The Fiction Lounge
Welcome to the Fiction Lounge, a podcast started by two writing besties with a passion to demystify the writing process together. Join us every Tuesday as we talk all things fiction writing, publishing, and all the possible topics in between.
Jess and Hannah's Favorite Books of 2025: Q2
Hannah and Jess share their favorite reads of the summer semester. Hannah shares an upcoming release she read early, the pair share their most anticipated fall reads, and surprisingly enough, Jess's favorite of all her summer semester reads is....non-fiction?!
SHOW NOTES
Hack Your Writing Process
Hannah and Jess share their tips on how to make your writing process more productive, but not the typical kind of productivity. They discuss the kind of productivity that isn't measured but brings life to every writing session.
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Don't forget to follow us on social media: @thefictionlounge on Instagram, TikTok, and Threads! And you can always visit our website!
Guest Interview with Stacy Frazer
Stacy Frazer is a formerly repressed creative soul turned fiction writer, Author Accelerator-certified fiction book coach, and host of The Write It Scared Podcast. She helps writers work through self-doubt, shape stronger stories, and actually finish the novels they’ve been dreaming about without losing their voice (or their sanity) in the process. When she’s not writing, reading, or cheering on writers, you can find her crafting with her daughter, hanging out with goats, or on the trail with her goofy love-pups.
Do you have feedback or episode requests for us? Fill out this form to let us kno...
Hannah and Jess's Writing Styles
Jess and Hannah talk about their writing styles–from outlining to drafting and rewriting, and more!
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Don't forget to follow us on social media: @thefictionlounge on Instagram, TikTok, and Threads! And you can always visit our website!
The Challenges of the Writing Industry
Hannah and Jess discuss the unique challenges facing writers today, such as generative AI, oversaturation of the market, and more.
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Don't forget to follow us on social media: @thefictionlounge on Instagram, TikTok, and Threads! And you can always visit our website!
Q&A Episode
Hannah and Jess answer author questions!
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Don't forget to follow us on social media: @thefictionlounge on Instagram, TikTok, and Threads! And you can always visit our website!
Invoking Curiosity and Suspense in Your Story
Curiosity, tension, and suspense: which is which and how to use each one? Hannah and Jess break down the differences, discus the importance of each, and provide practical steps to help you build tension in your own story!
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Don't forget to follow us on social media: @thefictionlounge on Instagram, TikTok, and Threads! And you can always visit our website!
SHOW NOTES
Jane Friedman Blog: The Importance of Curiosity and Tension in Storytelling
Writ...
Resilience as a Writer
Hannah and Jess talk about the areas in which you will need resilience during your writing journey, as well as encouraging words for you and practical tips for how to build resilience.
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Don't forget to follow us on social media: @thefictionlounge on Instagram, TikTok, and Threads! And you can always visit our website!
SHOW NOTES
A Writer's Guide to Resistance by Alice Fowler
Hannah Kaner on Writing Resistance
Guest Interview with Jasmine Carolina
In this episode, Hannah and Jess interview author Jasmine Carolina. As a practiced self-published author, she brings her self publishing perspective with lots of helpful advice for writers just starting out or writers who are returning to the work after a long break.
Jasmine De La Cruz, an Angeleno born and raised, is a wife and dog mom to two hellions, Maiya and Chloe. She has written as Jasmine Carolina since 2014, and has published five Young Adult and New Adult Contemporary novels to date: Losing Me, Never Let Me Go, Almost Everything, Unbroken, and Take It All. Jasmine...
Writing from the Wound
Hannah and Jess discuss the power of identifying the wounds our characters carry and how it impacts the way we write them. Hannah gives a homework challenge at the end of the episode, so make sure to have your pen and paper ready.
Do you have feedback or episode requests for us? Fill out this form to let us know.
Don't forget to follow us on social media: @thefictionlounge on Instagram, TikTok, and Threads! And you can always visit our website!
SHOW NOTES
Write From The Wound, Edit From The Scar (Heather Demetrios)
Intentionality in Writing
Jess and Hannah discuss how to be intentional about the editorial choices you make when working on your novel. No matter what genre you're working in, intentionality is important to the craft. Hannah and Jess explain intentionality, give literary examples, provide practical tips for being intentional as a writer, and more!
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Don't forget to follow us on social media: @thefictionlounge on Instagram, TikTok, and Threads! And you can always visit our website!
A Breakdown of Genre
Genres can often be confusing when you're trying to find a way to apply the concept to your book. How do you know which genre is the best fit? What about when it feels like genres are blending together? Why is genre important, and how does it impact my bottom line as an author? Hannah and Jess answer these questions and more!
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Don't forget to follow us on social media: @thefictionlounge on Instagram, TikTok, and Threads! And you can always visit our website!
SHOW NOTES
Infographic on Literary, Upmarket, and C...
Author Platforms: Interview with BookWorks
Join Hannah and Jess as they interview Nicole Meier and Gretchen Schaffer of Book Works about all things author platform! How do you start one? When do you start one? What do you post? Do you need a social media following to be successful? Gretchen and Nicole answer these questions and more!
Nicole Meier and Gretchen Schaffer are the duo behind Book Works, dedicated to empowering authors through expert book coaching and branding strategies. Part book coaches, part branding experts, they help fiction writers develop strong author platforms and pitch strategies to stand out in the writing world.
Nicole Meier is a certified book coach and author of four upmarket novels, including...
Jess and Hannah's Favorite Books of 2025: Q1
Jess and Hannah discuss their top four books of the first quarter of the year, each bringing an honorary mention as well!
We want to make a note to apologize for Jess's audio quality, as she was recording this during a thunderstorm and sounds like she's a First Time Caller into a radio show. (Pun fully intended.)
SHOW NOTES
Hannah's Book Picks:
Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros
Funny Story by Emily Henry
The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christine Lefteri
One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This by Omar El Akkad
First Time Caller by B.K. Borison
<...Comp Titles
Hannah and Jess discuss the details of what goes into choosing comp titles for your book, what agents are looking for versus publishers, and a few tips on how to find titles to get you started.
Do you have feedback or episode requests for us? Fill out this form to let us know.
Don't forget to follow us on social media: @thefictionlounge on Instagram, TikTok, and Threads! And you can always visit our website!
SHOW NOTES
Penguin Random House on Comp Titles
Blue Pencil Agency on Comp Titles
<...Guest Interview with Carmela Dutra
In this episode, Hannah and Jess interview author Carmela Dutra, an author releasing a traditionally published novel this fall. She gives insight into the querying process and how she knew her agent was the one, and warns against common mistakes in querying.
Hailing from the Bay Area of California, Carmela Dutra cherishes her family, rainy days, and making others laugh.
After years of working on her award-winning indie children’s picture books, she transitioned into crafting cozy mysteries filled with emotion, humor and heart.
When she's not penning her latest tale, Carmela enjoys sk...
The Querying Process
Hannah and Jess discuss the mental toll of querying and how to prepare, give suggestions on what resources assist the querying process, talk about how to strategize and find agents, and so much more! Plus, Jess provides a fun "hack" for the inevitable rejections authors face in the process.
Do you have feedback or episode requests for us? Fill out this form to let us know.
Don't forget to follow us on social media: @thefictionlounge on Instagram, TikTok, and Threads! And you can always visit our website!
SHOW NOTES
The Artist's...
Writing Your Query Letter
Hannah and Jess get specific about the key points of writing a query letter, what to include, what to exclude, and more!
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Don't forget to follow us on social media: @thefictionlounge on Instagram, TikTok, and Threads! And you can always visit our website!
SHOW NOTES
Jane Friedman on Query Letters
Q&A Episode
Hannah and Jess answer anonymously submitted questions about all parts of the writing process. Want your question to be featured next round? Don't forget to fill out our form with anything you want us to address in the podcast!
Do you have feedback or episode requests for us? Fill out this form to let us know.
Don't forget to follow us on social media: @thefictionlounge on Instagram, TikTok, and Threads! And you can always visit our website!
SHOW NOTES
City Summer, Country Summer by Kiese Laymon (author) and Alexis Franklin (illustrator)<...
Loglines and Elevator Pitches
Hannah and Jess navigate the tricky world of log lines and elevator pitches: what they are, what purpose they serve, and what best to include within them. They also give real-world examples of log lines and discuss why they work.
TW: There is mention of SA in this episode. Hannah will prepare anyone who needs to skip, and gives the appropriate amount of time to fast forward.
Do you have feedback or episode requests for us? Fill out this form to let us know.
Don't forget to follow us on social media: @thefictionlounge...
Hannah and Jess Get Interviewed!
Guest interviewer Jordan asks Jess and Hannah about their writing journeys, spoiler-free synopses of their books, and even asks about the most unconventional writing advice they've gotten!
Do you have feedback or episode requests for us? Fill out this form to let us know.
Don't forget to follow us on social media: @thefictionlounge on Instagram, TikTok, and Threads! And you can always visit our website!
Finding Your Authorial Voice
Hannah and Jess explore the ever-elusive concept of authorial voice, bringing practical advice to an abstract conversation, and talking through real examples.
Do you have feedback or episode requests for us? Fill out this form to let us know.
Don't forget to follow us on social media: @thefictionlounge on Instagram, TikTok, and Threads! And you can always visit our website!
SHOW NOTES
Random House Article on Voice
Voice First by Sonya Huber
Editing: How Do You Know When You're Done?
Jess and Hannah discuss the signs they follow when deciding if the manuscript is truly finished, as well as different strategies to make sure you're getting the most out of your editing time before it's time to move to the next phase.
Do you have feedback or episode requests for us? Fill out this form to let us know.
Don't forget to follow us on social media: @thefictionlounge on Instagram, TikTok, and Threads! And you can always visit our website!
SHOW NOTES
Sarah Cannon: How to Know When Your Book is...
Editing: Feedback (Alpha Readers, Beta Readers, and Editors)
Hannah and Jess discuss the importance of seeking feedback as well as taking it, spend a bit of time discussing sensitivity readers, give input on how to get the most of alpha and beta readers, and discuss the value of critique partners and feedback groups.
Do you have feedback or episode requests for us? Fill out this form to let us know.
Don't forget to follow us on social media: @thefictionlounge on Instagram, TikTok, and Threads! And you can always visit our website!
SHOW NOTES
Jane Friedman: What to Ask Your...
Editing: The Second Pass (Reading Like a Writer)
Jess and Hannah discuss the second pass of editing: how to edit at the line level, what to look for, and all that comes with a deeper dive into edits!
Do you have feedback or episode requests for us? Fill out this form to let us know.
Don't forget to follow us on social media: @thefictionlounge on Instagram, TikTok, and Threads! And you can always visit our website!
SHOW NOTES
Jane Friedman: What to Ask Your Beta Readers
Between the Lines: Feedback Partners
Professional Editing Resources
<...Editing: The First Pass (Reading Like a Reader)
Hannah and Jess discuss the first phase of editing, where you consider elements like story structure, world building (setting), character, and more. They discuss their own approaches and share important must-haves for this phase of the process.
Do you have feedback or episode requests for us? Fill out this form to let us know.
Don't forget to follow us on social media: @thefictionlounge on Instagram, TikTok, and Threads! And you can always visit our website!
Editing: How to Pre-Edit
Hannah and Jess discuss how they each approach preparing their manuscripts to be edited. They also talk about the difference between different types of editing, and give suggestions on how to approach this "pre-edit" process in a way that works best for you!
Do you have feedback or episode requests for us? Fill out this form to let us know.
Don't forget to follow us on social media: @thefictionlounge on Instagram, TikTok, and Threads! And you can always visit our website!
SHOW NOTES
Tiffany Yates Martin website
TFL S1...
Guest Interview with Aubrey Reverie
Join Hannah and Jess as they interview their FIRST guest on the podcast. They talk all things writing process!
Aubrey B. (Aubrey Reverie) was born and raised in a working-class, small Appalachian town, and like most kids from the sticks, dreamt of leaving that town in the dust the day she turned 18.
She got as far as West Virginia University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Journalism with a minor in Creative Writing. While enrolled, she placed as runner up in the university’s Waitman Barbe Creative Writing Awards with a piece of cre...
Fix Your Draft: Symbolism and Themes
Hannah and Jess discuss what themes and symbols are, as well as how to incorporate them in your draft after you've finished writing it.
And Jess would like to make sure the record is corrected: she is 65th on the list for her Onyx Storm library hold.
Do you have feedback or episode requests for us? Fill out this form to let us know.
Don't forget to follow us on social media: @thefictionlounge on Instagram, TikTok, and Threads! And you can always visit our website!
SHOW NOTES
"Fix Your Draft" Series: Fixing Pace, Dialogue, and Repetition in Plot
Fixing your draft isn't always easy; where does one begin? This series hopes to help you figure out where to start. Hannah and Jess talk all things pace, dialogue, and repetition in plot!
If you want to participate in our feedback form, click here.
Don't forget to follow us on social media: @thefictionlounge on Instagram, TikTok, and Threads! And you can always visit our website!
SHOW NOTES
"Fix Your Draft" Series: Show vs. Tell
In this first episode of our three-part "Fix Your Draft" series, Jess and Hannah talk about the difference between "Show and Tell" and "Show vs. Tell". And these writing wins are ICONIC!
Do you have feedback or episode requests for us? Fill out this form to let us know.
Don't forget to follow us on social media: @thefictionlounge on Instagram, TikTok, and Threads! And you can always visit our website!
SHOW NOTES
Writers.com: Show Don't Tell
Story Structure: A Deep Dive
Hannah and Jess do a deep dive into story structure, Hannah provides a real-life book example to explores its structure, and they review the more popular story structures out there, with a discussion on experimenting with structure as a more experienced writer.
Don't forget to follow us on social media: @thefictionlounge on Instagram, TikTok, and Threads! And you can always visit our website!
SHOW NOTES
What is story structure? (Article)
Story Structure Guide
Scene Work
Jess and Hannah talk more in-depth about scene work, go off-topic about the new Wicked movie (it was new at the time of recording!), and Jess issues a writing challenge to our listeners.
Don't forget to follow us on social media: @thefictionlounge on Instagram, TikTok, and Threads! And you can always visit our website!
SHOW NOTES
Stephanie Danler's “The Middle Third: Beats” Article
Story by Robert McKee (Bookshop)
Jane Friedman on The Fundamentals of Writing a Scene
Developing a Scene Outline for Your Novel
Neurodivergent Writing Tips
Jess and Hannah are back with a second season of the Fiction Lounge! Join the duo as they discuss what it's like to be a neurodivergent writer, and share tips and tricks they've collected along the way.
Don't forget to follow us on social media: @thefictionlounge on Instagram, TikTok, and Threads! And you can always visit our website!
Bonus Episode: Hannah and Jess's 2024 Reads
Join Hannah and Jess as they discuss their favorite books of the year!
The Power of Writing Rituals
Hannah and Jess share the power and importance of ritual, teach about meditation and its benefits for writers, and discuss their own personal writing rituals.
SHOW NOTES
Beethoven Blues by Jon Batiste
Tips to Improve Your Writing
Hannah and Jess discuss some tips and tricks to improve your writing, talk about the joys of drafting, and even give some tips on criticism.
SHOW NOTES
The Elements of Style by E.B. White and William Strunk Jr.
English Grammar for Dummies
Book Activism
Hannah and Jess share different ways you can be a book activist and fight against book banning, as well as inform listeners about systemic issues within the book publishing industry.
SHOW NOTES
The Free Press: The Fight for Future Publishing
Teachers College Columbia University: What You Need to Know About the Book Bans Sweeping the US
American Library Association: Banned Books Week Ideas and Resources
PEN America: 5 Ways to Fight Book Bans
NYT: Just How White is the Publishing Industry?
NYT: How the Push to...
Editing
Hannah and Jess discuss how they approach their novel edits. Why do some writers edit in "layers"? And what does that mean in the first place? Jess and Hannah demystify the editing process with some laughs along the way.
*NOTE: When discussing AI, we want to make it clear that our conversation about utilizing it responsibly also means we need to remind our listeners of the impact AI can have on the environment. Use these tools wisely.
SHOW NOTES
Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS)
Gina Denny on Patreon
Drafting
Join Hannah and Jess as they discuss the details of drafting! The first draft is such a mountain of intimidations for new writers, so Jess and Hannah take time to demystify the "woes of the first draft".
Don't forget to join us every Tuesday, and don't forget to follow us on social media: @thefictionlounge on Instagram, TikTok, and Threads! And you can always visit our website!
SHOW NOTES
Gina Denny's Six Stages of Editing on TikTok
