E.A. Winters, indie author of 9 books, joins me to discuss her outlining process. Developed over the last five or six years, E.A. has reached the point where her outlines are keystone to writing fast, relatively clean first drafts. She openly shares her author journey and advice that has helped her hone her outlining skills over the years. Send us …

Every indie author wants to save money on the process, but can you really DIY *everything*? If you're looking into DIY-ing everything from editing to formatting to cover design, there are some things to consider. Not all DIY is created equal, and there are some things that actually suffer from DIY-ing in the long term. Send us a text Click here to …

There are an infinite number of tips that writers could attempt to keep in mind while writing their first drafts. Every writer's toolbox is different, but if these 3 tips work for you, they could become your go-tos for first drafts.... Especially if you want to get yours done in the next 60 days. Send us a text Click here to find out of The 60 Day …

Did you research those little details enough? There's a delicate balance between too much and just right, but at the opposite end of the spectrum is not even bothering with research.... Research that would ensure you're not making mistakes an expert would notice. Check out the full episode on why it's important to research even the minor details. S…

How do you know if your main characters have the best characterizations to be a main character? If you've ever scratched your head over what it means for characters to be flat or round, static or dynamic, (and what the heck a Mary Sue is) then this episode is for you. Send us a text Click here to find out of The 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge is th…

Are you thinking about using a pen name for your books? Not every author will choose to use one, but a nom de plume can be an attractive choice depending on your circumstances. In this episode, we talk about the top 5 reasons authors use pen names, pros and cons of using them, and a few things to consider when choosing and establishing a pen name. …

Do you know what age group your book falls into? Figuring out the difference between children's books, chapter books, middle grade, young adult, new adult, and adult can be difficult to navigate. While knowing your age group is important for marketing and pitching down the line, it can also drive your writing decisions in the first draft. Listen in…

Do you struggle with writing realistic fight scenes? Never fear, Carla Hoch is here! Carla, author of the Fight Write books, joins us to talk about common mistakes new authors (and experienced authors, TBH) make when writing fight scenes, and how to fix them. Connect with Carla on Instagram @fightwritecarla, or online at fightwrite.net. Send us a t…

Are you struggling with a saggy middle? Figuring out to fix it can feel daunting if you don't have a place to start. Try these 3 ways to strengthen your plot! Send us a text Click here to find out of The 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge is the right fit for you! What to do next… Take the Writing Persona Quiz! Sign up for The 60-Day Novel Writing Chal…

If you don't go traditional, you're probably an indie author. While indie has become 1000% more accessible than it was even just 10 years ago, it's not without its downsides. The fact that it's easy to hit publish on Amazon now does not mean you're going to rake in the big bucks a day or a month later. In this episode we're breaking down why it's a…

How do you decide how many books should be in your series? It's not as simple as picking a number out of the air. In this episode we cover what a series is versus what it isn't, how to understand how much story you have, cutoff points, and questions to ask yourself to help decide if the number you're thinking is the number you'll end up with. Send …

What makes a character memorable? It's more than just what they look like, who they are, or what they say. Check out these six techniques for crafting memorable characters, which you can do before you even start writing the first draft! Send us a text Click here to find out of The 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge is the right fit for you! What to do …

Many writers, both newbies and veterans alike, struggle to finish first drafts. So what's the magic formula for actually writing "The End"? Spoiler: There is no magic formula, but The 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge is pretty darn close. Listen in to see if you're heading down one of the three paths that don't lead to a finished draft, and how The 6…

Many authors want to be traditionally published because of the percieved prestige that comes with the name of a Big Publishing House. Unfortunately, the publishing industry has changed A LOT in the last 20 years, and it's no longer a guarantee that signing with one of the Big 5 Traditional Publishers will make you big money. In this episode, we're …

Don't publish the infodump! It's easy to infodump even when you don't mean to, which is why editors and critique partners are so important before publishing. While infodumping is part of the normal drafting process, authors should take care not to let it bog down the final draft. Send us a text Click here to find out of The 60 Day Novel Writing Cha…

What is an unreliable narrator? Writers and readers alike use this moniker often without understanding what it really means. In this episode, we break down what an unreliable narrator is, the best genres that make use of them, pros and cons, and four examples of characters in popular literature who are unreliable narrators. Send us a text Click her…

As a reader, how do you react when a random character comes to the rescue during the climax? Odds are, you probably feel cheated. In this episode, we break down this literary sin and how to avoid committing it. Click here to find out if our Coaching & Critique Group is the right fit for you! Send us a text Click here to find out of The 60 Day Novel…

Struggling with being a productive writer? We all fall into distraction traps and periods of low productivity. All productivity tips are like tools in a toolbox, and having multiple is a great way to break out of writer's block. This episode covers the last 5 of 10 productivity tips for writers to keep in mind as we start 2025! Click here to find o…

Struggling with being a productive writer? We all fall into distraction traps and periods of low productivity. All productivity tips are like tools in a toolbox, and having multiple is a great way to break out of writer's block. This episode covers the first 5 of 10 productivity tips for writers to keep in mind as we start 2025! Send us a text Clic…

Are you ready to hit 2025 running toward your writing goals? If not, do not fear! This episode covers 5 essential tactics for planning a successful writing year, no matter what your goals are. 2025 is right around the corner, and before you know it you'll be striving toward your next writing achievement. Send us a text Click here to find out of The…

The blurb is one of the hardest and most hated parts of an author's life... at least that's what it seems like! In this episode, we break down why writing the blurb early is actually the smartest thing to do. Blurbs don't need to be perfect or finalized immediately, but they should exist for the reasons discussed here. Need help with your blurb? Ch…

Where do you start when it comes to books on writing craft? A simple search on Amazon for "writing craft books" brings up over 70,000 results. This episode covers the books that I recommend over and over for writers inside the Challenge or our Coaching & Critique group. From story structure and theme to tropes, genres, and beyond, use this episode …

Have you committed this literary sin? Having too large of a cast, or introducing too many characters at the same time, can lose readers and make them forget important details. This, our second installment of the Literary Sins Series, addresses the problems of a large cast and offers solutions for how to fix them. Check out the 5-Day Character Devel…

Are you curious about Author Nation and whether you should go next year? This episode covers who Author Nation is for, what kinds of sessions were offered, my overall takeaways, and some favorite sessions. I also talk about what I would do differently next time. Send us a text Click here to find out of The 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge is the righ…

Do you get stressed and overwhelmed whenever you look at everything it takes to publish a book, whether you're pursuing self publishing or traditional? You're not alone. I see this in a lot of authors, especially the ones working on the first or second draft. This episode presents a different way to filter your perspective so you can stop freaking …

How do you know when it's time to switch from the writing mode to the editing mode? What even is the difference between them? In this episode I share a different way to think about this that allows us the freedom to move from one to the other with ease. Send us a text Click here to find out of The 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge is the right fit for…

Writer's Block Bonus Category - Creative Powerhouse! Halie calls this result a TRIPLE THREAT! AKA, nothing really slows you down. Or does it? Creative Powerhouses aren't immune to bumps in the road, and this episode covers why. To find out your primary blocker, take our Writer's Block Quiz! This quiz will diagnose your writer's block and how to bes…

What do you do when you have more than one story idea floating around in your head? Do you work on just one? Write multiple at once? Something in between? Like most writing questions, the answer is "it depends". This episode breaks down how to approach your writing decisions when you have more than one idea, and whether you should complete a projec…

Writer's Block Category #3 - Difficulty Prioritizing When your to-do list is miles long and keeps growing every second, it can feel irresponsible and indulgent to write. But the truth is that your writing is important, and creativity is a form of self care. This episode covers the paradox of choice and different methods for prioritizing your life s…

Are you a Discovery Writer or an Outliner? Which one is better than the other? Which one SHOULD you write in? If these terms give you strong feelings one way or the other, make sure you listen through the end of this episode! Send us a text Click here to find out of The 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge is the right fit for you! What to do next… Take …

Writer's Block Category #2 - Distractions The shinies, the doomscrolling, the accidental 5-hour YouTube rabbit trails... all distractions. When you pay attention to something that's NOT the thing you're supposed to be paying attention to, that's called a distraction. This episode covers how to handle distractions. To find out your primary blocker, …

Have you committed this literary sin? Head hopping, or jumping from one POV to another in the same paragraph, scene, or chapter, can throw readers off as to who's really telling the story. This can pull a reader out of the narrative, and a confused reader is more likely to close the book! This, our first installment of the Literary Sins Series, add…

Writer's Block Category #1 - Limiting Beliefs AKA, the things we believe about ourselves that do nothing but keep us from our full potential. And spoiler alert, nobody is forcing us to believe these things. So what counts as a limiting belief, and how do you deal with them? This episode covers just that. To find out your primary blocker, take our W…

Ever wonder what kind of writer's block you're most susceptible to? Or what to do about it when you can't get yourself to write? While we will all experience some form of writer's block at some point, there are different types and tools to break through when you're stuck. To find out your primary blocker, take our Writer's Block Quiz! This quiz fro…

Should you write your book in first person or third person? What even are those POVs and what does it mean to write in one or the other? If POV confuses you or you're just not sure which one you should use in your novel, this episode is for you. Send us a text Click here to find out of The 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge is the right fit for you! Wh…

Are you an INSPIRED INTROVERT? This episode is for those writers who tend toward solitude and writing on their own, but could really benefit from sharing their work... if only they could conquer the fear of feedback. Not sure what your writing persona is? Take the quiz here! https://www.the60daynovelwritingchallenge.com/writers-quiz Send us a text …

Pareto's Principle is the idea that 80% of outcomes come from 20% of causes. We can use this principle to improve our writing lives, especially with the first draft. Listen in to find out how you can apply Pareto's Principle to your idea generation, your time spent on writing versus marketing, and finding the time to write your novel. Send us a tex…

Are you a CHAOTIC CREATIVE? This episode is for those writers who have brain explosions of ideas all the time, jump from story to story, navigate uncharted creative territory, but have trouble finishing a project. Not sure what your writing persona is? Take the quiz here! https://www.the60daynovelwritingchallenge.com/writers-quiz Send us a text Cli…

Quick, what do you think about prologues? If you're thinking as a writer, your answer might be "YES, I LOVE THEM!" But as a reader, maybe not. Prologues are the other oft-maligned pseudo-chapters along with epilogues, but prologues might actually do you more harm than good. Executing a good prologue is more than just writing a good scene, and this …

Are you a COMMUNITY CREATOR? This episode is for those writers who thrive with a writing group or critique partner, having accountability, but also a place (or person) with whom to share writing wins and struggles. Not sure what your writing persona is? Take the quiz here! https://www.the60daynovelwritingchallenge.com/writers-quiz Send us a text Cl…

Are epilogues necessary? If you want to include an epilogue, what's the best way to go about it? What is the point of an epilogue, anyway? In this episode I share my thoughts on epilogues, and some best practices about how to approach including them (or not). I also cover 5 questions to ask yourself about your story to determine if an epilogue is t…

Are you a SKEPTICAL SCRIBE? This episode is for those writers who question everything, who go on deep research quests for exactly the right reference... but get paralyzed if something is "off" or imperfect. Not sure what your writing persona is? Take the quiz here! https://www.the60daynovelwritingchallenge.com/writers-quiz Send us a text Click here…

Caitlin Shetterly, author of Pete and Alice in Maine, shares her return path to writing fiction after years in nonfiction. A major medical event in the winter of 2020 to 2021 aligned so perfectly such that she experienced the same kind of healing as in the story she was telling. This episode is for all the writers who feel like life has caught them…

Are you a DILIGENT DRAFTER? This episode is for those writers who are self-disciplined, super organized, know exactly where the story is going... and still have trouble sitting down to write. Not sure what your writing persona is? Take the quiz here! https://www.the60daynovelwritingchallenge.com/writers-quiz Send us a text Click here to find out of…

Ever wonder what kind of writing persona you have? Or what motivates you to write? Or even what the hidden pitfalls of those are? (Because they exist!) Announcing the Writing Persona Quiz! This brand new quiz from Tally Ink will tell you exactly what kind of writer you are, and the ways you can take advantage of those strengths. Take the quiz here!…

When authors get negative reviews, the first instinct is to feel bad because someone didn't like what we wrote. However, not all negative reviews are alike, and we can't approach them all the same way. The troll reviews are very different from the ones with constructive criticism. This episode is for people who are concerned about their negative re…

Have you ever heard of Parkinson's Law? If not, it's the law that work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion. AKA, if you give yourself a whole day to do something, it will take you all day to do it. Did you know that writers experience a paradox with Parkinson's Law? In today's episode we take a look at a common time manageme…

Not all pressure is good. Whether you're facing deadlines, word counts, or critter feedback, too much of the wrong kind of pressure can mess with your writing mindset. This episode covers why working under pressure is not always the right choice, and ways to release that pressure if you find it building up. Send us a text Click here to find out of …

Business coach and entrepreneur Dave Moreno joins me on the podcast to talk about how and why authors should approach writing (and the results of writing) like a real business. We discuss business mindset for authors, core messages and values, run tasks versus grow tasks, and all sorts of other golden nuggets for authors who really want to understa…

I apologize for the audio quality! This was recorded live on a hike and my mic was a little too close to my face 😅. Who are reviews actually for? Authors or readers? Both? In this ranty episode I share my thoughts on exactly who reviews are for, and why it's actually a good thing to be getting some negative reviews or low ratings on your books. Sen…