We recently went live over on YouTube to talk all things ghost-story writing with Matty Dalrymple, from The Indy Author, and Daniel Willcocks, from Activated Authors. Here's the recording from the live. If you'd prefer to watch it, you can find a recording of the stream here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ax5GPypvkyo

It’s time for a very important announcement! Productivity for Writers: https://amzn.to/3Yie2zq * Writing Myths: https://amzn.to/3VXeSQG * How to Write Believable Characters: https://amzn.to/3VTr2df * Backstory course: www.writerscookbook.com/backstory Merch: www.writerscookbook.com/merch Chatter – Ethan Kross: https://amzn.to/3FrPxqX * Kristina’s author website: www.kristinaadamsauthor.com Kristina’s content marketing website: www.kristinaproffitt.com Kristina’s blog:...

As you’ve probably noticed, we’re trying to make things easier for ourselves by using a pre-recorded intro/outro. Turns out that recording that was easier said than done. Here’s what happened behind the scenes…

Basically a compilation of all the times we couldn't speak or got interrupted while recording season 6.

Gail Carriger has multiple NYT bestsellers and over a million books in print in dozens of different languages. She writes comedies of manners mixed with urban fantasy (and sexy queer joy as G. L. Carriger). She is best known for the Parasol Protectorate and Finishing School series. She was once an archaeologist and is fond of shoes, octopuses, and tea. In this episode, you'll learn: Why analytics for authors are so importantWhat you should be trackingWhere to get your data fromHow data helps...

It's easy to lose momentum as you write, spending all your energy on your beginning and fizzling out as you push yourself to finish your book. But your climax is one of the most important parts of your book. Here's how to make sure your ending is epic. In this episode, you'll learn: How a bad (or no) climax can make your readers feelWhy your book doesn't have to have lots of twists to have a great endingThe importance of triggering an emotional reaction in your readers

This week on The Writer's Mindset we share tips on how you can create a large, diverse cast of characters your readers will love just as much as you do. In this episode, you'll learn: Why it's important to have a diverse castWays to bring your characters to life

Visit www.writerscookbook.com/backstory today to grab your spot

Clarissa has always lived more in the world of daydream and fiction than in reality. In her writing she explores purpose and belonging across worlds. Having never found an actual portal to faeryland, she creates her own fantastical worlds where dragons, fae and other magical creatures rule. She now lives in the Netherlands with her family, where she writes as much as they will let her. When not reading or writing, she drinks too much tea and has a burgeoning obsession with Bundt...

Part two of our interview with Gail! Gail Carriger has multiple NYT bestsellers and over a million books in print in dozens of different languages. She writes comedies of manners mixed with urban fantasy (and sexy queer joy as G. L. Carriger). She is best known for the Parasol Protectorate and Finishing School series. She was once an archaeologist and is fond of shoes, octopuses, and tea. In this episode, you'll learn: Why analytics for authors are so importantWhat you should be trackingWhere...

Part 2 coming next week! Part one of our interview with Gail if you'd prefer to listen to it in two chunks :) Gail Carriger has multiple NYT bestsellers and over a million books in print in dozens of different languages. She writes comedies of manners mixed with urban fantasy (and sexy queer joy as G. L. Carriger). She is best known for the Parasol Protectorate and Finishing School series. She was once an archaeologist and is fond of shoes, octopuses, and tea. In this episode, you'll...

Shane Millar is a Fictionary Certified Story Coach and the author of the Write Better Fiction craft guides. He is also the author of the Myth & Magic urban fantasy thriller series (writing as S. W. Millar). Shane holds a BA in journalism and is a member of The Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi). He lives in Buckinghamshire, England. He has taken too many writing courses to count and enjoys reading as much as possible. Shane is obsessed with five things: the writing craft, mythology,...

Clare grew up in Somerset but has lived most of her adult life in Nottingham, with brief sojourns in four other UK cities. She began her career as a journalist with the Nottingham Post group before working as a press officer and communications manager in the Government Communications Network. She began writing her first novel, Blue Tide Rising, while studying for an MA in Creative Writing at Nottingham Trent University. Blue Tide Rising was published in 2019 by independent publisher Inspired...

J. W. Judge is a lawyer by day and a novelist in the early morning hours before the sun wakes all the other creatures. His writing is fueled by vivid dreams and an overactive imagination. He is the author of the dark fantasy trilogy The Zauberi Chronicles and has most recently written a book for writers, Write Your Novel One Day at a Time: How to Write a Novel While Having a Career, a Family, and a Life.

Becca Syme is a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach and holds a Master’s degree in Transformational Leadership. She is the host of the Quitcast for Writers and the teacher of the popular Write Better-Faster class. Becca has coached 5700+ authors using success alignment and predictive reasoning to help authors write and market better-faster. She lives in the mountains of Montana where it is always winter and never Christmas. In this episode, you'll learn: What author burnout looks likeWhy so many...

Matty Dalrymple podcasts, writes, speaks, and consults on the writing craft and the publishing voyage as The Indy Author. She is the host of THE INDY AUTHOR PODCAST and the author of THE INDY AUTHOR’S GUIDE TO PODCASTING FOR AUTHORS. She is also the co-author, along with Mark Leslie Lefebvre, of TAKING THE SHORT TACK: CREATING INCOME AND CONNECTING WITH READERS USING SHORT FICTION. ​Matty is also the author of the Lizzy Ballard Thrillers, beginning with ROCK PAPER SCISSORS; the Ann Kinnear...

Lauren is a fantasy author of character-driven stories and epic adventure. Her books usually contain dragons, bucket-loads of magic, and are typically fun and hopeful. She lives in a tiny village in the English countryside, has a degree in Psychology, and was a professional copywriter before going full-time as an author—swapping corporate copy for magic and dragons! In this episode, you'll learn: How in-person events can benefit writersThe different ways to monetise your booksHow to build a...

Jeff Elkins writes stories about outsiders who fight for outcasts, rejects, and the oppressed. He is the author of more than ten novels, a Certified Three Story Method Editor, and the host of the Dialogue Doctor podcast. During the day, he leads the writing team for a training company that simulates difficult conversations. He lives north of Baltimore, Maryland with his wife of twenty-years and his five kids. In this episode, you'll learn: The benefits of writing a dialogue-centric first...

In our first episode of season six, we bring back past guests Elizabeth Spann Craig, Alexa Whitewolf, Matty Dalrymple, and Daniel Willcocks to ask them what they wish they'd known before they published their first book.

To tide you over during the summer, we've put together compilations of some of the best bits from previous interviews. This week, we share our guests' top tips on characters and theme.

To tide you over during the summer, we've put together compilations of some of the best bits from previous interviews. This week, we share our guests' top tips on dealing with overwhelm.

To tide you over during the summer, we've put together compilations of some of the best bits from previous interviews. This week, we share our guests' top tips on plotting.

More furry interrupts and times we just couldn't brain.

While it may sound counterproductive, rest is an important part of being a productive writer. It can help us to concentrate and feel calmer. It can even help us to problem solve! In this episode, you'll learn: What rest ACTUALLY is (and why most people get it wrong)How just a little bit of rest can help you get more doneWhy rest is so important to our wellbeingDifferent things you can try as a form of rest