Episode 238 – This is Not a Real Interview with Jeff Cottrill
Mark interviews Jeff Cottrill, a fiction writer, poet, journalist and spoken-word artist based in Toronto, Canada, about spoken-word art and his new novel HATE STORY.
Prior to the main content, Mark welcomes a Patreon supporter, shares a personal update, comments from recent episodes and a word about this episode’s sponsor.
You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.
During their conversation, Mark and Jeff talk about:
How Jeff had always been writing since he was young, including silly poems and sketches and storiesThe writing becoming a bit more serious in nature in high school, and then later in university, where he was actually discouraged from writing for a whileDiscovering the unique nature of spoken-word and open mics and then adapting his own style and adaptation of the artHow really bad workshops can be traumatizing and can set back a writer for yearsThe lack of (or overabundance of) life and energy within spoken-word poetryReading the room and playing off the crowdJeff’s Octobe 2020 article on Digital Journal called “Meet the Zoom Poets: How lockdown has connected artists globally”A bit of a backstory about and a short reading from Jeff’s poem: ““This Is Not Real Poetry”Jeff’s new novel Hate Story, which is a mix of satire and mystery that has a plot structure that’s like a loose parody of Citizen KaneHow social media gaffs can completely destroy a person’s lifeThe Justine Sacco 2003 Twitter fiascoTrying agents, and then discovering Dragonfly Publishing in Australia for this bookThe virtual book launch on March 19, 2022 that is going to include guest musicians and other authors, performance poets and creative artistsAdvice Jeff would offer to budding writers and spoken word artistsAnd more…After the interview, Mark talks about what writers can learn from witnessing really good spoken word performances as well as the idea that sometimes your idea for a project may not always come at the proper time.
Links of Interest:
Jeff Cottrill’s WebsiteMeet the Zoom Poets (Article on Digital Journal)How One Stupid Tweet Ruined Justine Sacco’s Life (New York Times Article)Findaway VoicesFindaway Voices – Title Discount PromoSuperstars Writing SeminarsBuy Mark a CoffeePatreon for Stark ReflectionsThe Relaxed AuthorBuy eBook DirectBuy Audiobook DirectPublishing Pitfalls for AuthorsAn Author’s Guide to Working with Libraries & BookstoresWide for the WinMark’s Canadian Werewolf BooksThis Time Around (Short Story)A Canadian Werewolf in New YorkStowe Away (Novella)Fear and Longing in Los AngelesFright Nights, Big CityLover’s Moon
Jeff Cottrill is a fiction writer, poet, journalist and spoken-word artist based in Toronto, Canada. He has headlined in countless literary series throughout Canada, the U.K., the U.S., France and Ireland over the last twenty years. His performance style is influenced by slam conventions, but subverts them with wit, ironic humour and a satirical tone.
His poem “This Is Not Real Poetry” is currently nominated for a Pushcart Prize, and his first novel, “Hate Story”, is coming soon from Dragonfly Publishing.
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
