Episode 111—The Empowering and Exciting Nature of Film with Emer Reynolds

Emer Reynolds wrote and directed “The Farthest,” the documentary about the Voyager Mission.

By Brendan O’Meara (@BrendanOMeara or @CNFPod)

“You’re really finding the film in editing the documentary.” —Emer Reynolds (@emerpreynolds on Twitter). 

Ever catch yourself staring at the sky at night and being categorically floored, hair blown back by the scope of it all?

This happens to me almost nightly and there’s two distinct approaches you can take and I’ve taken both of them, believe you me.

Continue reading “Episode 111—The Empowering and Exciting Nature of Film with Emer Reynolds”

Episode 103—Persistent, Constant, Careful Work with Dennis Overbye

Dennis Overbye, whose graceful writing about the cosmos, made me want to reach out to him for episode 103.

By Brendan O’Meara

Tweetables by Dennis Overbye (@overbye):

“What interests me are questions that don’t have answers.”

“I have to remember I’m there for the reader, not for me.”

We’re back in the saddle again.

I took a week off from producing a show, much to the chagrin of the wife, who thought it was a bad move to miss a week, but I had two hard deadlines, and our dog is in rough shape these days, so it’s incredibly hard to focus. #excuses

On top of that, I got back some feedback on this book I’ve been writing since 2009 and it’s the kind of feedback that is incredibly valuable, smart, incisive, but it has made me realize just how shitty I am at this. I’m paying a significant amount of our GDP to become a better writer and editor myself. It’s a continuing ed thing as much as trying to get my stupid book published. #itsnotyouitsthework

Okay, so I’m probably less shitty than I was 10 years ago, but I’m still wicked shitty. 10 years from now, I’ll be less shitty than I am now and all the people I’ve disappointed will likely be dead, so there’s that.

So what is this show? It’s the Creative Nonfiction Podcast, the show where I speak to artists about telling true stories. Today’s guest for episode 103 is Dennis Overbye, @overbye on Twitter, a science writer for the New York Times. He’s a Pulitzer Prize-finalist and author of two books: Lonely Hearts of the Cosmos: The Story of the Scientific Quest for the Secret of the Universe and Einstein in Love: A Scientific Romance.

I’d love it you subscribed to the show wherever you get your podcasts and share episodes across your social streams with people you think might get some value from the interview. You are the social network.

Another CNFPod in the can. Got any questions or concerns, by all means ping me on Twitter @BrendanOMeara or @CNFPod. I’m @BrendanOMeara on Instagram and @CNFPodcast on Facebook. I do all kinds of wacky cross promotional things, so if you’re into that, pick a network and follow me.

Most important is if you want my monthly reading list newsletter, head over to BrendanOMeara.com and sign up for it. Once a month. No Spam. Can’t beat it.

If you’re feeling especially kind, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes as that helps with visibility and validates this entire operation so we can reach as many people as possible.

Promotional support is provided by Hippocampus Magazine. Its 2018 Remember in November Contest for Creative Nonfiction is open for submissions until July 15th! This annual contest has a grand prize of $1,000 and publication for all finalists. That’s awesome. Visit hippocampusmagazine.com for details. Hippocampus Magazine: Memorable Creative Nonfiction.