In this episode of INL Insights, host Blake discusses the recent hiatus from podcasting and the challenges faced in balancing work, life, and creative pursuits. He delves into the complexities of the book buying, selling, creating, and distributing processes, specifically highlighting the logistical hurdles with book distribution partners like Ingram. Blake shares personal stories about maintaining an online bookstore, unexpected inventory issues, and the substantial effort required to manage...
Blake explores two stories that reveal where literature stands in 2025: industry leaders at the U.S. Book Show choosing "human neighborhoods" over algorithmic efficiency, and the announcement of the Ursula K. Le Guin Prize shortlist celebrating books that imagine genuine alternatives to how we live now. While AI makes content creation cheaper, it also makes that content worthless—but human creativity becomes more precious than ever. This episode examines why authentic community building trump...
Blake dives into the explosive revelation that tech giants like Meta have been training AI models on millions of pirated books from shadow libraries like LibGen—all without author consent or compensation. From Ta-Nehisi Coates to Sarah Silverman, major authors are fighting back with lawsuits. But this isn't just about copyright law; it's about the fundamental nature of human creativity and what we lose when machines try to replicate the irreplaceable human process of storytelling. To learn mo...
In this episode of Inkwell Insights, host Blake Reichenbach explores how internet writing practices have evolved and impacted the craft of writing itself. Key Takeaways for Writers: Recognizing Manipulation in Digital Marketing: The episode begins by exposing the "test email" clickbait strategy, serving as a reminder for writers to maintain authenticity rather than resorting to manipulative tactics for audience engagement. Understanding the Evolution of Digital Writing: Tracing the journey f...
Cecilia (“CeCe”) Lyra is a literary agent at P.S. Literary Agency representing adult fiction and non-fiction. She is drawn to books with strong hooks and smooth writing, told with originality, nuance, and authenticity. A long-term strategic thinker, CeCe prioritizes the creative reach and sustainable longevity of her authors’ careers, and she is especially looking for clients with whom she can build fruitful, lasting relationships. Both a storyteller and a storyseller, CeCe believes that sto...
In this episode, Blake discusses some exciting upcoming podcast guests, a foray into a postmodern (in)famous classic, as well as his current fiction project and its most recent updates. Visit: www.charlottewood.com.au To learn more, visit: https://www.blakereichenbach.com/ Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters: https://missionmatters.com/author/blake-reichenbach/ To learn more, visit: https://www.blakereichenbach.com/ Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters: https://...
In this episode, Charlotte Wood delves into the inspirations behind her novel "Stone Yard Devotional," exploring themes of faith, nature, and personal upheaval. She discusses the challenges and revelations of writing a deeply personal story set in her Australian hometown during a time of global and personal crisis. Charlotte shares insights into her creative process, the influence of external events like wildfires and the pandemic, and the delicate balance between autobiography and fiction. C...
Rachel Kitch is a mixed-race Thai American speculative horror author with a love of writing unsettling, creepy books that still have a spark of light. Rachel has her Masters in Design from the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelors from West Virginia University. As a generation 1.5 immigrant, Rachel loves to blend her heritage and incorporate Thai and Appalachian folklore into her projects. When not writing, she can be found cuddling with her bulldog-chihuahua mix, Danny, or reading books...
Join host Blake Reichenbach in this thought-provoking episode of the Inkwell Insights podcast, where he delves into the evolving landscape of media literacy and its impact on writers and readers in the digital age. Departing from his usual guest interviews, Blake takes center stage to discuss the significant themes from his recent blog post titled "If It Enrages, It Engages: Escape the Digital Wasteland Before Your Brain Rots." In this episode, Blake explores how social media platforms have ...
Lara Tupper is the author of three books: Amphibians, a short story collection (Leapfrog Global Fiction Award winner; Leapfrog Press, 2021), Off Island, a fictional re-imagining of Paul Gauguin's travels (finalist, Housatonic Book Award; Encircle, 2020) and A Thousand and One Nights (Harcourt and Untreed Reads, 2015), an autobiographical novel about singers at sea. She co-wrote the screenplay adaptation for A Thousand and One Nights with filmmaker Greg Eismin. Her forthcoming book, At the Cen...
Dr. V Boykin's recent book, "Fix Your Face and Watch Your Tone," is a product of her mission to rewrite the narrative for marginalized groups in the workplace through innovative and accessible programming, enlightening one unaware mind at a time. The book is a blend of life anecdotes and extensive research, through which Dr. V offers practical solutions for all of us striving for career success and personal fulfillment. Throughout the episode, listeners will get a sense of Dr. V's emboldening...
Writing may often be a solo endeavor, but Mikaella Clements and Onjuli Datta prove that writing duos can actually work. Real-life wives, Mikaella and Onjuli have created a writing routine for themselves that works, and have brilliant insights for listeners into what makes for effective collaboration and a productive writing dynamic. Mikaella Clements and Onjuli Datta are the co-authors of THE VIEW WAS EXHAUSTING, a Goop and Good Housekeeping book club pick and named "a perfect summer r...
Author Christina Lynch joins the Inkwell Insights podcast to discuss her new novel, "Pony Confidential," a one-of-a-kind mystery with heart and humor, and a hilariously grumpy pony must save the only human he’s ever loved after discovering she stands accused of a murder he knows she didn’t commit. Throughout the interview, we discuss how modern writers can incorporate and play with classic ideas, what it looks like to balance a writing routine with a full-time career, and the sources of insp...
NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) began in 1999 as a simple creative challenge: write 50,000 words in November. While it started with good intentions and offers some benefits—like building community among writers and providing structure for creative projects—the initiative has significant drawbacks, especially since becoming a formal nonprofit in 2006. This episode explores some of the major downsides that have come up since then. 1. The Challenge's Structure: - The 50,000-word...
In this episode, I explore the evolving landscape of AI tools and their role in the creativity and publishing. In particular, I discuss this article (https://www.thebookseller.com/comment/craft-and-creativity - needs to be in the show notes) and respond to the claims of a utopia-like future of unihibited creativity that the author seems to purport AI will enable us to create. Ultimately, I make the argument that AI has its use cases– such as in business, bulk data analysis, and could even be ...
In this episode of Inkling Insights, I dive into the Netflix series KAOS to explore valuable lessons for writers. Whether you're crafting novels, screenplays, or any form of narrative, you'll gain insights on: Worldbuilding without info-dumping: I break down how KAOS introduces its complex mythology-based world through character actions and perspectives, avoiding heavy-handed exposition.Character-driven storytelling: Learn how to keep your audience engaged by rooting every scene in your cha...
In this episode, Blake discusses the profound impact of storytelling with guest Lisa Cron, an expert in the science and function of narrative. Lisa, author of 'Wired for Story,' 'Story Genius,' and 'Story or Die,' elaborates on the biological underpinnings of story and its influence on human behavior. This conversation underscores the necessity for writers to deeply understand their characters' backstories and internal struggles to create compelling narratives. Lisa provides practical advice ...
In this video script, Blake Reichenbach continues his analysis of Lisa Cron's book 'Story Genius' by delving into part three, which focuses on integrating plot with protagonist development. Reichenbach discusses how Cron shifts from character backstory to present action, emphasizing the distinction between plot (sequence of events) and story (character's internal growth). Cron introduces a novel blueprinting system using scene cards to create a cause and effect structure, urging writers to cr...
In this episode of Inkling Insights, Blake Reichenbach explores key themes and methodologies from Lisa Cron's book, Story Genius. Blake discusses the evolutionary role of storytelling in human survival, debunks common writing myths, and offers practical exercises to craft compelling protagonists and meaningful narratives. This episode covers parts one and two of the book, providing insights on structuring your story, understanding character motivations, and the importance of cause and effect ...
In the inaugural episode of Inkwell Insights, host Blake Reichenbach introduces the podcast focused on books, storytelling, creativity, and curiosity. Blake explains the book club format of the show, shares his personal experiences with writing and creativity, and discusses the importance of integrating creativity into everyday life. He reflects on his background in product management and his efforts to reignite his passion for writing. Blake also invites listeners to join the Howdy Curiosity...