Michael Long: The Molecule Of More - Author, Writer, Educator

Karl Sterling Podcast

It was an absolute honor to talk with Michael Long! Michael Long is a writer and educator. Actor and author Ben Stein calls him “a poet.” Mr. Long is the co-author of The Molecule of More, a Number Ten Bestseller at Amazon and a Number Two Bestseller as an audiobook at Audible. He is also a winner for two consecutive years of the Neil LaBute New Theater Festival. In addition, Mr. Long has collaborated on several non-fiction books and has been published three times in Vital Speeches of the Day, twice for speeches he delivered. As director of writing for the graduate program in public relations at Georgetown University, he created the original writing curriculum there and continues to teach courses in professional and creative writing, as well as speechwriting. He has also led reading programs for children of migrant farm workers, taught remedial mathematics to adults, designed writing curriculum for Columbia University, and delivered guest lectures on humor at American University and at the Graduate School of Political Management at The George Washington University. He has taught writing to audiences around the U.S. and in London, Lisbon, Panama, Paris, Saskatchewan, The Hague, and in a seminar and keynote at Oxford University. In addition, he is the resident writing coach for the Professional Speechwriters Association (PSA), which publishes “Prose for Pros,” his long-running weekly column on writing. Mr. Long’s career as a writer began while he was a graduate student in physics at Vanderbilt University when he began performing comedy, becoming a house emcee for one of the oldest comedy clubs in America. His first job as a writer off-stage was sole speechwriter to one of America’s highest-profile senators. * Mr. Long has written remarks for members of congress, U.S. cabinet secretaries, governors, diplomats, business leaders, CEOs, and presidential candidates. In addition, he has served as chief speechwriter for the largest trade association in the world, and contributes to numerous print publications and websites. His seminar clients include Bechtel, Booz Allen Hamilton, The Panama Canal Rev Aug 31 2022 1 Authority, the Premier’s Office of the Government of Saskatchewan, Target Corporation, the United States Navy, the United States Secret Service, and the speechwriting team for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. A provocative speaker and writing educator, he has appeared as a guest on CNBC and Good Day New York with Greg Kelly. He is also an occasional commentator on CBC News: Morning with Heather Hiscox in Canada. Beyond his work in politics and policy, he has been consulted for material in The Onion and for Saturday Night Live. * In addition to writing on business and public policy, Mr. Long is an often- honored writer of stage plays and screenplays. He was a winner for two consecutive years in the Neil LaBute New Theatre Festival for his dramas Color Timer and The Gettier Problem. In addition, more than 20 of his one-acts have been festival selections around the nation, most often on New York City stages. He is a five-time winner of “best of festival” honors in the Players Theatre Short Play and Musical Festival in Greenwich Village: three times for the thrillers Hostages, Catchpole, and Details, and twice for the romantic comedies Brad Pitt and The Test. He was a finalist for the Grand Prize for Screenwriting at the Slamdance Film Festival for his screenplay How to Save Your Own Life; the script was also a Top 15 percent finisher for the Motion Picture Academy’s Nicholl Fellowship. In addition, How to Save... was chosen as a finalist in competitions at the Vail Film Festival, the Creative World Awards, and the World Series of Screenwriting. A stage version of the show was produced in a two-week run at Manhattan Repertory Theater.