Greg McLaughlin is the kind of author whose career quietly dismantles the myth of overnight success.
With 15 published novels spanning romance, romantic comedy, and social political thrillers, Greg McLaughlin has built a body of work defined by discipline, persistence, and an almost surgical level of preparation. His books are available on Amazon, in regional independent bookstores, and in roughly a dozen Barnes and Noble locations across the Northeastern United States.
What makes Greg McLaughlin especially compelling is not only the range of his genres, but the lived experience behind them. He balances a demanding full time career in finance, a lifelong dedication to athletics, and a writing process that values structure as much as creativity. At the same time, his work remains deeply human, emotionally grounded, and rooted in real places, relationships, and conflicts.
In this WriteStats author interview, Greg McLaughlin opens up about how his writing journey began, why he sent 350 query letters, how hyper-plotting changed his productivity, and why he draws a clear ethical line around AI in creative writing.
From Tolkien to the First Chapter at 30,000 Feet
Like many writers, Greg McLaughlin’s relationship with storytelling started early. However, what stands out is how clearly he can trace the spark back to a single moment.
“In eighth grade, I discovered The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien. I was so mesmerized and excited by his vast world-building, his amazing characters and the tense drama and conflict, I wanted to try and build my own epic.”
Although he never pursued fantasy professionally, that sense of wonder stayed with him. It carried him through high school and into college, where he majored in English Creative Writing, with a minor in Film Studies.
During those years, his creativity took a performative turn.
“I discovered comedy writing and screen writing. I wrote, directed, and starred in my own recurring ensemble late-night comedy variety sketch show called LATEST WITH GREGORY.”
At that point, Greg McLaughlin imagined a very different future.
“After graduating college, I expected to become the next head writer at Saturday Night Live.”
Life, however, had other plans.
He became a journalist, built a career, got married, raised a family, and gradually drifted away from creative writing. Yet, the stories never stopped forming.
“I always had ideas swirling in my head.”
The turning point came unexpectedly, on a business flight to the West Coast.
“One day, about 20 years ago, while on a business flight to the west coast, I wrote the first chapter to my first novel.”
That moment marked the beginning of a sustained return to writing, one that would eventually result in fifteen published novels.
Greg McLaughlin’s Influences: Creativity, Discipline, and Mentorship
When Greg McLaughlin talks about influence, he does not limit it to books.
His earliest creative influence came from his mother.
“My earliest influence was my mother, who was an art teacher and instilled a sense of creativity in me.”
Rather than allowing boredom to take root, she redirected it.
“Whenever I made the mistake of complaining to her that I was bored, she would take out a lump of clay and we’d make something together.”
From his father, he inherited discipline and goal-setting.
“He was a college hockey player and got me involved in youth sports early in my life. Always my coach, he inspired me to set goals, believe in myself and work hard for the success I wanted.”
And then there was the teacher who helped him see writing as more than a hobby.
“My high school English teacher, Janet Schwartz, recognized that I had talent and pushed me to discover and refine it.”
Years later, Greg McLaughlin wrote her a letter of gratitude.
“She responded that my letter brought her to tears. She showed it to her grandchildren.”
Moments like this reveal how deeply Greg McLaughlin understands the long tail of creative impact.
Writing Through Doubt: Athletic Mental Toughness on the Page
Every writer struggles. Greg McLaughlin does not pretend otherwise.
What sets him apart is how he responds to doubt.
“As a deeply goal-oriented person, I am accustomed to fighting through moments of self-doubt and insecurity.”
His background in competitive wrestling shaped this mindset.
“I was a New England champion wrestler in college, so I learned early in life the importance of mental toughness.”
Instead of forcing himself to write through resistance, he applies a different rule.
“I can take a pause from writing any time I feel I need to, but I never allow myself to stop thinking about my current work in process.”
In other words, the work never truly stops.
This philosophy aligns closely with themes we have explored before on WriteStats, especially in our piece on how writing momentum builds through cognitive continuity, where sustained mental engagement often matters more than daily word counts.
The Hyper-Plotter Method: How Greg McLaughlin Builds Novels
If there is one term Greg McLaughlin wants readers to remember, it is hyper-plotter.
His writing process is highly structured, methodical, and deliberately front-loaded.
“I don’t start writing a single sentence or chapter until I’ve planned the theme and purpose of the novel, the opening scene, the various twists and turns, the turning point and the conclusion.”
His tools reflect that mindset.
- Microsoft Word for drafting
- Google for deep research
- Microsoft Excel for planning
Excel, in particular, plays a central role.
“I use Microsoft Excel to build a database of characters, including their names, nicknames, maiden names, places of birth, current residences, their profession, where they attended school, their eye color, hair color, height and weight, their relationships to others and about a dozen adjectives to describe their personality.”
Each chapter is outlined with precision.
“I outline each expected chapter in excel with a one to two sentence logline detailing what happens leading into the chapter, what happens throughout the chapter and how I conclude the chapter.”
He compares this approach to craftsmanship.
“I equate my process to that of a carpenter who measures twice and cuts once.”
Although this slows the start, it accelerates everything that follows.
“It allows me to write with great momentum and cohesion once I get started.”
350 Queries and the Reality of Traditional Publishing
Greg McLaughlin’s publishing journey is a lesson in patience.
When asked how many queries he sent before receiving a traditional publishing offer, his answer is blunt.
“350.”
The timeline is equally sobering.
“120 months.”
Over nearly a decade, he queried, self-published, regrouped, and tried again.
Just before COVID, he signed a contract with a small but growing publisher. Then everything collapsed.
“The owner of the publishing company got so sick, she had to fold her company and rescind her publishing contracts.”
Rather than quitting, he returned to querying.
“After 250 additional query letters, for a grand total of 350, I received another offer.”
That offer led to Heading for Home, traditionally published by Winding Road Stories.
“The experience with publisher Michael Dolan has been positive and productive, and I’m very happy with where I am as an author.”
Importantly, he does recommend his publisher to other writers.
Writing as a Serious Passion, Not a Full Time Identity
Despite his output, Greg McLaughlin does not consider himself a full time author.
“No.”
His writing income has grown steadily.
“It has grown to exceed pocket money and has become a decent percentage of my income.”
Yet he remains pragmatic.
“I still consider it vacation and luxury money, rather than coverage of my living expenses.”
This honest framing is refreshing, especially in an industry that often pressures authors to define success narrowly.
Greg McLaughlin on AI and Creative Integrity
When asked about AI in publishing, Greg McLaughlin draws a firm line.
“I am against using AI tools.”
His reasoning is thoughtful rather than reactionary.
“I feel like Big John Henry, who didn’t want to admit that a steam-powered drilling machine could dig a tunnel through a mountain better or faster than him.”
However, his stance is nuanced.
“I don’t have a problem with using AI as an aid in conducting valuable research.”
For Greg McLaughlin, AI belongs in analysis, not authorship.
“AI should drive in the lane of assisting with analytical research and information gathering but should not be used as a substitute for good old-fashioned human creativity.”
Legacy and What Comes Next for Greg McLaughlin
When asked what legacy he hopes to leave, Greg McLaughlin answers with humility.
“I hope people will continue to enjoy my writing long after I’m gone.”
And if they do not?
“I hope family and friends will remember me by my novels and enjoy the little window into my soul that my writing inspires.”
As for what is next, Greg McLaughlin is currently working on a deeply personal project.
“I’m currently half done with a thinly veiled fictionalized autobiography focused on the years in college during which I launched and managed my collaborative late-night comedy variety sketch show.”
The novel, Latest with Zachary, pays homage to the creative community that shaped him.
Final Thoughts
Greg McLaughlin’s journey reminds us that sustainable writing careers are often built quietly. They are shaped by discipline, resilience, and a willingness to keep going when the odds feel unreasonable.
For emerging writers, his story offers something far more valuable than shortcuts. It offers proof that persistence, when paired with intention, can still carve out meaningful space in publishing.
