Today's episode features writer and teacher Shane Hinton, author of Pinkies, Radio Dark, Other Shane Hintons, and editor of We Can't Help It If We're From Florida. His work blends the absurd, the uncanny, and the deeply human—often with Florida as both setting and state of mind.

We dove into two big threads: his fantastic Lit Hub essay "Why I Give My Books Away for Free" and the larger questions that essay raises about art, money, and the changing literary landscape.

Shane's Lit Hub piece struck a chord because it articulates something many writers feel but rarely say out loud. He talked about:

• wanting to connect rather than transact

• realizing most readers struggle to keep up with the sheer amount of new work

• generosity as a meaningful (and honest) form of outreach

• measuring impact through engagement, not sales

We moved into the broader implications of Shane's philosophy and what it says about the industry right now. A few themes:

• there's more content than ever, but not more readers

• making a living from literary fiction is harder than ever

• creatives now need comfort with marketing, social media, and guerrilla outreach

• writers often feel torn between authenticity and self-promotion

• the traditional routes to a writing career are shrinking

Shane teaches, which adds another layer to this discussion. He reflected on:

• how writing classrooms have changed

• students' realistic (and sometimes sobering) expectations

• why MFA programs must begin addressing economic realities

• how to balance craft, hope, and honesty

• teaching students to build community—not just manuscripts

His perspective: these conversations aren't optional anymore; they're ethical.

Shane, in sum, epitomizes how to adapt and thrive in an ever-changing (and, often, super challenging) literary industry, and I hope you find his example inspiring!

Shane is the author of three books: Pinkies (2015), Radio Dark (2019) and Other Shane Hintons, and is the editor of the anthology We Can't Help It If We're From Florida (2017). His work has been published in literary magazines and exhibited at national and international conferences. His work focuses on the absurd and the horrific in contemporary society. He often writes about Florida and is an active member of the local literary community.

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/shanehinton/
Website: ut.edu/directory/hinton-shane-r

Award-winning author Sean Murphy in conversation with creative thinkers, spanning the literary, music, art, politics, and tech industries. As a cultural critic, professor, founder of a literary non-profit, Sean is always looking to explore and celebrate the ways Story is integral to how we define ourselves, as artists and human beings. This Substack newsletter and weekly podcast peels back the layers of how creativity works, why it matters, how our most brilliant minds achieve mastery. Join us to explore how our most successful and inspired storytellers engage by discussing craft, routines, brand, and mostly through authentic and honest expression.

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