined by your generosity and means) on all of my e-books when you purchase them directly from me. Check out what's available. Why'd I move to a "name your own price" model? Listen to Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick 070 for the details, or you can read this Scribtotum article. No more need to visit that big online retailer to "Look Inside the Book" when it comes to my fiction and nonfiction! Visit any of the dedicated pages for my books and click the "Read a Sample" link for a taste... and then pay what you want for the e-book! Since this is a park cast, I used my lavalier mic, which I recommend. Hazy Days and Cloudy Nights: "How It All Got Started" is a free fiction serial provided free and exclusively to the members of my mailing list community. Get a new installment of eighties-flavored fiction delivered to your inbox every week when you subscribe for free! Shadow of the Outsider is my current major work in progress. While we all wait, you can catch up with its predecessors, the novel Light of the Outsider and the novelette "The Perfumed Air at Kwaanantag Bay."  And don't forget -- you can name your own price for the e-books! Some of the writing software applications that come close, but aren't quite right, include: Scrivener Plottr yWriter An outliner I use every days for a variety of tasks and highly recommend -- but it's still lacking as a software application for writers -- is Dynalist. Are personal knowledge management software applications as close as we get (for now) to the perfect software applications for writers? Examples include: Obsidian Notion Logseq OneNote Tana Why Josephine? It's my little tribute to the memory of my grandmother on my stepfather's side, Josephine Bridickas. Cheers, Gram Jos! The SFWA author who recommended a little AI "daemon" on your shoulder as you write -- like real time fact checking of your own work -- is R. Jean Mathieu. I mention Seafile, the open source, self-hosted replacement for Dropbox and / or Google Drive. It's pretty neat. Big thanks to my Multiversalists patron community, including Amelia Bowen, Ted Leonhardt, Chuck Anderson, and J. C. Hutchins! The Multiversalists patron member community receives the uncut, unedited version of every episode. Want in on that? Become a patron for at least $5.00 per month (cancel any time) and get a bunch of other perks and special access, too. Every month the member community has at least twenty members, I will donate 10% of net patron revenue to 826 National in support of literacy and creative writing advocacy for children. Let's go! Love Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick and have the desire and means to make a one-time donation in support of the show? Donate via PayPal or leave a tip via Ko-Fi, with my grateful thanks.

The 71st episode of Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick turns the focus to staying healthy and sane as we build our creative writing life. Listen as I describe my own struggles with comparison, validation, and executing on what I know works. You'll hear plenty you can apply to your own creative practice. This episode was recorded on February 14th, 2023. Links and Topics Mentioned in This Episode My day job? I'm a creative services provider helping authors, podcasters and other creators. How can I help you? You can now name your own price (at least a buck, and an upper limit determined by your generosity and means) on all of my e-books when you purchase them directly from me. Check out what's available. Why'd I move to a "name your own price" model? Listen to Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick 070 for the details. No more need to visit that big online retailer to "Look Inside the Book" when it comes to my fiction and nonfiction! Visit any of the dedicated pages for my books and click the "Read a Sample" link for a taste... and then pay what you want for the e-book! Since this is a car cast, I used my lavalier mic, which I recommend. My mother comes up in this episode. To understand her influence on my creative life -- and maybe yours, too -- you'll want to read this tribute. Are you familiar with the principles of stoicism? How about grit? That scene from You've Got Mail I mention... I'll be at the 2023 SFWA Nebula Conference this year. How about you? Big thanks to my Multiversalists patron community, including Amelia Bowen, Ted Leonhardt, Chuck Anderson, and J. C. Hutchins! The Multiversalists patron member community receives the uncut, unedited version of every episode. Want in on that? Become a patron for at least $5.00 per month (cancel any time) and get a bunch of other perks and special access, too. Every month the member community has at least twenty members, I will donate 10% of net patron revenue to 826 National in support of literacy and creative writing advocacy for children. Let's go! Love Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick and have the desire and means to make a one-time donation in support of the show? Donate via PayPal or leave a tip via Ko-Fi, with my grateful thanks.

Episode 070 of Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick includes a pretty big announcement: You can now name your own price (minimum $1.00 USD) for all of my e-books when you purchase directly from me. Listen to learn how I did it, what pieces remain to be put in place to make the change as effective as possible, and most importantly, why I've decided to adopt a pay-what-you-want pricing model for my commercially available creative endeavor. This episode was recorded on February 7th, 2023. Links and Topics Mentioned in This Episode My day job? I'm a creative services provider helping authors, podcasters and other creators. How can I help you? As mentioned above, you can name your own price (at least a buck, and an upper limit determined by your generosity and means) on all of my e-books when you purchase them from me through this website. Check out what's available. I've been talking about my focus on building a community of readers and writers for some time, now. Did you know audiobooks are available for many of my works of fiction? Did you know you can save money when you buy direct from me and bundle your purchase with an e-book? My audiobooks include: Light of the Outsider "The Perfumed Air at Kwaanantag Bay" "The World Revolves Around You" Four Stories "Reggie vs Kaiju Storm Chimera Wolf" "Cloak" I offer a free weekly fiction serial, Hazy Days and Cloudy Nights: "How It All Got Started" via e-mail to anyone who become a member of my free mailing list community. My direct e-book and audiobook sales are handled by Gumroad, a secure digital product delivery service. My mailing list service provider is ConvertKit, a company founded by a writer to specifically help other writers and creators build communities. I use Mindomo for mind-mapping and brainstorming. Big thanks to my Multiversalists patron community, including Amelia Bowen, Ted Leonhardt, Chuck Anderson, and J. C. Hutchins! The Multiversalists patron member community receives the uncut, unedited version of every episode. Want in on that? Become a patron for at least $5.00 per month (cancel any time) and get a bunch of other perks and special access, too. Every month the member community has at least twenty members, I will donate 10% of net patron revenue to 826 National in support of literacy and creative writing advocacy for children. Let's go! Love Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick and have the desire and means to make a one-time donation in support of the show? Donate via PayPal or leave a tip via Ko-Fi, with my grateful thanks.

In episode 069 of Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick: A big announcement about a new feature coming to the podcast, plus a detailed overview of how I go about creating realistic and meaningful fictional characters. Authors and writers will find something of value there (or at least get some validation!) and consumers of fiction will enjoy a behind-the-scenes peek at the creative writing process. This episode was recorded on January 30th, 2023. Links and Topics Mentioned in This Episode My day job? I'm a creative services provider helping authors, podcasters and other creators. How can I help you? Since the last episode, Rhiannon Held, Anthony Eichenlaub, Krista Walsh, Jeffery E. Doherty, Celia Lake, and Debra Parmley have joined P. A. Cornell, Joyce Reynolds-Ward and Monica Cross in recording interviews for future episodes of Sonitotum. These were great conversations I can't wait to share with you... meanwhile, check out their works via the links on their names! Are you a writer or author interested in being a guest? Inquire! I love, love, love Godzilla movies, but I'll be the very first to admit they are mostly not character-driven works of narrative fiction. And that's okay for them... but I believe as authors we should strive for more. One of the best examples in my own work of a character's internal conflict mirroring the conflict of the plot is my short story "Reggie vs. Kaiju Storm Chimera Wolf." In discussing character development, I talk about the main character of Shadow of the Outsider, the follow up to my novel Light of the Outsider and the follow-up novelette "The Perfumed Air at Kwaanantag Bay." Big thanks to my Multiversalists patron community, including Amelia Bowen, Ted Leonhardt, Chuck Anderson, and J. C. Hutchins! The Multiversalists patron member community receives the uncut, unedited version of every episode. Want in on that? Become a patron for at least $5.00 per month (cancel any time) and get a bunch of other perks and special access, too. Every month the member community has at least twenty members, I will donate 10% of net patron revenue to 826 National in support of literacy and creative writing advocacy for children. Let's go! Love Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick and have the desire and means to make a one-time donation in support of the show? Donate via PayPal or leave a tip via Ko-Fi, with my grateful thanks.

Episode 068 of Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick is a big one, kids! Listen to hear about interviews with authors I've recorded for future episodes, my (unresolved when recorded; resolved by the time you read this) issues with my podcast media files host, and take in my advice (based on recent experiences) on how to maintain perspective when it comes to all the things that might trouble you in your creative writing life. Also! Tons of listener feedback! This episode was recorded on January 21st, 2023. Links and Topics Mentioned in This Episode As my cold maintains less and less of a hold over me in the past week, I've had to prioritize my day job as a creative services provider helping authors, podcasters and other creators. While I didn't get anything new done on my free fiction serial Hazy Days and Cloudy Nights: "How It All Got Started," you can still get in on what's already done and read over a year and a half's worth of fiction for free! Similarly, sick-brain kept me from work on my next novel, Shadow of the Outsider, but you can still read the first two works in the Shaper's World storyworld, the novel Light of the Outsider and the follow-up novelette "The Perfumed Air at Kwaanantag Bay." Get 'em! As of this recording, I had the pleasure of interviewing authors P. A. Cornell, Joyce Reynolds-Ward, and Monica Cross for future episodes of Sonitotum. These were great conversations I can't wait to share with you... meanwhile, check out their works via the links on their names! Are you a writer or author interested in being a guest? Inquire! Big thanks to my Multiversalists patron community, including Amelia Bowen, Ted Leonhardt, Chuck Anderson, and J. C. Hutchins! The Multiversalists patron member community receives the uncut, unedited version of every episode. Want in on that? Become a patron for at least $5.00 per month (cancel any time) and get a bunch of other perks and special access, too. Every month the member community has at least twenty members, I will donate 10% of net patron revenue to 826 National in support of literacy and creative writing advocacy for children. Let's go! When we hit thirty members, I'll start releasing the interviews with authors and other creators I'm recording right now! C'mon! The one and only official RSS feed for subscribing to Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick wherever you get your podcasts is https://www.mattselznick.com/feed/podcast/sonitotum/. I've migrated my podcast media files to Amazon Lightsail and I'm using the venerable and reliable Podtrac for podcast analytics, starting with this episode. Have you heard of Spoons Theory by Christine Miserandino? The Sonitotum episode on gratitude I mention. "Don't let the bastards grind you down." Multiversalist member patron Amy Bowen was kind enough to offer a bunch of listener feedback for several past episodes. Be sure to check out Amy's site and her podcasts! Love Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick and would like to make a one-time donation in support of the show? Donate via PayPal or leave a tip via Ko-Fi, with my grateful thanks.

In episode 067 of Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick, the focus is on finding success. Listen as I fight valiantly through a head cold (and around a slightly illness-addled brain) to share what I've learned about the value (or not) of paying close and constant attention to the sales figures, analytics, and other statistics associated with a creative writing life. How important is obsessing over numbers when it comes to finding success? Listen to find out! This episode was recorded on January 14th, 2023. Links and Topics Mentioned in This Episode I'm going to chalk it up to cold medicine's undeniable effect: I neglected to thank my member community in the episode. I'm a doofus. With a runny nose. SO: Big thanks to my Multiversalists patron community, including Amelia Bowen, Ted Leonhardt, Chuck Anderson, and J. C. Hutchins! Join them for five dollars a month for lots of exclusive content and access! One of the reasons I got sick is because I was working waaaaay too hard in the previous week in my capacity as a creative services provider helping authors, podcasters and other creators. I've plotted out the next several installments of my free fiction serial, Hazy Days and Cloudy Nights: "How It All Got Started" for my mailing list and for my Multiversalists. Learn more about how you can read over a year and a half's worth of fiction! As soon as the Multiversalists member community is thirty patrons strong, every other episode of Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick will feature an interview with a writer or other creator. These "evergreen" conversations will emphasize the what the creator makes, how they find success and how they define it, and their methods for staying healthy and sane in the process. I've begun booking conversations, and by the time the next Sonitotum is released, I'll have recorded four! Are you a writer or author interested in being a guest? Inquire! The booking service I use is the excellent BookLikeABoss. Endorsed and recommended! I mentioned a book sales tracking service I used to use, but is not quite ready for prime time. It's ScribeCount. The podcast file hosting service I've been using, and am in the process of moving away from, is Zencast.fm. Formerly endorsed and recommended, but for the reasons I discuss in the episode, I no longer recommend this service. I'll be migrating the podcast media files to Amazon Lightsail and using the venerable and reliable Podtrac for podcast analytics, probably by the next episode. I mention a snippet of dialogue I thought was from Raymond Chandler, but I can't find it anywhere. It's something like, "You carry a flask. Do you drink a lot?" "I don't drink, but I like knowing it's there."  Can anyone identify that?? The Multiversalists patron member community receives the uncut, unedited version of every episode. Want in on that? Become a patron for at least $5.00 per month (cancel any time) and get a bunch of other perks and special access, too. Every month the member community has at least twenty members, I will donate 10% of net patron revenue to 826 National in support of literacy and creative writing advocacy for children. Let's go! When we hit thirty members, I'll start releasing the interviews with authors and other creators I'm recording right now! C'mon! Love Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick and would like to make a one-time donation in support of the show? Donate via PayPal or leave a tip via Ko-Fi, with my grateful thanks.

Welcome up, listeners! In this 66th episode of Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick, I discuss the potential impact of artificial intelligence on creative endeavors. In particular, we look at ChatGPT and Stable Diffusion, especially as the former applies to and affects creative writers. Should writers fear artificial intelligence? Listen to find out! This episode was recorded on January 7th, 2023. Links and Topics Mentioned in This Episode Words were added to my patron-exclusive wiki and to my work in progress novel, Shadow of the Outsider, the follow-up to Light of the Outsider and "The Perfumed Air at Kwaanantag Bay." In talking about the "big picture" article I wrote for the wiki, I mention early influences Michael Moorcock, Stephen King, Marvel Comics, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Robert Heinlein, H. P. Lovecraft, Ursula K. LeGuin, and Julian May. Big thanks to my Multiversalists patron community, including Amelia Bowen, Ted Leonhardt, Chuck Anderson, and J. C. Hutchins! Join them for five dollars a month for lots of exclusive content and access! As soon as the Multiversalists member community is thirty patrons strong, every other episode of Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick will feature an interview with a writer or other creator. These "evergreen" conversations will emphasize the what the creator makes, how they find success and how they define it, and their methods for staying healthy and sane in the process. In the days between recording this episode and releasing it to the world, I've already received a dozen inquiries from authors! Be like them, creators! Stable Diffusion is text-to-image artificial intelligence you can install on your own computer. ChatGPT is an artificial intelligence chatbot that some see as a threat to the careers and creative expression of authors and writers. I use "the benefits of warm milk before bed" as an example of an article topic one might ask ChatGPT to expand upon. Here's a screen shot of what it actually came up with. Note that every one of the citations are entirely fictional. Here is the Lester Dent pulp fiction short story formula. I mentioned the Sonitotum episode in which I reveal how to fix Amazon.com. Ben Moran's art was banned from a Reddit channel after being misidentified as "AI art." Seth Godin has his take on AI art. Not so sure we're sympatico this time. Apple now accepts AI voices for audiobook narration. BOOOOOOOOOO. I created these images using Stable Diffusion on my computer. The "uncanny valley." What's a player piano? The Multiversalists patron member community receives the uncut, unedited version of every episode. Want in on that? Become a patron for at least $5.00 per month (cancel any time) and get a bunch of other perks and special access, too. Every month the member community has at least twenty members, I will donate 10% of net patron revenue to 826 National in support of literacy and creative writing advocacy for children. Let's go! When we hit thirty members, I'll start releasing the interviews with authors and other creators I'm recording right now! C'mon! Love Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick and would like to make a one-time donation in support of the show? Donate via PayPal or leave a tip via Ko-Fi, with my grateful thanks.

Happy new year, Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick listener community! In this 65th episode, I have a few announcements regarding what you can expect in 2023 from this podcast about making stuff (mostly writing), finding success as we each define it for  ourselves, and staying healthy and sane in the process. This episode was recorded on December 30th, 2022. Links and Topics Mentioned in This Episode The end of 2022 was (happily) crowded with wrapping up various projects for writer and podcasting clients of my creative services business. Perhaps I can help you in 2023! I offer a free ongoing fiction serial set in my Sovereign Era storyworld (Brave Men Run, Pilgrimage, The World Revolves Around You and other works). I added one more installment before 2022 came to a close. You can subscribe for free to Hazy Days and Cloudy Nights: "How It All Got Started" and receive new installments every week, delivered directly to your inbox! Get in on a year and a half (and counting) of free fiction, starting from the beginning, when you susbcribe. As soon as the Multiversalists member community is thirty patrons strong, every other episode of Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick will feature an interview with a writer or other creator. These "evergreen" conversations will emphasize the what the creator makes, how they find success and how they define it, and their methods for staying healthy and sane in the process. If you're a creator interested recording an interview, please reach out to me (email link)! The Multiversalists patron member community receives the uncut, unedited version of every episode. Want in on that? Become a patron for at least $5.00 per month (cancel any time) and get a bunch of other perks and special access, too. Every month the member community has at least twenty members, I will donate 10% of net patron revenue to 826 National in support of literacy and creative writing advocacy for children. Let's go! Oh, and speaking of patronage: This episode was made possible in part by the patronage of listeners like you, including Amelia Bowen, Ted Leonhardt, Chuck Anderson, and J. C. Hutchins! Want to support the show and be listed in the credits, plus get lots of other goodies, perks, and exclusive access? Become a patron with a $5 monthly pledge! Love Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick and would like to make a one-time donation in support of the show? Donate via PayPal or leave a tip via Ko-Fi, with my grateful thanks.

A quick episode to close out 2022 with some thoughts and thanks. The next episode of Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick will be on January 3, 2023! Also: Announcing a sale on my e-book through the end of the year: All of my short stories are FREE and all my other novels, novelettes, collections, and non-fiction works are 50% off!  Only at Smashwords.com, and ONLY until the end of 2022. Go get some stuff to read! Links and Topics Mentioned in This Episode Thanks to my podcast listeners in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, and Russia! You folks are awesome. I'll see you next year. The patron community receives the uncut, unedited version of every episode. For this episode, they're privy to almost twenty four minutes of more content! Want in on that? Become a patron for at least $5.00 per month (cancel any time) and get a bunch of other perks and special access, too. Around thirty people listen to each new episode of this show during the first week it's released. Every month the member community has at least twenty members, I will donate 10% of net patron revenue to 826 National in support of literacy and creative writing advocacy for children. Let's go! Oh, and speaking of patronage: This episode was made possible in part by the patronage of listeners like you, including Amelia Bowen, Ted Leonhardt, Chuck Anderson, and J. C. Hutchins! Want to support the show and be listed in the credits, plus get lots of other goodies, perks, and exclusive access? Become a patron with a $5 monthly pledge! Love Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick and would like to make a one-time donation in support of the show? Donate via PayPal or leave a tip via Ko-Fi, with my grateful thanks.

It's time for episode 063 of Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick, in which I explore the fact that great artistic expression is not necessary for commercial / financial success in self publishing. What does that mean for those of us who want our fiction to add meaningfully to the culture? Would it be better to write fast, simplistic, books to have a better chance at subsidizing high art? What the heck is high art, anyway, and who am I to decide..? Also, an update on my creative endeavors, including new manuscript words and a new market for all of my published works. Links and Topics Mentioned in This Episode Scenes are being written and a schedule is shaping up for my work in progress Shadow of the Outsider, the follow-up to my novel Light of the Outsider and the novelette "The Perfumed Air at Kwaanantag Bay." Hey, would you like a whole episode on the subject of story architecture, with an emphasis on the structure, terms, strategies, and tactics I employ writing fiction? Leave a comment! All of my books are now available in the Smashwords e-book store! Go get 'em. This episode was inspired, in part, by a quote from the documentary filmmaker Brett Morgan, as heard in his interview on WTF with Marc Maron episode 1365:  "If you've seen it before, why in the world are you doing that?" This episode was inspired, in another part, by a sub-thread in the Wide for the Win Facebook group in which I participated. The patron community receives the uncut, unedited version of every episode. For this episode, they're privy to almost 30% more content! Want in on that? Become a patron for at least $5.00 per month (cancel any time) and get a bunch of other perks and special access, too. Around thirty people listen to each new episode of this show during the first week it's released. Every month the member community has at least twenty members, I will donate 10% of net patron revenue to 826 National in support of literacy and creative writing advocacy for children. Let's go! Oh, and speaking of patronage: This episode was made possible in part by the patronage of listeners like you, including Ted Leonhardt, Chuck Anderson, and J. C. Hutchins! Want to support the show and be listed in the credits, plus get lots of other goodies, perks, and exclusive access? Become a patron with a $5 monthly pledge! Love Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick and would like to make a one-time donation in support of the show? Donate via PayPal or leave a tip via Ko-Fi, with my grateful thanks.

Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick episode 062 revisits my infrequent rant against genres and nested categories, especially on Amazon.com -- but this time, I present a way to fix it -- a way that improves discovery of authors and brings readers more of what they'll love. Also, an update on my creative endeavors, observing eleven years since I had a regular full-time job for someone else, and new patron-only additions to my website! Links and Topics Mentioned in This Episode Hazy Days and Cloudy Nights: "How It All Got Started" is my fiction serial set in the 1980s and delivered weekly, for free, to subscribers. Get in on it and start at the beginning! Or, read every installment to date when you join the member community! My wiki is the storehouse of all my notes and "behind the curtain" information regarding my fiction, non-fiction, worldbuilding, songs, poetry... all of it, and I'm adding to it all the time. Access is another perk of community membership! Speaking of: the patron community receives the uncut, unedited version of every episode. For this episode, they're privy to almost nine minutes (another 20%!) of extra content! Want in on that? Become a patron for at least $5.00 per month (cancel any time) and get a bunch of other perks and special access, too. Around thirty people listen to each new episode of this show during the first week it's released. Every month the member community has at least twenty members, I will donate 10% of net patron revenue to 826 National in support of literacy and creative writing advocacy for children. Let's go! Oh, and speaking of patronage: This episode was made possible in part by the patronage of listeners like you, including Ted Leonhardt and Chuck Anderson! Want to support the show and be listed in the credits, plus get lots of other goodies, perks, and exclusive access? Become a patron with a $5 monthly pledge! I'm renewing my interest in computer graphics, environment design, and related stuff. The best free tools are Blender and Unreal Engine. The course I'm taking for Blender is Complete Blender Creator 3.2: Learn 3D Modelling for Beginners. The Unreal Engine course I'll be dipping into later this month is Unreal Masterclass.  The instructor, Unreal Sensei, has a ton of free YouTube resources and tutorials, too. My Shaper's World storyworld, which I dream of creating in an immersive 3D environment, so far includes the novel Light of the Outsider and the novelette "The Perfumed Air at Kwaanantag Bay." Not just science fiction: Ray Bradbury's period mysteries, Death is a Lonely Business, A Graveyard for Lunatics, and Let's All Kill Constance, are simply delightful. How many readers of The Martian Chronicles even know they exist? The works of Ursula K. Le Guin. Love Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick and would like to make a one-time donation in support of the show? Donate via PayPal or leave a tip via Ko-Fi, with my grateful thanks.

In this episode of Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick, I break down all the details of the newly revised, revamped, simplified, and improved member community supporting authors and other creators who are fans of the podcast and my creative endeavors. Listen to learn all about it, and how you can become a Multiversalist, too! Links and Topics Mentioned in This Episode Nearly everything I talk about in this episode is spelled out on the Member Community page. Click to get the whole story! I also mention the day job, which is helping authors, podcasters, and other creators bring their creative endeavors to fruition, to market, and to an audience. Can I help you? Hazy Days and Cloudy Nights: "How It All Got Started" is my fiction serial set in the 1980s and delivered weekly, for free, to subscribers. Get in on it and start at the beginning! Or, read every installment to date when you join the member community! Speaking of: the patron community receives the uncut, unedited version of every episode. For this episode, they're privy to almost thirteen minutes of extra content! Want in on that? Become a patron for at least $5.00 per month (cancel any time) and get a bunch of other perks and special access, too. Around thirty people listen to each new episode of this show during the first week it's released. Every month the member community has at least twenty members, I will donate 10% of net patron revenue to 826 National in support of literacy and creative writing advocacy for children. Let's go! Oh, and speaking of patronage: This episode was made possible in part by the patronage of listeners like you, including J. C.  Hutchins, Ted Leonhardt, and Chuck Anderson! Want to support the show and be listed in the credits, plus get lots of other goodies, perks, and exclusive access? Become a patron with a $5 monthly pledge! Love Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick and would like to make a one-time donation in support of the show? Donate via PayPal or leave a tip via Ko-Fi, with my grateful thanks.

Hosts: Jim, Jon & KentWe tackle the Superhero, Steampunk and Historical Fiction genres all at once by leaping into a world in which the Civil War is being fought not only with armies, but with strange technology and stranger heroes. Find it in the wiki here.Recommendations: Jon recommends World War Z by Max Brooks. Jim recommends Matthew Wayne Selznick's World Building series.00:00 Tomfoolery00:22 Mr. Rogers / HAL 900000:55 Introduction01:32 Recommendations / World War Z03:10 Matthew Wayne Selznick04:07 Deciding Genre04:38 DC / Marvel05:09 The New Gods05:16 Green Lantern / Superman / The Flash05:24 Thor / The Incredible Hulk / The Silver Surfer / X-Men06:10 Deciding Superhero Power Level & Geographic Scale07:15 Gambit (Remy LeBeau) / Rogue07:33 The Civil War08:34 Hat with Gears09:27 Confederate Ironclads / Submarines10:34 Washington, D.C. / Richmond, VA11:20 Creating Characters12:44 Kentucky Fried Chicken / Colonel Sanders13:27 Snow Crash13:45 Captain America / Golden Age of Comics14:13 Professor X15:23 Dime Novel15:46 Battle Hymn of the Republic17:16 Batman17:42 D&D / Cavalier / The Cavalier18:25 Colt Dragoon18:55 Sergeant Major20:08 Benjamin Franklin20:19 Q / Futurama21:28 Fu Manchu22:20 Abraham Lincoln / Pinkerton Detective Agency22:41 Allan Pinkerton / Secret Service23:22 Locations23:52 Georgetown, SC24:09 Tuskegee Airmen24:28 Deadlands 31:13 S.H.I.E.L.D.32:28 Tuskegee, AL34:09 Percy Jackson / Ares34:54 Poseidon35:16 Leonidas / Menelaus35:46 Odysseus36:08 Ulysses S. Grant36:20 Captain Nemo38:44 Geomancy39:58 Acadians42:11 Joan of Arc43:30 Catching Up on Names45:05 Gone With the Wind / Scarlett O'Hara / Vivien Leigh46:15 Geomancers46:44 Butte47:32 Ursa Major49:18 Highlander50:18 Conclusion & Outro DOWNLOAD EPISODE 5 - THE CIVIL ENGAGEMENT