Writing a novel doesn't have to take decades. Author and Tally Ink coach Colleen Mitchell provides authors with bite-sized mindset tips, encouragement, inspiration, and tips for the writing process. So grab a cup, cozy up, and let's get to writing! The Novel Writing Podcast is a production of Tally Ink.
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Matt Bird (author of "The Secrets of Story: Innovative Tools for Perfecting Your Fiction and Captivating Readers") and James Kennedy (author of the novel "The Order of Odd-Fish") have raucous debates about the craft of novel writing, screenwriting, storytelling (and anything else they want to fight about!) Through their discussion you will learn how to be a better storyteller.
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The show where you join me, Oliver Brackenbury, on the journey of writing my next novel, from first ideas all the way to publication & promotion. In this unique, one-man-reality show I'll share you with you my ever evolving thoughts and feelings on how I write, being a writer, and everything that entails at each stage of the process. I'll also answer listener questions and, sometimes, interview people who write fiction. If you're the kind of person who likes to learn how things are made, and ...
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Write Your Damn Novel (formerly How to Win NaNo) is a no-nonsense guide to writing a novel in 30 days. Like it or not November comes every year, but don't you worry — your hosts are here for you! Kristina Horner and Liz Leo are 'writing-50k-words-in-a-month' experts (and lifelong writing friends) with a passion for helping people write their damn novel. Join them each week as they share their personal tips, tricks and other things they've learned over almost two decades of consecutive NaNoWr ...
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Speculative Fiction Writing Made Simple: How to Write, Edit, and Publish Your Debut Fantasy, Science Fiction, or Dystopian Novel
Heather Davis, Writing Coach, Book Coach, and Developmental Editor
Welcome to the Speculative Fiction Writing Made Simple Podcast! The show that’s all about how to brainstorm, write, edit, publish, and sell a powerful speculative fiction novel… and maybe just change the world too. I'm your host, Heather Davis. I’m a seasoned book coach, developmental editor, and fellow storyteller. In my work with writers, I always see the same problems and roadblocks standing in their way and preventing them from achieving their dream of becoming a published author. So it’ ...
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Fantasy author Jed Herne analyses his favourite stories to help you become a better writer. Jed is the author of The Thunder Heist, Fires of the Dead, Across the Broken Stars, and Siege of Treboulain. He also hosts Wizards, Warriors, & Words: A Fantasy Writing Advice podcast. Find out more about Jed on his website: www.jedherne.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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The College Analogy for Avoiding Overwhelm
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Do you get stressed and overwhelmed whenever you look at everything it takes to publish a book, whether you're pursuing self publishing or traditional? You're not alone. I see this in a lot of authors, especially the ones working on the first or second draft. This episode presents a different way to filter your perspective so you can stop freaking …
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NESS Book Club #3 – The Dark Eidolon
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Valerie Valdes, Molly Tanzer, Prashanth Srivatsa and JM Clarke for a discussion of Clark Ashton Smith's classic story The Dark Eidolon. You can read the story here: http://www.eldritchdark.com/writings/short-stories/212/the-dark-eidolon Valerie Valdes: https://candleinsunshine.com Molly Tanzer: https://mollytanzer.com Prashanth Srivatsa: https://pr…
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Send us a text Listen, we get it. You go to work, and then you come home exhausted. All you want to do is relax, or watch TV, or collapse in bed. How do you prioritize writing when your job leaves you lacking in energy or inspiration? In today's episode, your hosts Kristina and Liz tackle the topic of how to continue to make progress on your writin…
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How do you know when it's time to switch from the writing mode to the editing mode? What even is the difference between them? In this episode I share a different way to think about this that allows us the freedom to move from one to the other with ease. Send us a text What to do next… Take the Writing Persona Quiz! Sign up for The 60-Day Novel Writ…
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Writer's Block Bonus Category - Creative Powerhouse! Halie calls this result a TRIPLE THREAT! AKA, nothing really slows you down. Or does it? Creative Powerhouses aren't immune to bumps in the road, and this episode covers why. To find out your primary blocker, take our Writer's Block Quiz! This quiz will diagnose your writer's block and how to bes…
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Send us a text Generic store-brand November Writing Challenge begins in 2 days! Listen for words of encouragement and an update on the ways your hosts Kristina and Liz will be tackling the challenge in this most unprecedented year. Most importantly: we've chosen our tracking tool for the year and have a LEADERBOARD you can join! Best of luck this N…
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Ep 76 – Shatter the Sun with Dave Ring
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Dave Ring of Neon Hemlock Press joins us to discuss his upcoming queer Sword & Sorcery anthology. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/davering/shatter-the-sun-queer-tales-of-untold-adventure https://www.neonhemlock.comAv Oliver Brackenbury
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When You Have More Than One Story Idea
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What do you do when you have more than one story idea floating around in your head? Do you work on just one? Write multiple at once? Something in between? Like most writing questions, the answer is "it depends". This episode breaks down how to approach your writing decisions when you have more than one idea, and whether you should complete a projec…
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NESS Book Club #2 – The Fortress Unvanquishable, Save for Sacnoth
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We discussed 'The Fortress Unvanquishable, Save for Sacnoth' by Lord Dunsany, a proto-Sword & Sorcery tale. You can read it for free here: https://sacred-texts.com/neu/dun/swos/swos10.htm Free Audiobook: https://ia802904.us.archive.org/17/items/sword_of_welleran_1409_librivox/swordofwelleran_10_dunsany_128kb.mp3 Panelists: Jay Wolf - https://linktr…
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Send us a text How do you make your side characters feel like real people? Do you need side characters? How many should you have? There's so much to consider when developing your cast of characters! In today's episode, hosts Kristina and Liz dive into the wonderful world of character development. We discuss how many characters is too many character…
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Writer's Block Category #3 - Difficulty Prioritizing When your to-do list is miles long and keeps growing every second, it can feel irresponsible and indulgent to write. But the truth is that your writing is important, and creativity is a form of self care. This episode covers the paradox of choice and different methods for prioritizing your life s…
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Can I write fanfiction in November?
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Send us a text This is something we hear a lot when people are considering what to write in November: does fanfiction count? is it allowed? can I write it? In today's episode, hosts Kristina and Liz discuss why their answer is an incredibly enthusiastic yes, including the many merits of fanfiction writing and a bit about why it sometimes has a bad …
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This or That: Outliner or Discovery Writer
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Are you a Discovery Writer or an Outliner? Which one is better than the other? Which one SHOULD you write in? If these terms give you strong feelings one way or the other, make sure you listen through the end of this episode! Send us a text What to do next… Take the Writing Persona Quiz! Sign up for The 60-Day Novel Writing Challenge Join The 60-Da…
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How to write a novel in November without NaNoWriMo
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Send us a text This year, it's the wild west for novelists who still want to participate in some kind of November writing challenge. Where do we track our words? Will it feel the same? How do we find our commmunity? Will winning still "count"? In today's episode, hosts Kristina and Liz discuss options for how to still write in November without supp…
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Writer's Block Category #2 - Distractions The shinies, the doomscrolling, the accidental 5-hour YouTube rabbit trails... all distractions. When you pay attention to something that's NOT the thing you're supposed to be paying attention to, that's called a distraction. This episode covers how to handle distractions. To find out your primary blocker, …
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Ep 75 – Double-Edged Short Story Panel Discussion
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Join us for a discussion of short stories by Bryn Hammond and Dariel R.A Quiogue! These stories are connected to the novella in our Double-Edged Sword & Sorcery book, crowdfunding now! Follow the link for crowdfund exclusive perks and add-ons: https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/brackenbooks/double-edge-sword-sorcery…
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Let's talk about tense, baby, let's talk about POV
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Send us a text Even if you're a true pantser, there are some decisions that must be made before you can start writing. Choosing a point of view to write from is necessary, as is deciding on a tense. But how do you know which one is right for you? What are your options, and what's the difference? In today's episode, hosts Liz and Kristina discuss th…
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Have you committed this literary sin? Head hopping, or jumping from one POV to another in the same paragraph, scene, or chapter, can throw readers off as to who's really telling the story. This can pull a reader out of the narrative, and a confused reader is more likely to close the book! This, our first installment of the Literary Sins Series, add…
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Ep 74 – Double-Edged Interview with Dariel R.A. Quiogue
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Please enjoy this audio from a recent livestream interview with author Bryn Hammond, done as part of the Double-Edged Sword & Sorcery crowdfund that is running until noon EST, Oct 19th! Our Double-Edged Sword & Sorcery book is inspired by the old ACE Doubles. Two novellas back-to-back: WASTE FLOWERS is by Bryn Hammond, cover art by Goran Gligović. …
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Ep 73 – Double-Edged Interview with Bryn Hammond
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(AUDIO FROM THE FOLLOWING LIVESTREAM) Our Double-Edged Sword & Sorcery book is inspired by the old ACE Doubles. Two novellas back-to-back: WASTE FLOWERS is by Bryn Hammond, cover art by Goran Gligović. Flip the book over for WALLS OF SHIRA YULUN by Dariel Quiogue, cover art by Artyom Trakhanov. Follow the link for more details and exclusive perks: …
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NESS Book Club #1 - The Tower of the Elephant
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CHECK OUT DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD & SORCERY BEFORE OCT 19TH: https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/brackenbooks/double-edge-sword-sorcery?ref=SIWAN Join Timeaus Bloom, Valerie Valdes, Jeremy Pak Nelson and Kirk Johnson for a discussion of Robert E. Howard's 'The Tower of the Elephant' for Cimmerian September! As Short Story Chats cover contemporary S&S, …
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Send us a text What if you've taken a break from writing and find you've forgotten how to do it? Is noveling like riding a bike? How exactly do we rebuild the habit we may have lost? In today's episode, hosts Kristina and Liz discuss the various reasons we might stop writing at points in our lives, and how to get it back. Thanks to lovelycastellan …
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Writer's Block Category #1 - Limiting Beliefs AKA, the things we believe about ourselves that do nothing but keep us from our full potential. And spoiler alert, nobody is forcing us to believe these things. So what counts as a limiting belief, and how do you deal with them? This episode covers just that. To find out your primary blocker, take our W…
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What the heck is going on with NaNoWriMo?
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Send us a text Welcome to Season 6! You might have noticed we've done a bit of a rebrand... this podcast (formerly known as How To Win NaNo) is now called "Write Your Damn Novel"! In the first episode of our new season, hosts Kristina and Liz talk a bit about what's been going on with the NaNoWriMo organization and why we felt the need to distance …
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Ever wonder what kind of writer's block you're most susceptible to? Or what to do about it when you can't get yourself to write? While we will all experience some form of writer's block at some point, there are different types and tools to break through when you're stuck. To find out your primary blocker, take our Writer's Block Quiz! This quiz fro…
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Live Show: Capturing the Nature of Children with Betsy Bird
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Recorded Live at The Book Stall in Winnetka, IL, hosted by the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, James and Matt welcome the legendary Betsy Bird to tackle a topic all three know something about: Capturing the Voices of Children in Your Writing. Matt argues that novels that feature truly authentic kids are by definition not childr…
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This or That: 3rd Person or 1st Person
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Should you write your book in first person or third person? What even are those POVs and what does it mean to write in one or the other? If POV confuses you or you're just not sure which one you should use in your novel, this episode is for you. Send us a text What to do next… Take the Writing Persona Quiz! Sign up for The 60-Day Novel Writing Chal…
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Are you an INSPIRED INTROVERT? This episode is for those writers who tend toward solitude and writing on their own, but could really benefit from sharing their work... if only they could conquer the fear of feedback. Not sure what your writing persona is? Take the quiz here! https://www.the60daynovelwritingchallenge.com/writers-quiz Send us a text …
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Pareto’s Principle (80/20 Rule for Writing)
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Pareto's Principle is the idea that 80% of outcomes come from 20% of causes. We can use this principle to improve our writing lives, especially with the first draft. Listen in to find out how you can apply Pareto's Principle to your idea generation, your time spent on writing versus marketing, and finding the time to write your novel. Send us a tex…
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6 Key Steps to Finding Perfect-Fit Comp Titles for Your Novel (While You’re Still Writing) | Episode 26
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Hey, Storyteller! Send me a text message! I'd really love to hear what you think of the podcast! :-) Click HERE to find Comp Titles Crash Course! $97 for limited time! Comp titles--they might be one of the most dreaded topics in the writing world. After all, most of us are writing novels that feel unique, so trying to find a novel “like” ours is a …
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Are you a CHAOTIC CREATIVE? This episode is for those writers who have brain explosions of ideas all the time, jump from story to story, navigate uncharted creative territory, but have trouble finishing a project. Not sure what your writing persona is? Take the quiz here! https://www.the60daynovelwritingchallenge.com/writers-quiz Send us a text Wha…
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Quick, what do you think about prologues? If you're thinking as a writer, your answer might be "YES, I LOVE THEM!" But as a reader, maybe not. Prologues are the other oft-maligned pseudo-chapters along with epilogues, but prologues might actually do you more harm than good. Executing a good prologue is more than just writing a good scene, and this …
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5 Essential Questions You MUST Answer When Writing Your Opening Scene | Episode 25
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Hey, Storyteller! Send me a text message! I'd really love to hear what you think of the podcast! :-) The opening scene of your novel is arguably the most crucial part of your book. If it doesn’t capture readers' curiosity and imagination, they won’t keep reading. No wonder the opening scene is notoriously hard to write! But don’t worry—I’m here to …
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Are you a COMMUNITY CREATOR? This episode is for those writers who thrive with a writing group or critique partner, having accountability, but also a place (or person) with whom to share writing wins and struggles. Not sure what your writing persona is? Take the quiz here! https://www.the60daynovelwritingchallenge.com/writers-quiz Send us a text Wh…
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Ep 72 – Oliver & Jay Discuss Editing
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Oliver Brackenbury and the editor of Beating Hearts & Battle-Axes, Jay Wolf, discuss the art of editing short fiction. This was originally a livestream as part of the crowdfund for Beating Hearts! PATREON: www.patreon.com/soimwritinganovel BUY OLIVER'S BOOKS: https://www.oliverbrackenbury.com/store SO I'M WRITING A NOVEL... TWITTER: https://twitter…
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9 Tricks to Overcome Writer's Block and Keep Your Writing on Track | Episode 24
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Hey, Storyteller! Send me a text message! I'd really love to hear what you think of the podcast! :-) Writer's block is one of the most challenging hurdles an author can encounter. It has the power to derail brilliant stories and thwart dreams of becoming a published author. But fear not—there are effective strategies to combat this creativity kille…
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Are epilogues necessary? If you want to include an epilogue, what's the best way to go about it? What is the point of an epilogue, anyway? In this episode I share my thoughts on epilogues, and some best practices about how to approach including them (or not). I also cover 5 questions to ask yourself about your story to determine if an epilogue is t…
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4 Steps to Writing a Flawed Protagonist Who Readers Love | Episode 23
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Hey, Storyteller! Send me a text message! I'd really love to hear what you think of the podcast! :-) Most writers understand that creating a character with no flaws is a huge turnoff to readers because it’s hard to feel connected to someone who is perfect and does everything right. But how do you give your protagonist flaws that feel real and auth…
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Are you a SKEPTICAL SCRIBE? This episode is for those writers who question everything, who go on deep research quests for exactly the right reference... but get paralyzed if something is "off" or imperfect. Not sure what your writing persona is? Take the quiz here! https://www.the60daynovelwritingchallenge.com/writers-quiz Send us a text What to do…
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Quick Tip: 6 Steps to Establish a Writing Habit So You Can Finish Your Novel | Episode 22
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Hey, Storyteller! Send me a text message! I'd really love to hear what you think of the podcast! :-) The biggest obstacles writers face are overcoming procrastination and avoiding the dreaded writer’s block. In fact, these obstacles are what stand between them and finishing their novel. But what many writers don’t realize is that the key to conquer…
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Writing as Healing, with Caitlin Shetterly
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Caitlin Shetterly, author of Pete and Alice in Maine, shares her return path to writing fiction after years in nonfiction. A major medical event in the winter of 2020 to 2021 aligned so perfectly such that she experienced the same kind of healing as in the story she was telling. This episode is for all the writers who feel like life has caught them…
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The Timeline for Crafting a Solid Debut Novel: Writing Tips for Your First Book! | Episode 21
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Hey, Storyteller! Send me a text message! I'd really love to hear what you think of the podcast! :-) Writing a speculative fiction novel that resonates with readers is tough work. Many writers feel they're doing something wrong when it takes time to create a draft that feels solid and ready to stand on its own two shaky legs. In fact, one of the ve…
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Are you a DILIGENT DRAFTER? This episode is for those writers who are self-disciplined, super organized, know exactly where the story is going... and still have trouble sitting down to write. Not sure what your writing persona is? Take the quiz here! https://www.the60daynovelwritingchallenge.com/writers-quiz Send us a text What to do next… Take the…
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Ep 71 – Interview with Matt Holder
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Oliver sits down with Matt Holder, author of the first book in the Keen Blades line - "HURLED HEADLONG FLAMING or, the Bishop's Tale". PATREON: www.patreon.com/soimwritinganovel BUY OLIVER'S BOOKS: https://www.oliverbrackenbury.com/store SO I'M WRITING A NOVEL... TWITTER: https://twitter.com/so_writing OLIVER'S TWITTER: https://twitter.com/obracken…
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Ever wonder what kind of writing persona you have? Or what motivates you to write? Or even what the hidden pitfalls of those are? (Because they exist!) Announcing the Writing Persona Quiz! This brand new quiz from Tally Ink will tell you exactly what kind of writer you are, and the ways you can take advantage of those strengths. Take the quiz here!…
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Ep 70 – Crossover Episode: Two Books, Two Bros
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Please enjoy this dual interview by a pair of pals, each with new books to share! Oliver's Book: THE BEATING HEARTS & BATTLE-AXES CROWDFUND IS LIVE NOW! Matt's Book: TO WALK ON WORLDS - Oliver designed the cover!Av Oliver Brackenbury
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When authors get negative reviews, the first instinct is to feel bad because someone didn't like what we wrote. However, not all negative reviews are alike, and we can't approach them all the same way. The troll reviews are very different from the ones with constructive criticism. This episode is for people who are concerned about their negative re…
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Episode 47: The Heroine's Labyrinth with Douglas A. Burton
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Matt and James welcome author Douglas A. Burton to discuss his new book The Heroine's Labyrinth! Matt blurbed it and said "The Heroine's Labyrinth is filled with profound and unique observations on the topic of story structure, no matter what the gender of your protagonist. Burton closely analyzes a wide breadth of stories and proves his thesis tha…
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How to Write LGBTQ+ Characters with Confidence and Care: Special Guest Sam Cameron | Episode 20
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Hey, Storyteller! Send me a text message! I'd really love to hear what you think of the podcast! :-) Many writers want to include more LGBTQ+ characters in their novels, but they’re afraid of getting it wrong and doing more harm than good. If you’re one of those writers, this podcast episode is for you! My friend and colleague, Sam Cameron, explain…
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Have you ever heard of Parkinson's Law? If not, it's the law that work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion. AKA, if you give yourself a whole day to do something, it will take you all day to do it. Did you know that writers experience a paradox with Parkinson's Law? In today's episode we take a look at a common time manageme…
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