Confessions of a Working Writer

01/09/2021

It's time!!!

September 15th brings Season 3 of Confessions of a Working Writer.

Season 2 was this year-long project to try and make a change in my life as a writer. It started with the idea of writing a novel and tracking its progress. But what I found is that there were a lot of other lessons to be learned and issues to be dealt with.

In the end, I didn’t finish a draft of a novel.

In fact, by the end of the year I had left my job in marketing, gotten back to the basics of writing, and really left it off with me considering just what my dream of being a writer looked like now in my 40’s. For some people, it wasn’t the ending they had hoped for, but for me, it was the honest ending that I needed.

In Season 3 I want to dig more into the nuts and bolts of what I am discovering. What does that mean exactly? Well, I want to talk more about the processes that are working for me and the ones that aren’t. What are the books and podcasts I am listening to? How do we deal with the real struggle of comparison? And how do you keep fighting for a dream into middle age?

We’re gonna laugh, we’re gonna cry, and maybe, if we’re really lucky, we just might learn something.

So please, join me for Season 3 of Confessions of a Working Writer this September. I’m really excited about it and I’m sure you will be too.

29/07/2021

Hard at work planning Season 3 of Confessions of a Working Writer.

What's coming?

- Intro and Outro Music
- A Whole New List of Topics
- Patreon Exclusive Content
- And, possibly, the beginning of the Confessions of a Working Writer Book Club!

Season 3 is coming in September 2021!

But there is still the finale to Season 2 next week.

So catch up on previous episodes and subscribe below in order to stay up to date with everything coming soon!

When I was 3 years old, I wanted to be a Jedi Knight and a fighter pilot. I don't have any mind powers and my eyesight is terrible. So I decided, as a little boy, that I would be a writer. Now I'm 39 years old and working as a writer in Charleston...

02/07/2021

Hard at work on plans for Season 3 of Confessions of a Working Writer!

Matt Hampton's got some new ideas, revisits to a few old ones, and some interesting guests. Can't wait!

10/05/2021

We tend to think that once we've learned a life lesson it's imprinted into us and can never be forgotten. But that's simply not true. As our lives change so too do the lessons we've learned and the ones we've forgotten. Sometimes we simply have to relearn those lessons. This past week I have had many lessons to relearn.

Here are 10 of them.

Join me for another Confession of a Working Writer. (Link in the comments.)

03/05/2021

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT TIME!!!

Today is the release of the 100th Episode of Confessions of a Working Writer!!!

This journey has been an incredible one and will continue to be a great one for a long time to come. Thanks to everyone who contributed and supported me as I worked on and figured out this podcasting thing. (He says as though he's figured it out.)
As for this latest episode, join me as I explore a week of doubt, uncertainty, and reaffirming that the cardinal rule in most endeavors is...

Do what works.

(Episode Link in the Comments)

Please enjoy, subscribe, and share!

26/04/2021

This is the start of a new chapter in my life. So why am I afraid of making the same mistakes as the last one? That's a lot more complicated than you think, but it turns out the answer is really simple.

You just need to listen.

Special shoutout to Jen Santoro for being this week's inspiration!

Join me for another Confession of a Working Writer. (Link in comments)

19/04/2021

This is my last week at the job I've had for the past couple of years. The future is incredibly uncertain. I alternate between stress, joy, and often crippling fear. Honestly, it's like being in the middle of a storm with no idea where the break in it will be. There might not even be a break in the storm.

But I will get through it. You know why? Because I'm relentless and I know that times like these are where that is proven.

Join me for another Confession of a Working Writer. (Link in the comments)

15/04/2021

12/04/2021

Last week I talked about being afraid. It's a fear I've been feeling for a while, and it got me thinking about a lot of things. Thinking about work, life, purpose, and passion. There's a lot of talk about pursuing your passion at work and integrating that into your life, but the problem is that work in America seems to be all-encompassing.

We talk a lot about work/life balance, but what about passion/work balance?

Join me for another Confession of a Working Writer. (Link in comments)

08/03/2021

Over my entire life of 41 years, I've developed a bad habit of not talking about what I'm working on with almost anyone. Why? Because it's hard to be respected in this society as a writer or an artist. You face constant questions about what you've done and the constant press to have some sort of achievement so others can consider you successful.

But here's the thing; this society will never really respect you as a writer. That's why it's so important for you to respect yourself. How do you do that?

Great question. Here's where I am starting on my own journey.

Join me for another episode in Confessions of a Working Writer Season 2! (Link in the comments)

19/01/2021

28/12/2020

What was my biggest lesson of 2020?

It wasn't about maintaining positivity or a new method of journaling. It wasn't about COVID or the power of the vote.

In the year I turned 40, the biggest lesson I learned was to embrace my false starts.

A new episode of Confessions of a Working Writer is live now! (Full episode link in comments)

21/12/2020

Listen to this clip from the December 21st episode of Confessions of a Working Writer!

22/04/2020

Storytelling.

For many, it's another buzzword, empty marketing jargon.

For others, it's a spiritual bond, a thing you do when you've had too many, a blessing, a curse, or even something else.

I believe that storytelling lies at the root of our experience as human beings. It's core to how we learn, share, and believe. But it's also really hard to nail down a definition.

Sounds like it's time to go on a journey.

Join me as Confessions of a Working Writer starts a series of talks with storytellers in various disciplines to help define storytelling through the eyes of others.

New episodes starting next week!

13/04/2020

This week on Confessions of a Working Writer...

We're almost at the end of our Fiction Writing Course. With only two episodes left, it's time to talk about bringing all of this together in one cohesive work.

How do we write our story/novel/play/screenplay?

Check out the new episode when it drops on Thursday morning to find out.

03/04/2020

BREATHE

It’s such simple advice. You perform the act naturally, without any active thought of drawing air into your lungs. And yet it’s also the thing we so often forget how to do.

I've learned a lot from Hilary Johnson in the time I've known her.

But maybe her greatest lesson is about breathing...about living.

Join me for this incredible Connection.

Breathe.It’s such simple advice. You perform the act naturally, without any active thought of drawing air into your lungs. And yet it’s also the thing we so of

27/02/2020

I hope everyone is having a great day and week.

Due to some continued issues with illness, our latest episode will be delayed. I'm hoping to have it out by Monday, but we will see.

Thanks for all of the well wishes and you will hear from me soon.

-Matt

13/02/2020

Due to illness, this week's episode of the podcast is going to be delayed.

I am sorry for the delay and we will get that episode to you ASAP. Keep writing!!!

10/02/2020

What's Your Go-To Writing Beverage?

31/01/2020

Hey Everyone!

I wanted to take a moment and thank you all for the support. It's a real pleasure to make the podcast and a huge honor to have an impact with listeners.

This coming week marks my 40th birthday and I am going to try that vacation thing.

So, we won't be releasing an episode next week.

What a great opportunity to catch up on the episodes you missed, or to work on that piece of writing.

Enjoy the week, my friends and I will see you a little bit later in February, when I'm officially 40.

-Matt

27/01/2020

24/01/2020

24/01/2020