No Write Way with Victoria V.E. Schwab

Ready for a peek at my new book? In this bonus episode I read aloud the chapter before the first chapter (let's call it the 0 chapter) of The Fragile Threads of Power. Best listened to right after the entire readalong because it picks up right where A Conjuring of Light ends! NOTE- This episode might sound a bit different because we lost some sound files on a failed hard drive. Hope you can still enjoy it!

Its the episode of the Shades of Magic Readalong! This time we will finish A Conjuring of light. Thomas suggests that you grab a pillow or a friend to snuggle during this episode because there are SO MANY FEELINGS!

This week we cover A Conjuring of Light parts 8-10. So much Holland backstory, Lila gets in a bit too deep, and something is revealed about The Fragile Threads of Power! NOTE- This episode might sound a bit different from the others and that is because we lost some audio files on a hard drive that failed... Hope you can still enjoy it!

Join me as I chat my way through parts 4-7 of A Conjuring of Light. Holland is having a horrible time (per usual), Kell is on a high horse, Lila is eternally exacerbated, and there is a small creepy child!

It's time for A Conjuring of Light! And let me tell you, its gets worse before it gets easier for this crew. Buckle up! This episode covers parts 1-3.

Let's finish A Gathering of Shadows, shall we?

Welcome to episode 5! It's time for parts 4-7 of A Gathering of Shadows. Arrivals, disguises, ships in the night, and of course, Holland.

It's time to begin A Gathering of Shadows! More Thomas, a little bit of Chauncey, and we meet Alucard! Lila starts learning magic, and Kell is ornery (typical...) This episode covers parts 1-3.

This week we cover parts 10-14 of A Darker Shade of Magic! I can't believe its the end of the first book. My cats also make an appearance this week. Warning- I started swearing more in this episode, so discretion is advised.

Ready for more? In today's episode we cover parts 5-9 of A Darker Shade of Magic! Get a cup of tea, find a cozy chair, and let me tell you a story. :)

Welcome to A Darker Shade of Magic! In this episode I cover parts 1-4 of the first book in the Shades of Magic trilogy.

An introduction to how this readalong works.

LAST* EPISODE OF SEASON ONE!!!!!!!From learning disability to award winning author, living and working in Hong Kong, io9 and other work, novel vs. short story, revisiting old ideas, second guessing, explorative writing, dialogue, scriptwriting, description and scene setting, getting emotion on the page, daily routine, and more! Listen in. This originally streamed 8/22/2020 on Instagram live.Follow Victoria @veschwabFollow Charlie Jane @charliejaneanders*the final episode of season 1 was with Nic Stone (@nicstone) on 8/29/2020. Unfortunately, the interview was immediately deleted when Instagram crashed :(

Hydrate!, growing up around books, editing, negative feedback, short stories, getting an agent, using spreadsheets to track novel writing, idea cook time, {technical difficulties in the episode mean a mini-q&a with V!}, setting as character, juggling projects, work-life balance, daily schedule, and more! Listen in. This originally streamed 8/15/2020 on Instagram live.Follow Victoria @veschwabFollow Sarah @gaileyfrey

Rethinking social media, using mythology for personal catharsis, visiting a psychic, becoming a published author, finishing a trilogy, talking the story out, 9 box setup, outlining, growing as a writer, rewriting, breaking down goals, empowering upcoming writers, new vampires, and more! Listen in. This originally streamed 8/8/2020 on Instagram live.Follow Victoria @veschwabFollow Natalie @ncparker

Book lengths, second book syndrome, starting with fanfiction, getting feedback, the pressure and psychology of being published young, working on multiple projects, structural edits, starting with a synopsis and a chapter plan, character arc, using music to build character and setting, drafting troubles, tracking character experience, attempting to finding balance, and more! Listen in.This originally streamed 8/1/2020 on Instagram live.Follow Victoria @veschwabFollow Samantha @say_shannon

Getting into comics through Sailor Moon, building art and story skills, choosing which details to track and develop, illustration vs. comics, day to day process of creating a graphic novel, pushing through doubt to finish, challenges of comics, reference and inspiration, illustrating Wonder Woman, consistency and artistic "glow-ups", dream projects and stories, cheat codes, and more! Listen in. This originally streamed 7/25/2020 on Instagram live.Follow Victoria S. @veschwabFollow Victoria Y. @victoriaying

Life in lockdown, from fan fiction to publication, inspired by Scrivener, writing out of order, on connecting with her Chinese heritage, second book syndrome, the story begins with an argument, complicated history leads to naturally complicated characters, changing personal perspectives and how that effects writing, moving on from a series, keeping promises, not forcing a scene, getting inspired and recharged, and more! Listen in. This originally streamed 7/18/2020 on Instagram live.Follow Victoria @veschwabFollow Rebecca @kuangrf

Victoria chats about current reads and favorite books before being joined by her guest.How Michael's dreams of acting first left writing on the back burner and then led to other creative ventures, the role of desperation and fear, hands in all the "cookie pies", learning to open up, writing children's books, the creative process, discipline and cultivation, trusting the process, first drafts and revisions, being a public figure in the social media age, and more! Listen in. This originally streamed 7/11/2020 on Instagram live.Follow Victoria @veschwabFollow Michael @michaelianblack

First grade dreams, fear of starting, the first novel, letting ideas simmer, drafting and revision, shiny idea syndrome, discipline, process, writing linearly, best night time note taking practices, self-care, the importance of diverse stories of discovery and exploration, writing trilogies and satisfying conclusions, telling stories with integrity, and more! Listen in. This originally streamed 7/5/2020 on Instagram live.Follow Victoria @veschwabFollow Kiersten @authorkierstenwhite

Advocating for romance, romance covers and meeting reader expectations, writing quick and writing good, the business of the work, being a reader first, getting started on a dare, putting passion on the page, luck and timing, trad vs indie, from idea to page, never too much conflict, changing trends and a brief history of romance, and more! Listen in. This originally streamed 6/27/2020 on Instagram live.Follow Victoria @veschwabFollow Sarah @sarahmacleanFollow Fated Mates Podcast @fatedmatespod

Working from home with family, accountability, from dreams of being a doctor to librarian to author, ambition, the journey to published, Cake Literary, choosing projects, Tiny Pretty Things (the Netflix show!), visualizing the narrative, refilling the well, using discomfort to unlock story, the illusion of meritocracy, #publishingpaidme, the market, why publish traditionally?, and more! Listen in. This originally streamed 6/20/2020 on Instagram live.Follow Victoria @veschwabFollow Dhonielle @brownbookworm

Lock down hair, connecting with international fans, figuring things out on the page, arts funding makes a difference, getting to Spiderwick, Holly's first book, otter vs dolphin writers, follow your own excitement, supernatural worlds, fantasy vs horror, plot struggles, from idea to story, characters, short stories, This originally streamed 6/13/2020 on Instagram live.Follow Victoria @veschwabFollow Holly @blackholly

20 Books by Black Authors You Should Read***A GOOD KIND OF TROUBLE by Lisa Moore Ramée TRISTAN STRONG by Kwame Mbalia AMERICAN STREET by Ibi ZoboiTHE BELLES by Dhonielle Clayton A PHOENIX FIRST MUST BURN anthology edited by Patrice Caldwell THE GOOD LUCK GIRLS by Charlotte Nicole Davis RIOT BABY by Tochi OnyebuchiTHE CHANGELING by Victor LaValle THE HUNDRED THOUSAND KINGDOMS by N.K. JemisonUNKINDNESS OF GHOSTS by Rivers Solomon THE RECORD KEEPER by Agnes Gomillion REAL LIFE by Brandon Taylor THE WEDDING DATE by Jasmine GuilloryWE ARE NEVER MEETING IN REAL LIFE by Samantha Irby WHEN THEY CALL YOU A TERRORIST by Patrisse Khan-Cullors HERE FOR IT by R. Eric Thomas YOU CANT TOUCH MY HAIR by Phoebe Robinson GROWN by Tiffany D Jackson RING SHOUT by P. Djèlí ClarkTROUBLE THE SAINTS by Alaya Dawn JohnsonThis originally streamed 6/6/2020 on Instagram live.Follow Victoria @veschwab

How anime impacts Tochi's creativity, the hope behind protest movements, from aspiring comic book artist to author, starting with fanfic, influence of video games, remembering the analog days, hidden influences, beautiful prose, writer crushes, story architecture, rejection, and more! Listen in.This originally streamed 5/30/2020 on Instagram live.Follow Victoria @veschwabFollow Tochi @treize64

Allowing time to freak out in order maintain creativity, flexing creative muscles to build craft, series cancellation, fetishizing the debut moment, getting to The End, short stories vs novels, revising, plot, hierarchy of needs in story, playing with format and structure, choosing genre, idea file, and more! Listen in.This originally streamed 5/23/2020 on Instagram live.Follow Victoria @veschwabFollow Tessa @tessa.gratton

Working without pre-pandemic crutches, doomsday clock, Erin Sterling, writing Hex Hall, the fickleness of the industry, writing queer fiction, a new Jane Eyre and writing for hire, the creative process, creative cryptonite, work life balance, and more. Listen in!This originally streamed 5/16/2020 on Instagram live.Follow Victoria @veschwabFollow Rachel @ladyhawkins

Is Pierce an outliner now?! Should authors also be marketing mavens? How do you continue writing a series while growing artistically? If Pierce never wrote again after finishing Red Rising would he be satisfied? Crow fights? Listen in.This originally streamed 5/9/2020 on Instagram live.Follow Victoria @veschwabFollow Pierce piercebrownofficial

Meet the Porgs, debut groups and publishing mortality, writing camp, moving beyond "we already have a latinio writer", merpenis (cryptzoology), juggling projects and plotting, ovoiding overplotting, writing should never make you unhappy, refilling the creative well, creating when the world is in chaos, focus, books as horcruxes, and more! Listen in.This originally streamed 5/2/2020 on Instagram live.Follow Victoria @veschwabFollow Zoraida @zoraidasolo

A daylight savings snaffu means readers get a bonus 15 minute q&a session before the interview starts!Learning story through advertising, visualizing, co-writing, putting on the final polish, the mental game, pressure after success, the mystery of acclaim and sales, leaving a series behind, writing in different mediums, keeping writing fun, developing healthy writing habits, romance, and more! Listen in.This originally streamed 4/25/2020 on Instagram live.Follow Victoria @veschwabFollow Jay @misterkristoff

The benefits and challenges of writing fantasy, being told you aren't good enough, pantsing, standalones vs series, writing the end, daily writing hours, when the book just isn't working, workahilsm and balance, creativity and responsibility, finding your voice, co-writing, and more. Listen in.This originally streamed 4/18/2020 on Instagram live.Follow Victoria @veschwabFollow J.T. @thrillerchick

Sarah Maria Griff talks stubborn creativity, finding success the back way, reading your work out loud to find your writing voice, zine drops, the raw power of truth and fear, worst advice, and more. Listen in.This originally streamed 4/11/2020 on Instagram live.Follow Victoria @veschwabFollow Sarah @sarahgriffskiWE FACE THIS LANDCenturies ago,Women accused of witchcraft faced, amongst other ordeals,Trial by waterTied to a chair or run under a boatIf she survives the drowning and floatsShe’s a witch. If she dies, she’s a womanWe are not witches but if the church and state insistsThen let us be the descendants of all the witches they could not drownThis heirloom of trauma, this curseThis agony of water in order to hold agency over our bodiesNot all of us have survived, the waves do not partThere are no miracles hereWhen the stethoscope is a crucifix on your bellyHow do you have any choice but the waterAnd fair medical treatment on anotherA body is a body is a body is a body is a body is a body is a bodyNot a house. Not a city. Not a vessel, not a countryThe laws of the church have no place on your fleshA veterinarian will abort a calf if a cow is falling ill. How is it that livestock isworth more to this land than usEleven women every day leave Ireland seeking an abortion abroad.We ask for the land over the water. Home over trial. Choice over none.For our foremothers, ourselves, the generations yet to comeWitches or women - these are our bodies which shall not be given up

Chuck is the guinea pig for No Write Way, weird jobs, bad novels, outlines, reviews, edit letters, writer friends vs non-writer friends, multi-tasking, accepting feedback and more. Listen in.This originally streamed April 2020 on Instagram live.Follow Victoria @veschwabFollow Chuck @chuck_wendig