The Write It Scared Podcast

Award-winning graphic novelist Stan Yan joins me to talk about his debut late middle-grade graphic novel, The Many Misfortunes of Eugenia Wang (out September 30, 2025). We dig into his creative journey, the highs and lows of publishing, and what it really takes to bring a graphic novel to life. Stan also shares how embracing authenticity fuels his storytelling—and why representation matters. Plus,...

In this kickoff episode, I’m talking about what it means to set intentions for your writing life—without the pressure of perfection. I’ll walk you through eight prompts to help you set meaningful goals, reflect on what’s been working (and what hasn’t), and move into the next season of your writing with more clarity and less self-doubt. You’ll also hear about the Polished Page Pack—a free bundle of...

The final episode of Season 2 is a love letter to all fiction writers. We’ve covered nearly 30 episodes this season, from character arcs to worldbuilding to the emotional ups and downs of putting your work into the world. Before we break for summer, I wanted to leave you with something real: a mix of reflection, encouragement, and a few favorite moments from this season’s guests. You’ll hear remin...

Grab my free Worldbuilding Simplified guide.  Fantasy author A.M. Deese (aka Alexis Marrero Deese) joins me to talk about her immersive Dance of the Elements series, how she builds layered magical worlds, and what it really looks like to write through fear, doubt, and procrastination. We dive into the challenges of writing a dynamic fantasy series, how to track all your world details without losin...

What if your novel isn’t broken—just still becoming? I’m joined by debut author Kristin Offiler, whose psychological suspense novel The Housewarming is the result of years of slow, steady work—and a whole lot of revision. But the thing is? She almost gave up on it. Kristin talks openly about her journey from MFA grad to published novelist, including: How her story shifted genres mid-process What f...

If perfectionism has ever kept you stuck or made you question whether you’re cut out for this whole writing thing, this episode is for you. Gloria Huang, author of the stunning middle grade fantasy Kaya and the Ocean , joins me to talk about: Letting go of perfectionism Writing through self-doubt Revisiting your work with compassion We dive into how she approached themes like childhood anxiety, id...

Details on Group Book Coaching with Write It Scared Today, I’m getting personal about one of the biggest game-changers in my writing life: finding the right writing community. We’re talking about why community matters so much (especially when the writing gets hard), how to figure out what kind of group actually supports your goals, and why patience is essential, especially if you’re newer and not...

In this episode, I’m joined by Brooke Adams Law—award-winning author, book coach, and founder of the Writing Brave Movement—for a heartfelt conversation on writing with emotional honesty and trusting your inner voice. Brooke gets real about her own writing journey, from rejection to publication, and offers encouragement for navigating perfectionism, procrastination, and the creative wounds that ke...

 Enter the WIS Podcast Anniversary Giveaway!  Point of view is one of the most important craft decisions you’ll make as a writer—and one of the easiest to get tangled up in. In this episode, we’re breaking down what POV actually is, why it matters, and how to use it with intention. You’ll learn: The pros and cons of first, second, and third person POV What terms like “third person limited” and “cl...

Enter the WIS Podcast Anniversary Giveaway!  Win Book Coaching Sessions + More Prizes! This week is all about writing fantasy and building magic systems!  We cover: What a magic system is designed to do The difference between soft vs. hard and low vs. high magic systems (and why knowing the difference matters) Practical ways to ground readers in the familiar, even when your world is totally new St...

Grab Your Free Ticket to The 2025 Spark To Story Summit (MAY 27-29) Struggling to figure out where your story is going?  In this episode, we break down how understanding your content genre can give you a built-in structure for your novel, shaping your plot, character arc, and emotional payoff.  We’ll explore the difference between marketing and content genres, explain why genre is more than just a...

Have you ever felt like self-doubt was holding your writing dreams hostage? Oh friend, you’re definitely not alone. In this episode of The Write It Scared Podcast , I had an incredible chat with the wonderful Amy Bernstein, author of Wrangling the Doubt Monster: Fighting Fears and Finding Inspiration . We got real about the ways self-doubt creeps into our creative lives, and how—even though it&apo...

ENTER THE 1 YEAR Anniversary Celebration to WIN a FREE 90-MIN PLOT STRATEGY SESSION! DOWNLOAD "THE WRITE MINDSET" FREE WORKBOOK from Write It Scared! Writing is challenging enough without beating ourselves up along the way, right?  In this episode of The Write It Scared Podcast , I’m getting personal—celebrating the podcast’s one-year milestone (woohoo!) and opening up about a topic that...

Download Your Free Novel Planning Guide  Let’s talk about author platforms—and before you groan, I promise this isn’t scary or overwhelming! In this episode of The Write It Scared Podcast , I’m chatting with two industry experts, Nicole Meier (multi-published author and book coach) and Gretchen Schaffer (marketing and PR strategist), the brilliant team behind Bookworks.co Nicole and Gretchen break...

Download your step-by-step self-editing guide with checklist here!  Revision can feel like staring into an abyss. Where do you even start? What if you mess up your story? I get it—the revision stage can feel pretty overwhelming. But in this solo episode of Write It Scared , I'm here to help you tackle it head-on. I'll walk you through three big revision mistakes I've personally made...

Writing your first novel is a rollercoaster—exciting, overwhelming, and, let's be honest, a little terrifying. But when you finally reach that finish line? It’s incredible. In this episode of Write It Scared , I’m joined by debut author Alexandria Faulkenbury. Her debut novel, Somewhere Past the End, will be released in May 2025.  Alexandria generously shares the highs, the lows, and all the...

Not every compelling character needs a massive transformation. Sometimes the most powerful stories come from characters who don’t change—but instead, they change the world around them. That’s what we call a flat character arc, and on this episode of The Write It Scared Podcast , I’m breaking down exactly what that means. I know—a “flat” arc might sound boring, right?  But trust me, flat arcs can b...

If you're a novelist, you might think short stories aren’t “your thing,” but let me tell you—they can be an incredible tool. In this conversation, Demi Michelle Schwartz—author, editor, podcaster, and all-around creative powerhouse— and I dive into how writing short stories can help you: Stay creatively engaged between big projects Sharpen your storytelling and character work Play with struct...

Not every character arc leads to redemption—some lead to ruin. And that’s exactly what we’re diving into in this episode. This week we’re talking about the corruption arc—the dark, compelling journey where a character doesn’t just make mistakes... they choose the wrong path and double down on it. These arcs are all about moral compromise, self-deception, and slow-burning transformation, and when d...

Querying is hard. Sending email after email, waiting for months (or forever) for a response—it’s enough to make any writer scream. But what if you could skip the inbox slush pile and pitch your book directly to an agent? That’s precisely what Amy Neilsen—author, literary agent, and freelance editor—joins me to talk about in this episode. Amy has been on both sides of the process, and she’s here to...

Download Your Free Novel Planning Guide!   In this episode of Write It Scared, I’m sharing my interview from the Be a Bestseller 6.0 Back to Basics Summit hosted by Emma Dhesi and we discuss practical strategies for planning and outlining your novel in a way that works for you.  The highlights: 📌 The fundamentals of storytelling—character, conflict, plot structure, and theme 📌 Why mindset matter...

Writing a novel is never a straight path. But what happens when that journey takes 20 years? In this episode, I sit down with Michael Fedor, an award-winning independent author, to talk about the long, winding road to publishing his debut novel, What It Takes to Kill a Bull Moose , a political science fiction thriller with deep themes and sharp commentary. Michael shares: ✨ How an idea from two d...

The Falling Arc isn’t about a villain—it’s about a character who could have chosen differently but instead becomes consumed by their worst impulses. Their story isn’t just dark—it’s unsettling, raw, and real.  This character starts with potential, but instead of rising to the occasion, they spiral downward—deeper into moral corruption, delusion, or even self-destruction. The Falling Arc is one of...

What does it take to bring history to life on the page?  In this episode of Write it Scared , I’m sitting down with Susanne Dunlap—acclaimed historical fiction author, writing mentor, and all-around storytelling powerhouse. Susanne’s journey is nothing short of inspiring. She went from earning a PhD in music history to publishing her first novel at 50, and now she has 14 novels to her name!  We ch...

Not every character’s journey leads to triumph—some lead to harsh truths and shattered illusions. In this episode we do an overview the negative character arcs and then focus on the specifics of the Disillusionment Arc. Unlike positive arcs where characters grow and overcome their flaws, disillusionment arcs are about painful realizations. These characters start believing in something—an ideal, a...