The Writing Show
By Paula B
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Podcast Description
The Writing Show provides information and inspiration for writers of all kinds. Whether you write fiction, nonfiction, screenplays, songs, games, manuals, ads, reports, reviews, or poetry, we are here to entertain, help, and engage you.
| Name | Description | Released | Price | ||
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1 |
Famous Books Slush Pile Workshop | Writing Show listener Neil Trigger analyzes first chapters from three famous fantasy novels. | 2/11/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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2 |
Slush Pile Workshop #23 | Welcome to The Writing Show Slush Pile Workshop! This podcast series is designed to help you practice capturing readers' attention. | 1/17/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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3 |
Slush Pile Workshop #22 | Welcome to The Writing Show Slush Pile Workshop! This podcast series is designed to help you practice capturing readers' attention. | 12/17/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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4 |
Slush Pile Workshop #21 | Welcome to The Writing Show Slush Pile Workshop! This podcast series is designed to help you practice capturing readers' attention. | 11/5/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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5 |
Slush Pile Workshop #20 | Welcome to The Writing Show Slush Pile Workshop! This podcast series is designed to help you practice capturing readers' attention. | 10/4/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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6 |
Slush Pile Workshop #19 | Welcome to The Writing Show Slush Pile Workshop! This podcast series is designed to help you practice capturing readers' attention. | 9/9/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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7 |
Slush Pile Workshop #18 | Welcome to The Writing Show Slush Pile Workshop! This podcast series is designed to help you practice capturing readers' attention. | 8/15/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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8 |
Slush Pile Workshop #17 | Welcome to The Writing Show Slush Pile Workshop! This podcast series is designed to help you practice capturing readers' attention. | 7/14/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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9 |
Slush Pile Workshop #16 | Welcome to The Writing Show Slush Pile Workshop! This podcast series is designed to help you practice capturing readers' attention. | 6/27/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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10 |
Slush Pile Workshop #15 | Welcome to The Writing Show Slush Pile Workshop! This podcast series is designed to help you practice capturing readers' attention. | 6/7/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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11 |
Slush Pile Workshop #14 | Welcome to The Writing Show Slush Pile Workshop! This podcast series is designed to help you practice capturing readers' attention. | 5/18/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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12 |
Slush Pile Workshop #13 | Welcome to The Writing Show Slush Pile Workshop! This podcast series is designed to help you practice capturing readers' attention. | 4/24/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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13 |
Slush Pile Workshop #12 | Welcome to The Writing Show Slush Pile Workshop! This podcast series is designed to help you practice capturing readers' attention. | 4/15/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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14 |
Slush Pile Workshop #11 | Welcome to The Writing Show Slush Pile Workshop! This podcast series is designed to help you practice capturing readers' attention. | 3/15/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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15 |
Slush Pile Workshop #10 | Welcome to The Writing Show Slush Pile Workshop! This podcast series is designed to help you practice capturing readers' attention. | 2/13/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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16 |
Slush Pile Workshop #9 | Welcome to The Writing Show Slush Pile Workshop! This podcast series is designed to help you practice capturing readers' attention. | 1/16/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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17 |
Big Changes at The Writing Show | From now on, The Writing Show will be all slush pile workshops all the time. Please submit your chapter! The site will remain up. The forum will remain up. Paula B. will continue her mentoring/consulting/editing services. You can purchase a DVD of all our more than 330 shows for $39.95 + shipping. Email us to order. | 12/12/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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18 |
Slush Pile Workshop #8 | Welcome to The Writing Show Slush Pile Workshop! This podcast series is designed to help you practice capturing readers' attention. | 12/5/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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19 |
Slush Pile Workshop #7 | Welcome to The Writing Show Slush Pile Workshop! This podcast series is designed to help you practice capturing readers' attention. | 11/21/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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20 |
Writing Young Adult Fiction | Young adult fiction is white hot these days. Leigh Moore, an avid fan and aspiring YA fiction writer, tells us what the phenomenon is all about. | 11/14/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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21 |
Slush Pile Workshop #6 | Welcome to The Writing Show Slush Pile Workshop! This podcast series is designed to help you practice capturing readers' attention. | 11/7/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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22 |
A Reading of Edgar Allan Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart" | Please join us as we present 12 minutes of bone-chilling, skin-crawling horror and fright as Alan Chaney reads Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart." | 10/31/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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23 |
Writing the Slice-of-life Column | Here for your listening pleasure are three perfect newspaper columns by longtime Writing Show listener Sudie Crouch. See if you agree that she's the next Erma Bombeck. We think so. | 10/24/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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24 |
The Secret Rules of Hollywood Screenwriting | Michele Wallerstein discusses the secret rules of Hollywood screenwriting. Ignore them at your peril. | 10/17/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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25 |
Adventures in POD Publishing #1 | Guest host Ricardo Amigo starts a new series on the POD business he's opening in Latin America. | 10/10/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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26 |
Reprise: Writing History. | Now that HBO is running the series Boardwalk Empire, we thought you might enjoy listening to Nelson Johnson again. Note: We originally ran this interview in October of 2009. | 9/26/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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27 |
Slush Pile Workshop #5 | Welcome to The Writing Show Slush Pile Workshop! This podcast series is designed to help you practice capturing readers' attention. | 9/19/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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28 |
A Conversation with Sarah Willis, featuring guest host Alanna Klapp | Writing Show guest host Alanna Klapp discusses the writer's life with author Sarah Willis. | 9/12/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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29 |
Making a Living as a Novelist? | Aspiring writer Bart Silverstrim comments on author Robert Sawyer's fears that the days of being able to make a living as a novelist are numbered. | 9/5/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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30 |
Promoting Your Book at Film Festivals | You don't have to be a screenwriter or filmmaker to promote your books at film festivals. | 8/15/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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31 |
Presenting Yourself on the Web | Andy Hayes offers quick tips for presenting yourself effectively on the Web and tackles two case studies involving Writing Show listeners. | 8/8/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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32 |
A Conversation with Kelley Armstrong, featuring guest host Mark Leslie | The Writing Show's very own Mark Leslie interviews multi-genre author Kelley Armstrong. | 7/25/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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33 |
Text Management Tools for Writers: Number 4 | Guest host Ricardo Amigo presents the fourth installment in his series on text management for writers, offering more about EditPad Lite and introducing us to his new POD service in Mexico City. | 7/18/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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34 |
Slush Pile Workshop #4 | Welcome to The Writing Show Slush Pile Workshop! This podcast series is designed to help you practice capturing readers' attention. | 7/11/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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35 |
About Procrastination | If you procrastinate, this is the show for you! | 7/4/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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36 |
An Introduction to Nigerian Fiction | This week The Writing Show explores Nigeria through its stories. | 6/13/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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37 |
Making the Transition to Full-time Writing | A couple of years ago, Roger Morris made the transition to full-time writing. How's that worked out for him? | 6/6/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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38 |
Episode 11, Getting Published, with Mark Leslie | Mark has set a deadline for finishing A Canadian Werewolf in New York! | 6/3/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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39 |
REPOST TO CORRECT ERRORS: World-building, with Robert J. Sawyer, featuring guest host Mark Leslie | The Writing Show;apos;s very own Mark Leslie interviews science fiction writer extraordinaire, Robert J. Sawyer. | 6/1/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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40 |
World-building, with Robert J. Sawyer, featuring guest host Mark Leslie | The Writing Show;apos;s very own Mark Leslie interviews science fiction writer extraordinaire, Robert J. Sawyer. | 5/30/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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41 |
Writing Fiction, with Estevan Vega | This week's guest is 21 years old and just published his third novel, ARSON. Find out what makes this extraordinary young writer tick. | 5/23/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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42 |
Episode 10, Getting Published, with Mark Leslie | Mark returns to The Writing Show after nearly two years! | 5/9/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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43 |
Slush Pile Workshop #3 | Welcome to our third slush pile workshop! This time we cover two novels and a personal essay. | 5/2/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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44 |
ExplicitSlush Pile Workshop #2 | Welcome to our second slush pile workshop! This time we cover two novels and a nonfiction short story. | 4/25/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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45 |
Publishers' Secrets for Successful Manuscripts | Want to get published? This week's guest has some advice for you. If you're serious, you'll listen. | 4/18/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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46 |
Writing the Humorous Memoir | Has the misery memoir run its course? Melissa Hart's Gringa is so much fun that it might just be the harbinger of a new trend: the comic memoir. | 4/11/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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47 |
Slush Pile Workshop #1 | Welcome to our first slush pile workshop! | 3/28/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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48 |
Writing Flash Fiction | Flash fiction is hot! Michael Wilson, a longtime flash fiction devotee, offers a primer on the art. | 3/21/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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49 |
Text Management Tools for Writers: Number 3 | Guest host Ricardo Amigo presents the third installment in his series on text management for writers. This time, he explains some of the features of one of his favorite programs, EditPad Lite. | 3/7/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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50 |
A Disgruntled Ebook Enthusiast Speaks Out | This week's guest loves ebooks and buys lots of them, but she's frustrated with the way publishers and retailers are handling them. Now she's speaking out in the hope that the powers that be will listen. | 2/28/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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51 |
I Make Money By Giving Stuff Away | Jon Harnum is one of those rare writers who makes money by giving away his books for free. Find out how he does it. | 2/21/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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52 |
Announcing Our New Slush Pile Workshop Series | Paula B. announces our new series and asks for your participation. | 2/14/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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53 |
On the Fight Between Macmillan and Amazon.com | Aspiring writer Bart Silverstrim comments on the current power struggle bewteen publisher Macmillan and retailer Amazon.com. | 2/7/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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54 |
Text Management Tools for Writers: Number 2 | Guest host Ricardo Amigo presents the second installment in his series on text management for writers. | 1/17/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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55 |
Writing Humor | Writing humor is harder than it looks. Funny guy Brad Schreiber discusses what makes us laugh and what to look out for when writing comedy. | 1/3/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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56 |
The Importance of Detail | Want to make your writing come alive? Infuse it with detail. | 12/5/09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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57 |
Text Management Tools for Writers: Number 1 | Guest host Ricardo Amigo begins a new series on text management tools for writers. | 11/29/09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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58 |
A Review of Chris Anderson's Free | This is our review of Free: The Future of a Radical Price by Chris Anderson, editor in chief of Wired. | 11/8/09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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59 |
Halloween Ghast Fest 2009: "The Absinthe Club," by Ron Breznay | "Three young men are visited by ghosts of Halloween past." Rated PG for subject matter (drinking, ghosts). | 10/31/09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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60 |
Halloween Ghast Fest 2009: "Crosshair," by Scott Middlemist | "A sniper mistakenly kills two boys in Iraq and their ghosts seek revenge." Rated PG for language, violence, and gore. | 10/25/09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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61 |
Writing Memoir | Memoir has become hugely popular in the last few years. In this episode of The Writing Show, guest host Alanna Klapp and author Deanna R. Adams explore some of the issues involved in this most personal form of writing. | 9/27/09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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62 |
Tax Tips for Writers | Brigitte A. Thompson discusses how writers who pay taxes in the U.S. can organize their financial lives and perhaps save money in the process. | 9/20/09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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63 |
The Results of Our 2009 Halloween Short Story Contest | -- | 9/14/09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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64 |
The Ancient Greeks Wrote Novels?! | In this rather unusual episode of The Writing Show, classics scholar Aaron Horton discusses the most influential of the ancient Greek novels: Aethiopica by Heliodorus, which influenced Shakespeare and Cervantes, among others. | 9/6/09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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65 |
A Tribute to Blake Snyder | Screenwriting guru Blake Snyder died on August 4th. This is our tribute to him. | 8/23/09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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66 |
Writing Graphic Novels | Please join us as Matt talks about writing graphic novels and his cross-genre story that combines werewolves and the American west. | 8/16/09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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67 |
Ebooks: The State of the Art, with David Rothman | David Rothman is one of the world's foremost authorities on ebooks. Please join us as he discusses issues of importance to authors, publishers, and consumers. | 7/19/09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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68 |
Writing Fiction, with Thrity Umrigar, featuring guest host Alanna Klapp | Writing Show guest host Alanna Klapp discusses writing fiction with author Thrity Umrigar. | 7/5/09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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69 |
Writing Historical Fiction, with David Rothman | David Rothman investigated corruption in the U.S. government 30 years ago, but it took that long for his fictionalized version of events and people to be published. Please join us as David explains how and why he translated fact into fiction and why it took that long to do so. | 6/21/09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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70 |
Five Essential Rules for Writing Nonfiction | Highly experienced editor Cynthia Clampett discusses her five rules for writing nonfiction and offers up some amazing horror stories of writers gone wrong. | 5/5/09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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71 |
You Found What in a Bog? Writing the Archaeological Mystery | Imagine finding 100-year-old butter that's still salty and white in, of all places, an Irish bog. Then imagine discovering a centuries-old perfectly preserved body in that same bog. Believe it or not, a bog can harbor archaeological treasures. And leave it to mystery writer Erin Hart to dive right in, well, dig right in, and dredge up something else: murder. Join guest host Mick Halpin and Erin as they explore bogs, mystery writing, and things Irish, including: * Where she came up with the idea of writing a bog mystery * How she feels about writing dark characters * How she approaches research * How she ties together the ancient past and the present and entices the reader to care about both * What's going on in bog-based archaeology * How she weaves music and culture into her stories * What she learned from writing her first book that helped her with her second * Why the mystery "formula" remains popular. | 5/5/09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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72 |
All About Technical Writing | Technical writer/podcaster Alistair Christie describes what it's like to be a technical writer: what tech writers do, who's best suited to be one, what you need to know, and how to get into the field. | 4/4/09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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73 |
How to Write When You Don't Have Time | Writing Show host Paula B. explains how to write when you don't have time. Then listener Dharma Kelleher reviews the iPhone/iTouch app WordTwiddle. | 3/22/09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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74 |
The Two Types of Heroes | In this commentary, Blake explains that there are only two types of heroes. | 3/1/09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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75 |
Writing Fiction, with John Derhak, featuring guest host Alanna Klapp | Please welcome our new guest host, Alanna Klapp, as she discusses writing fiction with author John Derhak. | 2/8/09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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76 |
Screenwriting is Fun! | In this commentary, Blake has fun! | 2/1/09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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77 |
Holiday Short Story Celebration: "She's Pregnant" | "Naomi and her best friend just turned 14. Now the friend is pregnant and Naomi is pissed. Pregnancy changes everything. It was definitely not part of the plans." | 12/21/08 | Free | View In iTunes |
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78 |
Holiday Short Story Celebration: "A Flamin' Good Christmas Story" | "Some divine messages come from upon high, while some come from the East End." | 12/14/08 | Free | View In iTunes |
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79 |
How to End Your Screenplay: Storming the Castle | In this commentary, Blake explains how to end your movie. | 12/10/08 | Free | View In iTunes |
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80 |
Writing Historical Fiction | How do you write a historical novel about a person so shadowy that almost nothing is known about her? Please join Christine Blake and host Paula B. as they discuss: How we know what we do about Mary Magdalene Which sources Christine relied on, and how she evaluated them What she extrapolated, and how she came up with her conclusions How she handled contradictions in her sources How important it is to be accurate in historical fiction. | 12/7/08 | Free | View In iTunes |
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81 |
Roundtable #6: Getting the Most Out of Writers' Conferences | Writers' conferences can be expensive. Are they worth it? Get the lowdown from an agent and two veteran conference attendees. Please join agent Kristin Nelson, writers Frances Julia Kemp and Del Landis, and host Paula B. as they tour the conference landscape, including: What to expect from a conference How much writers' conferences cost What agents who go to conferences are looking for How to pitch agents and publishers at conferences What to wear How best to enjoy a tipple at a conference. | 11/23/08 | Free | View In iTunes |
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82 |
Meet Our 2008 First-Chapter-of-a-Novel Contest Winner | Find out what our 2008 first-prize winner is all about. Please join Linda Simoni-Wastila and host Paula B. as they explore: Where her story came from What it was like to write in the voice of a 19-year-old boy How she would describe her style What was easy and difficult in the writing of Brighter Than Bright What her writing goals are What she'd like her Contemporary Authors entry to say Why she writes about the things she does. | 11/16/08 | Free | View In iTunes |
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How to Bury Exposition in Your Screenplay | In this commentary, Blake explains how you can sneak exposition into your script and entertain viewers at the same time. | 11/12/08 | Free | View In iTunes |
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84 |
What Do Publishers Want from Query Letters and Proposals? | One of the most common questions writers ask is how to query agents and publishers. Here's one editor's take. Please join Jennifer Silva Redmond and host Paula B. as they reveal what editors are really thinking, including: How to select a publisher to query What the difference between a query letter and a proposal is How to write a great query (and what not to do) How to talk yourself up without being obnoxious Why you should adhere to publishers' guidelines (and what happens when you don't) How long is reasonable to wait for an answer. | 11/9/08 | Free | View In iTunes |
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85 |
Writing Fiction, with Susan Choi | Novelist Susan Choi likes prickly, difficult characters. In this fascinating interview, she explains why. Please join Susan Choi and host Paula B. as they discuss: Whether protagonists need to be likeable Whether protagonists of advanced years are rare in literature Why she relies so heavily on description Why much of the story is told through flashbacks How she got the FBI to help her research the story. | 11/2/08 | Free | View In iTunes |
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86 |
2008 Halloween Ghast Fest, with Rick Kennett | "In the stillness of the night it spoke to them." | 10/31/08 | Free | View In iTunes |
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2008 Halloween Ghast Fest, with David Conyers | "An innocent wasp sting leads to a monumental discovery, that aliens are invading the earth, and nobody anywhere knows how they can be stopped" | 10/30/08 | Free | View In iTunes |
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2008 Halloween Ghast Fest, with Chuck McKenzie | "Eternity is a heck of a long time. With the right soundtrack, it can feel even longer." | 10/29/08 | Free | View In iTunes |
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2008 Halloween Ghast Fest, with Alison Pearce | "The afterlife is pleasant and peaceful until they arrive. Haunting will never be the same again." | 10/28/08 | Free | View In iTunes |
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2008 Halloween Ghast Fest, with Marty Young | "Monsters! On the bloody banks of the Thames! Who would have ever believed? Certainly not Gavin sitting in his lounge room in Sydney, half a world away. Even his friend Tom was struggling. But there they were, right in front of them on the TV. It had to be real, surely." | 10/27/08 | Free | View In iTunes |
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91 |
Writing Irish Crime Fiction, with Declan Burke | Mick Halpin returns with another great Irish crime fiction author interview! Please join guest host Mick Halpin and Declan Burke as they explore: Why Declan turned to writing crime fiction How Irish crime fiction differs from that of other countries How fiction helps people deal with their fears Why so many crime fiction books are written by journalists Why his novels are so different from each other Why crime fiction follows the money. | 10/26/08 | Free | View In iTunes |
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92 |
Wisdom from a Long Writing Career | If you've ever become discouraged about how hard it is to get published, you must listen to this show. Please join Maralys Wills and host Paula B. as they discuss: How she's ended up working in so many genres How jumping around has affected her writing career What it's like to work in each genre Whether she'd jump from genre to genre if she had it to do over What her most useful writing tricks are. | 10/19/08 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Episode 9, Getting Published, with Mark Leslie | In this episode, Mark talks a little about his recent fiction and non-fiction sales and a lot about the Espresso Book Machine he's getting for his bookstore. | 10/15/08 | Free | View In iTunes |
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94 |
Working with Theme in Your Screenplay | With this podcast, we begin a series of commentaries by screenwriter Blake Snyder. This time, Blake explains why theme in a movie is important and how to work with it. | 10/8/08 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Writing the Personal Essay | When most people hear the word "essay," they think of the horrors of school exams. But this week's guest shows us that essays can be as expressive as poetry and a whole lot of fun. Please join Sheila Bender and host Paula B. as they probe: What a personal essay is, and why you might want to write one What you should and shouldn't do when writing a personal essay What sorts of obstacles confront writers of personal essays Whether writing personal essays is self-indulgent How to publish personal essays How to overcome fears associated with writing personal essays. | 10/5/08 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Episode 3, Getting Published, with Janice Ballenger | In Episode 2 of "Getting Published, with Janice Ballenger," Janice explained what sorts of responses she got to her agent query letters. In this episode, Janice's search ends. | 9/28/08 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Publishing Economics | It may come as no surprise that most published authors don't understand the economics of their industry. This week's guest offers some enlightenment for those of us who are still in the dark. Please join Carolyn Hayes Uber and Paula B. as they explore: Where the money comes from when publishers start up What sources of income publishers have What publishers spend their money on How much booksellers and wholesalers pay for books How Amazon affects publishers and authors What industry practice makes her tear her hair out What she considers the most astonishing fact of publishing economics. | 9/21/08 | Free | View In iTunes |
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98 |
Writing Show Makeover #2 | Ann Paden critiques the first chapter of Amy Auer's novel Suspicion of Evil. | 9/14/08 | Free | View In iTunes |
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99 |
Boychik Lit | If George Costanza of "Seinfeld" tickles your funnybone, you'll love Rollo Hemphill. Please join Gerald Everett Jones and host Paula B. as they explore: What boychik lit is (and how other genres can be mistaken for it) What first-person narration does for boychik lit How he handles back story in his comic novels What he does with first sentences of chapters (and why it's so easy for him) How his character names relate to the genre Whether boychik lit is a passing fad. | 9/7/08 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Short Story Beginnings | If you've ever wondered how to begin your short story, this show is for you! Please join Melissa Palladino, Randall Brown, and Paula B. as they explore: What a short story beginning should achieve What sorts of beginnings there are Which sorts of beginnings work and don't work How beginnings and endings are related. | 8/17/08 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Writing Plays | Alretha Thomas' plays have received rave reviews. In this high-energy interview, we focus on two of them: a comedy, Reddie Maid Wife, and a drama, Sacrificing Simone. Please join Alretha and host Paula B. as they discuss: What she writes about and why Where she starts when she sets out to write a play Why she uses mistaken identity in her work, and what challenges she faces in using that device Why her works include so many characters What she's learned in directing her own work (and that of others) How her acting background has affected her writing What her overall approach to playwriting is. | 7/20/08 | Free | View In iTunes |
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102 |
Writing Show Makeover #1 | With this podcast, we launch our new makeover series. In this fascinating and fun hands-on set of programs, our editors will critique and help you polish your work while The Writing Show community looks on. We start with writer Jim Nevling and the first chapter of his novel Burned. Editor Ann Paden critiques. | 7/13/08 | Free | View In iTunes |
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103 |
The Writer's Voice: The Mystery Excerpts Identified | On our March 16th show, I explained the importance of the writer's voice and read 14 examples of distinctive voices from well-known authors. Now I reveal the identities of the mystery authors and the names of their works. | 6/29/08 | Free | View In iTunes |
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104 |
Episode 8, Getting Published, with Jean Tennant | Since September of 2006, we've been following Jean as she attempts to find an agent to represent her intergenerational novel Karaoke Nights at the Twilight Lounge. In episode 8, we hear what Jean is going to do about Karaoke Nights, which has not garnered interest from agents. We find out how her children's picture book turned out and learn that she's changed her mind about self-publishing (something she never thought she'd do). | 6/26/08 | Free | View In iTunes |
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105 |
Popularizing Science | Many people think science is irrelevant to their daily lives. This week's guest has a surprise for them. Please join Diandra Leslie-Pelecky and Paula B. as they explore: Why anyone should care about the physics of auto racing What kinds of science she covers Why she inserted herself into the book How she keeps readers engaged How she documented everything she saw as she did her research How it felt to drive a race car Whether she financed her own travel How being on the front page of The New York Times has changed her life. | 6/22/08 | Free | View In iTunes |
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106 |
Writing to Inspire | This week's guest has been so inspired by the life and accomplishments of one man that he wrote a book about him. Courage to Heal is the fictionalized account of the life of Dr. Sidney Garfield, who changed medicine forever. Please join Paul Bernstein and host Paula B. as they discuss: Why he wrote Sidney Garfield's true story as fiction Why he wrote it in the first person How he did his research Whether he stayed perfectly true to the facts Why most of the book is dialogue What U.S. medicine was like in the 1940s and why Dr. Garfield had to fight so hard to change it. | 6/8/08 | Free | View In iTunes |
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107 |
Writing Short | This show came about in an unconventional way. Journalist Michelle V. Rafter had posted an open question on business network LinkedIn: "For freelancers, reporters and other non-fiction types: how do you write short?" The answers she got were so impressive that we thought, "This would make a great show!" And it does. Michelle's commentary and her responders' tips comprise this brief but pithy podcast full of great techniques for writing short. | 6/1/08 | Free | View In iTunes |
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108 |
Short Story Endings | If you've ever wondered how to end your short story, this show is for you. Please join Randall Brown, Melissa Palladino, and Paula B. as they explore the possibilities, including: What sorts of short story endings there are What the pros and cons of each choice are Whether particular types of endings are best suited to certain genres or types of stories What sorts of endings don't work How short story endings differ from those of novels and films How short story endings have changed over time. | 5/25/08 | Free | View In iTunes |
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109 |
A Spiritual Approach to Writing | This week's guest believes there's a vital connection between the self and the story one tells and explains why each writer must make a personal journey. Please join Catherine Ann Jones and Paula B. as they explore: How stories and the self are connected How writers can journey into the self How story is important to people who don't write What determines the success of a story How memory helps writers What the role of the writer in society is. | 5/18/08 | Free | View In iTunes |
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110 |
Writing to Heal | Benjamin Ajak, Benson Deng, and Alephonsion Deng were all under the age of seven when they were driven from a war-ravaged country. In this deceptively understated memoir, the three boys recall in their own words their harrowing journey to safety. Please join Judy Bernstein and host Paula B. as they ponder: How the three learned to write so well How much editing was involved How Judy integrated their disparate stories How writing the book affected all of them What's next for Benjamin, Alepho, Benson, and Judy. | 5/4/08 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Writing Dialogue #2: Combining Dialogue and Narrative | In our first show on dialogue, we looked at the importance of character agenda. This time we'll examine at a structural issue: interweaving dialogue with narrative. Using examples from Ian Rankin's A Question of Blood and advice from Dialogue: Techniques and Exercises for Crafting Effective Dialogue by Gloria Kempton, we'll test the proposition "When the story is moving too slowly, add dialogue to speed it up." | 4/27/08 | Free | View In iTunes |
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ExplicitEpisode 2, Getting Published, with Janice Ballenger | In Episode 1 of "Getting Published, with Janice Ballenger," we introduced Janice and her project: a memoir of her experiences as an emergency medical technician and Deputy Coroner in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Janice has been sending query letters to agents. In episode 2, we learn what kinds of responses she's received, and what she's done to follow up. | 4/24/08 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Confessions of a Former Literary Agent | Representing authors is a tough business that requires a variety of skills and personality traits. This week's guest, who used to be an agent, reveals what the job is really like and why she left Please join Elizabeth Little and Paula B. as they lay bare: Why she got into publishing in the first place Why she left agenting How agents select publishers for their clients Why deals fall apart What some of the mysterious things publishers and agents say in rejection letters really mean What she thinks agents and publishers look for in a work and an author Why people want to be agents How to write a query letter to an agent How not to approach an agent. | 4/13/08 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Episode 8, Getting Published, with Mark Leslie | Mark reports on how he did with another of Mick Halpin's challenges. | 4/10/08 | Free | View In iTunes |
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The Writer's Muse | Throughout literature, writers have invoked their own muses, asking them for inspiration and sometimes claiming to be a conduit through which the muses were speaking. Among musophiles: Shakespeare, Milton, Chaucer, Dante, Homer, Virgil, and this week's guest. A former nightclub singer, published songwriter, and restaurateur, Rita Schiano now makes her living as a freelance writer and editor while working on novels, screenplays, and teleplays. Painting the Invisible Man, the fictionalized story of her investigation into the decades-old murder of her father, is her second novel. Please join Rita and host Paula B. as we contemplate: How she found her muse How her muse helps her on a daily basis What happens when her muse gets ornery What a writer's obligations to her muse are Whether she could have written her book without her muse Whether having a muse makes her a better writer. | 3/30/08 | Free | View In iTunes |
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The Writer's Voice | Paula B. contends that an author's voice should be so distinctive that his or her writing can be recognized out of context. In this episode of The Writing Show, she reads 14 examples of distinct voices and challenges you to identify them. | 3/16/08 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Episode 7, Getting Published, with Mark Leslie | In episode 6 of "Getting Published, with Mark Leslie," Writing Show guest host Mick Halpin issued a challenge to Mark: "Stop messing around and start writing. If you'll write 10,000 words on A Canadian Werewolf in New York in 30 days, I'll write up a story about how I recently lost a tooth." In episode 7, we find out whether Mark made his goal and whether Mick actually got that story written. Mark also tells us about some of his recent short story publications. | 3/13/08 | Free | View In iTunes |
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ExplicitEpisode 1, Getting Published, with Janice Ballenger | Janice Ballenger was the deputy coroner on call the day of the Amish schoolroom shooting in 2006. She is looking to publish a book about her experiences related to that incident as well as other cases throughout her career. In episode 1 of "Getting Published, with Janice Ballenger," we introduce Janice, her book, and her goals, including: What her book is about What inspired her to write it now rather than wait till she's retired, as she originally intended What her writing background is What her long-term writing goals are How her book will benefit readers What happened when she sent out her first query letters Where to look for help getting published. | 3/6/08 | Free | View In iTunes |
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ExplicitThe State of Poetry Today | We haven't focused on poetry on The Writing Show nearly as much as we should. And what better way to start than by looking at the state of poetry today. But if you think you're about to hear a lot of flowery talk, grab hold of your seat. This week's guest, unlike most of the poetry establishment, is not pleased. Joseph S. Salemi has published poems, translations, and scholarly articles in over one hundred journals throughout the United States, Canada, and Great Britain. His four collections of poetry are Formal Complaints and Nonsense Couplets, issued by Somers Rocks Press, Masquerade from Pivot Press, and The Lilacs on Good Friday from The New Formalist Press. Please join Joseph S. Salemi and host Paula B. as they explore: Why he feels poetry is dying How poetry got to this point What types of poetry he would like to see people write What his eight rules of thumb for writing poetry are. | 2/24/08 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Writing Miniseries | You don't hear many people say, "I want to write miniseries when I grow up." Yet this week's guest, who's written several, has found great satisfaction as well as success in this oft-neglected niche. Simon Moore is an award-winning writer and director in film, television, and theater. His works include "The Tenth Kingdom," "Traffik," "Dinotopia," and an adaptation of Gulliver's Travels. Join Simon and host Paula B. as they discuss: How he manages to maintain such a varied career What the issues are in writing and producing miniseries How he researched the drug trade for "Traffik" Why he likes to write female lead characters What he does when he pitches ideas How he writes differently for UK and U.S. audiences and why (and how the difference sometimes trips him up). | 2/10/08 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Episode 6, Getting Published, with Mark Leslie | In episode 5 of "Getting Published, with Mark Leslie," we heard that Mark was still taking a detour from his horror story A Canadian Werewolf in New York. In episode 6, we find out just what Mark has been doing since July of 2007 when we last spoke with him: what happened when he pitched I, Death to an editor he met at a conference, and how the science fiction anthology he edited, North of Infinity II, has been remaindered (and tells us what remainders are and how they affect writers). He also presents parts of chapters 9 and 10 of A Canadian Werewolf, along with another insightful Mick Halpin critique. At the end of the interview, Mark and Mick issue challenges to each other. What are they, and will the two rise to the occasion? | 2/7/08 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Writing Dialogue #1: Character Agenda | This is the first in a series of shows about writing dialogue. In each show, we'll start with a principle or two and then look at some examples of that principle in action. This time, we'll talk about the importance of character agenda. Using examples from well-known writers, Writing Show host Paula B. will explore: What dialogue is What dialogue should do Which three things you need to know about your characters in order to write effective dialogue How to move your story forward through dialogue. | 2/3/08 | Free | View In iTunes |
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What Successful Screenplays Have in Common | Want to know what makes successful films work? This week's guest has figured it out, and breaks down 50 films to show you step by step how it's done. In this inspiring interview, screenwriter Blake Snyder and host Paula B. explore: What "save the cat" means and why it's important for films to have "save the cat" moments What the ten story types of most successful films are, and how Blake came up with them What Blake's "story beats" are and how you can use them in your screenplays Why false victories, "lemon seeds," and "buttons" are important. | 1/27/08 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Writing Marketing and Advertising Material | The power to persuade greases the wheels of commerce. And while some people are born salesmen, the good news is that persuasion is a skill that can be learned. This week's guest is living proof. She started out as a teacher. Now she's an award-winning copywriter and marketing consultant. Naomi Finkel is the president and creative director of Say It With Words in Westlake Village, California. She has helped hundreds of businesses, including Costco, Mervyns, and Pepperdine University, develop successful, innovative, targeted strategies and campaigns. She is the author of How to Get Big Business Exposure on a Small Business Budget. In this information-rich interview, Naomi reveals: How she made the transition from teaching to business What she does when working with a client What a unique selling proposition (USP) is and why you need one How to understand your target market What special words get people's attention What a call to action is How to measure the effectiveness of your campaign. | 1/20/08 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Dealing with Shyness | Are you shy? Many writers are, and it can affect our ability to create and promote our work. This week's guest bravely discusses her almost-crippling shyness while revealing some of her unconventional methods for battling it. Karen Laven has been a newspaper feature writer and photographer. Her award-winning poetry, short fiction, and humor essays have appeared in publications across America. Please join us for this candid look at an all-too-common problem as Karen explains: How shyness has dogged her throughout her life and career What sorts of situations make her the most and least nervous Whether the nature and degree of her shyness has changed over time How she feels when she knows she has to do interviews or appearances How she feels during and after interviews and appearances Why she thinks she's so shy How she battles her shyness What she advises other shy writers to do. | 1/13/08 | Free | View In iTunes |
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The Archimedes Codex: A Book within a Book within a Book | In 1998, a medieval prayer book sold for $2 million at a Christie's auction in New York City, to an anonymous bidder. No one could figure out why it went for so much, especially since it was in terrible shape. And everyone wondered what this mysterious buyer knew that they didn't. Now, almost a decade later, experts at Baltimore's Walters Art Museum, to which the manuscript has been entrusted, are learning the full extent of its value. It turns out that the prayers, penned by a Christian monk circa 1200 A.D., were written over an earlier text. But not just any text. The prayers were written over the lost works of Archimedes, the greatest mathematician of antiquity. What did this ancient manuscript hold? Literally the secrets of the universe. And in The Archimedes Codex, Stanford professor Reviel Netz and Walters Art Museum curator William Noel, who have been on the front lines of its decoding, tell its full story. Please join Reviel Netz, William Noel, and Paula B. as they delve into: How they got involved with the codex What sorts of issues they faced in conserving the artifact Why Archimedes is so important What has been discovered about Archimedes through the codex Why a scribe wrote over Archimedes' texts Where the codex was hiding over the centuries How the codex ended up at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Who's allowed to purchase precious artifacts like the codex, and under what conditions How they finally cracked the text. | 12/9/07 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Psychological Aspects of Writing | Writers are just different. We face a variety of issues unknown to most people. What do we struggle with, and how can we rise to meet those challenges? Jurgen Wolff is a writing coach who writes films, plays, television shows, fiction, and nonfiction. He teaches creativity workshops around the world. Please join Jurgen and host Paula B. as they wrestle with: Which psychological issues are most common among writers How writers sabotage themselves How to keep from falling into bad habits Why we sometimes feel let down when we achieve a goal How to handle friends who are envious or disparaging How to make unpleasant tasks easier to tackle How to decide when to give up. | 12/2/07 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Episode 7, Getting Published with Jean Tennant | Since September of 2006, we've been following Jean as she attempts to find an agent to represent her intergenerational novel Karaoke Nights at the Twilight Lounge. So far, Jean has received a number of rejections, but at least she's heard something. She's also started work on some new projects. In episode 7, we hear once again from listener T.A. Evans, learn what Jean is going to do about her stalled search for an agent, and get an update on the other projects she's pursuing in the meantime, including her new podcast. | 11/20/07 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Writing the Sports Memoir | This week's guest may be a debut writer, but to my mind he's one of the best wordsmiths I've ever encountered Since 1976, Steven M. Reilly has coached baseball in Connecticut's Lower Naugatuck Valley. Please join Steve Reilly and host Paula B. as they explore: Why readers should care about a fifteen-year-old high school baseball season How Steve achieves sparkling description and lively characters Why he likes the number three How his commentary spices up the narrative How he remembered so many minute details What hyphenated words do for his style How he achieves a cinematic effect. | 11/18/07 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Self-Publishing with Lulu.com | As a relative newcomer to the self-publishing world, Lulu.com has garnered quite a bit of attention with its unorthodox business model. Nick Popio serves as a communications specialist at Lulu.com. Please join Nick and host Paula B. as they ponder: * What Lulu.com does * How the company makes its revenue * How much it costs to publish through Lulu.com * How many copies of their books Lulu.com authors typically sell * Whether the company rejects manuscripts * How they let authors know what to expect as far as sales and income are concerned * Whether Lulu.com is a vanity press. | 11/11/07 | Free | View In iTunes |
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What Is Libel Tourism? | If you haven't heard of the heinous phenomenon known as "libel tourism," I urge you to listen to this show. David S. Korzenik, Esq., a partner at Miller Korzenik Sommers LLP, specializes in media and First Amendment law as well as intellectual property. The firm defends book, magazine, and online publishers; broadcasters; news organizations; and human rights groups against claims such as libel, privacy, newsgathering torts, copyright, and so on. Please join us for this important show in which David and host Paula B. discuss: What libel tourism is and how it got started How plaintiffs are able to sue American defendants in foreign courts How laws relating to free speech differ in the U.S. and the UK What some high-profile cases are How libel tourism is affecting publishers, authors, and journalists How the House of Lords is making some changes in authors' and publishers' favor Why bloggers and podcasters need to be aware of the phenomenon. | 11/4/07 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Self-publishing, with iUniverse President and CEO Susan Driscoll | This week, we continue our discussion of traditional vs. self-publishing with one of the latter's most visible companies: iUniverse. Susan Driscoll is president and CEO of iUniverse, a leading provider of author publishing services. Susan has held management positions at Holt, HarperCollins, and Holtzbrinck Publishers including editorial director, director of marketing, director of new media and technology, and director of operations. Join Susan and Paula B. as they discuss: * What iUniverse does * Whether iUniverse rejects manuscripts * How iUniverse authors can get their books in stores * Whether self-publishing is the kiss of death for an author * Whether iUniverse is a vanity press * Why authors should self-publish even though time spent reading books is declining * How much it costs to publish a book the traditional way vs. with iUniverse * How iUniverse deals with author expectations * How iUniverse makes its revenue. | 10/7/07 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Writing White Papers (They're Lucrative!) | If you're looking for a writing specialty that will catapult you out of the "starving writer" ghetto, you may want to consider an up-and-coming option: white papers. Michael Stelzner is best known as the author of the bestselling book Writing White Papers: How to Capture Readers and Keep Them Engaged. He is the editor of the WhitePaperSource Newsletter and founder of the Internet's only portal dedicated to the writing and marketing of white papers, WhitePaperSource. Please join Michael and host Paula B. as they examine: * What a white paper is * What qualifications you need to write white papers * What sorts of personalities are best suited to writing white papers * What you should and shouldn't do when writing white papers * How much money you can make writing white papers * How to find clients. | 9/23/07 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Book Design Is More Important Than You Might Think | We can all recognize the importance and appeal of attractive product design. But with books, the right design affects much more than our aesthetic sensibilities. Please join book designer Steve Tiano and host Paula B. as they weigh: * What's the most important thing to consider when designing a book * How book design has changed over the last century, and why * Where new design trends originate * What a knockoff font is, and whether it matters if designers use one * How he would feel if someone offered him the chance to design books for cell phone delivery * Why book design is more important for the reader than you might think. | 9/16/07 | Free | View In iTunes |
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How Two Famous Fantasy Authors Introduce Their Worlds | Entering a fantasy world can be both exhilarating and bewildering. The author who builds such a world may be familiar with it, but how does he introduce his readers to a place known only to him? This week we'll look at how two famous fantasy authors, Lewis Carroll and J.R.R. Tolkien, approach this challenge. | 9/9/07 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Writing Audio Plays | If you want to stretch your writing wings, this week's guest has a suggestion for you: audio plays. They're fun to write, you get great practice crafting dialogue, and audiences love them. Author, actor, teacher, and speaker Jack J. Ward is the dynamic founder of both the Sonic Society and Sonic Cinema Productions, featuring the very best in audio drama. Join Jack and host Paula B. as they explore: * What audio theater is * What types of audio theater there are * Why write for audio theater * Which genres work best * What comprises the dos and don'ts of writing for audio theater * How to make transitions between scenes and acts * How to get produced * How to make money writing audio plays. | 8/26/07 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Roundtable No. 5: Self-publishing vs. Traditional Publishing Smackdown | A few weeks ago, we heard a contrarian opinion from author Jeff DeRego about the advisability of self-publishing. We got so much response to that show that we've put together a panel to weigh in on the self- vs. traditional publishing issue. Join authors Jeff DeRego, Stacie Penney, Matthew Wayne Selznick, and host Paula B. as they debate the merits and drawbacks of traditional and self-publishing. | 8/19/07 | Free | View In iTunes |
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A Historical Whodunit with a (Very Big) Twist | Roger Morris is a gutsy guy. He's adopted one of literature's most famous detectives, Porfiry Petrovich, created by one of the greatest writers of all time, Fyodor Dostoyevsky. Is he crazy? The world's most prestigious review publications don't think so. The New York Times Book Review, The Wall Street Journal, and even The Moscow Times have awarded The Gentle Axe high praise. Meet the man who would be Dostoyevsky's disciple. Join Roger and Writing Show host Paula B. as they explore: * What inspired him to take on such a formidable task * How much of Dostoyevsky's style he tried to bring to his work * How he fleshed out the character of Dostoyevsky's detective * How he researched 19th century St. Petersburg * How writing a whodunit differs from crafting a mystery in which the perpetrator is known * What he would tell readers who feel intimidated by the idea of delving into Dostoyevsky * How he got published by two of the world's most respected publishers * How he feels about the runaway success of the book. | 8/12/07 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Point of View in Fiction | We've had a lot of requests for a show on point of view, so I've been researching the topic, and despite the fact that I majored in literature in college, I've been surprised by almost everything I've discovered! In this solo show, I'll share with you what I've found so far, including: * What point of view is * What the function of the narrator is * What types of narration there are * When to use the various types of narration * How to decide who should be a viewpoint character * What to watch out for when switching between points of view. I'll be illustrating my findings with lots of examples. | 7/22/07 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Episode 5, Getting Published, with Mark Leslie | In episode 4 of "Getting Published, with Mark Leslie," we learned that Mark was taking a detour from his horror story A Canadian Werewolf in New York to publish a picture book for his niece and work on some other projects. We also dug into a critique of one of Mark's chapters from Writing Show guest host Mick Halpin. In episode 5, we find out whether Mark has indeed returned to writing his horror story. We also go over another entertaining Mick Halpin critique and hear a fabulous reminiscence about clove cigarettes (inspired by one of Mick's critiques) from Writing Show listener Mark Herbst. | 7/15/07 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Writing for the Web | The Web has created dazzling new opportunities for writers. Today's guest, a former writer for iTunes and other Apple projects, explains how you can get involved. For the past decade Karen Anderson has been involved in writing, designing and producing user-friendly Web content for consumer audiences. From 2000 to 2006 she worked for Apple as a writer for iReview and the iTunes Music Store and as the managing editor for the one-million-member .Mac Internet services Web site. Karen currently writes content for commercial Web sites as part of a Seattle search engine optimization team. Please join Karen and Paula B. as we surf our way through: * What opportunities there are for writing on the Web * How search engine optimization affects Web writers * What "chunking" is * Why it's so important to get "signup pathways" right * What white papers are and why writers should care * What it was like evaluating sites for the Webby awards * What it was like writing for iTunes and other Apple projects * Why she left Apple to go out on her own * How well Web writers can do financially * What qualifications you should have to write for the Web (and get paid for it). Following Karen's interview we have a quick chat with author Bob Andelman about his new interview podcast and blog, Mr. Media, and get a Jeff's eye view of the perils of narrow-focusing from author Jeff DeRego. | 7/8/07 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Episode 6, Getting Published with Jean Tennant | Since last September we've been following Jean as she attempts to find an agent to represent her intergenerational novel Karaoke Nights at the Twilight Lounge. So far, Jean has received a number of rejections. She's also started work on some new projects. In episode 6, we hear more atta girls from a Writing Show listener, find out what happened to two errant agent queries and learn what Jean plans to do about them, and discover that one of Jean's other projects seems to be getting some official interest. | 6/13/07 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Roundtable No. 4: Face-to-Face Writing Groups | We looked at the workings of online critique groups with author Sean Dent in February. This week, three writers join us to explore the ins and outs of in-person groups. Join Gary Cheski, Sue Nading, David J. Roth, and host Paula B. for this exciting discussion, including: * What a critique group should do for its participants * How in-person critique groups work * What sorts of issues arise * How they've dealt with thorny issues * How to attract new members * How online and in-person groups compare. | 6/10/07 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Developing and Packaging Scripts for Hollywood | The movie business is changing, and this week's guest has reinvented her business as a result. What inspired literary agent Candace Lake to become a literary manager, and what is a literary manager anyway? Candace Lake has represented writers and directors at Ziegler, Diskant Associates; International Creative Management; her own The Candace Lake Agency; and now Stone Canyon Media. Join Candace and Writing Show host Paula B. as they delve into the high-stakes world of writing for Hollywood, including: * What a literary manager does * Why she left agenting to become a literary manager * How writers get jobs in Hollywood * What she looks for in a writer * What qualities give screenwriters the best chance of finding and keeping work * What it takes to be a successful agent or literary manager * Which TV shows and movies she considers excellent * Whether screenwriters need to live in Los Angeles to be successful. | 6/3/07 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Writing Fiction, with Jan Whitford | Jan Whitford's Mystic Island, a comic, romantic tale with historical overtones, unfolds from the perspective of a strong female lead. The author, a guy, says that the book even inches toward "chick lit." How did he write such a convincing woman protagonist? With a little help from his friends. Join Jan Evan Whitford and Writing Show host Paula B. as we explore: * Why he alternates between third- and first-person points of view * Why he decided to make his main character a woman * How he manages to get inside a woman character's head so convincingly * How he choreographed his hurricane * How he was able to make every detail of the hurricane so realistic * How he dealt with the issue of putting words in a historical figure's mouth (or pen) * How he managed to surprise the reader at the end without contrivance * What "snake hands" are and why you should care. | 5/27/07 | Free | View In iTunes |
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How to Get Interviews and Book Signings | You would not believe how good at marketing this week's guest is. Check her Web site under Archives and you'll see the dozens and dozens of interviews and book signings she's done, without the help of a publicist, mind you. In today's publishing environment, her accomplishments are nothing short of phenomenal. And she's going to tell us how she does it! L. Diane Wolfe's five-book Southern-based series, The Circle of Friends, centers on a group of college-age kids and portrays love and friendship overcoming all obstacles. Meant to inspire as well as entertain, Wolfe's books have been described as "encouragement personified." Traveling the East Coast to promote her series, Wolfe sets herself a heavy tour of book signings and speaking engagements. She averages more than eighty appearances and interviews each year. Join Diane and host Paula B. as they discuss the best and the worst ways to market your books, including: * Why she calls herself "Spunk on a Stick" * How she got the idea for her series * How she gets dozens and dozens of interviews and signings * How she gets her press releases noticed * What the secret to writing a great blurb is * What you should wear to a book signing * What you should always do at a book signing (and what you shouldn't) * How not to market your books * How to do a great interview. | 5/13/07 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Episode 5, Getting Published with Jean Tennant | Since last September we've been following Jean as she attempts to find an agent to represent her intergenerational novel Karaoke Nights at the Twilight Lounge. So far, Jean has received a number of rejections, but she still has some queries out. Today we hear more about the fate of Jean's queries, discuss her dilemma about revising the opening of her story, hear some advice from Writing Show listeners, and learn that Jean has been holding out on us. | 4/17/07 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Spark Your Creativity | Dr. Linda Seger created and defined the job of script consultant when she began her business in 1981, based on a method for analyzing scripts she developed for her dissertation project. Since then, she has consulted on over 2000 scripts, including over 40 produced feature films and about 35 produced television projects. Join Linda and host Paula B. for a fascinating exploration of creativity, including: * What creativity is * Whether creativity can be learned * Whether great artists, writers, and musicians are more creative than other people * Whether drugs and drink help people be more creative * Whether you have to be a little crazy to be creative * Whether you have to have a hard life to be creative * How to jump-start your creativity * How writers can develop their visual thinking skills. | 4/15/07 | Free | View In iTunes |
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What Does a Ghostwriter Do, Part 1 | Join ghost writer Joey Robert Parks and Writing Show host Paula B. for a riproaring discussion of ghostwriting, including: * What ghostwriting is * How he finds clients * What the ghostwriting process consists of * How he makes clients feel comfortable with him and the process * How he deals with the business aspects of ghostwriting * What happens if he doesn't like the client, or vice versa * What he does when a project doesn't interest him * What sorts of issues come up when ghostwriting a book * What the pay for ghostwriting is like * What his duties as a ghostwriter are and aren't * Who holds the copyright to a ghostwritten work * What advice he has for those considering going into ghostwriting. | 3/25/07 | Free | View In iTunes |
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What Does a Ghostwriter Do, Part 2 | Join ghostwriter Joey Robert Parks and Writing Show host Paula B. for part 2 of this riproaring discussion of ghostwriting. | 3/25/07 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Episode 4, Getting Published, with Mark Leslie | In episode 3 of "Getting Published, with Mark Leslie," we learned that Mark was planning to take a detour from working on his novel, A Canadian Werewolf in New York, ACWINNY, for short. He had decided to self-publish a picture book for his five-year-old niece to clear his mind and experiment with self-publishing. Only after he completed that project would he be ready to continue with his horror story. Today we present episode 4 of our reality show, "Getting Published, with Mark Leslie" and find out what happened with "A Horse Named Cow" (or was it "A Cow Named Horse") and dig into a fabulous critique of ACWINNY submitted by Writing Show guest host and Internet bad boy, Mick Halpin. | 3/21/07 | Free | View In iTunes |
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My iUniverse Experience | This month we've heard from an attorney who examines and compares self-publishing contracts and an entrepreneur who runs his own self-publishing company. Today we hear from an author who has chosen to self-publish her books. Lyda Phillips is an award-winning journalist, novelist, and screenwriter who has written two award-winning young adult novels: Mr. Touchdown and Peace I Ask of Thee, Oh River, as well as several unpublished novels for both young readers and adults. Join Lyda and host Paula B. for a first-hand look at a self-publishing experience, including: * Why she decided to self-publish * What the production process was like * How she got reviews * How she got her books into libraries * What obstacles she's faced as a self-published author * How she thinks authors can improve self-publishing's image * How she thinks iUniverse could help its authors more * What she's learned from her self-publishing experience * Why she's now looking for a mainstream publisher. | 2/25/07 | Free | View In iTunes |
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The Care and Feeding of Writing Groups | We've had more requests for a show on writing groups than any other topic. It's been a long time coming, but here is our first look at this important subject. Join writer Sean Dent and Writing Show host Paula B. for an illuminating discussion about writing groups, including: * How writing groups work * Whether writing groups help writers gain commercial success * What sorts of pitfalls groups encounter * How to provide good feedback to other writers * What to do when you feel you aren't getting quality feedback * Whether writers should worry about their work being stolen when they participate in groups * What you need to run your own group. | 2/18/07 | Free | View In iTunes |
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The Scriptapalooza Screenplay Competition | Having trouble getting a Hollywood production company to read your screenplay? Submit it to the Scriptapalooza Screenplay Competition, and they will! Join Mark Andrushko and host Paula B. for a fascinating conversation about Scriptapalooza, including: * What the contest offers its winners * Who reads the scripts, and how many scripts each judge reads * How the judges grade the scripts * How many entries they get * How winners get connected with the film industry * Why they have three deadlines * Whether a film's potential budget affects a screenplay's chances of winning * Whether a lousy script hurts a contestant's chances in the future * How they got so many production companies involved in the contest. | 1/31/07 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Episode 4, Getting Published, with Jean Tennant | In episode 3, Jean reported her progress after having sent out several queries and told us that she had modified her query letter based on a listener suggestion. We also explored the idea of overpolishing one's work, and Jean admitted that she enjoyed her scenes from the sixties more than the ones based in the present. Today we hear more about the fate of Jean's queries, discuss the state of the industry, and hear some advice from Writing Show listeners. | 1/24/07 | Free | View In iTunes |
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The BlueCat Screenplay Competition | First prize is $10,000. The deadline is March 1st. Are you ready for the BlueCat Screenplay Competition? This week, screenwriter/director and BlueCat founder Gordy Hoffman joins us for a look at this internationally acclaimed contest in which every entrant receives a written script analysis. Join Gordy and host Paula B. as they discuss: * What the contest offers its winners * What sorts of screenplays have won * How winners get connected with the film industry * What sorts of critiques entrants get * Whether a film's potential budget affects a screenplay's chances of winning * What some of the most common writing faults are * How you can insert back story elegantly * How to write great log lines * How Gordy feels about titles. | 1/17/07 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Episode 7, How Not to Run an Online Bookstore: The Branding Workshop | In 2003, Paula Berinstein and her husband did a really stupid thing: they started an online bookstore. In 2004, humiliated and a great deal poorer (but wiser), they closed it. In episode 7 of "How Not to Run an Online Bookstore," Paula talks about the crazy branding workshop she thought might help save her business, including: * How she ended up going to the workshop in the first place * Why branding is important * What sorts of people attended, and why she had trouble talking to them * What she found helpful about the workshop, and what almost made her run screaming * What she discovered about herself at the workshop * What her final branding statement looked like * What was helpful about the experience, and what ultimately didn't matter. | 12/24/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Merry Christmas, with Charles Dickens | Charles John Huffam Dickens is the author of such classics as A Tale of Two Cities, Great Expectations, David Copperfield, Oliver Twist, and the beloved A Christmas Carol. Some of his characters are the most famous in all of literature: Ebenezer Scrooge, Miss Havisham, Fagin, Little Nell, Madame DeFarge, Uriah Heep. He was born in 1812 in Portsmouth, England. Join Mr. Dickens and host Paula B. as they discuss all things Dickens, including: * How and where he works * What it's like to write in installments * How A Christmas Carol came about * What his "Carol philosophy" is * How Carol was received * What he keeps in his notebook Memoranda * How he prepares for his public readings, and how Mark Twain felt about one of them * How he's fought the piracy of his intellectual property * What his influences are * How he approaches his characters. | 12/18/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Episode 3, Getting Published, with Mark Leslie | In episode 3 of "Getting Published, with Mark Leslie," we catch up with Mark post NaNoWriMo and find out how he did. We also discuss an extensive crit from Writing Show guest host Mick Halpin, and Mark tells us about a detour he's about to take. | 12/17/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Episode 3, Getting Published, with Jean Tennant | In episode 2 of "Getting Published, with Jean Tennant," Jean explained how she was going about her search for an agent and shared her query letter with us. In episode 3 of "Getting Published, with Jean Tennant," Jean reports back after having sent out several queries, and we share some listener feedback. Join Jean and Paula B. as we discuss: * What's happened with the agent queries she's sent out * Why she's tweaking her agent query letter, and how * Why she's leery of overpolishing her work * How she feels about following "the rules" writing experts lay down. Jean also reads more excerpts from her work, which we discuss, and she releases chapter 2 for us to look at. | 11/28/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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You've Finished Writing Your Book. Now What? | If you've managed to complete your manuscript, congratulations! That's a major achievement, and you deserve to celebrate. Once you've finished the champagne, it's time to switch hats and convert your opus into a product. Join Dick Margulis and Writing Show host Paula B. for a most enjoyable discussion about post-writing tasks, including: * What you need to do after you've finished writing your book * How a manuscript and a product differ * Why you should get someone to edit your work * What an editor does * Why writers shouldn't take suggestions about their work personally * What writers and editors should expect from each other * How editing fiction differs from editing nonfiction * Why you should ignore what your English teachers told you * What book design is and why it's important * How graphic designers and book designers differ * What factors book designers have to consider * How books are printed * What it costs to print books * What the lead time for getting your book produced is * When the busiest times for printers are * What a proofreader does. | 11/19/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Episode 2, Getting Published, with Mark Leslie | Last time, we introduced horror writer Mark Leslie and learned that Mark was going to attempt to finish his novel A Canadian Werewolf in New York during this year's National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). In episode 2 of Getting Published, with Mark Leslie, we catch up with Mark during NaNoWriMo and find out how the writing is going. We also discuss: * Why publishers seem to eschew horror fiction * What some horror writers do to try to get around the stigma surrounding horror fiction * What types of NaNoWriMo activities he's been participating in (and avoiding) * What type of music he listens to while writing * What things about Mark's story Paula particularly likes * How he came up with the notion of a "coppery taste" for blood * How he loses ideas because he can't always write them down * How he works out some of his plotting challenges * How horror writers spend Halloween. | 11/15/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Revealing Your Innermost Secrets: Writing Memoirs | Imagine becoming an alcoholic at age 13 and losing your teen years and beyond to substance abuse, homelessness, and worse. Then imagine the havoc that life wreaks upon your family. This week, we talk with a mother and daughter who lived through that nightmare and found strength and redemption on the other side. The Lost Years is a brave story about personal disaster, recovery, forgiveness, and redemption. Highly recommended by The Writing Show. Please join us for this moving interview, in which Connie and Kristina discuss: * What happened to them * What went wrong in their lives that led to these things happening * How they decided to write the book at all, and how they came to write it together * How they sparked their memories * How their editor helped them pare down their manuscript and write a tight, focused story * How the people they mention feel about being in the book * How they feel about baring these difficult, private facts about their lives * What they wish had made it into the book * What they've learned from writing and promoting the book. | 10/23/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Episode 2, Getting Published, with Jean Tennant | Last time, we met author Jean Tennant, who's attempting to get her novel Karaoke Nights at the Twilight Lounge published. Jean explained that her story, inspired by her nomadic childhood, fits into the category "women's fiction,"and described her goal: to be the Fannie Flagg of the Midwest. In episode 2 of "Getting Published, with Jean Tennant," Jean explains how she's going about looking for an agent, including: * Why she decided to look for an agent instead of going straight to a publisher * Why she isn't using the agent she worked with years ago * What she's looking for in an agent * How she's going about her search * How she feels about agent horror stories * Whether she plans to query more than one agent at a time * Whether she will send just a query or some sample chapters and a synopsis * What she plans to include in her query letter * How long she thinks it will take agents to reply * How many letters she plans to send out at a time * What she'll do if she keeps getting rejected * Why she hasn't spent much time researching publishers * How she plans to market her book. | 10/18/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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A Different Kind of Detective | C. J. Box is the author of eight novels including the award-winning Joe Pickett series. He's the winner of the Anthony Award, Prix Calibre 38 (France), the Macavity Award, the Gumshoe Award, the Barry Award, and an Edgar Award and Los Angeles Times Book Prize finalist. His novels have been cited by the New York Times (2001 Notable Book), Booksense 76, People, Booklist, and many others. His short stories have been featured in America's Best Mystery Stories 2006 and limited-edition printings. The novels have been national bestsellers and have been translated into 12 languages. Join C.J. Box and host Paula B. for a fascinating discussion about Joe Pickett, writing crime and mystery stories, and the mountain west, including: * How he came up with his game warden "detective," Joe Pickett * How Joe Picket differs from other crime fiction protagonists * How the landscape of Wyoming shapes his characters and stories * Why he doesn't think his books fall into the "mystery" category, and how he would characterize them * How he approaches dropping hints and clues * What characteristics make for the best detectives and mystery stories * How he approaches writing his villains * How he deals with the challenges of writing a series, like back story, continuity, character fatigue, etc. * What he finds most difficult about writing * How he feels about being compared to New Mexico crime fiction writer Tony Hillerman * How he depicts regional issues like energy development, the environment, and so on * Why he started writing novels * What he wishes more people would ask him about. | 10/16/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Episode 1, Getting Published, with Mark Leslie | Ever wondered what goes on inside the mind of a horror writer? Now's your chance to find out. We'll be following Mark's struggles as he attempts to complete and find an agent for his unpublished novel, A Canadian Werewolf in New York. In episode 1 of "Getting Published, with Mark Leslie," we introduce Mark, his book, and his goals, including: * How he got started writing * Why he writes * Why he writes horror * What his book is about * Where he is in the process * How he plans to seek publication * How he gets started with new projects * How he develops his characters * What his writing and publishing goals are. | 10/9/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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ExplicitMake Your Writing Resonate with Sexual Tension | You'd think that writing about sex would be easy. After all, what's more compelling than lust? But, says this week's guest, there's a lot more to thrilling the reader than just stringing sex scenes together. Join Cher Gorman and Writing Show host Paula B. for this provocative discussion that covers, among other things: * What she used to do wrong when writing about sex * What really builds sexual tension * How to evoke sexual tension without sex scenes * How eroticism and pornography differ * What kind of language today's erotica demands * How to make sex scenes boring * How understanding your audience can help you build tension * What types of language you can use to make your writing sensual. | 10/2/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Teen Roundtable #1 | How many of you started writing as kids? Whether or not you started early, you may just recognize yourself in this group of dynamic teens, who face many of the same issues as adult writers, and then some. Join us as this energetic threesome discusses: * How they got started writing * What they like to write * How they feel about being teenage writers in an adult world * How they feel about creative writing classes * How their parents and friends (and teachers) feel about their writing * What they find most difficult about writing * How they work * What they feel their greatest writing strengths are * What inspires them * What would help their writing and their careers the most. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Getting Published, with Jean Tennant, Episode 1 | Welcome to our very first reality show! In "Getting Published" we'll follow the efforts of various writers as they work on their books, look for agents and publishers, go through the publishing process, and embark on their marketing. We'll look at their proposals, query letters, and marketing plans and share in their reactions as they hear, or don't hear, from agents and editors. During the journey, we'll ask for your comments and make them available on the show and our blog. In that way, even though each series is one writer's story, their work will become a kind of collaboration between them and you, our listeners. We hope that the show will provide insight into the publishing process and help guide you in your own efforts. In episode 1 of "Getting Published, with Jean Tennant," we introduce Jean, her book, and her goals, including: * What Jean's book is about * Why she has returned to novel-writing after years in journalism * How her current novels are different from the ones she wrote in the eighties * Where she is in the process * How she approaches writing and editing * Why she has chosen to tell this particular story * How she came up with her characters and plot and made sure they were fresh and original * How she came up with her title * What her writing and publishing goals are (you've got to hear her elevator pitch!) * How she feels about the possibility of failure * Why she doesn't want to self-publish. | 9/11/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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What Is A Networked Book? | Here's a question for you: is a book a thing or a place? If you said a thing, get ready for a big change. The networked book is here: the new agora/plaza/forum where author, publisher, and readers congregate to ponder, discuss, joke, enjoy, and refer. The book is now searchable, linkable, multimedia-able, commentable, annotatable, previewable, mutable, divisible, aggregatable, correlatable, syndicatable, feedable, emailable, Flickrable, deli.cio.us-able, Diggable. In fact, the book is on the brink of such a huge transformation that we wouldn't be surprised if it opened its own chain of coffee bars. Curious as we could be, The Writing Show caught up with two fellows of the Institute for the Future of the Book, Ben Vershbow and Jesse Wilbur, to find out how they are experimenting with this fascinating idea. In this fascinating look at the future, Ben and Jesse explain: * What a networked book is and why anyone would want to make one * What a networked book looks like * How networked books will change authors' roles * What new skills will be required of authors wishing to host networked books * What networked books will mean for readers * How to get readers to show up at networked books * How networked books could change publishing * How networked books might change the world as a whole * How networked books might make revenue,or not * What networked books might mean for librarians and information pros * How instructors might use networked books in the classroom. | 8/7/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Writing the Urban Novel | In this high-adrenaline, inspiring interview, Jeff Rivera reveals: * How he started the book, and how he fleshed it out * Why he decided to tell much of his story through letters between the characters * How he got stuck while writing some of his characters, and what he did to overcome the block * How he keeps the reader riveted to the story * What he doesn't like about most novels, and what he did differently * How he comes up with gripping and natural dialog * How he came up with his characters' names * Where the title came from * Why he started his own publishing company, and where he plans to take it * How his book was picked up by a major publisher * Why he's writing a sequel. Join us for this very special conversation with a star in the making. | 7/24/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Writing Fiction, with Paula Paul | From Crazy Quilt: Paula Paul is the author of 23 novels spanning a variety of genres: mystery, the historical novel, children's stories, and "the novel." In this fascinating interview, Paula explains: * What is common to all the books she's written, despite their being in different genres * Why she sometimes writes under a pseudonym * How she approaches characterization and plot * Why and how the reader is so important to her * How she analyzes other authors' books and draws inspiration from them * What she does to hold the reader's attention * What her writing process looks like * How landscape and setting mold personality * How she deals with beginnings and endings * What the hardest part of writing is for her. | 7/17/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Writing Fiction, with Elizabeth Buchan | From Everything She Thought She Wanted: Join Elizabeth Buchan as she and host Paula B. explore the craft of novel writing, including: * Where she gets her ideas * How she grabs the reader's attention from the very first word * How she uses imagery to illuminate her characters and their conflicts * How she taps into her subconscious to solve writing problems * How she deals with endings * How she makes sure she "shows" rather than "tells" * How she makes her minor characters memorable * When to eliminate minor characters * How she comes up with names for her characters, and why she works so hard to find the right name * How she feels about the use of adjectives * How she keeps herself from being overwhelmed by her research * Why she always writes three drafts of her books * How her preparation and writing process has evolved * What part of writing she finds the most difficult. | 7/10/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Episode 6, How Not to Run an Online Bookstore: Working with Amazon.com | In episode 6 of How Not to Run an Online Bookstore, Paula talks about what it was like working through Amazon.com's third-party marketplace, including: * Why they ended up selling through Amazon in the first place * How much it costs to sell through Amazon * What's involved in listing your books for sale * Why the physical condition of a book sold through Amazon is so critical * How to clean dirty books * Why it's so tricky pricing books for sale through Amazon's marketplace * What they did about sales tax * Why customer ratings aren't all they're cracked up to be * How they managed to sell books they didn't have and what they did about it * How Amazon could do a lot better by its marketplace sellers * Why it isn't profitable to sell new books through Amazon's marketplace. | 6/19/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Writing Comic Books | What could be more fun than comic books? In this high-adrenaline interview, comic book writer Buddy Scalera reveals insider secrets of the comic book industry and explains how you too can write comics. Beware: you may be so inspired that you drop everything and start scribbling madly! Join Buddy and host Paula B as they explore the fabulous world of comics, including: * What the characteristics of good comic book writing are * How comic book writing differs from other kinds of writing * What the process is, from idea to production * How comic book writers work with artists and editors * How comic book writers decide on the number of frames per page and what goes in those frames * How long it takes to produce a comic book * What it's like to break into the business * Whether comic book writers can survive financially * How you can produce your own comics * How comic books are marketed * Who buys comic books * How comics have changed over the years. | 6/5/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Funds for Writers | This week's show is about how to get that green stuff: money. Most of us are familiar with the usual sources: publishing contracts, magazine gigs, selling a script to Hollywood. But there are other ways of making money writing. In this exciting interview, Hope Clark, editor and founder of FundsforWriters.com, reveals: * What grants and fellowships are * Who awards grants and fellowships * How to increase your chances of getting a grant * Why you should contact your local community foundation * What some of the lesser-known markets for writing are and how to find out about them * How you can maximize your earnings as a writer * How to write a foolproof query letter. | 5/8/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Episode 5, How Not to Run an Online Bookstore: The Post Office | In episode 5 of "How Not to Run an Online Bookstore," Paula talks about what it took to get books to customers and what it was like to work with the inscrutable U.S. Post Office. | 4/17/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Writing the Romantic Comedy Film | This week, we visit with screenwriter Josann McGibbon Temkin, co-writer of the Richard Gere-Julia Roberts hit "Runaway Bride," who reveals what it's really like to write movies, work with a partner, and have your script produced by some of Hollywood's biggest names. The writing team of Josann McGibbon and Sara Parriott is best known for "Runaway Bride" with Julia Roberts and Richard Gere. More recently, the two have been working on the highly anticipated animated movie event "Rapunzel Unbraided" for Walt Disney Animation. They have also worked on the upcoming "Chicken Little" for Disney and "Frankenweenie" for Tim Burton, and they wrote the story for "Three Men and a Little Lady." Join us for this fascinating interview as Josann discusses: * What it's like to work with a writing partner * How she approaches the writing of romantic comedy * Where the story should begin * Where she gets story ideas * How she works on her characters * Why second acts are so difficult * How to collaborate effectively * What it was like to work on "Runaway Bride." | 4/3/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Secrets of a Professional Greeting Card Writer | 'Tis the season for greeting cards. We all send and receive them, but few of us know how they're produced. Professional card writer Lisa Riggin joins us to reveal secrets from this glamorous world. When Lisa got her job at Hallmark, she had done no professional writing. Now she writes for a number of Hallmark products. In this fascinating look behind the scenes at one of the world's largest card companies, Lisa explains: * How she got into greeting card writing without previous experience * How her assignments are worded * Which comes first, the writing or the art work * How the writers stay fresh * What the lead time for writing cards is (you may be surprised) * How many writers work at Hallmark * Whether male and female writers work differently * What happens after she submits a card * How meeting with card-buying consumers has changed her approach Join Lisa and host Paula B. as they probe the inner workings of the greeting card world. | 12/11/05 | Free | View In iTunes |
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How to Get Your Books into Libraries | Nancy O'Neill is Principal Librarian for Reference Services at the Santa Monica Public Library System, where she is responsible for collection development. Every day Nancy makes decisions that affect authors and publishers. Do you know what she's looking for (and what really gets on her nerves)? In this illuminating interview, Nancy explains: * How libraries select the books they purchase * What kinds of books libraries want and don't want * How to approach libraries about giving book talks * What library patrons are reading these days * What you can do to get your books in libraries, and what you should never, ever do | 11/20/05 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Writing Horror | Marty Young is president and founder of the Australian Horror Writers Association. In this creepy interview, Marty reveals: * Why we love being scared to death * How writers can build tension and suspense * How writers can frighten readers * How horror stories from various world regions differ * How horror writing has changed over the decades * Why horror movies are scarier than books--or are they? * What horror writers are really like | 10/9/05 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Publicizing Your Book | Karen Villanueva is a publicist specializing in the promotion of authors. She began her career in the record industry in Toronto, where she held positions such as national buyer for Canada's second-largest retail chain, and went on to become an award-winning national publicity director for a Canadian record company. She has promoted world-class actors; classical, jazz, and rock musicians; comedians; ice skating champions; television show launches; and special corporate and city-sponsored events. Karen now lives in New Mexico and promotes regional and nationally renowned authors through media outlets such as USA Today, CNN, the Associated Press, and various print and electronic media. In this informative interview, Karen tells: * What an independent publicist does (that your publisher does not) * What to expect when approaching the media * How you can effectively publicize an older book * What book tours are really like * The easiest kinds of books to promote...and the most difficult * How much it costs to hire a publicist * The one thing authors on tour (and everywhere) must always do | 10/3/05 | Free | View In iTunes |
| Total: 182 Episodes |
Customer Reviews
My favorite writing show.
Paula B. does a great job in every episode. Her interview skills are among the best in the business and she is really missing her calling by not simply specializing in interviews for PBS or some hifalutin slick magazine! Luck for the rest of us. She inspires a lot of people besides myself into getting back into writing that book! I also, based on her interview with James Cox at Midwest Book Review, have started my own magazine and will soon begin podcasting - Surf Review And Report - Bill Anderson, surfreviewandreport.
Great writing show.
I have really enjoyed the few podcasts I have listened to. I can't wait to hear more. Makes me feel all energetic and artistic!
Good show, especially for new writers
I've been a fan of The Writing Show for a year now. Each week brings a new guest with new tips, tricks, techniques for writing your masterpiece, and personal stories about their writing journey.
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