{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"#99 John DeDakis: From White House Press Room to Novels & Edits","description":" Episode #99 \u2013 John DeDakis: From White House Press Room to Novels & Edits In this episode, I talk with John DeDakis \u2014 former White House correspondent, longtime journalist, editor at CNN\u2019s The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer, now novelist, writing coach, and editor. We unpack what it means to tell stories in news versus fiction, the hard lessons behind writing & rewriting, and how editing makes (or breaks) everything. We cover: \u00b7         What it was like being a White House correspondent (including covering presidents, handling fast-breaking political stories) \u00b7         Working in newsrooms, particularly editing for CNN\u2019s The Situation Room and what senior copy editing taught him about clarity, deadlines, and truth in storytelling \u00b7         How John made the jump from journalism to fiction: his first novel, the process, revisions, the rejections, and ultimately getting published \u00b7         The importance of editing: in journalism, in novels, in shaping story structure, voice, pacing \u2014 how a good editor or self-editing can elevate a work significantly  About John DeDakis \u00b7         Former White House correspondent (during Reagan administration) \u00b7         Senior Copy Editor on CNN\u2019s The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer \u00b7         Author of six mystery\/suspense\/thriller novels in the Lark Chadwick series, including Fast Track, Bluff, Troubled Water, Bullet in the Chamber, Fake, Enemies Domestic. \u00b7         Writing coach and manuscript editor; leads workshops; teaches novel writing at literary centers\/conferences. What you\u2019ll get out of this episode \u00b7         Insights into how journalism and fiction intersect \u2014 what lessons from news help with writing novels \u00b7         Real talk about rejection, rewriting, and patience in creative work \u00b7         A picture of how editing isn\u2019t just polishing, but deeply structural: voice, pace, truth, character, etc. \u00b7         Inspiration if you're a writer in transition, or thinking about how to build authenticity and ethical foundations into your work https:\/\/johndedakis.com\/ The podcast I am trying to remember the name of is Revisionist History with Malcolm Gladwell \ud83c\udf99\ufe0f Were You Still Talking? is hosted by Joel Albrecht \u2013 actor, content creator, and curious conversationalist. New episodes drop regularly wherever you get your podcasts. Music for all episodes by Jon Griffin. My YouTube channel: https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCugOLERePPuD4nwtZO-Zwnw?view_as=subscriber My Instagram: @joelyshmoley FaceBook: https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/wereyoustilltalking\/   ","author_name":"Were You Still Talking?","author_url":"http:\/\/wereyoustilltalking.libsyn.com\/website","html":"