The Ryan Bethea Show

This is How Matthew Quirk Became a NYT Bestselling Author

Episode Summary

New York Times bestselling Author Matthew Quirk joins us by the campfire to talk about his writing process, how he found success, and his strategies for finishing that novel you just haven't gotten around to. Matthew Quirk is the New York Times bestselling author of The 500, The Directive, Dead Man Switch, Cold Barrel Zero, and The Night Agent. He spent five years at The Atlantic magazine reporting on crime, private military contractors, terrorism prosecutions, and international gangs before turning to fiction.

Episode Notes

1:20-1:50 - ocean babies; original jersey shore

 2:20-3:00 - family sailboat story

6:05-7:26 - talking about peers and gratefulness

9:55-10:21  write what you know

12:40-15:40 working at the Atlantic

30:00-32:10 how each writer is different when starting their books

36:00-36:39 reading what others write to get ideas

38:30-41:20  Matthew Quirk Actually Takes Classes on How To Escape

42:00-43:20  Smo're Story

00:48:00;15 - 43:40-48 spooky story

 35:58- 38:22  Reading other people's work will improve your own.  

 1:02:50-1:04:10 writing advice

1:14:20-1:14:50 the dance for publication

1:14:51-1:15:30 his experience in the dance that led to “the 500”

1:16:30-1:16:48 This is how much he loves writing. 

 1:19:40-1:20:15 Chipotle Was His First Meal After Success. 

1:21:40-1:23:21 The Second Book is Always The Toughest

 1:23:50-1:25:10 Does He Write in Silence Or Music?

1:33:15-1:34:00 You must turn off the internet to write. 

 1:34:20-1:36:39 meeting your writing heroes at conventions

 1:38:10-1:38:40 everyone goes through the ringer at some point

01:51:49;04 - 1:51:30-1:51:49 How you know when your spouse 

 1:52:10-1:53:00 His Ultimate Advice For Fighting With Your Spouse