EP 457 - A Show That Makes You Smile with The Patrick Scott Patterson Project
Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing
Release Date: 01/25/2026
EP 486 - Seeing The World Metaphorically with Melissa Heathers
Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing
In this episode Mark interviews Melissa Heathers, author and host of The Book Crawl. Prior to the main content, Mark welcomes new patrons, and shares a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to . Use code MARK10 at checkout and save 10% off your own personalized report. Links of Interest: (Use code STARKDIRECT at checkout to save $4.00. Patrons, check the post on Patreon.com/starkreflections for the post dated June 12, 2026 for your special 67% off coupon) (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%) (AI Voice Generation -...
info_outline
EP 485 - On Failure, Mistakes, and the Gift of Getting It Wrong
Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing
In this solo episode Mark reads Chapter 5 (The Beautiful Mess: On Failure, Mistakes, and the Gift of Getting It Wrong) from his book STARK REALITIES: Stacked-up Lessons Every Writer Needs to Know About the Business of Writing and Publishing. Prior to the main content, Mark welcomes new patrons, and shares a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to . Use code MARK10 at checkout and save 10% off your own personalized report. Links of Interest: (Use code STARKDIRECT at checkout to save $4.00. Patrons, check the post on Patreon.com/starkreflections...
info_outline
EP 484 - Serializing a Novel on Substack with Matty Dalrymple
Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing
In this episode Mark talks to Matty Dalrymple about her recent experience serializing a never-before-published new novel on Substack. Prior to the main content, Mark welcomes new patrons, shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to . Use code MARK10 at checkout and save 10% off your own personalized report. In the interview, Mark and Matty talk about: How long Matty has been a writer, a podcaster, and a consultant to indie authors The 52 days Matty has been experimenting with serialization...
info_outline
EP 483 - Author Branding with Jessica Sorentino
Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing
Mark interviews Jessica Sorentino, an author brand strategist with more than a decade of experience helping writers and thought leaders connect with their audiences in meaningful, lasting ways. Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to . Use code MARK10 at checkout and save 10% off your own personalized report. In the interview, Mark and Jessica talk about: What an author's brand is and how to determine what that brand is A technique of visualizing a...
info_outline
EP 482 - Outlining for Novelists Who Don't Outline with Paul Austin Ardoin
Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing
In this episode Mark interviews Paul Austin Ardoin about his new book OUTLINING FOR NOVELISTS WHO DON'T OUTLINE. Prior to the interview Mark shares a person update and a word from this episode's sponsors. This episode is sponsored by Author Nation, being held in Las Vegas Nov 13 through 14, 2026 Learn more about Author Nation and register at . In the interview Mark and Paul talk about: Paul's previous non-fiction book for writers FROM ZERO TO FOUR FIGURES Mark's offer of gifting 3 copies of FROM ZERO TO FOUR FIGURES by buying them from Paul and/or a local bookshop for listeners based...
info_outline
EP 481 - Becoming A Creative Luminary with Voice Actor Laura Holley
Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing
In this episode Mark interviews Laura Holley, a Utah-based voice actor and speculative fiction writer whose passion for storytelling began with her first stage performance at seven years old. Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to . Use code MARK10 at checkout and save 10% off your own personalized report. In the interview, Mark and Laura talk about: Laura getting into theatre in the second grade and the first role that she played The power of playing a...
info_outline
EP 480 - Rambling Reflections From The Road: Returning From Camping & Vitamin N
Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing
In this episode Mark shares a solo reflection recording pm his return from a couple of nights spent camping on the shores of Lake Huron at Point Farms Provincial Park. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update (which includes a segment from Joanna Penn's latest episode of The Creative Penn Podcast) and a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by Author Nation, being held in Las Vegas Nov 13 through 14, 2026 Learn more about Author Nation and register at . In his reflection Mark considers the idea of the value of nature/simplicity when recharging. He asks...
info_outline
EP 479 - The Keyboard Is My Favorite Fidget Toy with Premee Mohamed
Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing
In this episode Mark interviews Premee Mohamed, a Nebula, World Fantasy, Ignyte, Locus, and Aurora award-winning Indo-Caribbean scientist and speculative fiction author based in Edmonton, Alberta. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by the with Suzy Vadori. In this weekly show, Suzy brings you writing techniques, best practices, motivation, inspirational stories from real live authors out there making it in the world, and actionable advice that can help you turn that book...
info_outline
EP 478 - Stark Realities Excerpt: The Pinocchio Problem
Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing
This episode features an excerpt from Chapter 1 of Mark's book STARK REALITIES: Stacked-up Lessons Every Writer Needs To Know About The Business of Writing and Publishing. The chapter is called "The Pinocchio Problem." Prior to the main content Mark shares a brief personal update and a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by the book STARK REALITIES: Stacked-up Lessons Every Writer Needs To Know About The Business of Writing and Publishing. The Truth About Building a Writing Career With No Sugarcoating, Just Real Talk. The Honest, practical guide that every writer...
info_outline
EP 477 - Rambling Reflections From The Road to StokerCon
Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing
In this solo episode recorded while driving between Waterloo, Ontario and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on his way to attending StokerCon, a horror writer conference, Mark shares some reflections on his dual life as an author-supporting industry representative and a horror author. This episode is sponsored by Author Nation, being held in Las Vegas Nov 13 through 14, 2026 Learn more about Author Nation and register at . Links of Interest: (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%) (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) The introductory, end,...
info_outlineMark interviews Scott from The Patrick Scott Patterson Project Podcast.
Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, comments from recent episodes, and a word about this episode's sponsor.
This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK10 at checkout and save 10% off your own personalized report.
In the interview Mark and Scott talk about:
- How Scott got into the current numerous roles that he is participating in today, including podcasting
- Being inspired by the dreams that his parents had but which they pushed off to the side
- The pro wrestling experience that he did for 10 years
- The importance of deciding to try
- Scott's reasoning behind the Patrick Scott Patterson Project
- How at the end of the day we're all human beings - some folks have just reached for their dreams
- Interviewing notable celebrities on Scott's podcast
- Doing the interviews well in advance and having a good 10 episodes in the can already
- The two year plan that Scott has created for the podcast
- The positivity in Scott's podcast and what he is doing
- All the stressful things Scott was going through around the time of the pandemic
- How Drew Barrymore's new talk show was exactly what Sco
- needed to get through those hard days
- The way that Drew Barrymore makes Scott smile - period!
- How something Barrymore said in one of those episodes really struck with Scott
- The incredible power of doing/saying even the smallest nice thing such as "have a nice day" which can make a huge difference in someone else's life
- How Scott feels better himself when he's being kind to someone
- Meeting Drew Barrymore on her 50th Birthday episode taping after more than 42 years of first seeing her with his mom when he was 7 and they went to see E.T.
- Some of the favorite moments on Scott's podcast
- Advice Scott would offer to writers who haven't yet put their work out into the world
- How Scott first got on Collector's Call because of a fluffy news story from 5 years earlier
- Gary K Wolf's story about how many times his book "Who Wacked Roger Rabbit" was repeatedly rejected over the years. He never gave up, and it's, incidentally his most well-known book. The movie adaptation would never have happened
After the interview Mark reflects on a few things that Scott said about positivity, creating "comfort food" moments, and the importance of having things out there and how it can lead to opportunities.
Links of Interest:
- Patrick Scott Patterson's Website
- CBC - Cost of Living - How Scholastic Book Fairs Became Tight With Canadian Schools
- Mini Trailer for LOVER'S MOON (Romantic Comedy)
- Full Audio of LOVER'S MOON Read by the Authors (YouTube)
- Patreon Post (Free for anyone to read): I Get Knocked Down, But I Get Up Again!
- Substack article: Eight Years, 452 Episodes, And One Important Lesson
- Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%)
- Buy Mark a Coffee
- Patreon for Stark Reflections
- Mark's YouTube channel
- ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link)
- Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup)
- An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries
- The Relaxed Author
- Publishing Pitfalls for Authors
- An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores
- Wide for the Win
- Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books
- The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles
- Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard
- Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
- I Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises
Patrick Scott Patterson is a Texas-based pop culture personality, video game historian, and podcaster. Over the decades, he's moved from professional wrestling rings to television cameras, working with G4tv to produce the first-ever live arcade world record broadcast. He has appeared in documentaries like Nintendo Quest and on MeTV's Collector's Call. He's spoken at San Diego Comic-Con and SXSW, and runs Hyperspace Arcade Repair out of Denton, Texas, where he keeps vintage arcade machines alive for collectors.
In 2025, Scott launched The Patrick Scott Patterson Project, a podcast about chasing goals and following unexpected paths—inspired by finally meeting his lifelong celebrity crush, Drew Barrymore, which taught him that the dreams we pursue have a way of opening doors we never anticipated.
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