Writing as play is something we need as authors. It’s fun, it’s freeing, and most of all, it can be the kind of thing that helps us reach new heights in our writing and publishing journeys.   Our guest on this week’s episode is best-selling author Gail Anderson-Dargatz. Gail’s written several novels, and her thriller The Almost […]

  Who knows? One day, your writing might end up on the moon.  In fact, some authors are having their work sent up soon, including Michael Blouin, our guest for this week’s podcast episode! You may be wondering, “Gee, Michael, why is your writing being sent to the moon?”  While Michael himself might say “I […]

Getting published by a big-name publishing house is an idea with allure. One that most authors dream of, and see as necessary to reach success.  But is getting published by a big house the right choice for you?  Independent presses have their advantages, and depending on what you want—not what you think your goals should […]

Every writer has their own “toolbox.”  There are literal tools in it—our favourite pens, notebooks, our laptop (maybe a typewriter, if that’s more your style). But our toolboxes are also filled with strategies, things that motivate us, things that make writing incredible and pleasurable for us.  But there’s one tool many writers forget, or don’t […]

As writers, we often see independent publishing as one of two things: incredibly liberating, or a terrifying unknown.  Both of these things are true—but can’t that be said of anything that’s new to us? To truly appreciate independent publishing, we need to know about the process, including the things that free us and the things […]

    Hey, focus! Focus on your writing! … Easier said than done, right? Trust me, I know very, very well, how much so. As writers, we all want focus. We crave it, because it is instrumental in our craft. We need focus to finish, and finishing is the basis for being able to complete […]

  In his new book, On Writing and Failure: Or, On the Peculiar Perseverance Required to Endure the Life of a Writer, author Stephen Marche argues that writing is, and always will be, an act defined by failure. The best plan is to just get used to it. Join me for this interview as we […]

 As a writer, it can sometimes feel like others don’t understand our craft unless they’re also writers. This can make us feel isolated, sensitive to rejection, and even leave us feeling like our work isn’t good enough.  If we feel our writing isn’t good enough, we may not take opportunities right in front of us, […]

Work-life-writing-balance can be tricky for writers. Whether you’re published already or trying to crank out that first draft for publishers, it can be difficult to find writing time amidst our busier-than-ever lives.  There’s always something that says “hey, I need you to pay attention to me!” that really does need your immediate attention. And isn’t […]

There are a million things we, as writers, need to think about when writing a novel. With so much to focus on, it can be difficult to actually get any work done.  It’s push and pull—is there too much of this, too little of that? Where does this belong, if it belongs at all?  Is […]

Getting published is something most authors strive for. Regardless of why we want it, however, it’s no easy feat.  The ever-changing writing market, difficulty finding an agent, and the challenge of completing a writing project can all be barriers to our publishing goals. With all this in the way, what’s a writer to do?  The […]

As a writer, it can be easy to feel like we’re the only ones having our writing experiences. Sometimes, you might wonder:  Am I doing this right?  Do published authors struggle like this?  Does anyone have advice for this?  Answers to these questions aren’t singular or simple. They dig at our insecurities, and can make […]