Writer Craft Podcast

Erick's free book on Ghostwriting: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/cexki4kp5n   I wanted to announce that my friend, colleague, and mentor, J Thorn, just launched his new book,  Writing Scenes. ​ I'm especially excited about this because  I contributed to the making of this book  in several ways, and I feel quite proud of all I did. One of the example scenes in the book is one I submitted   from my curr...

Resources: How to Book Challenge   Valerie's Services:  https://valerieihsan.com Valerie's Author Site: https://valerieihsanauthor.com Valerie's Facebook Page and Instagram account   Erick's Services:  https://erickmertzwriting.com Erick's Author Site: https://erickmertzauthor.com Erick's Facebook Page and Instagram account   Writer Craft Facebook Group   Patreon:  https://patreon.com/valerieihsan...

Resources: How to Book Challenge Books We Talked About: Thinking in Pictures by John Sayles Story by Robert McKee Valerie's Services:  https://valerieihsan.com Valerie's Author Site: https://valerieihsanauthor.com Valerie's Facebook Page and Instagram account   Erick's Services:  https://erickmertzwriting.com Erick's Author Site: https://erickmertzauthor.com Erick's Facebook Page and Instagram acc...

Valerie's Services:  https://valerieihsan.com Valerie's Author Site: https://valerieihsanauthor.com Valerie's Facebook Page and Instagram account   Erick's Services:  https://erickmertzwriting.com Erick's Author Site: https://erickmertzauthor.com Erick's Facebook Page and Instagram account   Writer Craft Facebook Group   Patreon:  https://patreon.com/valerieihsan Passion Planner: https://bit.ly/3A...

Valerie's Services:  https://valerieihsan.com Valerie's Author Site: https://valerieihsanauthor.com Valerie's Facebook Page and Instagram account   Erick's Services:  https://erickmertzwriting.com Erick's Author Site: https://erickmertzauthor.com Erick's Facebook Page and Instagram account   Writer Craft Facebook Group   Patreon:  https://patreon.com/valerieihsan Passion Planner: https://bit.ly/3A...

What tools and services do you use as an author? Valerie's Services:  https://valerieihsan.com Valerie's Author Site: https://valerieihsanauthor.com Valerie's Facebook Page and Instagram account   Erick's Services:  https://erickmertzwriting.com Erick's Author Site: https://erickmertzauthor.com Erick's Facebook Page and Instagram account   Writer Craft Facebook Group   Patreon:  https://patreon.co...

Monsters are needy, y'all. So, how do we write them? We hear about writing protagonists, but how do we write the villains? Valerie:   https://valerieihsan.com Erick:   https://erickmertzwriting.com Patreon:   https://patreon.com/valerieihsan Retreat tix:   https://valerieihsan.com/retreat Registration closes April 2, 2022. The Author Life Community: https://theauthorsuccessmastermind.com

How is world-building different than writing setting into your books? Do you world-build the same when writing series vs standalones? And what about if you're not a fantasy or science fiction writer; Do you need to bother with world-building? Valerie:   https://valerieihsan.com Erick:   https://erickmertzwriting.com Patreon:   https://patreon.com/valerieihsan Retreat tix:   https://valerieihsan.co...

What's the difference between a retreat and a residency? Valerie:  https://valerieihsan.com Erick:  https://erickmertzwriting.com Patreon:  https://patreon.com/valerieihsan Retreat tix:  https://valerieihsan.com/retreat Registration closes April 2, 2022. The Author Success Mastermind group: https://theauthorsuccessmastermind.com?aff=ValerieIhsan   Resource lists of residencies, retreats, and grant...

Valerie:  https://valerieihsan.com Erick:  https://erickmertzwriting.com Patreon:  https://patreon.com/valerieihsan Retreat tix:  https://valerieihsan.com/retreat Registration closes April 2, 2022. The Author Success Mastermind group: https://theauthorsuccessmastermind.com?aff=ValerieIhsan   The Girls by Emma Cline (Erick's rec this week)  

Valerie and Erick talk about character arc, how to make it believable, and how the character's internal struggle fits in. Resource: The Art of Dramatic Writing Valerie:   https://valerieihsan.com Erick:   https://erickmertzwriting.com Patreon:   https://patreon.com/valerieihsan Retreat tix:   https://valerieihsan.com/retreat Registration closes April 2, 2022. The Author Success Mastermind group: h...

Erick and Valerie talk shop about launching the publication of a new book. (We tried to hit the very basics, but there are a few tips even seasoned publishers may try out.)   Valerie:   https://valerieihsan.com Erick:   https://erickmertzwriting.com Patreon:   https://patreon.com/valerieihsan Retreat tix:   https://valerieihsan.com/retreat Registration closes April 2, 2022. The Author Success Mast...

Crys helps Valerie workshop a scene she wrote for her current work in progress, a memoir. Valerie:   https://valerieihsan.com Erick:   https://erickmertzwriting.com Patreon:   https://patreon.com/valerieihsan Retreat tix:   https://valerieihsan.com/retreat Registration closes April 2, 2022. The Author Success Mastermind group: https://theauthorsuccessmastermind.com?aff=ValerieIhsan Crys Cain: http...

Valerie: https://valerieihsan.com Erick: https://erickmertzwriting.com Patreon: https://patreon.com/valerieihsan Retreat tix: https://valerieihsan.com/retreat Registration closes April 2, 2022. The Author Success Mastermind group: (Valerie's affiliate link) https://theauthorsuccessmastermind.com?aff=ValerieIhsan

Valerie's site: https://valerieihsan.com Erick's site: https://erickmertzwriting.com Jeff's site: https://dialoguedoctor.com Patreon: https://patreon.com/valerieihsan Retreat tix: https://valerieihsan.com/retreat (Registration closes on April 2, 2022)

Writer Craft Ep 52 We talk about why reading is important to writers and their Voice, how to be intentional in your reading, and improving reading habits. Retreat tickets: https://valerieihsan.com/retreat Patreon support: https://patreon.com/valerieihsan Erick: https://erickmertzwriting.com Valerie: https://valerieihsan.com  

Previously heard at the Essential Gathering of The Author Success Mastermind group. Find out more about this online mastermind group here: https://theauthorsuccessmastermind.com?aff=ValerieIhsan https://patreon.com/valerieihsan https://valerieihsan.com/retreat https://erickmertzwriting.com  

"Readers get invested in characters that have well-developed, realistic, relatable wants and needs, driving them to continue reading and seeing what happens to those characters." ~V.E. Griffith Do you know what your character's needs and wants are before writing the first draft? https://valerieihsan.com/retreat  (Writer Craft Writing Retreat and Workshop; August 11-14, 2022) https://erickmertzwrit...

We get Real on this episode and talk about what's changed in the writing community in the past two years, and how we manage it. erickmertzwriting.com valerieihsan.com/retreat Patreon.com/valerieihsan https://theauthorsuccessmastermind.com?aff=ValerieIhsan

What makes a good character? How do you write one that readers will think about after they've put down the book, or even dress up as cosplay-style? https://valerieihsan.com/retreat https://patreon.com/valerieihsan https://erickmertzwriting.com  

How do you prepare for the coming year? Resources: Valerie uses Passion Planners to plan out her year (and does a check in (Passion Roadmap) two times a year. The Year You Want by Holly Worton. Writer Craft Writing Retreat and Workshop   Early Bird Tickets on sale until January 2, 2022.  

Meet the new co-host! www.erickmertzwriting.com https://valerieihsan.com https://patreon.com/valerieihsan  

1. We're getting a co-host! 2. A new name for new times, and new content. 3. August 11-14, 2022 writing retreat. Early Bird Price: $680 Check out retreat details at https://valerieihsan.com/retreat .

I get a little choked up in this episode.   For more info about the retreat, go to valerieihsan.com/retreat.  

We all want to take charge of our situations. Here's one way to do that.