Your Mom Writes Books: Recent Episodes
Charlie N Holmberg and Caitlyn McFarland
A conversational writing podcast where two authors discuss writing/publishing and frequently go off-topic.
In today's episode, we discuss (AKA Charlie talks at Caitlyn) newsletters, ARC teams and street teams. A little bit of marketing 101 for trad and indie authors alike.
This may or may not have been recorded in March. Whoops.
If you would like to donate to Your Mom Writes Books, please go to charlienholmberg.com/podcast (or check out the link in our Instagram bio @yourmomwritesbooks).
Was this recorded two months ago? Yes. Listen, life happens. ;)
Today Caitlyn and Charlie discuss reusing elements in a series, such as the same climax, same villains, and same premises between books. As a side note, Charlie doesn't understand ASMR videos.
CHECK OUT CAITLYN'S NEW BOOK HERE. It's finally BIRTHED! (And spicy, be warned.) You can also scope out Charlie's nonfiction on writing magic systems here, and the fourth book of the Whimbrel House series (much less spicy than Caitlyn's, but there is some skinny-dipping) here.
If you would like to donate to Your Mom Writes Books, please go to charlienholmberg.com/podcast (or check out the link in our Instagram bio @yourmomwritesbooks).
Why is it that the most popular, well-loved books are also the most hated? Today Caitlyn and Charlie dig into why people criticize "bad" books and why we love them so much.
If you would like to donate to Your Mom Writes Books, please go to charlienholmberg.com/podcast (or check out the link in our Instagram bio @yourmomwritesbooks).
WE ARE BACK! Not weekly, but we're making an effort. So where have we been and what have we learned? Tune in to find out!
Charlie's 25th novel it out today! WIZARD OF MOST WICKED WAYS (Whimbrel House book #4): https://www.amazon.com/Wizard-Most-Wicked-Whimbrel-House-ebook/dp/B0D3S73Z8Q
(Also Charlie did not edit this podcast. Andy the podcast gremlin did.)
If you would like to donate to Your Mom Writes Books, please go to charlienholmberg.com/podcast (or check out the link in our Instagram bio @yourmomwritesbooks).
We're back for a quick hit commenting on the Penguin Random House trial! If you want more information, please click the links below!
Novel Marketing Podcast's "Publishing Secrets Revealed at the Penguin Random House Trial:" https://open.spotify.com/episode/77hqgO67OUCpoDBg2cKBCe?si=9ZQ5bNRrT8ONReG_aZAEVA
Jane Friedman's "The Hot Sheet:" https://hotsheetpub.com/
If you would like to donate to Your Mom Writes Books, please go to charlienholmberg.com/podcast (or check out the link in our Instagram bio @yourmomwritesbooks).
SEASON FINALE! Charlie and a very raspy Caitlyn talk about querying first books in a series that can't stand alone, the submission process, theme, and Thomas Astruc's recent series of tweets on fan criticism.
Thomas Astruc's Twitter thread: https://twitter.com/Thomas_Astruc/status/1672144706992586753
If you would like to donate to Your Mom Writes Books, please go to charlienholmberg.com/podcast (or check out the link in our Instagram bio @yourmomwritesbooks).
While Charlie frolics through England, author James L. Sutter (Co-creator of Pathfinder) hops on the podcast to talk about his new novel, DARK HEARTS. On the way, he and Caitlyn talk about queer identity, querying (no pun intended), adequacy, and more.
Secret: James wrote the podcast jingle for Brian McClellan's Page Break ;)
If you would like to donate to Your Mom Writes Books, please go to charlienholmberg.com/podcast (or check out the link in our Instagram bio @yourmomwritesbooks).
She's actually on vacation. Er, one of them is, but she took the podcast gremlin with her, so while no one is available to edit the podcast, Caitlyn will still be slaving away at her day job and recording next week's episode. Because she loves you the most.
Today's away notice brought to you by the gremlin, who was let out of her cage for a whole three minutes to record it.
If you would like to donate to Your Mom Writes Books, please go to charlienholmberg.com/podcast (or check out the link in our Instagram bio @yourmomwritesbooks).
TENSION.
Today Caitlyn and Charlie talk tension. How to build it, how to release it, how to layer it, and so on.
Your Mom Writes Books will be on vacation Tuesday, 6/20, but we'll return with a new episode the following week!
If you would like to donate to Your Mom Writes Books, please go to charlienholmberg.com/podcast (or check out the link in our Instagram bio @yourmomwritesbooks).
Burn out. It happens to the best of us. So what do we do when we run out of wick?
If you would like to donate to Your Mom Writes Books, please go to charlienholmberg.com/podcast (or check out the link in our Instagram bio @yourmomwritesbooks).
Today we share the major edits Spellbreaker (Charlie) and Soul of Smoke (Caitlyn) underwent after being accepted to publication, so be warned, there are spoilers! But before that, we talk about ghostwriters vs AI and whether or not an author is their work.
If you would like to donate to Your Mom Writes Books, please go to charlienholmberg.com/podcast (or check out the link in our Instagram bio @yourmomwritesbooks).
The release of Sudowrite has Caitlyn and Charlie discusses the future of computers and story.
Links to tweets/sites referenced in this episode:
https://twitter.com/dzweifler/status/1659219748486361089?s=20&fbclid=IwAR2TfuuwkQNSmsGIbU85kZAMPdSY0rTKwth6nXNaqk1UMyBMZXWq1MsqQPE
https://twitter.com/jamesjyu/status/1658933765824192512?t=ahvHbBqoJvq-evzy3xuVqw&s=19
https://www.wired.com/story/fanfiction-omegaverse-sex-trope-artificial-intelligence-knotting/
https://gizmodo.com/sudowrite-launch-novel-writing-ai-software-story-engine-1850450016
https://www.copyright.gov/ai/
https://mashable.com/article/us-copyright-law-ai-generated-content
https://www.reuters.com/technology/chatgpt-launches-boom-ai-written-e-books-amazon-2023-02-21/
If you would like to donate to Your Mom Writes Books, please go to charlienholmberg.com/podcast (or check out the link in our Instagram bio @yourmomwritesbooks).
What should you do when running into creepy people as an author? Should you use a pseudonym? When do you report unusual behavior at a convention? How do you keep the post office from selling your information? Today Charlie is solo (and apparently paranoid) and talks about protecting oneself as a public figure.
If you would like to donate to Your Mom Writes Books, please go to charlienholmberg.com/podcast (or check out the link in our Instagram bio @yourmomwritesbooks).
How do you know which ideas to keep in a book, and which ideas to discard? Today Charlie and Caitlyn discuss reversals, outlining scenes, and perfectionism, all while Charlie struggles to understand the robotic filter on Caitlyn's voice that only she can hear.
Also, it's release day! Caitlyn's novel, SOUL OF SMOKE, is out in the wild! Support her and the podcast by giving it a gander and telling your friends <3 https://amzn.to/3ppoKr2
If you would like to donate to Your Mom Writes Books, please go to charlienholmberg.com/podcast (or check out the link in our Instagram bio @yourmomwritesbooks).
So we've talked magic. We've talked hard magic, and we've talked soft magic. But how do you choose which one to put in your book? Thus proceeds this week's episode.
(And we're so proud of Caitlyn for doing a newsletter, which you can find at the bottom of her home page! https://witchoftheweald.com/)
If you would like to donate to Your Mom Writes Books, please go to charlienholmberg.com/podcast (or check out the link in our Instagram bio @yourmomwritesbooks).
Today Caitlyn and Charlie review the recent author income survey run by ALLi (the Alliance of Independent Authors), which claims that indie authors' income is not only rising year after year, but is surpassing their traditionally published colleagues.
You can read the survey here: https://selfpublishingadvice.org/incomesurvey/
If you would like to donate to Your Mom Writes Books, please go to charlienholmberg.com/podcast (or check out the link in our Instagram bio @yourmomwritesbooks).
Releasing a book? Want to get it in front of faces without breaking the bank? Today Charlie and Caitlyn chat methods to use to publicize yourself, from social media to tours to newspapers.
If you would like to donate to Your Mom Writes Books, please go to charlienholmberg.com/podcast (or check out the link in our Instagram bio @yourmomwritesbooks).
We watched the new Dungeons & Dragons movie! And we have thoughts!
(Charlie also got a natural 1 on rolling for initiative for the end-of-episode pun.)
Heir of Uncertain Magic is out today!
Amazon: amzn.to/3rhXic4
B&N: bit.ly/3Kv9IXo
If you would like to donate to Your Mom Writes Books, please go to charlienholmberg.com/podcast (or check out the link in our Instagram bio @yourmomwritesbooks).
While Charlie is off not seeing whales, Caitlyn unravels the wonders of folklore with Kristy S. Gilbert, former editorial manager at Pegasus (Charlie's company) and present editorial director at Dragonsteel (Brandon Sanderson's company). What IS folklore? It's more than just fairytales. Join Caitlyn and Kristy as they talk story, culture, motifs, and more.
Also it's Charlie's birthday.
If you would like to donate to Your Mom Writes Books, please go to charlienholmberg.com/podcast (or check out the link in our Instagram bio @yourmomwritesbooks).
Caitlyn and Charlie discuss the often easily fixable things that make then DNF* books. Because let's face it, if they talked about all the things they loved, it would be far less entertaining.
There is no promise that Caitlyn and Charlie don't also write sucky books.
*Did Not Finish
If you would like to donate to Your Mom Writes Books, please go to charlienholmberg.com/podcast (or check out the link in our Instagram bio @yourmomwritesbooks).
This week Charlie and Caitlyn discuss how to write stories that don't involve saving the world, while touching on how to escalate personal stakes to add oomph to any tale.
If you would like to donate to Your Mom Writes Books, please go to charlienholmberg.com/podcast (or check out the link in our Instagram bio @yourmomwritesbooks).
How do you choose the best protagonist for your next project? Charlie and Caitlyn talk about choosing the right personality for a story and differentiating characters from book to book.
If you would like to donate to Your Mom Writes Books, please go to charlienholmberg.com/podcast (or check out the link in our Instagram bio @yourmomwritesbooks).
Your book is drafted. Done. Great. Now what? Caitlyn and Charlie discuss options for diving into your first round of revisions. One of them doesn't use spellcheck.
Added bonus: a rant about movie sequels.
If you would like to donate to Your Mom Writes Books, please go to charlienholmberg.com/podcast (or check out the link in our Instagram bio @yourmomwritesbooks).
All books need research, but where does one start? Join Charlie and Caitlyn as they talk primary vs secondary resources, juvenile nonfiction, and ChatGPT.
Link to the colonial occupations website: https://homepages.rootsweb.com/~sam/occupation.html#S
If you would like to donate to Your Mom Writes Books, please go to charlienholmberg.com/podcast (or check out the link in our Instagram bio @yourmomwritesbooks).
Almost a part 2 to the "The Female Gaze and Fantasy" episode, Charlie and Caitlyn dive into the erasure of female characters over the age of 30 in [predominantly fantasy] fiction, age gaps, and female authors being relegated to the YA book category.
If you would like to donate to Your Mom Writes Books, please go to charlienholmberg.com/podcast (or check out the link in our Instagram bio @yourmomwritesbooks).
Today Caitlyn and Charlie talk all things horror with someone who has much more experience in the genre than they do. What exactly IS horror, and how does one go about crafting a horror novel? Tune in to find out!
If you would like to donate to Your Mom Writes Books, please go to charlienholmberg.com/podcast (or check out the link in our Instagram bio @yourmomwritesbooks).
Welcome to season 4! Today Charlie and Caitlyn plot a book using prompts from YOU. The dice choose the plot twists, and we have to make it work. Who are our heroes? Will they achieve HEROIC THINGS? Tune in to find out.
Many thanks to those who have helped cushion our editing costs! If you would like to donate to Your Mom Writes Books, please go to charlienholmberg.com/podcast (or check out the link in our Instagram bio @yourmomwritesbooks).
If you would like to donate to Your Mom Writes Books, please go to charlienholmberg.com/podcast (or check out the link in our Instagram bio @yourmomwritesbooks).
Season 3 finale! Today we’re doing our Ask Me Anything, with questions from you! Among today’s topics are the cover-art process, whatever happened with the book Charlie and Caitlyn cowrote, why word count does (or doesn’t) matter, and aggressive T poses.
Season 4 will air in two weeks! Thank you to everyone who has donated, shared, and reviewed our podcast. This wouldn’t be possible without you!
If you would like to donate to Your Mom Writes Books, you can do so at charlienholmberg.com/podcast
If you would like to donate to Your Mom Writes Books, please go to charlienholmberg.com/podcast (or check out the link in our Instagram bio @yourmomwritesbooks).
Conventions and conferences are great way to netwwork and hone your writing skills! What the difference between them? What should you bring? How do you handle agent and editor pitches? HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU SHOWER?? Tune in to find out!
Love our podcast? Please leave a review or donate toward our editing costs at charlienholmberg.com/podcast <3
Because Charlie didn't clarify: SFWA is the Science-fiction and Fantasy Writers of America
Because Charlie can't remember anything to save her life: She attended WriteOnCon in 2019 XD
If you would like to donate to Your Mom Writes Books, please go to charlienholmberg.com/podcast (or check out the link in our Instagram bio @yourmomwritesbooks).
Happy New Year! Today Charlie and Caitlyn make assumptions about the publishing industry, where it's heading, and how it may (or may not) change.
Love our podcast? Please leave a review or donate to our editing costs at charlienholmberg.com/podcast <3
EXTRA GOSSIP: After we recorded this, Brandon Sanderson posted a blog talking about Audible and how it treats authors. Recommended read! https://www.brandonsanderson.com/state-of-the-sanderson-2022/
If you would like to donate to Your Mom Writes Books, please go to charlienholmberg.com/podcast (or check out the link in our Instagram bio @yourmomwritesbooks).
How do we write a beginning? Where should the book start? Caitlyn and Charlie discuss beginnings after a long tangent on the British royal family (which ends at time marker 16:33 if you want to skip ahead) that we do bring back around to the point, eventually ;)
If you would like to donate to Your Mom Writes Books, please go to charlienholmberg.com/podcast (or check out the link in our Instagram bio @yourmomwritesbooks).
What is "sandbox" worldbuilding, why is it captivating, and how do we create one? Charlie and Caitlyn dive into sandbox worldbuilding and the massive fandoms it seems to create.
Love listening to Your Mom Writes Books? Consider donating to our cause! charlienholmberg.com/podcast
If you would like to donate to Your Mom Writes Books, please go to charlienholmberg.com/podcast (or check out the link in our Instagram bio @yourmomwritesbooks).
Not sure what to get the writer in your life? Caitlyn and Charlie go over a list of possibilities, from grandiose to humble.
If you would like to donate to Your Mom Writes Books, please go to charlienholmberg.com/podcast (or check out the link in our Instagram bio @yourmomwritesbooks).
Caitlyn and Charlie share their thoughts on Lindsay Lohan's new "Hallmark"-style Christmas movie.
If you would like to donate to Your Mom Writes Books, please go to charlienholmberg.com/podcast (or check out the link in our Instagram bio @yourmomwritesbooks).
A rant on a web comic leads us to ask, what do creators owe their fans, if anything? What if money is involved? Join Caitlyn and Charlie as they discuss both sides of the equation.
Authorship . . . the good, the bad, and the ugly. In truth, most things can fall into the good and the bad. Today Caitlyn and Charlie talk candidly about the realities of living off one's writing.
We mention Caitlyn's friend Raylene, who also has a podcast! Check out her Still Sleeping podcast (episodes may contain adult themes).
Now that Charlie has returned from the desert, we have part TWO of our likeable characters episode! We discuss secrets, wounds, and how to get the reader rooting for an "unlikeable" character.
While Charlie is off in Moab, Caitlyn meets with two Dungeons & Dragons game masters to discuss elements of story within the game that can be applied to writing.
Today is the first day of NaNoWriMo!
Likeable characters part 1! We talk about what makes a character likeable, how to balance positive traits with negative traits, and using emotion to sympathize with POV characters.
Learn how Charlie and Caitlyn plot novels backwards, weaving the threads for a successful ending all the way through to the beginning of a story. They'll also talk about what sorts of stories this technique works better for.
Gearing up for NaNoWriMo? Use code YMWB20 at BrightBirdPress.com to save 20% on your next order of $20 or more on planners, journals, notepads, sticky notes, and more.
This month (October 2022), Charlie's newest novel, KEEPER OF ENCHANTED ROOMS, is free for Prime members on Amazon First Reads. Check it out here: amzn.to/3ws6iyQ
Are you ready for NaNoWriMo, National Novel Writing Month? This week Caitlyn and Charlie share tips for hitting your NaNoWriMo goals, including how to mete out your time, what to prepare beforehand, and how to pump out them words!
Today Charlie and Caitlyn discuss bestseller lists, Brandon Sanderson's kickstarter, the publishing merger, and the state of young adult publishing.
Gearing up for NaNoWriMo? Use code YMWB20 at BrightBirdPress.com to save 20% on your next order of $20 or more on planners, journals, note pads, sticky notes, and more.
This month (October 2022), Charlie's newest novel, KEEPER OF ENCHANTED ROOMS, is free for Prime members on Amazon First Reads. Check it out here: amzn.to/3ws6iyQ
What is story math? It's the "equation" used in plotting that lets savvy readers determine what's going to happen in a story. Today, CAITLYN and Charlie talk story math and how to still surprise the reader despite it.
Charlie chats with fantasy author and marketing guru Kristin J. Dawson about marketing, especially in the realm of social media. Learn the top four marketing tools for your book, which platforms you should be on, and more.
Charlie forces a mysterious male guest to join her as she discusses front and back matter: a la prefaces, forwards, dedications, acknowledgements, and so on.
Charlie mourns Caitlyn's lack of internet by sharing anonymous horror stories about critique partners, writing groups, and beta readers. She also shares advice for critiquing, offers default compliments to give someone when you hate their work, and a presents few horror stories of her own.
Caitlyn decided to uproot her family and move to Missouri, so today Charlie is solo and sharing her query letters/pitches from her past published novels. Entertainment factor not guaranteed.
This newfangled installment descants exaggerated composition! Or, in layman’s terms, Charlie and Caitlyn discuss “purple prose,” or the overwriting of description and overuse of the thesaurus.
This week Caitlyn and Charlie discuss the work that goes into achieving one's publishing dreams, as well as the toxic positivity that can leak into it.
Your Mom Writes Books is back and saltier than ever! Charlie and Caitlyn start off season three by hot-taking terrible hot-takes we hear about in the writing world, and Caitlyn tells us how she really feels.
In this last episode of season 2, Charlie and Caitlyn talk about why they think so many adult women still read YA and what kinds of stories they would like to have spotlighted more in Adult Fantasy.
In this holiday episode, Caitlyn and Charlie discuss cheesy Christmas romances and plot one of their own. They then lost the last part of Charlie's audio and had to re-record the ending. Happy Holidays, everyone!
Charlie and Caitlyn answer a few more questions, including how they include foreshadowing, where they get their ideas for content, and how to differentiate being inspired by something from copying it.
Charlie and Caitlyn talk about the amazing new Netflix series Arcane: League of Legends. This episode contains full-on SPOILERS, so if you haven't watched the show, do so before listening!
If you've watched the show and want to skip our not-great attempt at a recap (though there is a bit of analysis as we summarize), go to 18:20.
This week, due to technical difficulties and busy schedules, Caitlyn regrets to inform you that we don't have a full episode. However, she does go over a few of the tips and tricks she and Charlie talked about in the episode we tried to record, including consistency, being brave, and character-focused writing.
Charlie and Caitlyn talk about finding inspiration for your writing from sources outside the book world. In this episode, they talk about what book writers can learn from games and how games have inspired their projects in the past.
In honor of those approaching the middle of NaNoWriMo, Charlie and Caitlyn discuss strategies to keep the middle of your story nice and tight!
In this episode, Caitlyn and Charlie read and critique two first chapters submitted by listeners! The entries are "Much Ado About Marriage" and "Sea Dragons."
In this episode, Charlie and Caitlyn discuss the nuance in writing advice we've commonly seen declared good or bad. Including write what sells, show don't tell, how to handle revise & resubmits from agents, self publish if you can't trad publish, and write every day (among others).
Charlie and Caitlyn talk about writing large casts of characters, including team balance, inter-character dynamics, and what an ensemble cast can bring to your story.
In this episode, Caitlyn and Charlie talk about world building with depth and touch on how to create a world that feels lived-in.
Charlie and Caitlyn (mostly Charlie, thanks to Caitlyn's bronchitis) pick Mikki's brain again about horses and things writers should know! Topics include jumping on horses, training for combat, donkeys & mules, stables & stabling horses, horses on slopes, and a very cool book about killer horses.
Charlie and Caitlyn discuss how to create magic systems for your fantasy world and implement them effectively in your writing, ranging from an in-depth look at the magic system in Mistborn to a Star Wars debate.
Charlie and Caitlyn talk about side characters, what purposes they can serve within the story, and some of the best ones they've encountered.
Charlie and Caitlyn reread their debut novels and discuss what made them cringe, what they liked, and what they've learned.
In this episode, Charlie and Caitlyn talk about how to more effectively write emotion into your stories, as well as deal with Caitlyn's emotions over the chaos that is the drop off line on the first day of school.
Charlie and Caitlyn talk about how to amp up your sexual tension and better ways to write kissing scenes.
Charlie and Caitlyn head down a rabbit hole of books they've loved and books that have shaped them.
We made a list, but it's too long for the episode description. Find it here.
Charlie and Caitlyn get into the nitty-gritty of actually writing a book. In addition to the classic "butt in chair, hands on keyboard," we discuss the realities of balancing writing with other things in your life, as well as concrete strategies for hitting higher word counts in less time.
To skip (most of) Charlie's shouting: 4:51
To skip work/life balance and go straight to drafting: 29:22
Charlie and Caitlyn talk to teens (and anyone else who needs some encouragement). We discuss about publishing young, our own high school experiences, and remind you that not everyone's opinion should matter.
Charlie and Caitlyn talk about character creation! We cover everything from foundation to background to quirks, all while overcoming Caitlyn's clear lack of sleep the night before recording.
Links:
DM Binder's Character flaws: https://www.gmbinder.com/share/-L4DhWR5zMZdK5kQpMqX
Charlie and Caitlyn share their weaknesses, read comments on old manuscripts, and delve into why they suck at certain things.
Charlie and Caitlyn name as many of "the rules" of writing as fast as they can and pass judgment on whether or not they're worth following. Listen and enter our second "sorry we're on vacation" giveaway until July 13, 2021!
Promised link:
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2010/feb/20/ten-rules-for-writing-fiction-part-one
Let us know what you think by leaving a review!
Apple users: https://apple.co/3yl3rpN
Android users: https://bit.ly/3h5OaTP
In our first mid-season mini-episode, Charlie and Caitlyn give you three quick and dirty tips for cleaner prose AND do a pretty cool giveaway. Winner to be chosen July 6, 2021!
Link to the ancient blog post full of gifs: https://chmcfarland.wordpress.com/2014/05/06/four-quick-and-dirty-rules-for-cleaner-prose/
Let us know what you think by leaving a review!
Apple users: https://apple.co/3yl3rpN
Android users: https://bit.ly/3h5OaTP
Charlie and Caitlyn talk to their much-name-dropped friend/amazing equestrian/podcast gremlin mascot Mikki about horses, riding, and what writers get wrong.
Find Mikki on Instagram @mikkihelmer (for horse/book things) or @nightcraftco (for amazing pottery).
And here are SO MANY RESOURCES! Thank you, Mikki!
The Writers Guide to Riding: http://www.lrgaf.org/guide/writers-guide.htm
Equestrian Specific Terminology; Signal You've Done Your Research: https://www.thesprucepets.com/phrases-youll-hear-during-a-riding-lesson-1887294
Horse Tack Glossary: https://www.farmhousetack.com/blogs/barn-blog/glossary-of-horse-riding-terms-for-beginners
Differences in Styles: http://dankoboldt.com/horse-terms-tack-riding/
For Writing Western Styles: https://www.cowboyshowcase.com/saddles-and-gear.html#.YNCyby1h1pQ
Beginner (greenhorn) Riding Education (this is the most comprehensive Free resource for riding and caring for a horse for people who know nothing): https://horserookie.com/how-to-ride-a-horse-for-beginners/
Horse Bible: https://www.amazon.com/Original-Horse-Bible-Definitive-Source/dp/1933958758/ref=pd_lpo_14_t_0/140-2012253-6969014?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=1933958758&pd_rd_r=6b6511d3-72f6-46a9-b745-ec18eac9e9f9&pd_rd_w=cNig7&pd_rd_wg=GR0Tj&pf_rd_p=fb1e266d-b690-4b4f-b71c-bd35e5395976&pf_rd_r=44HGKJHE9VCKE34TPV8J&psc=1&refRID=44HGKJHE9VCKE34TPV8J
Horse Behavior and Psychology (has a podcast!): https://horses.extension.org/basics-of-equine-behavior/
Horse Coat Colors: https://www.equinespot.com/horse-colors.html
The Long List of Horse Breeds: http://www.theequinest.com/breeds/
The Short List of Horse Breeds (aka most popular): https://equinehelper.com/horse-breeds-in-the-us/
The 4mph Walk Horse Travel Speeds: https://equestrianbootsandbridles.com/how-far-can-you-travel-by-horseback-in-a-day-things-you-need-to-know/
The Long Rider Video (interview with a woman who rode horse 2,000 miles across U.S. and Australia): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsuDNpjTpKY
A Long Trail Ride Across Ireland Vlog Ep. 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmiAtV2grC8
Charlie and Caitlyn tell you how to take all those ideas you've been brainstorming and turn them into an actual book.
Charlie and Caitlyn talk about how we learned the craft of writing and discuss where and how you can learn, ranging from an MFA to things you find for free on the internet.
Charlie and Caitlyn get annoyed at a children's movie but try to do it in a constructive manner.
Charlie and Caitlyn tackle more of your questions! In this episode we discuss titles, writing POV, strong prose, and discuss the idea of "strong" female characters.
Charlie and Caitlyn talk about where they get their story ideas and how you can generate your own!
On listener request, Charlie and Caitlyn talk about the things that make them HATE (or love) a book.
Books we love:
Burning Glass by Kathryn Purdie
Radiance by Grace Draven
Soulless by Gail Carriger
The Merciful Crow by Margaret Owen
The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski
Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier
Anything by Amy Harmon
Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson
Moon Called by Patricia Briggs
Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews
The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan
A Darker Shade of Magic by V. E. Schwab
The Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller
A Power Arcane by Caitlyn McFarland
Soul of Smoke by Caitlyn McFarland
When a Scot Ties the Knot by Tessa Dare
Lord of Secrets by Breanna Teintze
The Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia Wrede
Vita Nostra by Marina and Sergey Dyachenko
Charlie and Caitlyn hang out with the often-name dropped Tricia Levenseller, whose newest book, BLADE OF SECRETS, releases today (May 4th, 2021)! Listen as Tricia gives us all her secrets for her superpower: writing villainous characters.
Charlie and Caitlyn discuss tips and tricks for brainstorming and then workshop some ideas to show how they go about it.
In this episode, Charlie and Caitlyn discuss how to write the most delicious romantic and sexual tension.
Books we mention in this episode:
•𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵'𝘴 𝘉𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥 by Juliet Marillier
•𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘍𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳 by Sariah Wilson
•𝘍𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘍𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘵 by Charlie N. Holmberg
•𝘚𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘔𝘦 by Tahereh Mafi
•𝘉𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘔𝘦 𝘊𝘳𝘢𝘻𝘺 by Karla Sorenson
•An Ember in the Ashes Series by Sabaa Tahir
•𝘗𝘰𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘯'𝘴 𝘒𝘪𝘴𝘴 by Breanna Shields
•𝘛𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘧𝘵𝘩 𝘕𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 by William Shakespeare
•𝘙𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘑𝘶𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘵 by William Shakespeare
•𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘚𝘰𝘯𝘨 by A. G. Howard
•𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘵 by Amy Harmon
•𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘛𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘒𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘥𝘰𝘮𝘴 by N.K. Jemisin
•𝘏𝘢𝘷𝘰𝘤 by Jamie Shaw
•Knitting in the City series by Penny Reid
•𝘉𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘙𝘰𝘴𝘦 by Nora Roberts
•Spellbreaker Series by Charlie N. Holmberg
“What are we talking about today?” Caitlyn asked.
“Your mom.” Charlie whipped out a nail file and started on her manicure.
Caitlyn swatted it away. “Pay attention!”
Rolling her eyes, Charlie said, “Let’s just talk about this.”
“About what?”
“About talking.”
And so they did.
Charlie and Caitlyn talk about standalones vs. series: the difference between writing them, how to plot them, and what to do if your publisher wants you to fit your story into more or fewer books.
Charlie and Caitlyn discuss querying! Hear a detailed overview of the entire querying process, learn how to write and format a query, and listen to us read the actual query letters that got us an agent.
Links to a few of the resources we discuss:
Facebook post with queries
Query Tracker
Nathan Bransford's blog post about formatting queries
Manuscript Wishlist site
Manuscript Wishlist podcast (The Manuscript Academy)
Charlie and Caitlyn answer more of your questions about writers on social media, working with publishers, and the writing process.
Charlie and Caitlyn explore the idea of creative sparks. Big ones, small ones, what they do for our writing, and what they did when theirs burned out.
Charlie and Caitlyn discuss how they write immersive settings! Learn how you can use setting to develop character, suck your readers into the action, and enhance your story's emotion.
Also, we’re on Facebook and Instagram now!
Facebook page: Your Mom Writes Books
Instagram: @yourmomwritesbooks
Charlie and Caitlyn talk about the interconnectedness of plot and character arc and how you can use them together to create more organic, emotional, satisfying stories.
Charlie and Caitlyn talk character names! How we come up with them, places you can find them, and ways to make them fit in your world.
Caitlyn and Charlie talk about critique partners: what they are, where to find them, and how they should behave.
Caitlyn and Charlie talk about how authors get paid and how you can make money as a fiction writer.
Welcome to Your Mom Writes Books! This is a conversational writing podcast where authors Charlie N. Holmberg and Caitlyn McFarland hang out and talk about writing, publishing, and storytelling. In this first episode, hear what it took for them to go from novice writers to published authors (and in Charlie's case, Wallstreet Journal bestseller).
Charlie and Caitlyn talk about the process of writing a book and how different that process can look from author to author.