The Writing Forge: Recent Episodes
Ngano Press Studios
Welcome to The Writing Forge, where we discuss tips and tricks for honing your writing craft. Each episode, a guest will join hosts Miranda and Bonnie to hammer out the skills a writer needs to succeed in the writing world. We cover a variety of topics—from the idea phase through publication and beyond—to help you no matter where you are on your writing journey. We believe every writer has something to share to help us all learn and grow!
Hosts Bonnie and Miranda welcome Dr. Pamela D. Williams for an updated discussion on imposter syndrome, this time specifically on academic writing. The transition from student to independent scholar often leaves writers feeling unqualified, even in the midst of earning credentials. Dr. Williams and your hosts provide some tips for how academic writers can build confidence in their own voices, with a particular look at the anxiety that can mount while trying to follow a strict style guide. Whether you're a new student or seasoned scholar navigating imposter syndrome, this episode offers valuable insights and encouragement to trust your innate expertise and embrace the writing process.
If you’re up for being vulnerable with us on our socials, share with us where you have encountered imposter syndrome, in academia or in your professional life!
Facebook: @writingheights, Instagram: @writingheights
Links:
The first Writing Forge episode on Imposter Syndrome
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Sound engineering by Luke Fischer
Cover art by Maggie Walke
In this episode, Miranda and Bonnie dive into the value of books on writing craft, focusing on learning about the art of writing versus the act of writing itself. Your co-hosts reflect on their experiences with various craft books, exploring what separates the truly helpful ones from those that fall short. They emphasize the importance of concrete examples and actionable suggestions. The conversation also explores other ways to hone writing skills, including watching YouTube tutorials, reading editing and style books, consuming content in one's genre, and, of course, actually writing. Take a listen for insights into navigating the balance between learning about writing and putting pen to paper.
What are your favorite and least favorite writing craft books? Share with us on our socials!
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Links:
Chicago Manual of Style, 18th edition
The Emotion Thesaurus
The Anatomy of Story
Story Genius
Donald J. Maas’s books on writing
Brandon Sanderson’s Creative Writing Lectures
Overly Sarcastic Productions
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Sound engineering by Luke Fischer
Cover art by Maggie Walker
Debut author Kristin Owens shares tips and tricks from her journey as a first-time author. After a brief rundown on the differences between traditional and self-publishing, our hosts discuss the importance of knowing your own strengths and goals. For those with time and patience, the traditional publishing route offers professional support all along the way, from editing to securing audiobook deals. Regardless of publishing route, a debut author should consider building up a social media presence as early as possible, finding a support group of other debuting authors, and planning a book launch that fits their personality.
Check out Kristin’s debut novel, Elizabeth Sails, launched on October 8th, 2024!
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Links:
The Debutante Ball
Rising Action Publishing
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Sound engineering by Luke Fischer
Cover art by Maggie Walker
Amber Byers, founder of the Tadpole Press 100-Word Writing Contest, joins Bonnie and Miranda to explore the themes of authenticity and joy in writing. Finding and maintaining your voice amidst external pressures and criticism can be difficult, particularly in the pursuit of writing. And yet, it is important to stay true to your vision while navigating feedback and the publishing process. The hosts and guest exchange insights on overcoming perfectionism, staying motivated, and finding inspiration through community and diverse creative inputs.
How do you find joy in writing? Share the love with us on our socials!
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Links:
Writing Forge episodes referenced:
- Fairy Tale Foundations: The Power of Classic Stories in Any Genre
- The Community that Stays Together, Writes Together
Shut Up and Write
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Sound engineering by Luke Fischer
Cover art by Maggie Walker
Bonnie and Miranda welcome Amy Trent for a discussion on the timeless allure of fairy tales. Elements of fairy tales can enhance writing in any genre, from themes and motifs to character development and beyond. The conversation emphasizes the significance of happily ever afters, the challenge of avoiding clichés, and the importance of empathy in storytelling. Tune in for valuable insights and inspiration on weaving fairy tale magic into your own writing.
What’s your favorite fairy tale? Share on our socials!
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Sound engineering by Luke Fischer
Cover art by Maggie Walker
In this episode of The Writing Forge, hosts Bonnie and Miranda focus on the positive, celebrating elements in books that elevate their reading experience. Small physical touches can make a huge difference, like consistent heights that avoid the frustration of mismatched series and detailed maps in fantasy novels. Bonnie and Miranda also highlight the appeal of well-crafted chapter titles and engaging appendices, discussing how these extras enrich the storytelling experience. With a nod to nuanced character portrayals and clever trope subversions, Bonnie and Miranda share insights on what can make a book not just enjoyable but unforgettable—at least for these two opinionated readers!
How about you? What makes you put a book in a vaunted space on your bookshelf or check it out of the library 50 times? Let us know at our socials!
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Links:
Books/authors referenced
Harry Potter
J.R.R. Tolkien
The Princess Bride
The Night Circus
Brandon Sanderson
The Wheel of Time
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Sound engineering by Luke Fischer
Cover art by Maggie Walker
In this episode, hosts Bonnie and Miranda delve into the intricacies of crafting natural and distinct dialogue with guest Jordan Taper, a writer and director of audio dramas and audiobooks. Good dialogue is crucial for writing an enjoyable narrative, and a variety of techniques can help characters sound believable: reading a manuscript out loud, ensuring character-specific word choice, even weighing the use of contractions. Our hosts explore these methods and more for ensuring each character's voice is unique and discuss pitfalls to avoid.
What’s an example of really great dialogue you’ve enjoyed in a recent work? Let us know at our socials!
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Links:
Casting Call Club
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Sound engineering by Luke Fischer
Cover art by Maggie Walker
Many writers dream of ditching the day job and writing full-time. Author and speaker Andrew Buckley joins Bonnie and Miranda to discuss his journey to full-time creativity and provide tips and tricks for thriving when writing becomes your 9-to-5. From diversifying income streams to outsourcing to tackling marketing strategies, writers have a lot of choices to make on their road to writing self-reliance. If you’re thinking of taking the plunge, take a listen!
For those trying to make money as a writer, what has been your biggest marketing challenge? Let us know on your socials and hopefully we can help crowdsource some solutions!
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Links:
Writing Forge episode Outsourcing for Authors
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Sound engineering by Luke Fischer
Cover art by Maggie Walker
In this episode, Miranda poses the question “Bonnie, what would make you absolutely love a potential client?” Together they delve into the many ways authors can impress potential editors and agents. Tips and tricks include understanding different levels of editing, leveraging alpha and beta readers, and engaging in self-editing. They also highlight the value of preparing key documents like a style sheet, an outline, a “story bible,” and a list of comp titles to blow away an editor and make their job easier. Tune in for great tips on how to go above and beyond for your editor—and strengthen your manuscript in the process.
What other things have you heard editors say they’d love to see from a client? Let us know on our socials!
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Links:
Lady Knight Editing
- Previous Writing Forge episodes referenced:
- The Importance of Reading Widely
- Shaping Stories: The Role of Developmental Editing
- All Greek to Me: Alpha and Beta Readers
- Choose Your Own Adventures: Using Story Structure
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Sound engineering by Luke Fischer
Cover art by Maggie Walker
In the modern era of Kickstarter and Backerkit, crowdfunding has become a viable option for self-published authors to access the funds needed to publish their work. Experienced crowdfunder Jason Brick joins Bonnie and Miranda to discuss why crowdfund, as well as lay out strategies for successful campaigns and pitfalls to avoid. From setting achievable goals and offering enticing rewards to underestimating costs and failing to deliver on promises, the discussion runs the gamut of the good and bad of crowdfunding.
Are you considering crowdfunding to publish? If you have, what lessons have you learned? Let us know on our socials!
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Links:
Jason’s Facebook page
Brandon Sanderson’s record-setting Kickstarter
(Since this episode was recorded, Sanderon broke records yet again with another campaign on Backerkit)
Most popular crowdfunding platforms:
- Kickstarter
- Backerkit
- Indiegogo
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Sound engineering by Luke Fischer
Cover art by Maggie Walker
Plottr creator Cameron Sutter joins Bonnie and Miranda to discuss their favorite story structures and how to effectively use them. Whether you’re a planner or a pantser, understanding the elements of structure is crucial to crafting a compelling narrative. A solid grounding in a variety of structures can help you avoid plotholes, meet reader expectations, and deliver satisfying character arcs. Through intentional and flexible use of story structure, you can leave your readers both satisfied and surprised with how your story ends.
What’s your favorite story structure? Let us know on our socials!
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Links:
P. Djèlí Clark’s Abeni’s Dream
A few of the referenced story structures:
- The Campbellian Monomyth (aka the Hero’s Journey)
- The seven point structure as broken down by Dan Wells
- The sleuth’s journey
- Romancing the Beat
- Save the Cat! Writes a Novel
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Sound engineering by Luke Fischer
Cover art by Maggie Walker
Bonnie and Miranda delve into the roles of beta and alpha readers in the writing process. While alphas and betas perform somewhat different functions, establishing clear expectations with both is key to the early reading process. Ultimately, emotional reactions are some of the most useful feedback an alpha or beta can provide, and an author’s job is to reflect on the underlying issues behind the feedback to find a solution that is true to their original vision. Throughout the discussion, Bonnie and Miranda highlight strategies for providing feedback as an early reader and receiving it as an author.
Have you ever been an alpha or beta reader? If so, what are your best tips for being a good reader? Let us know on our socials!
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Links:
Mary Robinette Kowal’s infographic for critique
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Sound engineering by Luke Fischer
Cover art by Maggie Walker
Sensory details are crucial to immersing readers in a story. In both fiction and narrative nonfiction, different senses establish the setting, evoke emotions, and deepen characterizations. In today’s episode, author Ritu Anand joins Bonnie and Miranda to explore how to balance the senses in your writing and how to choose which senses are emphasized in a given scene. And once again our hosts return to the concept of “double duty writing,” where sensory descriptions not only paint vivid pictures of the environment but also reveal insights into characters' emotions and perspectives. Listen now for tips and tricks for infusing more senses into your writing.
What book have you read recently that did a good job of using all 5 senses? Let us know on our socials!
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Links:
Ritu's book Kara's Dreams
Eldred Bird’s article “How to Show Emotion in Characters Who Hide Their Feelings”
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Sound engineering by Luke Fischer
Cover art by Maggie Walker
The landscape of fiction in the United States has been morphing over the last twenty years, due in part to the translation and influence of TV shows, movies, books, and comics from other countries and cultures. Guest Katie Lewis along with hosts Bonnie and Miranda discuss their experiences reading translated works from other cultures and how it has shaped their writing and reading. Explore how manga, anime, and novels from Asia have become more popular and impacted genre writing in Western markets. Join the conversation on cultural exchange through translated media and how it has broadened and diversified perspectives in literature and entertainment.
For more, join Katie as they teach a class for Writing Heights this March 30th at noon MDT. Register today to attend in person or via Zoom.
What are some good translated works that you've read or experienced lately? Movies, TV shows, books, let us know on our socials so we can consume them with you!
Note: Katie meant to reference the novel Tropic of Orange, not Tropic of Cancer
Links:
Manga
- Naruto
- My Hero Academia
Anime (also available as manga)
- Demon Slayer
- Jujutsu Kaisen
- My Roommate is a Cat
Web novels
- The Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation
Films
- Crazy Rich Asians
- Everything Everywhere All At Once
- Bullet Train
- Requiem for a Dream
- Perfect Blue
- Guillermo del Toro's films like Pan's Labyrinth
- Howl’s Moving Castle
Novels
- The Poppy War trilogy
- All You Need Is Kill (book Edge of Tomorrow was based on)
- Tropic of Orange
TV shows
- Squid Game
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Sound engineering by Luke Fischer
Cover art by Maggie Walker
Got any writing pet peeves? Miranda and Bonnie take advantage of the opportunity to rant about some things that have made them put books down (or throw them across the room), discussing the pitfalls of playing tricks on readers, being unnecessarily coy, and making characters behave inconsistently for the sake of the plot. They dissect common grievances such as forced relationships, miscommunication tropes, and soapboxing, urging writers to prioritize subtlety, consistency, and nuance in their storytelling. Through their candid conversation, they emphasize the importance of seeking diverse feedback to craft compelling narratives that resonate with readers.
What are some of your book-related pet peeves? Let us know we’re not ranting into the void on our socials!
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Links:
The book that made Bonnie take Goodreads reviewing seriously
Sound engineering by Luke Fischer
Cover art by Maggie Walker
Hosts Bonnie and Miranda welcome guest Trina Burgermeister to discuss the intricacies of writing from multiple points of view (POVs). Trina shares insights from her own writing journey, highlighting the challenges and rewards of weaving together distinct character perspectives. The conversation delves into the decision-making process behind employing multiple POVs, emphasizing the importance of letting the story dictate the narrative structure. In this exploration of the nuances of character-driven storytelling, Bonnie, Miranda, and Trina discuss techniques for balancing POV characters, avoiding pitfalls such as tangents and head-hopping, and ensuring each character's voice remains unique.
What is a multiple-POV novel you’ve enjoyed recently? How did it balance the characters? Let us know on our socials!
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Links:
Alfred Hitchcock on Mastering Cinematic Tension
Brandon Sanderson on the “Grand Skill”
Sound engineering by Luke Fischer
Cover art by Maggie Walker
Bonnie and Miranda talk with Tracy Hume about reinventing yourself to get your writing career off the ground. The trio explores the ever-evolving landscape of the writing industry, discussing platforms like webinars, conferences, and social media for staying informed. The conversation sheds light on the importance of saying yes to new opportunities and the significance of discarding what doesn't align with your goals. Tune in for a captivating conversation on reinventing yourself as a writer.
Have you had to reinvent yourself in your writing career? What was your new path? Let us know at our social media links.
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Join the Writing Heights community at writingheights.com
Links:
Freelance Writer’s Den
Jane Friedman
Allison K Williams
Tools:
Bookstack
Rev.com
Otter.ai
Contently
Substack
Cover art by Maggie Walker
Happy New Year, and welcome to Season 3 of The Writing Forge, listeners. Returning guest David E. Sharp joins Bonnie and Miranda to talk about anti-resolutions. Embrace your personal weaknesses for yourself and your characters this year to give your story a punch, to achieve some character development, and maybe see that your weakness can be a strength after all.
What sort of anti-resolutions are you going to make this year? Let us know at our social links below!
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Cover art by Maggie Walker
Links:
Linc Library in Greeley Colorado. Check out their amazing podcast studio!
The end of 2023 is upon us! In their traditional end-of-year season finale, Miranda and Bonnie analyze the movie The Lost City. Comparing a fictional portrayal of an author with real-life writer experience provides plenty of fodder for discussion. Your hosts explore the movie’s unique take on romance, adventure, comedy, and action, highlighting the clever use of humor and the way the movie subverts genre tropes. The Lost City’s theme of not judging a book by its cover creates parallels to real-life judgments about genre fiction and the importance of embracing diverse storytelling. As we prepare for a new year, let us approach both fictional narratives and real-life experiences with an open mind and a willingness to embrace the unexpected.
What writing-related movie should we discuss in next year’s season finale? Give us suggestions on our socials!
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Cover art by Maggie Walker
Links:
Romancing the Stone
Castle
The Memoirs of an International Assassin
In this episode, hosts Bonnie and Miranda welcome special guest Valerie Ihsan to discuss the critical elements of conflict, choice, and consequence in storytelling. The conversation delves into the importance of conflict in hooking readers, the significance of character flaws, and how conflict drives the overall story. Compelling conflicts are crucial for both fiction and memoir, as readers need to see believable challenges that stretch characters without making their journey impossible. The choices characters make in response to these conflicts help foster surprising and inevitable outcomes. And the consequences of these choices are integral to providing reader satisfaction and maintaining realism, regardless of genre. The three C's (conflict, choice, and consequence) can apply at various levels of storytelling, from the global structure to individual scenes. Listen today for valuable tips and perspectives to enhance your narrative craft.
What are the best Conflict, Choice, and Consequences you have come across, either in others’ writing or your own? Share on our socials!
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Cover art by Maggie Walker
Links:
Baby Boom
In this episode of the Writing Forge podcast, Kelly Lydick of Pure Carbon Publishing joins Bonnie and Miranda to delve into the world of editing. The trio unravels the distinctions between developmental and other kinds of editing, shedding light on the nuanced roles each plays in the writing process. They discuss the importance of finding the right editor, the benefits of a sample edit, and the collaborative dynamic between authors and editors. Whether you're navigating plot points in fiction or refining the scope of a nonfiction piece, this episode provides valuable insights into the crucial role of developmental editing in bringing your writing to life.
How would you describe the logline of your current work in progress to a developmental editor? Let us know at our socials!
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Cover art by Maggie Walker
Links:
Dan Wells’ preface to the 10th anniversary edition of Elantris
Hosts Bonnie and Miranda and guest Beth Bonness delve into the fascinating connection between dreams and poetry. Beth's unique perspective of rediscovering her passion for poetry after experiencing life-altering strokes sheds light on how dreams and the subconscious mind can influence the creative process. The discussion explores the randomness of dreaming, the emotional seeds found in vivid dreams, and the potential for inspiration that comes from tapping into your subconscious. Beth also shares her approach of writing in the morning before her to-do list wakes up, using warm-up prompts to access her creativity, and letting her thoughts percolate during sleep. This episode offers valuable insights for writers of all genres and encourages listeners to explore the connection between their dreams and their creative work. Join Bonnie, Miranda, and Beth as they unravel the mysteries of the creative subconscious.
How often do you dream, and how often do you write about it? Have any interesting dreams lately? Share with us on our socials!
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Cover art by Maggie Walker
Join hosts Bonnie and Miranda and guest Sonja Dewing, an award-winning author and CEO of the Women's Thriller Writers Association, as they delve into the world of AI and its applications in the realm of social media marketing. Amidst a discussion on the limitations and possibilities of AI, they explore how AI, particularly Chat GPT, can enhance your social media presence without replacing the human touch. They discuss the value of authentic and personalized content in today's digital landscape, the role of AI in content creation, and the fine balance between automation and human creativity.
Tune in to discover the best practices for using AI in social media marketing, learn about the ethical considerations, and find out how Chat GPT can assist with your marketing plans.
What do you think? Will you use ChatGPT for your marketing? Do you already? Let us know at our socials!
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Cover art by Maggie Walker
Bonnie and Miranda use their experiences as anthology judges, editor, and author to share valuable insights and tips for writers looking to submit their work to anthologies. From uncovering niche opportunities to avoiding common mistakes to crafting standout submissions, they share invaluable tips and tricks to help you make your mark in the competitive world of anthologies. Whether you're new to anthologies or a seasoned writer, you'll find useful advice and guidance in this episode. Tune in to learn how to navigate the anthology landscape successfully!
And check out Writing Heights’ newest anthology, Exception/All: An Anthology Exploring What It Means to Be Normal.
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Cover art by Maggie Walker
Uncover the keys to building and sustaining a thriving writing community in the Writing Forge’s very first live episode! Writing Heights Writers Association director Amy Rivers and Northern Colorado Writers founder Kerrie Flanagan join Bonnie and Miranda for an important conversation on the significance of connecting with our fellow writers. From feedback that refines your work to finding your unique tribe of supporters, explore how writing communities provide a place to celebrate victories and share struggles. Get inspired to step out of your comfort zone, embrace bravery, and foster connections that elevate your writing journey.
Links:
National Novel Writing Month
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Cover art by Maggie Walker
Explore character backstory on this episode of The Writing Forge! YA author Traci L. Jones joins Bonnie and Miranda for a look at how backstory adds depth and authenticity to your characters. They share strategies for using dialogue to reveal character history organically, integrating flashbacks to enhance your plot, and avoiding excessive exposition. Discover how to maintain balance between moving the plot forward and sharing essential information, all while leaving your audience eager for more. Whether you're writing speculative fiction or realistic tales, you won't want to miss this enlightening discussion on making your story's past come to life.
What’s your favorite character backstory? Share with us on our socials!
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Cover art by Maggie Walker
Join Bonnie and Miranda for a thought-provoking episode on the art of switching genres in your writing career. Drawing from John Dedakis's experience pivoting from seasoned journalist to novelist, the conversation delves into the challenges and rewards of venturing into new creative territories. Learn how to leverage your strengths, adapt your skills, and incorporate your background into a fresh genre while staying true to your unique voice. Whether you're considering a leap or just curious, this episode offers guidance to navigate your genre transition.
Anyone else out there make the switch from journalist to novelist? Or vice versa? Let us know how it went at our socials!
Links:
Writing Forge episode 2.12: Elements of Storytelling
Writing Forge episode 2.9: Look Both Ways Before Crossing Genres
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Cover art by Maggie Walker
Poetry and story mix beautifully to make a novel in verse—an increasingly popular form of writing. Miranda and Bonnie learn more from Megan E. Freeman, author of middle-grade novel-in-verse Alone, about what makes a novel in verse, the freedom it can provide, its relatability across different demographics, and of course, tips and tricks for succeeding in the format.
Had you heard of a novel in verse before today? If so, what has been your favorite? We’d love to hear from you!
Links:
Kwame Alexander’s The Crossover
Verse novelist Jason Reynolds
David Elliott’s Voices: The Final Hours of Joan of Arc
Melanie Crowder’s Audacity
Joy McCullough’s Blood Water Paint
Nikki Grimes’ Ordinary Hazards: A Memoir
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cue evil laughter While most of us love a good villain, antagonists can be so much more. Parents, best friends, even the protagonist themselves can make some of the most compelling antagonists. Kat Falls joins Bonnie and Miranda to discuss how to develop well-rounded, multidimensional antagonists.
And remember: Go too far—it's easier to pull back during revisions than it is to heat up a tepid antagonist.
Share your favorite villains and antagonists with us on our socials!
Links:
For a breakdown of the real antagonist of the Dark Knight, listen to https://writingexcuses.com/writing-excuses-6-18-hollywood-formula/
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Whether you’re officially a freelancer or just trying to get writing done in your free time, we all need to find what works to keep us motivated and organized. Long-time freelance writer Holly Day joins Bonnie and Miranda to talk about their favorite tools for staying organized and tricks for keeping motivation up—especially when mental health inteferes with productive writing.
What are your best organizational tips and tricks? Share with us on our socials!
Links:
- Bonnie’s Shut Up & Write! group (all are welcome!): https://shutupwrite.com/series/shut-up-write-online-with-bonnie-m/7548
- Habitica: https://habitica.com/
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Marketing expert Penny Sansevieri joins Bonnie and Miranda as their guide through the jungle that is Amazon Author Central. Authors often underestimate the importance of an updated Amazon Author page, and Penny gives us best practices for picking book categories, utilizing the author page, and funding Amazon ads to increase your book sales. Smart marketing can be the key to getting your book seen and bought by the general public.
What’s the funniest mismatch of book title to Amazon category you’ve seen? Share with us know in the comments or on our socials!
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In this Bonnie and Miranda solo episode, your co-hosts break down pacing from the micro level to the macro. Small things like individual word choice and sentence length can impel your readers forward or slow them down to get them thinking. Pacing at both the micro and macro level can help give your characters and readers time to think and react to the developments of the plot. Ultimately, pacing is all about emotions—in your characters and your readers—and doling them out at the right time for maximum reader enjoyment.
What are some books with great examples of pacing? Or what are some books that did a poor job with pacing? Let us know in the comments or on our socials!
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Librarian and storyteller David Sharpe joins Bonnie and Miranda to discuss the elements of storytelling that translate across different media. From oral storytelling to theater to novels, emotional connection draws listeners and readers into the story for a more engaging experience. Switching media can be difficult as you navigate the different tropes and formats, but sharing or experiencing the same story through different media can also be incredibly rewarding.
What are some unique storytelling media that you've experienced? And how has it affected your writing? Let us know on our socials!
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Links:
TWF 1.20: Lessons from "The Man Who Invented Christmas"
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Writing down stories from your life can be great for therapy or family history purposes. But you might also be thinking about publishing these stories. This is where memoir comes in. Awyn Dawn, author of Paganism for Prisoners, joins Bonnie and Miranda to talk about publishing memoir—finding your niche, setting realistic expectations, and defining success. While publishing always involves a great deal of luck, having a strong hook and finding people who believe in your story are two keys to success. Listen now for more ideas on how to write and publish your life.
If you had to pick one story in your life to memoir-ize, what would it be? Share with us on our socials!
Links:
Grief is the Thing with Feathers by Max Porter
Becoming by Michelle Obama
American Sniper by Chris Kyle
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Miranda and Bonnie jump on board the AI-discussion bandwagon with screenwriter Alan O’Hashi to theorize how the future of writing will change with improvements in AI technology.
Is using AI in your writing comparable to using a calculator in math class? Will ChatGPT become the next tool like Grammarly and ProWritingAid? Though AI-generated content still lacks the human element, how can it be used as a learning tool or jumping off point to fuel creativity?
What’s your opinion on AI? Let us know on our socials!
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Today we talk about the nitty gritty of genres and how to cross them. Whether you want to write paranormal romance or your fantasy novel has an unexpected dash of horror, you may find that one genre is not enough to contain your story. Sarah Reichert joins Bonnie and Miranda to discuss the pros and cons of crossing genres: everything from the importance of choosing a genre to the importance of understanding tropes for your genres to the potential difficulties of marketing a cross-genre novel.
What cross-genre novels have you enjoyed? Let us know on our socials!
Links:
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Though everyone knows a book needs a good cover, writers often overlook the importance of a well-designed book interior. Book designer Tamara Cribley lends her expertise to a discussion on the nitty gritty details of interior book design: from choosing (and licensing) fonts, formatting ebooks, preparing margins in a print book, deciding when and how to hire a book designer, and more.
Have you read any books whose interior design impressed you? @ our socials to share examples of beautiful books with us.
Links:
IBPA (Independent Book Publishers Association)
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Join the Writing Heights community at writingheights.com
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-writing-forge/donations
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Bonnie and Miranda discuss their takes on the infamous writing advice, “Show, don’t tell.” They explore the advice from an editor’s perspective as well as a writer’s, give some examples of showing and telling, and discuss when you would want to use one or the other.
So, what do you think about “show, don’t tell”? @ our socials to let us know your questions and comments on the hotly debated maxim.
Links: How to Show and When to Tell blog post
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Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-writing-forge/donations
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Whether your story is set in a fantasy world or downtown Cleveland, scenic details are important—but how do you avoid getting caught up in the minutiae? Today, Steve Stratton joins Miranda to talk balancing worldbuilding details with story, in a variety of genres.
Links:
Pro-Writing Aid
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Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-writing-forge/donations
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In today’s episode, Bonnie and Miranda chat with Leah Busboom about outsourcing for authors. They discuss what self-published authors can or should outsource; some best practices for collaborating with other publishing professionals; and how to balance budget, time, skillset, and enjoyment levels as you navigate the publishing process.
Links:
Alex K Newton of K-lytics. https://k-lytics.com/
Booksprout review service: https://booksprout.co/
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Join the Writing Heights community at writingheights.com
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-writing-forge/donations
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Prolific romance author and publisher Bernadette Marie brings her experience with the genre to help Miranda and Bonnie nail down the differences between Romance as a genre and romance as a B-plot in a greater story. Along the way, they’ll talk about the different aspects of romance from the importance of setting, to building relationships between characters, to different “spice” levels.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Links:
https://www.romancingthebeat.com/
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Join the Writing Heights community at writingheights.com
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-writing-forge/donations
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Erin Austin, teacher and author of The Ultimate Guide to Selling Your Original World Language Resources, talks with Bonnie and Miranda about how to find time and motivation for your writing while balancing all other aspects of your life.
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Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-writing-forge/donations
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Dr. Melanie Peffer, author of Biology Everywhere, joins Bonnie and Miranda for this episode’s discussion of the old adage “Write what you know.” Whatever their day job is, any writer can utilize their day-to-day experiences to inspire and strengthen their writing.
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Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-writing-forge/donations
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Bonnie and Miranda welcome in Season 2 of the show discussing goal setting for writers. How to define what your goal as a writer is and what four broad paths you can take to define what kind of writer you want to be.
Thanks for listening, we can't wait for the amazing guests and information coming up this season.
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On this holiday special of The Writing Forge, Bonnie and Miranda get in the Christmas spirit by discussing the movie The Man Who Invented Christmas. Though the movie is a historical fiction take on Charles Dickens writing A Christmas Carol, it has a lot of relevance to modern writers. We cover a range of topics from publishing vs self publishing, traditional book binding, tropes about authors, and the writing process.
Happy holidays and we’ll see you all again in Season 2!
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Humor writer Julie Vick joins us this week to talk about all things funny.
Tips and Tricks:
- Surprise is a key element for writing humor. Play up the unexpected. The rule of three is part of this.
- If you’re going to be satirizing someone directly, make sure not to “punch down.”
- You don’t having to be funny on the first draft. Editing can and should make things funnier.
- Read your work out loud to judge your comedic timing
- Put the funniest bits at the end of a paragraph.
- Analyze reading that you find funny to figure out how the writer did it.
- Your type and level of humor will depend on your genre. Make sure to think about your intended audience as you’re crafting jokes.
- Humor can work differently in fiction vs. nonfiction, particularly if you’re writing fiction in a 3rd person POV. Formatting like footnotes and parentheses and italics can change how your funny elements come through in the end.
- Humor can carry the reader along so they don’t pay as much attention to other aspects of the writing.
- Certain phonemes are inherently funnier than others. Saying “Tropicana” is funnier than saying “orange juice.”
- Comparisons can be very helpful for adding humor to writing.
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Instagram: @ncw\_writers
Twitter: @northcolowriter
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-writing-forge/donations
Lawyer, author, and publisher Thea Rademacher, of Flint Hills Publishing, joins Bonnie and Miranda to talk about common copyright misconceptions writers have as well as ways to protect and strengthen your copyright.
Tips and Tricks:
- As soon as you’ve written something original, you own the copyright to it. Copyright law, under the umbrella of intellectual property law, protects the intangible asset of your writing.
- Make sure to provide for your writing in your will. Can your heirs publish your unpublished works? Who gets the royalties for published books? Etc.
- Three best practices for strengthening your copyright:
- Register it with the US Copyright Office—perhaps not on your very first rough draft, but once you have a respectable draft that you’re ready to pitch to agents and publishers if you’re traditional publishing.
- For self-publishing, buy your own ISBN instead of using Amazon’s free one.
- Apply for a Library of Congress control number
- Tech solutions to help protect your copyright
- Bowker’s CopyrightsLock service (though it might be overkill for most authors)
- The Copyright Alternative in Small-Claims Enforcement Act (CASE Act) of 2020 provides new options for authors
- Check out Thea’s book, Authors Beware: Arm Yourself With Knowledge to Avoid Legal Pitfalls!for a ton more information about common legal issues writers run into.
- Always consult an actual lawyer before making legal decisions!
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Amanda Headlee joins Miranda and Bonnie to discuss subgenres and tropes—their similarities, differences, and how you can utilize either to strengthen your writing.
Tips and Tricks:
- Properly identifying your subgenre can be important for marketing and successful sales.
- Sometimes a trope becomes popular and used enough to set up a whole subgenre.
- Depending on how much your story relies on a certain idea can determine whether it’s a trope or a subgenre.
- Subgenres and tropes are useful for setting reader expectations. If you’re heavily emphasizing certain tropes or aspects of your genre at the beginning of your book, then swap at the end you will probably confuse and disappoint your readers.
- Some tropes help move a story forward, but be wary of overusing common tropes and slipping into stereotypes and cliches.
- Genres go in cycles, with some subgenres becoming more popular then fading from popularity. What you see being traditionally published.
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In this twofold Halloween episode Miranda and Bonnie talk with Steve Anderson about how to write for Kindle Vella as well as how to write spooky stories.
This week’s question: Have you tried out Kindle Vella? Let us know of any stories you’ve liked and link them at our socials!
Tips and Tricks:
- Kindle Vella is a new(ish) platform on Amazon that specializes in serialized content and is separate from Kindle Unlimited and Kindle Direct Publishing.
- As it is a serialized platform, the sweet spot for views and reads seems to be for the author to post about 2 -3 short “episodes” per week. About 1,000 to 2,000 words per episode, with lower 1,000s being preferable.
- When writing for Kindle Vella, it’s helpful to think of the episode as a cable TV show with commercial breaks built in. Where there would be a commercial break, that’s usually a good place to stop the episode.
- Episodes cost tokens and readers spend tokens to unlock the next episode. Different episodes cost different amounts.
- Horror, spooky, and suspenseful stories all share common traits.
- For tension, you want to feed your readers enough information to get them anticipating the next step in the story. From there you can twist the story if you’d like. You want to aim for “surprising yet inevitable.”
- Managing to generate a sense of unease or that something is “off” is a great way to build up the spooky factor of a story.
- Vella seems to be a rather ideal platform for ratcheting tension in a story, especially for stories along the lines of mystery and horror.
Links:
Steve’s paranormal mystery serial, If These Walls Could Talk: https://www.amazon.com/kindle-vella/story/B09WKDR3S4
Rise: An Anthology of Change, containing Miranda’s spooky short story: https://www.amazon.com/Rise-Anthology-Change-Bonnie-McKnight/dp/0578577593/
Supernatural (TV show): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0460681/
Castle (TV show): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1219024/
Jim Butcher’s The Dresden Files: https://www.goodreads.com/series/40346-the-dresden-files
The Others (movie): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0230600/
More on “surprising yet inevitable”: https://writingexcuses.com/tag/surprising-yet-inevitable/
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-writing-forge/donations
Today Miranda and Bonnie are talking with Stina Branson about National Novel Writing Month
(NaNoWriMo for short). This week’s question: Have you participated in NaNoWriMo before? If you have, or are signing up this year, drop your username in our socials—we’d love to be NaNo buddies with you!
Tips and Tricks:
● NaNoWriMo takes place in November with the goal of writing 50,000 words in 30 days, which roughly comes out to 1,667 words to write per day.
● A traditional NaNoWriMo project is to start a brand new fiction novel, however people have come to use the program for things like their dissertation, code programming, a collection of short stories, cover creation, editing, or a host of other projects.
● NaNoWriMo is ultimately a tool to help you get work done that you wouldn’t have otherwise.
● A traditional “win” for NaNoWriMo is reaching the 50k mark by November 30th, but generally we consider any new words a win, even if the website doesn’t.
○ We recommend coming up with your own definition of success.
● Some strategies to help get through NaNoWriMo: treat it like a race to see how fast you can reach your word goal; turn it into a competition, break off into teams and see which team gets the most words; make challenges: roll a die multiply the number by 100 and try to reach that number within a certain timeframe; find what really incentivizes you.
● Pantser–someone writing by the seat of their pants, also known as a discovery writer.
● Plotter–someone who plots their novel ahead of time.
● Plantser–someone who knows what direction their story is headed, but not the specifics of how to get there.
● Prepping for NaNoWriMo: You can make an outline, do research on your subject so you don’t have to stop during November, cook a lot of meals ahead of time and freeze them so you don’t have to spend as much time cooking during the month.
● If you’re looking for a NaNoWriMo community, definitely check out the website to see if there is a chapter in your geographical area. If there isn’t, search the internet for forums and groups. Also, don’t be afraid to strike out on your own and create your own.
Links:
NaNoWriMo website: https://nanowrimo.org/
NaNoWriMo Handles:
Miranda: mmiranda
Bonnie: Idriana
Sisters in Crime: https://www.sistersincrime.org/
The Writing Forge is a podcast brought to you by Northern Colorado Writers. You can find us at
www.northerncoloradowriters.com/writingforge
Follow us on social media:
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Miranda and Bonnie talk with Gary Raham about how science fiction can generate interest and learning when it comes to the sciences.
Question for the week: What piece of fiction inspired your interest in a topic that you might not have otherwise had?
Tips and Tricks:
- Children hold a natural wonder for the world and this matches well with the inherent wonder and curiosity that’s pervasive in science fiction. This can create great foundations for future learning.
- With science fiction (and all other forms of fiction), children can learn how to navigate society, culture, dangers, and a number of different things, all through the lens of a fun story that will stick with them.
- It’s important to get facts in science fiction correct. Readers of the genre will notice those kind of mistakes and, for many people, that story might be their only exposure to that kind of science.
- Most science fiction allows for one big “lie”—or rather, one big inaccuracy. Typically you can ask a reader to suspend their belief for one fantastical element, but because of that, everything else around it must be as accurate as possible so as not to put too much strain on that suspension.
- We learn more about the world as time goes on. So older science fiction is full of inaccuracies but was correct with the knowledge available at the time. This can be used to help compare and contrast the kind of science we know now.
- “Science fiction is the precursor to science fact.” Much of what we see in science fiction—technology, social structures, exploration—can give us something to strive for as people and as a society.
Links:
The Writing Forge is a podcast brought to you by Northern Colorado Writers. You can find us at www.northerncoloradowriters.com/writingforge
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Chrysta Bairre joins Miranda and Bonnie to talk about Imposter Syndrome in this week’s episode of The Writing Forge. We referenced NCW’s annual writing retreat a lot. This year’s is coming up in October, and registration is still open. Come join us in the Rockies for three days of quiet writing time! https://northerncoloradowriters.com/retreat
This week’s question: Do you also suffer from Imposter Syndrome? If you do, what are some ways you counteract it? Let us know at the social links below.
Tips and Tricks:
- Imposter syndrome is defined as the persistent inability to believe that one’s success is deserved or has been legitimately achieved as a result of one’s own efforts or skills.
- Sometimes imposter syndrome is sneaky, not necessarily feeling like a “fraud." For instance, the inability to accept compliments while immediately internalizing anything negative said about your work.
- You can experience imposter syndrome even if you've published multiple books or done the work of a profession—nothing will feel like it “counts.”
- A few practical tips to dealing with imposter syndrome:
- Practice receiving positive feedback differently
- Get more practiced at talking about your contributions and accomplishments and how you’re proud of yourself
- Resist the urge to talk about and point out all the imperfections in your work
- Imposter syndrome can stop you in unconscious ways, such as missing out on opportunities or not even considering options because you don’t think you’re “worthy” or you “belong.”
- Try having an accountability partner to talk about your weekly wins: how you showed up, what you accomplished, progress you’ve made
- Also try a “Win Jar” (can be physical or digital): every time someone pays you a compliment or you get good feedback, put it in the jar. When you're feeling low, you can return to the jar and go through the things there.
- Appreciate the people in your life. Help reflect on their wins and accomplishments; yours will start to sink in for yourself as well.
- Join or create communities to help empower your skills and your belief in them.
Links:
For more about Chrysta, visit https://liveandlovework.com/
Beautiful Badass: https://smile.amazon.com/Beautiful-Badass-Believe-Yourself-Against/dp/1734584106/
Chrysta’s blog post on compliment dodgeball: https://liveandlovework.com/2018/03/29/the-1-reason-you-are-underpaid/
Original 1978 study on “The Imposter Phenomenon:” https://www.paulineroseclance.com/pdf/ip_high_achieving_women.pdf
The Writing Forge is a podcast brought to you by Northern Colorado Writers. You can find us at www.northerncoloradowriters.com/writingforge
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The Writing Forge Episode 12: A Talk with Shawn Amos
In this week’s episode Bonnie and Miranda talk with blues-musician-turned-author Shawn Amos about living different creative lives, transferring skills from one creative pursuit to another, and capitalizing on the power of music in writing.
Links:
Find out more about Shawn at https://www.shawnamos.com/
Cookies & Milk: https://www.smile.amazon.com/dp/B09FL821JR/
The Writing Forge is a podcast brought to you by Northern Colorado Writers. You can find us at www.northerncoloradowriters.com/writingforge
Follow us on social media:
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Twitter: @northcolowriter
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Bonnie and Miranda talk about common misconceptions perpetuated in the writing community.
This week’s question: What other common misconceptions do you see in the writing community? Do you have a writing rule that someone has told you and you want to know if it’s legit? Let us know on our socials.
Tips and Tricks:
● Passive language and passive voice are different. Both are frequently edited out, but sometimes there’s a time and a place for them.
● People are always talking about kicking up the intensity in a novel, but sometimes that’s to the detriment of the story and to the reader. It’s okay to give you’re characters breaks once in a
while and settle into slower scenes.
● “Never use adverbs” is another piece of advice that should be taken with a grain of salt.
Adverbs, when used correctly, can help with pacing and help clarification. Usage is all based on context.
● Thesauruses aren’t always your friend. Using strong language is typically recommended, but if this advice is taken too far you run the risk of scaling your scene’s tension too quickly or taking words out of context because they aren’t “fancy".
The Writing Forge is a podcast brought to you by Northern Colorado Writers. You can find us at
www.northerncoloradowriters.com/writingforge
Follow us on social media:
Facebook: @northerncoloradowriters
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Twitter: @northcolowriter
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-writing-forge/donations
Mike Pickard joins Miranda and Bonnie today to talk about the ever-dreaded writer’s block, whether or not it exists, and how to combat it.
This week’s questions: Do you believe writer’s block exists? How do you deal with writer’s block? Have you ever experienced it? How long has it lasted? What finally got you out of it? Let us know on our socials.
Tips and tricks:
- Generally, “writer’s block” is a term used to describe a problem you have that is preventing you from writing. The best way to cure writer’s block is to diagnose what the problem actually is. Fear? Indecision? Mischaracterization? Not having a viable idea to begin with?
- Depending on what the problem is, your solution will be born out of that.
- Having something on the page is generally better than having nothing at all. Don’t be afraid to write poorly or take the wrong direction; you can always go back and edit it later.
- Stories can run into problems with mischaracterization. A plot point may be necessary to the story but is not something the character would do and this can lead to a stall in writing.
- Not knowing what kind of writer you are can also lead to writer’s block. If you find discovery writing isn’t working, try plotting, or vice versa—you might find that another method actually works better for you.
- When finishing a writing session, try stopping at a point when you know what the next half of the page is going to be. This can help kickstart the next writing session.
- Sometimes writer’s block can actually be depression. If that's the case, it's better to take a step back and work on healing yourself than trying to force your creativity.
Links:
Mike’s books: https://www.amazon.com/Michael-Pickard/e/B000APFNIO
Shut Up and Write: https://shutupwrite.com/ https://www.meetup.com/shutupandwriteonlineevents/
“Sometimes Writer’s Block is Really Depression,” Mary Robinette Kowal: https://maryrobinettekowal.com/journal/sometimes-writers-block-is-really-depression/’
The Writing Forge is a podcast brought to you by Northern Colorado Writers. You can find us at www.northerncoloradowriters.com/writingforge
Follow us on social media:
Facebook: @northerncoloradowriters
Instagram: @ncw_writers
Twitter: @northcolowriter
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Bonnie and Miranda talk with Ronda Simmons about writing under stress. This week’s question: What do you do to relieve your stress? And what do you do to keep writing and doing creative things while you’re stressed? Come chat with us on our socials.
Tips and tricks:
● If you’re trying to create under stress, it sometimes helps to change things up. Create in a different space, put on different music, engage your senses differently: these can all help put you in a different mindset.
● Practice self-care like meditation or taking walks to free up your mind for more stressful projects.
● Creating a habit before difficulties come up can help carry you through stressful times.
● Create a “trigger” to send a signal to your brain that it’s time to start writing. It can be burning a scent, positioning and settling in your desk chair, etc. Make it unique and specific to your writing time.
● Some people find changing up fonts can help give themselves permission to write poorly, which can help them get over blocks.
● Changing genres or switching between fiction and nonfiction can tap into different parts of your creativity, giving part of you a break.
● Find a community and/or support system. A writing community can help bring you back to a creative headspace with constructive ideas and brainstorming. A support system can help you release the stress to the point where you have room for creativity again.
● Helping other helps yourself. Helping another writer can help your mood, plus a lot of times you’ll be working on your own problem as you're working on theirs.
● Sometimes the simple act of writing when surrounded by a group of people who are also writing can be enough to help you get in a writing headspace.
● Having supportive people to hold you accountable can keep the creativity flowing.
Links:
Ronda Simmons: https://rondasimmons.com/
The Potato Primer: https://www.amazon.com/Potato-Primer-Only-Cookbook-Will/dp/B09KN7ZRWP
https://www.ambient-mixer.com/
Atomic Habits: https://www.amazon.com/Atomic-Habits-Proven-Build-Break/dp/0735211299
Maggie Walker, cover artist: http://www.magpieartdesign.com/
Join Northern Colorado Writers at https://northerncoloradowriters.com/join-ncw
Shut Up and Write: https://shutupwrite.com/ https://www.meetup.com/shutupandwriteonlineevents/
The Writing Forge is a podcast brought to you by Northern Colorado Writers. You can find us at
www.northerncoloradowriters.com/writingforge
Follow us on social media:
Facebook: @northerncoloradowriters
Instagram: @ncw_writers
Twitter: @northcolowriter
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-writing-forge/donations
Amy Rivers joins Bonnie and Miranda on this episode of The Writing Forge to discuss trauma in fiction.
This week’s question: Assuming you're writing fiction, think about your main character. What trauma have they experienced? If you don’t have an answer to that question, what trauma could you introduce into their lives to help them grow?
- When writing trauma, the key is to find a balance between the emotional impact of the trauma without being too gratuitous or graphic in the descriptions.
- Think about what kind of triggers you’re going to be covering and how people who have been traumatized in that way may respond.
- The main goals of books, whether reading or writing, is to gain empathy for people.
- Try to be as true to the situation as possible without forcing people to live it. People experience trauma differently, and sometimes fading to black is more helpful than spelling it out, because it allows people to process in their own way.
- Think about what kind of writer you are and what kind of message you’re trying to convey. You can be faithful to real life healing and its rises and falls, or you can resolve trauma by the end of the book. Neither is more right than the other; it’s about how you handle the journey.
- Writing trauma authentically usually requires a bit of plotting and a little extra reworking in the editing process.
- Use of sensitivity readers can be very helpful to find what lines you may be inadvertently crossing.
- Memoirs, textbooks, firsthand accounts, and online groups are great sources that can help you learn about trauma and how it can affect everyone differently.
- Make sure to take care of yourself when reading or writing about trauma. Take breaks when you need them and practice good self-care. Walks, talking with friends or professionals, and meditation, are just some examples. Research and experimentation will help you find what works best for you.
The Writing Forge is a podcast brought to you by Northern Colorado Writers. You can find us at www.northerncoloradowriters.com/writingforge
Follow us on social media:
Facebook: @northerncoloradowriters
Instagram: @ncw_writers
Twitter: @northcolowriter
Links: Find out more about Amy and her books at https://www.amyrivers.com/
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-writing-forge/donations
Miranda and Bonnie talk with Richard Bender about reading widely in today’s episode of the writing forge.
This week’s question: What genres do you normally read? What genres are you unfamiliar with? Let us know and let’s give each other recommendations.
Tips and Tricks:
- It’s important to read widely in order to familiarize yourself with different writing styles.
- Each genre has its strength. See what it does well and apply that to your own writing where you can.
- Conversely, if there is a particular skill you want to cultivate within your own genre, look for a genre where that is the main skill. E.g., if you want better humor in your fantasy, read some humor books to see how they’re constructed.
- It’s also important to read in the genre that you write in to understand what’s going to appeal to people in that genre and to see what other authors in that genre are doing.
- When reading for fun, try to take stock when a book does something well. You can pause and analyze what the author did right then, or revisit later.
The Writing Forge is a podcast brought to you by Northern Colorado Writers. You can find us at www.northerncoloradowriters.com/writingforge
Follow us on social media:
Facebook: @northerncoloradowriters
Instagram: @ncw_writers
Twitter: @northcolowriter
Links:
Richard Bender’s Wild Winemaking: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XPBD4XQ/
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-writing-forge/donations
On today’s episode we discuss comic books and graphic novels with author Rod Martinez.
This Week’s Question: What is your favorite graphic novel? One that was most influential, one that caught your interest, or just one that you've been following? Let us know!
Tips and Tricks:
- When writing a graphic novel, don’t think like a novelist, instead try to think like a director in a play or a screenplay.
- Storyboard your panels, keeping in mind that you’ll be working with an artist and you need to be clear on the vision you’re aiming for.
- Seriously, clarity cannot be underscored enough.
- When writing a graphic novel, lean into your strength, whether dialogue or exposition; both will help.
- Querying a graphic novel or comic book is similar to querying a children’s picture book: some publishers just want the script only; some want the script and the art. Be sure to research.
- Be. Patient.
- The publishing timeline on comic books is variable.
The Writing Forge is a podcast brought to you by Northern Colorado Writers. You can find us at www.northerncoloradowriters.com/writingforge
Follow us on social media:
Facebook: @northerncoloradowriters
Instagram: @ncw_writers
Twitter: @northcolowriter
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On today’s episode we discuss Bookstagram with author and Bookstagrammer Nina Little.
This Week’s Question: Do you participate in Bookstagram? If you do, who's your favorite Bookstagrammer? Tag and share on social media; you can find our links in the description.
Tips and Tricks:
- Instagram is a visually based—take lots of pictures of your book, things in the book, or topics related to your book
- Becoming a Bookstagrammer first and published author second can help writers build a following and more easily generate frequent
- If possible, try to set up your author Instagram before you sell your book. That way you’re able to promote the book leading up to the launch. (It’s alright if you’ve already published without an account. It’s a better-late-than-never kind of situation.)
- Don’t make the majority of your posts self-promotion. As always, social media works best when you focus on building a community rather than selling things. Make sure to vary your posts and actually participate (comment, follow, chime in on others’ posts, etc.)
- Instagram book tours cost a couple hundred dollars, but some people have found them to be a good return on investment.
- Themes are huge on Instagram. Look for Bookstagram hashtags by searching through other Bookstagram accounts and checking out their posts. It helps to organize the tags by month, week, day, and theme.
- Bookstagram charities can not only help you gain followers but support good causes and help readers learn more about you and what you stand for.
- Avoid drama online and always try to be polite.
The Writing Forge is a podcast brought to you by Northern Colorado Writers. You can find us here:
www.northerncoloradowriters.com/podcast
Follow us on social media:
Facebook: @northerncoloradowriters
Instagram: @ncw_writers
Twitter: @northcolowriter
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-writing-forge/donations
On today’s episode, Heather Hein joins Bonnie and Miranda at The Writing Forge to discuss plotting and planning your novel.
[Correction: Orson Scott Card coined the term MICE Quotient. Mary Robinette Kowal popularized it.]
Tips and Tricks:
- Outlines can be used two ways: (1) as a map to guide your story as you write it or (2) as a diagnostic tool if you are stuck in your writing or there’s something off about the manuscript.
- There are dozens and dozens of plot structures out there. Find one that fits your genre and your style.
- Some plot structures are: The Hero’s Journey, Save the Cat, the Three Act Structure, Four Act Structure, Seven Point Structure, and the Snowflake Method.
- If you create an outline, you can send it to your editor to save them time and work, as well as to help identify anything that might be wrong with your story structure
- Different genres have different story structures; be sure to do research on your genre expectations—especially if you want to publish commercially.
- Don’t be afraid to let your outline be fluid. If the story is taking a different direction than you expected, don’t be afraid to follow it and change the outline after the fact.
This week’s question: What are you struggling with in plotting your stories? Let us know on our social media platforms. Maybe we can hit each other up and brainstorm some solutions.
The Writing Forge is a podcast brought to you by Northern Colorado Writers you can find us here:
www.northerncoloradowriters.com/podcast
Follow us on social media:
Facebook: @northerncoloradowriters
Instagram: @ncw_writers
Twitter: @northcolowriter
Links mentioned:
Margret Mizushima
https://margaretmizushima.com/
MICE Quotient
https://www.driverlesscrocodile.com/tools-and-techniques/resource-structuring-stories-with-mary-robinette-kowal-1-the-mice-quotient/
Save the Cat Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody
https://www.jessicabrody.com/books/non-fiction/save-cat-writes-novel/about/
Support the show with a donation at the link below:
https://app.redcircle.com/shows/df18007c-c086-4fa2-b2be-0b026bb17385/donations
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-writing-forge/donations
Today, Bonnie and Miranda talk with JC Lynne about doing research for your fiction manuscript and how to incorporate research into your writing on this episode of The Writing Forge.
Tips and Tricks:
- Start your research with these questions: What are you writing? (What is the topic that needs researching?) Who are you writing it for? Who are your characters and what would they know?
- [Specifically for sci-fi] Find your science track, whether concrete or theoretical, and read up on it to give yourself a basic understanding of the subject.
- Be aware of your audience and the level of research they may be expecting. Experts as compared to non-specialized readers will pick up on different things in a manuscript.
- Having interviews and conversations with experts is a great way to get a more in-depth analysis of a topic or to receive insight into a subject that isn’t covered by papers. Make sure to have a basic understanding of your chosen topic before speaking with the expert.
- It’s very easy to go down research rabbit holes. This can be a good thing if you have the time. Research rabbit holes can help discover topics and information that you might not have previously considered for your novel.
- If there’s no time to get drawn into research rabbit holes, try making a list of specific information you’re looking for, get basic answers to those questions, then get back to writing the manuscript.
- Don’t try to put all of your research into your book. Don’t throw your research away, but understand that you’re going to do a lot more research than is going to make it into the novel.
- Prioritize your writing first and foremost
This week’s question: Where do you get your research? Or, alternatively: Wikipedia, yea or nay? Drop a line and let us know!
The Writing Forge is a podcast brought to you by Northern Colorado Writers you can find us here:
www.northerncoloradowriters.com/podcast
Follow us on social media:
Facebook: @northerncoloradowriters
Instagram: @ncw_writers
Twitter: @northcolowriter
Links mentioned:
Seveneves by Neal Stephenson
https://www.nealstephenson.com/seveneves.html
The F*cking Yoga CO.
https://theeffingyogablog.com/
Support the show with a donation at the link below:
https://app.redcircle.com/shows/df18007c-c086-4fa2-b2be-0b026bb17385/donations
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-writing-forge/donations
On today’s episode of The Writing Forge, Bonnie and Miranda discuss the submission process, particularly for anthologies and literary magazines, with guest Cristina Trapani-Scott.
Tips and Tricks:
- To find places to submit your work there are a number of resources to research:
- The Writers Market
- Writing Organization Newsletters
- https://www.newpages.com/
- https://www.pw.org/
- https://www.thereviewreview.net/
- Facebook groups ex: Call for Submissions
- Google (or search engine of your choice) search for genre specific magazines or anthologies
- There are two approaches to submissions: writing the piece first then finding a place to submit, or finding a place to submit and writing to their specifications.
- Pay close attention to style and submission requirements. Many places will automatically reject pieces that did not follow instructions.
- It helps to read pieces from the place you are submitting to in order to get a feel for what they’re looking for.
- Don’t be afraid to tweak or adapt a story
- Track where you submit. (Spreadsheets are a good way to do this.) You don’t want to submit a rejected piece to the same place twice. Also, simultaneous submission clauses can affect the timing of a piece or if/when you can submit a piece somewhere else, so keeping track of dates is important
- Having a submission buddy can help with accountability and support during your submission process.
This week’s question: What is your best way to deal with rejection? Let us know on our social platforms.
The Writing Forge is a podcast brought to you by Northern Colorado Writers you can find us here:
www.northerncoloradowriters.com/podcast
Follow us on social media:
Facebook: @northerncoloradowriters
Instagram: @ncw_writers
Twitter: @northcolowriter
Links mentioned:
Chiaroscuro: An Anthology of Virtue and Vice
https://bookshop.org/books/chiaroscuro-an-anthology-of-virtue-vice/9780578976617
Elixir: Stories of Hope and Healing
https://www.hansenhousebooks.com/product/elixir-stories-of-hope-and-healing/
Support the show with a donation at the link below:
https://app.redcircle.com/shows/df18007c-c086-4fa2-b2be-0b026bb17385/donations
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-writing-forge/donations
Today we introduce and learn a little about the show hosts, Bonnie and Miranda, then dive into talking about balancing dialogue and description in your writing.
Tips and Tricks
- Plan for multiple drafts of scenes, chapters, and full manuscripts.
- Don’t be afraid to lean into your strength first. If you’re good at dialogue, “sketch” out the dialogue. If you’re good at exposition, then first write the exposition. Afterwards return to the piece and fill in the gaps.
- There are times where it is okay to be heavy on description (exposition, scene setting, mood setting) or be heavy on dialogue (arguments, quick witty exchanges, situations where characters really are just sitting down and talking). Heavy sections are tolerated differently across different genres.
- If you’re struggling with either dialogue or description, find ways to make them do double duty. Have exposition bring tension to an otherwise boring exchange. Have dialogue give insight to a character’s mindset or feelings.
- Once you have a draft, grab two different-colored highlighters and highlight exposition in one color and dialogue in another. You’ll be able to visually see the balance of a scene and adjust as needed.
This week’s question:
What are some books that balance dialogue and description well? What are some books that maybe fell a little short? Let us know on our socials.
The Writing Forge is a podcast brought to you by Northern Colorado Writers you can find us here:
www.northerncoloradowriters.com/podcast
Follow us on social media:
Facebook: @northerncoloradowriters
Instagram: @ncw_writers
Twitter: @northcolowriter
Links mentioned:
National Novel Writing Month:
https://nanowrimo.org/about-nano
Writing Excuses:
https://writingexcuses.com/
Support the show with a donation at the link below:
https://app.redcircle.com/shows/df18007c-c086-4fa2-b2be-0b026bb17385/donations
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-writing-forge/donations