Confessions of a Writing Addict

Need to get your character out of a bind? Here are some tips on writing escape scenes that are realistic and raise the stakes. Mentions: The Curse of Broken Shadows | Writing Fight Scenes Confession: foreshadowing the escape Email your writing confessions to author.laurawinter@gmail.com for a chance to be featured! Website | Books | Newsletter | Instagram --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/authorlaurawinter/support

Curious what Kindle Vella is? I'm talking about Amazon's new serialized storytelling platform. Mentions: The Curse of Broken Shadows Confession: celebrating wins Email your writing confessions to author.laurawinter@gmail.com for a chance to be featured! Website | Books | Newsletter | Instagram --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/authorlaurawinter/support

We're back and talking a little about social media and how to use it as an author. Mentions: The Curse of Broken Shadows (Vella, read the first three chapters free) | Star Collapsed | Discord Confession: bad at social media Email your writing confessions to author.laurawinter@gmail.com for a chance to be featured! Website | Books | Newsletter | Instagram --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/authorlaurawinter/support

I'm celebrating one year of being a full time author and two years of publishing books! I talk about some of the lessons I've learned about self-publishing. I'm taking a month off to recollect myself and catch up on words. Season 2 will be back toward the end of June so be sure to email me your writing confessions or struggles and I'll have new episodes for you! Mentions: Epic Fantasy project (Vella, read the first two chapters free) | Star Collapsed | Soul Forgotten | Passion Planner Confession: feeling defeated Email your writing confessions to author.laurawinter@gmail.com for a chance to be featured! Website | Books | Newsletter | Instagram --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/authorlaurawinter/support

How do we stay motivated as authors? How can we motivate ourselves? Mentions: Epic Fantasy project (Vella, read the first two chapters free) | Star Collapsed Confession: writing scenes for motivation Email your writing confessions to author.laurawinter@gmail.com for a chance to be featured! Website | Books | Newsletter | Instagram --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/authorlaurawinter/support

Let's talk about authentic dialogue in storytelling - making character voices stand out and helping your readers connect to the story. Mentions: Epic Fantasy project (Vella, read the first two chapters free) | The Balance of the Coilleach | Star Collapsed Confession: juggling many characters Email your writing confessions to author.laurawinter@gmail.com for a chance to be featured! Website | Books | Newsletter | Instagram --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/authorlaurawinter/support

Self publishing requires a lot of hard work. We need to keep our focus on our own work as well as the happenings in the publishing world. I talk through some strategies for things to improve your business. Mentions: Epic Fantasy project (Vella, read the first two chapters free) | The Balance of the Coilleach | Star Collapsed Confession: time management Email your writing confessions to author.laurawinter@gmail.com for a chance to be featured! Website | Books | Newsletter | Instagram --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/authorlaurawinter/support

Thank you to Kat for this podcast topic! How can we best use adjectives in our fiction writing? I give some tips on description and how to use adjectives without completely taking the reader out of the experience. Mentions: Epic Fantasy project (read the first two chapters free) Confession: using adjectives Email your writing confessions to author.laurawinter@gmail.com for a chance to be featured! Website | Books | Newsletter | Instagram --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/authorlaurawinter/support

How can we get that little voice in our head to take a hike or actually help us? I talk strategies for quieting your inner editor or getting her to work in your favor. Mentions: Star Collapsed | Free Prequel Confession: switching projects and retraining my inner editor Email your writing confessions to author.laurawinter@gmail.com for a chance to be featured! Website | Books | Newsletter | Instagram --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/authorlaurawinter/support

It's really important to develop a sustainable creative practice, but what exactly does that look like? What works for you might not work for others, but there are some key themes that can help you build a creative process that helps you stay focused, stay passionate, and have fun! Mentions: The Expanse to Donoma Confession: straying from routine Email your writing confessions to author.laurawinter@gmail.com for a chance to be featured! Website | Books | Newsletter | Instagram --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/authorlaurawinter/support

Delivering an ending, whether it's book 1 in the series or the end of a series arc, can be a challenge. I talk about wrapping up your promises and giving readers satisfaction while still setting up the next book. Mentions: Star Collapsed || Prequel Story (FREE) Confession: knowing when to end Email your writing confessions to author.laurawinter@gmail.com for a chance to be featured! Website | Books | Newsletter | Instagram --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/authorlaurawinter/support

To curse, or not to curse? I'm talking about my favorite curse word and the choices to use it in my writing. Mentions: ARC team || The Expanse to Donoma Confession: using the f-bomb in my latest work Email your writing confessions to author.laurawinter@gmail.com for a chance to be featured! Website | Books | Newsletter | Instagram --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/authorlaurawinter/support

In today's episode of "I promise I'm a writer, not a serial killer"... writing fight scenes! How do you make a compelling fight scene without describing it blow by blow? I drop some tips for ya! Mentions: Blog Confession: acting out scenes, still learning Email your writing confessions to author.laurawinter@gmail.com for a chance to be featured! Website | Books | Newsletter | Instagram --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/authorlaurawinter/support

Do you have a foggy mind? Is your heart racing? Mood darkening? Have you lost touch with reality? You might be suffering from a book hangover. Let's take a look at what happens when we finish reading (or writing) a book. Mentions: PreOrder | Blog Confession: writing hangover Email your writing confessions to author.laurawinter@gmail.com for a chance to be featured! Website | Books | Newsletter | Instagram --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/authorlaurawinter/support

You've done it! You've finished writing a book... now what? Let's talk about the process after writing 'The End' Mentions: PreOrder | Scribophile | Blog No episode next week (sorry folks) Confession: not celebrating often enough, writing hangover Email your writing confessions to author.laurawinter@gmail.com for a chance to be featured! Website | Patreon | Books | Newsletter | Instagram --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/authorlaurawinter/support

This week I'm talking about what to do when you've run out of writing ideas. Plus strategies to help you refocus on writing (or not writing, if that's what you need) and creativity. Confession: perfectionism Email your writing confessions to author.laurawinter@gmail.com for a chance to be featured! Website | Patreon | Books | Newsletter | Instagram --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/authorlaurawinter/support

Let's talk about organizing your writing ideas when you have too many and you don't know where to start. Plus, there's some helpful outlining strategies in here. Confession: prioritizing on a deadline Email your writing confessions to author.laurawinter@gmail.com for a chance to be featured! Website | Patreon | Books | Newsletter | Instagram --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/authorlaurawinter/support

Let's talk free books and hitting word counts. Plus, I dive into three things that can help you write more compelling characters so readers won't want to walk away from your novel. Soul Forgotten is FREE Feb 1-3, 2021. Be sure to grab a copy! Confession: self-doubt Email your writing confessions to author.laurawinter@gmail.com for a chance to be featured! Website | Patreon | Books | Newsletter | Instagram --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/authorlaurawinter/support

This week I talk about my race to catch up on word counts, plans for the next week (shh, a super secret project coming Feb 1), and my favorite scene from the upcoming book The Curse of Asalie. I'm also talking about point of view and perspective changes, plus how you can use them to your advantage while writing. Confession: reader expectations about POV, you can't please everyone Email your writing confessions to author.laurawinter@gmail.com for a chance to be featured! Website | Patreon | Books | Newsletter | Instagram --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/authorlaurawinter/support

This week I talk about playing catch up. I'm also pretty pumped that book 7 in the Warrior Series is done and will be out on Jan 26. I also talk about vision boards and how authors can use them to help outline their novels or have future inspiration. Writer Confession: ups and downs of the mind and the effect on creativity Email your writing confessions to author.laurawinter@gmail.com for a chance to be featured! This episode is also featured on YouTube. Website | Patreon | Books | Newsletter | Instagram --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/authorlaurawinter/support

I'm back talking about creativity tips... just in case you're like me and broke a streak. It's okay! You can get that momentum back. Writer confession: interrupted flow Email your writing confession to author.laurawinter@gmail.com Website | Patreon | Books | Newsletter | Instagram --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/authorlaurawinter/support

Let's talk about some tips for worldbuilding and how you can use your fantasy or sci-fi world to impact your story. I'm embarrassed that I can't remember Terry Pratchett's Discworld, but please forgive my scatterbrain... I just came off my first vacation / house moving / life sorting stretch. I'll also share what you can do with all this worldbuilding stuff that you create so you don't have to "waste" it. Writer confession: endless planning and cutting scenes Email your writing confession to author.laurawinter@gmail.com Website | Patreon | Books | Newsletter --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/authorlaurawinter/support

In this episode, I talk about hitting the half a million word count, dictating my fantasy novel so I can recover my work, and some of the hilarious mispronunciations of my fantasy names. Today's writing topic centers around plotting a series and the different things to have in mind when you're preparing a story. Writer confession: unnecessary pressure Email your writing confession to author.laurawinter@gmail.com Website | Patreon | Books | Newsletter --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/authorlaurawinter/support

This week I'm talking about slow progress, taking on too many projects and tasks, and, of course, reflecting on 2020. I'll walk you through how I do my yearly reflections, manage my successes and failures, and plan for the next year. Hear about my word of the year and what I have in store for 2021. Writing Confession: Trying to do too much. Music: SYML - You Knew It Was Me (EP) Email your writing confession to author.laurawinter@gmail.com Website | Patreon | Books | Newsletter --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/authorlaurawinter/support

Crazy week with Thanksgiving. I'm about 14K away from my 1/2 Million Word Goal. I have some good plans for December to take a little bit of a break... editing, writing a little slower, and focusing on getting back into the Warrior Series. Life is ramping up with house, closing, moving, and managing all of the holiday stress. Today I talk about writing emotional scenes and the scene that I wrote during NaNo that kicked my butt because I was too busy forcing things to happen. Exciting news: Book 5 of the Warrior Series, The Peace of Kallie, is out now! Writing Confession: Forcing Scenes vs Letting Characters Drive the Story. Music: FLETCHER - The S(ex) Tapes Email your writing confession to author.laurawinter@gmail.com Website | Patreon | Books | Wattpad | Newsletter --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/authorlaurawinter/support

This week on Confessions of a Writing Addict, I talk about nearing the end of my NaNo project, as in THE END of the book (free on Wattpad). I also share some life updates about buying a house, not knowing about a new computer, and praying to the writing and computer gods that my backup drive isn't corrupted like the files I tried to transfer to Dropbox. I also share my experience writing strong female characters and why I think it's important. Strong female characters mentioned: Finnley | Remy | Kahyr | Kiya & Isobel Exciting news: Book 5 of the Warrior Series, The Peace of Kallie, comes out tomorrow! Writing Confession: Endings suck. Email your writing confession to author.laurawinter@gmail.com Website | Patreon | Books | Wattpad | Newsletter --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/authorlaurawinter/support

This week on Confessions of a Writing Addict, I talk about plummeting word counts, an exciting scene in my WIP, posting my NaNo project as I write it (free on Wattpad), and my mantra for getting through some tough spots... of which I'm really struggling with. Writing Confession: I absolutely don't want to write. Email your writing confession to author.laurawinter@gmail.com Website | Patreon | Books | Wattpad | Newsletter --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/authorlaurawinter/support

This week on Confessions of a Writing Addict, I update you on word counts, short stories, published novels, and my NaNoWriMo novel (which you can read for free over on Wattpad). In fun news, my 10 year old computer went kaputz this weekend so I'm managing on my backup tech which thankfully still works. I also talk about passion projects, how mine has really helped me survive some crazy times, and how imperfection is beautiful to share. My writer confessions: the muddy middle and my inner critic decided to show up at the same time! I'll let you know how I'm staying accountable and pushing through. Links: Website | Patreon | Books | Wattpad | Newsletter --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/authorlaurawinter/support

Welcome to Confessions of a Writing Addict, hosted by said writing addict Laura Winter. I'm a self-published author (YA, fantasy, romance) who controls every bit of my writing and publishing process and I'm excited to share some writing obsessions, music obsessions, new things in the writing world, and tips to help your writing. Of course, there will always be confessions from my deepest, darkest writing soul... so you've been warned. Subscribe and stay tuned for awesome updates. You can check out other material on my website. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/authorlaurawinter/support