Best Novel Writing Challenge Podcasts (2024)

1
Dr. Grace Farris on "weekend mom", hospital medicine, graphic novel writing, youth soccer coaching, and so much more! 36:30

5h ago36:30

36:30

This episode is with Dr. Grace Farris, a hospitalist in Texas and published author. We discuss: - The inspiration between her comics, and specifically "weekend mom" - The decision to move her family from Boston, to NYC, and then to Texas - Working as a hospitalist in NYC during the COVID pandemic with two young boys - Working full time - Coaching y…

1
To Prologue or Not to Prologue 5:51

6h ago5:51

5:51

Quick, what do you think about prologues? If you're thinking as a writer, your answer might be "YES, I LOVE THEM!" But as a reader, maybe not. Prologues are the other oft-maligned pseudo-chapters along with epilogues, but prologues might actually do you more harm than good. Executing a good prologue is more than just writing a good scene, and this …

1
Contemporary Royalty and Romance with Julian Winters - Prince of the Palisades 47:19

1d ago47:19

47:19

Marissa chats with Julian Winters about his latest YA romance, PRINCE OF THE PALISADES. Also discussed in this episode: how fanfiction is a great way to get started in writing, the sometimes difficult elements of crafting a contemporary royal story, writing romance and the importance of creating moments when characters are vulnerable, how challengi…

1
113. Where to insert backstory (Q&A) 6:13

1d ago6:13

6:13

“You want the reader to experience backstory from the perspective of your point of view character, who is living in the present and responding and going after their goal and accounting obstacles.“ In this podcast episode of How To Write The Future, host Beth Barany answers a question from a listener on where and how to add the backstory in your nov…

1
Breaking Down the Self-Editing Process with Savannah Gilbo 39:56

2d ago39:56

39:56

This week, we're tackling the daunting task of editing your manuscript. Savannah Gilbo, a certified developmental editor and book coach, and I walk you through how to break down the self-editing process into manageable phases. From taking essential breaks to detailed step-by-step strategies, we cover how to transform your messy first draft into a p…

1
If You Are a Community Creator… 2:55

7d ago2:55

2:55

Are you a COMMUNITY CREATOR? This episode is for those writers who thrive with a writing group or critique partner, having accountability, but also a place (or person) with whom to share writing wins and struggles. Not sure what your writing persona is? Take the quiz here! https://www.the60daynovelwritingchallenge.com/writers-quiz Send us a Text Me…

1
Middle Grade Horror and Illustrated Novels with Remy Lai - Read At Your Own Risk 39:24

8d ago39:24

39:24

Marissa chats with Remy Lai about her new illustrated sketch diary, READ AT YOUR OWN RISK. Also discussed in this episode: why kids relate to horror, the importance of capturing the tone of the book on the cover and determining appropriate content for a young audience, making important design choices like font and color, deciding on a story’s forma…

1
112. How do I know if I’ve added too many details to my novel? (Q&A) 5:38

8d ago5:38

5:38

“How do you tell if there are too many details? It all comes down to the reader experience. What is the reader experience that you want your readers to have?” In this episode of How To Write The Future podcast, host Beth Barany answers a question from a historical romance writer about how to strike the right balance of detail in your novel and how …

1
Techniques to Convey Backstory Without Bogging Down the Narrative: Context & Memory 16:54

9d ago16:54

16:54

Techniques to Convey Backstory Without Bogging Down the Narrative: Context & Memory Today, we dig into the topic of backstory, specifically focusing on how to effectively deliver it without bogging down your narrative by using context and memory to weave backstory seamlessly into your story. Using examples from Rebecca Yarrow's Fourth Wing and VE S…

1
Episode 116 - Let's Play 28:44

11d ago28:44

28:44

Drew Daniel had a dream this week. In the dream an girl invited him to a Rave where there was a new genre of music playing called "Hit 'EM". The key elements of the genre are 212 bpm, 5/4 time signature and crunchy sounds. Since posting this dream on Twitter, producers have been hot to make tracks in this exciting new genre. Myself included. And he…

1
26. Long distance parenting, maternity leave challenges, and being a hardcore surgeon and amazing mom with Dr. Nichole Shaw 59:44

13d ago59:44

59:44

"I felt totally stripped of everything that I had ever thought of myself because I was not going to work, so I was really kind of just tied to my house for 6 weeks. I was bored! I wanted to be working, I wanted to be doing easy cases. The baby slept so much. I'm like what do I do? And then she never really latched and so I was exclusively pumping s…

1
To Epilogue or Not to Epilogue 4:54

16d ago4:54

4:54

Are epilogues necessary? If you want to include an epilogue, what's the best way to go about it? What is the point of an epilogue, anyway? In this episode I share my thoughts on epilogues, and some best practices about how to approach including them (or not). I also cover 5 questions to ask yourself about your story to determine if an epilogue is t…

1
Avoid Creative Burnout with Lydia Michaels - Write 10K In a Day : Avoid Burnout: Unleash Your Prolific Potential 1:00:25

16d ago1:00:25

1:00:25

Marissa chats with author and life coach Lydia Michaels about her craft book, Write 10K in a Day. Discussed in this practical episode: the challenges of being an indie author/entrepreneur, writer burnout, time poverty – particularly for women, why setting boundaries on word counts is a good idea, signs of burnout, paying attention to ROJ (Return on…

1
111. The Challenge of Imagining Thrutopias with Jennifer Browdy, Pt. 2 of 2 12:25

17d ago12:25

12:25

“I think maintaining our own individual health is a really important part of being able to contribute to broader social health.” -- Jennifer Browdy In this latest How To Write the Future podcast episode, host Beth Barany continues her conversation with Jennifer Browdy, PhD Professor of Comparative Literature & Media Arts, publisher of Green Fire Pr…

1
The Nitty-Gritty Of Book Cover Design with Miblart's Expert Katia Balabaieva 25:50

16d ago25:50

25:50

Today, we're diving into the world of book cover design. I'm thrilled to be joined by Katia from Miblart, a team of professional book cover designers who create marketable book covers for indie authors and publishers. We explore the importance of having a finalized manuscript before commissioning a cover, the types of book covers available, and whe…

1
Four Elements 29:16

20d ago29:16

29:16

This week I was focused primarily on creating and recording the tracks for a label EP release. I am super happy with the results of that project but that left me needed tracks for this week's episode. Fortunately, last week, I started on the EP and wrote and recorded four tracks which were more conceprual than I really wanted to release on a label.…

1
If You Are a Skeptical Scribe… 3:25

23d ago3:25

3:25

Are you a SKEPTICAL SCRIBE? This episode is for those writers who question everything, who go on deep research quests for exactly the right reference... but get paralyzed if something is "off" or imperfect. Not sure what your writing persona is? Take the quiz here! https://www.the60daynovelwritingchallenge.com/writers-quiz Send us a Text Message. W…

1
Colonizing History: Historical Romance 30:40

21d ago30:40

30:40

Ever wondered why Regencies became all the rage? Or how historical romances shape and sanitize our perceptions of history? This episode delves into how Regency romances displace inconvenient historical truths. A critical look at older 'problematic' romances like Jennifer Blake's 'Fierce Eden' reveals the complexities of characters and settings, cha…

1
Romance, Family Dynamics, & Disability Rep with Anna Sortino - On the Bright Side 38:52

22d ago38:52

38:52

Marissa chats with Anna Sortino about her latest YA romance, ON THE BRIGHT SIDE. Also discussed in this episode: who is the ‘real’ audience we write for, deciding on a single vs dual POV and where the points of view intersect, leaving space in outlines for exploration, layering in character traits and details during revision, writing family dynamic…

1
110. The Challenge of Imagining Thrutopias with Jennifer Browdy, Pt. 1 of 2 13:51

24d ago13:51

13:51

“Human creativity, the amazing thing about it is that we can come up with a thought that's never been thought before. We have these dreams that come to us that are totally unique and nobody but each one of us can have that particular perspective tied into our life experience and our culture and our location and who we are uniquely.“ — Jennifer Brow…

1
How to Craft Relevant Backstory for Complex Characters, Conflicts, Plots, and Worlds 17:24

23d ago17:24

17:24

How to Craft Relevant Backstory for Complex Characters, Conflicts, Plots, and Worlds If you’ve ever been stuck while drafting your manuscript and don’t know what comes next, consider looking at your backstory for the answers! Tune in to Episode 19 of The Write It Scared Podcast with host book coach and writer Stacy Frazer to learn how to craft a re…

1
Episode 113 - Pour Grace 31:30

27d ago31:30

31:30

This week has been a blisteringly productive and creative one. I directed a music video, collaborated with a talented singer, had an amazingly productive band rehearsal, wrote and record a four track EP to be release in the near future. So, this week's podcast episode is stripped down to bare bones, just me and a piano for half an hour of improvisa…

1
25. Wellness Coach and Ophthalmologist Dr. Shanika Esparaz on her experience with burnout and coaching women in healthcare to live their best lives 56:17

27d ago56:17

56:17

"It sounds easy but it's really hard when you've worked this hard to be a physician to say 'oh I'm gonna do a little less'. What I've realized is that myself and I think maybe some listeners out there might resonate with, we often feel like our productivity and our value to society is based on how many procedures we do, patients we see, hours we pu…

1
Writing as Healing, with Caitlin Shetterly 35:36

1M ago35:36

35:36

Caitlin Shetterly, author of Pete and Alice in Maine, shares her return path to writing fiction after years in nonfiction. A major medical event in the winter of 2020 to 2021 aligned so perfectly such that she experienced the same kind of healing as in the story she was telling. This episode is for all the writers who feel like life has caught them…

1
Romantasy & Fourth Wing with Sarah Skilton 1:13:29

1M ago1:13:29

1:13:29

Some call it Romantasy, some call it Dragon Corn (except replace the C with a P). Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros is hotter than dragon’s breath, and so of course we have to see if we can figure out why it’s so popular. Sarah Skilton joins me to discuss “love triangles,” indescribable pain that we would actually like described, War College, and how…h…

1
7 Tips for Balancing Multiple Writing Projects with Marissa Meyer 41:02

29d ago41:02

41:02

In this bonus craft episode, Marissa shares her seven best tips and strategies for balancing multiple writing projects. Discussed in this practical episode: how many projects she works on at any given time and what stage in the process they are at, how she prioritizes, what she does in the times when she isn’t or can’t be drafting, and so much more…

1
109. Interview with Michael Kilman, Co-Author of Build Better Worlds, part 2 of 2 14:44

1M ago14:44

14:44

“Every culture is telling different stories to some degree. And when we share our each other's stories and we read and learn and engage and practice empathy, then we stand a better chance of understanding the ways in which our diversity is a tool for the future.” --Michael Kilman Follows on from the mini-series where host of the How To Write The Fu…

1
The Truth About Book Coaching with Author Accelerator CEO Jennie Nash 31:37

1M ago31:37

31:37

In this episode of the Write It Scared Podcast, it’s my pleasure to welcome the inspiring Jennie Nash, CEO of Author Accelerator, to discuss her journey from writing instructor and author to successful book coach and business leader. Jennie illuminates the transformative power of book coaching, emphasizing the importance of individual attention and…

1
Meet the formidable, feisty, factory sisterhood who went on strike and made history. 1:15:02

1M ago1:15:02

1:15:02

Send us a Text Message. This July marks the 136th anniversary of the matchwomens strike at Bryant & May match factory in London's East End in 1888. Exposing the truth of the ‘poor waif matchgirl’ historian Louise Raw fills us in on the true story of the vibrant working class women who downed tools, went on strike and changed the course of history. …

1
Episode 112 - Engage 29:57

1M ago29:57

29:57

Right then. This week has been a bundle of activity. I am working on a new cabinet for the gear to ride around town in. I am also working on getting neat little places in town to play. Plus, in preparation for this month's Beats & Brews, I started a brand new Main Stage 3 Concert file. The first half hour of this file is exactly what I recorded for…

1
If You Are a Diligent Drafter… 3:43

1M ago3:43

3:43

Are you a DILIGENT DRAFTER? This episode is for those writers who are self-disciplined, super organized, know exactly where the story is going... and still have trouble sitting down to write. Not sure what your writing persona is? Take the quiz here! https://www.the60daynovelwritingchallenge.com/writers-quiz Send us a Text Message. What to do next……

1
108. Interview with Michael Kilman, Co-Author of Build Better Worlds, part 1 of 2 11:21

1M ago11:21

11:21

“I think if you're writing truthfully, because that's what we're trying to do a lot of times as author, telling a good story, but being honest in our writing and in terms of the human experience, I think it really helps to have some sort of guidepost for how do we build these human experiences?” -- Michael Kilman Following on from the mini series w…

1
Three Unhelpful Writing Assumptions to Release Right Now! 14:50

1M ago14:50

14:50

In Episode 17 of the Write it Scared podcast, book coach Stacy Frazer explores three common unhelpful writing assumptions that could be holding you back from crafting your best book. Stacy shares insights into why the belief that writing should be easy is not only false but dangerous, discusses the unrealistic expectation that first drafts should b…

1
“‘Forget that number and you don’t exist,’ the Kapo at Auschwitz told me.” 92-year-old Ivor Perl on surviving the horrors of the Holocaust. 52:56

1M ago52:56

52:56

Send us a Text Message. Ivor was just 12 years old when he was taken to Auschwitz. He survived with the help of his older brother, but the rest of his family were murdered in the Holocaust. He was brought to England in November 1945 as one of a group of orphans, and started forging a new life. Ivor built a successful clothes manufacturing company; …

1
Episode 111: Free flowing Cool Vibes 32:52

1M ago32:52

32:52

I have an idea. Its a simple idea, its sort of a rehash of the direction I was moving in a year ago, or eighteen months ago (its sort of nebulous my connection between time space and concepts). The general idea is setting up my gear so that I can free flow through numerous different soundscapes. There will be a progression of intensity and tempos a…

1
24. Rewind: Internship baby in the 1980s with Deborah Kwolek 46:55

1M ago46:55

46:55

"The big bottom line, ok, this is the big bottom line - young moms and women in general we are so self critical and we are so down on ourselves, and I could practically cry just thinking about this because it's so unneeeded. We're as smart as the guys, we're as committed as they are, we probably work harder in certain ways. Women do a lot of unpaid…

1
The Writing Persona Quiz 1:54

1M ago1:54

1:54

Ever wonder what kind of writing persona you have? Or what motivates you to write? Or even what the hidden pitfalls of those are? (Because they exist!) Announcing the Writing Persona Quiz! This brand new quiz from Tally Ink will tell you exactly what kind of writer you are, and the ways you can take advantage of those strengths. Take the quiz here!…

1
107. The Name of the Game is Change 8:24

2M ago8:24

8:24

“I want to encourage you to have it rooted in heart. In fact, I bet you, it already is. What you care about is what you're writing about. So, Where is the heart in your work?” In “The Name of the Game is Change” episode, novelist and podcaster, Beth Barany, reflects on her two-year anniversary of How To Write the Future podcast and shares what she …

1
The Art of Crafting Middle-Grade Fiction with Author Janet Fox 41:12

2M ago41:12

41:12

Delve into the intricacies of writing for middle-grade readers with award-winning author and book coach Janet Fox and host Stacy Frazer. Janet shares her journey from writing for her dyslexic son to becoming a mentor for aspiring writers, offering invaluable insights into the importance of understanding your audience and creating resonant character…

1
Episode 110: Up All Night (Theme and Variations) 32:46

2M ago32:46

32:46

I wrote a song. Then I remixed the song. Then I decided that several more genre remixes of the song would be fun. It was. And here is the Song and its remixes. Figure out which one was the first version.By n8k99

1
TWE 348: Costume Historian Karan Feder Explores Barbie® as a Cultural and Fashion Icon in Barbie Takes the Catwalk 23:32

2M ago23:32

23:32

In this episode, costume historian Karan Feder’ talks about her deep dive into 40 years of Barbie's standout fashion moments—a lá legendary designer looks from Chanel, Pucci, Halston and Oleg Cassini on everyone from Twiggy to Barbra Streisand to First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy brought together in her book "Barbie Takes the Catwalk” with TWE Podcast …

1
How to Handle Negative Reviews 5:37

2M ago5:37

5:37

When authors get negative reviews, the first instinct is to feel bad because someone didn't like what we wrote. However, not all negative reviews are alike, and we can't approach them all the same way. The troll reviews are very different from the ones with constructive criticism. This episode is for people who are concerned about their negative re…

1
Owning Your Writing Career with Tomi Adeyemi - Children of Anguish and Anarchy - The Legacy of Orisha 54:22

2M ago54:22

54:22

Marissa chats with award-winning author of CHILDREN OF BLOOD AND BONE, Tomi Adeyemi, about her new third book in the Legacy of Orisha series, CHILDREN OF ANGUISH AND ANARCHY. Also discussed in this episode: the inspiration for Tomi creating The Writer’s Roadmap courses for writers, feeling like you’re finally a career writer, transitioning from a l…

1
106. Books to films: Why the Switch 11:26

2M ago11:26

11:26

“Humans have been shaping culture from the very beginning. And we are obviously continuing to do so even today. And. I really believe that through the stories we tell ourselves, through the stories we tell each other through our art and all the mediums of art, we're actually impacting what is possible for the human race, for human culture, and in a…

1
Romance Adaptations & Genre Perceptions: Teaching The Hating Game 1:00:59

2M ago1:00:59

1:00:59

Ever wondered how "The Hating Game" fares in a classroom setting? Dr. Diana Filar is back to discuss her experiences teaching The Hating Game book and film in a class about popular genre fiction. We discuss the challenges of translating romance novels into films, how stereotypes of genres are formed and challenged, and what it's like introducing no…

1
Unlock Your Character's Inner World with Interiority 20:26

2M ago20:26

20:26

Welcome to episode 15 of the Write it Scared podcast! Today, we're doing a deep dive into writing character interiority. Discover what interiority is, how to use it effectively in your writing, and when to use it to convey your character's true emotions, motivations, and inner states. I'll share examples to illustrate how offering readers glimpses …

1
Resurgence 30:38

2M ago30:38

30:38

The week's episode is a return to the prodigious creativity. I took a break off last week as I was super involved in operating a fly wire system in the theatre and preparing for a N8K99 show. This week, I am facing the dearth of a long known friend who was a fixture in the local scene here in Jax. Loads of people knew her and the overwhelming flow …

1
23. Dr. Mona Amin of PedsDocTalk on postpartum complications, breastfeeding, starting her business, and more! 57:00

2M ago57:00

57:00

"I know how hard it is. I know that parenting is hard. I know that life is hard, but I do believe that we have to look for the glimmers and look for the hope and look for the joy and celebrate those things, at the same time not denying the negative but understanding that those negatives will always exist in our world." This episode is with Dr. Mona…

1
The Parkinson’s Law Paradox 3:39

2M ago3:39

3:39

Have you ever heard of Parkinson's Law? If not, it's the law that work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion. AKA, if you give yourself a whole day to do something, it will take you all day to do it. Did you know that writers experience a paradox with Parkinson's Law? In today's episode we take a look at a common time manageme…

1
Why We Love Heists and the Benefits of Co-Writing - Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka - Heiress Takes All 46:26

2M ago46:26

46:26

Marissa chats with the husband-and-wife writing team of Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka about their latest YA adventure heist novel, HEIRESS TAKES ALL. Also discussed in this episode: the process of cowriting and the division of labor that resembles a marriage, carefully and consciously casting a heist book’s ensemble of characters, bene…

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Novel Writing Challenge Podcasts

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