PubCrawl Podcast

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Authors & publishing pros blogging about all things reading, writing, books, and booze. Reading You Under The Table Since 2012.

Pub(lishing) Crawl


    • May 31, 2019 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 1h 6m AVG DURATION
    • 96 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from PubCrawl Podcast

    90. Author Career: Public Persona

    Play Episode Listen Later May 31, 2019 66:15


    JJ and Kelly start a new series on Author Career, talking today about Author Persona--how do you craft one, and why should you craft one in the first place?

    89. How to Craft a Pitch (For Twitter Pitch Contests)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 17, 2019 84:08


    Kelly and JJ share all their tips and tricks for crafting pitches for Twitter Pitch Contests. How can you distill your book into 280 characters? We've got some ideas!

    88. Deep Dive into Children's Publishing II: MG vs. YA

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2019 63:47


    JJ and Kelly continue to break down children's publishing by taking a closer look at MG and YA.

    87. Deep Dive into Children's Publishing I: Overview

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 31, 2019 95:13


    JJ and Kelly start a new multi-episode series about children's publishing! From Picture Books all the way through New Adult and YA/Adult crossover titles, let's break down all the ins and outs of the fastest growing categories in publishing.

    86. Catching Up on Q&A

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2019 83:25


    It's Q&A time! Should published authors review on Goodreads? Are you ever too old to launch a publishing career? How do you deal with rejection? JJ and Kelly answer these questions and more in today's episode.

    85. We're Back!

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2019 74:26


    The PubCrawl podcast is officially back! JJ and Kelly reunite with a sprawling discussion about organization and goal setting as it applies to writing and publishing. JJ has kicked her reading rut at last, and Kelly is deeply in love with spreadsheets, per usual. We missed you!

    Announcement: Upcoming First Pages Live Show!

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 2018 13:40


    Popping back in to announce that we're kicking off the quarterly First Pages Live Critique for Patreon supporters on December 8th. You can submit your page for critique to publishingcrawl@gmail.com. The podcast proper will be retuning in the New Year, and we can't wait!

    Updates & Announcements!

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 4, 2018 19:41


    After seven months long unintended absence, JJ and Kelly are BACK! (Well, we will be shortly, at any rate). Tune in for some exciting announcements about the future of the Pub Crawl Podcast! PS. we've really, really missed you.

    84. Reviews

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2018 70:23


    This week JJ and Kelly talk reviews, publishing's necessary evil. Bottom line? Reviews are not for authors. Repeat: REVIEWS ARE NOT FOR AUTHORS.

    83. Publishing Relationships

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 15, 2018 73:11


    This week Kelly and JJ discuss Publishing Relationships, or how connections help the industry move forward. Also what happens if you get orphaned by your editor, if your agent isn't interested in representing your project, and more.

    82. Crafting Characters: Arcs

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2018 64:19


    This week JJ and Kelly conclude their Crafting Characters series with NARRATIVE ARCS. Apologies for sounding scatterbrained; JJ was up until the wee hours trying (and failing) to kill a video game boss while Kelly has the plague.

    81. Crafting Characters: Relationships

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2018 62:13


    This week Kelly and JJ continue with their Crafting Characters series with RELATIONSHIPS. If a tree falls in the middle of a wood and no one hears it, does it make a sound? If a character is fully realized but has no other characters to witness it, are they truly three-dimensional?

    80. Crafting Characters: Strengths & Weaknesses

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 18, 2018 77:37


    After another unplanned hiatus, JJ and Kelly are back once again! (We'll never be gone forever, don't worry.) This week they continue their series on characterization, this time focusing on STRENGTHS & WEAKNESSES or personality traits.

    79. Crafting Characters

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 15, 2017 68:02


    This week Kelly and JJ discuss HOW to write compelling characters. Once again, we talk way too much about Dragon Age and Life is Strange.

    78. So You've Published a Book—Now What?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2017 94:03


    So what is life like after your first book comes out, or as Kelly would say, when you're no longer the baby of the family? This week JJ and Kelly talk about expectations and the things that change in your life once you become published. As per usual, they are On Brand with some downer talk, but hey, you love listening to us for this, right? ...right? Also, be prepared for so much discussion of the Dragon Age video games. Lots of games, actually!

    77. Conferences & Festivals

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2017 71:01


    The Thanksgiving holidays are over so we are back to a regular posting schedule! This week Kelly and JJ are discussing Conferences and Festivals: what they are, which ones are worth attending depending where you are in your career, etc.

    76. We're Back!

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2017 63:53


    WE'RE BACK! JJ and Kelly have at long last found a way to be together...on the metaphorical airwaves, so to speak. Some catching and answering of questions are owed y'all. We think this is the return to our regularly scheduled podcast episodes, so stay tuned!

    Not Dead, Just Sleeping

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2017 3:16


    Whoops. We kinda vanished on you.

    75. Q&A!

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 8, 2017 62:11


    Kelly and JJ answer questions this week! What does it mean when an agent or editor follows you on twitter? How can you be an effective moderator for a panel? How can you cancel your book contract or break up with your agent? You've got questions, we've got answers!

    74. Archetypes: The Coming of Age Narrative

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2017 59:56


    JJ and Kelly wrap up their Summer of Archetypes with Coming of Age narratives! Did you read and love The Pigman in middle school? We did. Also, we can't help but discuss the Handbook for Mortals/NYT Bestseller List shenanigans! If this episode seems particularly choppy, that's because we were interrupted several times by Kelly's 3 year old daughter, who makes a guest appearance in the bloopers.

    73. Archetypes - Cataclysms and Survival Stories

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 24, 2017 56:10


    This week, Kelly and JJ are still chatting about Archetypes with a discussion of Cataclysm and Survival Stories. These narratives highlight humankind's innate resourcefulness and desire to survive. We're the cockroaches of the universe!

    72. Archetypes: Redemption and Revenge

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 22, 2017 57:56


    Hey guys! Our apologies for the late episode; while JJ is working on revising SHADOWSONG Kelly is taking over editing duties, and her technical ineptitude, plus ancient equipment, plus mercury in retrograde all conspired against us. Thanks for your patience! This week we're talking about some of our favorite core narratives: Redemption and Revenge.

    71. Archetypes: Heist Narratives

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 10, 2017 62:00


    This week Kelly and JJ continue their Summer of Archetypes with HEIST NARRATIVES. We're cheating a bit as Heist Narratives are really more of a plot construction than an ARCHETYPE, per se, but we wanted to talk about movies and stories we love! Also a tangent into the adventure genre of story, a la Indiana Jones, and...a lot of Nic Cage's filmography.

    70. Archetypes: Oppressed vs. Oppressor

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2017 72:18


    This week JJ and Kelly discuss Robin Hood-type narratives, or The Oppressed vs. the Oppressor. As per usual, it is tangent heavy on other things we like (plus JJ is loopy from Too Much People-ing), like the Trickster archetype. Also JJ reveals her unfounded bias against Dan Stevens.

    69. Archetypes: Romance Narratives

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 27, 2017 57:45


    This week Kelly and JJ (with surprise guest Beth Revis, New York Times bestselling author of the Across the Universe trilogy and Star Wars: Rebel Rising) continue their Summer of Archetypes series with ROMANCE NARRATIVES. If the conversation is a bit incoherent this week, it's because JJ is—once again—podcasting from the road (this time San Diego Comic-Con). Kelly and JJ discuss their favorite types of romances and whether or not romantic narratives fall into a Conflict-based narrative or an Evolution-based narrative. Also, lots of tangents this week, sorry!

    68. Archetypes: The Fatal Flaw

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 20, 2017 47:45


    This week JJ and Kelly continue their Summer of Archetypes series with The Fatal Flaw! Some museum recommendations! Hamilton also makes a reappearance!

    67. Archetypes: The Chosen One

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 13, 2017 54:37


    This week Kelly and JJ kick off their Summer of Archetypes with The Chosen One. What constitutes a Chosen One narrative? What are some examples? What are examples of a subverted Chosen One? CAN you truly subvert a Chosen One narrative? Also, our gripes with the TV show LOST.

    66. Query Critique III

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 6, 2017 62:01


    This week JJ and Kelly run another query critique podcast! The quality of the submissions were pretty high all around, so barring a few nitpicks, we encourage y'all to keep querying! Also, lots and lots of fangirling over the Netflix original show GLOW.

    65. Archetypes, Stereotypes, & Tropes

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 29, 2017 68:35


    This week, Kelly and JJ give a little overview about archetypes, stereotypes, and cliches to kick off their Summer of Archetypes. What is the difference between all of these things? Also, they answer a few questions and give (probably unsolicited) advice on how to become more civically engaged in the US political process.

    64. Query Refresher

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2017 66:16


    JJ and Kelly are back with an evergreen topic: queries! We revisit query letters and what makes them successful. There's also a long tangent about tropes and singing the praises of homemade cold press coffee.

    Half-Pint #3

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 15, 2017 65:28


    WE ARE BACK! FOR REALSIES, Y'ALL. Kelly and JJ go through a backlog of questions, give answers, and catch up a bit on life. Also: their call for submissions for their query critique podcast is still open! If you would like your query critiqued by the two of us, please send them to publishingcrawl@gmail.com with the subject QUERY CRITIQUE.

    Half Pint Happy Hour #2

    Play Episode Listen Later May 4, 2017 51:37


    JJ and Kelly are back with another Half Pint Happy Hour (that's more like a full size pint this time around. We're chatty). We answer questions about social media in fiction, how to finish a draft, and how (not) to personalize your query for agents. Also, snail slime face cream! This is Kelly's first time editing the podcast (standing ovation for JJ, who has edited every single other episode to date) so her apologies if the audio quality is not what you're used to. She's learning.

    Half-Pint Happy Hour #1

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 19, 2017 29:36


    We're BACK! Despite deadlines and life chaos in general, Kelly and JJ just couldn't stay away. Welcome to Half-Pint Happy Hour! These are short episodes where we check in, catch up, and answer questions to tide us all over until we can return to full-length content.

    63. Promotion

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2017 59:49


    This week Kelly and JJ talk about promotion and getting the word out about your book, including whether or not to put money into your own promotion, hiring a publicist, making swag, or putting out a newsletter. We also announce a brief hiatus for the month of March, but we'll be back in April with our next Query Critique episode, so send us your queries!

    62. Author Life: Public vs. Private

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 23, 2017 67:37


    A bit of a contentious topic this week, but JJ and Kelly discuss the boundaries between your public self and your private self and how that can affect your publishing career, including tips on what to do when your book is called out for harmful content. They also have tips about skincare, especially Korean beauty, if you're into that sort of thing.

    61. Wintersong

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 16, 2017 69:25


    This week Kelly and JJ discuss Wintersong because JJ didn't have the brain space or the bandwidth to participate in a cogent discussion about writing or publishing. Also: SPOILERS. If you haven't read the book, you might want to give this episode a skip, or just skip to the very end, where we move on to our other usual sections. Spoilers start at 13:15 and end at 49:35.

    60. Point of View

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2017 54:40


    This week JJ and Kelly tackle another writing topic: POV, or Point of View. APOLOGIES FOR THE DELAY, everyone! The week this episode was supposed to go up was release week for JJ, so she had no time to edit or put up show notes. Still, better late than never, right?

    59. Publishing 101: Sales & Success

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 2, 2017 63:36


    This week Kelly and JJ talk about SALES & SUCCESS, or Keep Your Eyes on Your Own Paper. We're kind of a downer in this episode, but we want to keep things real for you. Also, we know these are trying times, so remember to take care of yourselves too.

    58. Publishing 101 REDUX: Being on Submission

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 26, 2017 70:38


    This week JJ and Kelly continue with their Publishing 101 REDUX series with Submissions. As per usual, JJ Keeps Things Probably a Little Too Real. Als: JJ finally gets Kelly to admit that puns are great, and they discuss their love of Lemony Snicket.

    57. Publishing 101 REDUX: Querying & Representation

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 19, 2017 67:00


    This week Kelly and JJ revisit an old topic: Querying & Representation! It's been over a year since we last discussed this topic, so we decided to give it another go. Plus, Kelly has news that is highly relevant to this week's episode. ;-)

    56. Happy New Year & Catch Up

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 12, 2017 65:14


    Happy new year! Going a bit off schedule by just playing catch-up from the holidays and looking back on 2016, as well as a look forward into 2017. SPOILER: It was a rough year for us, and we don't think we were the only ones suffering from reading and writing slumps.

    55. Fictional Tropes

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 15, 2016 53:13


    This week Kelly and JJ start a new series about TROPES IN FICTION. What makes a trope cliche? How do you subvert a trope? Also, HAMILTON MIXTAPE.

    54. Writing Mechanics: Sentence Craft

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2016 59:03


    And we are back! After a bit of an unplanned hiatus, JJ and Kelly are back to regularly scheduled podcast episodes. Apologies for some of the audio quality—Kelly was apparently dying and we are out of practice with podcasting. But we wrap up our Writing Mechanics series this time around with SENTENCE CRAFT, or what makes good writing on a sentence level, not just macro level things like plot and pacing.

    53. Writing Mechanics: Tone & Mood

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2016 67:55


    AND WE'RE BACK! This week Kelly and JJ continue their Writing Mechanics series with TONE & MOOD. As we recorded this before the US election, some of this is...quaint, in hindsight.

    52. Writing Mechanics: Pacing

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 3, 2016 72:21


    This week JJ and Kelly resurrect the Writing Mechanics series with PACING. Also Kelly does tone research and JJ recovers from an emotional book hangover.

    51. Trans-Media Adaptations

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 27, 2016 79:11


    This week Kelly and JJ conclude their series on adaptations with TRANS-MEDIA ADAPTATIONS. What does that mean? Er...anyway! Basically, we mean it as a catch-all for all adaptations that are not TV or film, such as graphic novels and theme parks (yes, theme parks).

    50. Transformative Adaptations

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 20, 2016 59:07


    This week JJ and Kelly continue their discussion about adaptations, moving on to TRANSFORMATIVE ADAPTATIONS. Their definition is a little...loose, but essentially they consider transformative adaptations those that take the source material and transform it into something entirely different by shifting the focus, or else changing the meaning of the source material. WARNING: WE SPOIL THE HECK OUT OF WICKED (both the book and the musical) SO LISTEN WITH CAUTION.

    49. Faithful Adaptations

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 13, 2016 82:11


    This week Kelly and JJ discuss FAITHFUL ADAPTATIONS: what makes a good or faithful book-to-screen adaptation? Also, we answer some listener questions and have A LOT of books and movies to talk about, so prepare thyselves.

    48. Publishing 301: Warranties & Indemnities

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 6, 2016 63:45


    This week JJ and Kelly wrap up their Publishing 301 series with WARRANTIES and INDEMNITIES, or what you are actually on the hook for when you sign a publishing contract, so to speak. Also, they FINALLY have some recommendations for you this week, as both are slowly returning to consuming media after an entire summer off.

    47. Publishing 301: Permissions & Copyright

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2016 77:31


    This week Kelly and JJ continue their Publishing 301 series with PERMISSIONS & FAIR USE, or Wherein They Define Copyright and How Not to Violate It. Also Kelly is training for her first 5K and JJ went to Savannah and possibly took a picture of a ghost.

    46. Publishing 301: Licensing & IP

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 22, 2016 81:34


    This week JJ and Kelly move into the higher levels of publishing with their Publishing 301 series, this time talking about LICENSING & INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY. Also they answer more listener questions about publishing and writing, so keep 'em coming!

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