165: #Twitter#@*!Storm
Sometimes, the internet turns against you. What to do, what not to do, how to ride it out and remember--the loudest voices aren't necessarily the most numerous.  Over the course of our careers, both Jess and I have endured some PR storms. We share some of the gory details, but more importantly, advice from PR pros and from our experiences on how to handle it when you go a little bit viral in th...
40m Jun 28, 2019
40m
164: #WhoIsThisHelping
Subscription services like Kindle Unlimited and Audible do make books—some books—cheaper for readers, but what do they do for authors—and what are readers missing? (with Sarina Bowen) A few highlights from this episode:  If you take something expensive—good content—and you pay people reasonably to create it, it’s tough to make this work. What we're often seeing as consumers are loss leaders for...
50m Jun 21, 2019
50m
163: #BookTourReality
Mary Laura Philpott tells all. It's glorious. It's embarrassing. Nobody told you you'd be sitting on a barstool in front of a crowd in a short skirt. Mary Laura Philpott (https://marylauraphilpott.com/) is the author of I Miss You When I Blink (https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781982102807) , a book with the most awesome subtitle ever: Essays. That's it. Here's a little something she wrote on s...
48m Jun 14, 2019
48m
162: #HalfwaytoGoal
Remember those goals you set with Jess and KJ back in January? Neither did they, but they dug them out and sort out how the year’s going so far. In Episode 140, we set our 2019 goals. (Listen here (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/1-140-2019goals/id1099630313?i=1000426983096) ). Now, at 2019's halfway mark, it's time to check in on those--and we'd love to hear how you're doing on your goal...
51m Jun 07, 2019
51m
161: #WritingAtMyNightmare
We welcome Shane Burcaw. You thought writing was hard? Try doing it with no muscles. Shane Burcaw is the author of three books: Laughing at My Nightmare (https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781250080103) , the picture book Not So Different: What You Really Want to Ask About Having a Disability (https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781626727717) , and his new book, Strangers Assume My Girlfriend is My ...
43m May 31, 2019
43m
160: #10MonthsfromStarttoDeadline
Parkland author Dave Cullen on everything you ever wanted to know about pitching and writing a topical nonfiction book at top speed (and going broke doing it). We talked to Dave Cullen, (https://www.davecullen.com/) about writing Parkland: Birth of a Movement (https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780062882943) , in ten months while he was 3 years overdue on his current book.  "I'm just not gonna te...
40m May 24, 2019
40m
159: #StoryGenius
Story expert Lisa Cron joins Jess and KJ to dig into the mechanics of a good book, including the difference between plot and story, and looking beyond “what happened” to “why did it happen”. To talk to Lisa Cron is--unless you've already read Story Genius or Wired for Story--to possibly flip everything you thought you knew about story--fiction, nonfiction, short, long, whatever--onto its head. ...
40m May 17, 2019
40m
158: #WhyStickers
Jess and KJ extemporize on the power of stickers - where the only thing that matters is getting into the work, and getting the words out. And some bonus advice to authors on what not to do. Kj here, with a confession: I've been lying to myself Letting myself off the hook.  Not keeping my butt in the chair and my head in the game. I mean, sure, I had lots of excuses. I've been traveling or doing...
44m May 10, 2019
44m
157: #ExcitedAboutWords
Podcasting from Mom 2.0 Conference with podcaster, journalist and author, Nicole Blades. She tells us about the pros and cons of skipping an agent, using rejection as fuel, and the joys of the writer community. Nicole Blades (https://www.nicoleblades.com/) is a Podcaster (Hey, Sis! Podcast), (https://www.heysispodcast.com/) Author of Have You Met Nora?, (https://www.nicoleblades.com/have-you-me...
41m May 03, 2019
41m
156 #WhenFansPay
It's hard enough to start a subscriber email. But what if--like freelance writer Lyz Lenz, who has two books coming out in the next twelve months--you asked your fans to pay for it? It's so crazy, it might just work. Hello from the Mom 2.0 conference, where Jess and I just did a panel on Launching a Speaking Career. More on that in an upcoming episode--but meanwhile, this one's a real thought-p...
41m Apr 26, 2019
41m
155: #GetUnstuck
Uber-Coach Jennifer Louden on finding your "enough" and letting it power you forward.
43m Apr 19, 2019
43m
154: #MathandDictationAreFun
Math storyteller Steven Strogatz (http://www.stevenstrogatz.com/) makes both calculus and dictation seem approachable and fun. #notkidding Jess, we learn, was told in an early math class not to give up her day job, and so she gave up on math—until she found Steven Strogatz (http://www.stevenstrogatz.com/) , whose writing puts a human, topical, understandable face on numbers from algebra to cal...
44m Apr 12, 2019
44m
153: #GrammarGirl
Mignon Fogerty on Pet Peeves, riding a wave and what to do if you're a writer--and grammar still scares the bejabbers out of you.
42m Apr 05, 2019
42m
152: #ContinueHereforEmailLists
Part 2 continues with Sarina Bowen's guidance about what you should put in your email list, and how to market your email before, or after, you’re published.
46m Mar 29, 2019
46m
151: #StartHereforEmailLists 
Sarina Bowen guides us through where and how to start up an email list, how to grow it and how to keep it healthy in the first part of a two parter on email lists.
39m Mar 22, 2019
39m
150: #NeverReady
Mary Laura Philpott on how to launch a book into the world, with a few regrets and ideas for do-overs.
49m Mar 15, 2019
49m
149: #PlagarismVersusJustWrong
Accusations of plagiarism and general bad behavior are everywhere in the writing world. Sarina Bowen joins the conversation about what plagiarism is and isn't and how to protect yourself (and keep from accidentally screwing up).
37m Mar 08, 2019
37m
148: #GreenEyedMonster
Omitting wan words to tighten your writing, and battling the inevitable arrival of professional jealousy.
35m Mar 01, 2019
35m
147: #GoodNewsandHowIGotThere
You heard it here first: KJ sold her novel. We talk about how the deal happened, why she took a pre-empt, and building a career.
43m Feb 22, 2019
43m
146: #AnthologyWriting
...in which Jess and KJ share tips about about answering calls for anthology submissions
47m Feb 15, 2019
47m
145: #DethroneThePhone
...in which Jess and KJ talk with computer science professor, and author, Cal Newport on the concept of digital minimalism and the benefits it can have on the writing process.
47m Feb 08, 2019
47m
144: #ReadingWhileWriting
...in which Jess and KJ tackle a classic writing question: can you read in your genre while you’re writing in it without absorbing other voices and ideas?
48m Feb 01, 2019
48m
143: #AlwaysBeHustling
…in which successful freelancer Kimberly Moran describes how she has created a home and work life that feeds her writing, and how she's always hustling to find new opportunities.
51m Jan 25, 2019
51m
142: #SixYearsOfWork
…in which Jess and KJ talk with award-winning biographer, Ruth Franklin, author of Shirley Jackson: A Rather Haunted Life, and find out what it takes to write an account of someone else’s life.
50m Jan 18, 2019
50m
141: #ItsTrueSoWriteIt
...in which Jess and KJ talk raw honest memoir with Janelle Hanchett, author of I'm Just Happy to Be Here. It's not easy to write memoir, or to put it out there, but as Janelle says, you're either going to tell the truth, or don't bother.
43m Jan 11, 2019
43m
1: 140: #2019Goals
...in which Jess and KJ open the new year with their goals and words for the upcoming year.
45m Jan 04, 2019
45m
139: #GoalReview
...in which Jess and KJ take stock of 2018 with a review of their goals and their words of the year.
45m Dec 28, 2018
45m
138: #WhatsYourGenre
...in which Jess and KJ weigh the many ambiguous definitions of fiction genres with Emily Tredowe, and her short-story path to novel writing.
48m Dec 22, 2018
48m
137: #SocialProofMatters
...in which Jess and KJ speak with author Sarina Bowen about how to get Amazon reviews and why you want them.
44m Dec 14, 2018
44m
136: #GiftShow!
…in which Jess and KJ are in the same place! And sharing all the perfect gift ideas for you and your writerly friends.
38m Dec 07, 2018
38m
135: #SteppingBack
…in which Jess and KJ are joined by book coach, and fan favorite, Jennie Nash to answer the question: What do you do when you wake up with 50,000 words of something? A guide for post-NaNoWriMo.
51m Nov 30, 2018
51m
134: #WritingAroundFamily
...in which Jess and KJ share tips about making space for writing even around the holidays, when family is seemingly everywhere. They tackle a listener's question about working with a book coach, and we finally hear more about KJ's novel and tentative title.
43m Nov 23, 2018
43m
133: #WorkingBackwards
...in which Jess and KJ speak with entrepreneur, author, and speaker, Seth Godin about how to market and promote your own writing by thinking about the end product.
33m Nov 16, 2018
33m
132 #ThePitchCameFirst
Jess and KJ interview Jennifer Miller and Jason Feifer, the married co-authors of Mr. Nice Guy, a book with the perfect elevator pitch: What if two columnists had sex every week, and then reviewed each other? Turns out there's a catch to a great "what if:" you still have to figure out who you're writing about, and why it matters.
48m Nov 09, 2018
48m
131: #RelentlesslyHelpful
…in which Jess (fighting thru a cold) and KJ highlight the opportunities panels present, and the importance of choosing your sponsorship carefully.
45m Nov 02, 2018
45m
130: #HorseKick
...in which Jess and KJ update us on how their respective projects are coming along, including Jess's research and KJ's public speaking, all as something NaNoWriMo this way comes.
40m Oct 26, 2018
40m
129: #Don'tGetBuzzed
...in which Jess and KJ are joined by actor, author, podcaster and science advocate Alan Alda to discuss reaching readers with good storytelling, and avoiding that moment when—buzz!—you've lost them.
44m Oct 19, 2018
44m
128: #PlanItOut
…in which Jess and KJ speak with author and podcaster Virginia Sole Smith, who somehow did everything “in order”, about how to plan everything.
42m Oct 12, 2018
42m
127: #AmBranding
...in which Jess and KJ ask Carol Blymire what the heck personal branding is, why you need one, and how you build it.
33m Oct 05, 2018
33m
126: #PubDay3
...in which Jess and KJ review KJ’s recent Pub Day marketing strategy, and what worked and what didn’t.
43m Sep 28, 2018
43m
125: #FindingAnAgent
...in which Jess and KJ welcome Laurie Abkemeier, agent extrodinaire, to discuss what you should do to get an agent, and what an agent can do for you.
43m Sep 21, 2018
43m
124: #NomDePlume
...in which Jess and KJ Sarina Bowen about the advantages and consequences of using a pseudonym, and an update on CockyGate.
36m Sep 14, 2018
36m
123: #ChasingTheAntelope
...in which Jess and KJ sit down with best-selling author Tim Grahl about how becoming a writer of any quality is not a sprint but a marathon.
44m Sep 07, 2018
44m
122: #PubDay2
...in which Jess and KJ discuss prepping for PubDay, all the pub feels, and that fall feeling of getting back to work.
35m Aug 31, 2018
35m
121: #ABillionsTimesNo
…in which Jess and KJ speak with Billions producer and screenwriter Brian Koppleman about how you sometimes have to say no when you’d rather say yes.
30m Aug 24, 2018
30m
120: #IsolationIsForWimps
...in which Jess and KJ examine the jump from journalism to novels with Jo Piazza, and of course some tips for writing your novel.
34m Aug 18, 2018
34m
119: #BestSellers
...in which Jess and KJ, by popular request, speak again with USA Today Best Selling author Sarina Bowen about the nitty gritty of best seller lists.
36m Aug 10, 2018
36m
118: #BooksAboutWork
...in which Jess and KJ speak with Alysin Camerota about the shifting from writing TV news to writing a novel, finding time to write and the value of a good editor.
39m Aug 03, 2018
39m
117: #BookLaunchTimeline
...in which Jess and KJ tackle a bunch of listener questions about building a timeline to give your book the best chance for commercial success.
47m Jul 27, 2018
47m
116: #YouHaveTime
...in which Jess and KJ speak with author Laura Vanderkam about how to find time in even your busy schedule to write.
40m Jul 20, 2018
40m