DMF Episode 337 — Brent Lindstrom: Writing Mistakes, Editing Your Book & Storytelling That Works

<p><strong>Welcome to The DMF — Discovering Meaning in Film and Acting.</strong> I’m Justin Younts, and in this episode I continue my conversation with filmmaker, producer, and author <strong>Brent Lindstrom</strong> as we dive into the realities of writing, editing, and building a career as an author.</p><p>Brent shares his journey through writing what he calls “trunk novels” — early works that helped him develop his voice and understand the craft of storytelling. Through this process, he realized just how much there is to learn when it comes to structure, character development, and refining a story.</p><p>We explore the two primary writing approaches — <strong>outlining vs. pantsing</strong> — and why Brent believes outlining can help writers avoid writer’s block and create a more efficient storytelling process.</p><p>In this episode we discuss:</p><p>• Common writing and editing mistakes authors make<br>• How to edit your book effectively<br>• Outlining vs pantsing in storytelling<br>• Developing characters and narrative structure<br>• The financial realities of being an author<br>• Marketing your book and building an audience</p><p>Brent also shares lessons from writing his novel <strong>“Swing Low, Hangman of the Woods,”</strong> including the challenges he faced and how those experiences shaped his growth as a storyteller.</p><p>This episode highlights the importance of patience, persistence, and continuous learning — whether you&#39;re writing your first book or refining your craft as a creative professional.</p><p><strong>Join us as we explore the writing process, editing strategies, and what it really takes to succeed as an author.</strong></p><p><br></p><p>🌐<strong> Learn More About Brent Lindstrom</strong></p><p>Visit Brent’s website:<br><a href="https://lightmindedarts.com/"><u>https://lightmindedarts.com</u></a></p><p><br></p><p>📖<strong> Check Out Brent Lindstrom’s Book</strong></p><p><strong>One for the Money, Two for the Soul</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.lightmindedarts.com/books/one-for-the-money-two-for-the-soul/">https://www.lightmindedarts.com/books/one-for-the-money-two-for-the-soul/</a></p><p><br></p><p>00:00:00 - Introduction</p><p>00:00:08 - Learning Editing and Storytelling</p><p>00:00:52 - Two Kinds of Writing: Outlining and Pantsing</p><p>00:03:21 - The Cost of Writing and Marketing</p><p>00:03:21 - The Importance of Physical Books</p><p>00:05:04 - Building an Audience and Brand Recognition</p><p>00:10:17 - The Value of Multiple Formats</p><p>00:12:56 - Reading vs. Listening to Books</p><p>00:15:33 - The Impact of Technology on Reading Habits</p><p>00:16:27 - The Shift to Short-Form Content and Its Effects</p><p>00:17:09 - The Unique Experience of Reading</p><p>00:18:22 - Publishing Strategies with Amazon</p><p>00:21:05 - The Future: Writing, Podcasting, and Building a Film Studio</p><p>00:24:04 - Conclusion and Call to Action</p><p><br></p>