The literary world is vast. As they flip through the pages of their favorite pieces, readers often find themselves wondering, “how was this work created?” What influences your favorite fictional stories? How does an author develop complex and realistic characters across the pages of a book? To give us a deep dive on how he writes, we welcome to the show Dustin Grinnell who shares how reality inspires him to write his best-selling books, to flesh out characters in his work, and to let curiosity be stronger than fear.

Dustin Grinnell is an award-winning Boston-based author who has ventured from short stories to sci-fi articles and novels. Dustin has also been published by many big media outlets like the Washington Post, Salon, VICE, and many more! 

What to listen for:

00:23 – Intro

04:31 – Chance Encounter: Meeting Dustin

12:55 - Working on Mustang Makeover, Personal Essays, and Other Essays

16:30 – Aha Moment with Empathy Academy

21:54 – Authority without Guidance: The Stanford Prison Experiment

23:29 – Reality Captured in Empathy Academy

27:01 – Fleshing Out Complex Characters

32:50 – “Let Curiosity Be Stronger Than Your Fear”

34:57 – External and Internal Factors Influencing Characters

40:29 – Manifesto of a Villain

41:02 – The Light, Dark, and Blind Spot of Oneself

50:47 – Authenticity, Self-Improvement, and Rejection

56:19 – The Myth of Talent

1:08:58 – Exposing Yourself to Triggers

1:11:47 – The Cautionary Tale of Losing Yourself in Your Craft

1:17:00 – Turning Pain to Art

1:18:25 – Dustin’s Message to the World

1:26:00 – Creating A Winning Pattern to Level Up

Mentioned Resources/Links:

• Dustin Grinnell | Website | Instagram
• Empathy Academy

I genuinely appreciate your time and support, whether it’s through it’s through listening, sharing, leaving an honest review, or donating. A special thanks to my partner in life, Jeannette, my fantastic editor, Phil, today’s guest, Dustin, and of course, YOU—the curious and thorough type that drives growth from an idea and dream into something massive that moves the world. Until next time!

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