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New Author Podcast
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Join Jerry Evanoff and Rich Kacy, two emerging authors in their unique journey through the ever-evolving world of writing. In this episode, Rich is killing it and Jerry is lightly punching it in the kidneys.
Whether you're an aspiring author, a seasoned writer, or just love a good behind-the-scenes chat, tune in for a mix of camaraderie, real-world struggles, and the joy of the written word.
Some Links
Nerdy Novelist - NovelCrafter 101:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-EcZaZom_4
NovelCrafter - Getting Started / Writing a Cozy Mystery
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awyj3oyebas&list=PLYcG6eOeSC_tFHm3Ps0Rad0CaFJchnbeR
Come to Patreon and support us:
https://www.patreon.com/newauthorpodcast
If you want to see our faces, check out this podcast on the YouTubes, but make sure you subscribe:
https://www.youtube.com/@newauthorpodcast
Jerry's Latest Release: Manufacturing Murder: Link
Rich's Vella Stories:
Death Comes to Paradise: Link
What the Cat Dragged In: Link
The backing track for our opening and our closing audio is from user Anton_Vlasov on pixabay: Link
Check out Jerry, Lindsay and Rich's Amazing Editor: CB Moore
If you'd like to listen to us chatter about plotting and writing, be sure to contact us, tell us what you like and ask us any question you want. We will happily respond.
Also, be sure to subscribe to us in your favorite podcast app for new episodes, released weekly on Saturdays or Sundays.
https://www.patreon.com/newauthorpodcast
Jerry Evanoff
Website: https://jerryevanoff.com/
Email: jerry@jerryevanoff.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jerryevanoffauthor
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/jerryevanoffauthor
Rich Kacy
Website: https://www.richkacy.com
Email: rich@richkacy.com
Socials: @KacyHimself
This week’s episode opens with a generational crisis when Rich fails to immediately recognize 867-5309. Jerry is deeply disappointed, though eventually forgiveness is granted after a brief cultural intervention involving Tommy Tutone.Once everyone recovers from that trauma, the conversation settles into the usual mix of writing progress, publishing logistics, and the never-ending list of things authors definitely plan to do soon.Jerry shares progress on the latest revision draft of his mystery novel, where chapters continue to shrink, grow, and occasionally get thrown out entirely depending on how cooperative the story decides to be that day. Word counts are tracked, editing passes get renamed with increasingly mysterious letters of the alphabet, and the looming April release date quietly watches from the corner. Meanwhile, Rich works through revisions on his own project, cutting words from early chapters, rewriting sections that refuse to behave, and slowly reshaping the story into something tighter than the original draft. The discussion then wanders into the author-marketing technology maze, including:Whether Substack should be treated as a newsletter platform or simply a lead generatorThe continued quest to connect Substack, BookFunnel, and email services without duct tapeWhy Substack currently refuses to play nicely with integrations (hint: no API) The ongoing debate over which email service might actually be worth usingSomewhere along the way there’s also talk about golf weather, overly loud neighbors, domain names, and the comforting reality that writers are basically professional list-makers.In short: writing updates, platform experiments, mild technological frustration, and one classic 80s phone number that refuses to leave Jerry’s brain.Contact InfoJerry EvanoffEmail: jerry@jerryevanoff.comWebsite: https://jerryevanoff.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/jerryevanoffauthor Rich KacyEmail: rich@richkacy.comBluesky: @KacyHimself
This week on the New Author Podcast, Jerry and Rich attempt to solve the great modern writer dilemma: Substack vs. MailerLite vs. BookFunnel vs. reality.Jerry dives deep into whether Substack can integrate with BookFunnel, hunts for API roadmaps like a man searching for buried treasure, and contemplates manually deleting and re-uploading subscriber lists every week (before realizing that might be… mildly unhinged). The big question: can you grow on Substack without breaking your existing email system—or your sanity?Rich approaches it from a different angle, focusing less on integrations and more on discoverability and community-building, because maybe the tech isn’t the point. Maybe the readers are.They also talk about:Email automation strategiesEarly-access content ideasUnsubscribe gray areas (and why they make everyone nervous)Whether Substack even wants to play nicely with third-party toolsUsing ChatGPT to generate podcast titles and descriptions (yes, again)It’s part marketing strategy, part tech frustration, and part two writers trying to build something sustainable without duct-taping five platforms together.If you’ve wrestled with Substack, BookFunnel, email lists, or the eternal “how do I grow without breaking everything” question—this one’s for you.📬 Contact InfoJerry EvanoffEmail: jerry@jerryevanoff.comWebsite: https://jerryevanoff.comRich KacyEmail: rich@richkacy.comBluesky: @KacyHimself
Rich is back after time away handling family matters, and the show settles into that familiar rhythm: a little life, a lot of writing, and the kind of honest “here’s where I’m stuck” talk that makes the work move again.Jerry breaks down the biggest Book 2 overhaul he’s done so far—condensing cliffhanger split-chapters, trimming confusion, and rebuilding the opening so the story hooks earlier and cleaner. Word count drops hard, chapters get reorganized, and the editor’s notes keep steering Jerry away from over-complication and toward clarity the reader can follow.They also dig into the gap between drafting and the work that comes after—why so many writers finish a draft and freeze, why editing can feel like the real craft, and how deadlines change everything once you finally commit to one.Also: Jerry eats at warp speed, becomes a regular everywhere he writes (against his will), fights his writing app login problem, and buys an expensive golf club because winter makes people do strange things.Getting back to routine after time awayRevision strategy: cutting, consolidating, and clarifyingAvoiding “plot convenience” and over-complicationDrafting vs. editing (and why people stall after draft one)Deadlines, momentum, and preparing for copyeditBuilding a writing app while AI tries to “help” by breaking thingsJerry EvanoffEmail: jerry@jerryevanoff.comWebsite: jerryevanoff.comRich KacyEmail: rich@richkacy.comBluesky: @KacyHimself
It's a shorter episode this week, just Jerry as he takes us through his week, his struggles with his book 2 edit and how he's trying to get through it.📬 Contact InfoJerry EvanoffWebsite: https://jerryevanoff.comEmail: jerry@jerryevanoff.comInstagram: @JerryEvanoffAuthorRich KacyEmail: rich@richkacy.comBluesky: @KacyHimself
Jerry and Rich return for Episode 341 of the New Author Podcast, kicking things off with internet gremlins, podcast intros no one listens to, and the universal dream of someday having too many ads.From there, it’s a deep dive into the messy middle of writing life: Jerry walks through rebuilding a massive rewrite outline for Book 2, cutting chapters that didn’t work, fixing “plot conveniences,” and learning (again) why editors are both correct and emotionally devastating. He also shares how he’s using AI tools like ChatGPT and NotebookLM to summarize drafts, plan revisions, and even help build a custom writing app—with all the joy and chaos that comes with it.Rich talks about juggling multiple genres, recovering from a brutal cold, navigating real-life stress, and trying to restart a writing routine while library schedules are apparently designed by caffeinated wildlife. There’s discussion of writing goals, why routines matter, the danger of never closing Scrivener, and whether setting goals actually motivates anyone at all.It’s a long episode, but it’s honest, practical, and exactly what writing weeks really look like.📬 Contact InfoJerry EvanoffWebsite: https://jerryevanoff.comEmail: jerry@jerryevanoff.comInstagram: @JerryEvanoffAuthorRich KacyEmail: rich@richkacy.comBluesky: @KacyHimself
It’s the final New Author Podcast episode of 2025, and Jerry and Rich close the year the only way writers know how: exhausted, opinionated, and surrounded by unfinished plans that somehow still count as progress.Jerry breaks down the reality of developmental edits—including why trying to make a murderer “sympathetic” may be a losing battle—and walks through a full Book 2 rewrite strategy, complete with chapter surgery, outline-first editing, and accepting that editors are almost always right (even when it hurts). He also logs 161,000+ words for the year, obsesses over a custom writing app, and sets ambitious but realistic 2026 writing, publishing, and financial goals.Rich recaps a holiday road trip fueled by audiobooks and family tension, outlines a packed 2026 writing plan across thrillers, cozies, novellas, and short fiction, and explains why Substack might be the least-bad option for audience building right now. Along the way: libraries, fences, greenhouses, anxiety, early mornings, and the strange comfort of daylight slowly returning.No spoilers. Plenty of process. And just enough self-awareness to survive January.Jerry EvanoffWebsite: https://jerryevanoff.comEmail: jerry@jerryevanoff.comInstagram: @jerrye25Rich KacyEmail: rich@richkacy.comBluesky: @KacyHimself
In Episode 339 of the New Author Podcast, Jerry Evanoff and Rich Kacy wrap up the year with a candid 2025 writing recap—what worked, what didn’t, and what surprised them along the way.Jerry breaks down finishing his series, sending Book 2 off for a developmental edit, hitting (and missing) yearly goals, and why he deliberately paused marketing until more books are ready. Rich looks back on a wildly productive year that didn’t follow the plan at all—genre hopping, first drafts piling up, and why 2026 needs to be about finishing, not starting.They also talk writers groups, book clubs, endings that don’t quite land, holiday slowdowns, financial goals, and the strange satisfaction of reviewing a year that didn’t go “right” but still went well.This episode closes out 2025 and sets the stage for a focused 2026.Jerry EvanoffWebsite: https://jerryevanoff.comEmail: jerry@jerryevanoff.comRich KacyEmail: rich@richkacy.comBluesky: @KacyHimself
This week, Jerry tries to podcast through a head cold while Rich wrestles a chicken-coop door, dislocates a knuckle, and still writes 3,331 words before most people finish breakfast. Naturally, that derails into a deep dive on Substack, reader newsletters, and whether either of them will ever understand how the platform actually works.Jerry talks about Instagram reels, accidental viral dog videos, and why Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer might be a murder ballad. Rich falls down a Pringles rabbit hole and confesses he may or may not be raiding the library snack stash like a gremlin after hours.Meanwhile, writing progress continues: Jerry preps to hand his manuscript off to his editor and plans a week of Chick-fil-A, Panera, and panic. Rich finishes his novel and immediately starts analyzing it with Claude because nothing says festive holiday spirit like 40 pages of AI critique.Also covered:• Traffic rage• Gift-card Christmas shopping• Trying to sleep with clogged sinuses• Why ath-rin (aka Afrin) betrayed Jerry• Planning for 2026 without crying• A box of new PLAAY.com sports games that will absolutely tank Jerry’s productivityIf you like chaotic author energy, questionable health decisions, and two writers trying to out-nerd each other, you’re home.Spotify Keywords / Tagswriting podcast, indie author, author life, fiction writing, self-publishing, revision process, editing, Substack for authors, pro writing aid, Claude AI, Instagram reels for writers, cozy mystery writing, productivity for writers, publishing journey, board game hobby, Plaay.com games
Jerry opens this one by botching the intro, confessing to eating Cocoa Pebbles for dinner, and then casually announcing he’s trying to enjoy January in Ohio while snow buries his driveway. So yeah, the bar is high.In this episode of The New Author Podcast, Jerry and Rich catch up after 16 days and talk about:Writing & Editing ChaosJerry is in the home stretch on Book 2 of his murder mystery series, wrestling the climax chapters (40 & 41) into shape while Word reads the book back to him in a robot voice.He’s using read-aloud for line edits, then planning a full Grammarly + ProWritingAid pass before sending the manuscript to his editor by December 14th.Rich is 60k+ words into his Marlowe thriller, averaging huge 3k+ writing sessions on his good days, and accidentally turning his outline into a 100k monster. Dialogue bloat? Oh yes. Future-Rich will cut it.Process Talk: Word Count, Structure & Overwriting On PurposeJerry talks about hitting his yearly word-count goal and still pushing to draft at least one brand-new novel next year while primarily editing and publishing.Rich explains why he’s deliberately overwriting now (all those side trails and conversations) so he can trim later and keep the good stuff—settings, emotions, subtext—while hacking away the “two people sitting in a room talking forever” problem.Tech & Tools: Read-Aloud, Headphones, and 11Labs RegretJerry moves from earbuds to Beats headphones and falls in love with letting Word read the whole novel to him, catching all the missing little words the brain smooths over.He looks at 11Labs for text-to-speech, realizes the token system might not cover a full novel the way he wants, and backs away before his wallet cries harder than his characters.Marketing Panic: QR Codes, Reedsy & Cover CreditsJerry discovers the harsh truth that some QR codes can “expire” depending on the service, panics, and drops $140 to keep his codes alive for a year—after he already printed notebooks and bookmarks that point to /next.He dives into Reedsy looking for a legit, vetted marketing strategist who can help him plan a long-term launch strategy for his nine-book mystery series. So far? One partial hit, multiple declines, one ghosting.On the plus side, he remembers he bought cover credits from 100Covers… twice. Result: six full cover credits in the bank. Book 3, 0.5, 1.5, and more are covered (pun absolutely intended).Board Games, Bowling Leagues & Black Friday DamageJerry goes hard on the PLAAY.com Black Friday sale: horse racing, hockey, bowling, and extra components for golf and baseballRich reminisces about terrifying long-haul drives loaded on creatine + bad coffee, hallucinating Rod Serling on the hood of the car back in the day. Perfect thriller-writer origin story.Life Stuff: Travel, Snow, Fantasy Football & BureaucracyRich and his wife do a 17-hour overnight haul from Virginia to Louisiana towing a van, survive on stimulant coffee, and wake to DMV forms built on what appears to be the Ghost of Napoleon’s Civil Code.Jerry fights “heart attack snow” on his driveway in Ohio, tries not to rage at winter before Christmas.If you like hearing two working writers talk honestly about drafting too long, trimming too late, obsessing over word counts, buying way too many games, and trying to market an epic multi-book mystery series without losing their minds, this one’s for you.Keywords (Spotify / SEO)writing podcast, indie author podcast, self-publishing, mystery series, thriller writing, word count goals, editing process, read-aloud editing, Grammarly, ProWritingAid, Reedsy marketing, QR code mistake, 100Covers, Black Friday haul, PLAAY.com games, bowling league, fantasy football, long-haul road trip, library job, indie author lifeContact UsJerry EvanoffWebsite: jerryevanoff.comEmail: jerry@jerryevanoff.comFacebook: facebook.com/JerryEvanoffAuthorRich KacyWebsite: richkacy.comEmail: rich@richkacy.com
Episode 336 is basically a masterclass in how two writers can have wildly different weeks. Jerry opens the show by spotting something… unsettling… in his Amish neighbor’s window (because of course he does), but quickly shifts into his ongoing battle with the Great Read-Aloud Edit. He missed his chapter goal by one, panicked about his December 14 deadline, and discovered that Past Jerry was not the writer Present Jerry wishes he were. On the plus side, he’s halfway through writing the Book 2 climax and learning that reading your own prose out loud is both exhausting and humbling.Rich, meanwhile, casually logs six writing days, 12,741 new thriller words, and keeps pacing for a possible 50K November—while also milling lumber and building farm gates, because why wouldn’t he?There’s also a writers-group intervention, TikTok despair, and fantasy-football heartbreak, but the real focus this week is writing: goals, edits, deadlines, and keeping your sanity.Contact UsJerry EvanoffWebsite: https://jerryevanoff.comEmail: jerry@jerryevanoff.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/jerryevanoffauthorRich KacyWebsite: https://www.richkacy.comEmail: rich@richkacy.comSocials: @KacyHimselfSearch Keywords / Tags writing podcast, indie author, mystery writing, editing process, read aloud editing, climax writing, NaNoWriMo, thriller writing, self-publishing, writer life, author productivity, writing goals, drafting vs revising, writer humor, creative process, author struggles, writing motivation, indie publishing, editing challenges, writing routine
Jerry has officially entered the “reading out loud to himself in a conference room” stage of editing Book 2—also known as the part where co-workers start to worry. He’s doing a final pass, adding words he swears he’s cutting, and preparing to hand it to his editor like a child presenting macaroni art and saying, “Look. I made novel.”Meanwhile, Rich hit 200,000+ words for the year, which means he’s either writing a thriller or slowly typing the same sentence over and over like The Shining. ("All work and no ice cream makes Rich a dull boy" is on the table.)Other highlights of this episode of The New Author Podcast—still the best writing podcast hosted by two dudes who accidentally write during football games:• Fiverr designers: angels or chaos goblins?• The thrill of finishing a revision (until you remember the last chapter isn’t actually written)• Fantasy football pain• Ice cream as a lifestyle choice, not dessert• Marketing your author brand without becoming a TikTok cryptidIf you're a self-publishing author, mystery writer, thriller writer, or someone who likes to hear two grown adults justify their life choices—pull up a chair.Contact Us• Jerry: jerry@jerryevanoff.com — https://jerryevanoff.com• Rich: rich@richkacy.com — Bluesky: @kacyhimself
Jerry and Rich are back with another jam-packed week of writing talk, fantasy football updates, and a little DIY author branding gone mildly sideways.Jerry kicks things off with his latest fantasy football saga—three leagues, high stakes, and one borrowed draft strategy that’s paying off big. Then it’s on to the writing life: he’s now written or plotted eleven books and novellas across the Sam Norris Murder Mystery series, topping 355,000 words in two years. With Book 2 edits closing in on the finish line, Jerry explains why he wrote all the drafts first, how he’s planning his box sets and “.5” novellas to bridge them, and why December 14th looms like a midwinter deadline monster.Rich checks in from library land, sharing progress on his new thriller (13,382 words this week, nearly at his 200k goal for the year), recounting a dentist visit from hell, and proving that even a sore jaw can’t stop a word sprint.Between them: a conversation about fictional temptation (how far is too far for a protagonist?), using ChatGPT as a creative assistant, and turning writing-business ideas into real merch—like custom notebooks, bookmarks, and QR-coded golf balls that lead to Jerry’s “/next” mystery page.There’s golf in the cold, book swag brainstorms, ice cream interventions, and enough banter about football, YouTube habits, and Hallmark movies to warm any creative soul heading into November.00:16 – Intro, camera chaos, and narrow video windows02:17 – Fantasy football update: big-money leagues and borrowed strategy05:09 – Jerry’s “why I wrote them all first” writing plan07:24 – Joanna Penn guest idea & rapid-release vs. long-game strategy09:16 – Weekly stats: Book 2 edits through Ch 31 (~84k words)11:26 – Rich’s monster writing week: +13,382 words13:15 – Golf video fail, mic whine, and Morse code jokes15:00 – New clue brainstorming and past-Jerry tormenting future-Jerry17:00 – The “dinner party” chapter and Truman Capote detour18:52 – Romantic tension dilemma: what makes a hero cross the line?23:28 – ChatGPT as writing therapist25:01 – Saturday golf, Chick-fil-A editing, and small-world coincidences29:53 – Notebook + bookmark merch brainstorm33:15 – Fiverr adventures and pricing drama35:33 – “jerryevanoff.com/next” – Jerry’s new favorite idea38:08 – Book Marketing Tips podcast shoutout39:15 – Football fatigue and fantasy frustration40:25 – Rich’s case for baseball being better (Jerry disagrees)43:33 – Hallmark movies vs. YouTube addiction44:00 – Dentist horror story & post-Novocaine writing sessions49:42 – Bingo nights, library chaos, and yellow umbrellas51:38 – DIY office remodel & anti-glare experiments55:52 – Weekend wrap-up: writing, chickens, and horror book displays1:03:00 – Goals: Jerry’s nine-chapter sprint; Rich’s six-day writing streak1:05:00 – New writers’ group plans and maybe a bookstore crushwriting podcast, indie author, mystery writing, thriller writing, book editing, rapid release strategy, ChatGPT for authors, writing tools, self publishing, author marketing, fantasy football, golf, notebooks, bookmarks, fiverr design, writer productivity, Joanna Penn, ALLi, Paul Teague, plotting, indie publishing, library stories, Hallmark movies, book swag ideasJerry Evanoff — jerry@jerryevanoff.com • jerryevanoff.comRich Kacy — rich@richkacy.com • Bluesky @KacyHimself
Jerry rushes home for a rare role-reversal Monday and reports a big week: he blew past the halfway mark on Book 2’s edit (now at 24/41 chapters, ~82.3k words), fixed a gnarly continuity slip in Ch. 23, and pushed his custom Story Bible + Plotting app into a usable groove—complete with highlight-to-add entries. He also tests Spotify as a podcast app, dreams up QR-code golf balls for book promos, and eyes a new (maybe too social?) writers’ group.Rich introduces Marlowe Bennett, lead of his new thriller (not mystery), and logs a strong run—8,202 words over four days, plus a 3,124-word morning sprint. There’s a candid craft/industry segment reacting to Richard Osman vs. social media discourse and James Blatch’s take, along with tools chatter (Scrivener, Wavemaker’s typewriter mode vs. backup woes) and light life notes (orchids, acrylics, wheelbarrow tire, Halloween candy math, and football blowouts).Recorded: Monday, October 27, 2025.Hosts: Jerry Evanoff & Rich Kacy.00:07 Theme00:21 Role reversal & date stamp (Ep 333)01:13 Jerry’s “can’t stand still” origin story02:06 Weather & quick banter02:37 Jerry’s goals: halfway edit target & app progress03:39 Marketing vs. promotion (ALLi mention)05:32 Book 2 stats (82,329 words; 24/41 chapters)06:10 Rich’s week: Marlowe Bennett thriller, outline to 38 chapters07:46 Condensing the outline & November plan08:42 Jerry’s edit run (Chs. 14–16) + SSS scene setup tip10:37 APBA setup nerd-out (’83 Eagles/Rams)11:21 Courses & tools: Dave Chesson’s Entrepreneur Academy, Launchpad, Amazon Ads 2.013:57 Story Bible UI polish; golf rained out15:18 Scrivener sync snag; Plotting tool built around ChatGPT + Google Docs20:00 New “highlight → Story Bible quick-add” flow21:27 Future test projects (romance idea; “A-Team in space”)22:26 Sunday edits (Chs. 21–22); spot the continuity bug in Ch. 2323:45 NFL blowouts → housekeeping montage26:17 Commute gripes & Android Automotive notes27:31 Work-from-home cadence & hitting the halfway line28:15 Library tales: Facebook account rescue attempt31:08 Wavemaker love/hate (typewriter sounds vs. backups)33:29 Donation triage & book landfill reality36:54 Insurance chat; high-deductible plans for the young38:11 Big writing day: 3,124 words (four and a half chapters total)39:55 Asics on sale, Moe’s Art Store, Yarnell acrylic course, orchids41:50 Hobby notes & Wingspan41:57 Jerry: timing the real marketing push (after Book 3)42:59 Spotify as a podcast app; discovery via recommendations43:58 Show promo ideas: bookmarks, notebooks, QR-code golf balls45:15 New Saturday writers’ group? (social vs. serious debate)48:52 Weekly schedules & word/edit goals (Jerry aims to Ch. 33)50:01 Rich’s short work week & Bingo master duty55:51 Osman/Blatch segment: trad vs. indie visibility, YouTube’s rising value1:09:30 Wrapping opinions & civility1:11:08 Contact info & sign-offJerry blasts past halfway on Book 2’s edit and patches a timeline error.His Story Bible + Plotting app now supports highlight-to-add entries.Rich launches a new thriller heroine: Marlowe Bennett, and stacks 8k+ words.Real talk: trad vs. indie visibility, social media fatigue, and where YouTube fits.Odd promo brainstorm: QR-code golf balls that lead to a landing page.ALLi’s updated marketing book (Alliance of Independent Authors)Self Publishing Formula “Launchpad” (James Blatch/Mark Dawson)Dave Chesson’s Entrepreneur Academy / Kindlepreneur resourcesScrivener • Wavemaker (typewriter mode)APBA Football (’83 season talk)writing podcast, indie authors, mystery writing, thriller writing, plotting, story bible, Scrivener, Wavemaker, self publishing, book marketing, ALLi, Launchpad, Kindlepreneur, Amazon ads, spatial sequence synesthesia, APBA football, author productivityJerry Evanoff — jerry@jerryevanoff.com • jerryevanoff.comRich Kacy — rich@richkacy.com • Bluesky: @KacyHimself
Jerry and Rich dig into craft and momentum this week. Jerry radically rewrites Chapter 1—cutting 1,356 words to “start in the action” at the will-reading—and shares how he’ll weave those cut beats back in through interviews with conflicting POVs. He also fixes a key scene using spatial sequence synesthesia (SSS) the right way and talks golf, APBA football, and why “body at the end of Ch. 2” now lands faster.Rich is ~75% through his Snowflake-to-scenes outline (≈45 scenes) for Novel November, estimates an ~80k mystery, and even puts down his first 400 words (aiming for 2,000/day). He also brings a few gems from life at the library: lost AirPods sleuthing, a Medicaid look-back story, and a wheelbarrow tire that went boom.Meanwhile, Jerry’s “Card Catalog” writing app levels up: a streamlined Story Bible with AI context via OpenRouter (hello, librarian “Rose”), per-book character assignment, and next up—plotting that flows right into drafting. Tool talk includes WaveMaker’s typewriter mode, Dave Chesson’s new self-pub course, Scrivener/Atticus, ProWritingAid/Grammarly, and why “start late, end early” just works.No spoilers for the work-in-progress—just nuts-and-bolts process, tools, and laughs.00:00 Cold open, theme, & A-Team on in the background01:30 Weekly stats & why Jerry cut 1,356 words from Ch. 105:15 “Start late, end early” scene surgery (and moving clues into interviews)10:40 Faster body reveal & fixing SSS (spatial sequence synesthesia) authentically14:40 Jerry’s DIY “Card Catalog” app—AI Story Bible, OpenRouter, per-book casting24:30 Tool talk: WaveMaker, Scrivener, Atticus, ProWritingAid, Grammarly27:00 Rich’s 45-scene outline, 2k/day goal, first 400 words down36:30 Library life & tech tidbits: AirPods tracking, look-back lesson, tire blowout45:30 Golf 83, APBA football, and schedule for the week1:03:30 Goals: halfway through edits; Rich’s Novel November push writing podcast, indie author podcast, mystery writing, editing scenes, start late end early, scene craft, Snowflake Method, outlining beats, NaNoWriMo, Novel November, story bible, synesthesia in fiction, spatial sequence synesthesia, Scrivener, Atticus, ProWritingAid, Grammarly, WaveMaker, Dave Chesson, Kindlepreneur course, OpenRouter, AI writing tools, custom writing app, author productivity, APBA football, golf, library stories#WritingPodcast #IndieAuthor #MysteryWriters #Editing #SceneCraft #SnowflakeMethod #NaNoWriMo #StoryBible #AuthorTools #AIforWritersWaveMaker (typewriter mode)Scrivener, Atticus, ProWritingAid, GrammarlyKindlepreneur / Dave Chesson – new self-publishing courseOpenRouter – for Jerry’s AI librarian “Rose”If this helped your writing week, follow the show on Spotify and drop a quick rating.Questions or topic requests?Jerry: jerry@jerryevanoff.com • jerryevanoff.comRich Kacy: rich@richkacy.com • Bluesky: @KacyHimself
In this episode, Jerry’s in a mood—but also on a roll. Book 2 drops 2,208 words to 83,310, he splits a long chapter (now 41 total), and powers through to Chapter 14 (~33%). Rich maps his Novel November thriller with the Snowflake Method (logline locked, 45 scene summaries drafted). They swap notes on tools (Emotion Thesaurus, Grammarly, ProWritingAid, Scrivener, Atticus), a wild cross-country golf scramble, andJerry reveals a “secret project”: a custom writing app workflow he’s building to house story bibles, plotting, drafting, and a personal AI “librarian.”They also talk GSO (AI-era search), favorite craft videos, and whether it’s time for Jerry to leave his longtime writers’ group.No plot spoilers.LinksKelsey Humpries Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZY8u8Os50E&t=3sBookFox Video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9ze5ET3_oYHave a favorite prompt or tactic for AI-era book discovery (GSO)? Drop it in the comments. And if you know a serious Northeast Ohio critique group that meets Thursdays or Sat. afternoons, ping Jerry.Jerry: jerry@jerryevanoff.com — jerryevanoff.comRich: rich@richkacy.com — Bluesky: @KacyHimselfKeywordsediting a mystery series; cutting word count; chapter structuring; Snowflake Method outline; scene beats and goals; Emotion Thesaurus in practice; Grammarly vs ProWritingAid; Atticus formatting; Scrivener & Story Grid; writer productivity; cross-country golf scramble; indie author tools; AI-era search (GSO); building a custom writing app; writers’ groups—pros/consindie author, writing podcast, mystery series, amateur sleuth process, editing workflow, scene structure, Snowflake Method, story grid, Atticus formatting, Scrivener, Grammarly, ProWritingAid, Emotion Thesaurus, Word Hippo, writing app, AI for writers, generalized search optimization, author platform, cross-country golf, fantasy football#WritingPodcast #IndieAuthor #MysteryWriters #Editing #SnowflakeMethod #StoryGrid #ProWritingAid #Grammarly #Atticus #Scrivener #AuthorTools #AIBookDiscovery #GSO #WritersGroup
Jerry and Rich are back! Jerry kicks off a new month with a quick series status: drafts for Books 2–9 are in the can, novellas are mapped, and he’s deep in revisions on Book 1.5 while restarting edits on Book 2. He talks trimming chapters, reading aloud, and tightening prose with the Emotion Thesaurus, Grammarly, and ProWritingAid—plus why he temporarily paused 1.5 to hit a firm editor deadline on Book 2. Off the page: an 86 on the course (with back-to-back birdies!), a white-chicken-chili showdown at work, and the eternal tug-of-war between football, golf, and word counts.Rich checks in after travel, then sets his sights on Novel November to lock in his yearly word goal—plotting ahead for a fresh mystery while he experiments with a cross-platform Scrivener-style tool (WaveMaker) he can sync through Google Drive. Together they dig into making books more discoverable as AI becomes the front door for recommendations: metadata that actually matters, why showing up in Google Books helps, and how to phrase reader-style prompts that surface the right titles—without spoiling any plots.If you’re juggling edits, tools, and timelines (and maybe a chili cook-off), this one’s for you.Keywords: writing podcast, editing a mystery series, amateur sleuth, novella 1.5, Book 2 edits, Grammarly vs ProWritingAid, Emotion Thesaurus, WaveMaker writing app, Novel November (NaNoWriMo-style), AI book discovery, Google Books indexing, author metadata, indie publishing, productivity, golf, office chili cook-off
Jerry and Rich catch up on a busy writing week and the everyday chaos that comes with it.Jerry logs a huge word count, finishes the draft of his 1.5 short story, trims an overlong opening chapter, and even starts scheduling YouTube Shorts to grow the podcast’s audience. He also celebrates paying off his car and begins setting up a Stream Deck as a writing command center—while still juggling golf and fantasy football.Rich returns to his own cozy-mystery draft with several thousand new words, shifts his main character’s perspective, and keeps the edits flowing. His week at the library includes hunting for lost books, creating an Ernest J. Gaines Award display, and—thanks to a mix-up with leased titles—making an unexpected dumpster dive. He also discovers a Canva tutorial worth your time and explores WaveMaker, a free, Scrivener-style writing app that syncs to Google Drive.Contact UsJerry Evanoff – jerry@jerryevanoff.com | https://jerryevanoff.com | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jerryevanoffauthor Rich Kacy – rich@richkacy.com | https://www.richkacy.com | Socials: @KacyHimself
Looking for mystery writing tips, indie author advice, or the inside scoop on turning a draft into a true whodunit?This week Jerry takes Book 1.5, his free short story, and rebuilds it from an Indiana-Jones-style chase into an Agatha Christie–like murder mystery that fits his Sam Norris series. Rich shares life behind the scenes at the library—where he literally rescues books before they hit the dumpster—and reports on a Weird Al Yankovic concert that hits every nostalgia button.Along the way we talk Scrivener, Atticus formatting, and a Stream Deck setup for writers, plus Jerry’s two-week sprint to finish the new draft.Contact Us• Jerry Evanoff – jerry@jerryevanoff.com | https://jerryevanoff.com | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jerryevanoffauthor • Rich Kacy – rich@richkacy.com | https://www.richkacy.com | Socials: @KacyHimself
Join Jerry Evanoff and Rich Kacy, two authors in their unique journey through the ever-evolving world of writing and publishing and living their day-to-day lives while trying to do the whole unique journey thing mentioned above.Whether you're an aspiring author, a seasoned writer, or just love a good behind-the-scenes chat, tune in for a mix of camaraderie, real-world struggles, and the joy of the written word.Jerry's Gaming and Other Stuff YouTube Channel:https://www.youtube.com/jerrye25Come to Patreon and support us: https://www.patreon.com/newauthorpodcastIf you want to see our faces, check out this podcast on the YouTubes, but make sure you subscribe:https://www.youtube.com/@newauthorpodcastJerry's Latest Release: Manufacturing Murder: LinkRich's Vella Stories:Death Comes to Paradise: LinkWhat the Cat Dragged In: LinkThe backing track for our opening and our closing audio is from user Anton_Vlasov on pixabay: LinkCheck out Jerry, Lindsay and Rich's Amazing Editor: CB MooreIf you'd like to listen to us chatter about plotting and writing, be sure to contact us, tell us what you like and ask us any question you want. We will happily respond.Jerry EvanoffWebsite: https://jerryevanoff.com/Email: jerry@jerryevanoff.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/jerryevanoffauthorPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/jerryevanoffauthorRich KacyWebsite: https://www.richkacy.comEmail: rich@richkacy.comBlueSky: @KacyHimself




