Writing, Humor, and Teaching with Patrick MacPhee

Mark interviews Patrick MacPhee, teacher and Writers of the Future award-winning author about his love of reading, writing, and helping to inspire students. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode's sponsor: This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report. In the interview, Mark and Patrick talk about: Patrick's experience reading Fellowship of the Rings when he was rather young and how it impacted him in a profound way The impact on the mind and imagination when reading something really slowly How when you're a kid you play in a specific way when experiencing new things Seeing speculative fiction as having that additional special spice that enhances a regular dish The five-book epic fantasy series that Patrick mapped out years ago (and which he recently finished writing book one of) Being influenced and inspired by Neal Stephenson's writing Patrick's Writers of the Future Award-winning story "Thirty Minutes or it's a Paradox" How the inspiration for this short story came from something Patrick was intimately aware of as a teacher Some of the previous stories that Patrick has had published in semi-pro magazines How Patrick learned about Writers of the Future and some of his submission history with the contest Getting the call from Joni about Patrick's finalist position in the contest Patrick's thoughts about the experience being in Hollywood and seeing the rendition of his story illustrated by Cam Collins How Patrick got into teaching and an important thing that he learned in that vocation - What Patrick is going to be doing next Advice for other writers And more... After the interview Mark reflects on a few of the things he discussed with Patrick.   Links of Interest: Patrick MacPhee Website Free Short Stories by Patrick Writers of the Future Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   In addition to being a writer, Patrick MacPhee considers himself very luck to spend the past twenty years helping young people become better versions of themselves in his role as a teacher. He has learned that almost every part of the curriculum has room for a little humor — sometimes a lot of humor. We talk about that as well as his writing, and what inspired him to write the Writers of the Future Award-Winning story “Thirty Minutes or It’s a Paradox.”    The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast (“Laser Groove”) was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0