Writing Break

Today we’re (finally!) continuing our four-part series on querying literary agents. Whether you're writing fiction or nonfiction, querying without doing your homework is like picking a random person off a dock and asking them to captain your boat across the ocean. In this episode, I'm sharing how to research literary agents and find the ones most likely to say yes to your book.

I walk you through:

Welcome to the first installment of a four-part series on querying literary agents. In this episode, we explore the pros and cons of publishing with a Big Five publisher versus an independent press. Whether you're writing fiction or nonfiction, traditionally publishing or submitting directly to publishers, this episode will help you clarify your publishing goals.

Plus: A roundup of the latest publishing news, including the growing backlash against tech giants using books to train AI.

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Overthinking Couch Topics:

It’s time for a heavy dose of writing wisdom, clipped and curated from recent episodes. Whether you’re plotting, editing, procrastinating or just looking for a creative nudge, this episode’s packed with the good stuff: smart takes, helpful reminders, and maybe a little tough love.

Missed a few episodes? I’ve got you covered.

Featuring:

✍️ First-draft and second-draft writing advice

✍️ Actionable writing tips from bestselling authors

✍️ The reality of traditional publishing

✍️ Plus more gems you might’ve forgotten (or ignored😉)

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Is your story high-concept or low-concept? Understanding this difference can help you refine your pitch, strengthen your storytelling, and position your book effectively in the publishing industry.

🎙️ In this episode, we’ll cover:

✍️ what makes a story high-concept;

✏️ what defines a low-concept story;

✍️ how to tell which one you’re writing and why it matters; and

✏️ examples from books and films to illustrate both concepts.

As always, I’ll share the latest publishing industry news, including trends, controversies, and shifts that could impact authors.

The publishing world is shifting fast, and as writers, we need to keep up. In this episode, I dive into some of the biggest changes happening in the industry right now, from how AI is reshaping publishing to restrictions that could impact book accessibility. Whether you’re a seasoned writer or just starting out, understanding these changes will help you navigate publishing smarter.

I also share a piece of writing advice I give to authors that I’m now following myself as I write my first book-length work. 

We all dream of making it big with our writing, but what happens when that dream doesn’t unfold the way you expect? We’ll talk about how that dream didn’t quite come true for one author. Tune in for a behind-the-scenes look at the publishing industry and for the latest publishing news.

In this episode, we bring you the latest publishing news along with a discussion on finding a balance between inspiration and hard work. I'll let you know where to access tax tips for authors and where to view sessions that took place during the Winter 2024 Book & Author Festival. I also tell you about a literary agent scam preying on authors. Plus, we discuss a significant legal victory protecting creative freedom and highlight resources for creators impacted by the Los Angeles fires.

In the second half, we explore the concept of the muse—what it means to create sp...

In this episode, we take a look at writing advice from Chuck Palahniuk. Can his approach to storytelling help you craft more immersive scenes, or is it too restrictive for your taste?

Music licensed from Storyblocks.

Looking for the perfect gift for the writer in your life? Forget notebooks and pens—this episode reveals five priceless gifts that every writer needs. Best of all, they’re completely free! Whether you’re a writer yourself or supporting one, these gifts can make all the difference. Tune in for a fun and insightful holiday episode that celebrates writers and their craft.

Music licensed from Storyblocks:

“More Jam Please” by Raighes Factory

Publishing slows down significantly at the end of each year. So, don’t fret if your query letters remain unanswered this month. Today, we’re exploring 9 practical, actionable writing tips approved by bestselling authors.

As the year winds down, it’s the perfect time to sharpen your writing craft. In this episode of Writing Break, we explore nine practical, actionable writing tips from bestselling authors. From crafting clearer sentences to developing compelling characters and keeping readers hooked, these timeless lessons will help you refine your writing and storytelling.

Get ready to take notes! Great writing starts...

Your first draft is done! Now what? In this episode of Writing Break, we break down eight essential steps for revising your manuscript, regardless of genre. Whether you're on your second or sixth draft, this guide will help you refine your work into a polished, compelling manuscript.

We also cover major publishing industry updates, including HarperCollins’ AI licensing deal and social media shifts in the publishing world. Plus, details on the Faber Action! Prize for children’s action-adventure books.

There is a lot of writing advice out there, but remember that not every piece of writing advice is first-draft writing advice. This episode of Writing Break is all about writing your first draft. Learn how to silence your inner editor, embrace the messy process, and focus on getting the story down before worrying about perfection.

We’ll cover why momentum matters, how to keep moving forward when you get stuck, and why your first draft should be a creative free-for-all. Plus, a quick look at recent publishing trends, including why some YA authors are shifting to ad...

National Novel Writing Month begins next week, which is why today’s episode is a pep talk of sorts. In this episode of Writing Break, we discuss how turning down distractions can help you prioritize your writing and make real progress on your novel.

We also highlight publishing houses currently accepting unsolicited manuscripts, plus a look at Taylor Swift’s latest self-publishing venture.

If you’ve been struggling to find time to write, this episode is for you. Let’s talk about why your book deserves to be a priority and how you can make it happe...

This season we’ve been covering seven types of literary conflicts, and I thought it might be useful for you to have a bonus episode that has all seven conflicts back to back.

Let’s settle in at the Writing Break cafe and get started on a full episode of writing tips.

Music licensed from Storyblocks

Today we are wrapping up our seven-part series on literary conflicts with the final boss: Character vs Destiny.

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As I record this, a hurricane is sideswiping my city, so if the power stays on, we’ll continue our literary conflict series and discuss, aptly enough, Character versus Technology. We’re also catching up on the Internet Archive court case.

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The Writing Break cafe is open, so let’s gather on the Overthinking Couch to discuss the literary conflict of Character vs Supernatural.

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Welcome back. After last week’s discussion about character vs nature, I hope you managed to work some weather into your current work in progress. In this episode we’re discussing character vs society. The Writing Break cafe is open, so let’s grab a drink and settle into the Overthinking Couch. 

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We’re discussing publishing news today, including what’s trending in books. We’re also talking about the fascinating literary conflict of character versus nature.

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The literary conflict of character versus character seems simple enough, right? Two characters are pitted against each other in some way. This clash can be physical or mental, but it’s best when it’s a bit of both . . . or a lot of both.

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Today we are talking about the literary conflict known as character versus self.

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Whether or not you seek to avoid conflict in real life, avoiding conflict in your writing will make for a boring book.

For the first half of this season we are covering conflict as a literary device and taking a close look at the seven different types. I’ll offer examples, I’ll discuss how conflict should guide your story, and I’ll explain how more than of these conflicts can be at play within your manuscript. 

I discuss the new format for the show moving forward and how I talk myself out of having imposter syndrome.

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Thank you to everyone who filled out the Listener Feedback Survey. I am in the process of reviewing and revising the show’s format accordingly, but there is still a little bit of time to complete our survey and tell me what to do. Check the show notes for a link to the survey, and remember that all responses are anonymous and highly appreciated. For now, it’s review time again.

Today we are wrapping up our series on how to write better than AI and insisting on our cup of stars. Please remember to fill out the Writing Break survey. The feedback we're receiving is changing the format of the show. Thank you!

Music licensed from Storyblocks:

“More Jam Please” by Raighes Factory

We have a Listener Feedback Survey for you today in addition to our usual publishing news and writing tips. We appreciate you taking a minute to complete the survey.

It’s break time, writers. We have a lot of publishing news to get through today, and we’re continuing with our four-part series on how to write better than AI.

Musi...

Since the release of ChatGPT, the number of freelance writing jobs is shrinking. Can writers even compete? I hope so, which is why today we are beginning a four-part series that will highlight several writing techniques that elevate any work, be it fiction or nonfiction. Let’s see how many of them you already incorporate into your work.

Today we are looking at innovations in book publishing and discussing subtitles. The Writing Break cafe is open, and we have a lot of publishing news to get through today, so let’s grab a drink and a snack before settling in at our usual table.

As an editor, my authors’ late-night, semi-coherent correspondence, choppy first drafts, and deepest darkest secrets die with me. However, today I am sharing an email exchange between an author and myself, with the author’s permission, of course.

In this episode, we are discussing book awards, book marketing, and the bit of writing advice Neil Gaiman gave out this week.

Music licensed from Storyblocks:

“More Jam Please” by Raighes Factory

"Cool J...

Tune in for wall-to-wall writing and publishing tips for authors.

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In the last episode we discussed what makes a good opening line in fiction, and in this episode we’re doing the same with nonfiction, some of which overlaps with fiction. I also share some examples of good opening lines from nonfiction.

Music licensed from Storyblocks:

“More Jam...

This week we begin a two-part series on writing memorable opening lines. Today we’re discussing fiction, and in the next episode we’ll be covering nonfiction.

Music licensed from Storyblocks:

“More Jam Please” by Raighes Factory

“Colombian of Latin Music” by Gushito

“The Way You Move” by Sleeping Ghost

This final episode for 2023 is a short one but a juicy one. We are looking at corporations behaving badly, authors behaving badly, and readers behaving well. Because we know readers can do no wrong.

In this holiday episode I share new book trends on Amazon, new publishing awards, and the latest publishing news.

Music licensed from Storyblocks:

“More Jam Please” by Raighes Factory

"Dreaming of Chr...

We are continuing our foreshadowing discussion today, and I might say something about genres that you will not like.

Music licensed from Storyblocks:

“More Jam Please” by Raighes Factory

“Morning Coffee Full Mix” by Bobby Cole

"Strawberry Daiquiri (instrumental)" by Sarah Ang...

We are beginning our discussion on foreshadowing today, in both fiction and nonfiction.

Music licensed from Storyblocks:

“More Jam Please” by Raighes Factory

"Calm and Cozy: Lo-fi Vibes" by The Turquoise Moon

“Little Noir Night” by Humans Win

Happy Halloween. In this episode, we’re talking about book proposals, how much writers make, and other such spooky things.

Music licensed from Storyblocks:

Let's review some of this season's publishing tips.

Music licensed from Storyblocks:

“More Jam Please” by Raighes Factory