Best Trope Publishing Podcasts (2024)

1
Writing is a Discipline with Andrew Najberg 1:07:54

7h ago1:07:54

1:07:54

Today I'm joined by author, Andrew Najberg. Andrew is the author of the best-selling (#1 US Horror Amazon) novels The Mobius Door (Wicked House Publishing, 2023) and Gollitok (Wicked House Publishing, 2023), as well as The Neverborn Thief (Olive-Ridley Press, 2024), the forthcoming collection of short fiction In Those Fading Stars (Crystal Lake Pub…

1
The strange timing of stories and juggling creative careers with Sophie Green 1:03:48

38m ago1:03:48

1:03:48

Sophie Green is an author and publisher who lives in Sydney. In her spare time she writes about country music on her website, Sunburnt Country Music. Sophie's debut novel, The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club, was a Top Ten bestseller and was shortlisted for the Australian Book Industry Awards for General Fiction Book of the Year …

1
Metaphor, Math, Editing, & How You Can Get Your Message to Your Reader Effectively 38:09

3d ago38:09

38:09

We are so excited to welcome math teacher Ben Orlin to the podcast!Ben Orlin is a math teacher who can't draw. His book Math with Bad Drawings (2018) has sold more than 100,000 copies worldwide, and has since been followed by Change is the Only Constant (2019), Math Games with Bad Drawings (2022), and most recently, Math for English Majors (Sept 20…

1
Writing Hacks with Author and Developmental Editor Barbara Emodi 43:03

3d ago43:03

43:03

Episode 233 / Ever wished you had some writing hacks to make your drafting and editing go more smoothly? (And who hasn’t?) Then this episode with cozy author Barbara Emodi is for you! Barbara is a developmental editor for emerging writers and has great insights. 💙 🎙 Become a supporter of the podcast and get access to the backlist of exclusive suppo…

1
Jessie Kwak on Finding Joy in Your Writing Process and Cross-Genre Marketing Tips 55:32

7d ago55:32

55:32

Episode 232 / Jessie Kwak writes supernatural thrillers and sci-fi crime as well as nonfiction productivity books including, From Chaos to Creativity and From Big Idea to Book. Topics: Trusting your own process, reassessing expectations, and enjoying the writing process How Jessie blends sci-fi and crime genres and found her second series easier to…

1
We Know How to Read : S16E1 : Trial of the Tomes : Romance 1:15:30

13h ago1:15:30

1:15:30

Let the trials begin! This week we are putting Romance to the test in the following categories first impressions, design, writing style, general plot, characters, and our critical and enjoyment scores. In one corner for men, we have Thunderstruck by Carter Blake, and in the other corner for the women is Jackson by Nyssa Kathryn. Carter Blake writes…

1
We Know How to Read : S16E1 : Trial of the Tomes : Gender in Publishing 1:29:43

18d ago1:29:43

1:29:43

Welcome to the Trial of the Tomes! We're looking closely at the idea of author gender in genre, publication, and writing style. How that impacts the public eye, reader experience, and marketing. Most importantly who does it best?! We have read one male author and one not man in the following genres Romance, Romantic Fantasy, High Fantasy, Science F…

1
We Know How to Read : Stacks on Stacks : The Foxglove King by Hannah Whiten 1:20:06

18d ago1:20:06

1:20:06

Welcome back to our Stacks on Stacks series, a once-a-month book club. We started this to help us conquer that never-ending TBR, talk more with you, and abbreviate it as “S.O.S.” because yes send help! We will never finish our TBR at this rate!! We announce our “SOS” read at the beginning of each month, inviting you to read, listen, and talk with u…

1
Messy Characters, Building Tension & How Agents Should Advocate For Your Work with Agent Nour Sallam 32:31

4d ago32:31

32:31

We are so happy to welcome Nour Sallam, agent at P.S. Literary, to the podcast! We discuss: *How agents should advocate for clients from signing to offers to contracts to publication and beyond *Why messy characters and their interiority are often the one thing missing from your work *Why we should experience empathy for your villain*Opportunities …

1
Romance tropes and quitting TV production to become an author with Amy Hutton 1:08:47

19d ago1:08:47

1:08:47

Amy Hutton writes contemporary romantic comedies from her home on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. An award-winning Television Producer by trade, she walked away from a successful career in network television, to follow her dream of becoming an author. Amy is a Romance Writers of America and Romance Writers of NZ Award Winner and the 2023 runner-up in th…

1
Publishing Options with Nick Courtright of Atmosphere Press 50:58

14d ago50:58

50:58

Episode 231 / Dr. Nick Courtright of Atmosphere Press, a literary hybrid publisher dedicated to author rights, joins us to discuss different publishing options, letting go of the mindset that you must have an agent, and the importance of a personal brand. 💙 🎙 Become a supporter of the podcast! Get access to the backlist of exclusive supporter episo…

1
Bryan Alaspa on Inspiration and Writing Craft 46:57

20d ago46:57

46:57

Today I'm joined by Bryan Alaspa. Bryan wrote his first short story in the third grade, way back in the 70s. He's now the author of more than 60 books and novels, all of them on the dark side of life. In today's episode Brian and I talk about craft, story inspiration, and different avenues for publication. Connect with Bryan at https://www.bryanwal…

1
🔒 Supporter Episode: Enemies to Lovers Trope 🔪→♥️ 39:20

19d ago39:20

39:20

Subscriber-only episode In this supporter-exclusive chat, we broke down the Enemies to Lovers trope–and it’s not just for romance novels! From Pride and Prejudice to You've Got Mail, we've got tons of insights and examples that show how friction and chemistry can turn rivalry into romance. Why readers love this trope The need to maintain the core c…

1
Big love stories and being published in a foreign country first with Emma Steele 1:18:27

23d ago1:18:27

1:18:27

Emma Steele was born and raised on the west coast of Scotland before studying law at The University of Aberdeen. Working as a solicitor in Edinburgh, she continued to dabble in her childhood passions of art and creative writing for several years. Emma now writes big love stories with a twist, and with a particular focus on phenomena. The stunning c…

1
Finding your Community and Navigating Dyslexia with A.B. Herron 44:36

21d ago44:36

44:36

Episode 230 / A.B. Herron blends elements of fantasy and romance in her fiction. She shares about balancing a full-time job while diving headfirst into the world of writing, the joy of connecting with readers at book fairs, and the critical role a supportive community plays in overcoming challenges, especially for authors with dyslexia. 💙 🎙 Become …

1
We Know How to Read : S15E4 : TROPE-tastic Summer : Tropes you can't avoid 1:06:40

28d ago1:06:40

1:06:40

Welcome to our TROPE-tastic summer series season finale! Wrapping up this whirlwind of a summer with the good, the bad, the ugly, and the fun of tropes. This final episode goes into the tropes you can't avoid because they are the genre! Yes, we are getting into it today on the podcast. Come back tomorrow for our Stacks on Stacks episode and next we…

1
Genres, Tropes, Trends, and Finding Your Agent Fit with Agent Erica Bauman 44:36

17d ago44:36

44:36

We are so pleased to welcome agent Erica Bauman from Aevitas Creative Management to the podcast!We discuss: *How to make your work more atmospheric*Where to place emphasis when writing between genres *Balancing keeping the reader in their heads vs. their senses *When the genre of our world gets closer to dystopia, how does the dystopian genre chang…

1
Forms of masculinity and coming of age with Avi Duckor-Jones 1:12:19

20d ago1:12:19

1:12:19

Avi Duckor-Jones trained as a lawyer before gaining his MA in creative writing from Victoria University's International Institute of Modern Letters in 2013. His travel writing has been published with BBC Travel, The NZ Listener and Lonely Planet, among others. Avi has worked as a writing instructor and trip leader for National Geographic, directed …

1
🎭 Relationship Arcs with September C. Fawkes 1:02:21

28d ago1:02:21

1:02:21

Episode 229 / Learn about the four basic types of relationship arcs from freelance developmental editor and writing writing instructor, September C. Fawkes. Discover how mapping arcs can define the direction and evolution of your characters' relationships and create a dynamic, zigzag narrative. 💙 🎙 Become a supporter of the podcast! Get access to t…

1
We Know How to Read : S15E4 : TROPE-tastic Summer : Are tropes bad? 50:52

1M ago50:52

50:52

Continuing our discussion from last week, are tropes bad? Bad for marketing? Bad for the reader? How do tropes impact reader experience, marketing, and more in the book community? We talk about how we see the impacts of tropes in the publishing and reading world.By We Know How To Read

1
Clay Stafford On Killer Nashville And Breaking Into The Industry 40:31

1M ago40:31

40:31

In today's episode, I'm joined by Clay Stafford. We cover pretty much everything. We talk about the opportunities at the Killer Nashville Conference, trad publishing vs self publishing, and getting out there and meeting agents. Clay Stafford is an American bestselling and award-winning author, poet, screenwriter, and playwright; film and television…

1
🎧 Kemper Donovan on Building An Audience Through Podcasting 1:05:47

1M ago1:05:47

1:05:47

Episode 228 / Kemper Donovan is the host of the All About Agatha podcast and author of The Busy Body, a USA Today bestseller on launch earlier this year. Kemper shares tips for querying and how podcasting about Agatha Christie helped him connect with mystery authors and also provided a built-in audience for his book. 💙 🎙 Become a supporter of the p…

1
Inside East Berlin and never giving up on getting published with Josie Ferguson 1:28:16

1M ago1:28:16

1:28:16

Born in Sweden, to a family of writers and readers, Josie Ferguson moved to Scotland when she was two. She returned to Sweden in her twenties, where she completed a vocational degree in Clinical Psychology (MSc). Upon graduating, she moved to London to pursue a career in publishing, something she had dreamed about since delving into fictional world…

1
We Know How to Read : S15E3 : TROPE-tastic Summer : Are tropes good? 49:33

1M ago49:33

49:33

We put tropes under the microscope to see what they really are and are they good? How do tropes impact reader experience, marketing, and more in the book community? We talk about how we see the impacts of tropes in the publishing and reading world.By We Know How To Read

1
Querying, Middle School, And How Mistakes + Embarrassment Often Lead To Book Deals 47:46

1M ago47:46

47:46

Debut author Kristy Jackson joins Julie and Jessica to talk about her new middle grade book, MORTIFIED, now out in bookstores everywhere! From embarrassing middle school moments to querying hiccups, Kristy talks about her 20+ year-long writing journey, how she found the right agent for her, and how perseverance made all the different to achieving h…

1
🌦️Writing with ADHD and Surviving Life’s Storms with Liz Long 47:54

2M ago47:54

47:54

Episode 227 / Liz Long shares her journey of embracing her own uniqueness, particularly in relation to ADHD and finding peace and growth after personal loss. Quick note: the language in this episode isn’t as family-friendly as our usual G/PG episodes, so just be aware of that. 💙 🎙 Become a supporter of the podcast! Get access to the backlist of exc…

1
The Re-Read: Lauren Draper 39:14

1M ago39:14

39:14

Welcome to The Re-Read: bonus episodes where we chat with previous Better Words guests and catch up on what's happened since they joined us on the pod. Lauren Draper is a Melbourne-based writer and marketing professional. She is a graduate of RMIT's Professional Writing and Editing program and now works in publishing - she loves nothing more than a…

1
We Know How to Read : S15E2 : TROPE-tastic Summer : Microtropes that have a chokehold on us 44:44

2M ago44:44

44:44

Microtropes that have a chokehold on us - enough said! This week we are getting to the subcategory of tropes with all our favorites! The TROPE-tastic summer episode gets wild with these micro tropes, mainly in fantasy romance, but across all genres.By We Know How To Read

1
Brad Ricks on Publishing His Debut Novel 28:32

2M ago28:32

28:32

Today, I'm joined by horror author Brad Ricks. Brad talks about his debut novel Fear Not the Dead, his path to writing and publication, and his feelings on the craft. We also get into playing with timelines, things you don't think about before being published, and why he writes horror. You can find Brad, links to his socials, and his books at https…

1
📶 Using Excel to Write a Book with Paul Indigo 52:00

2M ago52:00

52:00

Episode 226 / Author, musician, and marketer, Paul Indigo shares insights on seeking validation, embracing our voice, and the unconventional use of an Excel spreadsheet for writing and marketing. If you’ve tried all the writing software and haven’t found one that works for you, perhaps your answer is a spreadsheet! 💙 🎙 Become a supporter of the pod…

1
We Know How to Read : S15E1 : TROPE-tastic Summer : What are they? 40:57

2M ago40:57

40:57

Welcome to our TROPE-tastic summer series! This series will follow what is a trope, why do we use tropes, are tropes good or bad, how do they impact book marketing, the reader experience, and some tropes you just can't avoid. This week we are focusing on the 'What' is a trope: a word completely synonyms in the community at this point, but what is i…

1
Preparing For Your International Bestseller: Liv Constantine on Crafting Unputdownable Characters 46:53

2M ago46:53

46:53

In the first installment of the Manuscript Academy Book Club, we have Liv Constantine, the pen name for internationally bestselling sister duo Lynne and Valerie Constantine! Joined by Jessica, Julie, and the Manuscript Academy community, Valerie and Lynne answer your questions about how to collaborate and edit as a team, how to get the best results…

1
We Know How to Read : Stacks on Stacks : The Idea of You by Robinne Lee 1:05:00

2M ago1:05:00

1:05:00

Welcome back to our Stacks on Stacks series, a once-a-month book club. We started this to help us conquer that never-ending TBR, talk more with you, and abbreviate it as “S.O.S.” because yes send help! We will never finish our TBR at this rate!! We announce our “SOS” read at the beginning of each month, inviting you to read, listen, and talk with u…

1
✨ Magan Vernon on Navigating Self-Doubt, Criticism, and Creative Renewal 41:58

2M ago41:58

41:58

Episode 225 / Megan Vernon, author of over 40 romance novels, joins us to talk about starting over after a difficult experience of being publicly criticized. We talk about the need to give ourselves grace and the importance of a supportive community for navigating the ups and downs of a writing career. Megan shares about her creation of the Mojo Do…

1
We Know How to Read : S14E2 : Fans of Fanfic : The Good and The Bad 44:48

2M ago44:48

44:48

We love fanfiction, we love fiction, but do we love fanfiction turned fiction? What are the implications on publishing rights, the community space, and over all the impression fanfiction is giving others. We concluded our series with a more critical view on the rise of fanfiction turned fiction, how that impacts fanfic readers and non, plus more. T…

1
📱Kate Johnson on Zory and Fiction Apps 50:12

2M ago50:12

50:12

Episode 224 / Kate Johnson is the co-founder of Zory, an interactive reading app that merges the depth found in fiction with the choose-your-path-style plotlines of narrative video games. Kate shares details about Zory and craft tips about GMC as well as the All Is Lost moment. Plus we talk about trends in genre blending, and what Kate sees coming …

1
We Know How to Read : S14E2 : Fans of Fanfic : Fanfic turned Fiction 50:20

2M ago50:20

50:20

Did you know you are reading fanfiction? Some of these we all know and love to talk about BUT some of these were a complete surprise. We discover fandoms that have left the fanfiction world, breaking the 4th wall into trad publishing, and now are on the bookshelves today. We love them, we hate them, and we are excited to see fanfiction outside of t…

1
Finding Your Voice: On the Page, In Your Life with Agent Katharine Sands + Jessica Doyle-Mekkes 57:43

2M ago57:43

57:43

You’ve heard of the all-important voice—but how do you make it more vivid, both on the page—and in your life? Enter Jessica Doyle-Mekkes, an author, voice coach, and eloquent speaker on how your voice in your life and your voice on the page are linked, vitally important—and within your control to improve. Listen along for what helps your voice come…

1
🩻 Steffanie Holmes on Skeleton Drafting, Rebanding, and Kickstarter 56:05

2M ago56:05

56:05

Episode 223 / Do you like to discover the plot as you write? Do you get bored if you know where the story is going? Then a skeleton draft might be what you need. Paranormal and gothic romance author Steffanie Holmes joins us to talk about how discovery writers can use a skeleton draft to get their ideas down on paper and avoid writer’s block. We al…

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