The Resilient Writers Radio Show (Rhonda Douglas Resilient Writers)

Welcome to this first episode of The Resilient Writers Radio Show. This is a short episode, also known as a Trailer, just like in the movies, to introduce you to myself as your host and the show—so that you can know what to expect as you follow and listen to the show.

“I’ve been published!” is a phrase authors dream of saying. Of course, authors know being published is no small feat. 

One who knows this particularly well is Kate Heartfield, who had to wait years to get published. Now a bestselling author, Kate has plenty of tips on persisting with your writing even when you’re discouraged.

She also reminds us that being published isn’t the end-all be-all of being an author—continuing to write matters, too. 

Novel writing involves brainstorming, research, drafting, and editing. Barbara Joan Scott has inside tips on it all. 

In this interview, we discuss Barbara’s journey while writing The Taste of Hunger. No stone is left unturned—we learn about the writing process from concept all the way to the reviews that come after publication. 

Remember: even the authors of our favourite book didn’t write the perfect first draft. They always turn out in a different shape. 

For writers, it’s not just a work-life balance—it’s a work-life-writing balance. And we have advice for finding yours!

In this interview, we learn about Elisabeth de Mariaffi’s journey of finding time to write while working, being a mom, and rolling with life’s punches. And of course, we get tips for writing literary thrillers, ones Elisabeth herself discovered while writing The Devil You Know. 

Maybe organizing your writing life can be thrilling too!

The writing process has many critical aspects, but a very important one often falls to the wayside: writing community.

Today’s episode features poet and short fiction author Frances Boyle, who tells us the ins and outs of her experience with the writing community. We’ll learn about the value of writing groups, connections in the community, how to approach rejections and how Frances finds inspiration in the compost heap.

Being a writer can feel lonely and difficult, but it doesn’t have to. There’s always ways for us to find and connect with community. 

In his new book, On Writing and Failure: Or, On the Peculiar Perseverance Required to Endure the Life of a Writer, author Stephen Marche argues that writing is, and always will be, an act defined by failure. The best plan is to just get used to it. 

Join me for this interview as we talk about facing rejection, artistic failure and continuing to write anyway. (And we go on a little tangent about AI there at the end!)

Focus is both a great boon and a great curse to writers. We need it, but finding it can be difficult… and that was before we lived in a world built to distract us!

Luckily, there are specific techniques we can use to improve our focus. All we have to do is commit to being focused, and learn the techniques that work for us—taught this week by our podcast host, Rhonda Douglas.

Indie publishing. Does that send shivers up your spine, or leave you buzzing with excitement? 

For author Emma Dhesi, it’s definitely  excitement. Becoming a self-published (also known as Indie) author is a fascinating process, and one that requires a lot of learning. 

But as Emma’s published books show, it’s one we can learn, and it gives us plenty of options and benefits that traditional publishing doesn’t. In fact, Indie publishing might be YOUR perfect publishing path.

As writers, we have tons of tools at our disposal. Strategies, motivation, beloved writing utensils or software… 

But many writers are missing an incredibly valuable tool—self-compassion. In this solo episode, host Rhonda Douglas shares how we as writers can use just a little bit of grace and self-compassion to create a writing life we love. 

We need to make writing enjoyable if we want to love our craft. What better way to do that than showing ourselves some kindness when we write?

In the world of publishing, small and independent presses don’t get nearly enough love.  Large publishing houses may have all the metaphorical glitz and glamour, but working with an independent press has its own advantages. 

Aimée Parent Dunn, owner of Palimpsest Press, tells us what working with an independent press is like, from manuscript selection to the book’s release. Take some notes—you might learn that getting published by a small press is exactly right for you!

Don’t let the title mislead you—author Michael Blouin knows a lot. Specifically, he knows a lot about persistence, and how it can impact your writing life forever.

Michael’s learned firsthand how almost giving up could have cost him big, and how we can’t let rejection bog us down. After all, sometimes all it takes to change everything is one acceptance letter, and the next thing you know, your writing is going to the moon!

Writers, do you make sure you take time to play? No? Well today’s guest, Gail Anderson-Dargatz, is here to tell us why we should. 

In fact, she’ll tell us about four Ps that are very important—play (of course), passive protags, planning, and pantsing. With the right know-how, we can make our stories stronger, and shorten our writing time. As Gail says, a clear map can take us from nine years writing a draft to one. 

For writers, creative anxiety is almost unavoidable. It can make us doubt ourselves, our work, and whether we should continue—which makes it critical that we learn how to manage it. 

There are plenty of different techniques out there, and in this week's episode, host Rhonda Douglas share techniques she finds make a big difference, and walks us through implementing them in our own writing lives.  

Thanks for being with us for Season 1 of The Resilient Writers Radio Show! We've loved being on this journey with you and hope you have enjoyed it too.

We're now preparing Season 2 for you which will air in early July 2023. So stay tuned! And if you haven't yet written a review, would you take a second and do that now? Thank you! And we'll talk again soon.

Tempted as you may be to break the mould, sometimes sticking with the classics is the way to go. Specifically in today’s episode of The Resilient Writers Radio Show, we’re talking about a classic story structure—the essential three act structure.

In this first episode of Season 2, Rhonda Douglas explains in some detail how the three act structure works, and how it helps with everything from plots to scenes to helping us avoid a passive protagonist. Readers love a story that wraps up neatly, and we can use the structure to ensure we don’t leave important threads hanging. 

If you knew your writing personality, it would make developing a writing routine a lot easier. And thanks to Brooke Adams Law of We Are Writing Brave, you can learn your writing personality through a simple quiz.

Besides writing routine know-how, Brooke also has a wealth of knowledge on hybrid publishing. As a book coach, Brooke was introduced to the world of hybrid publishing thanks to a question posed by a client—which led her to become a publisher herself. She shares her journey with us in this episode.

Self-publishing gives us a lot of freedom, but it also means we have a lot of learning to do. Especially when it comes to marketing our own books. 

In today’s internet age, we can reach countless people. But how do we reach the ones who want to buy our books? Shelby Leigh, book marketing strategist, has the answer, and all the tips you need to use TikTok (BookTok) to get your story the attention it deserves. Shelby is a bestselling poet, so she definitely knows whereof she speaks! (For those in The Writer's Flow Studio, Shelby's also our Visiting Writer for August 2023!)

Feedback is a great writing tool—if you get it at the right time. Writers have a bad habit of asking for feedback way too early in the first draft process, when often they’re not really looking for feedback, but something else entirely...

But this is something we can avoid, as Rhonda Douglas tells us in this Episode of The Resilient Writers Radio Show. All it takes is knowing when you’re actually ready for feedback, and what kind of feedback you might actually find most useful.

Some stories come along and take us over. It feels like we're compelled to write them, almost as if we had no choice. Historical fiction can have that sense of urgency for some writers, and because the historical reality comes with such high stakes -- as in the case of the Second World War, for example -- these stories also make for fabulous novels.

This week on The Resilient Writers Radio Show, award-winning author Natalie Morrill takes us behind the scenes in writing historical fiction. We talk research, knowing when it's your story to write, sensitivity readers and more!

Inspiration can come from many places, but what really matters is how we writers choose to use it. 

Take Anita Lahey, poet and nonfiction writer, who let her inspiration drive her poetry to new heights. And this led her to co-create a new project, FIRE MONSTER, one unlike anything she’d previously done: a graphic novel in verse, created in collaboration with an artist/illustrator. 

Remember, there is so much more to writing than just what words we are able to put on the page.

You might want an MFA, but is attending an MFA program right for you? 

They aren’t for everyone, and for some, programs aren’t even accessible with barriers like location, cost, and regular life responsibilities getting in the way. 

But Gabriela Pereira has the solution. She’s the founder of DIY MFA—born from her love of attending an MFA program herself and recognizing these barriers—the MFA for those who aren’t served by the traditional MFA system. 

When we’re looking for a new writing project, it might crop up in an unexpected place. At least, that’s what Rona Maynard discovered. 

She needed a new writing project after leaving behind her role as an editor with a major women's magazine, and she found her inspiration through fresh eyes after adopting her dog, Casey.  But Rona didn’t realize she'd found her new project, or even that it was a memoir in essays, until much, much later. After all, who would start writing a memoir through Facebook posts?

A long writing session may sound tantalising, like the “perfect” time for writing. But there is no perfect time to write, and the very idea keeps us from making progress. In fact, it can even send us down the rabbit hole of creative anxiety. 

But Short Time writing sessions are our friend—they allow us to stay consistent and connected to our work. All we have to do is find the time, which is easier than you might think! 

Part of the writing process is learning, though that may mean learning things besides new skills. This was the case for author Jane Baird Warren when she was in her MFA program and discovered the perfect genre for her was one she originally didn’t want to write in. 

Along the way, Jane also learned that writing one book doesn’t necessarily mean you know how to write the next.

Now, as a published children’s literature author with Scholastic, Jane is working towards writing YA novels that break the mould. After all, who says adults can’t enjoy Kid Lit, too? 

When Merilyn Simonds was asked by a friend to be the author of her biography, Merilyn agreed. The problem Merilyn then ran into was that she didn’t like or read biographies, but couldn’t abandon her promise.

It wasn’t until Merilyn made an observation, one deeply connected to her friend’s life story, that the biography began to flow. And from the beginning, Merilyn’s ideas allowed her to follow her usual, and unusual path of breaking with writing convention. 

As writers, we have a lot of feelings about finishing our books. But whether we feel excited or apprehensive at the idea, we can’t finish our books unless we’re ready. 

Now, being ready doesn’t mean having a completed draft. It certainly helps, but getting to the point of being ready to finish can come much, much earlier in the process than that. In fact, if you’ve ever dreamt of finishing a book, you’re already part-way there.  In this episode, we'll look at what a readiness to finish really looks like.

This is it, writer: we’ve reached the end of The Resilient Writers Radio Show, Season 2. Tune in to this episode for a brief recap of what’s been covered in this Season, as well as a quick look into what you can expect in Season 3. 

We’ll also talk about persistence, which is key for us as resilient writers, and the upcoming Book Finishers Bootcamp. Thanks so much for listening to the show!

Welcome Resilient Writer! We're here for you with another Season of The Resilient Writers Radio Show. Inspired by your feedback and the thousands of downloads so far, here's what you can expect from Season 3.

I'm so pleased to welcome my friend Mari Ruddy to the show today. Mari is an alumna of my First Book Finish program, and her new book is just being released. Mari leaves nothing out in sharing her long and satisfying book completion journey with us, including lessons about self-publishing a quality book and how she raised the necessary funds to get her book out in the world.

Get Mari's new book here: Extreme Healing: Reclaim Your Life + Learn To Love Your Body.

Our identities, experiences, and connections all play into our writing. They’re convenient sources of inspiration, and they allow us to write confidently. But does writing our own experience let us connect with others?

Author Gary Barwin says yes, as he believes that if we analyze how our own lives are interesting and why we write from them, we can form a connection by sharing the experience of what it is to be in the world. We get into the role of the writer in today's world and more in today's episode.

Achieving a state of flow in your writing life may sound difficult, or even like an impossible dream. But there are concrete ways that you can cultivate more flow in your life, and you don’t need anything special to get started. 

Insights from the field of positive psychology can have a huge impact on us as writers, and by learning a little more about it, you can get closer to living a writing life that you love. 

Kimberly Ward knew she wanted to write a book about her experience taking her family sailing around the Caribbean. She came to my Book Finishers Bootcamp and took what she learned there to finally FINISH the book that had been years in the making. In this episode, Kimberly shares her experience as a new Indie writer. Listen for tips on finishing a book started  a long time ago and for tips on Indie publishing. 

As writers, we can be avoidant when it comes to sharing our writing. It can be an uncomfortable experience, especially with something as intimate and close to our lives as a memoir.  

Author Stephanie Kain faced this dilemma when writing her memoir, and it left her wondering how she could get past her discomfort, especially when living in a small town. But eventually she had to choose what was more important - her comfort, or sharing her story.

As writers, we may sometimes write myths - but we can also be affected by them. I’m not talking about fantastical stories in this case, though. I’m talking about myths about writing, which harm us and can keep us from making progress, or keep us from writing, period. 

This week, we'll explore three myths that impact writers and how, once we know how to identify them, we can work through the issues they may cause in our writing lives. 

Life has a wonderful habit of getting in the way of our writing time. But if we want to finish our books, we can't stand by and let it happen. 

We need strategies to make time to get to the page. Author Debra Martens developed her own while constantly moving between countries and dealing with recurring illness, and even uses a lesson from time spent in recovery to this day to bolster her writing life. 

Writer, have you ever been afraid of sharing your work? Finding the courage to do so can set you down a new path in your writing life, perhaps one you never thought was possible. 

Author Esther Schultz has been writing her whole life, but she never shared her work with anybody until her mother-in-law moved in. But after receiving encouragement from her, Esther took the leap into writing books and becoming independently published.

Doing research may be the highlight of the writing process for you, or it might be the part you put off as long as possible. Either way, research is critical—but it doesn't have to involve sitting at the computer for hours. 

Instead, author Mary Carroll Moore used the people around her as resources. Their insight helped make Mary’s writing accurate and engaging enough for her audiobook to remain on the Amazon bestseller list to this day. 

Writing a book and getting it published is a wonderful, fulfilling process… and it’s also very intimidating, especially for first-time authors and beginning writers. 

But don’t worry, writer - there’s a lot you can learn to make these processes easier, and Ellen Baker knows all about them. As she’ll tell you, some things take a lot of trial and error, but in the long run, they’ll help make your book the best it can be. 

There are times when we wonder if it's all worth it, if our intention to finish a book and get it out into the world really matters. Join me for the first episode in a series dedicated to all the writers intending to finish their books in 2024.

As we start work on our book and the idea starts to take shape, the amount of work a book-length project takes can feel overwhelming. You’re left paralyzed and with a half-done draft—so now what? 

You have to change the way you view your book so you can turn it into a manageable project. Don’t let fear hold you back. It’s time for you to finish! Today's episode will show you how.

In today’s episode, I’ll walk you through the six phases of writing a book, which will not only make the overall book-writing process easier, but will help you defeat your self-doubt and get your book out into the world. 

Here's a truth: no one really has time to write a book, especially a first book. Yet we can still manage to get them written and out into the world. In today's episode I'll walk through how you can fit finishing your book into an already busy life. And here's a free resource for you as well -- my guide called 30 New Ways to Find More Time to Write.

In this final episode of this Finishers mini-series, I am sharing some of the lessons I've learned in the past four years from helping nearly 200 writers to finish their books -- finish drafts, revise, edit and get their books out into the world

In this final episode of Season 3, I'm going back to interviews with writers who answered my final question: "What does it mean to you to be a resilient writer?" Listen to see if their answers match up with your understanding of what it means.

Writing can be challenging at times, even more so when we’re tired. The problem nowadays is that it seems like we’re all always tired. Doesn't it feel that way to you?

If we want to write for the rest of our lives and finish our books, we need to make sure we’re getting enough rest so we have the energy to write. But don’t fret—there are lots of little steps we can take to make a big impact on how we generate new energy as part of our creative process.

In this week’s episode, I’m speaking with Elizabeth Chatsworth, who is the author of the steampunk fantasy series, The Brass Queen. She’s also been in my First Book Finish program. We talk about how she wrote the sequel to The Brass Queen – Grand Tour: Brass Queen II – while facing some challenging life circumstances, and the roller coaster ride of publishing that followed.

This week, I'm chatting with Karen Lea Armstrong, about her novel DROWNPROOFING, which is set in Northern Ontario. We talk about what it means to write a so-called "regional novel" -- one with such a strong sense of place. And we talk about Karen's publishing journey. Karen was in my First Book Finish program, so it's such a delight to see this book out in the world.

This week on the podcast I'm speaking with Beth Barany,  and we get into story structure, play and experimenting -- especially for Science Fiction and Fantasy.
 
Beth is an award-winning novelist, master neurolinguistic programming practitioner, and certified creativity coach for writers. She's also an experienced international speaker and podcaster. When she's not helping writers, Beth writes magical tales of romance, mystery, and adventure that empower women and girls to be the heroes of their own lives. And she makes short films and TV shows. You can learn more about Beth and sign up for her newsletter here. She also has a great podcast for Science Fiction and Fantasy writers, called How to Write the Future.

This week, I'm speaking with Beth Kaplan -- a fellow Canadian author -- about writing non-fiction. We get into finding the right shape for memoir,  finding the thematic "hot moments" for your story, and the true nature of drafts.

Beth is a former actrress and the author of a biography and two memoirs -- All My Loving and Loose Woman. The latter was a finalist for the Whistler Independent Book Award. She also the author of True to Life, a textbook guide to creative writing. She has taught nonfiction writing at two Toronto universities for thirty years and is the winner of the University of Toronto’s Excellence in Teaching award.

Her new memoir-in-essays, Midlife Solo: Writing through Chaos to Find my Way in the World, was described in a newspaper review as “an extraordinary life, written with tremendous heart, insight, and humour.”

It’s currently available from the publisher, Mosaic Press,

https://mosaicpress.ca/products/midlife-solo 

More information about Beth, her teaching, books, articles, and blog, on her website

https://bethkaplan.ca/ 

This week on The Resilient Writers Radio Show, I’m chatting with my friend Danika Bloom. Danika is a USA Today bestselling romance author and the lead cheerleader at AuthorEverAfter.com where she mentors and supports pre-published romance writers to finish and indie publish their first books. Her most recent book is The Billionaire's Shrubbery.

We talk about writing romance novels, how to write sex scenes, as well as self-publishing, book promo and what makes for a great book cover...among other things!

This week on The Resilient Writers Radio Show, I'm chatting with Savannah Gilbo. Savannah Gilbo is a certified developmental editor and book coach who helps fiction authors write, edit, and publish stories that work. She’s also the host of the top-rated Fiction Writing Made Easy podcast, where she delivers weekly episodes full of simple, actionable, and step-by-step strategies that you can implement in your writing right away. When she’s not busy crafting her own stories, you can find Savannah curled up with a good book, a cozy blanket, and her three dogs. 

In this episode, we get into how to start writing a novel, covering five key areas that authors should consider before drafting: theme, genre, protagonist, setting, and plot.

Savannah emphasizes the importance of addressing these areas to create a solid foundation, which helps prevent common pitfalls like writing without a clear direction or having a protagonist without a clear goal. She also discusses the value of community for writers, sharing experiences, and overcoming self-doubt.

This week on the podcast, I am delighted to be speaking with my friend Sara Power. We're talking about short stories! Sara has just published her first collection of stories, to much acclaim. We talk about the story as an offering and staying true to the story. If you're a lover of short stories, you don't want to miss this episode!

Sara Power’s stories have appeared in journals across Canada, the US, and the UK, and most recently in Best Canadian Stories 2024. Sara was a finalist for the RBC/PEN Canada New Voices Award and received a nomination for a National Magazine Award in the fiction category. Her stories have been recognized with fiction awards from The Malahat Review, Riddle Fence, The Toronto Star, Prairie Fire Magazine, and The New Quarterly.

Sara completed a Bachelor of Science from the Royal Military College of Canada and a Master of Fine Arts from the University of British Columbia. Originally from Labrador, Sara currently lives in Ottawa with her husband, three children, and coonhound. Her debut work is a collection of short stories: ART OF CAMOUFLAGE, just out with Freehand Books.

This week on The Resilient Writers Radio Show, I'm speaking with author and publisher Lynne Golodner. Lynne is the author of nine books, as well as many articles, and host of the Make Meaning podcast.

Our discussion focuses on Lynne's writing journey, her latest novel "Woman of Valor," and her experiences within and outside the Orthodox Jewish community. We also talk about maintaining control over your story via self-publishing and dive into Lynne's experience creating a hybrid publishing company: Scotia Road Books.

This is a special episode because I am sharing a replay from my First Book Finish program when we had Monique from Atticus.io come into to speak with us about how to use their easy software to format your books for self-publishing.

During the episode, Monique offers a special deal for listeners of The Resilient Writers Radio Show. Sign up for Atticus before the end of June and get access to their special online course on publishing for Indie authors! Go to:  https://www.atticus.io/resilient to get the course.

In this episode of the Resilient Writers Radio Show, I’m speaking with Chelene Knight, an acclaimed author known for her novel "Junie" and memoir "Dear Current Occupant." Chelene is also the founder of Breathing Space Creative, a literary studio focused on creative sustainability and coaching for writers. 

In this episode, we’re talking about Chelene's latest book, "Let It Go: Free Yourself from Old Beliefs and Find a New Path to Joy." The book explores themes of self-love and joy, topics she had only touched upon in her previous works. The process of writing the book helped Chelene uncover new aspects of herself and expanded her professionally and emotionally.

The book is organized by seasons, a structure that Chelene finds both practical and symbolic. Seasons act as pillars of stability, reflecting the cyclical nature of life and creativity. Chelene reveals that she adapts her personal and creative routines to different seasons, recognizing that each brings out different facets of her personality and work.

One unique feature of "Let It Go" is the inclusion of community call questions, designed to prompt introspection and clarity. Questions like "What do I need or want to make space for right now?" encourage readers to slow down and reflect on their inner lives. 

We also talk about the importance of setting boundaries to protect our writing time, especially given our busy schedules serving other writers. 

Writing the book is one thing, but many authors cringe when it comes to put ourselves "out there" and ask people to buy the book.

Today I'm speaking with book marketing expert Emily Enger, who advocates for "good enough" book marketing so that you don't have to sell your soul while selling your book. Listen in as we dive into how to do just that!

You can learn more about Emily at: emilyenger.com

This week on the podcast, I'm speaking with a poet and that always means opening our heart, doesn't it? Join us as we explore the heart-centred, authentic and more vulnerable sides of this art of writing -- and enjoy a little poetry break as well!

Meredith Heller is the author of Writing by Heart, Write a Poem, Save Your Life, and several poetry collections. A poet, singer-songwriter, avid nature lover, and educator with degrees inwriting and education, she leads writing workshops online and in-person at schools, juvenile detention centers, women’s prisons, and wellness retreats. Visit her online at MeredithHeller.com.

In this last episode of Season 4 of the podcast, I am doing a solo show talking about how to choose a writing project, as well as the mindset shifts we need to make in order to stick with the project we've chosen. Let's banish Shiny New Idea Syndrome once and for all!

Here's a link to where you can find the Essential Book Outline resource I mention in the show.

I'm taking a few weeks off now to record new episodes. See you soon for Season 5 of the show!

--Rhonda xo

This episode features an interview with Meggie Lee Calvin, an Amazon bestselling author, coach, and speaker, who specializes in helping spiritually attuned writers market and sell their books. The conversation delves into Meg’s journey from writing plays as a child to becoming a published author and coach for writers. In addition to her spiritual approach, Meg discusses the practical aspects of becoming an Amazon bestselling author. She outlines 7 pillars for achieving bestseller status, which include creating a compelling book cover, developing a strong personal brand, and utilizing organic social media marketing. Meg emphasizes the importance of building a promotional team and doing thorough research on Amazon's algorithms to maximize a book's visibility and sales.

You can find out more about Meg at megcalvin.com.

Wondering how to outline a book that works without spending hours and hours detailing every beat in a spreadsheet? My guest Lewis Jorstad of The Novel Smithy teaches a new method called Intuitive Outlining. Listen to the episode to hear us talk about this (and so much more!) and then be sure to sign up for his free class on Intuitive Outlining happening on September 12th!

Editing your book can be fraught. There are so many different types of editing: developmental, line, copy, proofreading. Which ones do you need most? How do you prioritize? And what should you expect from each kind of editor? In this episode of The Resilient Writers Radio Show, I'm talking to the editing experts at Gemini Writers Studio to get answers to these questions and more!

This week on The Resilient Writers Radio Show, I'm interviewing my friend Traci Skuce. We get into her philosophy on embodied writing, which integrates body awareness and mindfulness into the creative process. Embodied writing involves tapping into the physical, emotional, and sensory experiences of both the writer and the characters, creating richer, more nuanced narratives. 

Traci encourages writers to slow down, fully inhabit scenes, and write from a place of presence rather than rushing to finish or relying solely on their intellect. She emphasizes the importance of patience, deep inquiry, and allowing stories to unfold organically, without adhering strictly to templates or formulas. 

Join us for this episode and use what you learn to go deeper with your own writing!

Sign up for Traci's new workshop here: You're Not Doing It Wrong!

In this episode of The Resilient Writers Radio Show, I'm chatting with author and life coach Riley Lindhardt. We dive into Riley's journey as a writer, her experience as a life coach, and how she helps other writers overcome mental blocks to finish their novels.

Throughout the episode, Riley offers practical advice for writers, such as how to set daily writing goals, develop detailed plot outlines, and use life coaching techniques to maintain momentum. She encourages writers to focus on becoming the type of person who can write great books, rather than fixating on publication from the start.

This week, I interview Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer, an author, speaker, and Choctaw storyteller from Texas who has published 19 books. 

Sarah writes historical fiction, primarily focusing on American Indian characters, particularly from her own Choctaw heritage. Her *Choctaw Tribune* series, for example, highlights the Choctaw people, although she also includes characters from other tribes like the Chickasaw and Cherokee. 

Sarah shares the importance of writing about American Indian characters authentically. We discuss her frustrations with historical fiction's common stereotypes and how Native characters were often depicted inaccurately. 

And then we talk about the use of dictation in writing, a technique she has mastered to write more efficiently and comfortably. Dictation has doubled her writing speed, allowing her to produce up to 4,000 words an hour, making it easier on her body and reducing the exhaustion associated with typing.

This week's episode features an interview with Janelle Hardy, a multifaceted creative with expertise in dance, somatic experiences, and memoir writing. We explore how body awareness influences creativity and our writing. Janelle shares her journey from feeling disembodied to becoming more connected through somatic practices and nervous system regulation. She emphasizes the importance of using the body as a resource in creative processes, such as memoir writing, to avoid mental burnout and re-traumatization.

Our discussion concludes with thoughts on how memoirs can be a healing process and a means of making meaning from life experiences, with Janelle advocating for working slowly and intentionally with both mind and body.

This week I have an interview with Kevin T. Johns, a writing coach and author who is also based in Ottawa, Canada, where I live. Our conversation revolves around the challenges aspiring authors face, particularly in completing their first draft, and how writers can better approach storytelling and the writing process.

Kevin emphasizes that many writers spend too much time perfecting their first few scenes, not realizing that once the manuscript is complete, those scenes often need rewriting or cutting. His key advice is to write the first draft quickly to have something to work with, as the real work begins during the revision process. Kevin also points out that the education system contributes to the misconception that writing is a one-and-done process, as students often submit essays without ever revising them.

Kevin’s approach to helping writers focuses on commercial genres, such as horror, romance, sci-fi, and fantasy, where there are clear expectations for plot structure and genre conventions. He runs a program called "Story Plan," which helps writers plan the fundamental aspects of their story, from genre and structure to character arcs and theme. He encourages writers to know their genre and the expectations readers have, as this forms a contract between the writer and the reader. Planning helps create a coherent story and gives the writer confidence as they move through the drafting process.

Something a little different this week! In this episode, I am speaking with Brooks Elms, a professional screenwriter and coach who shares his insights into screenwriting. Our conversation covers both the technical and creative aspects of the craft, as well as tips for those who are new to screenwriting or looking to transition from other writing forms, such as novel writing.

Brooks offers advice for beginners, emphasizing the importance of just starting and having fun with the process. He suggests beginning with short scripts and experimenting with the unique structure of screenwriting, which relies heavily on what is seen and heard rather than interior thoughts. He breaks down the basics of screenplay formatting, including the use of slug lines and action lines, and encourages writers to focus on the subtext, which conveys a character's emotions and motivations through actions rather than explicit dialogue.

One of the key topics discussed is how screenwriting differs from other forms of writing, particularly novels. While novelists often rely on interiority to express characters' thoughts and feelings, screenwriters must find ways to show this visually. Brooks explains that a character's emotions can be revealed through subtle actions, gestures, or dialogue that suggests deeper meaning. For example, how a character enters a room can indicate their emotional state without them needing to state it outright.

Listen to the full episode to see if screenwriting is for you!

In this episode of The Resilient Writers Radio Show, I host my friend, author and book coach Emma Dhesi, to explore the psychological and practical challenges that writers face, especially when completing a novel. 

Emma shares her personal journey of overcoming sporadic writing, highlighting how a realistic understanding of the difficulty of writing is crucial. She notes that aspiring authors often underestimate the work involved, partly due to idealized portrayals of writers in media. The conversation also covers Emma’s "four pillars" for a successful writing practice. This episode serves as a reminder of why writers started, encouraging enjoyment of small achievements and creative freedom.

This week's episode from The Resilient Writers Radio Show features an interview with Sue Brown-Moore, a book coach and developmental editor. We go deep into the intricacies of developmental editing, particularly for fiction and romance authors. The conversation dives into the purpose, timing, and benefits of developmental editing.

When it comes to self-editing, Sue encourages writers to conduct their own developmental edits by stepping back from their manuscripts before revisiting them with fresh eyes. She  offers a free 30-minute webinar teaching authors to pre-edit their manuscripts to ensure foundational storytelling issues are addressed before a formal edit.

In this week’s episode of The Resilient Writers Radio Show, I interview Jeanne Blasberg. Jeanne is a bestselling author known for her novels Eden and The Nine. Her latest novel, Daughter of a Promise, came out in April 2024. 

This latest novel is a contemporary retelling of the Biblical story of David and Bathsheba, set in modern-day New York. Jeanne explains that while she kept the essence of the original plot, she made significant changes to reflect contemporary themes, including giving her heroine more agency than Bathsheba had in the Bible.

Our conversation delves into the challenges and rewards of reimagining classic stories in a modern context. Jeanne was inspired to explore the timelessness of themes like consent, attraction, and power dynamics, especially during the #MeToo movement. 

By writing from the perspective of Betsy (her modern Bathsheba), Jeanne gives a voice to a character who, in the original story, is largely voiceless. 

Towards the end of the interview, we also get into indie publishing vs. traditional publishing – a topic I know a lot of think about! 

In this last episode of Season 5 of the podcast, I am doing a solo show talking about a step-by-step guide on how to create your own DIY writing retreats.

These DIY retreats, which I’ve organized for myself for over 20 years and now include in my First Book Finish program, have helped me reconnect with my projects and make significant progress on my manuscripts.

Here's a link to where you can find the DIY Writing Retreats resource I mention in the show.

That is it for Season 5 of The Resilient Writers Radio Show. We are going to be kicking off Season 6 in about four weeks time. See you soon!

--Rhonda xo

In this first episode of Season 6 of The Resilient Writers Radio Show, host Rhonda Douglas dives into the world of nonfiction writing with expert Meghan Stevenson. 

Meghan, a seasoned professional in crafting nonfiction book proposals, shares her wealth of experience, having helped her clients secure over $5 million in publishing advances and contributing to the success of 16 New York Times bestsellers.

The conversation explores the distinct differences between nonfiction and fiction markets, emphasizing how nonfiction is driven by purpose—whether to educate, solve a problem, or inspire change. Meghan highlights the importance of recognizing books as products, a mindset shift essential for authors looking to navigate the publishing world successfully.

The discussion also demystifies the nonfiction book proposal—a pivotal tool for securing an agent or publisher. Meghan likens it to a “mullet of publishing,” combining business-driven content in the front with creative writing in the back. Proposals typically include an overview, chapter summaries, a sample chapter, and business sections detailing marketing strategies, comparative titles, and a compelling author bio. Meghan strongly advises against writing the full book before selling it, as the publishing process often involves refining and reshaping the idea.

The episode is packed with valuable advice for writers aiming to break into the nonfiction space. Meghan’s blend of candid humor and actionable insights provides a clear roadmap for authors to navigate the challenging but rewarding world of publishing. From recognizing the business side of writing to understanding the importance of collaboration and patience, listeners walk away with a deeper understanding of what it takes to succeed as a nonfiction author.

Whether you're an entrepreneur, expert, or simply someone with a great idea, this episode serves as an encouraging guide to bringing your nonfiction book dreams to life. Rhonda and Meghan's warm and engaging conversation reminds writers that with the right tools and mindset, they can overcome the hurdles of publishing and create lasting impact with their work.