Earlier this month, I spoke to writer Shaine Greenwood about his recently-published sci-fi anthology, The Aether, but we discussed a number of other topics, including beta readers, Patreon and self-promotion, social media, and whether writers should also be readers. About Shaine: Shaine Greenwood (he/him pronouns) is a Seattle-based writer who takes practice in the time-honored Pacific Northwest traditions of drinking coffee, hiking, and avoiding eye contact with strangers. He has recently...

I briefly discuss NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month, which begins November 1), then talk about my current work in progress. I also offer what I hope are some words of encouragement on whether or not you should stick with a piece of writing even if you don’t feel a deep connection with it. ********** Find out about NaNoWriMo (& sign up, if you’d like) here: https://nanowrimo.org ********** Email me: [email protected] Twitter: twitter.com/marisadee13 Instagram:...

Ekphrastic poetry includes vivid imagery about a work of art created by another artist. You may have read ekphrastic poems inspired by paintings or sculptures, but they can also be about music, dance, and other forms of art. I explain some reasons why ekphrastic poetry can be so appealing to readers and writers, and how these poems can get our creative juices flowing. ********************* Email me: [email protected] Twitter: twitter.com/marisadee13 Instagram:...

I discuss some of the reasons why H. H. Munro (Saki) is considered by many to be a master of both satire and the short story, as well as some of the characteristics of the Edwardian Era, which Munro knew so well and incorporated into his oeuvre. ***************************************************************************************** Email me: [email protected] Twitter: twitter.com/marisadee13 Instagram: www.instagram.com/marisadf13 Buy Me a Coffee:...

I recently spoke to Marijah V. about writing, music, traveling, and a number of other topics. I think writers and non-writers alike can take away a great deal from our discussion! Marijah’s bio (from Amazon): Marijah, author and musician, resides between San Diego, CA and Baltimore, MD. She has attained a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music Performance, a Master of Management Degree specializing in Human Resources Management, and is currently enrolled in a doctoral program in General Psychology....

I discuss some characteristics of the jisei, aka the Japanese death poem, and some reasons this form of poetry is so deeply ingrained in Japanese culture, and provide some insight into what this type of poetry can teach us about life. ***************************************************************************************** Email me: [email protected] Twitter: twitter.com/marisadee13 Instagram: www.instagram.com/marisadf13 Buy Me a Coffee: www.buymeacoffee.com/marisadf13 I'd really...

I recently had a great discussion with writer WB Welch about novellas, horror writing, poetry, and how writers can fit writing into a busy schedule and effectively use social media. ***** About WB Welch: While she's spent most of her professional career in marketing and customer communications, WB has had many hobbies over the years, including photography and natural skin care and holistic remedies. She studied and became certified in personal training and corrective exercise, and she’s...

This episode originally aired on September 06, 2020. I think this question is on a lot of writers’ minds, and it applies to many other areas of our lives. ************************************************************************************************************************************************ Email me: [email protected] Twitter: @marisadee13 Instagram: marisadf13 I'd also really appreciate it if you could rate and review this podcast on Apple Podcasts, as it'll help a lot...

This week, I’m revisiting an topic that I originally discussed in my August 16, 2020 episode. Choosing a title is difficult for many of us (myself included), but there are a number of ways we can make this process easier for ourselves.************************************************************************************************************************************************* Email me: [email protected] Twitter: @marisadee13 Instagram: marisadf13 Please subscribe wherever you...

I originally covered impostor syndrome in my August 2, 2020, episode, but since it’s something many of us (writers & non-writers alike) deal with, I thought it would be a good one to revisit.************************************************************Email: [email protected] Twitter: https://twitter.com/marisadee13 Instagram: www.instagram.com/marisadf13 Buy Me a Coffee: www.buymeacoffee.com/marisadf13 I'd also really appreciate it if you could take a moment to rate and review...

This episode originally aired on December 15, 2019. I feel I’ve come a long way as a podcaster since then, but my attitude toward self-promotion hasn’t changed. ***************************************************************************************** Email: [email protected] Twitter: https://twitter.com/marisadee13 Instagram: www.instagram.com/marisadf13 Buy Me a Coffee: www.buymeacoffee.com/marisadf13 I'd also really appreciate it if you could take a moment to rate and review...

In this week's episode, I provide an edited version of a Patreon-only episode that aired several months ago, on what I think it means for writers to be "good with words." Also, I signed up for Camp NaNoWriMo, and will be focusing on that during the month of July. If you'd also like to do Camp NaNoWriMo, you can learn more about it and sign up here: https://nanowrimo.org/what-is-camp-nanowrimo. ***************************************************************************************** Email:...

No matter what your book is about or how well-written it is, the blurb on the front cover or product page can make or break it. I discuss why blurbs are so important for writers, and (because writing good blurbs CAN be intimidating!) provide tips on writing them. ***************************************************************************************** Email: [email protected] Twitter: https://twitter.com/marisadee13 Instagram: www.instagram.com/marisadf13 Buy Me a Coffee:...

I discuss why writers use beta readers for their works-in-progress, and describe some things writers should look out for in searching for beta readers. ***************************************************************************************** Email: [email protected] Twitter: https://twitter.com/marisadee13 Instagram: www.instagram.com/marisadf13 Buy Me a Coffee: www.buymeacoffee.com/marisadf13 I'd also really appreciate it if you could take a moment to rate and review this...

Although they don't seem to get as much attention as novels and short stories, I believe novellas can stand on their own as great literary works. I discuss some unique characteristics of novellas and types of novellas, and explain some benefits of reading them...and crafting your own. ***************************************************************************************** Email: [email protected] Twitter: https://twitter.com/marisadee13 Instagram:...

Although proofreading and copy-editing are not the most glamorous aspects of writing, I believe it's crucial for writers (self-published or not) to be able to proofread and copy-edit their works. I explain why I feel this way, and provide some ways you can start to develop these skills. ***************************************************************************************** Email: [email protected] Twitter: https://twitter.com/marisadee13 Instagram:...

I recently spoke to Daniela Valenti about writing a series of paranormal romance novels and creating strong female protagonists, as well as doing publicity for her book, submitting to reviewers, how writers can utilize social media, and a number of other topics. ***************************************************************************************** About Daniela: Daniela Valenti is a Canadian psychiatrist with a penchant for the paranormal and a fascination with human nature's dark side....

You may think of songs when you hear the word "ballad"--and you would not be incorrect--but there's more to ballads than meets the ear. I explain the ballad form, and briefly describe the ballad's history and several categories of ballads. ***************************************************************************************** Email: [email protected] Twitter: https://twitter.com/marisadee13 Instagram: www.instagram.com/marisadf13 Buy Me a Coffee:...

This is an edited version of an episode I originally posted on Patreon in January 2021. In it, I explain why I think periodically offering your eBook for free is a good option for writers who are enrolled in Amazon KDP (or for those who may one day publish through KDP). *****************************************************************************************  Email: [email protected] Twitter: https://twitter.com/marisadee13 Instagram: www.instagram.com/marisadf13 Buy Me a Coffee:...

I discuss the structure of limericks, provide some examples, and explain why dismissing them as "amateurish" is a mistake. ***************************************************************************************** Email: [email protected] Twitter: https://twitter.com/marisadee13 Instagram: www.instagram.com/marisadf13 Buy Me a Coffee: www.buymeacoffee.com/marisadf13 I'd also really appreciate it if you could take a moment to rate and review this podcast on Apple Podcasts (or...

"The Lottery" is one of the best-known (and most shocking) short stories of the past century. I discuss some techniques Shirley Jackson used in crafting this groundbreakingly twisted work. **************************************************************************************** Email: [email protected] Twitter: https://twitter.com/marisadee13 Instagram: www.instagram.com/marisadf13 I'd also really appreciate it if you could take a moment to rate and review this podcast on...

I explain why I'm writing the current draft of my work in progress by hand, and discuss some additional benefits of writing the "old-fashioned" way. ********************************************************************************************************** I have a Patreon page now! www.patreon.com/marisadf Email: [email protected] Twitter: https://twitter.com/marisadee13 Instagram: www.instagram.com/marisadf13 I'd also really appreciate it if you could take a moment to rate...

I describe vignettes and some of their main characteristics, differentiate them from flashbacks and flash fiction, and explain why I believe they are so important. ********************************************************************************************************** I have a Patreon page now! www.patreon.com/marisadf Email: [email protected] Twitter: https://twitter.com/marisadee13 Instagram: www.instagram.com/marisadf13 I'd also really appreciate it if you could take a...

Camp NaNoWriMo is going on right now, and there's another one coming up in July. I discuss some ways it's different from NaNoWriMo in November, and explain why you and other writers you know may benefit from it. For more information on all things NaNoWriMo-related, check out this link: https://nanowrimo.org/what-is-camp-nanowrimo ********************************************************************************************************** I have a Patreon page now!...