Happier with Gretchen Rubin

Ep. 610: Harlan Coben, #1 New York Times bestselling thriller author with over 100 million books in print and many hit TV adaptations, talks about his new book, Plot Twist, messy first drafts, how fiction is memoir, and the simple trick that leaves him with no excuses.

Episode highlights

Why bestselling novelist, Harlan Coben, wrote a memoir about the writing life, and how the process differed from his other books. [04:33]

“Fiction is memoir, and memoir is fiction.” [06:27]

Whether you want to pursue writing, sculpting, or painting, it’s never too late. [16:38]

Why characters don’t have to be likeable, and how “incremental ambition” helps you keep going. [32:00]

Listener questions (and Harlan Coben’s answers) about modern technology in plotting, working with Reese Witherspoon, and book cover art [22:12]

Mentioned in this Episode

Plot Twist: Life, Craft, and the Messy First Draft by Harlan Coben (Amazon, Bookshop)

Harlan Coben’s novels

Evaporated: Gone with the Gods podcast, about Japan’s “johatsu” (people who deliberately vanish)

NYT profile of Harlan Coben

Haruki Murakami and the baseball game where he decided to write a novel

Connect with Us:

Email: podcast@gretchenrubin.com

Website: gretchenrubin.com

Instagram: @gretchenrubin | @lizcraft

Take Gretchen's free Four Tendencies quiz

Enjoyed this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or rate us on Spotify—it helps other listeners find the show!

Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.
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I've come to see a great paradox at the heart of the "Open Door" stage: I want my daughters to know they're essential to my happiness, and also that my happiness doesn't depend on them.

Connect with Us:

Email: podcast@gretchenrubin.com

Website: gretchenrubin.com

Instagram: @gretchenrubin | @lizcraft

Take Gretchen's free Four Tendencies quiz

Enjoyed this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or rate us on Spotify—it helps other listeners find the show!

Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A round-up of ideas for creating new morning habits, how to help your family form better morning habits, and why rethinking your daily routines can add more happiness and energy to your life.

Episode highlights

Get early morning light to reset your body clock (01:11)

Set a bedtime alarm (04:49)

Stop the morning snooze battle (09:42)

Build a rest ritual of 3-5 calming actions done before bed(22:38)

Mentioned in this Episode:

Chasing the Sun by Linda Geddes (Amazon, Bookshop)



Better Than Before (Amazon, Bookshop)

Alarmy alarm clock app

Connect with Us:

Email: podcast@gretchenrubin.com

Website: gretchenrubin.com

Instagram: @gretchenrubin | @lizcraft

Take Gretchen's free Four Tendencies quiz

Enjoyed this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or rate us on Spotify—it helps other listeners find the show!

Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A brilliant hack for getting more help with dinner, why a quest is more fun than a jaunt, and how we feel about desks.

Episode highlights:

Try This At Home: Cultivate a magpie mind [07:10]

Happiness Hack—Rename a chore to make it more appealing[16:00]

Know Yourself Better— How do you like to work? [26:00]

Demerits and Gold Stars: A sisterly trip to Dollywood [30:00]

Mentioned in this Episode:

Download the Creativity Bingo here

Plot Twist: Life, Craft, and the Messy First Draft by Harlan Coben (Amazon, Bookshop)

The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai (Amazon, Bookshop)

SongTeller: My Life in Lyrics by Dolly Parton (Amazon, Bookshop)

Connect with Us:

Email: podcast@gretchenrubin.com

Website: gretchenrubin.com

Instagram: @gretchenrubin | @lizcraft

Take Gretchen's free Four Tendencies quiz

Enjoyed this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or rate us on Spotify—it helps other listeners find the show!

Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I get such pleasure of thinking about iconic super-star Brad Pitt paying tribute to Chuck Palahniuk, and realizing what a gift he’d been given for his work.

Connect with Us:

Email: podcast@gretchenrubin.com

Website: gretchenrubin.com

Instagram: @gretchenrubin | @lizcraft

Take Gretchen's free Four Tendencies quiz

Enjoyed this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or rate us on Spotify—it helps other listeners find the show!

Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices