Best Birtles Podcasts (2024)

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75 - Book marketing with Erica Birtles 56:40

2h ago56:40

56:40

Today, Emily & Rachel talk about book marketing with guest Erica Birtles. What you’ll learn from this episode: The right time to start marketing your book What it means to bring value to your reader How to foster connection and engagement Specific marketing practices for selling your book CHECK OUT THE BOOK TRIBE: https://thebooktribe.co.uk/ Ready …

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74 - Reviews and your ideal reader 26:30

23h ago26:30

26:30

Today, Emily & Rachel talk about getting reader reviews! What you’ll learn from this episode: Mindset around getting reviews Reviews are for readers (not for us) Knowing your ideal reader Relying on your community Ready to make readers so in love with your characters they can’t stop biting their nails in anticipation? Grab The Magic of Character Ar…

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73 - Beta reading 52:12

8d ago52:12

52:12

Today, Emily & Rachel talk about beta reading! What you’ll learn from this episode: What is beta reading? When is the right time to search for beta reading? What kind of questions to ask What to do once you get feedback returned Ready to make readers so in love with your characters they can’t stop biting their nails in anticipation? Grab The Magic …

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72 - Sweet and clean romance with Victorine Lieske 39:12

15d ago39:12

39:12

Today, Emily & Rachel talk about sweet and clean romance with Victorine Lieske. What you’ll learn from this episode: What sweet and clean romance are How to build tension and conflict The spectrum of intimacy Marketing to readers VICTORINE's WEBSITE: https://victorinelieske.com/ VICTORINE'S NON-FICTION BOOKS: https://victorinelieske.com/books-for-w…

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71 - Publishing's changing landscape with Nicole Meier 52:50

22d ago52:50

52:50

Today, Emily & Rachel talk about the changing landscape of the publishing industry with guest Nicole Meier. What you’ll learn from this episode: the publishing paths writers have today how publishing has shifted over time what to consider when choosing a publishing path Nicole's website: https://www.nicolemeier.com/ Nicole's programs: https://www.n…

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Series 2 - Episode 1: Mark Leishman, Executive Director of the Royal Warrant Holders Association talks about his proximity to power and what he’s learnt on the way. 35:24

1M ago35:24

35:24

What is it to be a convener of people? Where do leaders find meaning in it all? Is there still room to talk about the place of character? Mark Leishman worked in the private office of the then Prince of Wales, now King Charles. His grandfather was Lord Reith, founder of the British Broadcasting Corporation. Today, Mark is executive director of the …

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70 - Character arcs across a series with Jennifer Armentrout 49:44

29d ago49:44

49:44

Today, Emily & Rachel talk about developing arcs across a series with very special guest Jennifer Armentrout. What you’ll learn from this episode: Planning flaws and change across multiple books Meeting reader expectations Developing characters through exploration Building romance and intimacy across multiple books Read BORN OF BLOOD AND ASH, out n…

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69 - Dog Training with Eric Goebelbecker 51:53

1M ago51:53

51:53

Today, Emily & Rachel talk about not fiddling around with writing and getting to work with guest Eric Goebelbecker. What you’ll learn from this episode: The reasons we procrastinate How imposter syndrome and mental hurdles play into procrastination The parallels between dog training and writing How to get yourself past procrastinating and back to w…

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68 - Lean into messy humanity 12:04

1M ago12:04

12:04

Today, Emily & Rachel talk about leaning into messy humanity. What you’ll learn from this episode: What to do when you ask "is this too much?" Not shying away from important messages Leaning into the pieces of story that are complex and messy Ready to make readers so in love with your characters they can’t stop biting their nails in anticipation? G…

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67 - All is Lost vs Dark Night of the Soul beats 23:07

2M ago23:07

23:07

Today, Emily & Rachel talk about the All is Lost vs Dark Night of the Soul story structure beats. What you’ll learn from this episode: What role these two beats play in story structure The difference between these two beats (and why they exist) How to execute them on the page SHAPE OF ARCS class recording: https://goldenmayediting.com/arcs-recordin…

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66 - Writing is not always fun 30:22

2M ago30:22

30:22

Today, Emily & Rachel talk about how writing is not always fun. What you’ll learn from this episode: The different phases of writing How we naturally gravitate to different parts of the process How to take care of yourself in the different phases Developing self-trust and self-belief Ready to make readers so in love with your characters they can’t …

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65 - Spicy and erotic romance with Jordyn Kross 1:00:58

2M ago1:00:58

1:00:58

Today, Rachel talks about spicy and erotic romance with guest Jordyn Kross. What you’ll learn from this episode: What erotic romance actually is How to ensure your spicy/intimate scenes always have a purpose Tips and tricks for writing intimate scenes Jordyn's website: https://jordynkross.com/ Naughty Words for Nice Writers by Cara Bristol: https:/…

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64 - Making intentional writing choices with Kat Caldwell 56:03

3M ago56:03

56:03

Today, Emily & Rachel talk about making writing choices with guest Kat Caldwell. What you’ll learn from this episode: A little bit about what coaching is like Why making intentional writing choices is so important The mindset of writing book after book Kat's website: https://katcaldwell.com Follow Kat on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_…

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63 - Convincing antagonists 42:03

3M ago42:03

42:03

Today, Emily & Rachel talk about antagonists! What you’ll learn from this episode: What an antagonist actually is How to write believable antagonists How antagonists are successful in their story purpose Ready to make readers so in love with your characters they can’t stop biting their nails in anticipation? Grab The Magic of Character Arcs free em…

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62 - Shedding the shame of talking about your book with CC Tyler 37:33

3M ago37:33

37:33

Today, Emily & Rachel talk about shedding the shame of talking about your book with guest CC Tyler. What you’ll learn from this episode: why you feel so anxious/nervous/weird about talking about your book how to recognize the shame holding you back how to accept your identity as a writer how to take small actions to build confidence and let go of t…

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61 - Rejection mindset with Kayla Stansbury 38:18

4M ago38:18

38:18

Today, Emily & Rachel talk about querying and rejection with guest Kayla Stansbury. What you’ll learn from this episode: what the querying process is really like how to manage rejection how to strengthen mindset Ready to make readers so in love with your characters they can’t stop biting their nails in anticipation? Grab The Magic of Character Arcs…

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60 - Author Interview with Emilia Emerson 35:45

4M ago35:45

35:45

Today, Emily & Rachel talk about indie publishing and the author journey with Emilia Emerson. What you’ll learn from this episode: what it's like to be an indie author the chaos writing process writing characters with mental health issues EMILIA's WEBSITE: https://www.emiliaemerson.com/ Pre-order His Tesoro now: https://a.co/d/inaF4wj Ready to make…

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59 - Being afraid to do it wrong 34:49

4M ago34:49

34:49

Today, Emily & Rachel talk about answering a listener question about perfectionism and the idea of doing it wrong. What you’ll learn from this episode: developing confidence for finishing an entire book how to learn with all the overwhelming resources out here managing the stress of perfectionism Ready to make readers so in love with your character…

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58 - Return from hiatus 28:51

4M ago28:51

28:51

Today, Emily & Rachel talk about returning from an unplanned hiatus. Ready to make readers so in love with your characters they can’t stop biting their nails in anticipation? Grab The Magic of Character Arcs free email course: http://www.goldenmayediting.com/arcsmagic Join Tenacious Writing! With the perfect combo of craft, mindset, and community r…

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57 - Choosing scene POV 25:37

6M ago25:37

25:37

Today, Emily & Rachel talk about choosing scene POV. What you’ll learn from this episode: 4 questions to determine the most impactful POV sometimes you just need to choose! weaving character into scene structure Ready to make readers so in love with your characters they can’t stop biting their nails in anticipation? Grab The Magic of Character Arcs…

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56 - Listen up, procrastinators 33:30

6M ago33:30

33:30

Today, Emily & Rachel talk about procrastination! What you’ll learn from this episode: Procrastination and perfectionism are two sides of the same coin The fear at the heart of procrastination Examining and bringing awareness to the block The role of rest FOR THE PROCRASTINATOR by Amie McNee: https://www.amiemcnee.com/non-fiction/p/stzcg9ak09l5jtdr…

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55 - The versatility of the writing process 26:10

7M ago26:10

26:10

Today, Emily & Rachel talk about the versatility of the writing process. What you’ll learn from this episode: Is it useful to define ourselves by plotter versus pantser The theory of craft versus the application of craft “Thinking things up” versus “Getting things down” How process changes season to season, book to book THE ARTIST'S WAY by Julia Ca…

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54 - Author interview with Brit KS 47:46

7M ago47:46

47:46

Today, Emily & Rachel talk with author Brit KS. What you’ll learn from this episode: Brit KS's process of developing her world and characters How book 2 is different than book 1 All the support that makes the writing journey possible Buy RAISE HELL by Brit KS: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CKTYK2V5?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_R2VA0B9XDX024RG1VYTT Brit KS w…

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53 - Exploring perfectionism with Jocelyn Lindsay 45:17

7M ago45:17

45:17

Today, Emily & Rachel talk about how fear is at the heart of perfectionism with guest Jocelyn Lindsay. What you’ll learn from this episode: what might really be causing your writers block how perfectionism comes back to fear mindset shifts to navigate around perfectionism learning how to be brave when it feels unsafe Jocelyn's website: https://www.…

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52 - The "standard of excellence" rant 28:12

7M ago28:12

28:12

Today, Emily & Rachel talk about a little rant about the self-publishing vs traditional publishing debate. What you’ll learn from this episode: how deciding what publishing path is a business decision busting some common myths about self-publishing it's okay to own your dream Ready to make readers so in love with your characters they can’t stop bit…

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51 - Are character thoughts show or tell? 26:16

7M ago26:16

26:16

Today, Emily & Rachel talk about character thoughts, and whether they're show or tell. What you’ll learn from this episode: What internal processing (or interiority) actually is How to use internal processing on the page The balance between showing thoughts and telling them Tips to incorporate in your pages SHOW, DON'T TELL DEMYSTIFIED WORKSHOP: ht…

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50 - Use character movement to "show" 23:35

8M ago23:35

23:35

Today, Emily & Rachel talk about using character movement to "show" on the page. What you’ll learn from this episode: Showing character movement without going overboard Incorporating meaning into movement Questions to dive deeper into movement + meaning Tips to incorporate in your pages SHOW, DON'T TELL DEMYSTIFIED WORKSHOP: https://www.tenaciouswr…

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49 - The 3 layers of show, don't tell 36:22

8M ago36:22

36:22

Today, Emily & Rachel talk about the three layers of "show!" What you’ll learn from this episode: Showing the action in a scene Showing what things mean to characters Showing emotions without stating them How to dive into each of the three layers and incorporate them in your prose SHOW, DON'T TELL DEMYSTIFIED WORKSHOP: https://www.tenaciouswriting.…

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48 - Emily & Rachel updates 47:34

8M ago47:34

47:34

Today, Emily & Rachel talk about updates from our personal lives and the Golden May business! Subscribe to our email list: https://goldenmayediting.com/subscribe Check out our 1:1 coaching program: https://goldenmayediting.com/storymagic/ Ready to make readers so in love with your characters they can’t stop biting their nails in anticipation? Grab …

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47 - A little rant about "should" 23:20

8M ago23:20

23:20

Today, Emily & Rachel talk about how we hate the word "should!" What you’ll learn from this episode: How to reframe the 'shoulds' Bringing awareness to your thoughts Changing the obligation/guilt/shame mindset Podcast mentioned: Good Inside with Dr. Becky episode How to Keep House while Drowning with KC Davis Ready to make readers so in love with y…

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46 - Set goals free from shame 30:37

9M ago30:37

30:37

Today, Emily & Rachel talk about setting goals without shame. What you’ll learn from this episode: How to determine whether your goals are from self-love or self-shame Shift your mindset away from "not enough-ness" Develop goals from self-love Pair your mindset with your goal-setting Ready to make readers so in love with your characters they can’t …

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45 - LGBTQ+ representation with Sam Cameron 1:02:28

9M ago1:02:28

1:02:28

Today, Emily & Rachel talk about LGBTQ+ representation with guest host Sam Cameron. What you’ll learn from this episode: The balance between "getting it right" and perfectionism Actionable steps you can take to include more diverse characters Whether or not to stay in your lane Determining whether your manuscript is LGBTQ+ inclusive Resources menti…

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44 - The art of self-editing with Tiffany Grimes 56:27

10M ago56:27

56:27

Today, Emily & Rachel talk about the art of self-editing with guest host Tiffany Grimes. What you’ll learn from this episode: What is self-editing? Common missteps authors make during this process Strategies and techniques to make editing less overwhelming How to ensure the heart of your story remains strong throughout editing Check out Tiffany's c…

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43 - Static / flat arcs with Lewis Jorstad 46:02

10M ago46:02

46:02

Today, Lewis & Rachel talk about static and/or flat arcs. What you’ll learn from this episode: What static and flat arcs are What static/flat arcs actually do and why they're important How to create static arcs that work + tons of examples! Mastering Character Arcs by Lewis Jorstad Lewis' Website: https://thenovelsmithy.com/ Ready to make readers s…

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The possibilities of a pivot with Alex Pott - The Potential for What? Podcast 23:31

10M ago23:31

23:31

Welcome to The Potential For What? Podcast, where we explore the concept of potential and its importance in today's workforce. This week our host Jo Taylor speaks with Alex Pott, a former colleague of Jo's who is now Head of Commercial Management at Vodafone. Alex emphasises the importance of coaching, her love of the squiggly career and well as th…

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42 - NaNoWriMo behind the scenes with Lewis Jorstad 58:19

10M ago58:19

58:19

Today, Lewis & Rachel talk about NaNoWriMo behind the scenes. What you’ll learn from this episode: NaNo check in Different experiences doing this challenge Revisiting your mindset, your self-belief, and your values GET YOUR TICKET TO OUR WORKSHOP: https://thenovelsmithy.com/renew-reflect/ Ready to reframe your writing? Join us on December 3rd (upda…

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The problems with confusing the terms potential and success with Alex Birtles - The Potential for What? Podcast 27:43

10M ago27:43

27:43

Welcome to The Potential For What? Podcast, where we explore the concept of potential and its importance in today's workforce. This week our host Jo Taylor speaks to CEO and co-founder of tech-for-good startup In Good Company Alex Birtles. In Good Company, is on mission to make it quick and easy for conscious consumers to find the best ethical, for…

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41 - Create consistency without burnout with Lewis Jorstad 48:36

11M ago48:36

48:36

Today, Lewis & Rachel talk about creating consistency in our routines. What you’ll learn from this episode: The difference between consistency and sustainability Creating harmony between your brain and your body Addressing the root cause of your inner critic Beginning to shift mindset GET YOUR TICKET TO OUR WORKSHOP: https://thenovelsmithy.com/rene…

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40 - Stakes and why they're important 26:07

11M ago26:07

26:07

Today, Emily & Rachel talk about stakes and why they're important. What you’ll learn from this episode: what stakes really are stakes vs goals vs motivations external and internal stakes how to develop them Ready to make readers so in love with your characters they can’t stop biting their nails in anticipation? Grab The Magic of Character Arcs free…

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Self awareness and success with Fay Wallis - The Potential for What? Podcast 30:11

11M ago30:11

30:11

Welcome to The Potential For What? Podcast, where we explore the concept of potential and its importance in today's workforce. This week our host Jo Taylor speaks with Fay Wallis, career and executive coach and founder of Bright Sky Career Coaching. Fay emphasises that unlocking potential is all about self awareness, and finding what what you enjoy…

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39 - Creating strong and purposeful secondary characters 43:55

11M ago43:55

43:55

Today, Emily & Rachel talk about secondary characters. What you’ll learn from this episode: What's a secondary character? The purposes of secondary characters Tips and tricks for building super strong secondary characters Other links mentioned in the episode: Emotional Conflict Square: https://www.sophiepembroke.com/3-ways-a-conflict-square-can-fix…

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38 - Low stakes stories 22:24

11M ago22:24

22:24

Today, Emily & Rachel talk about low stakes stories. What you’ll learn from this episode: What is a low stakes story? Why low stakes stories are growing as a new genre Story point messages and low stakes stories How to make a low stakes story work for you Ready to make readers so in love with your characters they can’t stop biting their nails in an…

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37 - How to come up with ideas you actually like 26:52

11M ago26:52

26:52

Today, Emily & Rachel talk about how to come up with ideas you actually like. What you’ll learn from this episode: Reaching the root cause of why you don't like that idea Understanding your inner critic voices Ways to manage perfectionism and fear of rejection How to move forward Ready to make readers so in love with your characters they can’t stop…

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36 - Tips to trick your inner perfectionist 21:57

12M ago21:57

21:57

Today, Emily & Rachel talk about tips to trick your inner perfectionist (aka separating thinking from implementing). What you’ll learn from this episode: how perfectionism can lead to paralysis mindset to overcome perfectionist tendencies exercises and tips to implement into your writing process Ready to make readers so in love with your characters…

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35 - Reaction progressions 23:39

12M ago23:39

23:39

Today, Emily & Rachel talk about reaction progressions. What you’ll learn from this episode: what reaction progressions are the 4 pieces of a reaction progression why it matters that characters react in order tips and tricks for 'showing' with using reaction progressions THE SHOW, DON'T TELL FORMULA reaction progression guide: https://goldenmayedit…

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7.Claire D’Abreu-Hayling, Chief Scientific Officer at Sandoz and a member of the Sandoz Executive Committee. Belonging, authenticity & the importance of intersectionality. 34:00

12M ago34:00

34:00

Claire D’Abreu-Hayling, Chief Scientific Officer at Sandoz and a member of the Sandoz Executive Committee talks to Elaine Herdman-Barker, Chair & Partner for Mutual Growth…and the search for the common good at Global Leadership Associates about what bringing our whole person to work looks like. Together, Claire and Elaine explore what sits above an…

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34 - How to grow a thick writer skin 59:11

12M ago59:11

59:11

Today, Emily & Rachel talk about growing a thick writer skin. What you’ll learn from this episode: why you actually don't need a thick skin how to begin building a strong mindset developing a support system of writers who understand what to do when you experience a major blow Other resources mentioned in this episode: Laziness Does Not Exist by Dev…

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33 - When to write or reject a series with Lewis Jorstad 1:01:11

1y ago1:01:11

1:01:11

Today, Emily & Rachel talk about when to write or reject a series with guest Lewis Jorstad. What you’ll learn from this episode: Benefits of a series above and beyond standalone novels Challenges of writing a series When it’s okay to write a standalone Get in touch with Lewis Jorstad: Web - https://thenovelsmithy.com/ Books - https://shop.thenovels…

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32 - Digging into character backstory 32:33

1y ago32:33

32:33

Today, Emily & Rachel talk about digging into character backstory. What you’ll learn from this episode: Backstory vs character facts Where to start diving into what events have shaped your character's life Tips and tricks for developing backstory Don't forget to let your characters make mistakes Ready to make readers so in love with your characters…

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Discovering your unique potential with Soraia Cerqueira - The Potential for What? Podcast 20:17

1y ago20:17

20:17

Welcome to The Potential For What? Podcast, where we explore the concept of potential and its importance in today's workforce. This week our host Jo Taylor speaks with Soraia Cerqueira, Senior Manager of Learning and Development at Warner Brothers Discovery. Soraia emphasises that potential is not just about leadership potential but also about indi…

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