The Uncorking a Story Podcast

Listen in as host Mike Carlon pops the cork on conversations with your favorite authors. Uncorking a Story takes you on a journey into the brilliant minds behind your favorite books. Discover the secrets, inspirations, and hidden narratives that bring these stories to life. Join us every week for new episodes filled with laughter, insights, and captivating conversations. Subscribe now and never miss a sip of inspiration!

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Recently Uncorked Stories

Let help uncork your memoir through a 12 week memoir mentorship program: https://mikecarlon.com/memoir-cohorts/ “I love having written more than I love writing. The process is work, but the result is joy.” — Rabbi Alon Ferency In this episode of Uncorking a Story, Mike sits down with Rabbi Alon Ferency to explore the intersection of spirituality and creativity. From the challenges of writing to the vulnerability inherent in art-making, Rabbi Ferency shares insights on mindfulness, moral imagination, and why editing might just be the most sacred part of the creative process. Whether you’re a writer, artist, or simply curious about the creative life, this conversation offers wisdom, humor, and a fresh perspective on finding meaning through art. Key Takeaways: 1. The paradox of writing: Rabbi Alon loves “having written” more than the act of writing itself—and that’s okay. 2. Flow state isn’t universal: For some, creativity feels like therapy; for others, it’s structured work rather than spontaneous inspiration. 3. Vulnerability is essential: Great art often requires exposing your scars, not your wounds, to create authentic connection. 4. Spirituality and creativity intersect: Ancient wisdom, like the Talmud’s “words from the heart enter the heart,” still informs modern art-making. 5. Editing is sacred: Ferency argues that editing—whether in writing, music, or visual art—is where true artistry emerges. 6. The artist’s sensitivity: Creative people often wrestle with heightened sensitivity, which can be both a gift and a challenge. 7.Coaching artists: Ferency’s mission is to help artists align their work with their deepest values, offering spiritual and psychological support. Connect with Rabbi Alon Ferency Website: https://www.eclecticcleric.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eclecticcleric/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EclecticCleric TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@eclecticcleric LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eclecticcleric/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWc0eC6TFEnA9I23nES3_tQ Connect with Mike Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Uncorkingastory Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uncorkingastory Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/ If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. #UncorkingAStory #RabbiAlonFerency #CreativityCoach #MindfulArt #WritingLife #ArtAndSpirituality #PodcastForWriters

Let help uncork your memoir through a 12 week memoir mentorship program: https://mikecarlon.com/memoir-cohorts/

“I love having written more than I love writing. The process is work, but the result is joy.” — Rabbi Alon Ferency

In this episode of Uncorking a Story, Mike sits down with Rabbi Alon Ferency to explore the intersection of spirituality and creativity. From the challenges of writing to the vulnerability inherent in art-making, Rabbi Ferency shares insights on mindfulness, moral imagination, and why editing might just be the most sacred part of the creative process. Whether you’re a writer, artist, or simply curious about the creative life, this conversation offers wisdom, humor, and a fresh perspective on finding meaning through art.

Key Takeaways:
1. The paradox of writing: Rabbi Alon loves “having written” more than the act of writing itself—and that’s okay.
2. Flow state isn’t universal: For some, creativity feels like therapy; for others, it’s structured work rather than spontaneous inspiration.
3. Vulnerability is essential: Great art often requires exposing your scars, not your wounds, to create authentic connection.
4. Spirituality and creativity intersect: Ancient wisdom, like the Talmud’s “words from the heart enter the heart,” still informs modern art-making.
5. Editing is sacred: Ferency argues that editing—whether in writing, music, or visual art—is where true artistry emerges.
6. The artist’s sensitivity: Creative people often wrestle with heightened sensitivity, which can be both a gift and a challenge.
7.Coaching artists: Ferency’s mission is to help artists align their work with their deepest values, offering spiritual and psychological support.

Connect with Rabbi Alon Ferency
Website: https://www.eclecticcleric.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eclecticcleric/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EclecticCleric
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@eclecticcleric
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eclecticcleric/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWc0eC6TFEnA9I23nES3_tQ

Connect with Mike
Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Uncorkingastory
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uncorkingastory
Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/

If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
#UncorkingAStory #RabbiAlonFerency #CreativityCoach #MindfulArt #WritingLife #ArtAndSpirituality #PodcastForWriters

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YouTube Video UExNamVTdmRxWkg4eWFSX0pYSFhRaUY0amxOUGhaaWJUQy4wODYyNTAzNjE1Qzk4MUQ2

Creativity, Vulnerability, and Flow: A Conversation with Rabbi Alon Ferency

The Uncorking a Story Podcast 7 hours ago

Let help uncork your memoir through a 12 week memoir mentorship program: https://mikecarlon.com/memoir-cohorts/ "The Book of Reservations is about a woman navigating a dubious gift in a world that doesn’t always believe in it." — Laura Buchwald Author Laura Buchwald returns to discuss her latest novel, The Book of Reservations, the second installment in her Ghost Table trilogy. Laura shares how a haunted Manhattan restaurant inspired her series, what it’s like to write under contract deadlines, and why humor is essential—even when tackling heavy themes like grief and the aftermath of 9/11. If you love stories about creativity, resilience, and the supernatural, this conversation is for you. Key Themes: 1. The origin of the Ghost Table trilogy — How a real-life restaurant and whispers of paranormal activity sparked Laura’s imagination. 2. From standalone to trilogy — The challenges of expanding a single novel into a multi-book series. 3. Writing under pressure — Why Laura found publisher-imposed deadlines motivating rather than stressful. 4. Balancing grief and humor — How levity helps navigate heavy themes without diminishing their impact. 5. Research through experience — Laura’s approach to visiting real locations to bring authenticity to her settings. 6. The role of belief and skepticism — Laura’s personal experiences with mediums and how they influenced her storytelling. 7. Looking ahead — A sneak peek into book three and how early reader feedback is shaping its tone. Buy The Book of Reservations Amazon: https://amzn.to/4bbtcze Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9798892990776 Connect with Laura Website: https://laurabuchwald.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurabuchwaldauthor/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095294176611 Connect with Mike Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Uncorkingastory Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. #LauraBuchwald #TheBookOfReservations #GhostTableTrilogy #AuthorInterview #WritingLife #ParanormalFiction #UncorkingAStory #BookTok #Bookstagram

Let help uncork your memoir through a 12 week memoir mentorship program: https://mikecarlon.com/memoir-cohorts/

"The Book of Reservations is about a woman navigating a dubious gift in a world that doesn’t always believe in it." — Laura Buchwald

Author Laura Buchwald returns to discuss her latest novel, The Book of Reservations, the second installment in her Ghost Table trilogy. Laura shares how a haunted Manhattan restaurant inspired her series, what it’s like to write under contract deadlines, and why humor is essential—even when tackling heavy themes like grief and the aftermath of 9/11. If you love stories about creativity, resilience, and the supernatural, this conversation is for you.

Key Themes:
1. The origin of the Ghost Table trilogy — How a real-life restaurant and whispers of paranormal activity sparked Laura’s imagination.
2. From standalone to trilogy — The challenges of expanding a single novel into a multi-book series.
3. Writing under pressure — Why Laura found publisher-imposed deadlines motivating rather than stressful.
4. Balancing grief and humor — How levity helps navigate heavy themes without diminishing their impact.
5. Research through experience — Laura’s approach to visiting real locations to bring authenticity to her settings.
6. The role of belief and skepticism — Laura’s personal experiences with mediums and how they influenced her storytelling.
7. Looking ahead — A sneak peek into book three and how early reader feedback is shaping its tone.


Buy The Book of Reservations
Amazon: https://amzn.to/4bbtcze
Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9798892990776

Connect with Laura
Website: https://laurabuchwald.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurabuchwaldauthor/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095294176611

Connect with Mike
Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Uncorkingastory
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory

If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

#LauraBuchwald #TheBookOfReservations #GhostTableTrilogy #AuthorInterview #WritingLife #ParanormalFiction #UncorkingAStory #BookTok #Bookstagram

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YouTube Video UExNamVTdmRxWkg4eWFSX0pYSFhRaUY0amxOUGhaaWJUQy4xNEMzREYwQzc3REUwNDY0

Turning Inspiration into a Trilogy, with Laura Buchwald

The Uncorking a Story Podcast January 6, 2026 6:01 am

Let help uncork your memoir through a 12 week memoir mentorship program: https://mikecarlon.com/memoir-cohorts/ "Writing is work. It’s challenging, it’s hard—but it’s a skill, and it takes time. If you have patience with yourself, you’ll get there." — Jen Braaksma In this episode of Uncorking a Story, I sit down with Jen Braaksma—former journalist, high school English teacher, and now full-time book coach—to talk about her journey from writing fiction to embracing memoir. Jen shares how her love of storytelling began in childhood, why she pivoted careers during the pandemic, and what she learned about vulnerability while writing her latest book, Befriending Betsy. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to write a memoir or how a book coach can transform your writing, this conversation is packed with insights and inspiration. Key Themes: 1. The power of persistence: Jen’s advice to her younger self—and to all writers—is simple: keep at it, even if it’s just a few minutes a day. 2. Memoir vs. biography: Memoir isn’t just a timeline of events; it’s about introspection and writing from the scar, not the wound. 3. The role of a book coach: Coaching isn’t just about editing words—it’s about guiding the person behind the story. 4. Vulnerability matters: Writing Befriending Betsy taught Jen to embrace authenticity and share her own story. 5. Healing through writing: Every memoirist Jen has worked with has experienced unexpected catharsis during the process. 6. Writing is a skill: Like any craft, it takes time, patience, and practice—don’t expect perfection right away. 7. Everyone’s story matters: You don’t need to be a celebrity to write a memoir that resonates. Buy Befriending Betsy: A Memoir Amazon: https://amzn.to/4iVNeQ5 Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9798896360209 Connect with Jen Website: https://www.jenbraaksma.com/ Twitter: https://x.com/JenBraaksma Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenbraaksmabookcoach/ Connect with Mike Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uncorkingastory Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/ If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. #UncorkingAStory #JenBraaksma #BookCoach #MemoirWriting #AuthorInterview #WritingTips #BefriendingBetsy #WritersLife

Let help uncork your memoir through a 12 week memoir mentorship program: https://mikecarlon.com/memoir-cohorts/

"Writing is work. It’s challenging, it’s hard—but it’s a skill, and it takes time. If you have patience with yourself, you’ll get there." — Jen Braaksma

In this episode of Uncorking a Story, I sit down with Jen Braaksma—former journalist, high school English teacher, and now full-time book coach—to talk about her journey from writing fiction to embracing memoir. Jen shares how her love of storytelling began in childhood, why she pivoted careers during the pandemic, and what she learned about vulnerability while writing her latest book, Befriending Betsy. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to write a memoir or how a book coach can transform your writing, this conversation is packed with insights and inspiration.


Key Themes:
1. The power of persistence: Jen’s advice to her younger self—and to all writers—is simple: keep at it, even if it’s just a few minutes a day.
2. Memoir vs. biography: Memoir isn’t just a timeline of events; it’s about introspection and writing from the scar, not the wound.
3. The role of a book coach: Coaching isn’t just about editing words—it’s about guiding the person behind the story.
4. Vulnerability matters: Writing Befriending Betsy taught Jen to embrace authenticity and share her own story.
5. Healing through writing: Every memoirist Jen has worked with has experienced unexpected catharsis during the process.
6. Writing is a skill: Like any craft, it takes time, patience, and practice—don’t expect perfection right away.
7. Everyone’s story matters: You don’t need to be a celebrity to write a memoir that resonates.

Buy Befriending Betsy: A Memoir
Amazon: https://amzn.to/4iVNeQ5
Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9798896360209

Connect with Jen
Website: https://www.jenbraaksma.com/
Twitter: https://x.com/JenBraaksma
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenbraaksmabookcoach/


Connect with Mike
Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uncorkingastory
Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/

If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

#UncorkingAStory #JenBraaksma #BookCoach #MemoirWriting #AuthorInterview #WritingTips #BefriendingBetsy #WritersLife

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YouTube Video UExNamVTdmRxWkg4eWFSX0pYSFhRaUY0amxOUGhaaWJUQy5CNTRCQzEzRUU4Mzc4OUIw

Helping Writers Find Their Voice: Jen Braaksma on Memoir and Meaning

The Uncorking a Story Podcast December 30, 2025 6:01 am

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Recent Uncorked Insights

In my conversation with @EclecticCleric Rabbi Alon Ferency, we explored why vulnerability sits at the heart of all meaningful art. He reminded me of a beautiful truth: “Words from the heart enter the heart.” When we create from a place of honesty—scars and all—we give others permission to feel, to connect, and to heal. This episode is a reminder that the creative process isn’t just about craft; it’s about courage. #UncorkingAStory #RabbiAlonFerency #CreativeProcess #ArtAndHeart #VulnerabilityInArt #WritingLife #PodcastClip ⁨

In my conversation with @EclecticCleric Rabbi Alon Ferency, we explored why vulnerability sits at the heart of all meaningful art. He reminded me of a beautiful truth: “Words from the heart enter the heart.”

When we create from a place of honesty—scars and all—we give others permission to feel, to connect, and to heal. This episode is a reminder that the creative process isn’t just about craft; it’s about courage.

#UncorkingAStory #RabbiAlonFerency #CreativeProcess #ArtAndHeart #VulnerabilityInArt #WritingLife #PodcastClip ⁨

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YouTube Video UExNamVTdmRxWkg4ekkwbDZSV19WblA2M3dKRjc5SEh4Ny5DM0UwMkNDRTIwQUNDMjE2

Why True Art Requires Courage

The Uncorking a Story Podcast 26 minutes ago

You don’t need to be famous to write a memoir, you just need to be honest. In my conversation with Jen Braaksma, we talked about one of the biggest myths that stops people from writing their story: “Nothing that interesting has happened to me.” Jen doesn’t buy it—and neither do I. Every life contains moments of change, reckoning, love, loss, and becoming. Memoir isn’t about celebrity. It’s about meaning. It’s about shaping lived experience into something that resonates beyond you. If you’ve been feeling the pull to tell your story—but don’t know where to start—I run a 12-week, cohort-based memoir writing program designed to help you move from raw experience to a clear, compelling narrative. Structure, support, craft, and community—so you don’t have to do it alone. https://mikecarlon.com/author-coaching/ Your story matters. And it’s ready when you are.

You don’t need to be famous to write a memoir, you just need to be honest.

In my conversation with Jen Braaksma, we talked about one of the biggest myths that stops people from writing their story: “Nothing that interesting has happened to me.” Jen doesn’t buy it—and neither do I.

Every life contains moments of change, reckoning, love, loss, and becoming. Memoir isn’t about celebrity. It’s about meaning. It’s about shaping lived experience into something that resonates beyond you.

If you’ve been feeling the pull to tell your story—but don’t know where to start—I run a 12-week, cohort-based memoir writing program designed to help you move from raw experience to a clear, compelling narrative. Structure, support, craft, and community—so you don’t have to do it alone.

https://mikecarlon.com/author-coaching/

Your story matters. And it’s ready when you are.

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YouTube Video UExNamVTdmRxWkg4ekkwbDZSV19WblA2M3dKRjc5SEh4Ny41MUY0NzFFRjMwMkI3RTI1

The Biggest Lie About Writing Memoir (And What Actually Matters)

The Uncorking a Story Podcast December 30, 2025 9:57 am

Some stories don’t come from imagination alone — they come from inheritance. In my conversation with Leslie Schover, we talk about how her parents’ real-life involvement in the Manhattan Project became the emotional and historical fuel for her novel Fission — and why truth alone isn’t enough to carry a story. Leslie shares a crucial lesson for writers: experience gives you raw material, but drama and tension give it life. At one point, an editor challenged her with a question every memoirist eventually faces: Are you writing memory… or story? That distinction pushed her to lean into conflict, emotional stakes, and imagined moments that reveal deeper truth — not just record events. It’s a powerful reminder that memoir (and fiction rooted in life) isn’t about reporting what happened. It’s about shaping meaning, pressure, and consequence on the page. If you’re an aspiring writer sitting on a lifetime of lived experience and wondering how to turn it into a compelling memoir, this conversation will resonate — and it’s exactly the kind of work I now support through my new author coaching service, where I help writers transform real life into narrative that moves readers. Listen to the full interview on Uncorking a Story and if you’re ready to write your memoir with intention, tension, and heart — let’s talk. https://mikecarlon.com/author-coaching/ #Storytelling #MemoirWriting #WritingAdvice #AuthorInterview #AuthorPodcast #UncorkingAStory #CreativeWriting #NarrativeTension #FromLifeToStory #AuthorCoaching

Some stories don’t come from imagination alone — they come from inheritance.

In my conversation with Leslie Schover, we talk about how her parents’ real-life involvement in the Manhattan Project became the emotional and historical fuel for her novel Fission — and why truth alone isn’t enough to carry a story.

Leslie shares a crucial lesson for writers: experience gives you raw material, but drama and tension give it life. At one point, an editor challenged her with a question every memoirist eventually faces: Are you writing memory… or story? That distinction pushed her to lean into conflict, emotional stakes, and imagined moments that reveal deeper truth — not just record events.

It’s a powerful reminder that memoir (and fiction rooted in life) isn’t about reporting what happened. It’s about shaping meaning, pressure, and consequence on the page.

If you’re an aspiring writer sitting on a lifetime of lived experience and wondering how to turn it into a compelling memoir, this conversation will resonate — and it’s exactly the kind of work I now support through my new author coaching service, where I help writers transform real life into narrative that moves readers.

Listen to the full interview on Uncorking a Story and if you’re ready to write your memoir with intention, tension, and heart — let’s talk. https://mikecarlon.com/author-coaching/

#Storytelling #MemoirWriting #WritingAdvice #AuthorInterview #AuthorPodcast #UncorkingAStory #CreativeWriting #NarrativeTension #FromLifeToStory #AuthorCoaching

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YouTube Video UExNamVTdmRxWkg4ekkwbDZSV19WblA2M3dKRjc5SEh4Ny42QTlDMjkyRjNGMEYwQzcz

Her Parents Helped Build the Atomic Bomb—Then She Wrote This

The Uncorking a Story Podcast December 27, 2025 5:09 pm

I was asked a question during an interview about The Waiting Room that I ask every guest on my podcast: If you could go back and give your younger self some advice, what would you say? I didn’t have some big, dramatic answer. The truth is, I wouldn’t tell my younger self to do anything differently. All of it—the good decisions, the bad ones, the mistakes, the detours—made me who I am. And it took a while, but I like who I turned out to be. If I were going to whisper anything at all, it would be simple: Spend time with the people you love. They won’t always be there. That’s something I understand differently now—after losing my brother and my mother, and after writing The Waiting Room. Time feels more fragile. Moments feel louder. The small things matter more than I ever realized they would. This conversation isn’t really about writing a book. It’s about paying attention while you still can. If any of that resonates, I think you’ll connect with this episode. #TheWaitingRoom #UncorkingAStory #AuthorInterview #Storytelling #LifeReflections #TimeMatters #MomentsThatMatter #WritingFromTheHeart #LifeAfterLoss #StoriesThatMatter

I was asked a question during an interview about The Waiting Room that I ask every guest on my podcast:

If you could go back and give your younger self some advice, what would you say?

I didn’t have some big, dramatic answer.

The truth is, I wouldn’t tell my younger self to do anything differently. All of it—the good decisions, the bad ones, the mistakes, the detours—made me who I am. And it took a while, but I like who I turned out to be.

If I were going to whisper anything at all, it would be simple:

Spend time with the people you love.
They won’t always be there.

That’s something I understand differently now—after losing my brother and my mother, and after writing The Waiting Room. Time feels more fragile. Moments feel louder. The small things matter more than I ever realized they would.

This conversation isn’t really about writing a book. It’s about paying attention while you still can.

If any of that resonates, I think you’ll connect with this episode.

#TheWaitingRoom #UncorkingAStory #AuthorInterview #Storytelling #LifeReflections #TimeMatters #MomentsThatMatter #WritingFromTheHeart #LifeAfterLoss #StoriesThatMatter

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YouTube Video UExNamVTdmRxWkg4ekkwbDZSV19WblA2M3dKRjc5SEh4Ny4xODVDRjcwQzY3NkIxNjYz

The advice I'd give my younger self—it's not what you'd think.

The Uncorking a Story Podcast December 16, 2025 11:01 am

One of the most powerful takeaways from my conversation with Robin Cook wasn’t about medicine, thrillers, or even career longevity. It was about why we write. Robin said that a first book is always autobiographical in some way—even when you think you’re writing pure fiction. You can’t help but put yourself on the page: your fears, your curiosity, your wounds, your wonder. And the act of writing becomes a mirror. You learn who you are by seeing what shows up in your stories. He also said something that every writer needs to hear: If you’re writing to become successful, you’re setting yourself up for disappointment. Success is unpredictable. Luck plays a bigger role than any of us want to admit. But the one thing you can control is what you learn about yourself in the process. Write because the story has something to teach you. Write because you’re curious where it will take you. Write because the act of writing changes you—sometimes quietly, sometimes profoundly. Robin Cook didn’t write his first books with a goal of fame or fortune (in fact, his first novel flopped). He wrote to understand an experience. To explore an idea. To follow a spark. And that is what made everything else possible. For anyone wrestling with the blank page or questioning whether your work matters: It does. You do. Let the writing teach you. Let the success—if it comes—be a byproduct, not the goal. #WritingWisdom #RobinCook #WriterLife #AmWriting #AuthorJourney #CreativeProcess #WriteYourStory #WritingAdvice #Storytellers #AutobiographicalWriting #SelfDiscovery #WhyWeWrite #KeepWriting #InspireWriters #WritingCommunity #WritersOfInstagram #BookLovers #UncorkingAStory #authorsofyoutube #writersofyoutube

One of the most powerful takeaways from my conversation with Robin Cook wasn’t about medicine, thrillers, or even career longevity.
It was about why we write.

Robin said that a first book is always autobiographical in some way—even when you think you’re writing pure fiction. You can’t help but put yourself on the page: your fears, your curiosity, your wounds, your wonder. And the act of writing becomes a mirror.

You learn who you are by seeing what shows up in your stories.

He also said something that every writer needs to hear:

If you’re writing to become successful, you’re setting yourself up for disappointment.

Success is unpredictable. Luck plays a bigger role than any of us want to admit. But the one thing you can control is what you learn about yourself in the process.

Write because the story has something to teach you.
Write because you’re curious where it will take you.
Write because the act of writing changes you—sometimes quietly, sometimes profoundly.

Robin Cook didn’t write his first books with a goal of fame or fortune (in fact, his first novel flopped).
He wrote to understand an experience.
To explore an idea.
To follow a spark.

And that is what made everything else possible.

For anyone wrestling with the blank page or questioning whether your work matters:
It does. You do.
Let the writing teach you. Let the success—if it comes—be a byproduct, not the goal.
#WritingWisdom #RobinCook #WriterLife #AmWriting #AuthorJourney #CreativeProcess #WriteYourStory #WritingAdvice #Storytellers #AutobiographicalWriting #SelfDiscovery #WhyWeWrite #KeepWriting #InspireWriters #WritingCommunity #WritersOfInstagram #BookLovers #UncorkingAStory #authorsofyoutube #writersofyoutube

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YouTube Video UExNamVTdmRxWkg4ekkwbDZSV19WblA2M3dKRjc5SEh4Ny41MkJFMDEwMDIxMkRDREQ3

If you are writing for success, you are doing it wrong.

The Uncorking a Story Podcast December 10, 2025 1:12 pm

Before he became a global phenomenon with 42 books and over 400 million copies sold, Robin Cook's very first novel… flopped. Hard. Instead of letting that failure define him, he went back to the drawing board and asked himself one simple question: “What would I want to read?” The answer became Coma—a runaway bestseller that changed his career and helped create an entirely new genre: the medical thriller. There’s a lesson in this for every writer: Failure isn’t the end. It’s a teacher. So keep learning. Keep writing. Keep re-writing! #RobinCook #Coma #AuthorWisdom #WritingInspiration #WritersLife #KeepWriting #AmWriting #AuthorJourney #Storytellers #BookCommunity #WritingMotivation #WritingAdvice #FailureIsFuel #CreativeProcess #UncorkingAStory

Before he became a global phenomenon with 42 books and over 400 million copies sold, Robin Cook's very first novel… flopped. Hard.

Instead of letting that failure define him, he went back to the drawing board and asked himself one simple question:

“What would I want to read?”

The answer became Coma—a runaway bestseller that changed his career and helped create an entirely new genre: the medical thriller.

There’s a lesson in this for every writer: Failure isn’t the end. It’s a teacher.

So keep learning. Keep writing. Keep re-writing!

#RobinCook #Coma #AuthorWisdom #WritingInspiration #WritersLife #KeepWriting #AmWriting #AuthorJourney #Storytellers #BookCommunity #WritingMotivation #WritingAdvice #FailureIsFuel #CreativeProcess #UncorkingAStory

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Failure didn’t end Robin Cook's career, it launched it!

The Uncorking a Story Podcast December 9, 2025 11:10 am

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Meet The Host

With an impressive 25-year career in the market research industry, Mike Carlon has mastered the art of moderating focus groups and in-depth interviews for renowned companies like Unilever, Pepsi, American Express, and JP Morgan Chase. In 2013, he launched the Uncorking a Story podcast, creating a vibrant platform for writers and authors to showcase their work. Mike's quick wit, genuine curiosity, and deep empathy infuse each conversation with insight and joy, making them a delight to listen to. As a talented writer himself, his eight captivating novels are available wherever books are sold. Beyond his moderating expertise, Mike also offers tailored storytelling workshops designed to inspire and engage his clients.

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