In Ep. 48, Callan Wink shares his candid experience “cutting out the boring parts” and expanding his short story into the acclaimed, Beartooth, a tightly written heist thriller, compared to Hemmingway and Cormac McCarthy. Wink discusses how his life is divided into two seasons: writing season and fly fishing. As a fly-fishing guide and surfer, Wink shares his unique perspective on the tricks he’s developed to write. Getting into his chair to write is the hardest task of his day and he prefers physical pain to the 'brain pain' of creating stories. This honest admission offers insight into the struggles and coping mechanisms many for writers who find the craft difficult, despite their immense talent. Wink was generous enough to find time to speak with us between surf sets from his writing retreat in Costa Rica.
PODCAST NOTES
Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.
About the guest author:
Callan Wink’s latest and third book, Beartooth, is another propulsive story about two brothers in dire straits, living on the edge of Yellowstone, who agree to a desperate act of survival. Wink has been awarded fellowships by the National Endowment for the Arts and Stanford University, where he was a Wallace Stegner Fellow. He received his MFA from University of Wyoming and his stories and essays have been published in the New Yorker, Granta, Playboy, Men's Journal, and The Best American Short Stories. He debut novel, August, was longlisted for the center for Fiction First Novel Prize and a collection of short stories, Dog Run Moon. He lives in Livingston, Montana, where he is a fly-fishing guide on the Yellowstone River.
About the host:
Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. As an author and writing coach, she knows that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So she thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook you. Holly lives in Marin County with her family and two Labrador retrievers, and enjoys mountain biking, hiking, swimming and pretending to surf. To learn more about her books and writing coaching services, please follow her on IG + X @hollylynnpayne or visit hollylynnpayne.com.
Tune in and reach out:
If you're an aspiring writer or a book lover, this episode of Page One offers a treasure trove of inspiration and practical advice. I offer these conversations as a testament to the magic that happens when master storytellers share their secrets and experiences. We hope you are inspired to tune into the full episode for more insights. Keep writing, keep reading, and remember—the world needs your stories. If I can help you tell your own story, or help improve your first page, please reach out @hollylynnpayne or visit hollylynnpayne.com.
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The Page One Podcast is created on a houseboat in Sausalito, California, and is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Thank you for being a part of my creative community! Be well and keep reading.
~Holly~