Writing with Friends: Recent Episodes
Hillary Barnes Martinez and BJ Williams
Your weekly chat about the best writing tips and tools for your current and future creative projects.
Welcome to a tool deep dive episode, where we highlight the features and the challenges of a tool we think you’ll find helpful as a writer. And the tool we’ll be talking about today is Grammarly. Grammarly is an AI-powered writing assistant that helps with grammar, spelling, punctuation, and even some style suggestions. It’s like having a personal editor at your fingertips! But there are some downsides to using Grammarly, too. We’ll discuss both the pros and cons of this tool for writers on today’s episode.
Picks of the Week:
H: The Word is Murder by Anthony Horowitz
BJ: Jumper by Steven Gould
Mentioned in the Episode:
Grammarly
Show Notes
Today, we’ll be talking to writer Dr. Alexandra Middleton. She’s an Assistant Professor of medical anthropology at the University of Copenhagen, creative nonfiction writer and essayist, runner, swimmer, and more! Tune in to hear about her career as well as her advice for aspiring writers.
Mentioned in the Episode:
Alexandra’s Work
- https://www.liminalliety.com/ (Alexandra's Website)
- https://therumpus.net/2023/04/11/terra-incognita/
Other Works Mentioned
- https://1000wordsofsummer.substack.com/about
- https://www.oprah.com/spirit/writing-every-day-writers-rules-aimee-bender/all
- https://www.accountabilityworkshops.com/
- https://pod.link/1623390096
- https://lidiayuknavitch.net/
- https://www.melissafebos.com/
- http://www.jordankisner.com/thresholds
- http://link.chtbl.com/tcahp
Craft Books
- Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott
- Steering the Craft by Ursula K. LeGuin
- How to Write an Autobiographical Novel by Alexander Chee
Essays and Books on Motherhood (from The Liminal Substack)
- “The Birth of My Daughter, The Death of My Marriage”by Leslie Jamison
- My Work by Olga Ravn
- “I Shock Myself” from The Ann Friedman Weekly newsletter
Today, we’ll finish up our summer quote series.
I’m excited to announce that this is the last episode of Season 4. BJ and I are cooking up a new season for you right now– with lots of craft tips, tool deep dives, fireside chats, and interviews with other writers. That season – Season 5 – will begin releasing every Monday starting September 16. We can’t wait.
Other mini episodes in our quote series:
S4E21 MINI: Standing on the Shoulders of Literary Giants
S4E22 MINI: Paradox and Playfulness in the Writing Life
S4E23 MINI: Why Middle Grade and Young Adult Novels Matter
Mentioned in the Episode:
Wired for Story:The Writer's Guide to Using Brain Science to Hook Readers from the Very First Sentence by Lisa Cron
The Quest to Understand Consciousness – A TedTalk by Dr. Antonio Damasio
Unmasking the Muse (blogpost by Lisa Cron)
Mentioned in Episode:
Other mini episodes in our quote series
S4E21 MINI: Standing on the Shoulders of Literary Giants
S4E22 MINI: Paradox and Playfulness in the Writing Life
Books by Madeleine L’Engle:
Many Waters
A Ring of Endless Light
A Swiftly Tilting Planet
And Both Were Young
Newbery Award Acceptance Speech: The Expanding Universe (1963)
On today’s mini episode, we’re looking at another of my favorite quotes about the writing life.
“Creativity is sacred, and it is not sacred. What we make matters enormously, and it doesn’t matter at all. We toil alone, and we are accompanied by spirits. We are terrified, and we are brave. Art is a crushing chore and a wonderful privilege. Only when we are at our most playful can divinity finally get serious with us. Make space for all these paradoxes to be equally true inside your soul, and I promise—you can make anything. So please calm down now and get back to work, okay? The treasures that are hidden inside you are hoping you will say yes.”
- Elizabeth Gilbert, Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear
Let’s discuss how this quote might speak to us about the lightness and playfulness required to creativity.
Mentioned in Episode:
Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert
The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron
The first episode in our quote series: S4E21 MINI: Standing on the Shoulders of (Literary) Giants
On today’s episode, we’ll begin a short series looking at some of my favorite quotes as they apply to writing.
And today’s quote is:
"If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." - Isaac Newton
Let's think together about the tension between the ideal of the creative genius and the reality of the creative process.
Mentioned in the Episode:
The Marginalian: Standing on the Shoulders of Giants: The Story Behind Newton’s Famous Metaphor for How Knowledge Progresses by Maria Popova
Paper Lantern Writers: Standing on the Shoulders of Giants by Jonathan Posner
Isaac Newton by Games Gleick
Our question for today’s mini episode is...
How and why should I write until failure?
Today we'll talk about how to write to failure both in terms of honing your craft and in terms of sharing your work with an audience.
Do you have thoughts on failure and the writing life? Do you have ways you push to failure that I didn’t mention? We'd love to hear from you. Our email address writingwithfriendspodcast@gmail.com.
Mentioned in the Episode
Zone of Proximal Development by WestEd
How Often Should You Take Your Sets to Fail? (StrengthLog Podcast)
Our question for today’s mini episode is...
How do I keep up a writing practice when life gets busy?
We'll discuss four strategies for staying engaged in your writing practice when other responsibilities loom large.Mentioned in the Episode:
Tiny Habits by BJ Fogg
Atomic Habits by James Clear
The Revision Spreadsheet (WWF Episodes S4E3 and S1E10)
Our question for today’s mini episode is...
Why Do Plot Twists Matter?
If you find crafting plot twists a little baffling, or you're unsure if your current story would even benefit from a plot twist, this episode's for you! We'll dive into a fantastic example of a plot twist and discuss the benefits of incorporating plot twists into storylines. What are the plot twists in your current project? Okay, maybe you don’t want to give spoilers, but if you have more questions on this topic or tips of your own, write to us at writingwithfriendspodcast@gmail.com. We'd love to hear from you.
Mentioned in the Episode
S4E16: How Much should I plan and outline before writing?
Our question for today’s mini episode is...
What’s the best gear to support your writing practice?
Writing is a pretty minimalistic hobby, or it can be. Still, investing in great writing gear isn’t silly or shallow. As writer Gretchen Rubin says “Beautiful tools make work a joy.” By investing in high quality writing tools, we can remind ourselves that our writing practice itself is valuable, and we can create a sense of ritual and reverence around our writing time.
Mentioned in the Episode:
-
Moleskine Large Weekly Planner
-
A candle! Any kind. 🙂
-
Midori MD Note Horizontal Ruled Line Notebook
-
NuPhy Halo96 Wireless Mechanical Keyboard with Rose Glacier switches
-
Peet’s Major Dickason’s Blend Coffee Beans
Our question for today is:
Is plotting vs. pantsing a helpful dichotomy?
Mentioned in the Episode:
The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
WWF S4E14 The best mindset shift for your writing
Hi! Hillary here with a new summer mini episode. We'll keep things casual and spend a few minutes chatting about a writing question that's been on my mind lately. And our question for today is:
How do I keep the beta reading process from becoming overwhelming?
Do you have your own beta reading tips? We'd love to hear from you. Our email address writingwithfriendspodcast@gmail.com.
And until our next chat, keep up the writing!
Mentioned in the Episode:
S1E9 Beta Readers and Zotero
S4E3 Fireside Chat: How should I use the revision spreadsheet?
S1E10 Tool Deep Dive: The Revision Spreadsheet
Hillary here. We’re on a summer break right now between seasons, but I’m still here some weekly mini-episodes. We'll keep things casual and spend a few minutes chatting about a writing question that's been on my mind lately. Hopefully I'll leave you with some takeaways for your own writing journey!
Our question for today is: Why should you consider writing a craft rather than just and art, and what benefits will you see from this way of framing your writing practice?
Mentioned in the Episode:
The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron
The York Minster’s Statue of Elizabeth II
Writing Excuses Podcast’s Close Reading Series
WWF S4E12 Hillary’s Ask Me Anything
Today, we’ll be talking to writer Jaimie Woo. She’s a Creative Producer, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Consultant, and Communications Expert. Tune in to hear about her career as well as her advice for aspiring writers. Mentioned in the Episode:Yes She Can: 10 Stories of Hope & Change from Young Female Staffers of the Obama White House
Jaimie's Website
Are You There, Universe (Jaimie's Podcast)
culture.house Media
Jaimie's Picks:
Underworld
Shogun
A Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
It’s time for an ASK ME ANYTHING! We’ll be chatting with Hillary, getting a little more personal about her own writing practice, and learning more about what she’s been thinking about and working on these days.
Picks of the Week:
H: “Of All Things” by Isabel Gallymore
BJ: On Having No Head by Douglas E. Harding
Mentioned in the Episode:
Jessica Brody (Save the Cat! Writes a Novel)
Lisa Cron (Story Genius and Wired for Story)
Elizabeth Gilbert (Big Magic)
Hillary Mantel (A Memoir of My Former Self: My Life in Writingand the Wolf Hall series)
Harlen Coben (thriller writer, series on BBC Maestro)
Cal Newport (Slow Productivity)
The TV show Travel Man with Richard Ayoade
If you have any other questions for either of us, let us know by writing to us at writingwithfriendspodcast@gmail.com. We’ll have some more Ask Me Anything episodes in future seasons of Writing with Friends!
Welcome to a tool deep dive episode, where we highlight the features and the challenges of a tool we think you’ll find helpful as a writer. And the tool we’ll be talking about today is movie trailers!
Picks of the Week:
BJ: Making Sense: Conversations on Consciousness, Morality, and the Future of Humanity by Sam Harris
H:Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson
Mentioned in the Episode:
WWF Season 2 Episode 4: Three-Act Structure
Email us your pick of the week at writingwithfriendspodcast@gmail.com. We would love to hear from you.
We’ll be talking about editing your own work. Okay, so you’ve written a first draft of your novel and you know things need to change. But how? And what? Our editing tips today can help!
Picks of the Week:
H: Happy Place by Emily Henry
BJ: “Twelfth Night: Or What You Will” by William Shakespeare
Mentioned in the Episode:
Order—Method: Trollope Learns to Write by Susan L. Humphreys
Mythbusters Video about polishing a turd
Season 4 MINI2: Why should I let my manuscript rest?
If you try out these editing tips, let us know which one was your favorite by writing to us at writingwithfriendspodcast@gmail.com.
We’ll be gathering around our metaphorical fireplace for a fireside chat– an honest conversation about how we’re applying a craft topic or tool to our own writing practices, and how you might incorporate this topic or tool into your writing life as well. The tool we’ll be talking about today is our favorite piece of writing software, Scrivener. We’ll focus on the pros and cons of the software.
Picks of the Week:
H:Cars and Trucks and Things That Go by Richard Scarry
BJ: Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarity
Mentioned in the Episode:
Organizing your manuscript in Scrivener’s Binder System
Scrivener’s Corkboard Feature
Scrivener’s Composition Mode
Adding notes in Scrivener
Organizing research in Scrivener
Split-screen mode in Scrivener
If you try out one of the options from this strategy menu in your own writing practice or if you have your own suggestions about how to best use Scrivener, let us know by writing to us at writingwithfriendspodcast@gmail.com!
Welcome to a tool deep dive episode, where we highlight the features and the challenges of a tool we think you’ll find helpful as a writer. And the tool we’ll be talking about today is body doubling! Do you find it hard to stay on task and focus when you’ve sat down for a writing session? Body doubling can help!
Picks of the Week:
H: Slow Productivity by Cal Newport
BJ: Existence by David Brin
Mentioned in the Episode:
“What is body doubling for ADHD?” in Medical News Today
London Writers’ Hour
Study with Merve
Study with Celine
If you try out body doubling, let us know how you liked it by writing to us at writingwithfriendspodcast@gmail.com.
We’ll be talking about why subplots are the secret ingredients to add depth and complexity to any story.
Picks of the Week:
H:Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
BJ: A Descent into the Maelström by Edgar Allen Poe
Mentioned in the Episode:
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling
If you’ve been developing subplots in your writing project, let us know all about them by writing to us at writingwithfriendspodcast@gmail.com.
It’s time for an Ask Me Anything! We’ll be chatting with BJ and getting a little more personal about his own writing practice and what BJ’s thinking about and working on these days!
Picks of the Week:
H: The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street by Helene Hanff
BJ: Qualityland by Marc-Uwe Kling
Mentioned in the Episode:
Mage Knight: The Board Game
The Mad Titan’s Shadow expansion for Marvel Champions
Unreliable Wizard Board Game
If you have any other questions for BJ, let us know by writing to us at writingwithfriendspodcast@gmail.com. And we’ll also do an Ask Me Anything episode for Hillary later this season, so send your questions our way for that one too!
Welcome to a tool deep dive episode, where we highlight the features and the challenges of a tool we think you’ll find helpful as a writer. And the tool we’ll be talking about today is scene cards. Do you ever sit down to write a scene and feel a bit at a loss of how to structure a scene? What should a scene actually include? What makes a scene work or not work? Scene cards can help!
Picks of the Week:
H: Crying in Hmart by Michelle Zauner
BJ: Love in Color: Mythical Tales from Around the World, Retold by Bolu Babalola
Mentioned in the Episode:
Story Genius by Lisa Cron (Lisa Cron is the creator of this tool!)
Blog post on Scene Cards from Life Gone Write by Jessica Grace Kelley
If you try out scene cards, let us know how you liked this tool by writing to us at writingwithfriendspodcast@gmail.com.
We’ll be talking about why you should use your good ideas now instead of saving them for later. We propose in this episode that good ideas are not a finite resource and there may never be a perfect time to explore them.
Picks of the Week:
BJ: The Maze Runner Files by James Dashner
H: The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
If you use your good ideas now instead of saving them for later, let us know about your favorite example by writing to us at writingwithfriendspodcast@gmail.com!
We’ll be gathering around our metaphorical fireplace for a fireside chat– an honest conversation about how we’re applying a craft topic or tool to our own writing practices, and how you might incorporate this topic or tool into your writing life as well. The tool we’ll be talking about today is the revision spreadsheet!
Picks of the Week:
H: The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell
BJ: Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert T Kiyosaki
Mentioned in the Episode:
Revision Spreadsheet Template
S1E10 Tool Deep Dive: The Revision Spreadsheet
S2E13 Navigating the Midpoint Beat
S3E5 The Stasis=Death Beat
If you try out one of the options from this strategy menu in your own writing practice, or if you have your own suggestions about what to include on a revision spreadsheet, let us know by writing to us at writingwithfriendspodcast@gmail.com!
Show Notes:
Welcome to a tool deep dive episode, where we highlight the features and the challenges of a tool we think you’ll find helpful as a writer. And the tool we’ll be talking about today is Goodreads!
Picks of the Week:
H: Acedia & Me by Kathleen Norris
BJ: Golden Son by Pierce Brown
Mentioned in the Episode:
The Goodreads Author Program
Ever find yourself in the middle of one writing project and itching to start another, then second guessing if that’s even a good idea? We’re tackling the pros and cons of this dilemma to help you figure out what the right strategy is for your writing life!
Picks of the Week
H: Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
BJ: The Puzzle Master by Danielle Trussoni
Mentioned in the Episode:
Brandon Sanderson on his workflow
Anthony Trollope writing routine
We're kicking off Season 4 with some mini-episodes. We'll keep things casual and spend a few minutes chatting about a writing topic that's been on my mind lately. Hopefully I'll leave you with some helpful takeaways for your own writing journey.
On this episode, we'll tackle why and when you should let your manuscript rest, and what you can do in the meantime!
We're kicking off Season 4 with some mini-episodes. We'll keep things casual and spend 3-5 minutes chatting about a writing topic that's been on my mind lately and hopefully I'll leave you with some helpful takeaways for your own writing journey.
On this episode, we'll tackle two questions: Why rewrite? And how much rewriting is too much?
Mentioned in the episode: Michaela Coel's profile by E. Alex Jung in Vulture
We're diving into the thrilling world of NaNoWriMo. But first, congratulations to everyone who completed NaNoWriMo for November 2023! That’s an amazing accomplishment and we want to go over ideas of what to do post NaNoWriMo.
P.S. This is our final episode of Season 3. We look forward to being back in your podcast feeds in 2024. Happy New Year!
Picks of the Week:
- BJ: The Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi
- H: The Likeness by Tana French
Mentioned in the Episode:
- NaNoWriMo Forums
- NaNoWriMo The "Now What?" Months
We'll be talking about writing routines! For many of us, the hardest part of writing is actually sitting down to write! So how can we ease the path into a fruitful and satisfying writing session? Routines can help!
Picks of the Week:
- BJ: The Forgetting Moon by Brian Lee Durfee
- H: I Love School by Philemon Sturges
Mentioned in the Episode:
- NaNoWriMo
- Wired for Story by Lisa Cron (scene matrix technique)
Show Notes:
Welcome to a tool deep dive episode, where we highlight the features and the challenges of a tool we think you’ll find helpful as a writer. And the tool we’ll be talking about today is focus timers– a way to easily silence those distractions to give yourself quiet time to focus on your writing!
Picks of the Week:
- BJ: Seveneves by Neal Stephenson
- H: Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
Mentioned in the Episode:
- Microsoft Focus Timer
- iPhone/Mac Focus Mode
- MacOS Clock App
- Flora Timer App
We’ll be talking about writing secondary characters, including some fundamentals of fiction writing to help with character planning and development.
Picks of the Week:
BJ: Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain
H:Four Lost Cities by Annalee Newitz
Mentioned in the Episode:
Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
Welcome to a tool deep dive episode, where we highlight the features and the challenges of a tool we think you’ll find helpful as a writer. The tool we’ll be talking about is incorporating music into your writing practice! Having trouble getting into flow during your writing sessions? Or maybe you're really struggling to nail down your character's emotional arc over the course of your novel. In either case, using music in your writing practice can help!
Picks of the Week:
BJ: The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness
H: Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman by Robert K. Massie
Mentioned in the Episode:
Iconic Soundtracks playlist on Spotify
Favorite composers: Hans Zimmer, John Williams, Rachel Portman, Thomas Newman
Favorite albums: Interstellar, Inception, 1917, A Little Chaos
Favorite Songs: Earth by Hans Zimmer, Tennessee by Hans Zimmer, Come Back to Us by Thomas Newman
Angsty Playlist Example: Maybe Break My Heart Again by FINNEAS and I Remember Everything by Zach Bryan and Kacey Musgraves
We’ll be talking about the “point of no return” at the beginning of your novel, also known as the “stasis=death” moment. Are you unsure of how to frame the stakes at the beginning of your novel? Do you have a sense of where you want your story to go, but you're not quite sure how to jumpstart your protagonist's motivation to get there? The framework of the stasis = death moment can help!
Picks of the Week:
BJ:The Maze Cutter by James Dashner
H: If I Had Your Face by Frances Cha
Mentioned in the Episode:
Season 2 Episode 13: The Midpoint Beat
Save the Cat! Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling
We're taking a tool deep dive by highlighting the features and the challenges of a tool we think you’ll find helpful as a writer. We’ll be talking about social media including Instagram and Twitter.
Picks of the Week:
BJ: The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb
H: A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
Mentioned in the Episode:
Common writing/literary hashtags include: #amwriting, #amquerying, and #bookstagram
We’ll be talking about how to incorporate feedback when editing. If you’re in the editing process with feedback from friends, editors, beta readers, or writing partners, keep listening for tips and guidance.
Picks of the Week:
BJ: Why Didn’t They Teach Me This In School? by Cary Siegel
H: Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Welcome to a tool deep dive episode, where we highlight the features and the challenges of a tool we think you’ll find helpful as a writer. The tool we’ll be talking about today is voice memos.
Picks of the Week:
BJ: Bloodmarked by Tracey Deonn
H: The Cloister Walk by Kathleen Norris
Mentioned in the Episode:
The index card method in Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott
Season 2 Episode 15: Boredom
Season 1 Episode 10: The Revision Spreadsheet
Do you wonder how other writers draw inspiration from images and objects to render their settings and characters more vivid on the page? An inspiration board might be just what you need!
Picks of the Week:
Story Genius by Lisa Cron
Legendborn by Tracy Deonn
Mentioned in the Episode:
"Abraham Verghese on the Whiteboard: Its Iterations and Complications" by Abraham Verghese
“Ruta Sepetys: Up Close and Personal” by Alegria Barclay
Today, we’ll be talking to TV writer Ritza Bloom, who’s written for ABC’s Grownish as well as Disney’s High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. Tune in to hear about what a TV writer’s room actually feels like, where Ritza draws her inspiration from, and some of her advice for aspiring writers.
We’re currently taking a bit of time off to enjoy the summer between our second and third seasons and to deepen our personal writing practices, but we’ll look forward to being back in your podcast feed soon with season three!
Welcome to a tool deep dive episode, where we highlight the features and the challenges of a tool we think you’ll find helpful as a writer. And the tool we’ll be talking about today is boredom. How is boredom a tool, you ask? Well, at the heart of boredom lies…our creativity!
Picks of the Week:
- The Chaos Machine by Max Fisher
- Scott Pilgrim’s Precious Little Life by Bryan Lee O’Malley
Mentioned in the Episode:
- Darwin's Thinking Path
- Manoush Zomorodi's TED Talk
Resources:
- Bored and Brilliant: How Spacing Out Can Unlock Your Most Productive and Creative Self by Manoush Zomorodi
- Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention--and How to Think Deeply Again by Johann Hari
- How to Do Nothing by Jenny O’Dell
- Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World by Cal Newport
- The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron
Today on Season 2 Episode 14, we’ll be talking about how to improve dialogue in our writing to make it both effective and nuanced.
Picks of the Week:
- Cuba: An American History by Ada Ferrer
- Mort by Terry Pratchett
Mentioned in the Episode:
- Writing With Friends Season 1 Episode 2: How Often to Use Adverbs and the Writing Sprint
We’ll be talking about the midpoint beat. So you’ve written the beginning of your story. You have an idea for a mind-blowing finale. But hmm… what’s supposed to happen in the middle again? Fear not! We’re here to help.
Picks of the Week
- Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain
- Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell
Mentioned in the Episode:
- Save the Cat! Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody
Today, we’ll be talking about reading widely across genres. If you’re writing regularly, how important is it that you find time to read, too? We’ll be uncovering why reading can be so helpful for writers, especially intentionally reading books outside of our comfort zones.
Picks of the Week:
- Momo by Michael Ende
- Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
We'll be talking about the artist date: a method for cultivating inspiration in your creative life. Do you sometimes sit down to write and find that your inspiration has mysteriously dried up? Taking yourself on an artist date could help!
Picks of the Week:
- BJ: The Magician King by Lev Grossman
- H: On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong
Mentioned in the Episode:
- Julia Cameron's Descriptions of Artist Dates
- NPR's Life Kit Podcast on How to Have Fun
Welcome to a tool deep dive episode, where we highlight the features and the challenges of a tool we think you’ll find helpful as a writer. And the tool we’ll be talking about today is online archives– and more specifically, how to use online archives to engage in high quality research for your current novel project!
Picks of the Week:
- How to Do Nothing by Jenny O’Dell
- Momo by Michael Ende
Mentioned in the Episode:
- JSTOR free articles
- EBSCO free databases
- British Museum free catalogues
We'll be talking about filtering words. Do you want to create scenes and descriptions that feel vivid to your reader? Removing filtering words can help.
Picks of the Week:
- Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevan
- The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon
We’ll be talking about conquering the middle build. Sometimes you have those high level ideas for your story, but can’t quite connect it all. Don’t worry, because today we’ll discuss how to keep things moving through the middle of your writing project.
Picks of the Week:
- BJ: The Puzzle Palace by James Bamford
- H: A World of Curiosities by Louise Penny
We'll be talking about using all five senses to describe and develop your characters. By using a 5 senses character development exercise, you can create a multi-dimensional, nuanced description of your characters’ physical traits in just a few minutes.
Picks of the Week:
- Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk (Author), Antonia Lloyd-Jones (Translator)
- I Am Number Four by James Frey/Pittacus Lore
Mentioned in the Episode:
- Happier Podcast Episode 387- Creating a Five-Senses Portrait
We’ll be talking about the 15-minute daily writing practice. This writing craft gives you a feeling of satisfaction, accomplishment, and progress while continuing to work on a larger task.
Picks of the Week:
- The High Druid’s Blade by Terry Brooks
- Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris
Mentioned in the Episode:
- Don’t Break the Chain app
Welcome to a tool deep dive episode, where we highlight the features and the challenges of a tool we think you’ll find helpful as a writer. And the tool we’ll be talking about today is notebooks! In contrast to our helpful episode on OneNote, a digital notebook, which you can hear more about in Season 1, Episode 8, today’s focus is on the physical notebook.
Picks of the Week:
- Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There by Lewis Carroll
- The Lost City of the Monkey God by Douglas Preston
Mentioned in the Episode:
- Elago black bound notebook with 6mm lines and 180 by 255mm pages
- LEUCHTTURM1917 - Medium A5 Dotted Notebook in Softcover
We’ll be talking about the three-act structure. This classic model for narrative fiction can help you break down your writing into more manageable pieces. It can also help you consider the pacing and progression of your story.
Picks of the Week:
- The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
- Cuba: An American History by Ada Ferrer
Mentioned in the Episode:
- Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting by Syd Field
We’ll be talking about the Strange vs. the Familiar, a helpful framework for thinking strategically about whether to take a more traditional or a more innovative approach to your draft.
Picks of the Week:
- Armada by Ernest Cline
- Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer
Mentioned in the Episode:
- Brandon Sanderson's Lecture on "Blending the Familiar & Strange"
- The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley
- Lady Night by Tamora Pierce
- Cinder by Marissa Meyer
- Knives Out directed by Rian Johnson
We’ll be talking about writing fan fiction. We want to discuss a fun creative writing avenue that might scare some due to copyright laws, but we think taking some of your favorite worlds and putting your own spin on it can be a truly rewarding pursuit.
Picks of the Week:
- Children of Dune by Frank Herbert
- Kiss Her Once for Me by Alison Cochrun
Mentioned in the Episode:
- Fanfiction.net
- Wattpad.com
We’ll be talking about genre grid breakdowns. Have you ever eeked out a first draft of a manuscript and felt like something was missing? If so, story grid genre breakdowns can really shed some light on how to approach your draft!
Picks of the Week:
- The Secret to Superhuman Strength by Alison Bechdel
- Afro Puffs Are the Antennae of the Universe by Zig Zag Claybourne
Mentioned in the Episode:
- The Story Grid: What Good Editors Know by Sean Coyne
- https://storygrid.com/action-genre/
- https://storygrid.com/genre-conventions/
We’ll be talking about flash fiction and doing a mini-writing workshop live as we read our own flash fiction to each other. Not sure if you’re ready to commit to a story idea? Looking to infuse your writing life with some inspiration in a low-key way? The short, get-in, get-out format of flash fiction might be perfect for you.
Picks of the Week:
What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions by Randall Munroe
The Road to Little Dribbling by Bill Bryson
We’ll be taking a tool deep dive. We’ll be highlighting the features and the challenges of a tool we think you’ll find helpful as a writer. And the tool we’ll be talking about today is the infamous revision spreadsheet!
Picks of the Week:
Seconds by Brian Lee O’Malley
Stolen Focus: Why You Can’t Pay Attention and How to Think Deeply Again by Johann Hari
Mentioned in the Episode:
Revision Spreadsheet Template
We’ll be talking about beta readers. After you’ve finished writing your latest pieces, you might want to consider sharing them with others to get vital feedback from a sample audience. And our tool tip of the week is Zotero. Stay tuned to hear about how painless constructing a research bibliography can actually be. For real. We promise it’s not that bad!
Picks of the Week:
A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
Dopamine Nation by Dr. Anna Lembke
Mentioned in the Episode:
Zotero
Mendeley
Papers
We’ll be talking about printed drafts. If you consider yourself a pen and paper person – or if you’re seeking a way to look at a picked-over draft with fresh eyes, this craft topic is for you. And our tool tip of the week is OneNote. Stay tuned to hear about this personal notebook in the cloud!
Picks of the Week:
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
Who? A Celebration of Babies by Robie H. Harris
Mention in the Episode:
OneNote
We’ll be talking about short stories as a means of plot and setting exploration. If you have a great idea for a novel but are feeling uncertain of where to dive in, this craft topic may be the perfect way to get started. And our tool tip of the week is writers’ association webinars. Stay tuned to hear about what perks writing associations offer and why joining a non-work-related Zoom might actually be an exciting opportunity. We promise.
Picks of the Week:
Survive the Night by Riley Sager
All We Can Save: Truth, Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis, edited by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and Katharine K Wilkinson
Mentioned in the Episode:
Women’s Fiction Writers Association
We’ll be talking about morning pages. If you’re feeling stuck in your current writing project or you think you might even be engaging in a bit of self-sabotage or procrastination in your writing life, this craft idea just might be for you! And our tool tip of the week is the Libby app. Stay tuned to hear about how Hillary and BJ access library books in the digital age.
Picks of the Week:
The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly
Woven in Moonlight by Isabel Ibañez
Mentioned in the Episode:
The Libby App
The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron
Welcome to a tool deep dive episode, where we highlight the features and the challenges of a tool we think you’ll find helpful as a writer. And the tool we’ll be talking about today is Scrivener, our favorite writing software!
Picks of the Week:
- Foundation and Empire by Isaac Asimov
- Alaska Sourdough by Ruth Allman
Mentioned in the Episode:
- Scrivener writing software
We’ll be talking about character spectrums. More specifically, we’ll be covering Brandon Sanderson’s sliding scales for writing a character: likability, proactivity, and competence. And our tool tip of the week is the Zettelkasten notetaking system. Stay tuned to hear about how a 20th century German sociologist inspired a modern-day open source note taking software.
Picks of the Week:
- Dune Messiah by Frank Herbert
- Things that Matter by Joshua Becker
- How to Take Smart Notes by Sonke Ahrens
Mentioned in the Episode:
- Brandon Sanderson BYU Lecture on Character
- Brandon Sanderson’s Writing Excuses Podcast
- Obsidian Open-Source Software
We’ll be discussing the muse– where our writing inspiration comes from and why the way we conceptualize inspiration can have an impact on our writing practice. And our tool tip of the week is grammar apps and extensions. Stay tuned to hear about how Grammarly and other grammar checking software can speed up your draft editing workflow.
Picks of the Week:
- Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
- Death in Holy Orders by P.D. James
Mentioned in the Episode:
- Elizabeth Gilbert's TedTalk
- Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
- Walking on Water by Madeleine L’Engle
- Grammarly Chrome Extension
We’ll be talking about how often we should use adverbs in our writing and addressing Steven King’s adverb advice in particular. And our tool tip of the week is setting up a distraction-free writing environment. Stay tuned to hear about how the humble tomato could help you power through a difficult round of revisions!
Picks of the Week:
- Foundation by Isaac Asimov
- Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder
Mentioned in the Episode:
- A Writer's Book of Days by Judy Reeves
Writing workshops are the best way we’ve found to breathe new life into stale drafts and get the encouragement and camaraderie you need to stay the course on the sometimes lonely path of consistent writing practice! And our tool tip of the week is text to speech tools. Stay tuned to hear about how you can let your web browser narrate your own novel right back to you!
Picks of the Week:
- Dune by Frank Herbert
- You'll Grow Out of It by Jessi Klein
Mentioned in the Episode:
- Natural Reader
Welcome to Writing with Friends! We’re writers and friends on a quest to improve our creative writing craft. And along the way, we’ll be sharing our best tips, insights, and the writing tools we love. From building an awesome character to deciding if writing software is worth the sticker price, we’ve got you covered. Tune in each week for a little friendship and shop talk on your writing journey. New episodes drop on Mondays!