Podcasts about cat writes

Curtis Ippolito is an Anthony Award-winning, and Macavity Award and Derringer Award-nominated writer. He is the author of the crime novel Burying the Newspaper Man. His short stories have appeared in numerous prominent publications, including Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, Dark Yonder, Tough, Vautrin Magazine, and more, as well as being featured in several anthologies including The One Percent: Tales of the Super Wealthy and Depraved; and The Amber Waves of Autumn. Curtis is the guest editor of On Fire and Under Water: A Climate Change Crime Fiction Anthology from Rock and a Hard Place Press. He is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and serves as vice-president for the San Diego chapter of Sisters in Crime. Website: curtisippolito.comFacebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/curtis.ippolitoInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/curtis_sd/Blue Sky Handle: https://bsky.app/profile/curtisippolito.bsky.socialLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/curtis-ippolito-17599467/Mentioned in the PodcastRock and a Hard Place Press: https://www.rockandahardplacemag.com/Save the Cat Writes a Novel: https://savethecat.com/products/books/save-the-cat-writes-a-novel*****************About SinCSisters in Crime (SinC) was founded in 1986 to promote the ongoing advancement, recognition and professional development of women crime writers. Through advocacy, programming and leadership, SinC empowers and supports all crime writers regardless of genre or place on their career trajectory.www.SistersinCrime.orgFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/sincworldwideInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/sincworldwide/Threads: https://www.threads.com/@sincworldwideBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/sincworldwide.bsky.socialTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sincworldwideeTikTok:: https://www.tiktok.com/@sincnationalLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sisters-in-crime/The SinC Writers' Podcast is produced by Julian Crocamo https://www.juliancrocamo.com/

Nina Wachsman studied book illustration under Maurice Sendak at Parsons School of Design and lives in New York City. Her mystery novels and stories are mostly historical, and many feature artists or artwork. She is a founding member of Curators of Crime, a website/blog of four authors who focus on art and crime.Website: ninawachsmanauthor.com, curatorsofcrime.com, venicebeauties.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/nina.wachsman, https://www.facebook.com/curatorsofcrimeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegalleryofbeauties/Threads: https://www.threads.com/@thegalleryofbeautiesLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nina-wachsman-4937514Mentioned in the Podcast:Save the Cat: https://savethecat.com/Save the Cat Writes a Novel: https://www.jessicabrody.com/books/non-fiction/save-cat-writes-novel/about/Emma Darwin This Itch of Writing: https://www.emmadarwin.com/this-itch-of-writing*****************About SinCSisters in Crime (SinC) was founded in 1986 to promote the ongoing advancement, recognition and professional development of women crime writers. Through advocacy, programming and leadership, SinC empowers and supports all crime writers regardless of genre or place on their career trajectory.www.SistersinCrime.orgFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/sincworldwideInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/sincworldwide/Threads: https://www.threads.com/@sincworldwideBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/sincworldwide.bsky.socialTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sincworldwideeTikTok:: https://www.tiktok.com/@sincnationalLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sisters-in-crime/The SinC Writers' Podcast is produced by Julian Crocamo https://www.juliancrocamo.com/

Ever wonder why some horror stories linger in your mind long after the lights go out? Jamie Nash reveals how structure (not jump scares or gore) creates true terror.In this episode, I'm joined by Jamie Nash, screenwriter and author of Save the Cat! Writes Horror, the ultimate guide to creating “Monster in the House” stories that keep readers up at night.With over 25 years of experience writing and teaching horror (including films like V/H/S/2 and Lovely Molly), Jamie shares how to craft terrifying tales using Blake Snyder's iconic Save the Cat! framework. We talk about how structure, theme, and moral depth make stories truly scary and how to balance dread, scares, and gross-outs for maximum impact.Whether you're writing a slow-burn psychological thriller or a relentless survival horror, this episode will show you how to use the Save the Cat! framework to make every scream count.[00:00] What makes a novel truly horror and how to tell if your story actually fits this genre (before you waste time writing the wrong one).[00:00] The three ingredients every unforgettable horror story needs and why missing even one can ruin your scare factor.[00:00] How to use Save the Cat! beats to build tension and fear so your story feels cohesive and terrifying, not random and rushed.[00:00] The two main types of horror pacing, and which one to choose to keep your readers gripped. [00:00] Why passive heroes kill good horror and how to turn your protagonist into the story's fiercest weapon.[00:00] The difference between dread, scares, and gross outs, and why dread flags (red flags that signal unease) are the true engine of horror.If you've ever wondered how to write horror that lingers long after the last page, this conversation with Jamie Nash is your masterclass in scarecraft.

This episode is such a special one because I am interviewing not only a guy who started business at 16 who has built and sold 5 businesses, including the super successful Dance Studio Owners Association for many millions, but also my best friend.  Clint Salter is such a wonderful and unique human who thinks deeply and cares deeply about contribution and positive impact in the world. I get to talk to him every day so I'm pretty excited to be able to ask him the questions that I know will be helpful to share with so many!  We're talking entrepreneurial dreams, the key to success, whether retirement is all it's cracked up to be, and the meaning of life! :)  Enjoy!  Resources and mentions: Join Her Empire Builder: https://www.herempirebuilder.com/join HEB Events: https://www.herempirebuilder.com/events Eight Wishes by Cass Caldercoy Susie Welsh Values Bridge Test / Becoming You Dance Studio Owners Association (DSOA) “Save the Cat Writes a Novel” by Jessica Brody  Key Topics Covered: Clint's Entrepreneurial Start Began his first business (dance studio) at just 16, motivated more by creativity and curiosity than a desire to be an “entrepreneur.” Emphasizes learning through experimentation, not following the traditional blueprint. Scaling & Selling DSOA The evolution from solopreneur to building a faculty of coaches and a leadership team to make the business less reliant on him personally—a critical step in making it sellable. Transparent account of the emotional and practical realities of the selling process: excitement, responsibility, grief, and the mental toll when exiting something meaningful. The unique challenges of selling a business built on personal brand, and how IP, systems, and cultivating other leaders made the difference. Post-Exit Life & Purpose Adjusting to life after a major exit: the restlessness, the joy of multiple two-hour walks daily, and the challenge of letting go of the hustle mentality. Reflections on achievements, what “having made it” means, and a surprising sense of contentment in a more restful, experimental year. Ownership of embracing randomness: testing new ventures, from doggy daycares to sandwich shops—always seeking that spark of true inspiration. Creativity & the Novel “Eight Wishes” Clint's adventure into fiction writing, the process and discipline behind it, and choosing to publish under a pen name (Cass Caldercoy). Contrasts between creative satisfaction and business-driven projects—plus, the minimalistic launch approach, doing it for the joy rather than league tables and metrics. Wellness, Nervous System, and Redefining Success How prioritizing rest, health, and time away from “noise” (social media, business podcasts) created profound shifts. Honest discussion about money—how it amplifies life, but isn't the end goal; and the necessity (for most) of the hustle phase to achieve financial freedom. The psychological transition from pushing to contentment, and how environment and peer group impact our definition of success. Legacy, Philosophies, and Looking Ahead Thoughts on legacy (and why it's not top-of-mind, especially for those without children). The importance of living well now, not just building for the future. A love letter to his younger self: “You'll be okay.” This episode is a powerful reminder that success isn't just about the hustle or the exit—it's about finding fulfillment, creativity, and peace in the seasons that follow. Clint's story shows us that reinvention is always possible, that rest is just as vital as ambition, and that joy often comes from the unexpected. Whether you're in the thick of building your business or navigating what comes next, this conversation will leave you inspired to define success on your own terms—and to trust that, in the end, you'll be okay too.   Where to find Clint Salter: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clintsalter/ Where to find Tina: Her Empire Builder: https://www.herempirebuilder.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tina_tower/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@herempirebuilder  

In this episode, Jeff and JP Rindfleisch IX dig into the book Save the Cat Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody. They discuss the the major teachings of the book, how the book impacted their early writing, and how they have move away from its teachings over time.  Find more on Jessica here: https://www.jessicabrody.com/ Check out JP's work here: https://shop.jprindfleischix.com/ For more on the craft of writing, go to https://dialoguedoctor.com/

Grab Your Free Ticket to The 2025 Spark To Story Summit (MAY 27-29)Struggling to figure out where your story is going? In this episode, we break down how understanding your content genre can give you a built-in structure for your novel, shaping your plot, character arc, and emotional payoff. We'll explore the difference between marketing and content genres, explain why genre is more than just a shelf label, and dive into how frameworks like Save the Cat Writes a Novel and The Story Grid can help you choose your content genre and write with more intention.Episode Breakdown00:00 – Introduction to Genre and Storytelling 00:22 – Welcome to The Write It Scared Podcast 01:31 – Understanding Your Story Genre 02:27 – Marketing vs. Content Genre 05:39 – Frameworks for Identifying Content Genre 06:50 – External vs. Internal Content Genres 08:33 – Blending Genres and Finding Your Story's Spine 10:12 – Conclusion and Next Steps 

Mindy Quigley is the author of two lighthearted mystery series. Her latest, the Deep Dish Mysteries (Minotaur-St. Martin's Press) was a Woman's World book club pick and has been featured in Parade magazine. Mindy's non-writing career is stranger than fiction, having taken her from the US to the UK, where she worked as the personal assistant to the scientist who cloned Dolly the sheep and as project manager for a research clinic founded by the author J.K. Rowling. She lives in small-town Virginia with her Civil War history professor husband and their children.https://mindyquigley.com/Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/mintyfreshbooks/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/minty_fresh_books/Mentioned in the podcast:Promophobia: https://www.sistersincrime.org/page/PromophobiaJesse Q. Sutanto Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jesseqsutanto/Save the Cat Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody************************About SinCSisters in Crime (SinC) was founded in 1986 to promote the ongoing advancement, recognition and professional development of women crime writers. Through advocacy, programming and leadership, SinC empowers and supports all crime writers regardless of genre or place on their career trajectory.www.SistersinCrime.orgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/sincnational/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/sincnational.bsky.socialThreads: https://www.threads.net/@sincnationalFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/sistersincrimeTikTok:: https://www.tiktok.com/@sincnationalThe SinC Writers' Podcast is produced by Julian Crocamo https://www.juliancrocamo.com/

DEBORAH J LEDFORD is the award-winning author of the Eva “Lightning Dance” Duran suspense thriller series, including Redemption and Havoc, set in Taos, New Mexico. Part Eastern Band Cherokee, she is an Agatha Award winner, The Hillerman Sky Award Finalist, 3-time nominee for the Pushcart Prize, and two-time Anthony Award Finalist for Best Audiobooks Crescendo and Causing Chaos from her Smoky Mountain Inquest Series set in the great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina.She is a member of SinC National, International Thriller Writers, MWA SoCal, and is a past-president of the SinC Desert Sleuths Phoenix chapter.Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/DeborahJLedfordAuthor/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/djledford/Instagram, Twitter/X, Threads Handle: @djledfordWebsite https://deborahjledford.com/Mentioned in the podcast:Rod Sterling https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rod_SerlingIsabella Maldonado https://isabellamaldonado.com/Save the Cat https://savethecat.comSave the Cat Writes a Novel https://savethecat.com/products/books/save-the-cat-writes-a-novel*****************About SinCSisters in Crime (SinC) was founded in 1986 to promote the ongoing advancement, recognition and professional development of women crime writers. Through advocacy, programming and leadership, SinC empowers and supports all crime writers regardless of genre or place on their career trajectory.www.SistersinCrime.orgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/sincnational/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/sincnational.bsky.socialThreads: https://www.threads.net/@sincnationalFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/sistersincrimeTikTok:: https://www.tiktok.com/@sincnationalThe SinC Writers' Podcast is produced by Julian Crocamo https://www.juliancrocamo.com/

Send us a Text Message.Episode 221 / Looking to grow a community around your books? Romance author Amy Pine shares how she and her co-hosts created a podcast and built a vibrant community around Korean dramas. We also dive into craft book recommendations, beat sheets, and combining tropes in unexpected ways.

Marissa chats again with Jessica Brody, author of Save the Cat! Writes a Novel and Save the Cat! Writes a Young Adult Novel about her popular craft books and how she adapted the original Save the Cat screenplay book's components for novel-writing. Also discussed in this craft-focused episode: how even pantsers can benefit from outlining tips, how having an outline doesn't mean the story is set in stone, how having an outline can shine a light on problems before a draft makes it harder to fix and move things around, how you can start with just five essential beats, favorite and least favorite beats, how plot and character are so entwined, the danger of outlining becoming a procrastination crutch, and so much more!Big Magic: https://bookshop.org/a/11756/9781594634727 7 point story structure – video series dan wells https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzfRuHa21NIzQFrQ6FAq8Pj2IA_SXiwrN Save the Cat! Writes a Young Adult Novel: https://bookshop.org/a/11756/9781984859235 Save the Cat! Writes a Novel: https://bookshop.org/a/11756/9780399579745The Happy Writer at Bookshop.orgPurchasing your books through our webstore at Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores. Amplify MarketersOur mission is to help your message rise above the noise so it can be heard loud & clear.Writing Mastery AcademyUse the code HAPPYWRITER at WritingMastery.com for $20 off your first year of unlimited access.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Order The Happy Writer: Get More Ideas, Write More Words, and Find More Joy from First Draft to Publication and Beyond https://bookshop.org/a/11756/9781250362377 Find out more and follow The Happy Writer on social media: https://www.marissameyer.com/podcast/

This week Ines and Leslye tackle how to bring stories to a close with a deep dive on story endings. We dive into character arcs, open doors (and windows!), and resolutions. BOOKS MENTIONED Write Your Novel from the Middle by James Scott Bell: https://amzn.to/4a6NaqQ Emotion Thesaurus by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi: https://amzn.to/44v2TPn  One Stop for Writers: https://onestopforwriters.com/emotions  The Monsters We Defy by Leslye Penelope: https://amzn.to/4btzGXe Save the Cat by Blake Snyder: https://amzn.to/4abpK3A  Save the Cat Goes to the Movies by Blake Snyder: https://amzn.to/4bpDJUm  Save the Cat Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody: https://amzn.to/3xf7TFV The Heroine's Journey by Gail Carriger: https://amzn.to/3WuZD4t That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon by Kimberly Lemming: https://amzn.to/3WuZwG5   Ines' Substack where she breaks down Marvel movies according to the Five Part Finale https://ineswrites.substack.com/p/5-part-finale-of-the-incredible-hulk   Check out Margie Lawson's courses: https://www.margielawson.com/lecture-packets/  Sign up for author Nalini Singh's newsletter to receive fan service here: https://nalinisingh.com/ Want the official Psy-Changeling Reading Order? Click here: https://nalinisingh.com/books/psychangeling-series/   Want to learn worldbuilding from Leslye? Sign up here: https://learn.myimaginaryfriends.net/ Want to learn story structure from Ines? Sign up here: https://ineswrites.com/PTP Get ready for Shield of Winter, coming in 1 week! Grab your copy to read along: https://amzn.to/4b6r34L    Find the hosts online at: L. Penelope: https://lpenelope.com/  Ines Johnson: https://ineswrites.com/  Credits: "Moonlight Hall" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

My focus is always on my readers and the people who are impacted by not having those stories. So it's young folks and it's folks who are trans and queer and who are, you know, marginalized or brown, black, Bipoc. - Aiden Thomas My special guest is Aiden Thomas Aiden Thomas is a New York Times bestselling author and a prominent figure in young adult literature. Their expertise lies in crafting narratives that authentically represent the intersection of gender identity and cultural diversity. Aiden's notable work, particularly the acclaimed novel "Cemetery Boys," has garnered widespread acclaim for its compelling portrayal of underrepresented voices. With a background in creative writing and a deep commitment to inclusivity, Aiden's literary contributions have significantly enriched the representation of marginalized communities in literature. Their unique perspective as a trans Latinx individual brings a valuable and insightful dimension to the exploration of identity and cultural heritage within the literary landscape.   In this episode, you will be able to: Uncover the art of writing fantasy with rich cultural influences, adding depth and authenticity to your storytelling.   Discover the rewarding journey of transitioning from nonfiction to fiction writing and unleashing your creative potential.   Embrace the importance of authentic representation of Latinx characters in young adult novels, contributing to diverse and inclusive literature.   Delve into the captivating role of ancestry and culture in storytelling, enriching narratives with depth and resonance.   The resources mentioned in this episode are: Visit the Wyoming Humanities Council website at ThinkWY.org to stay updated on upcoming events and programs, and to engage with their content on Instagram and Facebook. Follow Aiden Thomas on social media platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, Threads, and TikTok using the handle @AidenSchmaiden for updates on his books, events, and interactions with readers. Explore the book Save the Cat Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody for guidance on transitioning from nonfiction to fiction writing, including the use of the 15-point beat sheet story structure. Look for Aiden Thomas's books, including Cemetery Boys, Lost in the Neverwoods, and The Sun Bearer Trials, to explore diverse and inclusive storytelling, particularly for LGBTQ+ and BIPOC communities.   Follow Us on These Channels: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emydigrappa/ www.ThinkWY.org https://www.facebook.com/storiesaboutwhy https://www.instagram.com/storiesaboutwhy   Listen on all your favorite platforms and subscribe! As always leave a review if you enjoyed these stories and follow us on Instagram or visit the webpage of the Wyoming Humanities! Sign up for the podcast newsletter using the QR code of follow this link: http://eepurl.com/igy4fH  

I Should Be Writing Season 20, Episode 9 Transcript "If you don't start out perfect, you're never going to be good." - Evil Mur Evil Mur is back giving terrible advice and it's a wild ride through the looking glass of a writer's darker musings. We cover questioning the point of writing when perfection eludes us to the ruthless strategy of writing on the job. She gives some seriously excellent advice about emotions in horror, and offers an unorthodox method for trimming the fat from your prose. We touch on the Hugo Awards and reveal the cover of Mur's upcoming book, Infinite Archive. Be warned: Evil Mur doesn't play by the rules, and neither does her advice. Other links:  JoCo Cruise Baldur's Gate 3 (game) The Secret (book) Jonathan Livingston Seagull (book) The Celestine Prophecy (book) Infinite Archive (book) How to Write a Novel Using the Snowflake Method (book) Hugo Awards Save the Cat Writes a Novel (book) Penguin Random House (publisher) Twitch (MightyMur) Evergreen Links I don't talk enough about the I Should Be Writing book. It exists. Go buy it! My newsletter, The Hot Mic, and my Patreon. Supporting either of those will get you perks like access to the discord, exclusive content, and early, ad-free episodes. Socials: Bluesky, Mastodon, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Focusmate. Theme by John Anealio Savor I Should Be Writing tea blends Support local book stores! Station Eternity, Six Wakes, Solo: A Star Wars Story: Expanded Edition and more! OR Get signed books from my friendly local store, Flyleaf Books! (go here for all the books in Season 20) Support the show, if you dare, and remember: Evil Mur is watching. Write like it's your last act of defiance. CREDITS Theme song by John Anealio, art by Numbers Ninja, site design by Clockpunk Studioand files hosted by Libsyn (affiliate link). Get archives of the show via Patreon. April 5, 2024 | Season 20 Ep 9 | murverse.com "The Epiphany of Routine" by Mur Lafferty is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/umqeMohkOC0 Mentioned: ARC Giveaway - https://lpenelope.com/2024/03/daughter-of-the-merciful-deep-arc-giveaway/ Daughter of the Merciful Deep - preorder Publishers Weekly starred review Creating Character Arcs by K.M. Weiland  Write Your Novel from the Middle by James Scott Bell Plot vs. Character by Jeff Gerke  Save the Cat Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody  OneStopforWriters.com The Negative Trait Thesaurus by Angela Ackerman & Becca Puglisi  Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin  Events: - The Authorprenuer Path workshop - 3/26/34  - Poconos Writers' Conference - 4/20/24  - My calendar - https://lpenelope.com/calendar/ The My Imaginary Friends podcast is a behind the scenes look at the journey of a working author navigating traditional and self-publishing. Join fantasy and paranormal romance author L. Penelope as she shares insights on the writing life, creativity, inspiration, and this week's best thing. Subscribe and view show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast | Get the Footnotes newsletter & become an Imaginary Best Friend: https://myimaginaryfriends.net Support the show: Website | Instagram | Facebook Music credit: Say Good Night by Joakim Karud https://soundcloud.com/joakimkarud Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported— CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/SZkVShypKgM Affiliate Disclosure: I may receive compensation for links to products on this site either directly or indirectly via affiliate links. Heartspell Media, LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Sarah M. Chen is a children's author and award-winning short story writer based in Los Angeles. Her noir novella, Cleaning Up Finn, was an Anthony finalist and IPPY Award winner. She's the co-editor for several anthologies, including Avenging Angelenos from Sisters in Crime / Los Angeles, and her writing has appeared in the Los Angeles Review of Books and Hapa Mag/Mixed Asian Media, among others.Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/sarahmchenauthor/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sarahmchen/ Blue Sky Handle @sarahmchen.bsky.socialOther Social Media: linktr.ee/sarahmchen Website https://sarahmchen.com Notes:Refuse to Be Done: How to Write and Rewrite a Novel in Three Drafts by Matt BellSave the Cat Writes a Young Adult Novel by Jessica Brody*****************About SinCSisters in Crime (SinC) was founded in 1986 to promote the ongoing advancement, recognition and professional development of women crime writers. Through advocacy, programming and leadership, SinC empowers and supports all crime writers regardless of genre or place on their career trajectory.www.SistersinCrime.orgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/sincnational/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/sincnational.bsky.socialThreads: https://www.threads.net/@sincnationalFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/sistersincrimeTikTok:: https://www.tiktok.com/@sincnationalThe SinC Writers' Podcast is produced by Julian Crocamo https://www.juliancrocamo.com/

Watch in YouTube: https://youtu.be/DeIidsoalEY - Footnotes newsletter - https://myimaginaryfriends.net/footnotes - Savage City is on sale! - https://books2read.com/savagecity - Preordder Daughter of the Merciful Deep - https://lpenelope.com/book/daughter-of-the-merciful-deep/ Mentioned: - Bookbub - ebook deals - Scribecount - track book sales - FaRoFeb - Fantasy Romance February - Write Your Novel from the Middle by James Scott Bell  - Creating Character Arcs by K.M. Weiland  - Structuring Your Novel by K.M. Weiland  - Save the Cat Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody  - "Designing Thriller and Mystery Twists That Work" by Samantha Skal  - Ink & Magic podcast  - 13 Steps to Evil: How to Craft Superbad Villains by Sacha Black -  - Imaginary Worldbuilding course      The My Imaginary Friends podcast is a behind the scenes look at the journey of a working author navigating traditional and self-publishing. Join fantasy and paranormal romance author L. Penelope as she shares insights on the writing life, creativity, inspiration, and this week's best thing. Subscribe and view show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast | Get the Footnotes newsletter & become an Imaginary Best Friend: https://myimaginaryfriends.net Support the show: Website | Instagram | Facebook Music credit: Say Good Night by Joakim Karud https://soundcloud.com/joakimkarud Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported— CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/SZkVShypKgM Affiliate Disclosure: I may receive compensation for links to products on this site either directly or indirectly via affiliate links. Heartspell Media, LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

On this episode, I talk with author Becca Wierwille about her debut middle grade novel, Road Trip Rescue, which she independently published with support from a Kickstarter campaign. We talk about the challenges of independently publishing (a/k/a self-publishing) for the middle grade market, Becca's decision to transition from a traditional  path to an independent one, and how she reaches young readers with her stories.Books and resources mentioned in this episode include:Road Trip Rescue, by Becca WierwilleSave the Cat Writes a Novel, by Jessica BrodyAuthor MediaThe Snowflake Method for Designing a Novel.Because of Winn Dixie, by Kate DiCamilloBecca's Kickstarter campaign for her second book, Road Trip Return, can be found HERE.I love audiobooks! If you do, too, consider switching to Libro.fm. For the same price as other major audiobook providers, you can find all your favorites as well as curated lists of audiobooks written by or recommended by guests of the Middle Grade Matters podcast. Click here to learn more! Consider buying your books from the Middle Grade Matters Bookshop, where proceeds support this podcast as well as independent bookstores everywhere. For bonus content and info on upcoming episodes, subscribe to the Middle Grade Matters newsletter here: Newsletter, and follow Middle Grade Matters on Instagram and Twitter.If you're enjoying this podcast, please be sure to follow us and please leave us a review.

On this episode, I talk with Nashae Jones about her debut middle-grade rom-com, Courtesy of Cupid, her love for combining laughing and literature, being a part of the 5am Writer's Club, and her journey to becoming a published author. Books mentioned in this episode include:Courtesy of Cupid, by Nashae JonesSave the Cat Writes a Novel, by Jessica BrodyFrom the publisher: In this middle grade rom-com sprinkled with a dash of magic, a girl uses her newfound ability to make people fall in love to sabotage her rival. I love audiobooks! If you do, too, consider switching to Libro.fm. For the same price as other major audiobook providers, you can find all your favorites as well as curated lists of audiobooks written by or recommended by guests of the Middle Grade Matters podcast. Click here to learn more! Consider buying your books from the Middle Grade Matters Bookshop, where proceeds support this podcast as well as independent bookstores everywhere. For bonus content and info on upcoming episodes, subscribe to the Middle Grade Matters newsletter here: Newsletter, and follow Middle Grade Matters on Instagram and Twitter.If you're enjoying this podcast, please be sure to follow us and please leave us a review.

“'Something I always say: at the very least, do it for the plot. Do it for the story. Be bold in life, mostly because not being bold is boring as hell.' Margot tipped her head back in glittery laughter and I felt my chest expand in hope.” That's just one of many glittering conversations that the main character of Jamie Varon's debut novel, Main Character Energy, has with her Aunt, a guiding light who helps her find her voice and pursue her publishing dream. In today's conversation, Jamie and I go behind the book to talk about how fiction differs from nonfiction, working with a writing coach, the importance of giving yourself permission for a “zero” draft, moving past the mental machinations of envy and the desire for logical explanations for others' success, and so much more. Be sure to check out our previous conversation for the Pivot podcast 278: Radically Content with Jamie Varon. More About Jamie: Jamie Varon's writing has been seen across the internet for over a decade, from her early days of personal blogging all the way to features in publications such as Teen Vogue, HuffPost, GOOD, Complex, and many more. Over the years, both her long-form essays and short-form prose have garnered millions of reads and views, using her signature style of combining personal story with universal themes.

Get on the Footnotes newsletter Watch on YouTube Preptober & NaNoWriMo write-ins, Mondays & Wednesdays, 7pm ET. Get reminder emails: https://myimaginaryfriends.net/nano  Mentioned: Tara McMullin "The Work You Were Born to Do" (paywall) - https://www.whatworks.fyi/p/the-work-you-were-born-to-do Nalini Singh interview on Fated Mates podcast - https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2023/10/17/s0606-trailblazer-nalini-singh Holly Lisle "How to Revise a Novel" - https://hollylisle.com/how-to-revise-a-novel/ My Resources for writers - https://lpenelope.com/resources-for-writers/ Save the Cat Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody – https://amzn.to/3xf7TFV My interview with Author Montrez (The Novel Creature Network) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuGQQLwNx40  ZigZag Claybourne Kickstarter - https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/obsidiansky/breath-warmth-and-dream-book-one-of-the-khumalo-trilogy My author newsletter -  https://lpenelope.com/newsletter The My Imaginary Friends podcast is a weekly, behind the scenes look at the journey of a working author navigating traditional and self-publishing. Join fantasy and paranormal romance author L. Penelope as she shares insights on the writing life, creativity, inspiration, and this week's best thing. Subscribe and view show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast | Get the Footnotes newsletter & become an Imaginary Best Friend: https://myimaginaryfriends.net Support the show: Website | Instagram | Facebook Music credit: Say Good Night by Joakim Karud https://soundcloud.com/joakimkarud Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported— CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/SZkVShypKgM Affiliate Disclosure: I may receive compensation for links to products on this site either directly or indirectly via affiliate links. Heartspell Media, LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

On this episode, I talk with Joel Brigham of Brigham Editorial on the craft of writing. Together we dive deep into six things every story needs to succeed and answer the following questions:What makes a great premise?What are stakes and when and how do you raise them?How do you craft interesting characters?What are the basic elements of a good plot? What is voice, and how do you develop it?What is a theme, and how do you write it into your story? Books and resources mentioned in this podcast include:Brigham EditorialSave the Cat Writes a NovelSave the Cat Writes a Novel (Audiobook)I love audiobooks! If you do, too, consider switching to Libro.fm. For the same price as other major audiobook providers, you can find all your favorites as well as curated lists of audiobooks written by or recommended by guests of the Middle Grade Matters podcast. Click here to learn more! Consider buying your books from the Middle Grade Matters Bookshop, where proceeds support this podcast as well as independent bookstores everywhere. For bonus content and info on upcoming episodes, subscribe to the Middle Grade Matters newsletter here: Newsletter, and follow Middle Grade Matters on Instagram and Twitter.If you're enjoying this podcast, please be sure to follow us and please leave us a review.

In this episode, I talk with author Doan Phuong Nguyen about her debut middle grade book, Mèo and Bé, a story inspired by her family's experience living in Vietnam during the Vietnam War.  We discuss the challenges of writing a story set during a time of incredible heartache and turmoil, and the importance of finding hope in these stories. Books and resources mentioned in this episode include:Mèo and Bé by Doan Phyong NguyenSave the Cat Writes a Novel by Jessica BrodyVermont College of Fine Arts, MFA in Writing for Children & Young AdultsI love audiobooks! If you do, too, consider switching to Libro.fm. For the same price as other major audiobook providers, you can find all your favorites as well as curated lists of audiobooks written by or recommended by guests of the Middle Grade Matters podcast. Click here to learn more! Consider buying your books from the Middle Grade Matters Bookshop, where proceeds support this podcast as well as independent bookstores everywhere. For bonus content and info on upcoming episodes, subscribe to the Middle Grade Matters newsletter here: Newsletter, and follow Middle Grade Matters on Instagram and Twitter.If you're enjoying this podcast, please be sure to follow us and please leave us a review.

 In this week's episode, Marissa chats with Jessica Brody, author of over twenty novels, along with her bestselling SAVE THE CAT! WRITES A NOVEL, and the new SAVE THE CAT! WRITES A YOUNG ADULT NOVEL. Discussed in this episode: revisiting favorite writing resources, what makes this new version of SAVE THE CAT! unique and perfect for YA authors, how most (but not all!) stories follow the Save the Cat method, how a big part of writing a novel is trusting the process and carrying on, how to use the Save the Cat method, even if you're not an outliner, and so much more. UFO's and Aliens PodcastIn this podcast, I will research, UFO sightings, Alien abductions and similar...Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifyThe Happy Writer at Bookshop.org Purchasing your books through our webstore at Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Find out more and follow The Happy Writer on social media: https://www.marissameyer.com/podcast/

An insightful conversation with  Jamie Nash, the author of over 100 screenplays and the book "Save the Cat Writes for TV".  Jamie has written numerous produced feature films and teaches screenwriting. Learn about the Transformation Machine, the Broken Compass and  many more wonderful screenwriting tools!

I did a call with a writer this week who really is just getting started, with a few short stories finished and dreams of the future, and after we talked at probably unnecessary length about the fundamental truth that writing is hard and you have to actually DO it, not just think about it and plan for it, so annoying, she asked me how I start a new project*.This episode is my answer, pretty much—because I've just done exactly that. My first outline document for the book I'm working on is dated 2/15; I opened a scrivener doc in March, there were 3 chapters in early April and I'm heading to the finish line on the first draft as I write (which would be quite fast for me so please do note that it's a very very very first draft).So I have just started. Here's how.And here are links to last year's Blueprint for a Book series, in which Jennie Nash and I talked about all the stages of starting all the things:Find Your Why: Blueprint for a Book Step 1What's Your Point? Blueprint for a Book Step 2Who Will Read My Book? Know Your Market: Blueprint for a Book Step 3Your Jacket Copy is Your Promise to the Reader: Blueprint for a Book Step 4There Must Be Change: Blueprint for a Book Step 5What's the Structure of Your Narrative? Blueprint for a Book Step 6How to Drive that Narrative Forward: Blueprint for a Book Step 7One Outline to Rule Them All (Even if You Hate Outlining): Blueprint for a Book Step 8But Does this Book Work? Blueprint for a Book Step 9How to Go From Planning a Book to Writing One: Blueprint for a Book Step 10And—starting next week—a whole summer series on getting the IDEA, refining it, testing it, poking it and revising it. You're gonna love it.*And then she asked how to get an agent because… we are who we are, and everyone asks that!LINKSThe Idea: The Seven Elements of a Viable Story for Screen, Stage or Fiction, Erik BorkSave the Cat Writes a Novel, Jessica BrodyBlueprint for a Book, Jennie Nash#AmWriting Prewriting Episode 178 #WriteFasterRachael Herron's How Do You Write Podcast episode 376 with David EllisIf you love a good writing retreat—especially one that comes with good solid coaching and the chance to meet others who are working on similar projects—here's one to check out. This fall, three Author Accelerator certified book coaches are offering Mainely Memoir, a retreat for women writers in historic Biddeford, Maine, held over three days in the gorgeous Maine woods in September, with one-on-one coaching both before and after the retreat. It's the perfect opportunity to give yourself the gift of time and focus so that you can make real progress on your memoir this year. Find out more at www.mainelymemoir.comDo you get KJ's Box of Chocolates email—for erratic doses of books and enthusiasms? If not, what are you waiting for? This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amwriting.substack.com/subscribe

This week, we talk about some of our most memorable reading experiences.Follow us on Instagram:Gare @gareindeedreadsKate @thegirlwiththecookonthecouchBooks We Talked AboutThe Girl on the TrainGone GirlSave the Cat Writes a NovelTaylor Jackson SeriesThe Silent PatientThe Snow GardenVerityInto the Black NowhereNinth HouseHell BentThe TrapDaisy DarkerThe Long and Faraway GoneDark MatterThe Broken GirlsThe Seven Husbands of Evelyn HugoDaisy Jones and The SixDark CornersYellowface

Two years ago, Jennie Nash and I (this is KJ) got into a debate about what was the best, most helpful book for a writer's bookshelf. Almost instantly we realized that we couldn't choose just one (although if we could, I suspect it's Save the Cat Writes a Novel for me and Twyla Tharp's The Creative Habit for Jennie, but even as I write that I'm having second thoughts in favor of Big Magic but I'm just SO ANNOYED with her right now because of the whole take-back-my-book thing) and, yeah. Anyway. It's summer reading time, and to my summer reading list I've added a few books about writing, starting with Rick Rubin's The Creative Act: A Way of Being and, yes. Twyla Tharp's book (it's taken me this long to get over my resistance but JENNIE IS ALWAYS RIGHT about these things) and adding, for a practical note, Save the Cat Strikes Back by Blake Snyder and The Trope Thesaurus from Jennifer Hilt. (Want my non-professional summer reading list? Subscribe to #AmReading.) If you're looking to add to your own professional summer reading, you can't do better than going back to the series of summer episodes that Jennie and I recorded as a result of that first debate. They're all listed and linked below, along with the books we discussed, and I'm putting the first of them (Episode 269) here—in which we debate, yes, Big Magic versus The Creative Habit.Since then, Jennie's published two Blueprint for a Book books: one each for fiction and nonfiction and, coming later this summer, memoir. They're all EXCELLENT and highly recommended as well.Working Bookshelf Episodes:* Inspiration (Big Magic versus The Creative Habit)* Plotting (Save the Cat Writes a Novel versus The Situation and the Story)* Productivity (Productivity with Deep Work versus From 2K to 10K)* Up Your Game (The Practice versus The Bestseller Code)* When You're Stuck (The War of Art versus Dear Writer You Need to Quit)* Getting Published (The Essential Guide to Getting Published versus 78 Reasons Why Your Book May Never Be Published and 14 Reasons Why It Just Might)* Writing While White (The Anti Racist Writing Workshop, Craft in the Real World, Writing the Other)* When You Don't Know Why You're Doing This (Start with Why versus How to Write an Autobiographical Novel)* Writer Comfort Reads (Bird by Bird versus Making a Literary Life)* Editing (Meander, Spiral, Explode: Design and Pattern in Narrative versus Blueprint for a Book)If you love a good writing retreat—especially one that comes with good solid coaching and the chance to meet others who are working on similar projects—here's one to check out. This fall, three Author Accelerator certified book coaches are offering Mainely Memoir, a retreat for women writers in historic Biddeford, Maine, held over three days in the gorgeous Maine woods in September, with one-on-one coaching both before and after the retreat. It's the perfect opportunity to give yourself the gift of time and focus so that you can make real progress on your memoir this year. Find out more at www.mainelymemoir.comHey - are you following Sarina on Instagram? It's a great place for romance goodness (and check out her (Surprise!) billboard at 34th and 7th Ave!). This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amwriting.substack.com/subscribe

If you didn't watch last week's excited ramble about revising, you might do that first, because this is the follow-up in which I screw up an entire revision…twice. Last week's episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfXcixMWM8E Links mentioned: Jessica Brody's site: https://www.jessicabrody.com/2020/11/how-to-write-your-novel-using-the-save-the-cat-beat-sheet/ Save the Cat Writes a Novel: https://amzn.to/3qr6LRu (affiliate link, yo!) This video is for: people who like watching me ramble; writing nerds; people into process videos. Anyone who wants to see me low-key dramatize either a roller coaster crashing into the ground (slash my desk), or me almost climbing out of a hole and then sliiiiiiiding back into it. This video is not for: anyone who wants to avoid the nitty gritty of creating shit. Sometimes it gets SUPER discouraging, y'all. Places you can find me: https://www.patreon.com/KrisRipper https://www.instagram.com/krisripper/ https://krisripper.com/irregulars

Jess here, because I hate outlining. Hate it. It sounds boring and feels like an assignment, writing stripped of all flow and joy. I asked KJ and Sarina to help me with this problematic mindset, because my novel in progress clearly needs a solid outline and yet every time I go back to work on it, I feel irritated, frustrated and blocked. Thank goodness for my accountability buddies, because they came through for me in this episode. In fact, the moment we logged off the Zoom call, I got back to work, refreshed, refocused, and engaged in the process of storytelling. Resources Jennie Nash and Author AcceleratorSave the Cat Writes a Novel#AmReadingJess: I've been watching Daisy Jones and the Six on Amazon Prime and re-listening to the audiobook, which features Jennifer Beals as Daisy. I needed more Taylor Jenkins Reid, so I finally downloaded the audio of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, which I'm really enjoying. (Also mentioned: Carrie Soto Is Back, Malibu Rising)KJ: Amy Poppel's The Sweet Spot If you love a good writing retreat—especially one that comes with good solid coaching and the chance to meet others who are working on similar projects—here's one to check out. This fall, three Author Accelerator certified book coaches are offering Mainely Memoir, a retreat for women writers in historic Biddeford, Maine, held over three days in the gorgeous Maine woods in September, with one-on-one coaching both before and after the retreat. It's the perfect opportunity to give yourself the gift of time and focus so that you can make real progress on your memoir this year. Find out more at www.mainelymemoir.comHey you - yea, you! Are you following Sarina on Tiktok? Out of #AmWriting episodes and in need of another podcast? Check out A Bookish Home. I've been a guest, and it's a delight.  Librarian and writer Laura Szaro Kopinski interviews a different author each week, so you can  Add to your TBR list while getting the inside scoop on the winding road to publication.  Coming up this spring will be Amy Poeppel, Sarah Penner, Maggie Smith and many more. Find it here on Apple podcasts or search it on your pod player of choice. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amwriting.substack.com/subscribe

If there's one craft book @catwynnauthor always recommends it's this one! SJ and Cat were totally honored to have a chat with Jessica Brody, who's trad published more than twenty novels and wrote the classic Saves the Cat Writes a Novel. Don't miss this episode! We discuss the emotional aspects of writing but in a really cool and useful practical way and answer the questions "Do all good writers know themselves?" You can find Jessica at www.jessicabrody.com You can find Cat Wynn on most platforms @catwynnauthor. Check out Cat's debut workplace romcom PARTNER TRACK at www.catwynnauthor.com, available where books are sold. Check out her holiday novellas HOLIDAY GAMES and HOTEL GAMES available on KU! You can find SJ Tilly on most platforms @sjtillyauthor. You can find LATTE DARLING on KU or available for order on amazon. You can find SJ Tilly on most platforms at SJTillyAuthor and on her website at www.sjtilly.com Check out her holiday novella SECOND BITE available on KU soon! You can find the pod on instagram @talldarkfictional and @tdfpod on Twitter and Tiktok. Music by Vincent Augustus @ https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Vincent_Augustus --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/talldarkfictional/message

If there's one craft book @catwynnauthor always recommends it's this one! SJ and Cat were totally honored to have a chat with Jessica Brody, who's trad published more than twenty novels and wrote the classic Save the Cat Writes a Novel. Don't miss this episode! We discuss the emotional aspects of writing but in a really cool and useful practical way and answer the questions "Do all good writers  know themselves?" You can find Jessica at www.jessicabrody.com You can find Cat Wynn on most platforms @catwynnauthor. Check out Cat's debut workplace romcom PARTNER TRACK at www.catwynnauthor.com, available where books are sold. Check out her holiday novellas HOLIDAY GAMES and HOTEL GAMES available on KU! You can find SJ Tilly on most platforms @sjtillyauthor. You can find LATTE DARLING on KU or available for order on amazon. You can find SJ Tilly on most platforms at SJTillyAuthor and on her website at www.sjtilly.com Check out her holiday novella SECOND BITE available on KU soon! You can find the pod on instagram @talldarkfictional and @tdfpod on Twitter and Tiktok. Music by Vincent Augustus @ https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Vincent_Augustus --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/talldarkfictional/message

The nerds review a couple movies they've seen, talk about the chinese spy ballon shot down near their home, a bartender gets in trouble for a drunk drivers crime, a 13 year old sleeps outside for 1000 days, a woman throws chicken at her boyfriend, a cat writes a sad letter and more! Check out our amazing sponsors! binoid.com use our code 'NERD' to save 10% on Nerds favorite thc edibles and other goodies! built.com use code 'VOMSHOW' to save 10% on all orders on the most delicious, keto approved protein bars! Twitter/Mewe/Parler/Gettr/Rumble: @voicesofmisery Gmail: voicesofmiserypodcast@gmail.com Instagram: voices_of_misery Discord server: voices of misery podcast https://tinyurl.com/VoMPodcastTees

Mentioned: - The Monsters We Defy 6 month book birthday spoiler chat - Feb 9, 2023, 8pm ET: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lw3UlayiJV4 - Preorder Beastly Kingdom (The Bliss Wars, Book 2)  - Thinkific course software - Whimsical software - Save the Cat Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody - Whimsical Save the Cat template  - FaRoBub February 8, 2023 - Shop free fantasy romance books - My Author Newsletter - https://lpenelope.com/newsletter/ - "Pathway to Becoming a Published Author" panel - 2/21/23 Bowie Library, Maryland  - My Events Page - ProWritingAid Fantasy Week - 2/27/23-3/7/23- https://lpen.co/fantasyweek - Lockwood and Co - Netflix  - The Last of Us - HBO - The New Gurus - BBC Radio - https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001g9sq The My Imaginary Friends podcast is a weekly, behind the scenes look at the journey of a working author navigating traditional and self-publishing. Join fantasy and paranormal romance author L. Penelope as she shares insights on the writing life, creativity, inspiration, and this week's best thing. Subscribe and view show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast | Get the Footnotes newsletter - https://myimaginaryfriends.net Support the show - http://frolic.media/podcasts! Stay in touch with me! Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook Music credit: Say Good Night by Joakim Karud https://soundcloud.com/joakimkarud Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported— CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/SZkVShypKgM Affiliate Disclosure: I may receive compensation for links to products on this site either directly or indirectly via affiliate links. Heartspell Media, LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Hey TDF listeners! Happy 2023! We're back and here's a quick catch up episode with some announcements and some gossip. This episode is just Cat and SJ but we'll be releasing an episode with Saves the Cat Writes a Novel author Jessica Brody soon! It's already been recorded, just not edited yet, sorry about that. But enjoy this catch up. We all get the 2023 we deserve. You can find Cat Wynn on most platforms @catwynnauthor. Check out Cat's debut workplace romcom PARTNER TRACK at www.catwynnauthor.com, available where books are sold. Check out her holiday novellas HOLIDAY GAMES and HOTEL GAMES available on KU! You can find SJ Tilly on most platforms @sjtillyauthor. You can find LATTE DARLING on KU or available for order on amazon. You can find SJ Tilly on most platforms at SJTillyAuthor and on her website at www.sjtilly.com Check out her holiday novella SECOND BITE available on KU soon! You can find the pod on instagram @talldarkfictional and @tdfpod on Twitter and Tiktok. Music by Vincent Augustus @ https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Vincent_Augustus --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/talldarkfictional/message

Hey TDF listeners! Happy 2023! We're back and here's a quick catch up episode with some announcements and some gossip. This episode is just Cat and SJ but we'll be releasing an episode with Saves the Cat Writes a Novel author Jessica Brody soon! It's already been recorded, just not edited yet, sorry about that. But enjoy this catch up. We all get the 2023 we deserve. You can find Cat Wynn on most platforms @catwynnauthor. Check out Cat's debut workplace romcom PARTNER TRACK at www.catwynnauthor.com, available where books are sold. Check out her holiday novellas HOLIDAY GAMES and HOTEL GAMES available on KU! You can find SJ Tilly on most platforms @sjtillyauthor. You can find LATTE DARLING on KU or available for order on amazon. You can find SJ Tilly on most platforms at SJTillyAuthor and on her website at www.sjtilly.com Check out her holiday novella SECOND BITE available on KU soon! You can find the pod on instagram @talldarkfictional and @tdfpod on Twitter and Tiktok. Music by Vincent Augustus @ https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Vincent_Augustus --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/talldarkfictional/message

Finishing a draft is glorious.Realizing you have to revise it—especially the first time—is … not.That's the focus of this bonus episode. We're thinking, maybe it's post NaNoWriMo, it's December, and you're sitting on on a draft, a real honest-to-gosh draft of your first novel. And you should be thrilled, happy, pleased as punch.But since you're a #AmWriting listener, we know you know the next step is NOT pressing send on an agent query or designing cover art. Or even polishing each sentence to perfection. In this episode, you'll hear me (KJ) chat with three fantastic book coaches about what you do do to go from the drafting process to the revision process, the first steps in shifting your mindset, evaluating what you've got and figuring out how to make it better. Links from the pod: The 30 day revision process episodeCreating Character Arcs, KM Weiland Save the Cat Writes a Novel, Jessica BrodyMORE INFO: Head to www.nanonowwhat.com for free resources on the evaluating and revision process, and to learn more about these fantastic book coaches and how they can get you from NaNo success to a draft that's ready to pitch or publish.Hear from other #NaNoNowWhat coaches on #AmWriting: Rona Gofstein on Blueprint for a Book Step 3: Who Will Read My Book? Know Your MarketSam Skal on Blueprint for a Book Step 8: One Outline to Rule Them All (Even if You Hate Outlining)The guest coachesKayla Davenport has been an avid reader and writer her whole life, and now assists other writers on their own bookish journeys. She enjoys a wide range of genres, but her favorites are young adult fantasy and dystopian stories that delve into compelling characters and their struggles. She is the author of the young adult dystopian series Beyond the Gates, and is very involved in the online book community on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok under the name @thebooktubeturtle. Through her coaching business, Kayla Davenport Books, she works with writers at all stages of the process, from initial idea to publication, but her specialty lies in revision work, identifying the hidden gaps in stories and helping writers fill them in and take their manuscripts from good to great. Stacy Frazer is a formerly repressed creative soul turned speculative fiction writer, YA fantasy author, Author Accelerator certified book coach, and the founder of Write It Scared. Her mission is to help fiction writers let go of the self-doubt spiral and find clarity and confidence in their stories so they can finish their books. Stacy firmly believes that the only creative license required to write a novel is one's lived experience and that you can learn all the tools to craft a book that makes you proud!When not writing, reading, or working with writers, you can find Stacy hanging with her daughter or on the trail with her big goofy labrador, Gus Gus. To connect with Stacy, please visit her website: www.writeitscared.co. You can also email her at Stacy@writeitscared.co or follow her on Instagram @WriteitScared.Sam Cameron has spent the past decade as a writing tutor and high school history teacher. She loves helping teenagers find their voice and discover the world around them. Coaching YA authors is the perfect marriage between her love of story, my passion for teaching, and her firm belief that all teens deserve to see themselves represented in great books! Her coaching super power is diagnosing the fatal flaws of a manuscript and helping writers figure out how to fix them.Writers, I've got exciting news from Author Accelerator. Applications for Author Accelerator's new 2-year scholarship program for Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and other people of color opens this month! The Author Accelerator team developed this scholarship as a way to amplify diverse voices and perspectives that are under-recognized in the publishing world.The newly launched Author Accelerator Book Coach Certification Scholarship provides one year of professional mentorship and feedback for up to three students of color as they complete the Book Coach Certification program and one subsequent year of career coaching and mentorship as they launch their business.  If you're Interested in Applying,  the scholarship window opens November 15th and will close January 15, 2023. The program will kick off in March 2023.  To learn more, visit bookcoaches.com/equity. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amwriting.substack.com/subscribe

How do you answer the question, "What do you want for Christmas?" In this episode, Kenny shares 12 gift ideas for writers. Physical Gifts: 1. Noise Cancelling Headphones 2. Blue Light Glasses 3. Laptop Stand 4. Travel mug, coffee cup, or sticker with an encouraging saying or a phrase stating what you want to be ex. Future Best-Selling Author 5. A Gift Card to your local bookstore Books: 6. Save the Cat Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody 7. The Ten Commandments of Author Branding by Shayla Raquel 8. The Secrets of Character by Matt Bird 9. The Emotion Thesaurus by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi 10. Author Your Dream by Kenny MacKay Program/Subscriptions: 11. Grammarly 12. Milanote

Mentioned: - Jane Friedman Electric Speed newsletter - https://janefriedman.ac-page.com/jf-espeed-30 - Opal HD web camera - https://opalcamera.com/ - Save the Cat Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody – https://amzn.to/3xf7TFV  - Whimsical - online whiteboard software - https://whimsical.com/ - My Save The Cat Whimsical template - https://lpen.co/stc-whimsical - Brooklyn Speculative Fiction Writers - http://www.bsfwriters.com/ - Galaxy's Edge magazine - https://galaxysedge.com - Becca Syme kickstarter (ended) - https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/beccasyme/the-author-stuck-list - Canva AI image generator: https://www.canva.com/features/ai-image-generator/ - Midjourney AI image generation - https://www.midjourney.com/ - My Canva images from text "A green dragon flying over a post-apocalyptic city near the water during sunset."  - Artbreeder - https://www.artbreeder.com/ - Lab grown meat - https://www.freethink.com/science/lab-grown-chicken-upside-foods - our science fictional future is upon us - Imaginary Worlds podcast - Indigenous Futurism - https://www.imaginaryworldspodcast.org/ - Brain Food newsletter - https://fs.blog/brain-food/november-13-2022/ - Atomic Habits by James Clear - https://amzn.to/3j74GTZ - https://onestopforwriters.com/ deal on 6 month plan - 40% off! Coupon code: BF2022. The My Imaginary Friends podcast is a weekly, behind the scenes look at the journey of a working author navigating traditional and self-publishing. Join fantasy and paranormal romance author L. Penelope as she shares insights on the writing life, creativity, inspiration, and this week's best thing. Subscribe and view show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast | Get the Footnotes newsletter - http://lpen.co/footnotes Support the show - http://frolic.media/podcasts! Stay in touch with me! Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook Music credit: Say Good Night by Joakim Karud https://soundcloud.com/joakimkarud Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported— CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/SZkVShypKgM Affiliate Disclosure: I may receive compensation for links to products on this site either directly or indirectly via affiliate links. Heartspell Media, LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Understanding the Denouement as well as John Barth's idea of the “complexified equilibrium” and Jessica Brody's “Five-Point Finale” with authors Rebecca Rolland and Rishi Reddi. Rebecca Rolland is the author of the Art of Talking with Children (HarperOne, 2022), a combination memoir and parenting/education guide that will be translated into over 10 languages. She's also a poet, essayist, and novelist, winner of the Dana Award for Short Fiction, with three poetry collections published and a fourth one coming out next year. She lives in Boston with her family.Rishi Reddi is the author of the novel Passage West, a Los Angeles Times “Best California Book of 2020” which tells of the early South Asian immigrants to California, and Karma and Other Stories, which received the 2008 L.L. Winship /PEN New England Award for Fiction. A National Book Critics Circle Emerging Critics Fellow for 2021-2022, her reviews, essays and translations have appeared in the New York Times, Los Angeles Review of Books, Kirkus Reviews, LitHub, Alta Journal, and Partisan Review, among others. Rishi has received fellowships and grants from the MacDowell Colony, Bread Loaf, the Massachusetts Cultural Council, and the U.S. Department of State. She lives in Cambridge, MA, and is the Director of Environmental Justice in her day job with the government of Massachusetts. Find John Barth's essay Incremental Perturbations in Julie Checkoway's (editor) Creativing Fiction. And Jessica Brody's 5-Point Final can be found in her craft book: Save the Cat Writes a Novel.Find these and more of fave craft books as well as our panelists' most recent publications on our Bookshop page: https://bookshop.org/shop/the7amnovelist This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit 7amnovelist.substack.com

According to Jessica Brody's Save the Cat Writes a Novel, the Fun & Games beat is pivotal for laying the groundwork of your story as you move into the second act while getting your characters moving. So how to do it? And how do the Fun & Games lead to your book's all important Midpoint? To help us out, we talk to authors Annie Hartnett and Sara Shukla.Sara Shukla is an editor and writer for Cognoscenti, WBUR Boston Public Radio's ideas and opinions page, and a graduate of Grubstreet's novel incubator. Her novel, Pink Whales, a humorous take on lies, drugs and yacht clubs in an exclusive seaside New England town – think “Mean Girls,” but moms — is forthcoming from Little A. She has writing in the Los Angeles Review of Books, short humor in McSweeney's and elsewhere, and interviews in Dead Darlings. She lives in Mass. with her husband and three kids. Annie Hartnett is the author of two novels: her first was called Rabbit Cake and her new novel, Unlikely Animals, just came out in April with Random House. Along with the writer Tessa Fontaine, Annie runs bi-weekly accountability groups – workshops designed to give you community and support on your writing projects without the pressure and confusion of feedback. Annie is also the co-host of the Here to Save You podcast, a podcast about writing while parenting young children. Annie lives in Massachusetts with her husband, daughter, and their dog.  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit 7amnovelist.substack.com

She's far more excited about exploring the millions of ways a romance can go wrong, rather than right. Amanda Jane Schiller, a mom of one preteen and contemporary romance novelist, is on the show today. In this episode, Amanda discusses the book that completely altered her previous views about writing and became the catalyst for her own writing style. She not only defines books about “romance gone wrong” but also gives us a sample of the psychological curiosities she gets to play with as she explores her character's past. Amanda also shares how she prepared herself for self-publishing so that the process wasn't overwhelming, as well as what resources helped her most. And I give detailed examples of what it means to “read like a writer” and some of the other best writing advice I learned at university. We also have an in-depth conversation about pursing our passions as adults, the roundabout ways we got here, and the messages we're passing on to our kids. And, as always, we discuss which books we and our kids love most. Get her books: – Wicked Games and Wasted Years: Part 1: https://www.amazon.com/Wicked-Games-Wasted-Years-Part/dp/B0962N9JTX – Wicked Games and Wasted Years: Part 2: https://www.amazon.com/Wicked-Games-Wasted-Years-Part/dp/B09WCJWNPS Connect with Amanda: – Blog: https://www.patreon.com/amandajaneschiller – Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/ajschiller – Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amanda.schiller.9 Books discussed during the show: – The Coldest Winter Ever by Sister Souljah – The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien – Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery – The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle – The Neverending Story by Michael Ende – Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling – The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams – Save the Cat Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody – The Bad Guys series by Aaron Blabey – Dead Boy by Laurel Gale – Fearless series by Francine Pasco – The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern Resources mentioned during the show: – Reedsy.com – Vellum – KDP (Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing) – Draft2Digital For more content on writing, parenting, and life, visit LifeBeyondParenting.com. Free your creative self too. Download your free copy of my guide, 5 Steps to Help You Start Writing Today: https://lifebeyondparenting.com/5-steps-start-writing.

Collectively Tess & Karen have written more than sixty books so it's not surprising that they've picked up a few skills along the way. On this episode they discuss the art of creating complex characters who will strike a chord with readers. Using specific examples from movies and books, they describe methods writers can use to get their characters to the next level. They hope you find it interesting and useful! Books mentioned:Save the Cat by Blake SnyderSave the Cat Writes a Novel by Jessica BrodyTess's Presentation on Characterization

Mentioned: - The Story Grid by Shawn Coyne – https://amzn.to/2Yw6Elx  Save the Cat Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody – https://amzn.to/3xf7TFV - Sarah Beth Yoga - https://www.youtube.com/c/sarahbethyoga - Yoga with Kassandra - https://www.youtube.com/c/yogawithkassandra - Yoga with Bird - https://www.youtube.com/c/YogaWithBird - A Midsummer Night's Dream @ Old Globe Theatre, San Diego, CA - https://www.theoldglobe.org/pdp/22-season/a-midsummer-nights-dream   The My Imaginary Friends podcast is a weekly, behind the scenes look at the journey of a working author navigating traditional and self-publishing. Join fantasy and paranormal romance author L. Penelope as she shares insights on the writing life, creativity, inspiration, and this week's best thing. Subscribe and view show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast | Get the Footnotes newsletter - http://lpen.co/footnotes Support the show - http://frolic.media/podcasts! Stay in touch with me! Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook Music credit: Say Good Night by Joakim Karud https://soundcloud.com/joakimkarud Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported— CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/SZkVShypKgM Affiliate Disclosure: I may receive compensation for links to products on this site either directly or indirectly via affiliate links. Heartspell Media, LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Today I'm joined by NYT best selling author, Aiden Thomas, who launched his debut YA novel, Cemetery Boys, during the first year of the pandemic. His second book, Lost in the Never Woods, came out in 2021, and because this pandemic is apparently never ending, his third book, The Sunbearer Trials, will be his 3rd release, out on September 6th! Aiden is one of the most delightful humans, and I'm so excited for you to hear from them directly in today's interview. Books recommended by Aiden in this episode: Never Say You Can't Survive: How to Get Through Hard Times by Making Up Stories by Charlie Jane Anders Save the Cat Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody [Click the book titles to order your copy from Aiden's favorite indie: Powell's Books!] *** Love the podcast? Then you've got to get on my email list. Go to IsabelSterling.com/join to make sure my best advice for staying in love with writing and banishing burnout goes right to your inbox. When you sign-up, you'll get a PDF with the 5 Causes of Writer's Block so you can figure out why you're stuck and get back to writing. That's IsabelSterling.com/join - See you next week!

Mentioned: - Save the Cat Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody – https://amzn.to/3xf7TFV - The Anatomy of Story by John Truby - https://amzn.to/3wwAzLE - Dan Wells' 7 Point Plot Structure - https://blog.reedsy.com/guide/story-structure/seven-point-story-structure/ - Structuring Your Novel by K.M. Weiland - https://amzn.to/3Mc5pjD - The Creative Penn podcast - https://www.thecreativepenn.com/podcasts/ - Storyist writing software - https://storyist.com/ - Scrivener - https://www.literatureandlatte.com/scrivener/overview - Notion software - https://notion.so - ClickUp project management software - http://clickup.com - My author publication DB video & template - https://lpenelope.com/2020/08/manage-your-published-book-details-with-notion/ - Asana project management software - https://asana.com/ - "Second Brain" - a good, very short overview - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBOHUBTsvHk - BB Edit - text editor - https://asana.com/ - Google Keep - https://keep.google.com     The My Imaginary Friends podcast is a weekly, behind the scenes look at the journey of a working author navigating traditional and self-publishing. Join fantasy and paranormal romance author L. Penelope as she shares insights on the writing life, creativity, inspiration, and this week's best thing. Subscribe and view show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast | Get the Footnotes newsletter - http://lpen.co/footnotes Support the show - http://frolic.media/podcasts! Stay in touch with me! Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook Music credit: Say Good Night by Joakim Karud https://soundcloud.com/joakimkarud Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported— CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/SZkVShypKgM Affiliate Disclosure: I may receive compensation for links to products on this site either directly or indirectly via affiliate links. Heartspell Media, LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Mentioned:  - Structuring Your Novel by K.M. Weiland - https://amzn.to/3Mc5pjD - Save the Cat Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody – https://amzn.to/3xf7TFV - Agents vs. attorneys - https://kriswrites.com/2022/04/27/business-musings-attorneys/ - Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness - Moonknight The My Imaginary Friends podcast is a weekly, behind the scenes look at the journey of a working author navigating traditional and self-publishing. Join fantasy and paranormal romance author L. Penelope as she shares insights on the writing life, creativity, inspiration, and this week's best thing. Subscribe and view show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast | Get the Footnotes newsletter - http://lpen.co/footnotes Support the show - http://frolic.media/podcasts! Stay in touch with me! Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook Music credit: Say Good Night by Joakim Karud https://soundcloud.com/joakimkarud Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported— CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/SZkVShypKgM Affiliate Disclosure: I may receive compensation for links to products on this site either directly or indirectly via affiliate links. Heartspell Media, LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Jamie Nash hops on the podcast to chat about his screenwriting journey, 80s Horror and Comedy films, Writers/Blockbusters Podcast, and his new book 'Save the Cat Writes for TV', the newest addition to the late Blake Snyder's series of screenwriting books known as the Save the Cat series. This episode's pretty epic and I'm glad Jamie could talk with me. We hope you like it! Connect with Jamie Nash on Twitter: @jamie_nash. Theme Song: EMOTION by MuhTeyOh. Follow the show on all social media platforms @josiahsvoicepod. This episode is sponsored by Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. HTTP://anchor.fm/app Listen to this episode at www.newsly.me or download the app on IOS or ANDROID. For a Free 1 Month subscription use my PROMO CODE: J0S1AHV01CE. Enjoy. SHOW NOTES --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  What Save the Cat is What the main beats are Mistakes to avoid with Save the Cat How to use save the cat beats with dual POV This week's question is: What are your favorite tropes? Recommendation of the week is: A Lesson in Vengeance by Victoria Lee Apple Kobo Amazon UK Amazon USA ***this show uses affiliate links Links I mentioned are:  35% Birthday discount until 18th March. Use code: BIRTHDAY35 Sacha Black's Shop The Senses Course Preorder the Rebel Anthology Find out more about Jessica at: JessicaBrody.com Twitter Instagram   Rebel of the Week is: River If you'd like to be a Rebel of the week please do send in your story, it can be any kind of rebellion. You can email your rebel story to rebelauthorpodcast@gmail.com 1 new patron this week, welcome and thank you to Verona Rae. A big thank you to my existing patrons as well. If you'd like to support the show, and get early access to all the episodes as well as bonus content you can from as little as $2 a month by visiting: www.patreon.com/sachablack 

In this monthly q & a session, the guys answer listener questions. Whether you're traditionally published or indie, writing a good book is only the first step in becoming a successful author. The days of just turning a manuscript into your editor and walking away are gone. If you want to succeed in today's publishing world, you need to understand every aspect of the business - editing, formatting, marketing, contracts. It all starts with a good book, then the real work begins. Join international bestselling author J.D. Barker and indie powerhouses, J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon, as they gain unique insight and valuable advice from the most prolific and accomplished authors in the business. Join us on Patreon and ask your question LIVE on the podcast! https://www.patreon.com/writersinkpodcast Questions asked: Hey guys, this is Rebekah Bryan, or Bek. My question is, what are different considerations, if any, for writing, publishing, and marketing nonfiction compared to fiction? And do you have any tips for someone who is looking to dabble in nonfiction? Thanks! How would each of you describe “show, don't tell?” Besides writing, what would you recommend to do to grow in the craft when in person events are not feasible? What are each of you going to dress up as for Halloween? Do you think Tolkein would be able to get Lord of the Rings (not The Hobbit) accepted for traditional publication today? Why? How would you go about inventing a religion for a fantasy/horror story? Where would you start? I'm curious what Stephen King collection JD asks his mentees to read, and what questions are on the character sheet he uses before he starts writing a character. With J. recently finishing Save the Cat Writes a Novel, I'm wondering how each of you use it when you're writing fiction. What % of fiction books do you think are bought and never read? I ask this because I often buy a book based on a logline alone but never get around to reading it. It is something you never hear writers talk about and shows the value of a great logline. Links: J. D. Barker - http://jdbarker.com/ J. Thorn - https://theauthorlife.com/ Zach Bohannon - https://zachbohannon.com/ Story Rubric - http://storyrubric.com Nonfic Rubric - http://nonficrubric.com Proudly sponsored by Kobo Writing Life - https://kobowritinglife.com/ Music by Nicorus - https://cctrax.com/nicorus/dust-to-dust-ep Voice Over by Rick Ganley - http://www.nhpr.com and recorded at Mill Pond Studio - http://www.millpondstudio.com Contact - https://writersinkpodcast.com/contact/ *Full disclosure: Some of the links are affiliate links. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/writersink/support