Storystruck

A casual conversation about romance, spice levels, yearning, fictional crushes, and how two writers somehow ended up talking about this for hours over voice memos. In this episode, we dive into everything from cozy hand-holding romances to the spiciest corners of romantasy, explore why readers love romance in the first place, and share our own very different relationships with spicy scenes. Along...

AI is everywhere right now, and writers seem to be stuck somewhere between excitement, curiosity, and existential dread. In this episode, we're sharing our personal experiences with AI, how we've experimented with it in our writing lives, where we've found it useful, and where it started making us question our own creativity. From brainstorming and character development to book maps, copyright con...

Why are we so drawn to dark stories anyway? In this episode, Rachel and Neno wander into the shadowy woods of storytelling to talk about writing dark scenes, dark moments, morally gray characters, gothic atmospheres, emotional wounds, sword fights, cozy villains, and why readers sometimes need stories that pack a punch. But this conversation isn’t really about “how to write darkness correctly.” It...

Ever stare at your plot and think, technically things are happening... but it's missing something? In this episode, Rachel and Nino dive into emotional outlines and why starting with your character’s transformation can completely change the way you build a story. We also get into how this method works for subplots, secondary characters, and even multi-book series. So, if you’ve ever frozen in fron...

What actually makes a character feel real? In this episode, Rachel and Nino break down 7 different ways to bring characters alive on the page for readers. Great character writing isn’t about avoiding telling altogether. It’s about understanding when to use description, action, dialogue, metaphor, physiology, thoughts, and feelings to create a layered, emotionally believable character. We talk abou...

Whether you’re just starting or stuck somewhere in the process, this is the kind of conversation that makes writing a book feel possible again. In this episode, Rachel and Nino sit down with author Mike Alcantara to talk about the real process of writing and publishing a book—from the messy beginning stages to the “I’m so over this” moment that actually means you’re done. We dive into how Mike tur...

In this episode, we break down how backstory actually works. You don’t need a 50-page character biography. What you do need is to understand the moments that shaped your character into who they are at the start of your story and how those moments are quietly driving every decision they make. We’re diving into a practical, psychology-based approach to backstory, aka, “therapizing" your characters....

In this episode, Nino walks through how specific birth chart placements can influence your writing process—where you naturally thrive, where you get stuck, and why certain habits (hello, “just one more course”) feel productive but keep you spinning your wheels. But this isn’t about astrology for the sake of astrology. It’s about using it as a tool to understand yourself as a writer so you can fina...

What if your best ideas aren’t something you force… but something you allow? In this episode, we dive into intuitive writing is, how it works, and why it might be the missing piece in your writing process. Whether you’re a die-hard plotter pantser, or plantser, this conversation breaks down how to access the part of your brain (or your creativity) that already knows where the story wants to go. We...

Let’s talk about feedback… because not all feedback is helpful. In this episode, Rachel and Nino break down how to get the right kind of feedback at the right stage of your writing process. From writing buddies and critique groups to beta readers, we’re diving into who to trust, when to share your work, and how to avoid feedback that does more harm than good. We’re also getting honest about the em...

Anytime Rachel asks Nino a question and gets an answer involving moon phases or astrology, the advice is weirdly, scarily accurate. So naturally, we decided to do a whole episode on it. Nino (self-proclaimed amateur astrologer with Gemini energy) breaks down how to use astrology in your writing for character development and understanding your creative process. Recorded on a full moon in Libra, thi...

$500 to be in an anthology. A publisher asking for money upfront. A book club who wants a fee. Sound fishy? That's because it is. In this episode, Rachel and Nino break down the scammy, sleazy, and straight-up unethical practices happening in the publishing world right now. From co-author schemes that make $20K off aspiring writers to fake agents impersonating real ones, to publishers that aren't...

Remember being read to as a kid? That cozy feeling of someone bringing a story to life with their voice? That magic didn't disappear; it just evolved into audiobooks. In this episode, we're sitting down with bianca andrea irving, an audiobook narrator and podcast host who's been in the game since 2009. She takes us behind the mic to talk about how audiobooks are made, why listening IS reading, and...

Welcome to the first ever Story Spiral where Rachel and Nino go down the rabbit hole on a book, dissecting the craft, characters, and everything in between. First up: Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree, the cozy fantasy that launched a thousand lattes. Rachel gave it 1.5 stars. Nino gave it 3. And somehow, they both found a ton to learn from it. They're breaking down what works, what doesn't, an...

Ever wonder why some writers obsess 20+ page long outlines while others endlessly create ideas but don't finish them? In this episode, Rachel unveils her brand new writer personality quiz. Each one has superpowers that make you brilliant AND specific ways you sabotage yourself (it's fine, we all do it). Rachel takes Nino through the quiz live—complete with astrology parallels, mythology nerd-outs....

Finished your draft? Congrats! Now the real work begins. In this editing crash course, Rachel breaks down the different types of editing—manuscript evaluations, developmental edits, line edits, copy edits, proofreading—and when you actually need each one. Because if you're trying to fix plot holes AND comma splices at the same time, you're going to lose your mind. We're covering the ideal editing...

Every musician warms up before practice, every athlete stretches before the game—so why are writers expected to just sit down and nail it on the first try? In this episode, we introduce the concept of keeping a writer's sketchbook—a judgment-free zone where you warm up your creative muscles, play with ideas, and write without the pressure of perfection. Think of it like an artist's sketchbook, but...

What happens when a single conversation sparks an entire creative movement? In this episode, we’re joined by Esther Lemmens, graphic designer, podcast host, and the visionary behind the upcoming Anthology of Hope . What began as a simple idea to document gender-diverse stories evolved into a multi-layered creative project blending interviews, art, poetry, and powerful lived experiences. We talk ab...

Ever wondered if you're doing this whole writing thing "wrong" because you can't stick to an outline? Or maybe you're the opposite—drowning in world-building documents while your actual manuscript sits at zero words? In this episode, Rachel (team plotter) and Nino (team pantser) get real about their wildly different writing processes. We're breaking down what it means to be a plotter versus a pant...

If you've ever thought "I'll worry about marketing later" or "I just need a website" then this episode is for you. Trust us, you'll want to grab a notebook for this one. In this episode, we're sitting down with Maite Dalila, a brand strategist and web designer who's worked with giants like Disney, Samsung, and Nike, and now she's bringing all those corporate branding secrets to authors like you. M...

Season two of Story Struck is officially here 🎉 In this laid-back, behind-the-scenes kickoff episode, Rachel Clair and Neno Littlewood ease back into podcast life after a much-needed break and share what’s coming up this season for authors, writers, and storytellers at every stage. From exciting new guest formats and craft-focused conversations to brand-new Story Spirals (deep-dive book discussio...

Season One is a wrap! In this episode, we reflect on their creative journeys, the growth of our writing community, and the valuable lessons learned throughout the season. We discuss the importance of finding joy in writing, the tools and techniques that have helped them, and the significance of author friendships. The conversation also touches on the challenges of editing and the necessity of mark...

 Raymond Foster shares his unique journey from a police officer to Uber driver to author. He discusses his latest book, 'Chasing the Surge,' which captures his experiences driving for Uber and the stories he encountered along the way. Raymond talks about the challenges of shifting from writing academic text to writing memoir and fiction and how he's using memoir as a training ground. He emphasize...

You won't want to miss this conversation about the resurgence of short fiction and serialized storytelling and how everyone can find their creative flow even if your neurodiverse. In this episode, Michael Burke (author and comic book store owner) discusses his creative process for writing short and publishing his upcoming anthology 'Sinister Society,' which features six novellas centered around th...

Natasha Huling, an author of multiple genres, shares her journey into writing and her fascination with villains in storytelling. We dive into the psychology behind villainy, the importance of creating complex characters with rich backstories, and how personal connections can enhance the narrative. Natasha shares how a well-crafted villain is essential for a compelling story, as they challenge the...