Write Where It Hurts

This week on Write Where it Hurts is dedicated to character arcs, from how to write side characters (and know when to cut them) to managing arcs and honoring each character’s unique voice. Eva brings us back to Lord of the Rings and Katryn calls out a very specific Jaws scene that inspires her character interactions. Sources: Read Atmosphere ! Watch The ‘Burbs! Watch Alysa Liu’s joyful gold medal...

The time has come to dive into the submission process (cue terrified shrieks) on Write Where it Hurts, from the nuts and bolts of sub strategy, responses, and acquisition, to how we handle it all without melting into devastated puddles. Eva celebrates some BIG news, and Katryn has an embarrassment of metaphors for going on sub. Sources: Celebrate with us! Eva’s book, I’m Gonna Get You Back, is a J...

This week, Eva and Katryn revisit the very first episode of Write Where it Hurts with new wisdom–from royalty statements, to book bans, to the case of the vanishing midlist. Eva reminds us all of Ron Burgundy’s definition of diversity (“an old, old wooden ship that was used during the Civil War era”), Katryn pitches cereal book merch, and both find a metaphor in publishing as Hexxus from Ferngully...

After a long hiatus, Eva and Katryn are back this week to discuss taking a beat and rethinking the mission statement of Write Where it Hurts. Katryn soft-launches her Lord of the Rings character maps, and Eva talks about shifting her feedback tactics and being the proud mom of a (criminally cute) Doodle.  Sources: Are you going to LoveLitCon ? Eva is going to be there as a LoveLitCon author! Katry...

This week, Eva and Katryn get real about self-esteem crashes after publishing, from the forever wait for good news to drop into your inbox, to that feeling of having to beg people to read your book in self-promo. Katryn has a new Lord of the Rings -inspired verb for your consideration, and Eva turns into a wacky waving inflatable arm flailing tube man for reasons of EMOTION . *On hiatus until late...

Eva and Katryn dive into character arcs this week, from craft inspirations to the similarities between building our characters and parenting them. Eva reveals her new book title (YAY!) and Katryn unveils a Lord of the Rings-inspired story cartography process for character arcs. Martin Short is also discussed, because why the hell not? Content/Spoiler Warnings: CW for mention of JKR’s transphobia S...

This week, Eva and Katryn talk about social media pitfalls for authors, getting back to fangirling over craft, and BookCon’s return. Eva talks about her surprise spiritual connection to Love Island, and Katryn has conspiracy theories about Regina George and the algorithm. Content/Spoiler Warnings: Kate discusses The Bear season 3 so if you haven't caught up before the next season, skip that po...

This week, Eva and Katryn discuss the ways in which we undervalue ourselves in publishing, and how getting feedback can cause tunnel vision for only the negative points. Eva revels in the second (or possibly fifth) chance romance she’s having with her upcoming book, and Katryn can only be healed by the Elon/Musk breakup - remember, that thing that happened two weeks ago, but now feels like two hun...

This week Eva and Katryn tackle the myth of fairness in publishing, and the sisyphean task of wading through market changes at the querying stage. Eva rethings her stance on a much maligned character in Sex and the City and Katryn can’t move past her anger at many things–chief among them: Isaac Higgentooth: Colonial Vampire. Sources: Check out Eva’s German release for I Wish You Would (in Germany,...

This week, Eva and Katryn discuss recapturing their pre-publishing creativity, parasocial expectations in online spaces, a new troubling AI survey, and building a sub list with your agent. Eva makes her way back to elite athlete status, and Katryn dives headfirst into The Pitt. Sources: Did those of you who watched The Pitt happen to notice that McKay is played by Fiona Dourif and HER DAD IS PLAYE...

Eva and Katryn dive into a number of nuanced author struggles this week, from the dehumanization of authors as a product, to the myth of control when it comes to moving the needle, to the discourse surrounding pen names. Eva’s Ron Burgundy references start to reach Lord of the Rings levels, and Katryn can’t hear the title of the medical show “The Pitt” without singing “ The Pit ”* *Content Notes/T...

WE'RE BACK! This week, Eva and Katryn are back after a long break and catch up on their lives in and out of publishing. Talking about everything from battling a desire for type-A control in the submission process to the fear of losing momentum. Eva gets real about weighing feedback, and Katryn details finding the French version of I Wish You Would in Paris!  Sources: Subscribe to Eva’s new Substac...

This week, Eva and Katryn talk book burnout, juggling projects, and the pitfalls of hyper-visibility. Katryn gets so dark that she doesn’t even bring up Lord of the Rings once, and Eva explains why she cried into a burrito. Sources: Watch this video of Eva at her Grandma’s organized event if you want to cry in your own burrito! Don’t look at this breakdown if you haven’t seen “The Plight Before Ch...

This week on Write Where it Hurts, Eva and Katryn talk about the importance of continuing to create art in times of crisis. Katryn reads an intriguing romance scene featuring our new favorite bulk distributor (emphasis on bulk, pun intended), and Eva convinces us all to embrace our inner Miss Piggy. Sources: If you need to know more about The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit (and you do) Watch Girls 5Eva...

In the 2025 premiere of Write Where It Hurts, Eva and Katryn talk dueling revisions, and Sylvia Plath—especially the possibility of losing more authors to mental health issues and publishing trends in the coming years. Eva details crime boarding her revision and goes full Miranda Priestly about the hot, fashion-forward Witch-king of Angmar. Katryn refuses to let go of the hate in her heart over 1-...

In the 2024 finale (more coming in the new year!), Eva and Katryn discuss navigating motherhood and writing, the dangers of AI in publishing, and curated lists—as well as some big vulnerable end-of-year feels. Katryn is both slut positive and dread positive, and Eva prepares for her annual hot author winter. Sources: I Wish You Would made Barnes & Noble’s “ Gifties for Swifties ” list! Apologi...

This week, Eva and Katryn talk stalled careers and finding your beta match, but find time to pitch a Wicked themed pop-up Ozdust nightclub for the mature crowd. Eva revels at the righteous wrath of Swifties, and Katryn talks about the healing nature of satire.  Sources: Subscribe to Katryn’s Satire for the Soul substack ! Dive deep to find out why Billboard owed Taylor Swift an apology Check out I...

This week’s special episode is from the time machine! Listen to Eva and Katryn talk about navigating feedback in this bottle episode (airing in place of our weekly season four episode in the new format) from June 2024. Katryn reveals all about the darkly comedic vaudevillian murder meet-cute she wrote in a college English class, and Eva gets real about insecurity in the weeks after releasing her d...

This week, Eva and Katryn get more real than ever before about the realities and pitfalls of debut year now that they can both reflect on the experience. Katryn explains the James Franco thing, and Eva sings "Stars" *as* Russell Crowe. Special guest stars include the ice in our cocktails and dueling Lord of the Rings and Hamilton metaphors! Plus: WICKED! Sources Katryn talks about the ultimate FAF...

This week, Eva and Katryn deal in metaphors both nature and Monopoly as they discuss list season, the vanishing midlist, and the dread of not knowing what’s next. Eva discusses either feeling abandoned or bomb-cycloned by her muse, and Katryn thinks you need to learn Brad Dourif’s name. Sources This week, we discuss the recent sale of B&N’s Union Square books to Hachette Subscribe to Eva’s new...

This week, Eva and Katryn don’t hold back about the potential literary ramifications of the results of the 2024 election. Eva embraces the ancient philosophy of FAFO in discussing the attempted whitewashing of BookTok, and Katryn goes full salt bae on people who “hate identity politics.” Sources Watch the launch for We Are Not Alone if you missed it! This is the closest to Katryn’s perfected sweet...

In their 50th episode, Eva and Katryn talk publishing highs and lows, from the pain of yearly royalty statements when you don’t earn out and “best of” list FOMO, to being your own cheerleader to get yourself into book cons. Come for Eva singing Bon Jovi and crafting her way to distraction, and stay for Katryn comparing her estrogen to Joe Goldberg. Sources Come to Katryn’s launch for We Are Not Al...

This week, Eva and Katryn talk about reframing their creativity and concept of success (and failure). Come for Eva’s “fuck it era” and stay for Katryn describing her impossible funerial demands in the post-credits stinger. Sources: RSVP for Katryn and Eva LIVE in person for the first time at the launch for WE ARE NOT ALONE at Books Inc Alameda (10/29)! In this episode, Katryn does a live unboxing!...

In a return from Season 3’s hiatus, Eva and Katryn discuss the hardest challenges they’ve faced as authors this year, along with the long-term market concerns many authors are fretting about. Eva talks live recording her husband’s reaction to the second Twilight movie, and Katryn reveals the reason for her new Swiftie status. *Content warnings: Conversations about depression, self-doubt, and intru...

This week, Eva and Katryn dive deeper into plotters and pantsers, discussing what tools and tricks to best to tame your arcs, plot, and more during the drafting process. Eva regales us all with tales of her launch, and Katryn breaks down all of her drafts in the style of romance tropes. Note: Katryn was having trouble with her mic (mostly, speaking into it properly) and some segments are unusually...