...and it's writing.

A quick update on the recent delay in episode uploads and plans moving forward. The podcast isn't saying goodbye, but we'll be taking a bit of a breather to do some catching up (and meeting some other deadlines!). Moving forward, we may explore doing the "seasons" setup where we take breaks between batches of episodes, but we'll keep you updated once we settle on a schedule. Thank you so much for sticking with us, and we appreciate you all!

Amy sits down for a chat with author Harvey Oliver Baxter about writing aromantic and asexual characters in fiction. We discuss some of our fave characters, least fave tropes, and more. Harvey Oliver Baxter is the author of Fallen Thorns, available now.   Find Harvey online: Instagram: @lastvanillasmile TikTok: @authorhobaxter ----more---- Episode Drink: 2oz gin 1.5oz sweet red vermouth 2oz ruby red grapefruit juice .5oz grenadine* 2 dashes angostura bitters Optional: mint leaf for garnish *Get the real pomegranate stuff if you can, or you can make your own by heating equal parts 100% unsweetened pomegranate juice and granulated sugar until the sugar dissolves. You can also substitute with creme de cassis or creme de mure if needed. 1) Shake all in cocktail shaker with ice 2) Double strain into chilled coupe glass 3) Optional: garnish with a mint leaf

Amy discusses the miscommunication trope with fellow writer Lesia, which includes our fave (and least fave) ways it can be incorporated, as well as a bit of shared glee over character angst. Follow Lesia on Instagram

Amy and guest Fiona Fenn discuss fanfiction! They chat about their personal ties to fanfic, as well as shifting perceptions in the traditional publishing industry, and how the community aspect differs between fanfic and trad-pub. Fiona is the author of the upcoming fantasy novel, The Crack at the Heart of Everything, available for pre-order now!   Find Fiona online here: Website Twitter Instagram TikTok

Amy is joined by guest co-host Abi to discuss love triangles (or assorted other shapes). We discuss the "why not all" option, when a love triangle/polygon may actually help serve the plot, and our best tips for making them feel authentic. Follow Fledgling Books here!

Historical mystery author Jenny Adams joins Amy for a discussion about what it's been like pivoting from young adult fantasy to adult historical mystery, as well as sharing some advice for others thinking about expanding into other genres. Jenny is the author of the debut adult historical mystery novel A Deadly Endeavor, available now!   Find Jenny Adams and her books online: Linktree Learn more about A Deadly Endeavor and order it here!

Amy sits down with author T.L. Simpson to discuss his YA contemporary debut novel, Strong Like You. We discuss what it's like to tackle darker themes in YA, how journalistic writing can help with fiction, and share a minor digression on a little childhood toy nostalgia. Find T.L. Simpson online: Website: tlsimpson.net Instagram: @word_factory21 Facebook: tlsimpson21 Find Strong Like You on Amazon here Strong Like You book cover illustration by Caitlin O'Dwyer

In this special guest episode, Amy sits down with author Jaq Evans to discuss what it's like juggling projects, working with publishing deadlines and long silences, as well as giving yourself grace when choosing which book to work on. Jaq Evans is the author of the adult horror novel What Grows in the Dark, releasing on March 5, 2024. Find Jaq online: Twitter: @jaqwrites Instagram @anomisting Website: jaqevans.com

In this episode, Amy and D.C. chat with special guest Brigitta Estelle Burguess, author of Swipe Up For Secrets. We discuss keeping a positive outlook on writing, marketing a self-published book, and what it's like maintaining a writing career as a parent. Find Brigitta and her book online: Swipe Up For Secrets Instagram Twitter/X

What do you do when the muse isn't singing and the motivation just isn't sparking? Amy and D.C. discuss some of their favorite tips for getting the mojo back.

When should you interact with your readers, and when should you keep out of reader spaces? Today, Amy and D.C. discuss this touchy topic.

How can you make sure your subplots weave in with your main plot, how do they tie in to characters, and why is that important? Amy and D.C. discuss.

Amy and D.C. discuss the ugliness of publishing insecurities and professional jealousy, as well as sharing our best tips for keeping them at bay. We also talk about the importance of community and supporting other authors. (Yes, this might be spurred on by the recent review-bombing mess in December 2023).

Amy's book, The Longest Autumn, comes out tomorrow (if you're listening to this episode on the day it drops)! Amy and D.C. take a look back to discuss how a book gets to print, her journey to publication and what a long, strange trip it's been. To learn more about The Longest Autumn (or to order it), click here. ----more---- Drink Recipes: Cocktail: 2oz apple cider (the good cloudy stuff that's only squished apples) 2oz pumpkin spice syrup 1.5oz rye whiskey .5oz whipped cream vodka 1 dash angostura bitters Stir with ice for about 30 seconds or until well chilled Strain over fresh crushed ice. Mocktail: 2oz apple cider (the good cloudy stuff that's only squished apples) 2oz pumpkin spice syrup 2oz ginger beer Stir apple cider and pumpkin spice syrup with ice for about 30 seconds or until well combined and chilled. Strain over fresh crushed ice in a highball glass. Top with ginger beer and give a light, quick stir.

Avery (now Amy) and D.C. discuss writing multiple timelines or flashbacks in a story. We chat about some possible best practices, finding the right reader for a multi-timeline story, and some of our favorite (and least favorite) examples. (Side note: This episode was originally recorded in October of 2023 but Amy just now got around to editing it, so the "what we're reading and working on" sections are a glimpse into Past Us)

Some updates about what the podcast will look like in 2024, news about Amy's book release (January 16th, aaaa!), and a replay of one of our most popular episodes: "Invisible, Lyrical, and Purple Prose".   Tour dates mentioned: Tuesday January 16th at 6pm - Wichita, KS, Watermark Books & Cafe with KT Hanna, author of numerous fantasy, dystopian, and LitRPG books Wednesday January 17th at 7pm - Tulsa, OK, Magic City Books  Thursday January 25th at 7pm - Lawrence, KS, The Raven Bookstore with Megan Bannen, author of The Undertaking of Hart & Mercy Monday January 29th at 6:30pm - Ann Arbor, MI, Literati Bookstore with Genevieve Gornichec, author of The Witch's Heart and The Weaver & The Witch Queen Find out more about THE LONGEST AUTUMN or pre-order at this link!  

Hi! We'll be taking a break for the month of December while we do some recalibrating, but we'll be back to our regularly scheduled weekly programming in January!

Amy and D.C. discuss some techniques and tricks for making memorable and three-dimensional side characters.

Your story's theme is its heart, but how do you find yours or decide on one? In this episode, D.C. and Avery discuss the ways in which your throughline and theme play together to underscore your book's core message.----more---- Books mentioned: The Longest Autumn, by Amy Avery A River Enchanted, by Rebecca Ross A Song of Ice and Fire series, by George R. R. Martin Yellowface, by R. F. Kuang Howl's Moving Castle, by Diana Wynne Jones The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins

So you've finished the initial rush of those first chapters and you're reaching the middle of your story when you hit that wall: the Murky Middle. Today, D.C. and Avery discuss some tips and tricks to get over the mental hurdles and craft-based befuddlement of your book's second act.

You know those extra italicized sentences at the top of chapters? Today Avery and DC talk about epigraphs. Why would you want to use them and what pitfalls should you avoid? They also dip their toes (see what I did there) into footnotes.   Books Mentioned: The Stormlight Archive Series, by Brandon Sanderson The Farseer Trilogy, by Robin Hobb The Rain Wild Chronicles, by Robin Hobb Babel, by R.F. Kuang Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, by Susanna Clarke The Princess Bride, by William Goldman

Avery and D.C. discuss how they decide which character should be the main point-of-view, when to choose multiple POVs, and how to decide which POV per scene. Books Mentioned: One of Us is Lying, by Karen McManus As I Lay Dying, by William Faulkner Spinning Silver, by Naomi Novik Gone Girl, by Gillian Flynn

Avery and D.C. sit down with Chase Neely, marketing expert and author of the book Every Step Counts: Your Guide to the Challenging Path of Marketing a Book, to discuss that very topic. We share some laughs as we chat about platform, ads, building a brand, networking, hosting events, and more. Find out more about Chase and Leverage Brands here.   Books mentioned: Every Step Counts: Your Guide to the Challenging Path of Marketing a Book, by David Loy and Chase Neely Once There Were Wolves, by Charlotte McConaghy A Court of Silver Flames, by Sarah J. Maas It's Not Hysteria: Everything You Need to Know About Your Gynecologic Health (but Were Never Told), by Dr. Karen Tang (Instagram) Leverage Brands invitation to discuss your own marketing: Leveragebrands.co/pod 

When rewriting, how do you handle the creeping fear that you're ruining your book? Amy and D.C. discuss their own struggles with those doubts and some techniques for working through them.

When should you set a book aside, and how do you decide if it should be temporary or permanent? Amy and DC discuss their trunked books, ones they should have trunked, and what it's like to pull one out of the trunk.

Avery and D.C. are back! We review two more submissions as well as a surprise third excerpt.  ----more---- Drink Recipes: Corpse Reviver No 2 From the Savoy Cocktail Book 1oz Lillet Blanc (can substitute St Germain elderflower liqueur) 1oz Cointreau or Triple Sec 1oz Lemon Juice 1oz London Dry Gin Dash absinthe Rinse the inside of a chilled coupe or cocktail glass with absinthe, discard the excess and set the glass aside. Add the gin, Lillet blanc, orange liqueur and lemon juice into a shaker with ice and shake until well-chilled. Strain into the prepared glass. Mocktail To prepare Fennel/Anise syrup: ½ cup water ½ cup sugar 2 pieces star anise (can substitute ½ tsp fennel) Heat all together in saucepan over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the sugar melts completely Remove from heat, cover, and let cool (about 30-45 minutes). Drink Recipe: 2oz strong earl grey tea, cooled .75oz anise or fennel syrup .75oz honey 1oz lemon juice Shake all well with ice Strain over fresh ice in a rocks glass ----more---- Books mentioned: Once There Were Wolves, by Charlotte McConaghy Thistlefoot, by GennaRose Nethercott

Avery and D.C. discuss a few of the things they wish they had known earlier in their writing and publishing journeys.

Avery and D.C. discuss the evolution of their own writing processes, and what considerations they made that might help you refine your own process in a way that works best for you.

What is a reverse outline, and how can it help streamline your writing process? Avery and D.C. discuss their approaches to this revision technique.

Avery and D.C. celebrate passing the 100th-episode milestone by editing submissions sent in by YOU, our listeners! ----more---- Drink Recipe: Bermuda Hundred 1.5oz Gin .75oz Campari 1.5oz Pineapple Juice .5oz Fresh Lime Juice .5oz Orgeat Combine all in shaker with ice Shake well Pour into chilled rocks glass over ice Optional: Garnish with a cherry

Should you review other writers' books if you are also an author? D.C. and Avery discuss this sticky situation and our feelings on the topic.

What happens if you and your agent part ways, for any reason? In this episode, D.C. and Avery discuss the possible circumstances that could lead to an agent break-up, and what the options are in that situation.

Avery and D.C. talk with some special guests about Elixir Writing Retreats! They're joined by Elixir founder Daniel Waldman, author Donna Barba Higuera, and literary agent Allison Remcheck. Together, they discuss how Elixir Writing Retreats got started, what one of their retreats entails, and also talk about monkey etiquette (it makes sense, we promise!) Links: Elixir Writing Retreats Website Elixir Writing Retreats Instagram Donna Barba Higuera's Website Donna Barba Higuera on Instagram More about Alebrijes, Donna's book discussed in this episode Allison Remcheck at Stimola Literary Allison Remcheck at Twitter

Avery and D.C. discuss how they decide which book ideas to pursue, and how to decide if an idea is actually a novel or not.

Avery and D.C. discuss why you need to do research as an author, no matter your genre. We also chat about places to find information and our approaches to research.

Avery and D.C. discuss their experiences at conferences and workshops. They'll go over what to expect, where to find them, and how to get the most out of them, as well as outlining the differences between the two.   Additional Resources: AWP Writing Conference directory Virtual Bookish Events Weekly Newsletter, by Sarah N. Fisk Local and Regional Writers Organizations and Events (USA Only)

Avery and D.C. discuss author sites: what to include, where to build them, and our best tips and tricks. We also discuss using your site metrics while querying, and take a nostalgic walk through web design trends of a bygone era.

Avery and D.C. discuss how to grab a reader's attention with a great opening line and first pages. ----more---- Mentioned in this episode: American Gods, by Neil Gaiman Dark Places, by Gillian Flynn The Last Tale of the Flower Bride, by Roshani Chokshi One of Us is Lying, by Karen M. McManus The Spear Cuts Through Water, by Simon Jimenez The Restaurant at the End of the Universe, by Douglas Adams ----more---- Drink Recipe: Gingerbread House Martini 1 oz gold rum 2 oz Baileys Irish Cream ¼ oz ginger syrup ½ oz cinnamon syrup Optional: Rim coupe glass with crushed graham crackers. Shake all well with ice, then double-strain into a coupe glass.

What makes a great title? Avery and D.C. explore the topic using some of our favorites as examples, and share a few tips for how we come up with our own.

Avery and D.C. review a passage from Avery's old writing and discuss their best tips for describing your characters. Mentioned: Writing the Other ----more---- Drink recipe: Gold-Flecked Eyes Shot 1oz Goldschlager 1oz Blue Curacao Pour Blue Curacao in shot glass Carefully layer goldschlager on top by pouring slowly over the back of a spoon  

In which Avery and D.C. discuss the harm in comparing yourself to other writers, and how they combat those creeping doubts.

Avery and D.C. discuss what it's like to treat your writing like a job and ways their writing process has changed as they pursue author careers.

D.C. and Avery discuss how to read fiction more closely to study craft. We discuss our favorite tricks for dissecting your favorite books, and also the merits of analyzing books you hate.

Avery and D.C. discuss our favorite and least favorite unreliable narrators, tips for writing one, and some possible pitfalls.

D.C. and Avery discuss the phenomenon of repackaging fanfiction as original work. Is it really as derivative as some say, and how close is too close for comfort when it comes to borrowing characters?

D.C. and Avery discuss writing an author bio for your query letter, website, or book jacket copy. What should you include? How do you write a bio without previous publication or credentials?

Sometimes as your writing skills level up, it can become harder and harder to write that first draft of new projects. Avery and D.C. discuss this dilemma and how they've worked to solve it.

We heard Avery and D.C. discuss filter words on this podcast episode. What are they, and how can they bog down your writing? We revise one of Avery's old excerpts to demonstrate. ----more---- Drink: "Double Filtered" 1oz Peanut-butter fat-washed rye whiskey (for more on the process, click here) 3oz Cold-brew coffee .5oz maple syrup Stir all with ice in mixing glass. Strain into a rocks glass with a large ice cube.

D.C. and Avery chat with A.Z. Louise about writing poetry, what it's like writing while neurodivergent, and gush a little about fountain pens. Mentioned in the episode: A.Z. Louise's Website The Submission Grinder Writer Beware Poem by A.Z. Louise: She's Not a Phoenix

What does it mean to make promises in your book, and how does that differ from foreshadowing? In this episode, D.C. and Avery discuss both. ----more---- Drink Pairing: Pinky Promise 2oz Gin 2-3 Strawberries (muddled) 2 chunks (1-inch-ish cubes) Watermelon (muddled) 4-5 Leaves Basil .5oz Simple Syrup 1oz Lemon Juice Muddle strawberries and watermelon in the bottom of your shaker tin Add other ingredients Shake well Double-strain into a coupe or martini glass

Why should your characters suffer? D.C. and Avery discuss how your characters' suffering translates in different genres, how it can add tension, and various ways to torment your characters.