First Cup of Coffee with Jeffe Kennedy

Talking today about dealing with agents and editors, changing agents, querying agents - and how no one will ever love your work as much as you do, or will care about your business as much. So I have advice on standing your ground and advocating for yourself and your work. Also thoughts on getting into story headspace, ramping up wordcount, and asking for title suggestions for Sorcerous Moons #5. S...

A bit of a departure today as I talk about intermittent fasting and health stuff, but then I talked about the release of WARRIOR OF THE WORLD, some upcoming bonus content and secret, exclusive stuff. I also touch on the three qualities you need to be a successful traditionally published author, and dealing with fire-drills from editors. Support the show

I'm back at it today, musing on vacation, taking time off, and learning to listen to your subconscious voice on whether to work or relax. Support the show

Quick update today for honesty in the "writing every day" thing - and musings on being hybrid, traditional vs. self-publishing, and holidays.  Support the show

Talking today about whether authors read and what it means to be part of a conversation in your writing.  Support the show

Updates on SEASONS OF SORCERY - including that the print versions are now live! - and celebrating our #1 spot. Otherwise I'm discussing my reasons for doing this podcast, how wordcount waxes and wanes, and why I feel learning to write to deadline is critical.  Support the show

Excited that Seasons of Sorcery is #1 in Fantasy Anthologies! Otherwise I'm talking about dyslexia, technical trials of self-publishing, and rebuilding writing habits.  Support the show

Celebrating the release of SEASONS OF SORCERY today with impromptu conga lines, possible pumpkin pie, croissants - and a bit of information on the tech side of self-publishing. Also a bit about life, Parkinson's Disease, and yoga.  Support the show

About networking and friendships - what it means to be a friend to someone - and an unexpected bout of weepiness over some old friends lost long ago.  Support the show

Updates on the upcoming release of SEASONS OF SORCERY, along with some background on how multi-author anthologies work, coming to consensus, and picking nits. Support the show

Changing agents - what's the protocol, some ways to know a good agent from a bad one, and why having no agent is better than having a bad one.  Support the show

Thoughts today on starting the story in the right place, how to weave in backstory without bogging down the velocity of the opening, and how this is never easy. I'm giving a specific example with the TWINSTAR collaboration and how we've ended up doing a scrape and rebuild with the concept. Also a review of the movie A Star Is Born, which spoils the ending, so beware. However, on this fou...

Warning: politics. Midterm elections in the U.S. are tomorrow, so voting is on my mind, along with all the feelings coming up from the 2016 that was so traumatic for so many of us. There's also a funny story about Grace Draven and her story, A WILDERNESS OF GLASS, for our SEASONS OF SORCERY anthology, and what "playing the bone flute" means to me. And a bit of practical discussion o...

Why I don't do NaNoWriMo - but why I think you should, and some advice on how. I'm giving some advice on how to "train" for NaNoWriMo and keep yourself from burning out before you finish. Also thoughts on competition and keeping to your line. the blog post with the word count metrics I reference: https://www.jeffekennedy.com/increasing-word-count-and-training-for-nanowrimo-2/ G...

With the veil thin between worlds today, I'm thinking about sending and receiving messages, imagination, and transforming ourselves into something else. Also the reverse face of that, becoming moribund and inflexible, losing that childhood openness.  Support the show

Lots of chatty updates today on THE DRAGONS OF SUMMER, Twinstar, Sorcerous Moons, and release day for BARBAROUS, by Minerva Spencer. A bit about Saturday night's party, pic of costumes attached. The Scaper is my collaborator on Twinstar, Jim Sorenson. Some info on my travel to Dublin, Ireland, for WorldCon in August 2019. Also, I ask for some recommendations on Ireland travel and books and mo...

Last Friday I had podcast troubles, it was a wonky day for other reasons, and on Saturday my cell phone died. All of these things conspired to mess me up on many levels, most importantly my writing rituals and habits, which I often talk about as critical for productive creativity. So today I'm offering three ideas for how to salvage a day like that - and how to actually embrace it! Support th...

Disruption abounds today. I tried recording on a walk to the store, and ended up messing up the podcast. This is part one. Mostly babbling about walking to the store and yesterday's errands. Support the show

The second half of the Podcast from the Land of Confusion.  Support the show

Ruminations today on writing fight scenes/battle scenes vs. sex scenes and news on THE DRAGONS OF SUMMER. Also some squeeing about how good BARBAROUS by Minerva Spencer is, and thoughts on revising vs. redrafting.  Support the show

Big thunderstorm this morning - and thoughts on cats, software updates, the movie Tully, weight loss and gain, and updates on THE DRAGONS OF SUMMER. For those interested, Lindsay Buroker's podcast, the Science Fiction & Fantasy Marketing Podcast, is here https://www.marketingsff.com/. (Gorgeous pancake breakfast courtesy of Minerva Spencer, from my weekend visit to Taos.) Support the show

Waxing artistic today with thoughts on living a creative life, Georgia O'Keeffe, the beauty of autumn in Santa Fe and Taos - and how being a writer, what that involves, changes as your career grows. I also share a bit from Georgia that Margaret sent me, some lovely thoughts on how balancing art and the necessities of living. Some thoughts, too, on persevering through querying and pitching.  S...

Musings today on scenes with conflict and building suspense, how that rhythm works and when it's false suspense. Also cat wrangling, ever and always.  Support the show

I'm discussing the structure of fantasy novels, particularly The Lions of Al-Rassan by Guy Gavriel Kay, and whether a story built on human history with token fantasy elements should really be called fantasy.  Support the show

More musings today on The Princess Diarist, along with how we see men and women differently, including Mary Sues and improbable heroes. Also thoughts on reading Guy Gavriel Kay's The Lions of Al Rassan.  Support the show