Story expert Lisa Cron joins Jess and KJ to dig into the mechanics of a good book, including the difference between plot and story, and looking beyond “what happened” to “why did it happen”. To talk to Lisa Cron is--unless you've already read Story Genius or Wired for Story--to possibly flip everything you thought you knew about story--fiction, nonfiction, short, long, whatever--onto its head. Story, she points out, isn't plot. It isn't what happens, and then what happens next, and then what hap...
May 17, 2019•40 min
Jess and KJ extemporize on the power of stickers - where the only thing that matters is getting into the work, and getting the words out. And some bonus advice to authors on what not to do. Kj here, with a confession: I've been lying to myself Letting myself off the hook. Not keeping my butt in the chair and my head in the game. I mean, sure, I had lots of excuses. I've been traveling or doing intense farm stuff since April 12. That's almost a month with--count them--only two days of being entir...
May 10, 2019•44 min
Podcasting from Mom 2.0 Conference with podcaster, journalist and author, Nicole Blades. She tells us about the pros and cons of skipping an agent, using rejection as fuel, and the joys of the writer community. Nicole Blades ( https://www.nicoleblades.com/ ) is a Podcaster (Hey, Sis! Podcast), ( https://www.heysispodcast.com/ ) Author of Have You Met Nora?, ( https://www.nicoleblades.com/have-you-met-nora ) The Thunder Beneath Us, & ( https://www.nicoleblades.com/the-thunder-beneath-us ) Ear...
May 03, 2019•41 min
It's hard enough to start a subscriber email. But what if--like freelance writer Lyz Lenz, who has two books coming out in the next twelve months--you asked your fans to pay for it? It's so crazy, it might just work. Hello from the Mom 2.0 conference, where Jess and I just did a panel on Launching a Speaking Career. More on that in an upcoming episode--but meanwhile, this one's a real thought-provoker. Most of us struggle with what's a good use of our time in our writing careers. We've talked a ...
Apr 26, 2019•41 min
Uber-Coach Jennifer Louden on finding your "enough" and letting it power you forward. 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
Apr 19, 2019•43 min
Math storyteller [Steven Strogatz]( http://www.stevenstrogatz.com/ ) makes both calculus and dictation seem approachable and fun. #notkidding Jess, we learn, was told in an early math class not to give up her day job, and so she gave up on math—until she found [Steven Strogatz]( http://www.stevenstrogatz.com/ ), whose writing puts a human, topical, understandable face on numbers from algebra to calculus, and glories in seeing “the math in everything”. If you’re the master of a topic that seems t...
Apr 12, 2019•44 min
Mignon Fogerty on Pet Peeves, riding a wave and what to do if you're a writer--and grammar still scares the bejabbers out of you. Plenty of writers #fangirl on Mignon Fogerty ( https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl ) , who took her own quest to make grammar rules easy and accessible and turned it into a mini-empire. In her case, the podcast ( https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/quick-dirty-tips/grammar-girl-quick-and-dirty-tips-for-better-writing ) came first, the books ( https://us.macmil...
Apr 05, 2019•42 min
Part 2 continues with Sarina Bowen's guidance about what you should put in your email list, and how to market your email before, or after, you’re published. 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
Mar 29, 2019•46 min
Sarina Bowen guides us through where and how to start up an email list, how to grow it and how to keep it healthy in the first part of a two parter on email lists. 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
Mar 22, 2019•39 min
Mary Laura Philpott on how to launch a book into the world, with a few regrets and ideas for do-overs. 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
Mar 15, 2019•49 min
Accusations of plagiarism and general bad behavior are everywhere in the writing world. Sarina Bowen joins the conversation about what plagiarism is and isn't and how to protect yourself (and keep from accidentally screwing up). 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
Mar 08, 2019•37 min
Omitting wan words to tighten your writing, and battling the inevitable arrival of professional jealousy. 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
Mar 01, 2019•35 min
You heard it here first: KJ sold her novel. We talk about how the deal happened, why she took a pre-empt, and building a career. 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
Feb 22, 2019•43 min
...in which Jess and KJ share tips about about answering calls for anthology submissions 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
Feb 15, 2019•47 min
...in which Jess and KJ talk with computer science professor, and author, Cal Newport on the concept of digital minimalism and the benefits it can have on the writing process. 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
Feb 08, 2019•47 min
...in which Jess and KJ tackle a classic writing question: can you read in your genre while you’re writing in it without absorbing other voices and ideas? 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
Feb 01, 2019•48 min
…in which successful freelancer Kimberly Moran describes how she has created a home and work life that feeds her writing, and how she's always hustling to find new opportunities. 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
Jan 25, 2019•51 min
…in which Jess and KJ talk with award-winning biographer, Ruth Franklin, author of Shirley Jackson: A Rather Haunted Life, and find out what it takes to write an account of someone else’s life. 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
Jan 18, 2019•50 min
...in which Jess and KJ talk raw honest memoir with Janelle Hanchett, author of I'm Just Happy to Be Here. It's not easy to write memoir, or to put it out there, but as Janelle says, you're either going to tell the truth, or don't bother. 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
Jan 11, 2019•43 min
...in which Jess and KJ open the new year with their goals and words for the upcoming year. 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
Jan 04, 2019•45 min
...in which Jess and KJ take stock of 2018 with a review of their goals and their words of the year. 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
Dec 28, 2018•45 min
...in which Jess and KJ weigh the many ambiguous definitions of fiction genres with Emily Tredowe, and her short-story path to novel writing. 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
Dec 22, 2018•48 min
...in which Jess and KJ speak with author Sarina Bowen about how to get Amazon reviews and why you want them. 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
Dec 14, 2018•44 min
…in which Jess and KJ are in the same place! And sharing all the perfect gift ideas for you and your writerly friends. 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
Dec 07, 2018•38 min
…in which Jess and KJ are joined by book coach, and fan favorite, Jennie Nash to answer the question: What do you do when you wake up with 50,000 words of something? A guide for post-NaNoWriMo. 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
Nov 30, 2018•51 min
...in which Jess and KJ share tips about making space for writing even around the holidays, when family is seemingly everywhere. They tackle a listener's question about working with a book coach, and we finally hear more about KJ's novel and tentative title. 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...
Nov 23, 2018•43 min
...in which Jess and KJ speak with entrepreneur, author, and speaker, Seth Godin about how to market and promote your own writing by thinking about the end product. 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
Nov 16, 2018•34 min
Jess and KJ interview Jennifer Miller and Jason Feifer, the married co-authors of Mr. Nice Guy, a book with the perfect elevator pitch: What if two columnists had sex every week, and then reviewed each other? Turns out there's a catch to a great "what if:" you still have to figure out who you're writing about, and why it matters. 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...
Nov 09, 2018•48 min
…in which Jess (fighting thru a cold) and KJ highlight the opportunities panels present, and the importance of choosing your sponsorship carefully. 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
Nov 02, 2018•45 min
...in which Jess and KJ update us on how their respective projects are coming along, including Jess's research and KJ's public speaking, all as something NaNoWriMo this way comes. 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
Oct 26, 2018•40 min
