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49 - Spotting Bad Advice

1 maj 2020 | 17 min

We all know that writing is hard. Sometimes, in an effort to make it easier we ask for advice from friends, family, or random strangers at a coffee shop. This week Mary and Melissa talk about how to spot bad writing advice and some of the mistakes they’ve made along the way.

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48 - Just Keep Swimming, Just Keep Swimming.

24 april 2020 | 15 min

These days, it can be hard to find the motivation to write. Today we discuss how you keep writing during a global crisis when everything around you may seem (or actually be) out of control. Some writers have found themselves being super productive, and other writers are panicking because their work has come to a screeching halt. Tune in as Mary and Melissa share some tips and tricks they are using to keep the words flowing. Shout out to LiteraryHub and Emily Gould for the newsletter that inspired this conversation.

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47 - The Year of Yes

17 april 2020 | 17 min

These days it feels like you have to say no to everything. So today, Mary and Melissa are going to talk about saying yes. Join us as we explore Shonda Rhimes' book, Year of Yes, how that impacted Melissa's own "Yes" journey. We also explore ways you can say yes in your writing with practices like "follow the fear" and learning to listen to your gut.

You can grab your own copy of Year of Yes here and if you're interested in learning more from Shonda Rhimes, check out her TV Writing Masterclass.

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http://wiredforstory.com/story-genius-1

46 - How to be a Story Genius

10 april 2020 | 18 min

We're catching up on our reading and have another "craft book" report to share with our readers. Today we're talking about Story Genius by Lisa Cron. If you're looking for an interactive book of exercises on how to develop stronger characters and plots driven by those characters, we encourage you to listen to this episode and check out the book!

Let us know if you've read the book and what your thoughts are on social media!

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45 - Writing Freebies for Isolation

3 april 2020 | 18 min

Last week, Mary and Melissa discussed the financial challenges of being a writer. This week we're celebrating how writers and creatives are giving back to support each other while self-isolating. We dig into the virtual workshops, online courses, and free resources that you can leverage when the Netflix binge becomes tiresome.

Resources mentioned during the episode:

Clarion West Online Writer's Workshop - https://www.clarionwest.org/workshops/online-workshops/april-online-workshop-series/

Screencraft Screenwriter's Summit - https://screencraft.org/virtualsummit/

#StayHomeWriMo (by NaNoWriMo) - https://nanowrimo.org/stayhomewrimo

Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators - https://www.scbwi.org/scbwi-digital-workshops Massive Open Online Courses List - 600 Free University Courses Calm Meditations - https://www.calm.com/blog/take-a-deep-breath

Find is on the interwebs for some inspirational reminders...

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44 - Is Writing a Privilege?

27 mars 2020 | 15 min

This week, Mary and Melissa go deep undercover to reveal a dirty little secret about writing. At least, that is what the article in The Guardian claims. We're talking about money, and how writing may be a career only for the privileged. Is this true? Does starting from a place without privilege give you an advantage. Listen and weigh in.

You can read The Guardian article we discuss here.

Curious about the 1,000 true fans theory? Check out the article here by Kevin Kelly.

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43 - Critical Reading

20 mars 2020 | 16 min

It's one of the most common pieces of advice given to an aspiring author or screenwriter. Read. Read anything. Read everything. Read often. Yet few people actually talk about what that means. Today, Mary and Melissa discuss their process for doing a critical read of material (books or scripts) to help increase the quality of their writing and how you might be able to do the same.

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42 - Revising Hack

13 mars 2020 | 18 min

This week, Melissa and Mary continue their conversation on what it means to revise your writing, and Melissa shares one of her hacks for making the process a little easier. If you find yourself navigating the "revision hell" terrain, this might be the episode for you.

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41 - Write Drunk, Edit Sober

28 februari 2020 | 18 min

This week, Melissa and Mary dig deep into the ever popular saying, "Write drunk, edit sober." What does this mean? Does it actually work? How can you apply the core tenet of the saying without actually becoming an alcoholic? We also explore the complexities of the inner critic and how to turn it off so that you can write more freely and organically.

Looking for ancient technology to write with? Try the Alphasmart NEO. It's a fun portable word processor that only allows you to see three lines of text at a time and limits the amount of editing you can do as you are writing.

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40 - Firing Up Your Writing Brain

22 februari 2020 | 21 min

In today's episode we learn all about the writing brain! We are doing a recap of the book Firing Up Your Writing Brain by Susan Reynolds. As always, we encourage you to take what makes sense for you, be open minded and test out new things, but don't make this advice gospel. Do what works for you.

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39 - Conquering the Blank Page

14 februari 2020 | 16 min

Where to start? Where to start? In this week's episode we discuss how to get started when you know you want to write, but have no idea how to begin. This episode is perfect for our writing newblets, who may get overwhelmed or intimidated by the blank page. We'll talk about writing prompts, fan fiction, and NaNoWriMo. Also, take a breath. You can do this.

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This is Why You’re Not Happy – Matthew McConaughey

38 - Internal vs. External Validation

7 februari 2020 | 20 min

This week we have a special guest, and we are so excited. Luke Elliott, fellow Seton Hill Alum, and also the co-host of the Ink to Film Podcast, brings to the show a wealth of knowledge, including insight on “Vegan” Fiction. In today’s episode, we dig deep into internal vs. external validation.

Also, join Mary on the Ink to Film Podcast, where she and Luke discuss Water for Elephants and Mary’s time as a circus clown.

Resources:

Meditation

Corey Mandell – Fixed Mindset vs. Growth Mindset

All the Socials

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37 - Life Lessons for Writing Life

24 januari 2020 | 17 min

Sometimes you can apply the things you learn in life to your writing practice, and sometimes you can apply the lessons you learn from your writing practice to your life!

Music: Positive and Fun by Scott Holmes

36 - RWA Controversy and You

17 januari 2020 | 22 min

In this episode, we attempt to dig into a story circulating about Racism and the Romance Writers of America. We're going to talk about what happened, how the news broke, and the community backlash that was fueled by social media and message boards within the community.

This story is continually evolving. Because of that, we've included updated links in our show notes about the specifics (the formal complaints and rulings), what has transpired in the last three weeks (timeline), and some very vocal writers and publishers who made public statements against the ruling.

We also discuss why this is important to ALL WRITERS, not just those writing romance, and how to deal with the fear or discomfort of living in a world where folks may call out racism and discrimination.

Resources:

Most In-Depth Article on the RWA Crisis of 2019

https://jezebel.com/inside-the-spectacular-implosion-at-the-romance-writers-1841002358

NPR Story

https://www.npr.org/2020/01/04/793572217/racism-scandal-in-the-romance-writing-industry?fbclid=IwAR1OEBC_xthpF52mUgaVSDKuLsQZ1OtJhJEb4OkQIhTKoBySr7-PXUGFQm4

Nora Roberts Statement

https://fallintothestory.com/my-pov-on-rwa/

NY Times Article

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/30/books/courtney-milan-romance-writers-america.html

Alyssa Cole Twitter Thread - which includes the original complaints and board findings that she made public and went viral on 12/24.

https://twitter.com/AlyssaColeLit/status/1209280219175100422?s=20

35 - New Years Res--uh, Goals

10 januari 2020 | 16 min

Welcome to 2020! Today on Writing Easy, Mary and Melissa discuss their writing goals for the new year.

First, we hop into the way-way back machine to look at our very first podcast and the goals that we set during that episode. How did we do? What did we learn? Listen to find out.

Then Melissa talks about the challenge of setting annual goals and why we have shifted to more flexible short-term goals with a consistent underlining vision. And Mary discusses how some of our perceived weaknesses can become an asset to your writing.

Looking for fun that silly calendar we mentioned? Check it out here: Finish Calendar by Jon Acuff.

If you enjoyed this episode, give us a review! They help other authors find the podcast. Don’t forget to follow us on all the socials - Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @writingeasypodcast.

34 - Holiday Gifts for Writers

13 december 2019 | 19 min

Do you struggle to find the perfect gift for the writer in your life? Are you tired of people getting you socks, ties, or candles that you will never ever use? Well, today you are in luck. Mary and Melissa are channeling the holiday spirit to bring you their first-ever great gifts for writers episode. We’ve got tons of ideas to get you past the unimaginative notebook and pencils set. And if you must give a notebook, make it unique, like that waterproof notepad Mary has been eyeing.

Today’s quote was brought to you by AMY TAN, author of The Joy Luck Club, and it reminds us that our writing is also a gift.

Did you enjoy this episode, give us a review! They help other authors find the podcast. Don’t forget to follow us on all the socials - Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @writingeasypodcast

33 - Process

6 december 2019 | 21 min

Welcome, Writer family! Today, we are talking about the perfect writing process. If you follow these three steps, you will be able to write a bestselling novel in 30 days or less. *But writer be warned, results are not guaranteed.

We've all fallen into the trap of believing that if we just get the right process, our writing will be both easy and perfect. In episode 32, we discussed how the idea of perfection is a false narrative. In this episode, we'll explain why finding your writing process can be an elusive dream and prevent you from doing your best work. Mary will also teach you how to golf.

If you like this episode, hit us up on the socials and leave us a rating and review! Remember, reviews help other writers discover us and help to grow our podcast family.

32 - Perfectionism

30 november 2019 | 17 min

We're back! Happy Thanksgiving. Today we're talking about perfectionism. Are you letting the idea of perfect writing get in the way of being successful? Mary and Melissa are going to dig into the pitfalls of perfectionism and share some tips and tricks they use to circumvent their writing egos. If you're struggling with writer's block, anxiety, or fear of rejection, chances are you are letting the idea of perfect get in your way. Remember, writing is hard...

Also, Mary shares out Quote of the Week from the legendary John Cleese.

REMINDER: Don't forget to follow us on the socials and leave us a review! It's the best way to give us feedback on the show, and it helps other writers discover the podcast.

31 - Professionalism

15 november 2019 | 19 min

We’re back and today on this week’s episode of Writing Easy we are digging into an important age-old question - what does it mean to be a professional writer?

Mary and Melissa talk productivity, accountability, decorum, and how you show up in the writing community. We also get inspiration from our Quote of the Week by Agatha Christie. Join us!

30 - Opinionated Characters

8 november 2019 | 15 min

It’s our last week focused on Pixar Rules! We made it to the end! Today we’re discussing how to write characters with strong opinions and making characters come alive. Join us as we dive into rule #6 and #13.

#6: What is your character good at, comfortable with? Throw the polar opposite at them. Challenge them. How do they deal?

#13: Give your characters opinions. Passive/malleable might seem likable to you as you write, but it’s poison to the audience.

Resources:

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29 - Shiny unhappy people

25 oktober 2019 | 16 min

Another week another episode focused on Pixar Rules! We’re tackling character development and digging into ways in which we can walk in our character’s shoes. Today, we dive into rule #1, #15, and #21.

#1: You admire a character for trying more than for their successes.

#15: If you were your character, in this situation, how would you feel? Honesty lends credibility to unbelievable situations.

#21: You gotta identify with your situation/characters, can’t just write ‘cool’. What would make YOU act that way?

Resources:

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28 - Trying funky stuff

19 oktober 2019 | 15 min

Another week another episode focused on Pixar Rules! We're tackling PLOT and we're discussing rules #9, #12, and #19.

#9: When you’re stuck, make a list of what WOULDN’T happen next. Lots of times the material to get you unstuck will show up. #12: Discount the 1st thing that comes to mind. And the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th – get the obvious out of the way. Surprise yourself. #19: Coincidences to get characters into trouble are great; coincidences to get them out of it are cheating.

Resources:

27 - Filling in the Blanks

11 oktober 2019 | 16 min

Another week another episode focused on Pixar Rules! We're tackling PLOT and we're discussing rules #4 and #22.

#4 - "Once upon a time there was ___. Every day, ___. One day ___. Because of that, ___. Because of that, ___. Until finally ___."

#22 - "What’s the essence of your story? Most economical telling of it? If you know that, you can build out from there."

Resources:

26 - Writing from the heart

4 oktober 2019 | 18 min

Another week another episode focused on Pixar Rules! We're still tackling writer confidence and today we're looking at rule #14 and #17.

#14 - "Why must you tell THIS story? What's the belief burning within you that your story feeds off of? That's the heart of it."

#17 - "No work is ever wasted. If it's not working, let go and move on - it'll come back around to be useful later."

Resources:

25 - Stop when you're done

28 september 2019 | 16 min

Today we continue Pixar’s never-ending, not so official, Rules of Storytelling!! We can't math and realized this series is way longer than we anticipated. So this week we tackle two rules in one episode! This week, we are talking about writer confidence. We'll be looking at #2 and #8.

#2 - "You gotta keep in mind what's interesting to you as an audience, not what's fun to do as a writer. They can be v. different."

#8 - "Finish your story, let go even if it's not perfect. In an ideal world you have both, but move on. Do better next time."

Resources:

24 - Character Mash

20 september 2019 | 16 min

Today we continue Pixar’s never-ending, not so official, Rules of Storytelling!! This week, #5: “Simplify. Focus. Combine characters. Hop over detours. You’ll feel like you’re losing valuable stuff, but it sets you free.”

Resources:

23 -Story is Testing, Not Refining.

13 september 2019 | 16 min

If you've ever had a thought that starts with, "I am a bad writer because..." than this episode is for you. Today we continue Pixar's Never-Ending Rules of Wisdom!! This week, #18: "You have to know yourself: the difference between doing your best & fussing. Story is testing, not refining."

Resources:

Connie Willis Clip

22 - Character Wants and Needs

30 augusti 2019 | 19 min

Pixar's Never-Ending Rules of Wisdom!!

Mary and Melissa continue their segment featuring Pixar's 22 Rules of Storytelling. Each week, we do a deep dive of one of the tips, tricks, and tools shared and discuss how we use them in our writing practice.

This week, #16: "What are the stakes? Give us a reason to root for the character. What happens if they don't succeed? Stack the odds against them."

Resources:

21 - Themes and Fluffy Frosting

23 augusti 2019 | 16 min

Pixar's Never-Ending Rules of Wisdom!!

This week, #3: "Trying for theme is important, but you won’t see what the story is actually about til you’re at the end of it. Now rewrite."

Resources:

20 - Not my cup of Tea.

9 augusti 2019 | 17 min

More Pixar Wisdom!!

This week, #20: "Exercise: take the building blocks of a movie you dislike. How do you rearrange them into what you DO like?"

Resources:

Some of our problematic movies that deserve a closer assessment. We ask, why didn't we like this? What stuck with us and what didn't?

Twilight (Books & Films)
Star Wars - Prequel Trilogy (Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, Revenge of the Sith)
Season 7 Buffy!
The Lion King (This is ALL Mary!!!)
Authors we love...(that do things we don't)
- Charlaine Harris - Sookie Stackhouse/True Blood Books
- Jeff Wheeler - Harbinger Series
- J.K. Rowling - Order of the Phoenix (NOT Half-Blood Prince!!!)

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19 -What do you like?

2 augusti 2019 | 15 min

More Pixar Wisdom!!

Today Mary and Melissa continue their segment featuring Pixar's 22 Rules of Storytelling. Way back in 2012 Director and Pixar storyboard artist Emma Coats tweeted out 22 tips for storytelling, and since then they have gone viral and become an essential part of the writer's canon. Each week, we do a deep dive of one of the tips, tricks, and tools shared and discuss how we use them in our writing practice.

This week, #10: "Pull apart the stories you like. What you like in them is a part of you; you’ve got to recognize it before you can use it."

Resources: