Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago

---

Novelist Brian Platzer says writers shouldn’t take character names too seriously.

Sometimes the goal is simple: make them memorable… even if that means inventing someone like “Syzlvia Gorog.”

But the novel behind the jokes comes from a much heavier place.

Platzer’s book The Optimists was inspired by a beloved teacher and mentor who suffered a stroke and lost the ability to communicate. Platzer gave him a voice again through fiction.

Brian Platzer joins The Gist to talk about writing, teaching middle school, and turning real life into a novel.



#Writing #Authors #Books #Teachers #TheGist

This interview is from a Full episode of The Gist Podcast, Hosted by Mike Pesca.
🎧Listen Here👉open.spotify.com/show/3Q5MaJxR4gS4CwgZUCCYVt

_______________________
Get a premium edition of the podcast and help support Mike's work:
subscribe.mikepesca.com

Join the "Gist List" membership and get access to the Gist List Newsletter with Mike's daily insights and things you missed in the news:
mikepesca.substack.com



Follow us:
instagram.com/pescagist
youtube.com/@pescagist
https://x.com/PescaGist
https://x.com/pescami

Visit Mike's website:
mikepesca.com


_______________________

CREDITS:

Creator & Host:
Mike Pesca

Producer:
Corey Wara

Video Editor:
Geoff Craig