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@journalism

Talking shop. Words matter.

@DBPardes
Deborah Pardes
@DBPardes · 2:57

Writer / Podcaster Scott Neumyer

article image placeholderScott Neumyer IRL 💥
Hey, it's Deborah. I'm recording on the Journalism Swell cast today, and I'm really happy that we are able to just keep this trend going of conversations with incredible writers and thinkers who are right here with us with are able to just really get into their lives and who they are and what makes them tick and their dreams and all the stuff that makes for good conversation. And today I am opening up a conversation with Scott Newmeyer

With bylines in NYT, Rolling Stone, Wall Street Journal, Scott’s accomplishments go way off the page. Now we get to speak with him about ... 🍿🌱

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@scottneumyer
Scott Neumyer
@scottneumyer · 3:45

Thanks for the great question!

Hi, Deborah. Thank you so much for having me. I really appreciate all the kind words, but how audacious of you to assume that it's audacity that's got me to these places. And I'm just kidding. Of course, I don't know if audacity is the right word I would use, though, although I guess it is a bit audacious, but I'm just like everybody else. I have imposter syndrome, just like every other writer I struggle with
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@DBPardes
Deborah Pardes
@DBPardes · 1:23

Brand voice vs your voice 🌱

And once you know that you're writing for New Yorker or writing for Esquire, you have to say, I'm writing for this audience and this like, do you feel like a chameleon sometimes? And is that assaulting? Sometimes when you have to write inside a guideline that honors the gestalt of the publication you're writing for
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@Swell
Swell Team
@Swell · 0:15

Welcome to Swell!

@scottneumyer
Scott Neumyer
@scottneumyer · 3:13

Yes! And no... a little of both! 😂😁

Thanks very much for the question, Deborah. It's a great question, actually, I would say yes and no. I do advise anyone who's a writer to go and and make sure you read the publication. You're submitting a story to or you're pitching a story to you do need to find their voice and be able to integrate that into your own voice as well. You don't want to pitch a story that they would never run
@DBPardes
Deborah Pardes
@DBPardes · 1:08

Visual eye / ear for words

I remember in songwriting workshops, I would teach people how to write in the style of another songwriter, not because it was natural for them, but because it was good to push that muscle because this is the journalism channel, and I really want to sort of focus on the diversity of the voices even here. I want to talk a little bit about how you stretched yourself into photography and graphics design and what followed. What and how does your visual eye impact your ear for words
@scottneumyer
Scott Neumyer
@scottneumyer · 1:45

#GetCloser

I have a tattoo on the inside of my wrist with the first camera my father ever gave me. An old Konica Ft one motor. And right above that are the words Get Closer, and that has been my writing motivation and my motto in my work, whether it be visual or written for pretty much as long as I can remember. My goal always, whether it's through photos or design or writing or whatever other creative outlet that might be
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@DBPardes
Deborah Pardes
@DBPardes · 1:02

#getcloser ❤️🙏🌱

I'm going more. I'm going more. I'm going to length, and it results in probably really deep work. So I love that I almost want to steal it and put it on my mirror in the morning. I'm just so enjoying this conversation. I want to know if you'd be interested in talking about your whole world of anxiety and the humor you brought to it, the candidness you've brought to it
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@scottneumyer
Scott Neumyer
@scottneumyer · 3:19

#keeptalking

For me, the most important thing is just to talk, be as open as possible, be basically an open book and tell everybody, you know, my story so that more people wouldn't feel so alone. The more we talk, the more chance we have to erase the stigma that surrounds mental health in this country. And in the world. And that's my goal is just to keep talking. And I hope you will, too. Thanks
@DBPardes
Deborah Pardes
@DBPardes · 2:11

Thank you 🙏🙏 https://s.swell.life/SSQTuVj7ZDo6YbM @scottneumyer

It's a lifeline for people to really feel connected to each other. So standing by here to help support you and what you're doing. It's been great to talk with you, and I know you it's super busy guy. And thank God this has been asynchronous you can just pick it up as you've been able to. And I hope this conversation can continue to just support any news you have about what you're doing
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