POPULARITY
This episode of BOOKSPO is guaranteed to put a song in your head, as Michelle Hébert tells me all about how revisiting Emma Donoghue's 1997 story collection KISSING THE WITCH helped her discover solutions to problems she was facing in developing the characters in EVERYTHING LITTLE THING SHE DOES IS MAGIC, her debut novel, which is out this week and pretty magic in its own right. Hébert tells me about the serendipitous way in which she's managed to build her own fairy tale library, about what Donoghue's twists on familiar tales showed her about understanding difficult characters' motivations, about how female characters are so often adversarial and she wanted to do something different, the leap she took to couple her story of age-old curses and fairy tale tropes with a brilliant 1980s' pop and rock soundtrack, about how maybe ‘80s pop culture and the world of fairy tales are not so incongruous after all, and names the most bonkers ‘80s song of all time, which turns up on her novel's soundtrack. About EVERY LITTLE THING SHE DOES IS MAGIC: Kitten Love's family is haunted by the memory of her teenaged aunt, Nerida, who died just days before Kitten's birth in 1970. Her mother, Queena, believes the family is cursed, and she's determined not to let disaster strike again. She won't let Kitten out of her sight—especially to visit the beaches that surround the town. She's built a bomb shelter to protect against Soviet attack, and she's desperate to protect her husband, Stubby, from the fatal and mysterious Love Heart.Kitten thinks she knows how to defeat their curse: magic. But when protection spells and clues from tarot cards aren't enough to save Stubby, Kitten turns her back on the things that make her life magical, and Queena turns her back on reality. She preserves everything as it was the day Stubby died in 1987—from the gold shag rug in the bathroom to the Duran Duran posters in Kitten's room. Kitten, herself, is forbidden to change.Kitten tastes freedom when she falls in love and moves to British Columbia, but reinventing herself without the curse is harder than she expects. Tragedy and her own reliance on magical thinking eventually lead her back home to Queena, her brother Thom, and Aunt Bunny, who are equally stuck in their pasts. When tarot cards begin mysteriously showing up in her room, warning of a betrayal and encouraging an unlikely romance, she's certain someone is watching her. Could the heartbreak that almost destroyed Kitten's family be the very thing that helps them move on?A darkly humorous family saga woven around tarot cards and a mixtape of '80s songs, Every Little Thing She Does is Magic is a heady mix of music, ghosts, love, and nostalgia.Michelle Hébert grew up on the beaches and marshes of Cumberland County, Nova Scotia. She has an MFA in Creative Nonfiction, degrees in journalism and social work, and she studies tarot on the side. Her writing about mental health, social justice, and finding joy where it seems there's none to be had has appeared in Writerly magazine and in audio essays and short documentaries for CBC Radio. Her first book, Enriched by Catastrophe: Social Work and Social Conflict After the Halifax Explosion, was published in 2009. Michelle has lived across Canada but makes her home in Halifax, Nova Scotia (Mi'kma'ki), with several cats, a dog, and her two adult children. You can find more of her writing (and pictures of her cats) at michellehebertwrites.com. Get full access to Pickle Me This at kerryreads.substack.com/subscribe
Listen if you've been looking for books to support your writing practice, or maybe a list of books to give another writer in your life, or if you've been wanting to read with a community of writers, too, and need some guidance to get started.--Writerly Reading for Your SummerGet your free bingo card and play along with us for Writerly Prizes.rachelthompson.co/bookclub Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Join Meagan and Sarah for a peek behind the scenes of our writerly lives and an update on what we're working on lately. We share how we got started (including our tips for others wanting to explore writing), how our writing has looked quite different over the years (including where and how we write) and what we're currently working on. We also bring listeners up to speed on an exciting new collaboration that we've only hinted at in the past… Tune in to find out more!HELPFUL LINKS:Preorder our guided journal! The Mother's Gratitude Journal: An Easy Guide to Capturing Everyday Joys and Milestone MomentsSarah mentioned the episode More Than Mom: Romanticizing The Hard StuffMore Than Mom: Writing, Motherhood & Creative Practice is an episode from the archives that pairs nicely with this one.Read Meagan's writing on SubstackBlog Posts Related To Writing:How I Started WritingHow To Start A Freelance Career Without Spending MoneyListen to The Tea's Made podcast episode featuring Sarah discussing Our Cozy & Creative SpacesOTHER HELPFUL LINKS:Visit our websiteCheck out deals from our partnersFollow us on InstagramJoin our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)Sign up for our newsletterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
It didn't take long but the world is awash in generative AI-based content, and let's face it. A lot of it isn't great. But that's not the way it has to be. Today we're going to talk about how to utilize generative AI well for on-brand content creation, and why paying attention to the details matters here. To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome Jon Ricketts, CEO and Co-Founder of Writerly. Resources Writerly website: https://writerly.ai/ Sign up for The Agile Brand newsletter here: https://www.gregkihlstrom.com Get the latest news and updates on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-agile-brand/ For consulting on marketing technology, customer experience, and more visit GK5A: https://www.gk5a.com Check out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnow The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company
A fun episode about aesthetic, language, and paying attention to style and taste in writing. This week's guest K-Ming Chang talks about disorientation as a style, language as something that lives in the body, and hating plot. This is a playful interview that focuses on the experiential and reminds us that we all have an existential position on our own writing. Chang's meditation on language is expansive and inviting, and invites us to consider all the ways we are the stories we're told. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Join me on a heartfelt exploration to shape a year brimming with stories that celebrate your history and envision your future. Imagine a 2024 where we'll navigate a course of monthly themes, inspired by the moments that define us and the memories we yearn to preserve. From honoring the legacies of loved ones to weaving the wisdom of past lessons into compelling narratives, this episode is an invitation to intentionally craft a year where no memory is left unrecorded.I share 7 areas that can guide your writerly goals for the year and assure that you are moving forward with preserving your memories with powerful stories! In this episode I pose questions that will guide you through choosing an intnention within the areas of topics, habits, purpose/audience, writing skills, writing experiences, or gathering information/research. Choose one or more and move your writing from a wish to an intentional action!Are you a visual learner and want the goal areas written out, check out the related blog post here!Are you ready to take a first step towrds writing stories about your family, sign up for my free Family Tree Story Starters here, and recieve structure and promtps to take the first steps towards your writing practice.And if you are ready to be consistent with preserving your memories with stories, and are looking for a supportive writing community, support, and tools, join me over in the Memory Minder Membership here!This group is for people who are in the process of writing their own personal stories to preserve their past for their future. It's a place to come for story writing inspiration, weekly writing-related events and memes, and continued support from me and the other members.Join like-minded people and get your stories down on paper for your future generations!
Memoirist Yolande House sits down with me for a book club conversation about Kae Tempest's On Connection. It was a real pleasure to read this book alongside her and compare notes. And I hope those of you reading alongside us in our book club enjoy it.About On Connection: This is a book about connection. About how immersing ourselves in creativity can help us cultivate greater self-awareness and bring us closer to each other.After we discuss the book, stick around as Yolande House also shares highlights from her disability reading list.All of the notes for this episode are up at rachelthompson.co/88—OPEN NOW: LIT MAG LOVE! Get a big “YES” for your writing from literary journals you love in this five-week guided course. rachelthompson.co/litmaglove Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The impressive Amy Brown from Chowgirls joined the boys to discuss cooking, catering, and community. She also shared a light corn pudding recipe that you're going to want to hear. Tasty stuff.
This podcast interview focuses on product innovation that gives creators the power to supercharge their productivity. My guest is Jon Ricketts, Co-founder and CEO of Writerly. Jon's career in the SaaS industry spans over 12 years. He has established himself in the field of artificial intelligence and business innovation. Jon's journey as an entrepreneur began as an early employee at Transcard, a pioneering fintech company specializing in payment processing. In June 2022, he co-founded Writerly, which he leads as the CEO. Their mission: to make it easy for creators – both individual and enterprise – to leverage sophisticated AI to supercharge their productivity. And this inspired me, and hence I invited Jon to my podcast. We explore what it takes to build a successful Generative AI startup in a period where a tsunami of companies is coming to market every single day. Jon shares how he started the business without a clear idea of what problem to solve and how he found his sweetspot. He then elaborates on what techniques he uses to build defensible differentiation and stand out in the market. Last but not least, he shares his secrets on how to stay nimble as the business grows. Here's one of his quotes The hardest part about being in a generative AI market and seeing the tsunami of companies that are being released is just simply being patient. You try to weaponize speed, speed in terms of development, speed in terms of commercial marketing and sales. But the faster you move, the further back you fall. Because when you see something that you would like to replicate this week. Well, by the time your engineers and developers have completed, you've done your testing, and you're moving from staging to production, guess what's happened: someone else has come out and made that essentially obsolete. During this interview, you will learn four things: How being intentionally patient can become your biggest value driver in a crazy Generative AI market. Where Jon is looking for signals on what to build and how to sell. How Jon found his sweetspot - even though it didn't look attractive at all. How to design your business intentionally to create defensible differentiation. For more information about the guest from this week: Jon Ricketts Website: Writerly Subscribe to the Daily SaaS Reflection Get my free, 1 min daily reflection on shaping a B2B SaaS business no one can ignore. Subscribe here Yes, it's actually daily. And yes, people actually stay subscribed (Just see what peer B2B SaaS CEOs say) My promise: It's short. To the point. Inspiring. And valuable. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
With all of this talk of AI these days, have you ever stopped to think how it could be of benefit to you and your business? While for some, a lot of exploration takes place recreationally - there is true economic value within the generative AI space. Jon and the team over at Writerly recognized this and began building the foundation for the company back in early 2022. One of their biggest focal points was understanding market trends and not just wanting to be the first to cross the finish line each and every time. Tune in to episode 165 as Jon recalls his time working with various startups, uses an analogy with chicken to emphasize their obsession with user experience and much more! For more information about Writerly: Email: jon@writerly.ai LinkedIn: Jon Ricketts Website: www.ekom.ai ; www.writerly.ai --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/d2b/support
Jon Ricketts has diverse work experience in various roles and industries. Jon is currently the Co-Founder and Chief Executive of Writerly, a position they have held since June 2022. Prior to that, they worked as the Managing Partner of The Fields Development at FLYING Magazine starting from October 2021. Before their role at FLYING Magazine, […]
In this riveting episode of “Raw and Real Entrepreneurship”, we dive deep with Jon Ricketts, the mastermind behind the groundbreaking platform, Writerly.ai. Venture beyond the Silicon Valley bubble and discover the unique challenges and triumphs of building a tech powerhouse in uncharted territories. From assembling a remote team to navigating different entrepreneurial ecosystems, Jon shares candid insights into his relentless drive and audacious appetite for risk. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or a tech enthusiast, this episode is a masterclass in determination, innovation, and the spirit of breaking boundaries. Join us for an unfiltered conversation on reshaping the tech landscape and the relentless passion of entrepreneurship. Don't miss out! About Jon Ricketts: Jon Ricketts is a highly accomplished co-founder and CEO, renowned for his exceptional leadership in the technology industry. With a career spanning over 12 years in the SaaS sector, Jon has established himself in the field of artificial intelligence and business innovation. He currently holds the position of co-founder and CEO at Writerly, a generative artificial intelligence SaaS platform catering to businesses and enterprises. A native of Tennessee, Jon's journey as an entrepreneur began as an early employee at Transcard, a pioneering fintech company specializing in payments processing. During his tenure, he spearheaded partnerships and business development, demonstrating his acumen for forging strategic alliances and driving growth. Connect With Jon: Website https://writerly.ai/ Facebook @writerlyai Instagram @writerly.ai X @writerlyai LinkedIn @writerlyai About Susan Sly: Susan Sly is a Tech Co-founder and Co-CEO, a tech investor, best-selling author, keynote speaker, entrepreneur, and host of the highly acclaimed podcast – Raw and Real Entrepreneurship. Susan has appeared on CNN, CNBC, Fox, Lifetime Television, The CBN, The Morning Show in Australia and been quoted in MarketWatch, Yahoo Finance, Forbes, and more. She holds Certificates in Management and Leadership, Technology and Operations, and Strategy and Innovation from MIT. Susan is the author of 7 books. Her book project with NY Times Best Selling Author, Jack Canfield, made six Amazon Best Selling lists. Connect With Susan: Twitter @Susanslylive Twitter @rawandrealentr1 LinkedIn @susansly Facebook @susanslylive Website https://susansly.com/ Join Susan's Insider's List https://susansly.com/insider/
Jon Ricketts lives in Knoxville, TN with his wife and kids. He notes that he has had an unconventional route to being a tech startup founder. He has an MBA and JD, but knew during law school he didn't want to practice. Throughout his career, he has continually fallen in love with building. Outside of tech, he enjoys spending time on the beach, staying physically fit, golfing, and working on his private pilots license.Jon observed the maturation of AI, in the creation of tooling like ChatGPT and generative AI. He envisioned building an application to extend the progression of natural language processing to enable work productivity.This is the creation story of Writerly.SponsorsCipherstashTreblleCAST AI FireflyTursoMemberstackLinksWebsite: https://writerly.ai/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-ricketts-639187267/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/code-story/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Jon Ricketts is a serial SaaS founder with a focus in the field of artificial intelligence and business innovation, which led him to co-found Writerly – a generative AI SaaS platform you can use across your business to create content that's on brand every time. And Writerly is the home of the brilliant eCommerce content AI system EKOM. In this episode we discuss:How to use AI to create website copy effectively every timeHow to easily protect your brand from the errors of AIHow to win in an AI content tsunamiHow to identify legitimate information vs. misinformation in the field of AIHow can this help optimise customer acquisition channels? How to use this technology to improve peak performance[07:15] Exciting future for generative AI despite challenges.[10:31] Accelerating brands embrace automation, optimisation, and productivity.[15:24] Cohort targeting and cross-selling.[17:27] Hyper targeted content with granular messaging. [26:15] Advice for hesitant listeners to adopt AI.[29:46] An AI content tool that automates team efficiency.Learn about Herdify >> https://keepopt.com/herdify Find your next eCommerce tool >> https://keepopt.com/techGet all the links and resources we mention & join our email list at https://keepopt.comLove the show? Chloe would love your feedback - leave a review here: https://keepopt.com/review or reply to the episode Q&A on Spotify.Interested in being a Sponsor? go here: https://keepopt.com/sponsor
Jon Ricketts is a man of many talents, with a back ground that includes medical devices, aviation, and tech start-ups. He has a knack for innovation and a passion for making life better, one venture at a time. We talk about the Ai start-up world, how e-commerce is changing, and how to build a go-to-market team that is creative, unique, and effective. Jon holds a Doctor of Law (JD) degree from Lincoln Memorial University and Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a specialization in Accounting and Finance
EPISODE SUMMARYStarting a business is like embarking on an exhilarating journey full of challenges, triumphs, and learning experiences. This is especially true for software startups, where the landscape is constantly evolving, and innovation is the name of the game. In this week's episode of Scale Your SaaS, we'll dive into the insights shared by Ryan Janssen and Drew Goulart from Zenlytic, as they discuss their journey from a small team to startup success with host and B2B SaaS Sales Coach Matt Wolach. PODCAST-AT-A-GLANCEPodcast: Scale Your SaaS with Matt WolachEpisode: Episode No. 279, "Niche Down, But When to Niche Up - with Ryan Janssen and Drew Goulart"Host: Matt Wolach, a B2B SaaS sales coach, Entrepreneur, and InvestorGuest: Ryan Janssen, Co-Founder & CEO and Drew Goulart, GTM Lead at ZenlyticTOP TIPS FROM THIS EPISODETight Feedback Loops and Agile AdvantageNiche Market DominanceAdapting to Expanding MarketsEPISODE HIGHLIGHTSThe Early Days: Focusing on Solving a ProblemThe Transition to AI and MLTOP QUOTESRyan Janssen & Drew Goulart[12:59] "The challenge of finding the world's first self-serve AI tool, and why it was not technically possible for 25 years."[20:23] "Advice to new software leaders and founders, focus on solving a problem first, because the platform shift to AI is the latest platform shift."Matt Wolach[26:26] "I was gonna say on that point, too, I think that goes back to what you guys talked about earlier, get to know your customer have those conversations, and they would have known that that's not a problem, instead of seeing a cool new piece of tech and say, Hey, let's just throw this out there and see what happens."LEARN MORETo learn more about Writerly, visit: https://www.linkedin.com/company/zenlytic/about/You can also find Ryan Janssen and Drew Goulart on LinkedIn.For more about how host Matt Wolach helps software companies achieve maximum growth, visit https://mattwolach.com/Get even more tips by following Matt elsewhere: Sales Tips LinkedIn Twitter Instagram
Join Matt DeCoursey and Jon Ricketts, CEO of Writerly, as they discuss their experience raising capital in saturated markets. Listen to Matt and Jon explore how just saturated the AI startup scene is today, the keys to fundraising in such environments, and how to impact and educate the market. Further, Matt and Jon also share their thoughts on using your network, listening to echoes, and why a jockey needs a good horse. Find Startup Hustle Everywhere: https://gigb.co/l/YEh5 This episode is sponsored by Full Scale: https://fullscale.io Learn more about Writerly: https://writerly.ai See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Hey NewMoneyTalks fam, we have a interesting episode for today. You must have heard about ChatGpt / AI and how it plans to replace 90% of jobs in the next few years. In today's episode, we spoke with John Ricketts, the visionary CEO of Writerly, a Nashville-based company at the forefront of the AI revolution. In this episode, John sheds light on how Writerly's cutting-edge, GPT-enabled AI software EKom is reshaping the landscape of marketing and creative content. - Sponsored by: ✍️ Enhance your business with next level AI powered writing: https://rebrand.ly/ekomai
EPISODE SUMMARYIn the rapidly evolving landscape of technology, the power of AI is undeniable. One company that has harnessed the potential of generative AI is Writerly. I sat down with the Co-Founder and CEO, Jon Ricketts, to delve into the inspiration behind the platform, its journey, and its invaluable role in content creation. Join us as we explore how Writerly is shaping the future of AI-powered content generation and the wisdom Jon imparts to fellow software founders with host and B2B SaaS Sales Coach Matt Wolach. PODCAST-AT-A-GLANCEPodcast: Scale Your SaaS with Matt WolachEpisode: Episode No. 277, "Understanding the Power of AI - with Jon Ricketts"Host: Matt Wolach, a B2B SaaS sales coach, Entrepreneur, and InvestorGuest: Jon Ricketts, Co-Founder & CEO at WriterlyTOP TIPS FROM THIS EPISODENavigate High Growth: Key Ingredients for SuccessCreate a Lasting Impact: Educating the Market and Fostering UnderstandingCraft a Winning Team: Nurturing Talent in a Startup EnvironmentPart Words of Wisdom: Embrace the Journey and Dive InEPISODE HIGHLIGHTSThe Spark of InnovationEnhancing Content Creation Through AIAI's Role in Content Authenticity: Balancing Human and AI ContributionsTOP QUOTESJon Ricketts[13:16] "AI is not going to go anywhere, and they are not trying to force it on large organizations."[23:13] "Embrace the burn the ships mindset. Nothing is guaranteed, but the chance of success is far greater when they put their head down and apply that mentality."Matt Wolach[18:24] "Building a successful team in a high growth startup is difficult, but also very important."[25:19] "I teach my clients we don't want to dip our toe in the water. We need a full cannonball. Get in there.”LEARN MORETo learn more about Writerly, visit: https://writerly.ai/You can also find Jon Ricketts on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/writerlyai/For more about how host Matt Wolach helps software companies achieve maximum growth, visit https://mattwolach.com/Get even more tips by following Matt elsewhere: Sales Tips LinkedIn Twitter Instagram
George Brooks interviews Jon Ricketts, CEO and Co-Founder of a game-changing software platform that is set to transform content creation—Writerly AI powered by Generative AI. Tune in to learn how generative AI is reshaping content creation and marketing automation, and its incredible potential for businesses worldwide.
If you want to sell books profitably, I highly encourage you to check out AMMO. There's no program like it anywhere else. Click learn more to see if AMMO is a fit for you.Eric Simmons is the CEO of ESE, Inc., a website development firm specializing in creating sites for small businesses, high school/college athletes, authors, poets, and others who seek to project their “Personal Brand” on the Internet. A former college athlete, he enjoys sports and public speaking. He self-publishes under his full name, Eric Otis Simmons, and his written works are branded under the name ESETOMES (pronounced ESE-TOMES). Eric has written and self-published five books that have appeared on Amazon's “Best Sellers” list 212 times since January 2019. Two of his books were #1 “Hot New Releases” on Amazon. His book Getting Your Book Into Libraries evolved from his well-received article, “How To Get Your Book Into Libraries,” which for two years was the top Google search result, out of over 2 billion, on the subject of “getting your book into libraries.” Over 200 Libraries, one as recent as last week, have purchased 258 copies of Simmons' self-published books. Connect with him on Facebook and Twitter.Here his interview with Joanna Penn here.And explore his resources for library contacts here.Regarding Library PricingEric and I discuss the library pricing strategy during this episode. Following our conversation, I ran out to investigate. I found that Ingram Spark encouraged authors to use 200% cost for library pricing as a starting point and in some cases up to 400% for library pricing.You'll find a pricing strategy that works for you. At this time, I'm going forward with the 2X pricing guide from Ingram Spark, but Eric has sold his books into over 200 branches and his advise was to offer distinct discounts to entice purchases. I'll keep you posted on my outcomes in the coming weeks.TRBM is a listener-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to TRBM at jodyjsperling.substack.com/subscribe
I'm part of the AMMO program, and since joining, I've sold $2,200 worth of books through my Shopify store and 103 books through Amazon for an additional $384.Jody J. Sperling is a long way away from a full-time author, and (yes, I'm referring to myself in the third person) he's progressing toward the goal. If you're a person who wants to achieve full-time author status, and you have a handful of published books, it might be time to check out Author Marketing Mastery through Optimization (AMMO) for yourself. Click here to see what AMMO is all about.Drive More SalesWe're going into ultra experimental territory, so this episode may serve as a wait-and-see for authors who don't want to chase every whim, but it might also be a phenomenal opportunity to get two birds flying with one gust of wind.A while ago, I had an idea to reach out to my local town and tug their heartstrings to buy my book, but the more I've seen how the real world works, the more I recognize no person is willing to act unless given sufficient benefit to do so.Sometimes sufficient benefit is charity and the self-satisfaction it delivers to the person taking action. Often times the sufficient benefit is a moment of pleasure greater than the previous state of being.For example, I listen to a lot of podcasts, and the ones I enjoy the most have such a positive impact on my emotional wellbeing that I am willing to buy—or almost buy—products the hosts read ad copy for.I'm not sure if Dax Shepard ever owned a Chrysler Pacifica or not, but he read ad copy for them for months, and when my family was shopping for a new minivan, I could hardly resist the urge to buy that van.But if you ask me to listen to a podcast about beauty products, it doesn't matter how good of friends we are. I'm not going to listen to that show. I might play it in the background—maybe—if I feel I owe you one, but good luck getting me to engage. It would have to be a transcendent moment where I heard something on the beauty products podcast to flip my script.I have had my script flipped before, but it is so rare as to be statistically insignificant.For example, you all know the wonderful and talented Xe Sands narrated my audiobooks. I had the wonderful fortune of speaking to her about my book, and we had a great conversation. She's a delightful person who shares many of my values and interests.So when she began talking about loving podcasts, I all but demanded a list of her favorites. She graciously provided a list of more than twenty shows she's binged, and so, later that day, I started working through the list she'd provided. None captured my attention. To be fair, I didn't make it through the entire list, but if someone I admire that much, has that little sway over my actions, imagine how little sway you have over a person's actions when you are a stranger to her.If you're feeling a bit concerned and even slightly hopeless thinking about that, I want to assure you, you aren't hopeless. Eye-opening moments lead to revelations, and that's what happened for me, so I want to share my idea with you.Right now it's in the lab. I've taken it into the world with a few people, and I'm waiting for results, but in the meantime, you can adapt it for your needs if it seems like a possible fit.The Grand IdeaMy idea is to offer a book for a brew. This includes coffee, tea, beer, and even kombucha. I'm seeking to partner with area businesses, set up a table inside, and offer my book in exchange for a cup of tasty goodness.Once I have three to five businesses who will agree to run the promotion with me, I'll send a press release to KETV, The Omaha World Herald, and other local media outlets. In an ideal world, I'll drive a bonkers number of book sales and take home a small amount of profit from the adventure.In a realistic world, I'll have a modest number of book sales, break even on cost, and walk away with an elevated Amazon ranking that I can then reference in future marketing marketing materials.Different ToolsIf my goal with the Book for a Brew campaign was to make money, I'd have a rough time of it, I think. You'd have a tough time motivating enough people to buy a book at a profitable value after compensating the coffee shop or bar for the purchase of a beverage. But if I'm running an awareness campaign, I can put a ton of eyeballs on my novel by using the free TV interview and a few spotlights in the local newspaper.Instead of paying hundreds of dollars to be featured in an ad, I spend a few days creating a campaign, and a day or two selling books and rubbing elbows with local readers. I encourage readers to order the book on Amazon, and depending on the success of the event, maybe I hit bestseller status for a couple minutes.Once you hit a list, you can forever say Bestseller, and perhaps it doesn't catapult you into fame and fortune, but it does give you a strong lever to start pulling huge library sales.As Archimedes said, or maybe it was Henry Ford, “Give me a big enough lever and I can drive the Industrial Revolution.At the Time of This WritingI heard back from Hardy Coffee, and they are going to partner with me on the Book for A Brew event so that's one down, and two to four left to go.Now I have a new problem. What's the best way to collect money, drive sales, and connect with readers so I can keep them for the future.That's a problem for another day.Books for Brews and Why It's a Winning IdeaWe'll discuss book reviews as social proof in the journey to get our writings into libraries in a future episode, but for today, let's focus on the power of social proof when approaching libraries.At some point, you're going to grow beyond your local library and when that day arrives you'll need quick, powerful social proof that readers enjoy your books. Few ways will be better way than pointing toward an Amazon bestseller rating.But Amazon does want to make proof challenging, so you need to coordinate sales bumps with a frequent ranking check. Be ready to pull screenshots on a phone or laptop.When you've snapped your highest Amazon rating, attach it as an image (not a link) into an email designed to pitch libraries. If you can manage to hit the top of your category, even for a few minutes, you'll gain a significant boost in social proof with libraries.An Even Better BenefitRankings are amazing, but you know what's better? Community involvement that drives action is not just better, it's worlds better.Imagine if you ran a Books for Brews campaign in your local area and drove 50, 100, even a 1000 visitors to a coffee shop or bar. Leading with a statistic like that will make you a librarian's dream author. Because, what libraries need most of all is community engagement.If you can show a librarian your book moves people, and you package your request for a purchase with the offer of an in-person or remote reading event, you're going to see a spike in acquisition numbers.Stay Tuned…I've got one Books For Brews Partner. Let's hope this is just the start. I'll keep you posted, even if the results embarrass me.TRBM is a listener-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Join AMMOHey, you probably know already that mass library acquisition is a sure path to career success, but it's a timely road to pave. Join AMMO and see immediate results and quick sales. You're going to have to work for it, but with hard work and a handful of great books, you can see thousands of sales in a relatively short time. Get full access to TRBM at jodyjsperling.substack.com/subscribe
Starting Small to Go BigLibraries are really going to be a big project, but as I've said, the payoff is nothing short of career stability. So in order to begin the process, we're going to start close to home.You can sell your paperback directly into your home library. In the same way direct fulfillment is the best path for author and reader, direct fulfillment is the best for authors and libraries.You may have heard me say this, and if not, check out parts 1 and 2 of the library series to recap, but if a library buys from Ingram Spark, they pay double the price of your retail cost.If they buy direct from you, you can sell at retail, save the library 50%, and gross 97% of you sale. Every time you sell your paperback into a library this way, you earn full-price, and enable local readers to read for free.Few, if any, channels will be more profitable to your author business. Often times, a simple visit to the library can lead to a purchase of a paperback. And if you find you meet resistance, donating a copy can be a great way to start a relationship, but if you donate, you need to commit to follow-up visits to ensure the library is giving your book a fair chance.One technique that can lead to a thriving snowball effect is returning to the library after your book is catalogued to encourage a patron to borrow the book. This does require a measure of extroverting yourself—which is a skill all of us should strive to build. You'll want to select a good time to visit the library when the most patrons are likely to be on location.Find someone browsing in your genre and recommend your book. It's tough because it means talking to a stranger, but it's an easy sell because they read your kind of book and it's a free checkout.Once your book is checked out, you have data to export to get your book in more libraries.And here's the deal, according to wordsrated.com the average book gets checked out 8 to 10 times per year, but what that statistic manages to misrepresent is that averages account equally for powerhouse books like Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow as well as that one book you never heard of that sits on the shelf gathering dust. What that means is averages make poorly circulated books seem more successful.I called my local lending library here in Omaha and spoke with Autumn at the Ralston branch. She agreed that the 20/80 principle probably fit pretty well with lending trends. In other words, 20% of books account for the majority of borrows while 80% may see fewer than 1 checkouts on a given week.(Honestly, it is very likely that 50% of books in a library will see fewer than a single checkout per year. Using our example of Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow, consider that just one branch the OPL system, say the Sorenson location, may have as many as 50 copies of Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow in circulation. If that one book remains constantly loaned for even six months, it would account for 1,200 borrows.With a little bit of fast math, we can determine that it would take about 86 books being checked out just once a week for six months to bring the lending average to 8-10 times a week for the lot of them. That means one successful book can impact the average for almost a hundred library rejects.Anecdotally, my best guess is that most books are checked out in the single digits per year and many books are never checked out.Are Checkout Statistics Depressing?You might be tempted to feel depressed by the stats on the majority of books, but I feel encouraged by them. It means the hardest work you'll do is getting your book in libraries. After that, all you need to do is visit the branch to ensure your book is consistently borrowed, and by doing that, you'll strengthen bonds with your local librarians and begin to build a case study for why your book is a great addition to regional, state, and national locations.See, the thing is, most libraries are fighting for funding. They have to show a good deal of savvy and they need to produce results, or Neanderthals like Omaha Mayor, Jean Stothert, will do everything in her power to destroy them. And what is savvy? It's picking hot titles people actually read. I mention this because if you are at a library helping to see that books are checked out, you're strengthening the library's resilience when politicians who can't read try to shut libraries down.(In case you think I'm being too hard on Jean Stothert, consider that she once tried to mandate that snow plows not being clearing until snowfall had ceased. Her utter disregard for human life makes her unfit for office. But this isn't a political show.Building Out From Local to RegionalOnce you've grown comfortable with your local library branch and worked to get the book borrowed with regularity, it's time to repeat the process with nearby branches of the same library system.For me, I can type in “Omaha Public Library” to see a full list of branches in my system. Substitute your city or town to do the same. Prepare to visit these locations by having documents ready. It's an easy process, and one that will serve as the powerhouse of your growth.First, contact your pilot library—he branch you already have a book in. Ask for an email showing your usage stats. Print your usage stats and go to a new branch. First, you'll try to sell the book, showing your usage stats. If the librarian is not prepared to buy ask what they would need to see to make the decision. If the effort they're requesting is simple, followthrough and repeat your process for lending with the first branch.If the new branch has a complex request and it would take significant time to complete, ask to donate a copy and repeat the steps that gave you success with the pilot library.Getting Started Will Be Time-ConsumingYou may have thought at some point during this, that at the pace you'll be able to get books in branches, you'd be 199 years old before you had decent market penetration. You'd be right, if it weren't for the law of acceleration.At some point, you'll have enough data to send a compelling email to a library branch without visiting the location in person, and libraries will buy the book on your data presentation. From there, you can build a compelling case for regional acquisition, and quite quickly to state and national acquisition.But if you're like me, you may have little patience for slow-moving beginnings. If that's the case, and you have the funds, donate a copy of your book to every branch in town, and visit those branches nightly until your book is lent at every location.Get a robust lending history quickly, and you may have an entire metropolitan community worth of statistics in as little as a month, but either way, you'll spend the same amount of hours hustling to get the books moving.TRBM is a listener-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.If You're Finding Value in TRBM, Consider Supporting It By Purchasing the Host's NovelsEvery week I bring you two episodes of this podcast, and if you see value in the information I provide, you'll notice, I have no call to support. There are two ways you can, however help this show grow and ensure it's future. My favorite way is to purchase my book in any format here.Second, if you're an author and want to see massive sales in the fastest time possible, if you want to earn a living as an author and you have at least one professionally published book, look into Author Marketing Mastery through Optimization (AMMO). Steve's program is second to none, and the proof is in the testimonials.Have a look here, and see if the program is right for you. Get full access to TRBM at jodyjsperling.substack.com/subscribe
Check out AMMOAuthor Marketing Mastery through Optimization is the best option for indie authors to sell their books. Check it out here.Build BridgesHere's a real-life example of why we need to build many bridges to our readership. This week on Thursday evening, I was notified my Facebook Ad Account was restricted, shutting down my ads and preventing me to run any until the review is complete.The issue was caused by a glitch Facebook is experiencing. I won't bore you with the details, but the moral of the story is simple: I did nothing wrong, and yet, my business of selling books came to a screeching halt.And I'll be honest, for about three hours on Thursday night, I sulked, pouted, and licked my wounds. For me that looked like a few extra cans of Miller Lite and a Zelda, Breath of the Wild binge. If you know, you know.But enough about my woes, let's dive back into our discussion about libraries. And I'll start by sharing some great news. The 9 Lives of Marva DeLonghi sold 7 copies into the Nebraska Libraries System Oakland Branch this week. I donated one copy to the library and followed up to see how it was doing on loans.The librarian had read and enjoyed it, and it had remained checked out since so she bought seven copies for the local book club. You can imagine my excitement.All this happened because I prioritized quality first. So that's what we're going to talk about today. How do you ensure your book is high-quality enough to retain the readers you gain?Get Reviews by GivingI recently stumbled on a YouTuber who publishes unique reviews, but what's different about his channel is its approachability. It's vulgar. It's accessible. It's fun. Check it out: Thoughts Before REM.I'm excited that the channel is going to give a shoutout for my novel, and I'll get you a link when it's live.Next up, I got a book review from a former podcast guest, Jason Cheng, and you can read it in its entirety here. I struggled with many elements of the review, and did the unforgivable thing, sending a comprehensive rebuttal to him, in private. Do like I say, not like I do, in this regard. And it may be wise not to read reviews. Our health matters, and reviews tend to be bad for our health.TRBM is a Listener-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Quality Matters, and It Costs TooNo surprise here, but quality is the most important aspect of any writer's journey.You simply can't expect to be a bestselling author much less sell anything if you choose to publish books that lack professional editing and formatting. Lately, I've begun to question my firm stance on buying a cover from a professional artist, because I've seen that many successful, six-figure authors do just fine with in-house book cover designs.At the same time, I still can spot a homemade cover almost always. And if I am like other readers, the hesitancy I feel to read a book with a homemade cover may affect sales.But here is where things get interesting. Consider, libraries are peopled by employees who have masters degrees in library science. These people spend their entire days surrounded by books published by the Big Five publishing houses. That means librarians not only have a keen eye for cover art of a certain kind, but they'll be biased toward cover art that doesn't meet the standard they're used to seeing. Excepting librarians from your hometown and those you've made close relationships with, every pitch to get your book in the library will be happening electronically or over the phone, which means you have only the appearance of your book cover to make that first impression. Nothing you can do can change how a librarian will see your book cover.If the librarian thinks the book cover appears amateurish what are the chances your book ends up on those library shelves? So, if for no other reason than that you want to consider professionally designed but covers.But all the work you do on a book cover means nothing if the work you do inside the book doesn't merit readership. Pudding ProofI've lately been swapping reviews with authors on Twitter in an effort to get my reviews on Amazon higher. You'd be shocked by the number of authors I've read who lack proofreading. Run-on sentences abound. Commas are missed or out of place. Quotations are missing or out of place. Worse, you see authors who have had no developmental editing on their books, trying to sell them through Amazon. It may work for a while, but if you approach a library with a book like that you will have no chance of success.But why should you care about libraries? Remember last week how we talked about the number of libraries available to carry your books? Nearly 20,000 if you need a refresher.With a disciplined process and a good plan in place you could easily sell $200,000 or more worth of books to library's in just a week of time. Can you imagine the opportunities presented to you if your books were in that many libraries at that kind of volume? And first impressions matter for a lifetime. If you are able to get a book into libraries at scale, every future book you write will have a first impression that is positive and lasting. That means as quickly as you can write quality books you have a six-figure customer to buy quality books.Time To ReflectRight now if you're in a similar position to me in that you have a small income on your published work and few reviews, you may be wondering if it's worth spending several thousand dollars on your book, when that's money you might have to put on a credit card and pay interest charges to repay.The little Dave Ramsey on all our shoulders tells us debt is bad. But the little Dave Ramsey on all our shoulders is lying.Actually, Dave Ramsey in real life is lying. Mostly…If you have a problem with excessive debt it can be really great to do the Dave Ramsey thing, but once you've learned discipline with your money there are much smarter ways to control your finances. Enough said about that. This isn't a finance podcast. Though, sometimes I wonder if I should start one…Businesses Require InvestmentsThe point I'm making is that you want to spend money building a great book and I use the word build intentionally. This is art, but it is also business. Libraries expect good businesspeople to bring them high-quality products that have been designed for readers to experience the least friction. If you can do that, you have a great chance of adding a full-time revenue stream to your current income for every book you publish as well as tens of thousands of readers, because, look, I read from library's and many of you do as well, and how often have we fallen in love with an author and bought other books by them after checking one out from the library.Finally, remember that this is a strategy that works well for self published or traditionally published authors. If you went the traditional route you might not be thinking much about the design of your book because the publisher did it for you, but that doesn't mean you don't have to design professional materials around the package you pitch to libraries.That means getting yourself a professional email address. The days of using Gmail are finished. You now need an @authorname.com email. If that sounds intimidating, you can just go to ZOHO and set up one email address that will have a business name domain associated with it, and you'll pay nothing.When it comes time to begin pitching libraries to carry your books you'll want to make sure your pitch deck looks as professional as any business has ever looked. But now we're starting to move into topics for future weeks.Your homework for this week's library episode is to look at the books you have already published and reflect: are they professionally designed? Have you developed a cover that librarians will want on their shelves? Is the editing and proofreading of your manuscript at a professional level? Are you afraid to spend money? And if you are afraid to spend money publishing your books, ask why you expect to make money on something you didn't invest in.Until next week. Write hard, and think about investing in you.TRBM is a listener-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to TRBM at jodyjsperling.substack.com/subscribe
If you're only experiencing this show through Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, or Stitcher, and you've not visited the host page on Substack, you're missing as much as 50% of the content that makes this show a valuable asset. If you visit Substack and subscribe to my show there, you'll receive two podcast emails per week chock full of useful information and resources for authors. Click any of the instances of the word Substack to visit my homepage.My commitment to you is to deliver the highest quality content, and to only pitch the best resources for your consideration. I'm not afraid to talk about my novels, but aside from my own published work the only things I'll ever promote are resources I've personally used and thrived by.The top resource I stand by is Steve Pieper's AMMO (Author Marketing Mastery through Optimization). If you want to sell novels to strangers at a profit and earn a living as a novelist, AMMO is the only assured choice. I've been a member of Steve's AMMO Foundations since February, and this is a graphic of my store's performance to date.Click or tap on any instance of the word AMMO to learn more about Steve's one-of-a-kind program for authors.Library OverviewThere are over 117,000 libraries in the United States alone. I'd love to hear from listeners like Juliette Willows how robust Canada's library system is.For the purpose of fiction and creative nonfiction authors (this includes everything from graphic novels to business books) about 90,000 of these libraries are suitable for carrying our books.I doubt any academic authors are lurking around TRBM, but their work would make up the balance of libraries.We're embarking on a deep-dive into how authors both traditional and self-published can get their books in libraries. It's such a big topic, I can't guess on how many episodes we'll need to cover the vast nooks and crannies of the subject.Today, we'll mostly define some terms and objectives as well as determine why libraries may be the best customer for any author, especially traditionally-published authors.Why are libraries ideal for traditionally published authors?There are a handful of reasons. Libraries love to work with trade publishers, and their entire cataloguing system is based on the traditional pipeline. That means that traditionally published authors will have an easier time selling their books into libraries from a logistical standpoint.Don't fret if you're self-published. You'll need to do a good deal more backend work to get your books ready for selling to libraries, but you'll still gain a lifelong partnership with a loyal reader—in a manner of speaking.Today we're going to stay out of the weeds, and focus on the emotional payoff so I'm going to ask you to do a little visualizing with me.What would it mean to your career as an author if you had an audience of 45,000 eager readers whose sole purpose was to share your book by word of mouth? How would it feel if ten thousand of those readers bought not just your paperback but you ebook and your audiobook too? And what would you feel if every time you launched a new novel you could send out a single email to this network of readers and expect, even bank on, 20,000 sales?If your jaw is on the ground, you've just had your first taste of what a robust library campaign could mean to your publishing career. You're going to love this journey. And if you want to begin preparing to sell to libraries, this week take some time to familiarize yourself with the library systems.Next Monday, we'll dive into content standards. Libraries are going to have the highest standards, and your books need to meet those standards if you mean to build sales.* Research and Understand Library Systems: Begin by researching and understanding the library systems in the United States. Libraries can vary at the local, regional, and state levels, so it's essential to gain insights into their operations, acquisition processes, and preferred formats.TRBM is a listener-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to TRBM at jodyjsperling.substack.com/subscribe
We'll admit it. We like our writerly gear. We get a little rush from visiting our favorite Vermont stationery store together. (In fact, we just did this last week.) But in all seriousness, we spend a lot of time on this job, so it's good to figure out what works for us.Today Sarina takes us through her novel-writing tech stack. She covers hardware, software and the “why” behind the tools she chooses. Links for some of Sarina's tech: ScrivenerKeychron K series KeyboardInexpensive ergonomic mouseCampus binders with removable pages and extra paperRemarkable 2Otter.ai app What's in your tech stack? Let us know in the Facebook group!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.comOut 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
Enneagrams can be a powerful assessment tool to help you organize and structure your life for greater efficiency and maximum enjoyment of your work and social life. Why do you do what you do?If you're interested in learning more connect with Tyler on Twitter, YouTube, or on his website.I really enjoyed his YouTube Shorts overviews of the 9 Types.TRBM is a listener-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to TRBM at jodyjsperling.substack.com/subscribe
They're baaaaaaaack! The Word Docs have spent the last couple of years recording random episodes and failing to release them. But today is the dawn of a new age. Otherwise known as 2023. Alex stops polishing his awards, Amy crawls out of the writing cave, and Sean returns from a galaxy far, far away (as in, Ireland) and the 'quite interesting' episodes have been collected into a 'transitional' season of uncontained writing joy. Time travel through a year and a half of delayed Word Doc-ery, with writing tips, pitch fests, research chats and more in the clap-free world of the new ambisonic sound studio. Happy Writing! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
They're baaaaaaaack! The Word Docs have spent the last couple of years recording random episodes and failing to release them. But today is the dawn of a new age. Otherwise known as 2023. Alex stops polishing his awards, Amy crawls out of the writing cave, and Sean returns from a galaxy far, far away (as in, Ireland) and the 'quite interesting' episodes have been collected into a 'transitional' season of uncontained writing joy. Time travel through a year and a half of delayed Word Doc-ery, with writing tips, pitch fests, research chats and more in the clap-free world of the new ambisonic sound studio. Happy Writing! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Today, Debbie talks to Jane Brody, the renowned New York Times columnist who until last year wrote the popular weekly Personal Health column. In this episode, she reflects on her 57-year career at the Times. They talk about how she moved from biochemistry to journalism and how she got hired by the Times at age 24.Instead of wilting under discouraging words from the editor who was interviewing her for a job, she responded, "Mr. Rosenthal, if I didn't think I could do this job, I wouldn't be here." Abe Rosenthal was the managing editor and later the legendary executive editor of The New York Times. Jane applied her no-nonsense style to reporting, writing with a distinctive mix of personal anecdotes, interviews with experts and scientific fact. She started the Personal Health column in 1976 (right when Debbie was starting work as a reporter). She invented the topic of personal health with the goal of teaching readers how to lead better, healthier lives. The column covered everything from common diseases to cancers to death and dying, as well as wellness, exercise, and nutrition.Jane talks about what it was like to be a woman in an almost all-male newsroom and how squeamish editors wouldn't let her use the words sexual intercourse or penis. She changed that. She also tells us why she decided to retire at age 80 and what her new retired life looks like. Debbie hopes you'll enjoy listening to this episode as much as she did recording it. Jane Brody does not disappoint on the topic of making the most of growing older. Mentioned in this episode or useful:Jane on WikipediaJane's WebsiteJane's NYT pageJane's books on AmazonJane Brody and Dr. Anthony Fauci on Staying Fit and Focused at 80 (Tara Parker-Pope, The New York Times, May 20, 2021) Articles by Jane BrodyPersonal Health; With more help available for impotence, few men seek it (The New York Times, Aug. 2, 1995)Surgical Implants Correct Impotence (The New York Times, June 12, 1979)Female Orgasmic Theory Challenged (The New York Times, September 21, 1972)Farewell column: Farewell, Readers, It's Been a Remarkable Ride (The New York Times, Feb. 21, 2022)Column about her husband's death: When the Only Hope Is a Peaceful Ending (The New York Times, March 15, 2010)Column about her 80th birthday: A Jane Brody Birthday Milestone: 80! (The New York Times, May 17, 2021) Articles about Jane:Thanks, Jane Brody, for Nudging Us to Be Better (Tara Parker-Pope, The New York Times, Feb. 24, 2022)After Decades as the Nation's Leading Health Columnist, Jane Brody Retires (Cornell Alumni Magazine, 2022) Mentioned writers and editors:Human Sexual Response by Masters and Johnson (first published in 1966)Walter SullivanClifton Daniel, a Managing Editor Who Set a Writerly, Courtly Tone In Shaping The Times, Dies at 87 (The New York Times, Feb. 22, 2000) Get the inside skinny on every episode of [B]OLDER:Subscribe to Debbie's newsletter for the inside story about every episode. You will also get her 34-page writing guide: https://bitly.com/debbie-free-guide. Request from Debbie:If you've been enjoying the podcast, please take a moment to leave a short review on Apple Podcasts. It really makes a difference in attracting new listeners. Connect with Debbie:debbieweil.com[B]OLDER podcastEmail: thebolderpodcast@gmail.comBlog: Gap Year After SixtyFacebook: @debbieweilInstagram: @debbieweilLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/debbieweilTwitter: @debbieweil Our Media Partners:CoGenerate (formerly Encore.org)MEA and with thanks to Chip ConleyNext For Me (former media partner and in memory of Jeff Tidwell) How to Support this podcast:Leave a review on Apple PodcastsSubscribe via Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher or Spotify Credits:Host: Debbie WeilProducer: Far Out MediaMusic: Lakeside Path by Duck Lake
Listen if you've been looking for books to support your writing practice, or maybe a list of books to give another writer in your life, or if you've been wanting to read with a community of writers, too, and need some guidance to get started.
The post 303 Nerding Out with Susy Flory – How Writerly Writers Use the Present Tense appeared first on Writing at the Red House.
In today's Bonus Episode, CeCe chats with Sarah Cantin, Executive Editor at St. Martin's Publishing Group and the editor of the #BookswithHooksBC pick, The Ballerinas. They discuss what made Sarah fall in love with the submission for The Ballerinas; what “pre-empt” means in an offer/deal; instantly knowing the genre vs pondering the straddling of two genres; the ratio of submissions vs offers; what to do when a book doesn't sell as well as you thought it would; likeable unlikeable protagonists; and Sarah's book recommendations. After which, Bianca chats with Susie Orman Schnall, the award-winning author of We Came Here to Shine, The Subway Girls, The Balance Project and On Grace. They discuss hiring a professional editor to put your best foot forward for querying; rejections from publishers and the importance of talking about them; understanding the hook of your novel; how to manage the anxiety of being a writer; trusting in your agent's capabilities; and allowing yourself to feel shitty, but also remembering to measure your successes and celebrate them as you keep going.Finally, Emilie Sommer joins us from East City Book Shop to answer your comps questions!Find us on our socials:Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyraInstagram: @biancamarais_author @carlywatters @cece_lyra_agent @ the_shit_about_writingFacebook: @tsnotyawWebsite: www.biancamarais.comSarah can be found at @sarahgcantin on TwitterSusie can be found at @susieormanschnall on Instagram and at www.susieschnall.com Emilie can be found at @emiliegsommer on Instagram and East City Book Shop can be found at @eastcitybookshop on Instagram and at @eastcitybooks on Twitter
In today's Books with Hooks, Carly and CeCe tackle two queries each. In the process, they discuss how you have less time to get to the inciting incident in a YA novel; being mindful of ‘telling' that doesn't move the storyline forward or is irrelevant; why too much interiority isn't good in a query letter and how to replace interiority with plot; avoiding redundancies and repetition in your query letter and pages ; and how building mystery requires specificity by the author.After which, CeCe chats with bestselling author, Elin Hilderbrand, about how to make unlikeable characters whole and real; the benefits of third-person close, and why you can get even closer than with first-person; why Elin will never write in first person; how the University of Iowa writing program made Elin miserable; how Elin's literary background has contributed to her commercial success; how classic techniques can be transformed into fresh ways of thinking and writing (the Greek chorus in Elin's case); how Elin deals with writer's block; how writing isn't magic but hard work; and Elin's plans for retirement.Find us on our socials: Twitter: @SNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyra Instagram: @biancamarais_author @carlywatters @cece_lyra_agent @ the_shit_about_writingFacebook: @tsnotyawWebsite: www.biancamarais.comElin Hilderbrand can be found at www. elinhilderbrand.net and on Instagram and Twitter at: @elinhilderbrand
Osha Hayden interviews Marlene Cullen on Writing as a Path to Healing based on The Write Spot Anthology of the same name.“Writing isn't about the destination - writing is the journey that transforms the soul and gives meaning to all else.” - Sue Grafton Perhaps you are a writer - or maybe there is some part of your life that could use some healing right now. Either way, you'll want to tune in for this episode.As a way to explore feelings, memories and trauma, writing is one of many paths to healing and one that requires just paper and pen (or keyboard) and some quiet writing time. We discuss how to use our writing for healing and how to create a safe container for our explorations into our memories.We discuss how doing timed freewrites can lead to discoveries and transformations and how we can use them to dig deeper to find the hidden gems in our experience. Timed freewrites can liberate us from judgement, help us overcome fears about writing, and allow us to play on the page.Marlene Cullen is well known to writers in Sonoma County and is active in our writing community. Since 2003, she's been facilitating Jumpstart Writing Workshops. Marlene is the host & producer of Writers Forum (since 2006) and Produces The Write Spot Blog – where you can find Writerly information: Prompts, places to submit, quotes, book reviews. https://thewritespot.us/marlenecullenblog/ She also Edits and produces a series of The Write Spot anthologies. - 7 volumes to date.Writers Forum offers writing workshops, using inspirational prompts to spark writing. They meet four times a year: Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter and it's Free on Zoom. Interested? Details: www.TheWriteSpot.us Click on “Writers Forum.”There are seven Write Spot books. Available through Amazon, local booksellers, and at the Sonoma County library. All of The Write Spot books include prompts for writing and resource sections.Brief description of The Write Spot BooksThe Write Spot to Jumpstart Your Writing: Discoveries:A compilation of writing inspiring writing and opening doors for self-discovery and transformational writing. The Write Spot to Jumpstart Your Writing: Connections:Writing from mothers and their children illustrate how we relate through stories.The Write Spot: Reflections:A treasure chest of anecdotes, vignettes, and poems.The Write Spot: Memories:Diverse narratives from fathers and their children embrace a common thread of love, disappointment, discoveries, and revelations.The Write Spot: PossibilitiesA mixture of playful, experimental, insightful stories.The Write Spot: Writing as a Path to HealingIllustrates how to write about difficult topics without adding trauma.The Write Spot: Musings and Ravings From a Pandemic YearInsightful writing reflection emotions and experiences during a tumultuous year.
Author and Publisher, Miralee Ferrell joins Andrea & Loree to chat about her last few books that became UP! and Hallmark movies. Find out how Miralee, who never set out to become a published author, had a whirlwind experience that led her into the forefront of the publishing industry.
Hugo-centric Lit Crawl Seattle 2021 keeps a celebratory torch burning
Get the full show notes here.Theme for the dayPaying Your Writerly DuesAgendaSCWA Upcoming events and goings-onHow have those book promotional events gone?What to know about “paying your dues”Even some super famous authors sat alone in a bookstoreMy mom joined me at M Judson Books in Greenville back on September 12th. Four people bought books, two bought shot glasses and one got a wine glass, too. Then last week's library event, two publishers of an online magazine and the librarian attended. I sold six books, a wine glass and a shot glass. At the neighborhood event my friends threw, two people came by and bought four books. Then I signed another half dozen that had been purchased by people who couldn't attend.So, overall, three events sold 20 books. Because COVID shut down my After December promotional calendar, these events were my first ever.Is it usual to sit, lonely, waiting for people to stop and ask about your work? What are author events? What should you expect? How should you prepare?
"Who do we, as writers, choose not to leave behind?"
Welcome to season two! In this episode, Poppy and Cass come back swinging and taking out some false assumption made about writers. We're not all drunk trolls who live under a bridge, nor do you have to be a obbsessive grammar know-it-all to be a writer. These little lies creep in our head and enough is enough! Time to kick them to the curb. Links mentioned in this episode: http://www.punchkeys.com This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm
Hey friends, my name is Dave and on the Writerly Lifestyle Podcast, we're going to explore the strategies and tools that help writers and creatives live happier, richer, more productive lives. We're here to prove that writing careers are more than hobbies and that making a good living isn't just possible, it's probable. We're going to do this through interviews, articles, tutorials, reviews and more.On this channel you'll hear from award winning filmmakers, best-selling authors, literary agents, talented editors, and more! Every week you'll get episodes that will help you grow as a writer and achieve the goals you have for yourself. This podcast will show you what it takes to make it in a creative career.So be sure to subscribe and join the Writerly Lifestyle Community. Because you're not going to want to miss a single episode!
I'll be back next week with more writing tips and writerly musings. Plus, a little more. Thanks for listening! I'll be back next Monday with more rambling ideas about writing. If you enjoyed this episode, share it with your friends and subscribe! And I've got a pretty bad social media addiction... I'm a Blogger (https://morganhazelwood.com) | Vlogger/Youtuber (https://youtube.com/MorganHazelwood) Of course, I'm on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/morganHazelwoodPage/) | Twitter (https://twitter.com/MorganHzlwood) | Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/morganhazelwood/) | Tumblr (https://www.tumblr.com/blog/morganhazelwood) | Pinterest (https://www.pinterest.com/morganshazelwoo/) | Reddit (https://www.reddit.com/user/MorganHazelwood/) | and I've even got a Ko-fi tip jar (https://ko-fi.com/morganhazelwood) Plus? Check out my podcast on ... oh wait. Hi.
It's time to take the next step in your writing life! Join The Writerly Life each week for tips and tricks to help you hone your craft and reach your readers with your words of hope. Catch a glimpse of what's in store with this sneak peek at an interview with special guest, Ruth Chou Simons! The Writerly Life is a production of hope*writers. Written and compiled by Clarissa Moll Edited and mixed by Tyler Anderson Music by Karla Colahan
It's time to take the next step in your writing life! Join The Writerly Life each week for tips and tricks to help you hone your craft and reach your readers with your words of hope. Catch a glimpse of what's in store with this sneak peek at an interview with special guest, Ruth Chou Simons! The Writerly Life is a production of hope*writers. Written and compiled by Clarissa Moll Edited and mixed by Tyler Anderson Music by Karla Colahan
Topics: The Recognitions, JR, Joyce, Ulysses, 1975, Finnegans Wake, Annotations, Religion, Mythology, Alchemy, Jung, Freud, Golden Bough, Robert Graves, Dostoevsky, Gogol, Waugh, Firbank, Faust, Writerly, Readerly, 1949, DFW, Infinite Jest, First Love, Yard ...
Join Stephen Aryan, RJ Barker, Nicholas Eames, Anna Stephens & Adrian Tchaikovsky as they chat Writerly Advice during TBRcon21. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/aoaptb/support
I'll be back next week with more writing tips and writerly musings. Plus, a little more. ============================================== Thanks for listening! I'll be back next Monday with more rambling ideas about writing. If you enjoyed this episode, share it with your friends and subscribe! And I've got a pretty bad social media addiction... I'm a Blogger (https://morganhazelwood.com) | Vlogger/Youtuber (https://youtube.com/MorganHazelwood) Of course, I'm on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/morganHazelwoodPage/) | Twitter (https://twitter.com/MorganHzlwood) | Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/morganhazelwood/) | Tumblr (https://www.tumblr.com/blog/morganhazelwood) | Pinterest (https://www.pinterest.com/morganshazelwoo/) | Reddit (https://www.reddit.com/user/MorganHazelwood/) | and I've even got a Ko-fi tip jar (https://ko-fi.com/morganhazelwood) Plus? Check out my podcast on ... oh wait. Hi.
In today’s episode, Rea and Joe share some of the best resources from their writing experience. As you think about crafting each piece of your book, you’ll definitely want to check out these tools. *Today Rea and Joe discuss:* * When to bring resources & methodology into your writing process * Listening to your instincts vs. utilizing tools & resources * The importance of making space for and away from your writing *Resources:* * Submission-Ready in Six Weeks: WritewayCo.com ( https://www.writewayco.com/submission-ready-in-6-weeks ) * Rea & Joe’s book recommendations: * Save the Cat! Writes a Novel ( https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32805475-save-the-cat-writes-a-novel ) by Jessica Brody * Story Genius ( https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27833542-story-genius?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=TYvgAq6KKE&rank=3 ) by Lisa Cron * Wired for Story ( https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13126099-wired-for-story ) by Lisa Cron * The Emotional Wound Thesaurus ( https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36407946-the-emotional-wound-thesaurus?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=JSObPlALLq&rank=1 ) by Angela Ackerman & Becca Puglisi * The Negative Trait Thesaurus ( https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18517230-the-negative-trait-thesaurus ) by Angela Ackerman & Becca Puglisi * The Emotion Thesaurus ( https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43666740-the-emotion-thesaurus ) by Angela Ackerman & Becca Puglisi * Outrageous Openness ( https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21471479-outrageous-openness?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=KXfSXAzJOL&rank=1 ) by Tosha Silver * Bird by Bird ( https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12543.Bird_by_Bird?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=QPVJs9vZjK&rank=1 ) by Anne Lamott * On Writing ( https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10569.On_Writing?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=gNNy7QM2VU&rank=1 ) by Stephen King * Books ( https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2421737.Books?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=MDvvdFbIf2&rank=3 ) by Larry McMurtry * A Movable Feast ( https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4631.A_Moveable_Feast?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=MQcHRDRwsg&rank=4 ) by Ernest Hemingway * Any dictionary and thesaurus * Chicago Manual of Style ( https://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/home.html ) * AP Stylebook ( https://www.apstylebook.com/ ) *Connect with Rea + Joe* * Instagram: @writewayco ( https://www.instagram.com/writewayco ) and @reafrey ( https://www.instagram.com/reafrey/ ) * Website: Writewayco.com ( https://www.writewayco.com/ ) This show is produced by Soulfire Productions ( http://soulfireproductionsco.com/ )
“With me, the present is forever, and forever is always shifting, flowing, melting. This second is life." - The Unabridged Journals of Sylvia Plath Join us this week as we discuss Sylvia Plath: her inextricably woven life and work, her stream of productivity and writing relationship with Ted Hughes, and her legacy as an American poet.
Welcome to Morgan Hazelwood's Writing Tips and Writerly Musings! If you enjoyed this episode, share it with your friends and subscribe! I'm a Blogger (https://morganhazelwood.com) and Vlogger/Youtuber (https://youtube.com/MorganHazelwood) with a pretty bad social media addiction... So, of course, I'm on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/morganHazelwoodPage/) | Twitter (https://twitter.com/MorganHzlwood) | Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/morganhazelwood/) | Tumblr (https://www.tumblr.com/blog/morganhazelwood) | Pinterest (https://www.pinterest.com/morganshazelwoo/) | Reddit (https://www.reddit.com/user/MorganHazelwood/) Plus? Check out my podcast on ... oh wait. Hi.
Writerly sartorialist Alex Rakestraw on streetwear, nyc, back to nature and the role of art & fashion in These Uncertain Times.
Danielle Anne Trussoni is a New York Times, USA Today, and Sunday Times Top 10 bestselling novelist. She has been a Pulitzer Prize in Fiction jurist, and writes the Dark Matters column for the New York Times Book Review. She created the Writerly podcast, a weekly podcast about the art and business of writing. Her novels have been translated into 33 languages. Her work includes five books: Falling Through the Earth (2006), Angelology (2010), Angelopolis (2012), The Fortress (2016), and The Ancestor (2020). She is the recipient of the Michener-Copernicus Society of America award, the Dana award in the novel, and the New York Times Top 10 Book of the Year for her first book. In addition to being published in The New York Times Book Review, she has also been The Guardian, The New York Times Magazine and Tin House, her writings have been widely anthologized.Danielle's links Web: https://www.danielletrussoni.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/DaniTrussoni Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DanielleTrussoniWriter/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danielletrussoni/?hl=en And don’t forget to support the podcast by subscribing for free, reviewing, and sharing. New Livestream https://youtube.com/erichunley Web: https://unstructuredpod.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/unstructuredp Facebook: https://facebook.com/unstructuredp Instagram: https://instagram.com/unstructuredp Join the Facebook group: fb.com/groups/unstructured
Writerly habits, daily writing, and setting personal goals.
In today’s episode, debut novelist R.O. Kwon, author of the acclaimed novel, The Incendiaries, talks about the book that took her ten years to write, her obsession with language and how she learned to sideline those obsessions in order to finish the book. She talks about her inspirations, the dead-end of following a bad metaphor, and strategies for finishing a book that went through some 50+ versions.
Appalachian poet Savannah Sipple wrote her piercing debut collection, WWJD and Other Poems, during a period in which she was also coming out of the closet. She and Courtney talk about the long journey of claiming her voice and finding the courage to use it.
It has been a busy few days. My publisher send over the final draft, the corrected proof. The thing that everyone will read. The final font and the final words that will go on the final pages that make a final book. How do I feel about that? I melted dow, a little. Join me from some frank ideas about feelings about book girth-ness as my book goes to the printer. Please like, subscribe to me over at youtube and iTunes and join me for free book giveaways and more about my memoir 10,000 Miles with my Dead Father's Ashes at http://devingalaudet.com/dad.
From Oregon, briefly: surgery, chronic pain in families. From Oregon, at length: Oulipo eccentrics, embracing one’s own hubris.
The Misfit Crew dives into their favorites and not-so-favorites of 2018. They also talk about the joy of a meme-filled year, including a very heartwarming discussion on Gritty, arguably the greatest gift we've received in the last 365. In turn, the Misfits get introspective as always, talking about personal growth, being better friends, how Katie's Saving Alice is proof of a fourth dimension, and how 2019 is going to be about just doing it.
Previously, on Casual Misfit Radio, Katie and Kyle decided to revisit their high school novels. It sounded like a great idea at the time. But in the end, it may have proved disastrous. However, that disaster might be a good thing. Tune in as Katie mulls over how rewriting her high school novel gave closure that brought on a sense of sadness, and as Kyle's first NaNoWriMo might actually be his last. The misfits also dive in deep to what they've been reading, and Kyle introduces a new segment called 'Gotta Catch 'Em All In A Minute or Two' in light of the Detective Pikachu trailer.
Nick takes Hamlet to the coast.
"Bleak Expectations - S05E04 - A Writerly Life Made Dreadfully Different" from archive.org was assembled into the "Dimsdale" podcast by Fourble. Episode 248 of 948.
In this episode, writescast host r. r. campbell describes strategies for doing writerly research online, in books and literature, through interviews, and experientially.
Our New Year's resolutions episode features David Ebenbach, who reads his story about artistic jealousy and discusses the publishing process of short stories. How many rejections does it take to get one acceptance? In one story's case sixty-one! Plus, we hear Lisa Sewell's poems inspired by her favorite books.
Meg Gaertner returns to the writescast to discuss goals: those we set out to achieve in 2017, whether we achieved them, and what we learned along the way. Then we look forward to 2018 (and beyond!), all in the interest of helping YOU maximize your own goal-oriented success as well.
Seth Skorkowsky is a multi-disciplined storyteller. He crafts rich, nuanced tales of urban fantasy (The Valducan Series: Damoren, Hounacier, and Ibenus), pulp fantasy adventure (The Tales of the Black Raven), and more. He's the host of a fabulous YouTube channel featuring his insights and analysis of the RPG experience. Those diverse passions make him a unique and inspired voice in the spec fic community. Joined by APN colleague and co-host, Marie Bilodeaux, we delve into 20(ish) minutes of writerly discourse with Seth, exploring his perspectives on pulp fiction hero narrative, telling stories through non-fiction video, charting the course of writerly pursuits, and more. Writerly goodness awaits you... just click that PLAY button!
Let's take a moment to celebrate the first birthday of your listener-supported r. r. campbell writescast. After looking back at how far we've come in the last 365 days, I delve into the topics of writerly routines and self-care.
John Adamus discusses how to best prepare for writing conferences, as well as what we can do to present ourselves professionally as writers. John is a writing coach, editor, and freelance writer with a passion for helping writers of all persuasions reach their goals. He is also the managing editor of Parvus Press, a publisher […]
For Trevin Wax, The Writerly Life Is Its Own Reward by Christianity Today Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Clint Gaige tells stories with light and sound. He's a film maker with dozens of titles gracing screens (silver and digital) around the world and a life time of experience in the world of media storytelling. His "Shotgun Mythos" series has been picked up by several television stations, his latest endeavor - "A Clean Exit" (from Growth Media Productions) - is making the festival circuit now, and he's far from finished. His insights into the process of storytelling for film transcend media, opening new perspectives for artists of all disciplines. Joined by the remarkable Marie Bilodeau - author of the Nigh series, as well as "Hellmaw: Eye of Glass", and more - we indulge in a exceptional 20(ish) Minutes of writerly discourse with Clint, exploring the considerations for storytelling in film, the value of doing it and the bane of "perfection", the keys to successful collaboration, and more. Writerly inspiration awaits you, dear friends... just click that "PLAY" button!
Kat Richardson - author of the Greywalker Series as well as fabulous novellas and shorter tales - takes her storytelling damned seriously. Mind you, she has a marvelous sense of humor and is a delight to chat with (as you'll soon discover)... but when it comes to writing, she's not messing around. She pushes herself with each story, expanding and refining her craft because it's something she deeply loves and respects. Joined by the marvelous Heather Welliver - friend of the RTP and vocal performer extraordinaire (check out her performance in Cybrosis by P.C. Haring) - we indulge in a fabulous 20(ish) Minutes of writerly discourse with Kat, exploring the challenges she set for herself as a writer, her process, her experience writing a "mosaic" novel, and more. Writerly inspiration awaits you, dear friends... just click that "PLAY" button!
Cat Rambo is one of THE most dedicated storytellers I've ever met. Her commitment to her craft and the enthusiastic determination with which she pursues it is inspiring (and exhausting). This will be her third tour as Guest Host on the RTP and - while I've already done the "stalkerish" intro for her - just catching everyone up on her achievements between episodes becomes a whole new epic saga. She is truly a champion storyteller. In the co-host chair is Denise Lhamon, former Guest Writer, artist, and storyteller who joins us from the ranks of Onder Librum's Sessorium of Creatives. The three us use Cat's upcoming class roster as the sylybus for our conversation, exploring the retelling of myths and fairy tales, the use of literary techniques in genre fiction, how to start a novel, and more. Writerly goodness is pretty much guaranteed, gang... just hit that "PLAY" button!
Michael R. Underwood brings a rare combination of perspectives to any literary discourse. His insights into the industry and market of speculative fiction is informed by his experience as North American rep for Angry Robot Books. His knowledge of narrative form and structure is refined by his academic achievements. But his understanding of storytelling comes from a deep commitment and practice of the craft. Joined by co-host Giles Hash (co-host of the Beyond the Trope podcast) we engage in (far more than) 20 minutes of writerly discourse of Michael, exploring the structure and execution of the novella, the effective utilization of tropes in storytelling, and a unique perspective on framing your writing towards a specific market. Writerly goodness is at your fingertips, friends... just click that "PLAY" button!
Andrew Weston is a great many things - scholar of astronomy and law, combat and law enforcement veteran - and he weaves all these in his work as a storyteller. His most recent work - "The IX" from Perseid Press - combines the best of his experience into a compelling and epic scifi thriller. So when the opportunity arose to sit down with him to explore his craft, we jumped at the chance. // Amazon.com Widgets Joined by author/podcaster/radio personality, Mike Luoma, as my co-host, we enjoy a delightful 20(esque) Minutes of writerly discourse with Andrew, exploring his love of speculative fiction, how to craft effect combat scenes, his collaboration with Janet and Chris Morris, and more. Writerly goodness abounds... just click that "PLAY" button! (and you won't want to miss Andrew's Workshop Episode!) PROMO: Glow-in-the-Dark Radio podcast from Mike Luoma Showcase Episode: 20 Minutes with Andrew Weston [caution: mature language - listener discretion is advised] We have a FORUM! Share your comments to this (or any) episode over at the RTP Forum! Check out this and all our episodes on iTunes and on Stitcher Radio! Andrew in the world... His website is an excellent showcase of his work! His Amazon Page contains the full scope of his literary canon. And, of course, there's always following his exploits Facebook and Twitter Mike Luoma is rockin' the world... Mike Luoma His Glow-in-the-Dark Radio podcast is a fabulous showcase of his work as an author and a narrator Follow him on the Twitters and the Facebooks And there's also these bits of literary fabulousity... //
Peter Orullian - author of the Vault of Heaven series, including "The Unremembered" and the recently released "Trial of Intentions" - is a creator who tells stories in many forms. An award-winning musician, writer of long and short form fiction, and producer of video presentations for his fiction, Peter embraces the idea of the transmedia storyteller with eloquence and style. // Amazon.com Widgets Joined by the marvelous Lauren "Scribe" Harris, we indulge in a fascinating 20(ish) minutes of conversation with Peter, exploring the very essence of the creative experience for him, the art of infusing authenticity into a tale, and more. Writerly goodness is just a mouse-click away (but wait... there's more! Check out Peter's Workshop episode!) PROMO: “The Casebook of Esho St. Claire” by Scott Roche Showcase Episode: 20 Minutes with Peter Orullian [caution: mature language - listener discretion is advised] We have a NEW FORUM! Share your comments to this (or any) episode over at the RTP Forum! Check out this and all our episodes on iTunes and on Stitcher Radio! Where to find Peter... His website is a veritable smorgasbord of delights and wonders! He's conducted some marvelous interviews, including Patrick Rothfuss and George R. R. Martin The Vault of Heaven website is equally fabulous And, of course, there's always the marvel of Facebook and Twitter Lauren "Scribe" Harris is makin' magic ALL the time... Lauren "Scribe" Harris You would do well to follow her blog... much goodness to be had there Check out her podcast, Fandom PhD She is, of course, on the Twitters and the Facebooks She's been interviewed by Chris Lester and on The Way of the Buffalo podcast And there are several literary treats of her's you can enjoy... //
Jake Kerr is a most skilled and accomplished wordsmith. His whole life has focused on weaving words into tapestries of delight, first for the music industry and now (thankfully) in the realms of Speculative Fiction. His works have been featured on Lightspeed Magazine and in numerous anthologies, including the acclaimed "Apocalypse Triptych" and his YA Urban Fantasy "Tommy Black and the Staff of Light" continues to delight audiences of all ages. // Amazon.com Widgets With Terry Mixon - author of “Empire of Bones” and “Veil of Shadows” and co-host on the mighty Dead Robots’ Society podcast - as my co-host, we welcome Jake to the Big Chair at the Roundtable and have a truly inspiring 20(ish) minutes of writerly discourse, talking about using all the tools in the tool box, the collaborative nature of critique groups, and more. Writerly goodness is but a mouse-click away, friends! (and I know you'll be keen for some brainstorming after THIS discussion, so check out Jake's Workshop Episode airing March 17!). PROMO: "The Sting of the Dark Tower" an audio drama by Peter Gruenbaum Showcase Episode: 20 Minutes with Jake Kerr [caution: mature language - listener discretion is advised] We have a NEW FORUM! Share your comments to this (or any) episode over at the RTP Forum! Check out this and all our episodes on iTunes and on Stitcher Radio! Tracking down Jake on the internet... Jake's website is superb, a great place to not only catch up on his works, but also enjoy his insights on the craft and the industry. His wide range of work is featured on his Amazon Page Follow him on Twitter and on Facebook! Check out Terry Mixon's ever-growing empire... Terry Mixon Take a tour of Terry's website Check out epic space operas, "Empire of Bones" and "Veil of Shadows" Tune in to the The Dead Robots' Society podcast where Terry talks writing with co-hosts Justin Macumber, Paul Elard Cooley, and Scott Roche (all RTP veterans) Catch his infrequent Tweets through Twitter, and definitely stalk him on Facebook // //
In this week’s episode: Judges 8-11. We continue in the Book of Judges with an examination of stories which make demands of their listeners, and how a little work of unpacking goes a long way in internalizing the meaning.
A Way with Words — language, linguistics, and callers from all over
A query letter from SlushPile Hell, the blog of a curmudgeonly literary agent, reads, "Have you ever wished you had represented the author of the Holy Bible and placed it with a publisher?" Erm, sure. The exclamation Fiddlesticks!, meaning "a trifle" or "something insignificant or absurd," goes back to the time of Shakespeare. It endures in part because it's fun to say.Dorothy Parker, known for her acerbic wit, was once described as a stiletto made of sugar.What do you say when you're in a restroom and someone knocks on the door? Many people answer Ocupado!, which has made its way from bilingual signage--including old airline seat cards from the 1960's--to common speech.Our Quiz Guy John Chaneski struts his stuff with a Miss Word beauty pageant for words beginning with mis-.All's, as in the common clause all's you have to do, isn't grammatically incorrect. It's a valid contraction of the archaic construction all as.Another cocksure query letter received by the book agent at SlushPile Hell includes the line: "The writing is final, and I do not want it changed." Okay, then.The idiom dead on, meaning "precisely," might sound morbid, but it makes sense. It's a reference to the fact that death is certain and absolute.When someone's standing in front of the TV, do you shout, "Move over!" or something more creative? How about Your daddy weren't no glass maker, or You make a better door than a window.Messing and gauming, meaning "dawdling and getting intro trouble," comes from gaum, a term for something sticky and smeary like axle grease or mud. A baby with schmutz all over his face is all gaumed up.Oliver Goldsmith said of the lexicographer Samuel Johnson that there's no use arguing with him, because "when his pistol misses fire, he knocks you down with the butt end of it."The term mesmerize, meaning to attract strongly or hold spellbound, comes from Franz Mesmer, the German doctor who purported to heal people by righting their internal magnetic forces.Insure and ensure mean two different things now, but back when the U.S. Constitution was penned, they were interchangeable. Hence the line in the preamble to insure domestic tranquility.Another overly optimistic query to the book agent at SlushPile Hell reads in part: "My dog has written a book on how to be a success." Gelett Burgess famously wrote I never saw a purple cow, but plenty of folks know a purple cow to be a grape soda float.There's a proper noun out there that rhymes with orange, and it's The Blorenge, a hill in Wales.Catawampus, meaning "askew," can be spelled at least 15 different ways. It likely derives from the English word cater, meaning "diagonal. "J.B. Priestley once described George Bernard Shaw as being so peevish, he refused to admire the Grand Canyon because "he was jealous of it."This episode was hosted by Martha Barnette and Grant Barrett.....Support for A Way with Words comes from Common Ground, the new word game for nimble and knowledgeable minds. More information about how language lovers can find Common Ground at commongroundthegame.com.--A Way with Words is funded by its listeners: http://waywordradio.org/donateGet your language question answered on the air! Call or write with your questions at any time:Email: words@waywordradio.orgPhone: United States and Canada toll-free (877) WAY-WORD/(877) 929-9673London +44 20 7193 2113Mexico City +52 55 8421 9771Donate: http://waywordradio.org/donateSite: http://waywordradio.org/Podcast: http://waywordradio.org/podcast/Forums: http://waywordradio.org/discussion/Newsletter: http://waywordradio.org/newsletter/Twitter: http://twitter.com/wayword/Skype: skype://waywordradio Copyright 2015, Wayword LLC.
To celebrate my 200th episode I wanted to go big. Go big or go home, right? So this is a three parter: 1. A free info-packed webinar for you, my listener. Your ticket is an honest review of the podcast, which you can write by clicking here, then clicking the VIEW IN iTUNES button, then click RATINGS AND REVIEWS and then WRITE A REVIEW. 2. Let us know you did it by entering your email into the Rafflecopter at the bottom of this page so we can notify you the details for joining the webinar. 3. I'll donate $1,000 to this charity if I get 40 new honest reviews by November 1. Are you ready to crank up your career? Crank It Up October is open for registration! Four weeks of group coaching with me at a steal of a price. Find out all the deets here. Club Burp-a-Palooza It's only .19¢ a day, and you can get weekly transcripts and more here. Get the FREE course I'm giving away called 100 Things Every Writer Must Do To Succeed Online here: CoursesForWriters.com. This week’s guests are: Alan Katz Ame Dykeman Artie Bennett Barbara Dee Bryan Collier Brian Lies Bruce Deegan Chris Barton CJ Lyons Deborah Heiligman Eric Velasquez Florence Minor Gail Carson Levine Jane Yolen Jarrett J. Krosoczka Judy Blundell Judy Schachner Marc Tyler Nobleman Marla Frazee Matt Phelan Michael Buckley Nick Bruel Peter Lerangis Peter Reynolds Robin Preiss Glasser Tom Angleberger Victoria Kann Wendell Minor
Hey guys, it's me… Alexx! Tonight I have one the wonderful Shaun McGann(@bleak07) on the show to discuss the intricacies of being a writer; the joys of Ron and Fez; various TV shows; pro wrestling; and True Detective. Also, Alexx … Continue reading → The post Episode 151 – The writerly life, explosive penguin feces, and how much Kiss blows w/ Shaun McGann appeared first on The Alexxcast.
A Way with Words — language, linguistics, and callers from all over
This week on "A Way with Words": Sure, it's scary to send your writing to a literary agent. But pity the poor agent who must wade through hundreds of terrible query letters a week! One of them shares excerpts from those hilariously bad query letters on a blog called SlushPile Hell. And get ready for some colorful conversation: Purple cows do exist--only they're made with grape soda and ice cream. And yes, Virginia, there IS an English word that rhymes with "orange"! Plus, catawampus, mesmerize, all's I'm saying, plus messing and gauming.FULL DETAILSA query letter from SlushPile Hell, the blog of a curmudgeonly literary agent, reads, "Have you ever wished you had represented the author of the Holy Bible and placed it with a publisher?" Erm, sure. The exclamation Fiddlesticks!, meaning "a trifle" or "something insignificant or absurd," goes back to the time of Shakespeare. It endures in part because it's fun to say.Dorothy Parker, known for her acerbic wit, was once described as a stiletto made of sugar.What do you say when you're in a restroom and someone knocks on the door? Many people answer Ocupado!, which has made its way from bilingual signage--including old airline seat cards from the 1960's--to common speech.Our Quiz Guy John Chaneski struts his stuff with a Miss Word beauty pageant for words beginning with mis-.All's, as in the common clause all's you have to do, isn't grammatically incorrect. It's a valid contraction of the archaic construction all as.Another cocksure query letter received by the book agent at SlushPile Hell includes the line: "The writing is final, and I do not want it changed." Okay, then.The idiom dead on, meaning "precisely," might sound morbid, but it makes sense. It's a reference to the fact that death is certain and absolute.When someone's standing in front of the TV, do you shout, "Move over!" or something more creative? How about Your daddy weren't no glass maker, or You make a better door than a window.Messing and gauming, meaning "dawdling and getting intro trouble," comes from gaum, a term for something sticky and smeary like axle grease or mud. A baby with schmutz all over his face is all gaumed up.Oliver Goldsmith said of the lexicographer Samuel Johnson that there's no use arguing with him, because "when his pistol misses fire, he knocks you down with the butt end of it."The term mesmerize, meaning to attract strongly or hold spellbound, comes from Franz Mesmer, the German doctor who purported to heal people by righting their internal magnetic forces.Insure and ensure mean two different things now, but back when the U.S. Constitution was penned, they were interchangeable. Hence the line in the preamble to insure domestic tranquility.Another overly optimistic query to the book agent at SlushPile Hell reads in part: "My dog has written a book on how to be a success." Gelett Burgess famously wrote I never saw a purple cow, but plenty of folks know a purple cow to be a grape soda float.There's a proper noun out there that rhymes with orange, and it's The Blorenge, a hill in Wales.Catawampus, meaning "askew," can be spelled at least 15 different ways. It likely derives from the English word cater, meaning "diagonal. "J.B. Priestley once described George Bernard Shaw as being so peevish, he refused to admire the Grand Canyon because "he was jealous of it."This episode was hosted by Martha Barnette and Grant Barrett.....Support for A Way with Words comes from National University, which invites you to change your future today. More at http://www.nu.edu/.--A Way with Words is funded by its listeners: http://waywordradio.org/donateGet your language question answered on the air! Call or write with your questions at any time:Email: words@waywordradio.orgPhone: United States and Canada toll-free (877) WAY-WORD/(877) 929-9673London +44 20 7193 2113Mexico City +52 55 8421 9771Donate: http://waywordradio.org/donateSite: http://waywordradio.org/Podcast: http://waywordradio.org/podcast/Forums: http://waywordradio.org/discussion/Newsletter: http://waywordradio.org/newsletter/Twitter: http://twitter.com/wayword/Skype: skype://waywordradio Copyright 2013, Wayword LLC.
Join Kori as she tells you what you missed and what's happening next. Kori's chatting with the creative minds behind Writer.Ly. They've hosted a few great hangouts on Google+, but what else do they do? Listen in to find out!
Matthew Wayne Selznick is a storyteller in every sense of the word. He has applied the principles of story and narrative since he was a small boy, evolving epic story arcs in the sweeping battles between his vast toy collection. He continues his explorations of expression in all his pursuits as a musician, a social media marketer and (of course) as an author. Ryan Stevenson and I thoroughly enjoyed this 20(ish) minutes with Matt, delving into many of the topics near and dear to his heart, such as the process and application of worldbuilding, the qualities of good story telling, and so much more. Writerly goodness abounds, dear friends... hit that PLAY button and enjoy!
Bryan Thomas Schmidt - author of the Davi Rhii series, editor of and contributor to anthologies, and SpecFic explorer - returns to the Big Chair at the Roundtable to help workshop a very cool post-apocalyptic tale offered up by Guest Writer Jason Ramsey. While this was - by far - the weirdest episode we've ever recorded (between the wrath of the Internet Gods and an inadvertent road-trip starting in the middle of the episode), Jason's core framework serves as a launching point for some really stellar explorations and insights into character, genre and theme. Writerly goodness and LOTS of Literary Gold for all!
From a panel discussion on writing historical fiction, American Independent Writers Conference 2011, held at the Writer's Center, Bethesda MD (just outside Washington DC). For more resources for writers, visit http://www.cmmayo.com/workshop-resources-for-writers.htmlwww.cmmayo.com