thewritingcoach's podcast

In episode #88 of The Writing Coach podcast, I speak with Barbara Kyle.

Barbara is the author of the acclaimed Thornleigh Saga, a seven-book series of historical novels set in Tudor England (“Riveting Tudor drama” – USA Today) and of contemporary thrillers, three under pen-name Stephen Kyle, including Beyond Recall, a Literary Guild Selection. Her latest novel is The Traitor’s Daughter. Over half a million copies of her books have been sold in seven countries.

Barbara has taught writers at the University of Toronto and is a popular guest presenter at international writers’ conferences. Before becoming an author Barbara enjoyed a 20-year acting career in television, film, and stage productions in Canada and the U.S.

Through her master classes, online programs, and manuscript evaluations, Barbara’s mentoring has launched many writers to published success, including bestselling mystery author Robert Rotenberg, award-winning historical novelists Cryssa Bazos and Bruce Gardner, debut novelist Christine Higdon, urban fantasy writer T.K. Thorne, and Steven T. Wax for his award-winning memoir. 

During our conversation, Barbara describes:

  • Why her career as an actress on stage, television, and film was fantastic training for her career as a novelist
  • The importance of knowing your protagonist’s objective
  • How winning a short story competition from the local library association gave her the confidence to pursue novel writing
  • Why she chose to set her series in Tudor era England
  • The important role mentors have played in her life and what she learned from them
  • To what she attributes her half a millions books sold
  • And much more!

Click below to listen now:

Direct download: WC088.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:37pm EDT

In episode #87 of The Writing Coach Podcast, host Kevin T. Johns revisits the Christmas episode of his old podcast, Write Along Radio.

For full show notes for this episode, visit http://www.kevintjohns.com

Direct download: WC_87.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:05pm EDT

In episode #86 of The Writing Coach podcast, I speak with Sally McGraw

Sally McGraw is a savvy and versatile ghostwriter, editor, and copywriter with more than 15 years of professional experience. She’s written for newspapers, blogs, magazines, newsletters, and websites, slowly building a resume that she hopes will impress the pants off of you. She’s written three non-fiction books under her own name, and ghostwritten a dozen more. Her articles have been featured on the Huffington Post and About.com, her blog has been highlighted by Marie Claire and Glamour, she’s a contributing editor at Adios Barbie, and her marketing and entrepreneurial advice has appeared on the GoDaddy blog. She firmly believes she has the best job in the known universe, and loves helping her clients craft expressive artist statements, laugh-out-loud posts, in-depth articles, and heart-rending books.

During our conversation, Sally describes:

  • How she built a massively successful blog about fashion and body image
  • Why she transitioned from the fashion world into ghostwriting and editing
  • Her candid thoughts on people wearing cargo shorts to the Opera
  • Why she finds ghostwriting memoirs particularly challenging
  • The reason a client once described her as “a personal decoder ring”
  • Why she is passionate about empowering women in business
  • Her experience teaching a CreativeLive course that was viewed by over 7,000 writers
  • And much more!

Click below to listen now!

Direct download: WC__086.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:30pm EDT

Welcome to The Writing Coach. On this podcast, I speak with the instructors, editors, coaches, and mentors who help writers and authors create their art, build their audience, and sell their work.

 

In episode #85 of The Writing Coach podcast, I speak with Rachel Sentes of Gal Friday Publicity.

Rachel is a publicist and literary agent who specializes in working with authors and publishers from across Canada and in the United States. She prides herself on finding the right angle and the right media for projects in an easygoing, fun, but forthright manner, so that her clients get the goods on how the publicity business works, and how to make your next book launch campaign successful.

During our discussion, Rachel describes:

  • How books were the first and most important gifts she received as a child
  • The important role journaling has played in her life for the last 40 years (and why they must be burned upon her death!)
  • How she ended up marrying a literary agent after a terrible first date
  • What exactly a publicist does for a writer
  • Who shouldn’t work with a publicist
  • How her work as a publicist led to her becoming a literary agent
  • And much more!

Listen now!

Direct download: WC_085.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:05am EDT

Welcome to The Writing Coach. On this podcast, I speak with the instructors, editors, coaches, and mentors who help writers and authors create their art, build their audience, and sell their work.

In episode #84 of The Writing Coach podcast, I speak with Elizabeth Atkins and Catherine M. Greenspan.

Elizabeth is a best-selling author, actress, TV host and award-winning journalist who uses a multimedia platform to inspire people to unlock their infinite potential and live with passion, prosperity, health, and happiness. Elizabeth has written more than 20 books.

Catherine created the first-ever series of young adult novels featuring a biracial girl. The Veronica Series follows the 14-year-old girl along a tricky terrain of friends, boys, school, and family in a race-obsessed world.

Together, Catherine and Elizabeth are the siblings behind Two Sisters Writing and Publishing, where they publish meaningful books by authors of color, women writers, and those who celebrate diversity through their stories and characters.

During our discussion, Catherine and Elizabeth describe:

  • How their father's journaling habit influenced their lives and approach to writing
  • Why they becAme writing coaches, ghostwriters, and eventually publishers
  • How their Power Journaling program combines journaling with meditation to help by-pass writers' inner critics
  • Why it's important now more than ever to promote diverse voices IN the book world and how independent publishers can step up to plate
  • How Elizabeth came to co-write a book with Billy Dee Williams of Star Wars fame
  • And much more!

Click below to listen now!

Direct download: WC084.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:29pm EDT

Welcome to The Writing Coach. On this podcast, I speak with the instructors, editors, coaches, and mentors who help writers and authors create their art, build their audience, and sell their work.

In episode #83 of The Writing Coach podcast, I speak with Blaine Bradshaw.

Blaine is a freelance editor with 10 years experience that started in the Army. While initially his scope was limited to geographic reports and briefings he expanded to novels and opened Superior Story in 2014. Over the years he has worked with dozens of writers to develop compelling stories while maintaining their unique voice.

During our discussion, Michelle describes:

  • Why a single typo led to him having to do 1000 pushup
  • How he stumbled upon a vibrant writing community on the Deviant Art platform
  • Why his experience with a factory-style editing service ultimately led to his personalized approach to working with writers
  • The complexity involved in defining different types of editing
  • The role empathy plays in the editing process
  • And much more!

Click below to listen now!

Direct download: WC_083.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:56pm EDT

Welcome to The Writing Coach. On this podcast, I speak with the instructors, editors, coaches, and mentors who help writers and authors create their art, build their audience, and sell their work.

In episode #82 of The Writing Coach podcast, I speak with Michelle Cornish.

Michelle is a mom, author, illustrator, and former accountant on a mission to prove accountants are just as exciting as lawyers. After spending almost 20 years in the public accounting industry, Michelle sold her accounting practice to spend more time with her family and pursue her dream of writing. In 2017, she published Keep More Money, a guide to help business owners find a trustworthy accountant. Her debut financial crime thriller Murder Audit will be released on October 31, 2018, and is available for pre-order now. 

During our discussion, Michelle describes:

  • What she learned from publishing a non-fiction book that she then applied to her new novel, Murder Audit
  • How her frustration with the stereotypical portrayal of accountants led to the creation of her novel’s protagonist Cynthia Webber
  • Why she thinks publishing a novel is so much scarier than publishing a non-fiction book
  •  How she found writing a novel to be similar to solving mathematical puzzles
  • Why she is so passionate about seeking out learning opportunities
  • And much more!

Click below to listen now!

Direct download: WC_082.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:37pm EDT

Welcome to The Writing Coach. On this podcast, I speak with the instructors, editors, coaches, and mentors who help writers and authors create their art, build their audience, and sell their work.

In episode #81 of The Writing Coach podcast, I speak with artist success coach Nikól Peterman of Zen Red NYC.

Nikól is a certified empowerment coach who works with leading creatives who struggle to attract their perfect audience, feel amazing in their performance, and see themselves as valuable. She empowers professional artists, speakers, entrepreneurs, and presenters to be fearless, embodying a powerful presence that allows them to connect deeply with their audience, and stand out from the crowd. She specializes in skills for overcoming fear, overwhelm, and the constant roller coaster of ups and downs that come with putting your work out to the world.

During our discussion, Nikól describes:

  • How letting go of perfectionism and sharing vulnerability actually draws people towards us
  • The role creative writing played in her transition from performer and choreographer to empowerment coach for artists
  • The importance of looking at our art through the lens of a professional
  • How she encourages her creative clients to ask themselves what they are holding back
  • What she means when she says marketing is all about belonging
  • Why right now is an amazing time to be an artist
  • And much more!

For full show notes visit: http://www.kevintjohns.com

Direct download: WC081.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:32pm EDT

Welcome to The Writing Coach. On this podcast, I speak with the instructors, editors, coaches, and mentors who help writers and authors create their art,

build their audience, and sell their work.

In episode #80 of The Writing Coach podcast, I answer some important questions about author platform building and book marketing.

This week one of my former clients posted a number of fantastic marketing related questions in a private Facebook group that I run. I decided to answer the questions via the podcast.

During the episode I cover:

  • Why your author platform doesn't necessarily have to be blog-based
  • The best methods for platform building
  • How I have gone about building my email list
  • My thoughts on how writers should approach blogging
  • Who I turn to when seeking advice and tips on book marketing
  • And much more!

Click below to listen now:

Direct download: WC_080.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:04pm EDT

In episode #79 of The Writing Coach podcast, I speak with publicity coach and founder of the Build Your Brand Academy Chris Well.

Chris is a media veteran who has worked more than 30 years in professional media. He’s been a magazine editor, columnist, journalist, broadcaster, and college instructor, with field experience covering music, publishing, human interest, and more. Also a published novelist, Chris has written suspense and mysteries for traditional publishers and as a self-published author. He and his wife live in Tennessee.

During our discussion, Chris describes:

  • Why he feels compelled to help authors understand and navigate the media outreach process
  • What he has learned working on both sides of the fence as both a media professional and an author
  • How, after landing a traditional publishing contract, he was forced to lower his expectations regarding what a publisher has to offer when it comes to publicity and marketing
  • The major differences between old media (magazines, newspapers, TV, and radio) and new digital media platforms (online videos, podcasts, and blogs)
  • His surprising advice about "leading with the book"
  • How book marketing is similar to farming
  • And much more!

Click below to listen now:

Direct download: WC079.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:32pm EDT

In episode #78 of The Writing Coach podcast, I speak with Lauren Sapala.

Lauren is the author of The INFJ Writer, a guide for sensitive intuitive writers, and Firefly Magic: Heart Powered Marketing for Highly Sensitive Writers, as well as The West Coast Trilogy, an autobiographical fiction series. She currently lives in San Francisco.

During our discussion, Lauren describes:

  • Why she considers her coaching a form of healing work
  • How the structure and energy of academia can often lead to overly critical writing instructors and teachers, and how the world of creativity and art differs completely
  • Why she doesn't shy away from discussing her time dealing with alcoholism
  • How self-publishing The INFJ Writer was such a pleasurable experience that she ceased seeking an agent for her fiction and started-indie publishing those books as well
  • The way the Meyers-Briggs personality types have given her a greater understanding of her writing clients and how she can better help intuitive introverts achieve their artistic goals
  • How transgressive fiction combines darkness with humour, and the challenges she has faced as a writer working in that genre
  • And much more!

Click below to listen now:

Direct download: WC078.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:22pm EDT

Welcome to The Writing Coach. On this podcast, I speak with the instructors, editors, coaches, and mentors who help writers and authors create their art, build their audience, and sell their work.

In episode #77 of The Writing Coach podcast, I speak with Jennifer Blanchard.

Jennifer a multi-passionate author, screenwriter, blogger, and coach who is on a mission to change the way writers think and challenge what they believe is possible. In early 2009, after years of struggling with her stories, she learned about story structure, which changed everything for her. She published her debut novel, SoundCheck, in 2015, and she's been writing nonfiction books, novels, and screenplays ever since.

During our discussion, Jennifer describes:

  • How being a multi-passionate creative can be energizing and freeing
  • The role her blog played in helping her transition from a chronic procrastinator to an incredibility productive writer
  • How stumbling upon a story structure article by Larry Brooks changed her life forever
  • Why she challenged herself to write and publish nine books in nine months (!)
  • What she offers in her Multi-Passionate Mastermind
  • The importance of a daily mindset practice
  • And much more!

Click below to listen now:

Direct download: WC077.mp3
Category:podcast -- posted at: 10:42pm EDT

Think there aren't any good movies about writing?

Think again, my friend!

In episode #76 of The Writing Coach podcast, guest host, Laura Morano, and I debunk the myth that there are no good movies about writing.

We discuss more than a dozen fantastic films featuring writer protagonists dealing with the highs and lows of putting words to the page and trying to create something beautiful in the world.

Click below to listen now!

Direct download: WC076.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:11pm EDT

Welcome to The Writing Coach. On this podcast, I speak with the instructors, editors, coaches, and mentors who help writers and authors create their art, build their audience, and sell their work.

In episode #75 of The Writing Coach podcast, I speak with Elisa Doucette of Craft Your Content.

Elisa is a writer, editor, and entrepreneur who currently travels the world looking for great stories to live, interesting tales to share, and new ways to make words sexy.

She has worked for over a decade creating compelling content and writing for various businesses and publications. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, The Boston Globe, Yahoo! Small Business, The Shine Network, The Huffington Post, and Brazen Careerist among others, including syndicated columns on Forbes.com and Maine Today Media. Her short stories have been published in numerous literary magazines and websites, and she has appeared as a guest on radio shows and podcasts around the web, such as Frommer’s Radio, Entrepreneurs on Fire, and The Chris Hahn Show. She also hosts a podcast for writers and creatives, called Writers' Rough Drafts.

As the owner and executive editor of the editing and writing coaching agency, Craft Your Content, Elisa oversees the acquisition and cultivation of a talented team of word and content geniuses while also encouraging the development of clients’ writing and thought prowess. CYC serves as a champion for each writers’ unique voice and vision, while helping them to publish their best content.

During our discussion, Elisa describes:

  • Why, despite living abroad and running a digital company, she doesn't consider herself a lifestyle entrepreneur
  • How challenges making friends in her youth led to a passion for literature and writing
  • The unique relationship between music technique and writing
  • How she met Stephen King in person (!)
  • Why she invested hundreds of hours in her online course, Become a Master Writer, and how you can benefit from enrolling regardless of what type of writing you do
  • And much more!

Click below to listen now:

Direct download: WC075.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:40pm EDT

In episode #74 of The Writing Coach podcast, I speak with book marketing coach Audrey Hughey.

Audrey previously appeared on the show in episode #61, where we discussed her book marketing program and community, the Author Transformation Alliance. This week, Audrey returns to the show to discuss The Ultimate Authorship Planner, an incredible new resource she has created for authors.

The Ultimate Authorship Planner is designed to be an all-in-one day planner and writing-career coach, helping authors to organize their writing life and get on a clear path to reach their goals. The planner is a place to:

  • Track daily and weekly word counts
  • Map out writing and publishing plans for an entire year
  • Manage and track monthly expenses
  • Develop an editing checklist and evaluate potential editors
  • Plan social media marketing, book promotions, and advertising
  • Sketch out ideas for author newsletter and track open and click-through rates
  • Have space and flexibility to plan your days and weeks according to your own unique lifestyle and schedule.

I own a copy of the planner (and I love it!) so I was thrilled to get an opportunity to talk to Audrey all about it.

During our discussion, Audrey describes:

  • Where the original idea of the planner came from (and how it sent her NaNoWriMo in an entirely new direction)
  • How she worked with her community of authors to create a product she knew they would find valuable
  • The role planning, tracking, and reviewing plays in achieving goals, selling books, and building an author business
  • Why she chose to publish the book using the Lulu platform in additional Amazon's CreateSpace
  • How and why she was able to create three different covers for her planner
  • And much more!

Whether you're on the lookout for a planner to help get your author business organized, or just curious about the behind the scenes work that goes into creating a product like this, you won't want to miss this episode.

Click below to listen now!

Direct download: WC_074.mp3
Category:Writing -- posted at: 11:06am EDT

For full show notes visit http://www.kevintjohns.com

Direct download: WC_073.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:39pm EDT

Episode #72 of The Writing Coach podcast features our first ever guest host, Lori Puma.

Lori Puma is a Story Grid Certified editor who helps writers turn first drafts into stories readers can’t put down. Lori started her writing career publishing scientific papers that also double as sleeping aids. Since then, she’s done a lot of things, including working as a marketer and having her work published in places such as the Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and Mashable. Lori’s focus as an editor is helping writers build the storytelling skills they need for a career writing fiction.

Lori scored the role of guest host by making the rather unusual pitch of offering to interview me on my own show. It was a great opportunity to talk about my coaching process with The Writing Coach listeners.

During our discussion, I describe:

  • What I consider to be the fundamental elements of writer's craft
  • The importance of starting your story planning with genre
  • My real thoughts on pantsing vs. planning
  • The three biggest challenges writers face while crafting a novel
  • Why a coach's role is to open up new doorways of possibility to our clients
  • What I recommend writers do when their plans go off-track
  • And much more!

Listen to the episode now:

Direct download: wc072.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:25pm EDT

Welcome to The Writing Coach. On this podcast, I speak with the instructors, editors, coaches, and mentors who help writers and authors create their art, build their audience, and sell their work.

In episode #71 of The Writing Coach podcast, I speak with Allison Fallon.

Allison believes a regular practice of writing can change your life. She is the author of a dozen books, a sought-after public speaker, and coach to hundreds of authors from New York Times Bestsellers to total beginners.

During our discussion, Allison describes:

  • The importance of bringing vulnerability to writing
  • How growing up in Portland influenced her early writing
  • The coach's role in bearing witness to an artist's creativity
  • Why she considers a regular yoga practice to be a vital component of her creative work
  • And much more!

Listen to the episode now!

 

Direct download: WC071.mp3
Category:podcast -- posted at: 12:47pm EDT

Welcome to The Writing Coach. On this podcast, I speak with the instructors, editors, coaches, and mentors who help writers and authors create their art, build their audience, and sell their work.

In episode #70 of The Writing Coach podcast, I speak with Lisa Tener.

An authority on book writing and publishing, and winner of the Silver Stevie Award for Coach/Mentor of the Year, Lisa guides experts, entrepreneurs and visionaries to joyfully write and publish their books. Lisa has been quoted in The New York Times, featured on ABC News and more. Lisa Tener serves on the faculty of Harvard Medical School’s publishing and women's leadership courses, and teaches Award Winning Book Writing Courses.

Lisa Tener's clients have received 5- and 6-figure book deals from a large variety of publishers from Random House, St. Martin's Press and Harper Collins to niche and university publishers. Her clients' books have been featured by Oprah, on NPR, the Today Show, Good Morning America and all over the national media, including the New York Times, Cosmopolitan, Women's Health, Forbes and much more.

During our discussion, Lisa describes:

  • Transforming anger into a tool for creativity
  • Why the best teachers are lifelong learners
  • How a time of serious illness in her life led to a period of intense reading and self-discovery
  • The importance of finding your own way
  • Five elements for entering a flow state as a writer
  • And much more!

Listen to the episode now:

Direct download: WC_070.mp3
Category:Writing -- posted at: 10:19pm EDT

In episode #69 of The Writing Coach podcast, I speak with Angela Ackerman.

Angela is a writing coach, international speaker, and co-author of the bestselling book, The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Character Expression, as well as five others. Her books are available in six languages, are sourced by US universities, and are used by novelists, screenwriters, editors, and psychologists around the world. Angela is also the co-founder of the popular site Writers Helping Writers, as well as One Stop for Writers, an innovative online library built to help writers elevate their storytelling.

During our discussion, Angela describes:

  • Which literary serial killer she wanted to name her dog after
  • The valuable lessons she learned from joining an online critique group early in her career
  • Why her book, The Emotional Thesaurus, has been so popular with writers
  • What she learned from collaborating with writing coaches like James Scott Bell, Jennie Nash, and Lisa Cron
  • How she ended up developing online resources for writer with Lee Powell, the creator of Scrivener
  • Her passion for helping writers learn and grow,
  • And much more!

Listen to the episode now!

Direct download: WC_69.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:27pm EDT

In episode #68 of The Writing Coach podcast, I discuss how to spot a publishing scam.

It takes passion, dedications, and a massive amount of hard work to produce a 70,000 manuscript. It takes even more effort and focus to proceed to revise those 70K words several times over. Usually, aspiring authors are feeling pretty desperate by the time they reach the publication stage of the book production process. That desperation, combined with a lack of knowledge regarding the publishing industry, is frequently taken advantage of by scammers, frauds, hucksters, and criminals in the world of publishing.

In this episode, we're going to go over the steps you can take to investigate an offer before you hand over any money or personal information to a service provider, agent, or publisher.

Listen to the episode now!

Direct download: WC_68.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:52am EDT

In episode #67 of The Writing Coach podcast, I speak with Brooke Warner.

Brooke Warner is publisher of She Writes Press, founder of Warner Coaching Inc., and author of What’s Your Book? and How to Sell Your Memoir. Brooke’s expertise is in traditional and new publishing, and she is an equal advocate for publishing with a traditional house and self-publishing. She sits on the board of the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) and the National Association of Memoir Writers (NAMW). Her website was selected by The Write Life as one of the Top 100 Best Websites for Writers in 2014.

During our conversation, Brooke describes:

  • How a talk with her mom about what she loves led to a career in publishing
  • The exact moment she realized her experience in editing and publishing could be used for an author coaching business
  • The massive learning curve for memoir writers and the “kiss of death” they need to avoid in their writing
  • The role perseverance (and the help of a coach) played in landing her TedX talk, “Green-Light Revolution”
  • Why she founded She Writes Press and what it means to be a hybrid publisher
  • How the current American political environment means having a platform for women writers is more important than ever
  • And much more!

Listen to the episode now!

Direct download: WC_67.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:45am EDT

In episode #66 of The Writing Coach podcast, I speak with Lisa Bloom.

Lisa Bloom is a highly professional and accomplished Storyteller, Professional Certified Coach (ICF) and Training & Development Expert with more than 20 years experience working in public and private sectors, high-tech and financial services environments. Lisa trains Story Coaches and helps entrepreneurs de-stress the marketing, build their business with confidence and inspiration by finding their success story.

During our conversation, Lisa describes:

  • How a story can be used to build trust and create credibility
  • Her deep belief that we are all innate storytellers
  • Why she spent time working as a "galley slave"
  • The massive benefits she experienced from writing a weekly story on her blog for ten years straight
  • How finding congruity between your outer story and inner story leads to powerful authenticity

Listen to the episode now:

Direct download: WC_066.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:31pm EDT

In episode #65 of The Writing Coach podcast, I speak with John Adamus.

Since 1997, John's entire career has been working with people to tell their stories. Whether in television, film, stage, or publishing, he has worked with talented creatives who have all different kinds of stories to tell. Through his website, The Writer Next Door, John offers a full suite of tools to help writers reach their creative goals, from story design and coaching to first chapter diagnostics and help with query letters. John is the executive editor at Parvus Press, a publishing company focused on science fiction and fantasy, and he also extremely active on Twitter, where you'll find him sharing writing tips and advice throughout the day.

During our conversation, John describes:

  • How he had been helping people for years before he realized "creative coaching" was the name for what he was doing
  • Why he got fired from his slush pile reader job at a New York publishing house
  • The challenge of learning how to determine your value and charge what you are worth for your services
  • The important role a mentor played in his life and his development as a writer and editor
  • And much more

Listen to the episode now!

For full show notes, visit http://www.kevintjohns.com/

Direct download: WC_065.mp3
Category:podcast -- posted at: 1:52pm EDT

Welcome to The Writing Coach. On this podcast, I speak with the instructors, editors, coaches, and mentors who help writers and authors create their art, build their audience, and sell their work.

In episode #64 of The Writing Coach podcast, I speak with Jennie Nash.

Jennie has spent 30 years in the books. She is the author of seven books, one of the world’s top one-on-one writing coaches, and the co-founder of Author Accelerator, a company that matches authors with books coaches.

During our conversation, Jennie describes:

  • Why she finds the quick fix solutions to learning writers craft so frustrating
  • What she learned from her writer father
  • The moment she turned down a multi-book deal with a traditional publisher
  • Why a writing retreat once asked her to "tone down" her intensity
  • The reason writers need to get good at asking for what they want
  • How talent can often get in the way of storytelling
  • The non-linear nature of writing
  • And much more

Listen to the episode now!

Direct download: WC_064.mp3
Category:podcast -- posted at: 1:00pm EDT

Welcome to The Writing Coach. On this podcast, I speak with the instructors, editors, coaches, and mentors who help writers and authors create their art, build their audience, and sell their work.

In episode #63 of The Writing Coach podcast, I speak with Franciska Csongrady.

Franciska is in her third year of an English Literature degree at Oxford University in England. In addition to her studies, she tutors students from around the world looking to improve their English writing.

During our conversation, Franciska describes:

  • How growing up in Hungary, England, and Austria led to an interest in learning languages, including English, Hungarian, Spanish, German, and even some Latin
  • What it is like going to a school and walking the same halls that were once walked by the likes of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien
  • What she has learned from teaching English to students from all around the world
  • And much more

Listen to the episode now.

For full show notes visit http://www.kevintjohns.com

Direct download: WC_O63.mp3
Category:Literature -- posted at: 8:00pm EDT

In episode #62 of The Writing Coach podcast, I speak with writer, editor, and media manager Sarah Foil.

Sarah describes herself as a cliché: an introverted, caffeine-addicted, wine-obsessed writer in North Carolina with a husband, crazy dog and angry cat.

(Sounds like my kind of person!)

She has an MFA and served as the editor of the literary magazine Incunabula for four years before launching into the freelance world, where she now works with aspiring and first-time novelists as an editor and media manager.

During our conversation, Sarah describes:

  • Why, as a young girl, she realized she wanted to learn how to make dad's cry (with words)
  • The big takeaways from her MFA program
  • The common mistakes writer's make when submitting to editors, and why writers need to focus on the first page of their submission
  • Her approach to social media management and the tools she uses to preschedule her posts
  • And much more

Listen to the episode now!

Direct download: WC_062.mp3
Category:podcast -- posted at: 11:29am EDT

In episode #61 of The Writing Coach podcast, I speak with Audrey Hughey.

Audrey Hughey is the founder of The Write Services Social Media Management and creator of the Author Transformation Alliance. Her passion is inspiring and empowering authors to achieve their goals and dreams with effective and authentic marketing.

During our conversation, Audrey describes:

  • Why its important for authors to develop book marketing plans
  • How she uses a community to educate and empower authors
  • What she learned in the world of fitness that she carried over into book marketing
  • Her "no excuse" approach to achieving her goals
  • Why she created the 2018 Author Journal
  • And much more

Listen to the episode now!

Direct download: WC_061.mp3
Category:podcast -- posted at: 5:18pm EDT

Welcome to The Writing Coach. On this podcast, I speak with the instructors, editors, coaches, and mentors who help writers and authors create their art, build their audience, and sell their work.

A client of mine recently asked me what novels I would recommend for the purpose demonstrating different aspects of writer's craft.

This episode answers that question!

Listen now!

Direct download: WC_060.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:35pm EDT

Direct download: WC059.mp3
Category:Literature -- posted at: 2:03pm EDT

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