Summary: Steph Wynne is a writer, filmmaker, and creative force with a diverse skill set. Driven by curiosity and a passion for learning, she excels in fields like publishing, graphic arts, marketing, and entrepreneurship. Her never-ending pursuit of knowledge and innovation propels her forward.
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Interview with Steph Wynne
Published 4/21/23
REP: Who are you?
SDW: Hmmm...now that I can focus...somewhat...and narrow down what I really like to do...it's writing...express my ideas and make them physical...so ultimately a writer, filmmaker...
REP: Can you explain?
SDW: Hmmm....I used to write short stories and turn them into films...so I was able to go into my head and bring my thoughts to life...so I think I liked that...I didn't like waiting for someone to have a camera to film my thoughts so I taught myself how to use a camera and edit way before YouTube.
As a matter of fact, before YouTube, Google was experimenting with videos and my short films were there. When Google bought YouTube, I had to migrate my videos. So I can say with a hoorah that my videos were part of the launch of YouTube..I mean not that I got any money or anything....
RWP: Interesting. You have a background in a lot of areas like computers, finance, graphic arts, marketing, publishing, filmmaking, entrepreneurship, to name only a few. Why is that?
SDW: I guess not wanting to wait for anyone to realize my dreams and goals. I remember I was in a computer school and the teacher was like just focus on one thing, basically computers or software, and I was like I want to know it all! I want to know how it all works...well if it has my interest...plus I never wanted to be left behind tech-wise so I always try to stay ahead of the game.
Plus it was hard for me to focus on one genre. I wanted to learn whatever I could...writing stories to scripts, from scripts to films, writing blogs before blogging existed, directing, editing, websites, graphic arts (the whole Photoshop suite), computers (software and hardware) and more...
REP: What Masterclass teachers do you like?
SDW: All of them! I really resonate with Dan Brown and James Patterson. They really break down scripts, books, and films.
REP: What inspires you to get out of bed each day?
SDW: What inspires me is knowing that a seed (media) that I have planted could sprout at any time. I am motivated by the "chase" or the "journey" of success.
REP: When you're not writing, how do you spend your time?
SDW: I like reading a lot! I also like creating marketing videos, brochures, t-shirts, booklets, and landing pages for my media. I get charged by "thinking" about my next big idea! I'm usually working in my psare time... but its not really work.
REP: How do you discover the books you read?
SDW: I discover some of the books I read by another author mentioning the book. If I'm reading an author and they recommend a book or mention a book in passing, I google it and if I like the description I will read it. Or add it to my list of books to read.
REP: Do you remember the first story you ever wrote?
SDW: When I was detained in a juvenile girl's school, I wrote a story. It was a story about a boy who wore all black, as I can remember. I showed the story to the counselor who embarrassed me by asking if I was the boy in the story. I was 13 or 14 and did not realize she, as the older adult, could read between my lines. Then I wrote a story about this girl and my gay cousin dound it and read it then asked me if I was gay...geez..I didn't write much after that...
REP: What is your writing process?
SDW: My writing process is to record my thoughts into a recorder. I don't use my cellphone and use an old-school hand recorder that I upload for transcription. I have a zillion hand notes as well. What bugs me is that some of my energizing thoughts I want to turn into a book when the thoughts can be a blog post or simple essay.
REP: Do you remember the first story you ever read and the impact it had on you?
SDW: I've read a lot of stories, but when I read Jurassic Park, I thought it was great and would make a fantastic movie, and well, it was.
REP: How do you approach cover design?
SDW: As of today, I use Midjourney, Photoshop, and Canva for my covers, which I like doing myself.
REP: What type of books do you like to read?
SDW: I like to learn, so books that teach me the art of communication, self-improvement, persuasion, leadership, or a new app to make something I do easier is what I like. AI and sci-fi books top my list...mainly audiobooks.
REP: What do you read for pleasure?
SDW: I'm all over the place...but I guess I like marketing books and books about getting customers. It's like I want to "break the code" of marketing so that if I do XYZ, I will 100% get the results I'm looking for.
REP: How do you read your books?
SDW: I love the feel of a printed book, but I also like audiobooks. I don't read as many e-books.
So it's:
40% printed book
40% Audiobooks
20% e-books
REP: What book marketing techniques have been most effective for you?
SDW: I use direct mail, Google Ads, Amazon Marketing, and YouTube and can get traffic, my issue is converting traffic into customers.
REP: Describe your desk.
SDW: I have three work areas. One at my client's office and two at home. One desk is for editing videos, and the other is for creating other media such as brochures, booklets, landing pages, templates, e-commerce sites, etc.
REP: Gotta any new books for 2023?
SDW: Yes! I've been on a roll but the one that has me hyped is "The Fall of Humnaity, CYRUS the Rogue AI" it's a book for sci-fi buffs but it's the script I'm really excited about. I submitted it to a famous festival so the goal is to be one of the winners if not the ultimate winner!
REP: Hmmh we must venture into the ROGUE AI in another sitting! What's important to you?
SDW: I never ever want to stop learning.
REP: Nice! Thanks, Steph!
SDW: Thank you Rebecca!
Interviewed by Rebecca Pamiba 4/21/23.
www.thepamibaauthorreport.com