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How do I write a book? How do I create compelling characters that readers will love? How do I build a believable world for my story? What does it even mean to write a story that works? Do you have any writing tips? These are just some of the big questions that developmental editor and book coach, Savannah Gilbo, digs into on the Fiction Writing Made Easy Podcast. Each week, Savannah shares actionable tools, tips, and strategies that will help you write, edit, and publish your book. So, wheth ...
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Have you ever binge-read a new favorite series, only to end up with a book-hangover? Or finished a heart-stopping scene only to look around and not be able to talk to anyone about it? Maybe you’ve even felt embarrassed about what you’re reading because it isn’t considered a “classic” by people you know. Book Talk for BookTok with Jac and Amy is the go-to literary podcast to discuss your favorite novels with your newest book-besties. They use their literary backgrounds to analyze what makes t ...
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The Resilient Writers Radio Show

Rhonda Douglas Resilient Writers

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Welcome to the Resilient Writers Radio Show! This is the podcast for writers who want to create and sustain a writing life they love. It's for writers who love books, and everything that goes into the making of them. For writers who wanna learn and grow in their craft, and improve their writing skills. Writers who want to finish their books, and get them out into the world so their ideal readers can enjoy them, writers who wanna spend more time in that flow state, writers who want to connect ...
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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…
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J.K. Rowling is the master of layering things within her scenes. She’s also fantastic at raising the stakes from scene to scene, too. But how does she do it Tune into this episode to hear Abigail K. Perry and I talk to Tim Grahl (the CEO of Story Grid) about what it was like to study Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone—what we learned from J.K. R…
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On this week's episode, developmental editor Savannah helps Jac with her query letter, only for things to take a big turn. Find Savannah on her Instagram @savannah.gilb or her website https://www.savannahgilbo.com/ Sponsor: BetterHelp.com/BOOKTOK - to get 10% off your first month of therapy Lumedeodorant.com and use code BOOKTALK for 15% off Learn …
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This season, Jac and Amy conduct a literary analysis of Sarah J. Maas' book Crescent City: House of Sky and Breath! This is Part 1 of Episode 3, where they review Chapters 10 through 13. Ithan struggles with purpose while the arrival of Pollux and Baxian sends Hunt into a tailspin. Though Bryce comes to assist with his release after Hunt and Pollux…
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“I think your story has a genre identity crisis. That’s probably why you’re not getting responses from agents.” ← That’s what I told my new friend, Jac Sahlin, about the duology she’s currently querying. Tune into this episode to hear Jac and I talk through her query letter and first five pages—and to hear my thoughts on why she hasn’t received any…
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This season, Jac and Amy conduct a literary analysis of Sarah J. Maas' book Crescent City: House of Sky and Breath! This is Part 2 of Episode 2, where they review Chapters 3 through 9. Ruhn Danaan’s pleasurable evening is rudely interrupted by the arrival of his grumpy cousin, Cormac, Crown Prince of the Avallen Fae and newly betrothed to Bryce. Br…
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This season, Jac and Amy conduct a literary analysis of Sarah J. Maas' book Crescent City: House of Sky and Breath! This is Part 1 of Episode 2, where they review Chapters 3 through 9. Ruhn Danaan’s pleasurable evening is rudely interrupted by the arrival of his grumpy cousin, Cormac, Crown Prince of the Avallen Fae and newly betrothed to Bryce. Br…
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“How many scenes are in the Diagon Alley chapter of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone?” Believe it or not, this is one of the most frequently asked questions I get from writers when they hear I’ve written a book breaking apart this mega best seller scene by scene. And it’s a valid question! This chapter was the hardest chapter for us to analyze…
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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…
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This season, Jac and Amy conduct a literary analysis of Sarah J. Maas' book Crescent City: House of Sky and Breath! This is Part 2 of Episode 1, where they review the prologue through Chapter 2. Sophie Renast infiltrates the Kavalla death camps to liberate her brother, Emile. Her efforts result in the rescue of Emile and a dozen other children. Wit…
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How did Rowling deliver on the life-and-death stakes an action story requires, but in a way appropriate for middle-grade readers? How did she consistently weave together the external plot and Harry’s character arc in such a way that they’re inseparable? Tune into this episode to hear Abigail K. Perry and I talk through the plot structure of Harry P…
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This season, Jac and Amy conduct a literary analysis of Sarah J. Maas' book Crescent City: House of Sky and Breath! This is Part 1 of Episode 1, where they review the prologue through Chapter 2. Sophie Renast infiltrates the Kavalla death camps to liberate her brother, Emile. Her efforts result in the rescue of Emile and a dozen other children. Wit…
  continue reading
 
Rowling is a master at weaving the external plot with Harry’s internal character arc—and using the external plot events to help Harry grow and change. In this episode, you’ll hear Abigail K. Perry and I talk through the big-picture plot structure of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone using the Story Grid’s Five Commandments of Storytelling. We’l…
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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…
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In this last episode of Season 4 of the podcast, I am doing a solo show talking about how to choose a writing project, as well as the mindset shifts we need to make in order to stick with the project we've chosen. Let's banish Shiny New Idea Syndrome once and for all! Here's a link to where you can find the Essential Book Outline resource I mention…
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This week, Jac and Amy interview Senior Editor at Amazon Books, Al Woodworth. Al Woodworth is a Senior Editor on the Amazon Books Editorial team, specializing in literary fiction and biography and memoir. She has been in the book industry for more than 13 years, and got her start as a book publicist at Henry Holt. Al also manages Amazon Literary Pa…
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Ever wonder how Rowling created such a fantastic, three-dimensional story world for her Harry Potter series? That’s exactly what you’ll hear in this week’s brand-new podcast episode! Join me, Abigail K. Perry, and Tim Grahl, as we discuss the world-building in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone—and what we learned from our analysis of this mega …
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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…
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This week on the podcast, I'm speaking with a poet and that always means opening our heart, doesn't it? Join us as we explore the heart-centred, authentic and more vulnerable sides of this art of writing -- and enjoy a little poetry break as well! Meredith Heller is the author of Writing by Heart, Write a Poem, Save Your Life, and several poetry co…
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This summer, Jac and Amy are hosting their first Summer Bookclub: the Romantasy Edition. This week we discuss Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross. We take listener feedback as well as our own analysis to review one of BookTok's favorite books. This is part 2 of this week's episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…
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Plot catalysts make it difficult for a character to achieve their goals. If you’re writing an Action story, there are three main plot catalysts you’ll want to include in your book—a speech in praise of the villain, a deadline or ticking clock, and one or more set-piece action sequences. Tune into this episode to hear a sneak peek from my new book, …
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This summer, Jac and Amy are hosting their first Summer Bookclub: the Romantasy Edition. This week we discuss Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross. We take listener feedback as well as our own analysis to review one of BookTok's favorite books. This is part 1 of this week's episode. SPONSOR: citybeauty.com code BOOKTALK for 15% off your order Learn more a…
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Ever wonder how Rowling created such a wonderful cast of quirky and relatable characters in the Harry Potter series? If so, tune into this episode to hear Abigail K. Perry, Tim Grahl, and me talk about the characters in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. You’ll hear us talk about things like: [02:32] How to think about the number of characters …
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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…
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Writing the book is one thing, but many authors cringe when it comes to put ourselves "out there" and ask people to buy the book. Today I'm speaking with book marketing expert Emily Enger, who advocates for "good enough" book marketing so that you don't have to sell your soul while selling your book. Listen in as we dive into how to do just that! Y…
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This summer, Jac and Amy are hosting their first Summer Bookclub: the Romantasy Edition. This week we discuss The Cruel Prince by Holly Black. We take listener feedback as well as our own analysis to review one of BookTok's favorite books. This is part 2 of this week's episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…
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What made Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone a worldwide bestseller? Why does this story still resonate with readers almost thirty years later? And why did Abigail and I agree to spend so much time dissecting every single scene and page to find out how and why it works?! Tune into this episode to hear Abigail K. Perry and I talk to Tim Grahl (th…
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This summer, Jac and Amy are hosting their first Summer Bookclub: the Romantasy Edition. This week we discuss The Cruel Prince by Holly Black. We take listener feedback as well as our own analysis to review one of BookTok's favorite books. This is part 1 of this week's episode. SPONSOR: Blissy! Search blissy.com/BOOKTALKPOD and use code BOOKTALKPOD…
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Ever wish you could understand exactly what makes your favorite stories so lovable? Me too! So much so that I deconstructed every single scene in the first Harry Potter book to see how and why it worked. And today, I’m super excited to share with you that my brand-new book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone: A Story Grid Masterwork Analysis Gui…
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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…
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In this episode of the Resilient Writers Radio Show, I’m speaking with Chelene Knight, an acclaimed author known for her novel "Junie" and memoir "Dear Current Occupant." Chelene is also the founder of Breathing Space Creative, a literary studio focused on creative sustainability and coaching for writers. In this episode, we’re talking about Chelen…
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This summer, Jac and Amy are hosting their first Summer Bookclub: the Romantasy Edition. This week we discuss The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna. We take listener feedback as well as our own analysis to review one of BookTok's favorite books. This is part 2 of this week's episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit …
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This summer, Jac and Amy are hosting their first Summer Bookclub: the Romantasy Edition. This week we discuss The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna. We take listener feedback as well as our own analysis to review one of BookTok's favorite books. This is part 1 of this week's episode. SPONSOR: citybeauty.com code BOOKTALK fo…
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Antagonists can make or break a story—both for the writer and the reader. Writers who don’t spend time developing their antagonists tend to write drafts that fall apart in the middle. Anyone who reads a story with a weak or unconvincing protagonist is unlikely to finish it. So, how do we go about making our antagonists just as compelling as our pro…
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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…
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This summer, Jac and Amy are hosting their first Summer Bookclub: the Romantasy Edition. This week we discuss The Hurricane Wars by Thea Guanzon. We take listener feedback as well as our own analysis to review one of BookTok's favorite books. This is part 2 of this week's episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…
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This summer, Jac and Amy are hosting their first Summer Bookclub: the Romantasy Edition. This week we discuss The Hurricane Wars by Thea Guanzon. We take listener feedback as well as our own analysis to review one of BookTok's favorite books. This is part 1 of this week's episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…
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“Never wonder if readers will love your story again.” This is exactly what Theodora Taylor teaches you how to do in her book 7 FIGURE FICTION: How to Use Universal Fantasy to SELL Your Books to ANYONE. Despite writing fiction in a niche genre (interracial romance), Theodora Taylor has grown a fanbase of rabid readers and fans through the power of s…
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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 …
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This is a special episode because I am sharing a replay from my First Book Finish program when we had Monique from Atticus.io come into to speak with us about how to use their easy software to format your books for self-publishing. During the episode, Monique offers a special deal for listeners of The Resilient Writers Radio Show. Sign up for Attic…
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This summer, Jac and Amy are hosting their first Summer Bookclub: the Romantasy Edition. This week we discuss Angels' Blood by Nalini Singh, with special guest Lili, AKA @ahappyhermit. We take listener feedback as well as our own analysis to review one of BookTok's favorite books. This is part 2 of this week's episode. Find Lili on Instagram and Ti…
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This summer, Jac and Amy are hosting their first Summer Bookclub: the Romantasy Edition. This week we discuss Angels' Blood by Nalini Singh, with special guest Lili, AKA @ahappyhermit. We take listener feedback as well as our own analysis to review one of BookTok's favorite books. This is part 1 of this week's episode. Find Lili on Instagram and Ti…
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Want a peek behind the scenes into my work week? 👀 In this episode, I’m taking you behind the scenes and sharing what I do as a developmental editor and book coach. I’ll talk through the projects I’m working on, what I’m excited (or not excited) about, what’s coming up in the next few weeks, what I learn from the writers I work with, and basically …
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On this episode of the Write It Scared Podcast, I talk with Middle-Grade Horror Novelist Wendy Parris about her writing journey–from zero background in writing to learning all the things to publishing a novel that now sits in over 300 libraries, with another due out in September of 2024! It's hard to believe she almost gave up, and the thing that s…
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This week on The Resilient Writers Radio Show, I'm speaking with author and publisher Lynne Golodner. Lynne is the author of nine books, as well as many articles, and host of the Make Meaning podcast. Our discussion focuses on Lynne's writing journey, her latest novel "Woman of Valor," and her experiences within and outside the Orthodox Jewish comm…
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This week, Jac and Amy interview developmental editor and book coach, Savannah Gilbo. Savannah coaches Jac and Amy with their own books and takes them through her process. Savannah is the host of the podcast Fiction Writing Made Easy. You can learn more about Savannah at her website https://www.savannahgilbo.com/ and follow her on Instagram @Savann…
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If you’ve ever felt frustrated with your progress (or lack of progress), it’s probably time to take a step back from your writing and consider your mindset. To help you do just that, I’m sharing a conversation in today’s podcast episode with April Dávila, an award-winning author, speaker, and writing coach who specializes in teaching writers to int…
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In this episode of the Write it Scared podcast, we discuss the difficulties writers face when their personal emotional wounds intersect with their storytelling. I offer practical advice, including prioritizing mental well-being, writing lean, summarizing or skipping emotionally charged scenes, channeling emotions, taking breaks with accountability,…
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This week on the podcast, I am delighted to be speaking with my friend Sara Power. We're talking about short stories! Sara has just published her first collection of stories, to much acclaim. We talk about the story as an offering and staying true to the story. If you're a lover of short stories, you don't want to miss this episode! Sara Power’s st…
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