Episode 417 THE GREAT AMERICAN AUTHORS (Part 15) Gene Hackman, A Second Career - 1930 - 2025 ( A Tribute )

Send us a text

This episode is a tribute to a great actor, Gene Hackman, who decided to retire from the silver screen and write novels. He wrote five of them and all got some level of acclaim. They were :

1. “Wake of the Perdido Star” with Daniel Lenihan (1999)
2. “Justice for None” with Daniel Lenihan (2004)
3. “Escape from Andersonville” with Daniel Lenihan (2008)
4. “Payback at Morning Peak” (2011)
5. “Pursuit” (2013)

While this episode is a focused examination at his second career it is also a retrospective of his amazing life. Hackman passed away on most likely February 18, 2025, he was 95 years old. Hackman was one of our host, Randal Wallace's favorite actors and he plans to read a couple of his novels this coming year in 2026.

Gene Hackman's writing tips emphasize the importance of discipline, rigorous editing, and emotional connection to the material.

• Write with discipline: Hackman writes in the morning, stopping by early afternoon, to maintain a routine.
• Edit heavily: He stresses the importance of the editing process, advising writers not to fall in love with their first draft and to be open to criticism. He would go over his work many times.
• Write what you care about: To be fulfilled as a writer, he suggests focusing on subjects close to your heart.
• Keep dialogue minimal: Drawing from his acting experience, he often cut his own lines, saying, "I can act that," highlighting the power of non-verbal communication in storytelling.
• Use research: He incorporated extensive research into his historical fiction and thrillers, including scouting locations and consulting experts.
• Stay in the moment: He advises against over-analyzing and to "let the characters tell the damn story," focusing on action and immediate events rather than excessive introspection or backstory.
• Seek feedback: Hackman worked closely with his co-author and relied on his wife for critique and typing up his longhand manuscripts.

Questions or comments at , [e-mail] , https://twitter.com/randal_wallace , and http://www.randalwallace.com/
Please Leave us a review at wherever you get your podcasts
Thanks for listening!!