Welcome to Monday Motivation - Small Wins As writers, it is so incredibly easy to get really hyper-focused on the big things. We want to be published, win awards, roll in money, and all the things. I'm in that boat. I'm a human. Of course, I want my work to someday be noticed and celebrated. Just like you, I have dreams and hopes. I imagine looking at a bookshelf of my own books with a sense of pride and fulfillment. A life spent in creation is about as good of a life as I can imagine. But it is...
Nov 23, 2020•4 min
Welcome to Episode 53 - How Peter Warren Singer Writes This episode is sponsored by.... HappyWriter! There was about 1500 hundred writers who participated in our Plot Your Novel in Just Five Days challenge and it was truly epic. If you missed the challenge and you want to jump in, you can now take the challenge in HappyWriter, and we're offering seven days of access to HappyWriter for just $1. So, jump in with Tiffany Yates-Martin and I as we walk you through, step-by-step, exactly what you need...
Nov 19, 2020•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 53
For today's Monday Motivation, I want to read the entirety of Dr Suess Oh the Places You'll Go. This book has had a tremendous impact on me, and I was reading it this week to my children and I thought it'd be really fun to read it all. I've done a few episodes on different parts of this book, but here it is in its entirety. Listen, I know this is a children's book, but it holds more wisdom than just about any book I've ever read. Okay... The Places You'll Go Congratulations! Today is your day. Y...
Nov 16, 2020•8 min
Welcome to Episode 52 - How Andrew Peterson Writes There was about 1500 hundred writers who participated in our Plot Your Novel in Just Five Days challenge and it was truly epic. If you missed the challenge and you want to jump in, you can now take the challenge in HappyWriter, and we're offering seven days of access to HappyWriter for just $1. So, jump in with Tiffany Yates-Martin and I as we walk you through, step-by-step, exactly what you need to plot your novel. To jump into your free trial,...
Nov 12, 2020•54 min•Ep. 52
Welcome to Monday Motivation - Take Joy All too often I think these talks highlight some of the really difficult parts of the writing life, but I'm totally guilty of not discussing just how amazing it is to have a gift like storytelling. I often wonder what my life would be like if I hadn't found this passion for storytelling. It kinda feels like the thought of "what would my life be like if I hadn't married my wife, or had kids." It is impossible to imagine because storytelling is fundamental t...
Nov 09, 2020•4 min
Welcome to Episode 51 - How Kim Harrison Writes This episode is sponsored by... HappyWriter! Of course! This month we have a stacked content calendar. On top of the already growing library of challenges, courses, and workshops, in November 2020 we have a writing workshop on how to be more productive, a masterclass with Jennifer Probst, and a storytelling spotlight with James Wade, and another storytelling spotlight with Robert Desiderio. As an FYI, a storytelling spotlight is a video series on E...
Nov 05, 2020•37 min•Ep. 51
Welcome to Monday Motivation - Three Ways to Supercharge Your Creative Energy So, this is a five-minute version of a five-day course that I have in HappyWriter about how to build, maintain, and manage your creative energy. As I am putting the finishing touches on the core HappyWriter curriculum and the promise of the platform—all of that I'll share in a few weeks—the one skill that touches almost every part of the writing life and is interwoven into the curriculum is the ability to manage your e...
Nov 02, 2020•7 min
Welcome to episode 50! 50!! How Anthony Horowitz Writes. I remember I used to imagine what it would be like to say episode 50, and here we are. Thank you so much for listening, and sharing this podcast with me. This has truly been one of the most enjoyable projects I have ever worked on in my entire life. On such a momentous occasion as episode 50, I am happy to share this interview with Anthony Horowitz with you. Anthony is just a titan of storytelling. Again, I often pinch myself being able to...
Oct 29, 2020•37 min•Ep. 50
So, my friends, I COMPLETELY underestimated how long it would take me to move... again. No episode this week but I’ll be back next week! Support the show
Oct 26, 2020•1 min
Welcome to Episode 49 - How Dr. Ian K. Smith Writes I can tell you that I have thought a lot about this interview with Dr. Ian K Smith in the past month since I recorded it. Ian is such an inspiration, from his commitment to health, fiction, and serving others. He is an accomplished author, media personality, and to top it all off, he is so incredibly humble. I can honestly say that I've reflected a lot on this interview, specifically how in times of stress, Dr. Ian leans into the ways he suppor...
Oct 22, 2020•49 min•Ep. 49
Welcome to Monday Motivation - A Crippling Belief If you've been listening to this podcast, you'll know I place tremendous value on intentionally building your beliefs because beliefs are the driver of feelings, and how we feel dictates how we act. So the chain goes beliefs drive feelings, feelings drive actions. That insight alone has radically changed my life. I never ever try to change one of my actions, because when you only focus on changing an action it is sure to fail. To change your life...
Oct 19, 2020•5 min
Welcome to Episode 48 - How Francine Rivers Writes This episode is sponsored by... HappyWriter! I just completed book coach Amanda Polick's writing workshop, "what writers can learn from improv." Amanda who also trained at The Second City’s school of improvisation breaks down how writers can learn from the sketch comic’s approach to receiving and processing feedback. Eeeeek. This writing workshop was an absolute BLAST, and as a compliment, we're having a live QA with Amanda on Wednesday, October...
Oct 15, 2020•41 min•Ep. 48
Welcome to Monday Motivation - Do One Thing This week in HappyWriter, a question came up during our coffee hour— which is like our informal time to just hang out, drink coffee, share some wins, and ask questions— that I thought was so good that I'd make an entire podcast out of it. A member asked, basically, how they could manage the different components of their short story—tension, and pacing, and character and so forth— while they were composing. My answer was pretty straight forward, and it ...
Oct 12, 2020•5 min
Welcome to Episode 47 - How Laurell K. Hamilton Writes HappyWriter—our new community for creative writers—is live! Right now for just 39/month, you can sign up for HappyWriter. And October's content is packed. You can jump into a writing workshop on what writers can learn from improv with book coach Amanda Polick, attend a live author masterclass on October 22nd with James Wade, and you can even retake the plotting challenge that we just concluded. And that, my friends, is just a snippet of what...
Oct 08, 2020•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 47
Welcome to Monday Motivation - Perception vs Reality This week we ran a challenge called "Plot Your Novel in Just Five Days." The idea for the challenge was to try and create the perfect learning environment to teach a huge group of writers something that many of them believed they were incapable of learning—specifically how to plot a novel. I had seen these kinds of challenges before work so well. I know a lot of people do NanoWriMo and love the thrill of writing a novel in the month. So, overa...
Oct 05, 2020•6 min
Welcome to Episode 46 - How Marybeth Mayhew Whalen Writes Here we are. Episode 46 with Marybeth Mayhew Whalen. Sometimes I get to interview people who feel as if they are just so aligned with a similar vision of the power of storytelling. This is how I felt interviewing Marybeth. I know you will find so much insight and wisdom in this interview. Also, as a quick note, I misspoke the title of Marybeth's new novel. It is not "the Secret thing..." it is THIS secret thing. So, sorry to Marybeth! I w...
Oct 01, 2020•47 min•Ep. 46
Welcome to Monday Motivation - The Most Important Skill This week I want to talk about the most important skill to develop as a writer. The skill that all other skills derive from. I'm sure as I say this, there are lots of different thoughts of what this could be. I wish I could talk with you, because the interviewer in me would love to know all of the answers to this prompt. I'd guess some people might say something curiosity, or structure, maybe even having a critical writer's eye. All of thos...
Sep 28, 2020•7 min
Welcome to Episode 45 - How Simon Stephenson Writes It is not too late to join the free How to Plot Your Novel in just Five Days challenge. We are going to have well over 1,000 people join the challenge which just makes me so insanely excited. The challenge kicks off on Monday, September 28th. Tiffany Yates Martin will lead you step-by-step on how to build a killer plot. I know a lot of writers say plot is their big sticking point, so if that is you, head on over to howwriterswrite.com/plot to s...
Sep 24, 2020•52 min•Ep. 45
Register for the Plot Your Novel in Just Five Days challenge here - howwriterswrite.com/plot Support the show
Sep 21, 2020•7 min
Welcome to Episode 44 - How Madeleine Roux Writes Oftentimes, when I connect with writers, one of the biggest struggles they have is learning how to plot. In fact, many of the authors I've interviewed say they want to learn how to be a better plotter. For those of you out there who want to dive into plotting your own novel, like maybe you just need a little extra support and kick in the pants, on September 28th I will be running a FREE challenge with editor-to-the-stars and podcast guest Tiffany...
Sep 17, 2020•57 min•Ep. 44
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Sep 14, 2020•7 min
Welcome to Episode 43 - How Brad Parks Writes Do you enjoy listening to all of the amazing answers guests give when I ask about their one piece of writing advice? If so, I've compiled the first 35 responses in a FREE eBook. The answers are all sorts of awesome, with some inspirational and others a kick in the pants. To download your free eBook go to howwriterswrite.com/ebook and I hope you enjoy! This week's episode with Brad Parks is a wild ride. Brad is full of energy, stories, and passion for...
Sep 10, 2020•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 43
I am so excited to finally give you a sneak peek into HappyWriter! To save your spot as a Founding Member, visit howwriterswrite.com/happywriter Support the show
Sep 09, 2020•24 min
Welcome to Monday Motivation - Creative, Resourceful, and Whole Before we kick off this episode, my friends, I have just completed a project that was a total blast. So, you know how I ask each guest for their one piece of writing advice? I went through the first 35 episodes, transcribed the answers, and dropped them into a FREE eBook for you to download. Did I say free? Why, yes, I did. Free. To get your copy and also get a sneak sneak sneak peek into our new writing community- HappyWriter, head...
Sep 07, 2020•6 min
Welcome to Episode 42 - How Ben Marcus Writes Do you enjoy listening to all of the amazing answers guests give when I ask about their one piece of writing advice? If so, I've compiled the first 35 responses in a FREE eBook. The answers are all sorts of awesome, with some inspirational and others a kick in the pants. To download your free eBook go to howwriterswrite.com/ebook and I hope you enjoy! This interview with Ben was a real blast. Ben is a literary treasure-trove. Ben is humble and gracio...
Sep 03, 2020•47 min•Ep. 42
Welcome to Monday Motivation- The Antidote to Boredom Before we kick off this episode, my friends, I have just completed a project that was a total blast. So, you know how I ask each guest for their one piece of writing advice? I went through the first 35 episodes, transcribed the answers, and dropped them into a FREE eBook for you to download. Did I say free? Why, yes, I did. Free. To get your copy and also get a sneak sneak sneak peek into our new writing community- HappyWriter, head over to h...
Aug 31, 2020•7 min
Welcome to Episode 41 - How Miranda Popkey Writes Hello and I hope you are having a wonderful week. This episode with Miranda Popkey is a welcome change of pace. Miranda and I discuss a topic that is so relevant in our crazy world - how is it writers decide when to be producing work and when to take a break? Miranda and I discuss her writing process, but what is really special is Miranda's openness on how she has come to the decision to take a pause in her writing. I'm happy to provide her persp...
Aug 27, 2020•41 min•Ep. 41
I was chatting with a writing friend about writing. This person wanted to write a really out-there book that was both technically challenging and outside of the norm of what is being published. My friend said, "I'd write it if I wasn't so afraid of f-ing it up." I probably wouldn't have really thought about what my friend had said, but something about it really stuck with me. I chewed on it for a week. Do you know that feeling? When you just know there is some insight if you can just dig deep en...
Aug 24, 2020•8 min
Welcome to Episode 40, How Laura Lippman Writes This was a super fun interview to record. I've had a fun time ping-ponging between guests who have been writing for decades and brand new debut authors. Laura is an absolute pro, having written over a dozen crime and standalone novels. I want to say a special thank you to Laura for sharing so much writing wisdom with me. And now, without any further ado, here is the interview with Laura Lippman. Support the show...
Aug 20, 2020•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 40
Welcome to Monday Motivation - Connecting with Your Humanity Last week I took a walk with my dog Lulu, who has grown into truly the sweetest, cutest dog I have ever seen. And yes, I know I have a lot of listeners who have dogs who they also believe are the cutest and sweetest dogs, and so we're just going to have to agree to disagree on who has the cutest dog. Anyways, I now live right on Sloan's Lake Park in Denver, which is this massive lake just west of downtown. The park is stunning. There a...
Aug 17, 2020•4 min
