The Writer's Block Podcast

Why Most Memoirs Fail

Join the ladies of The Writers Block as they explore the pitfalls to writing memoir. The last thing you want is for your book to fail, pick up a few tips and some easily guidelines to create a masterpiece, because a Memoir done right is an art!

• Should you write a Memoir?
• Books fail because of poor voice
• Transformation
• What is your pace?
• Its good to have a writing group to help you with all of the aspects of pacing and voice
• Bad sentences lack the five senses
• If you are writing about something that is a popular you should have more or more vetted credentials

May you be inspired, feel empowered, and B. Well.

All this and more on this week’s episode of The Writer’s Block Podcast recorded at the Studio 21 Podcast Café and hosted on the United Podcast Network.

Happy New Years!

2019 has been a crazy ride for the women of the Writer's Block.  Join the ladies as they revisit the resolutions, they set one year ago today.  The past year has been like a shot of adrenaline so 2020 is sure to sparkle.  

May you be inspired, feel empowered, and B. Well.

All this and more on this week’s episode of The Writer’s Block Podcast recorded at the Studio 21 Podcast Café and hosted on the United Podcast Network.

Telling, Not Showing - #8 of the Ten Most Common Mistakes

Barbara Wallace award winning author of romance and mystery will continue her discussion of the most common writing mistakes.  Debby and Shelly will explore the benefit of showing rather than telling, which include how to emotionally connect your readers with your characters.

• It’s a weakness many authors have
• Telling is just giving the information
• Showing is demonstrating the narrative through the Human experience often through the
• Use all the senses
• Who is noticing what and why?
• Lay off the “ly” words
• Small details rather than the big picture
• Powerful verbs and adjectives
• Be specific to the character
• Dialogue vs simple narrative

May you be inspired, feel empowered, and B. Well.

All this and more on this week’s episode of The Writer’s Block Podcast recorded at the Studio 21 Podcast Café and hosted on the United Podcast Network.

Conflict - #7 of the Ten Most Common Mistakes

Without conflict, you have no story…good conflict is multi-layered.  A great story has two kinds of conflict we will discuss on today’s show.  External conflict is the adversity the hero faces from outside forces. Internal conflict is born of the characters thoughts, fears, obligations, needs, desires, etc.

• Conflict is not
  • Constant bickering
  • Solved quickly
• Balance your internal and external conflicts
• Character driven stories often center around internal conflict

May you be inspired, feel empowered, and B. Well.

All this and more on this week’s episode of The Writer’s Block Podcast recorded at the Studio 21 Podcast Café and hosted on the United Podcast Network.

The 411 on Audio

The ladies of the Writer's block welcome Rick Peoples to the show to talk about the process of turning his novel into an audio book.  We are delighted to also have Martha Polley, who is the voice of, "Hey Ma, Your Husband's Dead."

• Having your audio book out will boost sales. The industry is showing double digit growth every year
• Finding the right voice actor is key
  • Someone who can deliver the story in the right tone
  • Someone in your price range
• 10,000 words will end up being 1 hour of finished audio
• You will need a separate cover for your audio book
• Martha can be found on Facebook

May you be inspired, feel empowered, and B. Well.

All this and more on this week’s episode of The Writer’s Block Podcast recorded at the Studio 21 Podcast Café and hosted on the United Podcast Network.

Great Beginnings...

Debby and Mandra will explore ways three different authors have chosen to start their books.  

Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard, Glennon Doyle Melton's Carry On Warrior and Kathleen Glasgow's Girl in Pieces are three examples of books that have great beginnings.  Whether they chose to use a close-up camera angle, a universal emotion, or stunning analogy's, these three books grab the reader right from the first page and draw the reader into the story.

May you be inspired, feel empowered, and B. Well.

All this and more on this week’s episode of The Writer’s Block Podcast recorded at the Studio 21 Podcast Café and hosted on the United Podcast Network.

Mary Vensel White’s Top 5 Editors Tips

Mary Vensel White Special Guest author, editor, and Guest of the Writing on the Beach retreat joins the writer's block.

• What are the top 5 Tips she has for writers from and editor’s perspective
  • Being a good reader
  • Choosing a consistent voice
  • Character knowledge – Do they know too much or too little
  • Over writing – when is it too much
  • Duplication of description from dialogue to narration
• Best tip for a student: “Find out what your skin is in the game as the author writing the story…what is your connection to the character?”
• Ins and outs of the Young Adult genre
• Making time to write by boking your own personal retreat by booking a hotel room to write
• Visit MaryVenselWhite.com if you are looking for an editor or more information about Mary.

May you be inspired, feel empowered, and B. Well.

All this and more on this week’s episode of The Writer’s Block Podcast recorded at the Studio 21 Podcast Café and hosted on the United Podcast Network.

Go Edit Yourself!

Whether you are using a professional editor or not, you want your book to be in the best shape possible! Join the ladies as they share tips to edit and polish your manuscript.  If you are using an editor, self-editing first will save the editor time and help you get the most out of the editing process as possible.  If a professional editor isn't in your budget, then these tips are a must for a professional looking book!

• You can have your editor do it all and pay full price
• The more you do prior to turning in your pages the less it will cost you to go to print
• Print your work out on paper and read it like its someone else’s work
• To use a red pen or is there a better color?
• Read your work out loud or you can use a program that reads your work for you
• Look for words you use too often (“That” is a big culprit)
• Are you using “ly” adverbs when you should be replacing these with stronger verbs?
• Don’t try to edit everything at once. Pick one thing you are looking to improve and see it through to the end.
• Know what your direction is in your writing.
• Cut the clutter…Often less words will equal more understanding for the reader
• One metaphor vs multiple metaphor
• When you are done you are done!

May you be inspired, feel empowered, and B. Well.

All this and more on this week’s episode of The Writer’s Block Podcast recorded at the Studio 21 Podcast Café and hosted on the United Podcast Network.

You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know

Whether you are writing fiction, Non-Fiction, a memoir, or are just into creative writing this is the podcast for you. This podcast is more than just about how to write as we cover the why’s, when’s, and where’s of writing. Mandra Biscornet, Shelly Devlin, and Deborah Monk discuss the how to handle all the new things you learn in the writing process! Here are some great thoughts:

• Editing with an editor
  • The process can be over whelming
  • Be prepared to read as many as 4 lines about one of your single lines
  • They are not all going to be bad
• Publishing
  • Should your book be” YOUR book” or should you be open to making changes suggested by the publisher?
  • What is the difference between self-publishing and hybrid publishing services?
  • How much money should you expect to spend
  • What are the ways to save money?
• What are the channels you can go through to network with the right people to do many of the things required to put a team together if you are going down the self-publishing route?

All this and more on this week’s episode of The Writer’s Block Podcast recorded at the Studio 21 Podcast Café and hosted on the United Podcast Network.

Shifting Thoughts and Rattling Cages With Dr. Bridget Cooper

Whether you are writing fiction, Non-Fiction, a memoir, or are just into creative writing this is the podcast for you. This podcast is more than just about how to write as we cover the why’s, when’s, and where’s of writing. This week Shelly Devlin, Deborah Monk, and Mandra Biscornet interview Dr. Bridget Cooper about her work as a public speaker and author of “Power Play” and “StuckU.”. As passion goes her cup is full as well as being the queen of one liners that make you think “What I charge has little to do with what I am worth” and “If you are judging me you either need more information or you need a hug and I will give you both!” are two examples. She discusses one of the many benefits of self-publishing. It takes the judgement of your marketability out of someone else’s hands and puts the future of your outcome in your own. For information about her and to find her on social media go to  www.DrBridgetCooper.com All this and more on this week’s episode of The Writer’s Block Podcast recorded at the Studio 21 Podcast Café and hosted on the United Podcast Network.