#027: Jonathan Janz – Knowing your value, cultivating positivity, and being authentic to yourself.

Activated Authors

English - March 20, 2020 00:01 - 1 hour - 71.3 MB - ★★★★★ - 2 ratings
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Previous Episode: #026: H.B. Lyne & Angeline Trevena – Navigating collaborations, running author events, and reviving a podcast.

Next Episode: #028: Jeffrey A. Carver – Over a decade of publishing changes, becoming your own publisher, and the power of teaching in your own fiction.

Jonathan Janz is the author of more than a dozen novels and numerous short stories. His work has been championed by authors such as Joe R. Lansdale, Jack Ketchum, and Brian Keene; he has also been lauded by Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, and School Library Journal.

His ghost story The Siren and the Specter was selected as a Goodreads Choice nominee for Best Horror. Additionally, his novel Children of the Dark was chosen by Booklist as a Top Ten Horror Book of the Year. Jonathan’s main interests are his wonderful wife and his three amazing children.

In this episode we go deep into:

What it’s like to be praised by horror sensation, Brian Keene.
What were the core mistakes that Brian Keene helped him through.
Knowing the value of your own work and shooting for the moon.
The value of mentorship.
How social media strengthens connections and widens the world.
Gravitating towards the people that raise you up, and distancing yourself from those who push you down.
Flipping the switch on positivity.
Jonathan’s entry into reading and what held him back for 14 years.
Types of reading, and the best ways to digest and analyze books and media.
How to cultivate self-definition and accept yourself for who you are
The importance of being transparent and honest, across all areas of your life.
What role does story play in Jonathan’s parenting style.
Why Chris Evans is a boss on and off camera.
How to best hone your craft and create a rich reading experience.
The importance of reading widely, outside of the cultural zeitgeist and giving time for more diverse voices.
What Jonathan’s writing process looks like.
Why does Jonathan write?

Jonathan answers questions from Patrons:

What is your top productivity tip or the "go-to" habit that keeps you on track?
How do you reward yourself when you've completed a project?

This week’s question:

How do you tackle negativity and self-doubt with your writing?

Find out more about Jonathan:

Jonathan.janz IG

Jonathan Janz Twit

Links from the show: