Your Mom Writes Books

In our first mid-season mini-episode, Charlie and Caitlyn give you three quick and dirty tips for cleaner prose AND do a pretty cool giveaway. Winner to be chosen July 6, 2021! Link to the ancient blog post full of gifs: https://chmcfarland.wordpress.com/2014/05/06/four-quick-and-dirty-rules-for-cleaner-prose/ Let us know what you think by leaving a review! Apple users: https://apple.co/3yl3rpN An...

Charlie and Caitlyn talk to their much-name-dropped friend/amazing equestrian/podcast gremlin mascot Mikki about horses, riding, and what writers get wrong. Find Mikki on Instagram @mikkihelmer (for horse/book things) or @nightcraftco (for amazing pottery). And here are SO MANY RESOURCES! Thank you, Mikki! The Writers Guide to Riding: http://www.lrgaf.org/guide/writers-guide.htm Equestrian Specifi...

Charlie and Caitlyn tell you how to take all those ideas you've been brainstorming and turn them into an actual book. If you would like to donate to Your Mom Writes Books, please go to charlienholmberg.com/podcast (or check out the link in our Instagram bio @yourmomwritesbooks).

Charlie and Caitlyn talk about how we learned the craft of writing and discuss where and how you can learn, ranging from an MFA to things you find for free on the internet.  If you would like to donate to Your Mom Writes Books, please go to charlienholmberg.com/podcast (or check out the link in our Instagram bio @yourmomwritesbooks).

Charlie and Caitlyn get annoyed at a children's movie but try to do it in a constructive manner. If you would like to donate to Your Mom Writes Books, please go to charlienholmberg.com/podcast (or check out the link in our Instagram bio @yourmomwritesbooks).

Charlie and Caitlyn tackle more of your questions! In this episode we discuss titles, writing POV, strong prose, and discuss the idea of "strong" female characters. If you would like to donate to Your Mom Writes Books, please go to charlienholmberg.com/podcast (or check out the link in our Instagram bio @yourmomwritesbooks).

Charlie and Caitlyn talk about where they get their story ideas and how you can generate your own! If you would like to donate to Your Mom Writes Books, please go to charlienholmberg.com/podcast (or check out the link in our Instagram bio @yourmomwritesbooks).

On listener request, Charlie and Caitlyn talk about the things that make them HATE (or love) a book. Books we love: Burning Glass by Kathryn Purdie Radiance by Grace Draven Soulless by Gail Carriger The Merciful Crow by Margaret Owen The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier Anything by Amy Harmon Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson Moon Called by Patri...

Charlie and Caitlyn hang out with the often-name dropped Tricia Levenseller, whose newest book, BLADE OF SECRETS, releases today (May 4th, 2021)! Listen as Tricia gives us all her secrets for her superpower: writing villainous characters. If you would like to donate to Your Mom Writes Books, please go to charlienholmberg.com/podcast (or check out the link in our Instagram bio @yourmomwritesbooks).

Charlie and Caitlyn discuss tips and tricks for brainstorming and then workshop some ideas to show how they go about it. If you would like to donate to Your Mom Writes Books, please go to charlienholmberg.com/podcast (or check out the link in our Instagram bio @yourmomwritesbooks).

In this episode, Charlie and Caitlyn discuss how to write the most delicious romantic and sexual tension. Books we mention in this episode:⁣ ⁣•𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵'𝘴 𝘉𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥 by Juliet Marillier⁣ ⁣ •𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘍𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳 by Sariah Wilson⁣ ⁣ •𝘍𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘍𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘵 by Charlie N. Holmberg  ⁣ ⁣ •𝘚𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘔𝘦 by Tahereh Mafi  ⁣ ⁣ •𝘉𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘔𝘦 𝘊𝘳𝘢𝘻𝘺 by Karla Sorenson⁣ ⁣ •An Ember in the Ashes Series by Sabaa Tahir⁣ ⁣ •𝘗𝘰𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘯&apos...

“What are we talking about today?” Caitlyn asked.⁣ “Your mom.” Charlie whipped out a nail file and started on her manicure.⁣ Caitlyn swatted it away. “Pay attention!”⁣ Rolling her eyes, Charlie said, “Let’s just talk about this.”⁣ “About what?”⁣ “About talking.”⁣ And so they did.⁣ If you would like to donate to Your Mom Writes Books, please go to charlienholmberg.com/podcast (or check out the link...

Charlie and Caitlyn talk about standalones vs. series: the difference between writing them, how to plot them, and what to do if your publisher wants you to fit your story into more or fewer books. If you would like to donate to Your Mom Writes Books, please go to charlienholmberg.com/podcast (or check out the link in our Instagram bio @yourmomwritesbooks).

Charlie and Caitlyn discuss querying! Hear a detailed overview of the entire querying process, learn how to write and format a query, and listen to us read the actual query letters that got us an agent. Links to a few of the resources we discuss: Facebook post with queries Query Tracker Nathan Bransford's blog post about formatting queries Manuscript Wishlist site Manuscript Wishlist podcast...

Charlie and Caitlyn answer more of your questions about writers on social media, working with publishers, and the writing process. If you would like to donate to Your Mom Writes Books, please go to charlienholmberg.com/podcast (or check out the link in our Instagram bio @yourmomwritesbooks).

Charlie and Caitlyn explore the idea of creative sparks. Big ones, small ones, what they do for our writing, and what they did when theirs burned out. If you would like to donate to Your Mom Writes Books, please go to charlienholmberg.com/podcast (or check out the link in our Instagram bio @yourmomwritesbooks).

Charlie and Caitlyn discuss how they write immersive settings! Learn how you can use setting to develop character, suck your readers into the action, and enhance your story's emotion. Also, we’re on Facebook and Instagram now!  Facebook page: Your Mom Writes Books Instagram: @yourmomwritesbooks If you would like to donate to Your Mom Writes Books, please go to charlienholmberg.com/podcast (or...

Charlie and Caitlyn talk about the interconnectedness of plot and character arc and how you can use them together to create more organic, emotional, satisfying stories. If you would like to donate to Your Mom Writes Books, please go to charlienholmberg.com/podcast (or check out the link in our Instagram bio @yourmomwritesbooks).

Charlie and Caitlyn talk character names! How we come up with them, places you can find them, and ways to make them fit in your world. If you would like to donate to Your Mom Writes Books, please go to charlienholmberg.com/podcast (or check out the link in our Instagram bio @yourmomwritesbooks).

Charlie and Caitlyn answer your questions about writing, publishing, and their books! If you would like to donate to Your Mom Writes Books, please go to charlienholmberg.com/podcast (or check out the link in our Instagram bio @yourmomwritesbooks).

Caitlyn and Charlie talk about critique partners: what they are, where to find them, and how they should behave. If you would like to donate to Your Mom Writes Books, please go to charlienholmberg.com/podcast (or check out the link in our Instagram bio @yourmomwritesbooks).

Welcome to Your Mom Writes Books! This is a conversational writing podcast where authors Charlie N. Holmberg and Caitlyn McFarland hang out and talk about writing, publishing, and storytelling. In this first episode, hear what it took for them to go from novice writers to published authors (and in Charlie's case, Wallstreet Journal bestseller).  If you would like to donate to Your Mom Writes...

Charlie and Caitlyn talk about the process of writing a book and how different that process can look from author to author. If you would like to donate to Your Mom Writes Books, please go to charlienholmberg.com/podcast (or check out the link in our Instagram bio @yourmomwritesbooks).

Caitlyn and Charlie talk about how authors get paid and how you can make money as a fiction writer. If you would like to donate to Your Mom Writes Books, please go to charlienholmberg.com/podcast (or check out the link in our Instagram bio @yourmomwritesbooks).