WriterDojo

During the hiatus, our hosts authors Steve Diamond and Larry Correia attended the Writers Cantina (2025) and recorded their panels on giving advice for other writers. Includes some great questions during the Q&A portion of the show.

If you would like to join our supporters, you can support this podcast with a small monthly donation to help sustain future episodes at Patreon.com/WriterDojo (note: this is the new support link!)

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This week's episode is sponsored by our beautiful Patreon Supporters- thank you, we love you. -----------------------------------

"Word Mercenaries" (the...

During the hiatus, our hosts authors Steve Diamond and Larry Correia attended the Writers Cantina (2025) and recorded their panels on giving advice for other writers. Includes some great questions during the Q&A portion of the show. (This also includes the origin story for Dignity Johnson and the ISN!)

If you would like to join our supporters, you can support this podcast with a small monthly donation to help sustain future episodes at Patreon.com/WriterDojo (note: this is the new support link!)

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This week's episode is sponsored by: our beautiful Patreon S...

During the hiatus, Larry continued his experiments in discovery writing to finish books 1&2 for his new progression fantasy series. This week our hosts authors Steve Diamond and Larry Correia talk about the overall process and discuss what he's learned and more about the differences between this and plotting. Which one is better? Is it possible to use both?

If you would like to join our supporters, you can support this podcast with a small monthly donation to help sustain future episodes at Patreon.com/WriterDojo (

Anthology submissions are a different beast from novel queries; tighter themes, harder deadlines, and a slush pile that seems to either moves fast or not at all. In this episode, hosts/authors Steve Diamond and Larry Correia break down the dos and don'ts of getting your short fiction picked: what editors actually want, formatting mistakes that get you an instant pass, and how to handle rejection without torching the relationship for next time.

If you would like to join our supporters, you can support this podcast with a small monthly donation to help sustain future episodes at...

We're baaaack! (We've missed you too)

This week we catch up with our hosts authors Steve Diamond and Larry Correia and find out what's been happening, what's currently happening, and what's going to be happening.

If you would like to join our supporters, you can support this podcast with a small monthly donation to help sustain future episodes at Patreon.com/WriterDojo (

At last! Hosts/authors Larry Correia and Steve Diamond finally got the opportunity to sit down with Author/Youtuber the Critical Drinker to discuss writing. (Did you know Drinker has a nine book series already??) They discuss their processes, some of the differences between writing in the UK vs the USA and a whole lot more. (This one has some naughty no-no words because I am NOT going to be the guy that censors the Critical Drinker. You've been warned) 

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*the Heart of the Mountain* by Larry Correia (the final book in the Saga of th...

In this week's episode, literary luminaries Steve Diamond and Larry Correia unravel prose's purpose in an attempt to illuminate its role as both muse and mirror. They delve into its alchemy, transforming thought into beauty and emotion into art, guiding writers to wield their words as both brushstrokes and blades, crafting worlds that shimmer with meaning and truth.

If you would like to join the ranks of our supporters, we appreciate it! However, Anchor (now Spotify for Podcasters) has decided that listener support is overrated and they've done away with it. Maybe if you see us in...

It's been about a month now of seeing how the other half lives, so hosts Steve Diamond & Larry Correia are going to discuss how Larry likes discovery writing. Along the way, they'll share tip and insights and compare to the two methods. 

If you would like to join the ranks of our supporters, we appreciate it! However, Anchor (now Spotify for Podcasters) has decided that listener support is overrated and they've done away with it. Maybe if you see us in person you can buy us a delicious taco or something. 

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This week's ep...

This week hosts/authors Steve Diamond and Larry Correia continue their discussion of some of their favorite horror movies and look at what they can learn from them as writers. (Spoilers!) 

If you would like to join our supporters, you can support this podcast with a small monthly donation to help sustain future episodes at: https://anchor.fm/writerdojo

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This week's episode is sponsored by *What Hellhounds Dream* (by Steve Diamond)- available on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3UDFyaE (affiliate link)

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"Word Mercenaries" (the WriterDojo theme) is by Craig N...

After a brief intermission, we're back! This week hosts/authors Steve Diamond and Larry Correia take a look at some of their favorite horror movies and look at what they can learn from them as writers. (Spoilers!)

 If you would like to join our supporters, you can support this podcast with a small monthly donation to help sustain future episodes at: https://anchor.fm/writerdojo ______________________

This week's episode is sponsored by *Dead Girl* (by Craig Nybo)- available on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4aE0Kmr (affiliate link) 

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"Word Mercenaries" (the WriterDojo th...

In this week's episode, hosts/Authors Steve Diamond & Larry Correia dive into the pros and cons of releasing an author's definitive edition of a popular book. They explore how these special editions can offer deeper insights, refined storytelling, and added content, while also considering potential downsides like changing beloved elements or conflicting with fans' original experiences.

If you would like to join the ranks of our supporters, you can support this podcast with a small monthly donation to help sustain future episodes at: https://anchor.fm/writerdojo

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*Residue* by Steve Diamond (the revised...

his week our hosts, authors Steve Diamond & Larry Correia, share with us a zany story about each working in the other's wheel house. Larry has used the Outlining method for his last 29 books but now he's trying Discovery Writing for the first time as he works on his new progression fantasy. Steve is a Discoverer who is working with an actual outline for once. Hilarity ensues in this heartwarming episode as the two friends discover the real treasure is the books they wrote along the way. If you would like to join our supporters, you can support this podcast...

With both of our hosts, authors Steve Diamond & Larry Correia, recently finishing one of their series, this week they took a moment to reflect on what it takes to successfully wrap it up. What are the reader expectations? How long should the book be? How many new things should you introduce? All this and more in this week's exciting episode!

If you would like to join our supporters, you can support this podcast with a small monthly donation to help sustain future episodes at: https://anchor.fm/writerdojo _________________________________________

This week's episode is sponsored by the...

This week our hosts, authors Steve Diamond and Larry Correia, address some of the questions sent in from our beloved backers- and then Godzilla shows up.

If you would like to join our supporters, you can support this podcast with a small monthly donation to help sustain future episodes at: https://anchor.fm/writerdojo ___________________

This week's episode is sponsored by Raconteur Press' *Goblin Market* anthology.

https://amzn.to/4eidX6g  ___________________________________________

"Word Mercenaries" (the WriterDojo theme) is by Craig Nybo https://craignybo.com

Recently our hosts, authors Steve Diamond and Larry Correia, stumbled across a tweet so off, so bad that not only did it invoke The Voice, but it ended up becoming a full episode.

If you would like to join our supporters, you can support this podcast with a small monthly donation to help sustain future episodes at: https://anchor.fm/writerdojo ______________________________________________

This week's episode is sponsored by Craig Nybo's *Red Annex* Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/craignybo/red-annex-a-stripped-down-rock-funk-and-blues-experience/description _________________________________________________ "Word Mercenaries" (the WriterDojo theme) is by Craig Nybo https://craignybo.com

Recently our hosts, authors Steve Diamond and Larry Correia, had the opportunity to sit down and chat with our favorite NASA rocket scientist, Les Johnson about writing hard science fiction. How much science is too much science in your book? How much science does the writer need to understand in order to write science fiction? What would the Baen 'sexiest writer' calendar look like? Just what are these 'solar sails' he works on at his day job and what do they mean for the future? And most importantly, what's the deal with the Professor from Gilligan's Island?

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At the Writer's Cantina this year, our hosts authors Steve Diamond and Larry Correia held a panel about 'Writing Action'. Lots of good questions. 

If you would like to join our supporters, you can support this podcast with a small monthly donation to help sustain future episodes at: https://anchor.fm/writerdojo _____________________________

This week's episode is sponsored by *Mountain of Fire* by the man, the myth, the legend- Jason Cordova! - available now on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3MmR6Kt (affiliate link) _____________________________

"Word Mercenaries" (the WriterDojo theme) is by Craig Nybo https://craignybo.c...

This week, hosts/authors Steve Diamond and Larry Correia return to the studio to discuss 'Problematic Edits'. When it comes to editing, there are good and bad editors. What makes one or the other and can you work with an editor you don't see eye to eye with? When is editing out "problematic" no-no words a good idea and when is it a bad idea? What do you do with edits you don't agree with? All this and more personal opinions than normal on this week's thrilling episode!

If you would like to join our supporters, you...

Another interview from this year's Writer's Cantina in Utah, hosts/authors Steve Diamond and Larry Correia sat down with author/long time buddy Michael Haspil to talk about what not to do when getting started, writing for other people's IPs versus writing for your own, his experiences with trad pub versus indie, and the importance of picking yourself up and soldiering on if you want a career in writing.

If you would like to join our supporters, you can support this podcast with a small monthly donation to help sustain future episodes at: https://anchor.fm/writerdojo __________________________________________________ 

This week hosts/authors Steve Diamond and Larry Correia wanted to talk about Mary Sue. Who was she and why should you care? How do you know if a character qualifies for Mary Sue-dom or not? Do either of the hosts have any Mary Sues in their own works? All this and more in another thrilling episode of the WriterDojo!

If you would like to join our supporters, you can support this podcast with a small monthly donation to help sustain future episodes at: https://anchor.fm/writerdojo __________________________________________

This week's episode is sponsored by *Tales...

Another interview from this year's Writer's Cantina in Utah, hosts/authors Steve Diamond and Larry Correia sat down with author/close friend Josh Hill to talk about the challenges he faced going from aspiring author to published author, about the release of his new book, and about some of the trials and tribulations of doing so in this new age of publishing.

If you would like to join our supporters, you can support this podcast with a small monthly donation to help sustain future episodes at: https://anchor.fm/writerdojo __________________________________________

This week's episode is sponsored...

Another interview from this year's Writer's Cantina in Utah, hosts/authors Steve Diamond and Larry Correia sat down with author/retired Naval Flight Officer, Jim Curtis (AKA J.L. Curtis). Jim currently has 47+ writing credits to his name, a rather unique view of the industry, and is part of the rising force that is Raconteur Press.

If you would like to join our supporters, you can support this podcast with a small monthly donation to help sustain future episodes at: https://anchor.fm/writerdojo 

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This week's episode is sponsored by *the Legends of Co...

At this year's Writer's Cantina in Utah, hosts/authors Steve Diamond and Larry Correia got the chance to sit down with none other than our boy Rick Cutler. We've done interviews with multiple New York Times best selling authors, but this was a chance to chat with a future star who is just getting started, which is a unique take. How did Rick get started, what was his first story like, what challenges has he faced, and what advice does he have for other authors looking to get started? All this and more on another exciting episode of the...

Recently hosts/authors Steve Diamond and Larry Correia attended the Writer's Cantina in Utah and got the opportunity to sit down and talk about Kindle Unlimited with Jeffery H. Haskell. How is KU different than traditional publishing? What are the strengths and weaknesses of each? Who is the KU target audience and what are some of the most effective tactics to succeed? All this and more in this week's episode! 

If you would like to join our supporters, you can support this podcast with a small monthly donation to help sustain future episodes at: https://anchor.fm/w...

For the second year in a row, hosts/authors Steve Diamond and Larry Correia did a live Q&A session with attendees at the Writer's Cantina. Attendees were all writers and they asked some great questions.

(*This episode was recorded live Friday, June 28th, 2024 at the Writers Cantina in Utah)

If you would like to join our supporters, you can support this podcast with a small monthly donation to help sustain future episodes at: https://anchor.fm/writerdojo ______________________________________________

This week's episode is sponsored by *To Find a Tall Ship* by A.G. Thompson...

Ever wonder what got our hosts, authors Steve Diamond & Larry Correia, into the writing business to begin with? This week they share their initial motivations, what keeps them going, the origins of some of their first works (including the first novel Larry ever wrote!) AND as a bonus they share the one thing they won't write. All this and more on this week's episode!

If you would like to join our supporters, you can support this podcast with a small monthly donation to help sustain future episodes at: https://anchor.fm/writerdojo _____________________________________

This week's episode...

Last week our hosts, authors Steve Diamond & Larry Correia, shared the story of learning to fight with swords and armor with Brandon Sanderson. This week they share how they repaid the favor...

If you would like to join our supporters, you can support this podcast with a small monthly donation to help sustain future episodes at: https://anchor.fm/writerdojo _____________________________________

This week's episode is sponsored by *To Find a Tall Ship* by A.G. Thompson- available on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3xlB5AO (affiliate link) _____________________________________

"Word Mercenaries" (the WriterDojo theme) is by Craig...

So did our hosts, authors Steve Diamond and Larry Correia do anything else besides writing during the one month hiatus? Well since you ask, there's kind of a funny story there.... 

If you would like to join our supporters, you can support this podcast with a small monthly donation to help sustain future episodes at: https://anchor.fm/writerdojo 

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This week's episode is sponsored by *Space Cowboys 5* (by Raconteur Press)- available on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3VcFptM (affiliate link) ______________________________________________________

"Word Mercenaries" (the WriterDojo theme) is by Craig Nybo https://craignybo.co...

Don't call it a comeback, we've been here for years! This week, our hosts authors Steve Diamond & Larry Correia have risen from the dead(lines) to share with us just what they've been doing since last episode. They also discuss the differences between hard and soft deadlines, the art of ending a series, and some of the behind the scenes processes that happen between 'the end' and 'available now.'

If you would like to join our supporters, you can support this podcast with a small monthly donation to help sustain future episodes at: https://anchor.fm...

This week, hosts/authors Steve Diamond & Larry Correia tackle a topic near and dear to Steve- Sports. How do the lessons learned in sports apply to writing? How can you incorporate sports into your stories, even if you don't like sports? Can writing people even understand sports people? All this and more on this week's episode of the WriterDojo!

If you would like to join our supporters, you can support this podcast with a small monthly donation to help sustain future episodes at: https://anchor.fm/writerdojo __________________________________________________

This week's episode is sponsored by *What Hellhounds...

We love getting questions from our supporters, but sometimes the questions are so big they need their own full episode- this is one such question. This week hosts/authors Steve Diamond and Larry Correia talk about having your character deaths mean something. How do you craft a death that has weight and value? And do all character deaths have to? All this and more on yet another exciting episode of the WriterDojo!

If you would like to join our supporters, you can support this podcast with a small monthly donation to help sustain future episodes at: https...

"The important thing is not to stop questioning." - Albert Einstein

This week hosts/authors Steve Diamond and Larry Correia once again answer questions from our beloved supporters.

If you would like to join our supporters, you can support this podcast with a small monthly donation to help sustain future episodes at: https://anchor.fm/writerdojo ______________________________________________________________

This week's episode is sponsored by *Dead Girl* (by Craig Nybo)-available on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4aE0Kmr (affiliate link) ___________________________________________________________

"Word Mercenaries" (the WriterDojo theme) is by Craig Nybo https://craignybo.com

What makes your characters tick? Heroes, villains, or just people standing on street corners, minding their own business, everyone has motivations that drives them. This week, hosts/authors Steve Diamond and Larry Correia dive deep into the intricacies of crafting compelling character motivations that drive a story and discuss the key ingredients that breathe life into fictional personas. (Spoiler alert: Larry is working on Graveyard of Demons and discusses several things about the process of writing that book in particular.)

If you would like to join our supporters, you can support this podcast with a small monthly...

Sometimes we all need a little boost. This week, hosts/authors Steve Diamond and Larry Correia took a moment to address a comment from one of the folks in the Facebook group, but their message is for everyone. What do you need to be a writer? Why keep going? What's the point? All this and more in this week's episode of the WriterDojo!

If you would like to join our supporters, you can support this podcast with a small monthly donation to help sustain future episodes at: https://anchor.fm/writerdojo ___________________________________________________________

This week's episode is...

We said we were going to get some big names this year, but even we didn't expect to get this lucky! Hosts/authors Steve Diamond and Larry Correia were honored to do this interview (and producer Jack was very jealous that he couldn't be there.) Enjoy!

If you would like to join the ranks of our supporters, you can support this nonsense with a small monthly donation to help sustain future episodes at: https://anchor.fm/writerdojo

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"Word Mercenaries" (the WriterDojo theme) is by Craig Nybo https://craignybo.com/

Recently an author on Twitter/X had some thoughts about the true responsibility of writers. This week our hosts, authors Steve Diamond & Larry Correia sat down for a philosophical discussion about the duties and obligations of working as a professional author. (The original title of this episode was going to be 'Your Job is to Entertain, Not Lecture People About Your Personal Beliefs, Dummy' but we decided to go with a more concise version.)

If you would like to join the ranks of our supporters, you can support this podcast with a small monthly donation to help...

After last week's episode about First Steps, several folks in the WriterDojo Facebook group had some questions about money for our hosts authors/accountants Steve Diamond and Larry Correia. How do you know when you're ready to quit the day job? At what point do you need to start paying taxes on your writing income? Can you write off your motorcycle as a business expense? How best to keep your business and personal finances straight? And what IS Larry's equivalent to being hit by a bus? All this and more on this week's exciting episode!

If you...

Hooray! My book got published! Ummm so what now? This week, hosts/authors Steve Diamond and Larry Correia tackle this question submitted from members of the WriterDojo Facebook group. Artistically, what do you do after your first book is finally pushed out of the nest? Do you need to try to recapture the magic of the first one? What are the 'do's and 'don't's for new writers? All this and more on this week's episode of the WriterDojo! 

If you would like to join our supporters, you can support this podcast with a small monthly donation to h...

"All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players." So how do you make sure the players in your story have a stage to play on? This week, hosts/authors Steve Diamond and Larry Correia do another 'nuts and bolts' episode to help listeners better craft a scene. How do they each go about starting a chapter? How do you avoid repetition? How do you choose more evocative language to enhance the action? What tips and tricks can you use to pull your readers along for the ride? All this and more in this week's...

This week, host/authors Steve Diamond & Larry Correia discuss some projects they're working on, including the rationale behind them and how the publishing industry has changed, and also weigh in with some personal opinions on some current events. (I believe the term is 'Spilling the tea' as the youngsters say.)

If you would like to join our supporters, you can support this podcast with a small monthly donation to help sustain future episodes at: https://anchor.fm/writerdojo 

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This week's episode is sponsored by *Texas at the Coronation: Republic of Texas Navy Book 1* (b...