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

Welcome to The DMF — Discovering Meaning in Film and Acting. I’m Justin Younts, and in this episode I continue my conversation with filmmaker, producer, and author Brent Lindstrom as we dive into the realities of writing, editing, and building a career as an author.

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.

We explore the two primary writing approaches — outlining vs. pantsing — and why Brent believes outlining can help writers avoid writer’s block and create a more efficient storytelling process.

In this episode we discuss:

• Common writing and editing mistakes authors make
• How to edit your book effectively
• Outlining vs pantsing in storytelling
• Developing characters and narrative structure
• The financial realities of being an author
• Marketing your book and building an audience

Brent also shares lessons from writing his novel “Swing Low, Hangman of the Woods,” including the challenges he faced and how those experiences shaped his growth as a storyteller.

This episode highlights the importance of patience, persistence, and continuous learning — whether you're writing your first book or refining your craft as a creative professional.

Join us as we explore the writing process, editing strategies, and what it really takes to succeed as an author.

🌐 Learn More About Brent Lindstrom

Visit Brent’s website:
https://lightmindedarts.com

📖 Check Out Brent Lindstrom’s Book

One for the Money, Two for the Soul

https://www.lightmindedarts.com/books/one-for-the-money-two-for-the-soul/

00:00:00 - Introduction

00:00:08 - Learning Editing and Storytelling

00:00:52 - Two Kinds of Writing: Outlining and Pantsing

00:03:21 - The Cost of Writing and Marketing

00:03:21 - The Importance of Physical Books

00:05:04 - Building an Audience and Brand Recognition

00:10:17 - The Value of Multiple Formats

00:12:56 - Reading vs. Listening to Books

00:15:33 - The Impact of Technology on Reading Habits

00:16:27 - The Shift to Short-Form Content and Its Effects

00:17:09 - The Unique Experience of Reading

00:18:22 - Publishing Strategies with Amazon

00:21:05 - The Future: Writing, Podcasting, and Building a Film Studio

00:24:04 - Conclusion and Call to Action