Write Better Together

Hi, everyone, welcome to Writer Wednesday with Peggyann Kennedy! Joining us today are Doug and Jill Pray, two of my close friends. They discuss their method of storytelling as well as their many adventures in owning the world's leading Auburn Cort Duesenberg (ACD) automobile renovation and repair company. They are super sweet and fascinating folks, so please give this a listen. Enjoy!

Hi, everyone! Welcome to Mechanics Monday. Today, I invite you to join me as I brainstorm a story! This episode is the bare-bones part of planning: the basics of the story, an initial conflict, and a tiny bit about the two characters. If you'd like, I challenge you to join me by grabbing your pencils, pens, notebooks, and journals together and plan your own story, following along with me. I ho...

Hi, everyone, welcome to Fun Friday with Peggyann Kennedy! Today we're checking out Decopolis, an eclectic and fascinating bookstore with a coffee shop attached to it. It's right off Route 66, too, a historic highway with a lot of history to it. This Decopolis has ice cream and coffee, along with many other things to look at: gems, journals, candy, art canvases and brushes, and games, to n...

Hi, everyone! Welcome back to WriteBetterTogether on Spotify! I've finally figured out how to post videos here now, so I will work on (slowly but surely) posting the former videos that I have recorded here in the coming days. Please forgive me for taking so long! I'm learning! Today's podcast episode features special guest Sean Fitzgibbon who successfully self-published his own graphic...

I am deeply saddened to share that our friend Jon Meyers passed away suddenly on Sunday. I recorded this short message to honor him with your own kind words. I could not read them all, so I encourage you to go to our pages to read the messages from people who wrote about him. https://www.instagram.com/p/DQUtMIAEe_B/  https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=122263938812230685&set=a.122106296240230...

EP 83) Sixty-seven episodes ago, 17 months ago, Adrian Sanders was on our show talking about the power of boredom. Today, she is known as Adrian Sanders Russo, and we brought her back to revisit the topic. Adrian Sanders is a full-time copy editor living in Elizabethtown, KY. She is a graduate of Western Kentucky University where she received a Bachelor of Arts in English-Creative Writing. Her poe...

EPISODE 82) Bestselling author Betsey Kulakowski drops in on Peggyann Kennedy and Jon Meyers to help them finetune their logline for their upcoming novel. If you need to work on yours, there are a lot of useful tips built into this episode. What novel? Our new romcom with a twist of mystery is being released as a weekly serial on Substack:YOU SHOULD HOPEWRENLEIGH DUVALANDRAE VENNA BRENNANNEVER MEE...

EPISODE 81) By invitation, Artist Signe sits in as cohost to teach us some of her considerations when communicating emotions through illustration. We talk about the parallel between storytelling with words and storytelling with drawings. Spoiler alert: Story always comes first. We talk about how the author and artist can help each other arrive at the best project. Peggyann pops in for a few minute...

EPISODE 80) Artist Signe returns for our 80th EPISODE. In addition to the title question, she also talks about her process on two different art projects -- both completely different. Jon Meyers re-examines a life long belief of his. Peggyann shares her belied on the topic as well. Also, Peggyann analyzes an episode of Gomer Pyle perfectly and announces the novel she is writing with Jon Meyers. The...

EP 79) Writer Peggyann Kennedy joins Jon Meyers to discuss what they learned at WriterCon 2025. With over 300 attendees (such as Peggyann) and over 60 speakers (such as Jon Meyers), we thought we'd share the benefits that anyone attending next year can enjoy. It would be impossible to list every highlight and every connection we made, so we talked about a wide array of experiences. Finally, we...

EPISODE 78) Novelist Kelly Beck discusses her writing process, how she chose her agent, why grandmas sometimes guide her characters, and why she helps people on Substack. She then compares how she handles tropes with multi-genre Author S. Matisko. Also there are goats and a possum. S. Matisko and Jon Meyers have the art vs. product debate. (NOTE: Since this episode was recorded, Jon Meyers has fou...

EPISODE 77) Multi-genre Author S. Matisko discusses the writing process she used on her first five books -- from how her ideas come to her to writing to editing to publishing to marketing. Jon Meyers keeps his bickering to a minimum. Emily continues her maternity leave. #amwriting #fantasy #romantasy #historicalfiction #creativewriting #poetry #dystopian WE GET OUT OF OUR BUBBLES. Matisko builds a...

EPISODE 76) Dr. Cindy, the Expert's Ghostwriter does a lot more that ghostwrite for experts. She's not only great at getting those folks to write a compelling narrative, but she's equally great at marketing, branding, trendspotting, and a whole host of other publishing aspects. Also, as multi-genre author she continues to sub for Emily who is still on baby leave, S. Matisko opens up ab...

EPISODE 75) Hidden Disability Advocate/Author Christina Irene and multi-genre author S. Matisko discuss how their chronic pain impacts their writing routine. Jon Meyers learns. Emily's baby leave continues. OUR HOSTS GET THEIR BUBBLESS. Matisko's van meets a turkey. One of them gets out alive. Jon Meyers goes to his mailbox. YOU RESPOND!More talk about our #Coldplay #Kisscam coverage.#HEYJ...

EP 73) Our first guest from the Netherlands, artist SIGNE has created a book that is not a book. She also lives alone (with her horse) in a house she built herself. (She swears the horse doesn't actually live in the house.) As she sits in for Emily, multi-genre author S. Matisko gives girl's girl -- and really pops off with her questions game this episode. She and Jon Meyers wind up inspir...

EP 73)  Multi-genre Author S. Matisko discusses her struggle with a penchant for isolating herself. A lot of writers spend a lot of time alone — so we thought this was a great opportunity to explore the topic — and then discuss some helpful  tips that make help you break the pattern. Or maybe not. Not every solution is right for every person, and that’s okay. WE GET OUT OF OUR BUBBLE S. Matisko do...

EPISODE 72) Lit Agent, PR Pro, Writer Mytecia Myles knows a lot about a lot of things, but today we focus on #nutrition and #wellness, and how they impact #creativity. Then she tells us about a self-publishing workshop/cohort she is forming. AND EMILY BROOKS RETURNS for this conversation with Mytecia. Plus, multi-genre author S. MATISKO drops in to help Jon Meyers finish the episode. We promise we...

EPISODE 71) Emily Brooks and Jon Meyers hosted a LIVE WEBINAR on February 20, 2025 on HOW TO STAY MOTIVATED. We broke the teaching into two sections: How To Stay Thirsty and How To Quench That Thirst.  If you think about the putting a bit of salt on your tongue, that's the metaphor for which we were going.  We give multiple tips on how to keep writing when you don't really feel like it --...

EPISODE 70) Screenwriter/Conference Organizer Carlo Dall'Olmo tells us about the importance of writing communities -- and why he started one himself. Screenwriter Bob Saenz joins Jon Meyers for the sixth and final time as guest cohost for Emily Brooks as she is on maternity leave.#amwriting #writingconferences #conference #screenwriting OUR HOSTS GET OUT OF THEIR BUBBLEBob takes Margie on a da...

EP 69) USA TODAY Bestselling Author Heather Blanton explains to us how her research is such a vital component of her historical romance writing. She talks about how that research has informed her 36 books -- and she updates us with some recent career developments involving other platforms as well. Screenwriter Bob Saenz joins Jon Meyers for the fifth time as guest cohost for Emily Brooks as she is...

EP 68) Nashville Hitmaker/Famed Producer Justin Peters tells us stories and stories and where those stories take us will surprise you. His listening skills, his attention to detail (even in nature), and his faith all play a big role in his success. Without stopping or even slowing down in the recording studio, Justin has now launched a new non-profit called Bless The Animals.  This important chari...

EPISODE 67) Jeanne Bowerman is Sr. Exec @pipelinemediagp @bookpipline @fringepress; Editor in Chief at  ⁨@PipelineArtists⁩  ; Founder of @scriptchat on Sunday nights on X. She also runs or helps run a private beach, an AirBnB, an antique shop, and a Revolutionary War Cemetery. She has two podcasts as well, including Reckless Creatives with Sadie Dean. Jeanne was also previously EiC Script Mag and...

EPISODE 66) Clay Baggett explains the importance of clarity when it comes to grappling with expectations: Your expectations, expectations of others, others' expectations of you. There are multiple practical applications for you as a creative -- wherever you are in your journey. Screenwriter Bob Saenz joins Jon Meyers for the second time as guest cohost for Emily Brooks as she is on maternity l...

EPISODE 65) Screenwriter Bob Saenz starts his six-week run filling in as a cohost for Emily Brooks as she is on maternity leave. When we filmed this, Bob had just returned from a screenwriting conference (in Phoenix) and a film festival (in Orlando), so Jon Meyers thought it would be a good idea for Bob to share with you some of his real life experiences from these two events. We also preview some...

EP. 64) Writer Sarah Vessely recounts her first few months as a paid conference speaker (which, accompanied by her writing, is the only job she's ever had). She previews what readers will discover when her second book comes out. On top of all that, she announces a new role she's training to fulfill at Stephanie's publishing company. Host Stephanie L. Jones  ("The Giving Gal")...