No Write Way with V. E. Schwab

This week, I chat with Isaac Fitzgerald, the author of Dirtbag, Massachusetts and Pen & Ink , known for his compelling non-fiction and memoir writing. As we chat about the fascinating differences (and similarities) between writing fiction and non-fiction, Isaac shares his heartfelt insights on the art of personal storytelling, and even gives a step-by-step guide to creating the perfect mixtape...

This week, I chat with Margaret Owen, the author of The Merciful Crow and (a personal favorite) Little Thieves. As we bond over our feline companions, Margaret shares her approach to crafting vivid, character-driven stories, delves into the nitty-gritty of her zero-draft process, and reveals the one word she can never seem to spell correctly.

This week, I chat with Rebecca Roanhorse, the author of Black Sun and her latest, Mirrored Heavens . Rebecca shares her unique approach to weaving Indigenous mythology into modern fantasy, discusses the differences between writing personal projects, working within established franchises, and writing for TV, and reflects on the important realization that her memory isn’t terrible—it’s just not grea...

This week, I chat with T. J. Klune, the beloved author of The House in the Cerulean Sea and Under the Whispering Door . T.J. reflects on his journey through both self-publishing and traditional publishing, shares his heartwarming approach to blending fantasy with deep emotional resonance, and talks about the simple joy he's found in realizing he can eat ice cream whenever he wants.

This week, I chat with Saara El-Arifi, the author of The Final Strife and Faebound . Saara shares her whimsical approach to 'finding her way' through her intricate stories, discusses the importance of diverse voices in fantasy, and reveals the delightfully unexpected place where she does most of her writing.

This week, I chat with Travis Baldree, the author of the cozy fantasy darlings Legends & Lattes and Bookshops & Bonedust . Travis shares his journey from audiobook narrator to novelist, offers practical advice for writers looking to carve their own path, and shares with us his most “useless” skill.  

This week, I chat with Martha Wells, the celebrated author of many favorites, including The Murderbot Diaries and her newest book, Witch King . We discuss the evolution of her beloved characters, get a glimpse into the world-building techniques that make her stories so immersive, and learn about her surprising relationship with the arcade classic skee ball.

This week, I chat with the multi-talented Julia Whelan, author of My Oxford Year and Thank You for Listening , as well as a prolific audiobook narrator, actor, and the creator of Audiobrary - a platform dedicated to human storytelling. Join us as we delve into her writing and narration process, insights from both her literary and acting experiences, and the intriguing concept of "intimacy kink."

This week, I’m chatting with the ever enchanting Sarah Rees Brennan, the mind behind The Demon’s Lexicon, In Other Lands , and her latest, Long Live Evil . We explore her journey from her initial path to starting over, delve into the nuances of personal projects versus writing for hire, and discuss the most important topic- deliberate narrative tits. 

This week, I chat with a writer who shares my love for making the world a little bit stranger—Alix Harrow, the brilliant author of The Once and Future Witches , Starling House , and more. Join us as we explore her unique writing rituals, the origins of her ideas, and the interesting “treasures” she discovered in an old teapot.

This week, I chat with the incomparable S. A. Cosby, author of the acclaimed “southern noir” crime novels Blacktop Wasteland , All The Sinners Bleed , and more. We delve into character development, the importance of knowing backstory, and learn about his unique favorite smell.

Welcome to the first episode of No Write Way, season 2, where I delve into how "Writing is like a Road Trip" with author Fonda Lee. We also talk through her creative process, unique hurdles, and the surprisingly strange item hanging in her bedroom.

Welcome to No Write Way!

Hydrate!, growing up around books, editing, negative feedback, short stories, getting an agent, using spreadsheets to track novel writing, idea cook time, {technical difficulties in the episode mean a mini-q&a with V!}, setting as character, juggling projects, work-life balance, daily schedule, and more! Listen in.     This originally streamed 8/15/2020 on Instagram live. Follow Victoria @vesc...

From learning disability to award winning author, living and working in Hong Kong, io9 and other work, novel vs. short story, revisiting old ideas, second guessing, explorative writing, dialogue, scriptwriting, description and scene setting, getting emotion on the page, daily routine, and more! Listen in.  This originally streamed 8/22/2020 on Instagram live. Follow Victoria @veschwab Follow Charl...

Rethinking social media, using mythology for personal catharsis, visiting a psychic, becoming a published author, finishing a trilogy, talking the story out, 9 box setup, outlining, growing as a writer, rewriting, breaking down goals, empowering upcoming writers, new vampires, and more! Listen in.  This originally streamed 8/8/2020 on Instagram live. Follow Victoria @veschwab Follow Natalie @ncpar...

Book lengths, second book syndrome, starting with fanfiction, getting feedback, the pressure and psychology of being published young, working on multiple projects, structural edits, starting with a synopsis and a chapter plan, character arc, using music to build character and setting, drafting troubles, tracking character experience, attempting to finding balance, and more! Listen in. This origina...

Getting into comics through Sailor Moon, building art and story skills, choosing which details to track and develop, illustration vs. comics, day to day process of creating a graphic novel, pushing through doubt to finish,  challenges of comics, reference and inspiration, illustrating Wonder Woman, consistency and artistic "glow-ups", dream projects and stories, cheat codes, and more! Listen in. ...

Life in lockdown, from fan fiction to publication, inspired by Scrivener, writing out of order, on connecting with her Chinese heritage, second book syndrome, the story begins with an argument, complicated history leads to naturally complicated characters, changing personal perspectives and how that effects writing, moving on from a series, keeping promises, not forcing a scene, getting inspired a...

Victoria chats about current reads and favorite books before being joined by her guest. How Michael's dreams of acting first left writing on the back burner and then led to other creative ventures, the role of desperation and fear, hands in all the "cookie pies", learning to open up, writing children's books, the creative process, discipline and cultivation, trusting the process, first drafts and...

First grade dreams, fear of starting, the first novel, letting ideas simmer, drafting and revision, shiny idea syndrome, discipline, process, writing linearly, best night time note taking practices, self-care, the importance of diverse stories of discovery and exploration, writing trilogies and satisfying conclusions, telling stories with integrity, and more! Listen in.    This originally streamed...

Working from home with family, accountability, from dreams of being a doctor to librarian to author, ambition, the journey to published, Cake Literary, choosing projects, Tiny Pretty Things (the Netflix show!), visualizing the narrative, refilling the well, using discomfort to unlock story, the illusion of meritocracy, #publishingpaidme, the market, why publish traditionally?, and more! Listen in....

Lock down hair, connecting with international fans, figuring things out on the page, arts funding makes a difference, getting to Spiderwick, Holly's first book, otter vs dolphin writers, follow your own excitement, supernatural worlds, fantasy vs horror, plot struggles, from idea to story, characters, short stories,  This originally streamed 6/13/2020 on Instagram live. Follow Victoria @veschwab F...

20 Books by Black Authors You Should Read *** A GOOD KIND OF TROUBLE by Lisa Moore Ramée  TRISTAN STRONG by Kwame Mbalia  AMERICAN STREET by Ibi Zoboi THE BELLES by Dhonielle Clayton  A PHOENIX FIRST MUST BURN anthology edited by  Patrice Caldwell  THE GOOD LUCK GIRLS by Charlotte Nicole Davis  RIOT BABY by Tochi Onyebuchi THE CHANGELING by Victor LaValle  THE HUNDRED THOUSAND KINGDOMS by N.K. Jem...

How anime impacts Tochi's creativity, the hope behind protest movements, from aspiring comic book artist to author, starting with fanfic, influence of video games, remembering the analog days, hidden influences, beautiful prose, writer crushes, story architecture, rejection, and more! Listen in. This originally streamed 5/30/2020 on Instagram live. Follow Victoria @veschwab Follow Tochi @treize64