The Write It Scared Podcast

 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...

FREE Romance Story Structure & Beat Guide From Write It Scared Love is in the air! In this special Valentine’s Day episode of the Write it Scared podcast, I’m thrilled to be joined by the amazing Trisha Jenn Loehr, a romance expert and Author Accelerator Certified Fiction Book Coach.  Together, we’re diving headfirst into the art (and heart) of writing authentic romance. We’re unpacking everyt...

Download the Understanding Story Structure and Character Arcs PDF GUIDE. Learn the art of crafting positive character arcs and tackling the realities of time management. I kick things off by sharing some eye-opening insights inspired by Oliver Burkman’s 4,000 Weeks, Time Management for Mortals, a must-read for anyone rethinking how to make the most of their time (spoiler: it’s not about doing more...

In this episode of the Write It Scared podcast, I discuss overcoming guilt as a parent pursuing creative passions and introduce M.K. Pagano, the author of 'Girls Who Burn,' who shares her journey to becoming a published writer.  Our conversation highlights the challenges of balancing writing with parenting, dealing with setbacks such as losing an agent, and the importance of community su...

Free Download: Understand Story Structure and Character Arcs Today, we’re diving deep into the magic of character arcs and how they intertwine with story structure and plot. I'll share insights on developing authentic characters so readers will empathize with them and want to know more. We'll chat about different character arcs—positive, negative, and flat—and how understanding these can...

In this episode, I sit down with Michele Regenold, an author and certified book coach, to delve into the intricacies of character development. We explore the importance of knowing what drives your characters, distinguishing between their wants and needs, and identifying their fears.  Michele introduces her character development tool 'Interview for Insight,' which aids writers in gaining...

If you feel unprepared for the new year, this episode is for you!   Today, we discuss the importance of easing into the new year, reflecting on past achievements, and setting attainable writing goals. But at some point, we need to get after it, and for that, I have a detailed goal-setting exercise to help you map out your 2025 writing goals! Remember to practice patience and persistence and incorp...

Learn more about small group book coaching with Stacy Frazer and Write It Scared . Season one wraps up with a chat about the importance of learning how to rest, and I share my messy journey through creative burnout and how I recovered. Thank you to all the guests and listeners! So much good stuff to come in 2025! 00:00 Introduction: The Struggle of Creative Ambition 01:40 Season One Wrap-Up and Fu...

Learn more about Group Coaching with Write It Scared. Ready for a dive-deep conversation about the emotional rollercoaster of writing?  In this episode, I’m chatting with Rachael Herron—a trad and indie author who knows her way around multiple genres and isn’t shy about sharing less-than-stellar moments of her writing journey.  We dig into story structure, the ups and downs of writing and revising...