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Hey there! Welcome to the online home of author, creator, coach, and consultant Matthew Wayne Selznick (that’s me). If you’re looking to succeed as a writer or creator of any kind while living a balanced life and staying sane, you’re going to like it here. Through my Scribtotum blog and other media and methods, I document each step down my own path as an independent creator while sharing with you every lesson learned.

I’ve been an independent creator for over thirty years, including playing in post-punk power pop bands, creating print zines distributed in the mail across the United States, running one of the first online serial fiction websites, being one of the first wave of podcasters, and being among the earliest independent e-book publishers.

I also work with others on their own creative endeavors, like producing websites and viral content for Paul Feig and Judd Apatow movies, helping authors craft and publish their novels, and helping podcasters and bloggers reach thousands of listeners and readers. Click here to find out how I can help you, too.

Even after all that time as an independent creator, I still have more to learn (and hope I always will). And I still struggle to balance a creative life with… having a life! That’s what this site — and my work as a creative services provider, consultant, and coach — is all about.

I Have Books

I write fiction and non-fiction across a variety of genres and subjects. In 2005 my first novel, Brave Men Run, was the first book ever to be simultaneously published in paperback, multiple e-book formats, and as a podcast, and was later nominated for Parsec Award.

A Multiverse Of Storyworlds

Experience a late twentieth century where super-humans exist… be awestruck by an Earth plagued by giant monsters… stand with those who stand against the shadows in the shadows… examine the frailties of human experience… explore a wholly original epic fantasy setting…

…these are storyworlds — the Sovereign Era, Daikaiju Universe, the Protector Cycle, the Shaper’s World — presented in my novels, short stories, and serials.

Tools and Guidance for the Writing Life

My non-fiction work is dedicated to helping you be a better creator, technically, emotionally, and ethically.

Click here to discover and purchase my fiction and non-fiction wherever books are sold online.

It’s All About Community

As a life-long advocate for the DIY ethic, I once coined the phrase, “Doing it yourself means never going it alone.”  To me, that means the independent creative life should — must — include a relationship between myself and my fans and collaborators. Indeed, the lovely people who consume my work are, in a real way, also my collaborators, for art without an audience is, I believe, unfinished at best and self-indulgence at worst.

To that end, I always want to hear from you. You’re encouraged to comment on my blog posts, articles, podcast episodes, and videos — let’s make those conversations!

Want to go deeper? You should join my mailing list. It’s free, and when you confirm your subscription, I’ll send you an e-book of my very first novel, the fan-favorite award-nominated former top 100 Amazon.com bestseller Brave Men Run, as a gift.

Deeper still? Become a patron for as little as $1.00 per month to receive patron-only content and get exclusive access to me. Click to learn more about being a patron.

Read These Next

Thanks for wanting to learn a little more about me and my site. From here, I’d be honored if you would check out some of the articles I’m most proud of:

• Declare for Bold – Why being bold is the most vulnerable, effective, and powerful practice for writers to find their truth.
• Writers, Stop Not Starting! Understanding and Beating Procrastination – Writers! Let’s figure out the roots of procrastination and work together to overcome it and finally stop not starting our best creative work.
• Writers: Find the Courage To Be Irreplaceable – Between the expectations of genre and bland uniformity, there’s a lot of room to be irreplaceable if you have the courage to both listen to, and use, your own vision.
• Every Independent Creator Needs A Statement of Ethics – Independent creators: do you have a statement of ethics? Learn how a public statement of your principles and ethics can help build community and attract friends and fans to your work.
• Indie Authors, Stop Trying To Build An Audience – It’s time to stop listening to people who advise you to build an audience. Right now. Here’s why.

I hope those posts — and my others — prove valuable to you. Be sure to leave comments and share your thoughts on each one, and if you really love them, don’t hesitate to share them with your tribes, too!