#badasswriters by Kathleen Foxx
In today's episode, Kat chats with Carley Fortune, author of Every Summer After and Meet Me at the Lake (which is out TODAY, May 2!) about using a real location in a novel, her path to publication, her newest novel, MEET ME AT THE LAKE, the inspiration behind her novels, creating her characters, how she got her agent and book deal, how she had input on her book covers, her pivot from journalism to fiction writing, advice for writers, newsletters, and her book recommendations.
Today's bonus episode features a Q&A with Aevitas Creative Management literary agent Lori Galvin! Kat and Lori chat about how she got involved in and her favourite parts of agenting, what she’s currently looking for, a shoutout for The Shit No One Tells You About Writing podcast, how agents get paid, earning out advances, qualities that make an agent request pages, getting feedback, the publisher submission process, querying before a manuscript is ready, mentioning neurodiversity in a query letter, description in writing, nudging agents, preparing for “the call,” the importance of comps in a query letter, and how to get on bestselling lists or in major book clubs.
In today's episode, Kat chats with Canadian author Michael Decter about his first novel, Shadow Life, where the inspiration came from, his experiences as a juror in a double homicide trial, his family history and how the Titanic could have changed everything, travelling to international locations and using those experiences, how he made Georgian Bay a character in the novel, research on stockpiling for the story, pivoting from nonfiction to fiction, the importance of librarians, fictionalizing people, title changes, his next books, working with an editor, and advice for writing fiction.
In today's episode, hear how scientist and biologist Rachel Carson used writing to convey a super important message to the masses, which started the environmental movement in the 1950s and 60s. Then, a little bit about writing conferences before Kat dives into a thrilling conversation with founder of the Killer Nashville International Writers' Conference, Clay Stafford. Topics covered include the plethora of things he’s involved in (writing, publishing, education, music industry, etc.), various forms of storytelling, how Killer Nashville began, what comprises ‘mystery, suspense, and thriller,’ why he loves doing what he does, diversity in books and in the conference, everything the conference offers, the awards and scholarships at available at KN, the generosity and Pay-it-Forward mentality of KN, volunteers, the importance of networking, the effect of Covid on conferences (virtual vs in-person), and a little bit about Nashville.
I'm back with more literary history! Today: D.E.A.R. Day and Beverly Cleary! Then, I chat with adventure thriller author Avanti Centrae about her newest novel, Cleopatra’s Vendetta, her Van Ops series, how her ideas formulate, what archeoastronomy is, authors she draws inspiration from, reading while drafting, her outlining process, having family as early readers, her various publishing experiences, indie vs traditional publishing, film/tv, book covers, and advice for good pacing in a novel.
In today’s episode, Kat chats with author John Kennedy about his crime books, The Trauma Pool and The Kill Chain; gender inequality, treatment of mental health issues, and racism in the 1980s and 90s—especially on a police force; researching detective facts and details; using microfiche for research, reaching out to a professional for research; how things were done in the 80s and 90s vs now; choosing a specific reason to write in another time period as opposed to present-day; writing in different genres; publishing in anthologies; writing short form vs long form; competitions; thoughts on writer’s block; not listening to an agent’s or editor’s submission guidelines; digital first publishing; and advice for the drafting process.
In today’s special #AskAgent episode, Kat chats with Westwood Creative Artists literary agent Emmy Nordstrom Higdon about how and why they got involved in agenting, what’s grabbing their attention right now, how to navigate the ever-changing landscape of publishing, what they like to see in a query letter, grammar in query letters and sample pages, their desert island books (see below for titles/authors), choosing between agents at the same agency, re-querying rewritten manuscripts (and how to do it right), if WattPad or Kindle Vella counts as a debut, what makes them pass on a full manuscript, pet peeves about queries, anonymous authors, and pen names.
In today's episode Kat covers two interviews. The first is with Judith Turner Yamamoto, author of Loving the Dead and Gone, covering how reader’s own experiences are brought into the story, how she became an ‘accidental’ historical novelist, her research and drafting process, finding a treasure trove of 19th century ancestral ‘stuff’ to help with research, winning the Petrichor Prize, publishing with Regal House, the found family feeling of small publishers, her article writing and world travelling, working with her husband who’s a visual artist, teaching at writing conferences, sense memory and how it can transport us and open up our creativity, ‘hiraeth’ and nostalgia, and advice for writers of historical fiction.
In today's episode, Kat has a special announcement! Then, a pitch critique for a lister. After, she chats with returning guest Amy Tector, author of SPEAK FOR THE DEAD, out today! Kat talks with Amy about her Dominion Archive series, publishing three books in one year, going to her sister for research on a coroner’s career, incorporating authorial voice into stories and layering in character voice, her newsletter, marketing and publicity, virtual vs in-person events, incorporating themes, advice for weaving clues into mysteries, and using Scrivener to help with clues and red herrings.
In today's episode, hear about how Sherlock Holmes came to live and the Crimes Club that Arthur Conan Doyle started. Then, Kat chats with Julie Carrick Dalton, author of Waiting for the Night Song and The Last Beekeeper (out today!). They cover what climate fiction is, how themes come into writing, the impacts of climate change and how it simmers in her mind and becomes her stories, the nostalgic hook in her book, how she got her agent and how she knew she was ready to query, the importance of getting industry feedback, the cost of industry feedback and how to get support, paying it forward and good literary citizenship, publicity, public speaking, the why’s in fictional characters, her writing craft articles, and getting inside your villain’s head.
In today's episode, Kat critiques two listeners' pitches, then talks about Walter Tevis in literary history and how writers weave themes drawn from their own experiences into their stories. After, Kat chats with Jessica Hatch, author of HOW TO KEEP A HUSBAND FOR TEN DAYS and MY BIG FAKE WEDDING, about:
In today's literary history segment, Kat talks about humour author Erma Bombeck and writing conferences. Then, she chats with lawyer and sci-fi author Sarena Straus about:
In today's episode, Kat highlights the life and work of Jewish-Canadian poet, A.M. Klein in literary history, discusses how powerful articulating universal thoughts and feelings in poetry, memoirs, and fiction can be, and then chats with Ukrainian-American author and poet, Tetyana Denford about:
In today's episode, Kat critiques two listeners' pitches and talks about A.A. Milne and Winnie the Pooh in today's literary history segment. Then, she chats with Anastasia Zadeik, author of the psychological thriller Blurred Fates, about
In today's episode, Kat talks about Edith Wharton, born on this day in 1862 (who shares a birthday with Kat's grandmother! Happy birthday Grandma!). Then, she chats with returning author Teri M. Brown about her new novel, An Enemy Like Me, which launches today, Jan 24, 2023.
Today Kat talks about Truman Capote's In Cold Blood, plus nonfiction novels and character motivations. (CONTENT WARNING: family murders, execution by hanging: skip to 8:21 if needed). Then, I chat with the lovely Ania Ray from Quill and Cup! We discuss:
In today's bonus episode, Kat talks about James Joyce in the #lithist segment; stream of consciousness, how his life events impacted his writing, and book banning. Then I chat with bookseller Shelley Macbeth of Blue Heron Books in Uxbridge, Ontario! We cover:
In today's episode, Kat talks about Robert Stone in #lithist who died on this day in 2015. He wrote the novel Dog Soldiers in the 1970s which went on to be adapted for film into Who'll Stop the Rain starring Nick Nolte. She talks about screenplays vs novel writing and then has a great conversation with thriller author and film industry aficionado Mark Grenside! Topics include:
Today is the first episode of 2023! Hear about Tolkien, who was born on this day in Literary History, then Kat chats with two authors: Marion Lougheed (who's also the EIC at Off Topic Publishing) and Jennifer Mariani. We cover:
In the last episode of 2022, Kat talks about Mercer Mayer who was born On This Day in Literary History. Then she wraps up the year with book recommendations, books she can't wait to read in 2023, a reflection on two things that every writer should do going forward, and then she chats with author and radio anchor Kathleen Marple Kalb about:
In today's episode, we take a look at a very popular book that was published by Lewis Carroll On This Day in Literary History. Then, Kat chats with PB, YA, and Adult author MK Brownlow about:
In today's bonus episode, Kat answers a listener question, talks about Norman McLean in This Day in Literary History, and chats with author Mark Tedesco about:
This Day in Literary History: John Steinbeck. Kat discusses controversial books and themes. Then, she chats with author Linda Richards about:
Today is a special day in literary history! Listen to a new brief segment on the pod: This Day in Literary History! Then, catch Kat's convo with author Mark Schorr about:
Today's episode features two authors: John Byrne Barry and Jill Culinar, who share their fascinating writing and publishing experiences and amazing tips.
Today Kat shouts out to her new writing group and answers a listener's question about synopses. Then, she chats with scientist-turned-author Patty Tavormina about:
We're starting Season 5! Today I talk about knowing your genre, why it's important, and what to do if you haven't figured it out. Then, I chat with author Henry Corrigan about:
Oh, hi! It's me! I'm just plopping this here so new listeners can get an idea of what the #badasswriters podcast is all about. :)
It has been ONE YEAR since the #badasswriters podcast began! Can you believe it? Today, I tell you how this all got started and answer some questions ya'll have asked me including who I am, how I got here, why I do what I do, how I find the time, what I'm working on, plus dedications and thank yous and what I'm looking forward to in 2023.
In today's bonus episode, Kat answers two listeners' questions about Patreon and writing the first page. Then she chats with indie author Patrick Scott about:
Today's exciting episode is all about indie bookstores! Kat chats with author and bookseller Jan Scott, owner of Betty's Bookshelf in a cute little town called St. Mary's in Southwestern Ontario. You'll learn all kinds of things about:
In today's bonus episode, Kat chats with award-winning non-fiction and fiction author, Fran Hawthorn. Topics covered include:
In today's episode, Kat goes over how to weave elements into your story organically with some examples and a craft book recommendation. Then, she answers two listeners' questions sent in via the submission form (link below), covering exposition (which turned into a bit of a mini-course on showing vs. telling) and comps from debut authors. Afterward, she chats with author, screenwriter, actor, producer, and publishing house exec, Phil Rowlands. Topics covered include:
Today Kat chats with Book Coach Megan Clancy and then Freelance Editor Jenny Hubert. Topics covered include:
In today's episode, Kat talks about NaNoWriMo; what it is, how to do it, and some tips to set yourself up for success. Then she interviews author Ed Di Gangi, who tells a fascinating story of how he found his birth mother, who she turned out to be, and how he turned her story into a book. Topics cover include:
In today's bonus episode, Kat critiques two pitches, which wraps up the pitches in the submission inbox. It'll be left open for a little longer, but as major pitch events are coming to a close after #MoodPitch next week, it will be temporarily closing as well, but reopening next year for more critiques. After that, she chat with author Nick Holmberg about:
Today Kat critiques three pitches, then chats with author Rus Wornom about:
In today's episode, Kat critiques four pitches and then chats with Vancouver-based psychological thriller author S.M. Freedman about:
Today's bonus episode features three pitch critiques. Then I chat with authors Karen Heenan and Garon Whited!
Today I critique four pitches as I'm trying to get to as many as I can before #PitDark and #MoodPitch, both of which are coming up fast. Then, I chat with author, screenwriter, stageplay writer, and journalist, Gary Goldstein. We talk about:
We cover so much in today's #badass bonus interview with multi-genre author Phil M. Williams!
Fair warning: There are a few f-bombs dropped in today's episode in case you have little ears listening! Kat talks about the importance of adding sensory details to your writing and how to do it. Three listeners' pitches are critiqued. Then, author Jowita Bydlowska joins Kat to talk about:
In today's bonus episode, I chat with indie author Susan Dennis, who published a memoir about her life with her late photographer husband, Charles Dennis, and who also now writes fiction. We chat about:
In today's episode, I talk about how amazing writer retreats and conferences are, how important it is to keep learning all you can about your craft, and I give a huge shoutout to The Shit No One Tells You About Writing podcast hosts for putting together such a terrific weekend retreat for us. Then I move on to this week's pitch critiques. After, I talk with "the world's most prolific ghost," Daniel Paisner, ghostwriter of 70+ books, 17 of which have been bestsellers. His new novel, Balloon Dog, came out this past summer. We chat about:
Especially for fans of Stephen King, today's episode first covers two pitch critiques sent in by listeners. Then, I chat with Canadian author Bev Vincent about the books he's written on King and his works, meeting and working with King, being approached by a publisher to work on a book, how memorable characters connect us with stories, the "why now" in publishing, nonfiction vs. fiction writing, what catapulted Bev into his career, the benefits of being a member in writing organizations, what he's working on now, music while writing and revising, and advice for writers.
In E1 of my fourth season, I officially start with my pitch critique segments. First, I cover the essential parts of a pitch, then I break down the trailer and premise for the movie YESTERDAY (which was really fun!) and create a Twitter-sized pitch out of the trailer version. Then, I critique two pitches sent in by two writers. After, I chat with author, coach, motivational speaker, and mother of four, Rachael Amarante. We talk about:
Today's episode is all about the blend of music and literature, what these two mediums have in common, and why rock fiction should be more of a thing! Then, Kat chats with author Christy Alexander Hallberg about:
Today's episode begins with some housekeeping items, such as pitch submissions for critique on the podcast, what a pitch is, MoodPitch details, podcast interview booking information, editing packages, and what YOU would love to hear covered on the podcast. Then, I talk with teen debut author Ruhi Parikh about:
It's the episode we've all been waiting for! Today I'm so honoured to feature an interview with the inimitable Bianca Marias about her new book, THE WITCHES OF MOONSHYNE MANOR, out today! We cover so many topics, such as:
Today's episode features memoirist and novelist Debi Lewis, where we talk about her newly released memoir, Kitchen Medicine: How I Fed My Daughter out of Failure to Thrive. We also chat about:
First, Kat discusses how to write difficult subject matter into your fiction or non-fiction manuscripts and the importance of putting a content warning on any of your work that might have something triggering for your readers. Then, listen as she chats with nonfiction author, teacher, editor, and coach, Arnie Bernstein. Topics covered include:
In today's episode, Kat covers the difference between authorial and character voice and explains some of the things that can help you establish both. Then, she chats with Polish author Aleksandra Trynieka about her newly published children's book, BUNKY AND THE WALMS. Topics discussed include:
Check out these 11 essential elements needed to create killer opening pages! I'll go over the things you should ensure are in your first chapter(s) as well as give some examples on what to include (and not include!) in dialogue. Then I chat with Allie Reynolds, author of Shiver and The Bay/The Swell, which is out TODAY, July 19/22 in North America! We talk about:
In today's episode, you'll hear about how you can use genealogy research to mine for stories, characters, etc. Then, catch my chat with award-winning author of genealogical papers and of fiction, J. D. Edwards. You'll hear about some really interesting things, like:
Today's bonus episode is an interview with bestselling Australian author Anna Willett. Her newest thriller (fifteenth so far!) is Lost to the Lake, which was released earlier this year. In our chat, you'll hear about:
Today's episode features two guests: Jack Lelko, author of the forthcoming Christmas Bitch, and Bailey Gee, author of three poetry books: The Many Personalities of Me, Linear, and The Joys of Being Alive. Jack and I talk about the self-publishing process, the inspiration behind his debut novel, writing quirky characters, his writing process, and more. Bailey and I discuss how to write poetry, where her inspiration comes from, using beautiful language to express feelings and process emotions, and more.
What are comps? Why do we need them? Kat talks about this part of the querying and publishing process and how to use them properly. Then she welcomes back to the show author Jessica Payne, who just launched her debut thriller, Make Me Disappear, last month. Topics covered are:
How many of you like to organize all your manuscript stuff (research, notes, maps, character workups, images, etc.) in one place? Adam Bassett joins me for today's bonus episode to tell you how Campfire can help you do just that and so much more! Plus, he talks about building maps for people, writing projects, interacting with the writing community, his work with the Campfire blog and Worldbuilding magazine, and his interviews with some pretty rad people. Then he switches it up and asks Kat some questions about her daily writing questions and character development!
How do you keep your readers turning those pages? They need to feel connected to your characters so they care about them and what they're going through in the story. Characters need to be relatable and authentic, and I'll talk a bit about that today. Then, I chat with author Hannah Orenstein about her fourth book, Meant to be Mine, which is out today, June 7/22! We talk about the book, creating authentic characters, where she draws inspiration from, how to make your readers cry!, how she's celebrating the launch, and general advice for writing romcoms.
Today's bonus episode features an interview with Glenn Rockowitz. We talk about his two memoirs about his experiences with cancer and how it's impacted his life. We also cover:
You sent in questions, we have answers! Join Alex and me as she tackles questions sent to me by the writing community over the last few weeks. We had a lot to get through, but it's all super interesting and great for authors curious about the indie publishing industry! We cover these topics:
Ever wonder how suspense and thriller authors come up with their evil characters? Or how they do the research to ensure they're authentic? Check out my interview with the lovely Hannah Mary McKinnon, author of several bestsellers including NEVER COMING HOME, her newest suspense that hits the shelves TODAY. We chat about all kinds of writerly things in this fun episode, covering things like interviewing your characters, how to make unlikeable characters likeable, getting inside the minds of criminal characters, interesting ways to do research, switching from one genre to another and switching publishers, what "digital first" means in publishing, two new books coming out, virtual events, First Chapter Fun, and tips for building and maintaining suspense in your novels!
Today's bonus episode features two poets who also happen to write fiction. First I chat with Shelby Leigh who runs monthly poetry workshops and assists authors with poetry book editing and marketing strategies. We talk about her poetry, fiction writing, how poetry can help with fiction, her publishing experiences, how she decides what poems to include in a collection, tips for writing poetry, and tips for marketing--especially when you're nervous to do so. Then, I chat with Joseph Fasano about his living poem--which is catching a lot of media attention as of late--his Poem for You series, the difference between writing poetry and fiction novels, his writing process, and tips for new and/or younger writers who are trying to figure out where their strengths lie.
If you've never done an author interview before, you may be nervous. In today's episode, I walk you through the process so you know what to expect. Interviews are part of a successful author's marketing plan. Dip your toes in on the #badasswriters podcast! If you're a seasoned author or industry professional who has done many interviews, let me know if you want to hang out on Zoom and talk books and publishing! Then, I chat with writer Ashley Dugger about how her career in journalism prepared her for fiction writing, switching from pantser to plotter, the benefits of writing a query and synopsis before the draft, what she's working on now, her writing plan and publishing goals, why skipping a step or rushing the process isn't going to bode well, the power of writing groups, a shoutout to TSNOTYAW, and more!
In today's episode, I chat with author Jennifer K. Morita about how she got her agent, how a journalism career helped prepare her for a career in writing, sitting on a book idea for twenty-five years, pitch contests, the Twitter writing community, joining writing associations, becoming the VP of Capitol Crimes, hybrid writing events, tips for mystery writers, and more.
In today's episode, I go over some interesting ways to help develop characters. Then, I chat with Canadian author Jillean McClory about why editors need editors, too, her writing journey, writing dialogue, her experience with traditional publishing during the pandemic, her blog, writing a series and avoiding redundancies, turning off your "editor brain" and focusing on getting words on the page, layering in story elements, things that developmental editors will look for and help with in shaping your story, tips for writers who are in the self-editing stage, and more!
Today's guest is a wonderfully inspiration author who's just released her debut historical fiction novel, Sunflowers Beneath the Snow. It's very timely, considering what's happening in the Ukraine these days. It's a poignant novel that follows three generations of Ukranian women and how the decision of one man has a ripple effect on future generations, and how views of politics can differ based on one's own experiences. It shows how, even in the face of adversity, hope, love, and humanity still exist.
Today's episode features erotic paranormal fantasy author LB Harpdog. We chat about writing through emotions, how his personal experiences inspired him to write a 5-book series (as well as other works), infusing your own emotions into characters, capturing the mind, heart, and body of your reader, the importance of finding good writing partners, tips for self-publishing, seeing authors as your peers--not your competition, and that writers should never be afraid to reach out and network!
After such a great reception of my first #AskAgent session with CeCe Lyra, I decided to do another one to help writers get more questions answered about querying and publishing. Today, I'm joined by P.S. Literary Agent Claire Harris for a fabulous chat. We even wore matching space buns for the occasion! We cover quite a few questions, including querying ethically, the importance of using comps, what her favourite moments of agenting are, having tiers of agents on your query list, important things in a client-agent relationship, and so much more!
In today's episode I talk a little bit about finding time to pursue your writing passion and protecting that time, how the writing community can help you get there. When you're a parent and you write, finding this time is usually challenging but it's also crucial to reaching your writing and publishing goals. After, I talk to fellow mom, writer, and host of the These Mums Write podcast, Jackie Amsden. A former teen model, she got her inspiration for her first book while modelling in the Tokyo modelling industry. She self-published her first book, The Tokyo Cover Girls, and is now working on her next project. She lives in British Columbia, Canada, and recently began her podcast with the goal of connecting with other mom writers to share with and learn from, and to celebrate and recognize the unique challenges that mom writers face.
In today's episode I talk with two guests, both of whom are teachers. First, Ami Maxine Irmen is a creative writing instructor at a community college. Ami has also been involved in teaching how to write memoirs to young women at the Jane Adeny Memorial School in Kenya, and she's been heavily involved in the bringing together of a very special project: a book full of memoirs written by the young women she taught. Proceeds from the sale of every book, called Voice of Jane Adeny Memorial School, will go towards funding scholarships so that more of these girls can attend school, which is no easy feat in Kenya, as you'll hear in my interview with Ami.
In today's episode, I talk for just a few minutes about how important it is to inspire and encourage creativity in kids--whether that's your own kids or someone else's, we should all take every opportunity to help enrich kids' lives--and our own--with creativity. Then, I chat with author JoAnn Conner about publishing a children's book with her granddaughter, creating a book to help kids process when a parent has cancer, different methods of research, what an "author book" is and why it's important to use one, the difficulties in marketing and publishing, and tips for writers when doing research. She also mentions how great podcasts are and how important it is to embrace your fellow writers, which is something I'm often talking about.
Today's fabulous bonus episode is an interview with debut author Amy Tector where we get to nerd out about research and archives! Amy's novel, THE HONEYBEE EMERALDS, released this week, and I got to chat with her a couple months ago. We talk about her work as an archivist and how it has helped her writing career, how archival research is like a tangible connection to history, her journey to publication, signing a 3-book deal after her debut, the importance of having a critique group, sensitivity readers, giving yourself permission to be the writer you are, and yes, we even talk about finding the bones of a whale ear in her archive work!
Today I go over just a few basic guidelines about our upcoming #MoodPitch Twitter pitch event. If you're a querying writer and haven't heard of the #MoodPitch contest, head over to our website at www.moodpitch.org where Jaimie Hunter, Lula Lockwood and I have been hard at work organizing a brand new Twitter pitch event to help you get connected with agents and publishers! After which I chat with horror author H.S. Dilazak about how she got into writing, exploring the darker elements of character, leaning on experiences with mental health, nature, and social issues, figuring out where your strengths and weaknesses are, engaging with the writing community to help hone your skills, and tips for those who want to write in the horror genre and for people who want to get into writing but just aren't sure how.
Are you unsure about building an author website or what to include on it? Check out today's episode where I talk a little bit about why you should have one and what you should start out with. Then, I chat with debut thriller author Becca Day, whose book launches TODAY! The Girl Beyond the Gate is being celebrated with a free virtual launch party, which I'll post the link to below. Becca and I chat about her debut, how she got her dream agent, how her previous career inspired her love of crime fiction, marketing efforts prior to a book launch, what's in the works, author websites, and more!
Do you write flash fiction or other short forms of fiction? Are you interested in learning more about it? Today's blog segment is all about flash fiction, how I discovered it, and why it's so wonderful. But don't just take it from me! I called in an expert, Tommy Dean, author of some pretty rad flash fiction and editor of Fractured Lit and Uncharted Mag. Tommy's full flash collection, Hollows, just released on March 14/22. We talk all about different forms of flash, what works and what doesn't, what to focus on, and so much more. This episode is a little longer than usual because I had so many questions, and Tommy's so insightful!
In this episode, I talk about nasty messages that you can get on social media and how to handle them. Then, I chat with self-published Australian author, C.M. Quinn. We cover topics such as learning how to improve your mind space when getting feedback on your writing, writing a series, publishing with Ingram Sparks and Amazon, avoidable stress in self-publishing, learning from your mistakes, and her top five tips for authors who want to self-publish.
Comps and queries and slush piles, oh my! Get the answers to some burning publishing questions by literary agent Cecilia Lyra of P.S. Literary in this first instalment of #AskAgent on the podcast! Questions were sent via Twitter in a previous call out. During the Q&A, you'll hear Cece mention a couple of things to provide in the show notes. They are:
Welcome to my second season! Rejection is something that every writer deals with. I talk about how to move through it and past it and continue on your journey. Then I chat with author Chantal Corcoran about her writing journey, writing short vs. long fiction, why she's moved from non-fiction to fiction, her querying process, taking your writing seriously, and more. Then I announce the WINNER of the #badass giveaway I ran in Feb 2022! P.S. The fan was going crazy on my laptop again so I apologize for the noise during the blog segment and at the very end!
Today's bonus episode is full of pitch critiques! A whole bunch of you sent in your pitches to me to be critiqued on the podcast, and I got to as many as I could within about an hour. So sit back, grab a notebook and a pen, and take some notes about your own pitch as well as about others. If you didn't send in a critique for this round, don't worry! I'm planning to do this again in the future, so keep your eyes peeled for that. There's still plenty to learn from today's pitches that you can apply to your own. If you sent yours in for critiquing, I will be sending out an email with written feedback, so watch for that in your inboxes.
Do you use story prompts? Find out more about them and why you should use them in today's blog segment. Then, catch my convo with sci-fi, fantasy, and horror author John Steiner. We chat all about writing in those genres, what happens when an indie press gets bought out by another indie press, story prompts, the importance of diving deep into research, and more!
How to use social media as a tool in your writing journey - the RIGHT way. Plus, hear me chat with self-published fantasy author P.L. Stuart about writing a series, self-publishing, blogging, using social media to help launch your writing career, celebrating successes, and tips to get that writing in any way you can. And, find out how you can enter the #badasswriters giveaway during the month of February!
Today I talk about writing the story you want to tell, using your passion to do it, and not turning your story into something unrecognizable to fit what someone else wants. Then, I chat with author + friend Huck Beard about his writing journey, how his agent found him, how his dog Humphrey helped him draft his debut, being out on submission, writing sprints, the importance of the writing community, and more!
Let's talk about the line between fact and fiction in historical fiction! We'll look at ways to infuse facts into your story, when to deviate from history and take a different path for your fiction, and how to do the research. Then I chat with Kiersten Marcil, author of historical romance/fantasy and fellow avid researcher. We talk about her experience with indie publication, her historical series, and research process. She gives us tips for writing in the historical fiction genre and some advice for writing a series. PLUS, a recap on a very special announcement about a new upcoming event for the writing community!
Today's episode is all about overcoming imposter syndrome and learning different ways you can kick that annoying writer's block to the curb. Then, I chat with author Joseph D. Slater about those two topics, using feedback to improve your writing, challenges of self-publishing, hiring a book cover designer, and changing genres to write something your kids can read and love. The blog post can be found at https://kathleenfoxx.com/2022/01/25/writers-block-and-imposter-syndrome/
Find out what the next step is after you've finished writing your first draft. What's the difference between a beta reader and a critique partner? What do you do if you don't have a critique partner or want a deeper dive into your manuscript? How do you deal with criticism? Top 5 tips for this stage of your writing journey. After which I chat with author Jenna Morrison about self-publishing at a young age, using writing to help process grief, indie publishing, getting negative feedback, her writing journey, and her debut novel, A BROTHER'S TRUTH, launching Feb 4! The blog post can be found at https://kathleenfoxx.com/2022/01/18/betas-cps-and-criticism/
What's the difference between pantsing and plotting, and what's a plantser? Find out on today's episode, after which I'll be chatting with thriller author and #momswritersclub host, Jessica Payne. We'll be talking about taking risks in writing, the importance of the writing community and the right way to join it, believing in yourself, having a social media presence as an author, #momswritersclub, plus her path to publication and writing process, and a little bit about her debut novel coming May 16, 2022, MAKE ME DISAPPEAR. The blog post can be found at https://kathleenfoxx.com/2022/01/11/pantsing-vs-plotting/
Happy New Year! In this episode, I get to do my first writer interview with the lovely Hannah Sharpe. We discuss how important the writing community is, juggling writing with family and work responsibilities, how the querying process has been, writing shorter fiction to help tighten up writing, difficult and rewarding aspects of the writing journey, and advice for newer writers. The corresponding blog post is available at www.kathleenfoxx.com/2022/01/04/writing-community.
Today I put my storytelling hat on and show you ways you can infuse emotion into your writing by drawing on your own emotional experiences! The blog post is available at www.kathleenfoxx.com/12/14/2021/emotions-in-writing.
Everything you need to know about the basics of writing your synopsis in about 15 minutes! Many think it's hard to do, but with these tips, you can change your mindset about this crucial piece to your query package. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://kathleenfoxx.com/2021/11/22/the-art-of-synopses/
Officially my first podcast "episode" where I talk all about PITCHES. Learn how to craft your perfect pitch with real examples and exercises. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://kathleenfoxx.com/2021/11/15/the-art-of-pitching/
All about querying and composing the back cover copy or "book blurb!" Tips, examples and exercises to help you hone this important skill. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://kathleenfoxx.com/2021/11/12/the-art-of-querying/
