Writing Romance and 9 Lessons from a Debut Author
In this episode, we’ll explore the chemistry, conflict, and tropes that make romance irresistible, plus hear nine hard-won lessons from debut author Esther Walker. Even if you’re not writing romance, ...
25 Sep 202513min
Writing Thrillers and Suspense: Raising the Stakes
What makes a thriller thrilling? In this episode of Writing Break, we discuss pacing, stakes, suspense, and more. We also look at what, if anything, BookTok can do for you.Spread a little love by subs...
18 Sep 202516min
Writing Mystery: Planting Clues That Keep Readers Guessing
Season 8 of Writing Break sets sail with mystery and detective fiction. From archetypal sleuths to red herrings and fair-play clues, learn how to craft puzzles that keep readers guessing. Plus, the la...
12 Sep 202524min
The Complete Guide to Querying Literary Agents (Clip Show #13)
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 submissi...
29 Aug 202532min
What to Do While Waiting to Hear Back from 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 p...
21 Aug 20258min
Querying Literary Agents, Part 4: What Happens After You Hit Send
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 ...
24 Juli 202515min
Querying Literary Agents, Part 3: Writing Your Query Letter
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 l...
17 Juli 202511min
Querying Literary Agents, Part 2: Where the Lit Agents Are and How to Find Yours
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 o...
10 Juli 202516min
