Writing Break

In this bonus episode, we’re wrapping up Season 7 with a stitched-together master episode featuring all five segments from our Querying Literary Agent series. Whether you're just starting your submission journey or navigating the silence after sending your pitch, this complete guide has you covered. 🛋️ Overthinking Couch Topics: Part 1: Big Five Dreams or Indie Vibes? Part 2: Where the Lit Agents...

Querying literary agents and not hearing back can feel like shouting into the void. In this episode, recorded mid-recovery from a concussion (yes, really), we’re turning that creative purgatory into purposeful progress. If you’ve sent out queries and find yourself obsessively refreshing your inbox, this is your antidote. 🛋️ Overthinking Couch Topics: Overanalyzing the querying blues and becoming b...

In the final installment of our four-part series on querying literary agents, we break down what to expect when a literary agent replies to your email. From form rejections and useful feedback to the coveted request for more materials, today’s episode is all about helping you navigate agent responses. Plus, in publishing news: A $44 million scam targeting writers has resulted in federal charges Fa...

In today’s episode of Writing Break , we’re dog-sitting, dodging deadlines, and diving deep into the dreaded query letter. 🛋️ Overthinking Couch Topics: The classic 3-part structure of a fiction query letter What makes a strong nonfiction pitch A breakdown of the 7 essential parts of a book proposal The 5 most common query mistakes 🎧 Catch up on the series: Part 1: Should You Query a Literary Age...

Today we’re (finally!) continuing our four-part series on querying literary agents. Whether you're writing fiction or nonfiction, querying without doing your homework is like picking a random person off a dock and asking them to captain your boat across the ocean. In this episode, I'm sharing how to research literary agents and find the ones most likely to say yes to your book. 🛋️ Overthinking Cou...

Welcome to the first installment of a four-part series on querying literary agents. In this episode, we explore the pros and cons of publishing with a Big Five publisher versus an independent press. Whether you're writing fiction or nonfiction, traditionally publishing or submitting directly to publishers, this episode will help you clarify your publishing goals. Plus: A roundup of the latest publ...

It’s time for a heavy dose of writing wisdom, clipped and curated from recent episodes. Whether you’re plotting, editing, procrastinating or just looking for a creative nudge, this episode’s packed with the good stuff: smart takes, helpful reminders, and maybe a little tough love. Featuring: First-draft and second-draft writing advice Actionable writing tips from bestselling authors The reality of...

Is your story high-concept or low-concept? Understanding this difference can help you refine your pitch, strengthen your storytelling, and position your book effectively in the publishing industry. 🛋️ Overthinking Couch Topics: What makes a story high-concept What defines a low-concept story How to tell which one you’re writing and why it matters Examples from books and films to illustrate both co...

The publishing world is shifting fast, and as writers, we need to keep up. In this episode, I dive into some of the biggest changes happening in the industry right now, from how AI is reshaping publishing to restrictions that could impact book accessibility. Whether you’re a seasoned writer or just starting out, understanding these changes will help you navigate publishing smarter. I also share a...

We all dream of making it big with our writing, but what happens when that dream doesn’t unfold the way you expect? We’ll talk about how that dream didn’t quite come true for one author. Tune in for a behind-the-scenes look at the publishing industry and for the latest publishing news. More Writing Tips The debate over blurbs in publishing, explained | Vox ‘It’s quite galling’: children’s authors...

In this episode, we bring you the latest publishing news along with a discussion on finding a balance between inspiration and hard work. I'll let you know where to access tax tips for authors and where to view sessions that took place during the Winter 2024 Book & Author Festival. I also tell you about a literary agent scam preying on authors. Plus, we discuss a significant legal victory prote...

In this episode, we take a look at writing advice from Chuck Palahniuk. Can his approach to storytelling help you craft more immersive scenes, or is it too restrictive for your taste? More Writing Tips Nuts and Bolts: “Thought” Verbs | LitReactor Free Style Sheet Templates Music licensed from Storyblocks.

Looking for the perfect gift for the writer in your life? Forget notebooks and pens—this episode reveals five priceless gifts that every writer needs. Best of all, they’re completely free! Whether you’re a writer yourself or supporting one, these gifts can make all the difference. Tune in for a fun and insightful holiday episode that celebrates writers and their craft. More Writing Tips Free Style...

Publishing slows down significantly at the end of each year. So, don’t fret if your query letters remain unanswered this month. Today, we’re exploring 9 practical, actionable writing tips approved by bestselling authors. As the year winds down, it’s the perfect time to sharpen your writing craft. In this episode of Writing Break , we explore nine practical, actionable writing tips from bestselling...

Your first draft is done! Now what? In this episode of Writing Break , we break down eight essential steps for revising your manuscript, regardless of genre. Whether you're on your second or sixth draft, this guide will help you refine your work into a polished, compelling manuscript. We also cover major publishing industry updates, including HarperCollins’ AI licensing deal and social media shift...

There is a lot of writing advice out there, but remember that not every piece of writing advice is first-draft writing advice. This episode of Writing Break is all about writing your first draft. Learn how to silence your inner editor, embrace the messy process, and focus on getting the story down before worrying about perfection. We’ll cover why momentum matters, how to keep moving forward when y...

National Novel Writing Month begins next week, which is why today’s episode is a pep talk of sorts. In this episode of Writing Break , we discuss how turning down distractions can help you prioritize your writing and make real progress on your novel. We also highlight publishing houses currently accepting unsolicited manuscripts, plus a look at Taylor Swift’s latest self-publishing venture. If you...

This season we’ve been covering seven types of literary conflicts, and I thought it might be useful for you to have a bonus episode that has all seven conflicts back to back. Let’s settle in at the Writing Break cafe and get started on a full episode of writing tips. More Writing Tips Free Style Sheet Templates Music licensed from Storyblocks

Today we are wrapping up our seven-part series on literary conflicts with the final boss: Character vs Destiny. More Writing Tips Free Style Sheet Templates Music licensed from Storyblocks

As I record this, a hurricane is sideswiping my city, so if the power stays on, we’ll continue our literary conflict series and discuss, aptly enough, Character versus Technology. We’re also catching up on the Internet Archive court case. More Writing Tips OpenAI looks to shift away from nonprofit roots and convert itself to for-profit company Update: How to Tell Internet Archive to Remove Your Bo...

The Writing Break cafe is open, so let’s gather on the Overthinking Couch to discuss the literary conflict of Character vs Supernatural. More Writing Tips Free Style Sheet Templates Music licensed from Storyblocks

Welcome back. After last week’s discussion about character vs nature, I hope you managed to work some weather into your current work in progress. In this episode we’re discussing character vs society. The Writing Break cafe is open, so let’s grab a drink and settle into the Overthinking Couch.  More Writing Tips Free Style Sheet Templates Music licensed from Storyblocks

We’re discussing publishing news today, including what’s trending in books. We’re also talking about the fascinating literary conflict of character versus nature. More Writing Tips Generative AI reduces the collective diversity of novel content Report Finds Customer Traffic Rising at Barnes & Noble Shelf Awareness for Friday, July 12, 2024 | Shelf Awareness K-lytics Historical Fiction Market Repor...

The literary conflict of character versus character seems simple enough, right? Two characters are pitted against each other in some way. This clash can be physical or mental, but it’s best when it’s a bit of both . . . or a lot of both. More Writing Tips Free Style Sheet Templates Music licensed from Storyblocks

Today we are talking about the literary conflict known as character versus self. More Writing Tips Free Style Sheet Templates Music licensed from Storyblocks