The Groovy Writer: Recent Episodes
Nicole McInnes
Find your writing groove regardless of your circumstances. Hosted by author and MFA faculty, Nicole McInnes
https://youtu.be/5bbnwsWptEoEp. 34: No writer enjoys being in the clutches of the little green monster known as creative jealousy. Unfortunately, feeling envious of other writers’ successes is a reality for many of us at one time or another. Join me as I share some of my own struggles with this beastie over the years and what I’ve learned from observing and examining this uncomfortable emotion in myself and others.
The Groovy Writer Podcast: Find Your Writing Groove Regardless of Your Circumstances. Hosted by author and MFA faculty Nicole McInnes Available on all major podcast platforms.
Nicole’s Books: https://www.amazon.com/Books-Nicole-McInnes/s? rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3ANicole+McInnes
Website: www.nicolemcinnes.com Insta: @TheGroovyWriter
Twitter/X: @NicoleMcAuthor
Join me as I discuss the dangers of pinning your self-worth as a writer on whether or not your work is published and how you can have a happy, healthy relationship with your writing through all of the ups and downs seeking traditional publication entails.
Whether you're interested in traditional or indie publishing, knowing how to build pauses into the writing process from start to finish can make all the difference in the world when it comes to the quality of the finished product. In this episode, Nicole discusses the typical "pause points" for writers in all categories and genres. Write on!
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In this episode, we'll explore what are known in psychology circles as the Big 5 personality traits (openness, conscientiousness, extroversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism). We'll look at these specifically through the lens of being a writer and how your position on the "sliding scale" of each trait can either benefit or harm your writing groove. The good news? You have the ability to bring them all into better balance.
From leveling up in your skills to switching up your writing routine, here's a list of 10 things writers should think about about trying in order to "improve the groove." I've tried all of these myself over the years, so I can attest to how beneficial they can be. Some have even become permanently incorporated into my writing life. Happy listening!
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As a traditionally published novelist since 2013, I'd never given serious thought to indie publishing. Then 2020 happened, and I took another look at a publishing option that has evolved by leaps and bounds in the past decade. Taking a deep dive into research set me on the path to becoming the hybrid author I am today. Join me as I discuss some of the pros and cons of indie publishing and why it might warrant another look even from writers who are convinced that traditional publishing is the only legitimate way to go.
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Writers, do you “self-squash” due to the fear of being cancelled? Have you ever wondered how many stories are not being told by gifted writers who fear being accused of writing “outside their lanes?” As a reader, an author, and a teacher who works regularly with exceptionally talented writers, I see self-censorship happening more and more due to the fear of cancellation. I believe it's as a serious problem for writers from all backgrounds and literature of all types. Listen in to find out why.
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Whether you’re a creative writing workshop veteran, critique hesitant, or simply wondering how to maximize an upcoming workshop experience to improve your writing, you're sure to find this episode enlightening. Write on!
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Departing from my fairly frequent discussions of traditional publishing, I wanted to start a conversation about a strong alternative to the traditional route for writers. Indie publishing is in a golden age right now, and while this path has its pros and cons (just like traditional publishing), I've been spending time lately discovering just what makes it so appealing for writers. I hope you'll listen in!
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This is part 2 of the exploration of traditional publishing I began in Ep. 18, Part 1. Enjoy!
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Why do writers want to traditionally publish? How do writers get their work traditionally published? Is a literary agent required? Join me as I attempt to encapsulate the massive subject of traditional publishing in a single podcast episode. (Spoiler alert: I fail. This episode grew too large and had to be split. Part 2 coming soon!)
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Have you always wanted to be a writer, but other things have gotten in the way? Are you finally at a place in your life where you're ready to give yourself permission to write, but you fear you may be too old? Listen in to Episode 17, in which I'll discuss some common characteristics of writers who feel like they're arriving "too late to the game," and why this isn't the case at all.
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Have you been wanting to make a major change in your writing life but you’re hesitant to do it? Maybe you’ve wanted to try writing in a different genre or to pursue a different type of publishing than you’re used to pursuing, but something is stopping you from taking action. If so, you’ll want to listen to today’s show where I discuss the Creative Pivot and why it can be an important, and sometimes necessary, way to reinvigorate your writing groove.
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Have you finally finished that novel, or collection of short stories, or memoir you've been working on for ages? Do you want to get it into the hands of readers but have no idea how to get it published? Tune in to Episode 15 where we'll discuss the major paths to publication and some of the major pros and cons of each. Write on!
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Where do you write, and how does location affect your writing? Listen in to Episode 14 for some rambly thoughts about writing spaces and places, recorded from a distinctly non-rambly vintage travel trailer.
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I’m not a superstitious person in general, but there’s something about the number 13 that always makes me think about luck. Also, St. Patrick’s Day was just last week. I attempted to create a literary four-leaf clover, which was fun, and it also got me thinking about luck. Now that The Groovy Writer Podcast officially has a baker’s dozen number of episodes, and to offer a counterbalance to the number 13, I’ve decided to incorporate the number 7 into today’s discussion—specifically 7 things that, in my opinion and experience, make writers lucky.
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Are you the family, friend, fan, or spouse of a writer? Listen in to Episode 12 as we'll discuss why writers sometimes struggle with letting their needs be known and how you can support them in a variety of ways. Spoiler alert: I don't actually talk about food in this episode. Maybe that's a subject for a future discussion, but if we think of food as nurturing, then the title definitely fits. Write on!
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Finishing the draft of a novel-length writing project is a huge accomplishment. Before sending that manuscript to your agent, or to editors, though, or even if you plan on self-publishing, it's important to revise and edit it to within an inch of its life. Join me in this episode as I'll discuss some of the major hallmarks of revision and editing, including which comes first, and why.
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As many writers of a certain age know, if you persist and stick with writing for long enough, it’s very likely that your writing habits, routines, and general writing groove will change at some point, maybe even at many points, due to life circumstances. Knowing how to roll with the punches and deal with the curve balls life can throw at us can mean the difference between sticking with writing for the long term or abandoning it somewhere along the way in frustration and discouragement. When we understand that our writing routines, and even our writing goals, will likely morph at different points along the journey, we can navigate those changes in a more graceful, open-minded way. Join me in Episode 10 as we'll explore some common writing grooves experienced by scribes the world over.
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Writing the first draft of a novel can feel like sailing on the open sea with no land in sight—not the land you left, and certainly not the land you’re heading toward. Add to that the fact that you’re all alone with a sometimes-unwieldy beast of a story you’ve created (and are thus 100% responsible for), and things can get dicey. Join me in Episode 9 as we’ll discuss how to overcome discouragement while drafting and the importance of powering through.
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The ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus said, “The only constant in life is change.” As we know, some periods of change are more intense than others, but for writers, all periods of major transition (whether we consider them to be good or bad) tend to have a few things in common: They challenge our commitment to our writing lives, they give us the opportunity to use our experiences in our writing, and they provide opportunities to refine our writing groove. Join me in Episode 8 as we’ll discuss how we can write through change while maybe even growing our souls in the process.
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How do we start to put a structure to the "first sparks" of inspiration we’ve gathered (and possibly outlined) during the prewriting stage? Join me in Episode 7 as I discuss some different techniques for transitioning into the exciting part of the novel-writing process during which a first draft starts to take shape. This episode also celebrates a first for The Groovy Writer--a segment I'm calling "The Daily Groove."
For many novelists, the prewriting phase is a land of seemingly endless, dreamy opportunity where we get to meet potential characters, to think about who they are and how they would react to a variety of situations. Meanwhile, the plot of the story we want to tell is often starting to take shape, as are the big questions such as “What’s at stake for these characters?” and “What obstacles will they need to overcome between the first page and the last?” In Episode 6, we'll discuss the first sparks of inspiration that so often accompany this imagination-fueled stage of writing a novel.
As a writer, where do you reside on the "skin thickness spectrum?" Do you dread having your work critiqued? Or do you use feedback as an opportunity to learn and thrive--even when that feedback ends in a rejection from an agent, editor, etc? In this episode, we'll explore some of the ways writers of all experience levels can learn to develop more resilience while empowering themselves to level up in response to feedback--both positive and negative.
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When rejection rears its ugly head and writers fall off the horse (metaphorically speaking, of course) it can interfere with—or even obliterate—our ability to find a productive and enjoyable writing groove. Listen in to Episode 4 where you’ll hear Nicole’s story about an actual horse-related spill along with some questions we writers can ask ourselves in order to get up, dust off our backsides, and start rejecting rejection’s ugly grip.
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Have you ever had your writing rejected by an agent, an editor, a contest panel, etc? If so, did you feel the specific kind of shame that so often accompanies such a rejection? As writers, we might not even be aware of how shame can cause serious problems when it comes to finding our writing groove. Even if we are aware of it, we might not want to talk about it. Unfortunately, not talking about it tends to perpetuate that shame. And if it continues long enough, it can be paralyzing to the point where we stop writing altogether. If you’ve ever dealt with rejection or shame where your writing is concerned, you’ll want to listen to this episode. It's not all doom and gloom--I promise!
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Do you find yourself struggling to keep writing in the face of all the stuff "real" life tends to throw at you? This episode explores how writers can manage the responsibilities and energy sinkholes that can leave us creatively drained.
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I'm psyched (and a little terrified, to be honest) to publish this first episode of The Groovy Writer Podcast.
I've been wanting to start a writing podcast for-EVAH, but other stuff kept getting bumped to the top of the priority list. Plus, the podcasting learning curve is seriously steep! I'm still climbing it as I create these first episodes, but I hold onto hope that it will all come more naturally as I continue to dive in.
Regardless, I'm having a blast, and I'd love to hear from my fellow groovy writers. What writing subjects would you like to hear about? Let me know! You can also find the podcast on Instagram @thegroovywriter.
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