Meet J. P. Greene | American Author + Poet

We had the good fortune of connecting with J. P. Greene and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi J. P., what is the most important factor behind your success?
I think it all comes down to authenticity. In terms of my novels and poetry, I try to write things that are as true and life-like as possible, and that means tapping into my own lived experience and my understanding of how people work. Telling a story is all about connecting with human emotion and conveying experiences that are believable, heartfelt, and moving.

When it comes to my success on social media, and my ability to build a brand around my writing, that has a lot to do with authenticity, too. For male authors there’s a trope of the tortured writer – the tortured artist in general – or else the nerdy professorial type. I’ve never resonated with either of those. I’m neither a drunk, depressed Bukowski, nor do I wear tweed jackets with leather elbow patches. I love my motorcycles, a nice cafe, and a beautiful sunset. I love a good whiskey but I don’t drink it to escape… I find life beautiful and inspiring, and I try to capture that with my writing. Not fitting into any of the ‘typical images’ of what a male writer can be, I had to work hard to figure out how to position myself online. Turns out, all I had to do was be unapologetically myself, tell the story of who I am, and trust that over time my work (and my brand) would connect with the right people. And it really has.

Another thing I’ve noticed resonating with people lately is that I try to write the type of masculinity I would like to see more of in the world. I write male characters (and poetry) that embody a sense of grounded, mature strength. I portray relationships that are built on secure attachment, but still possess a spark, an intensity of passion, and a strong desire for the other person. I don’t want to write desperate, love-sick, hopeless romantics. Instead, I try to convey the power and benefit of having done a lot of internal work, and having come out the other side better, and more equipped to love the right person from a place of wholeness. I don’t see this conveyed very often, but I think it’s important, and I’d like to see more of this sort of inspirational writing in the literary world.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My journey to get to where I am today is the result of stubborn commitment to both output and improvement, in equal measure. As a single father with a busy executive career, finding time to write has been anything but easy. But it’s important, and so most mornings, between five and six AM, you’ll find me at my desk, writing. This dedicated practice of writing every day has yielded me five novels and hundreds and hundreds of poems over the last three years. I love the sentiment that in six months (or a year, or however long) you can have excuses, or you can have results. I choose results.

In addition to committing to the practice of writing, I’ve also made a commitment to myself to actively seek feedback wherever I can. The friends and editors who have helped me craft my voice deserve every ounce of recognition I can send their way, and by opening myself to some feedback that has been, at times, difficult to stomach, I’ve grown much more quickly and gracefully than if I had tried to just do it all on my own.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
In my opinion, the best way to see Colorado is by motorcycle, and 4×4 truck. I recommend spending a few days camping and taking in the incredible views, and swimming in the mountain lakes and rivers. Certainly spend a day in Denver, and at least a couple in Fort Collins (my home sweet home). Drinks at Social in downtown Fort Collins, a bluegrass show and a game of pool at Swing Station, lunch at the original Big City Burrito, followed by a margarita at the Rio.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have to dedicate this to my good friend and acupuncturist, Carrie Tempalski, at Source Point Acupuncture. Carrie has been with me through 8 years of intense soul searching, and has been my guiding light, helping me see the way when I couldn’t on my own. I would not be who I am without her.

Website: https://www.typewrittenlovenotes.com

Instagram: TypewrittenLoveNotes

Image Credits
Motorcycle Images: Dana Martin Creative