It’s the end of Season 2, so here is a bonus episode! This week, I chat with Alex Edelman, the comedian and writer behind the Tony and Emmy-winning show Just for Us. Alex gives us a behind-the-scenes look at how he crafts long-form shows, shares the tricky balance of blending humor with grief, and talks about the challenges and joys of being the subject of his own work.
This week, I chat with the legendary R.L. Stine, the mastermind behind over 300 books, including the iconic Goosebumps series. Known for his spine-tingling plot twists, R.L. shares a surprising twist of his own—none of what’s happened in his extraordinary career was ever really his idea. From spooky tales to unexpected turns in his journey, we explore the quirky moments that shaped the author who continues to delight and thrill new generations of readers.
This week, I chat with Cassandra Clare, author of the beloved Shadowhunter Chronicles series and Sword Catcher. Cassandra dives into the intricate world-building that defines her fantasy novels, shares her thoughts on crafting compelling character relationships, and talks about the surprising places she finds seeds of inspiration.
This week, I chat with the bestselling Sabaa Tahir, author of All My Rage and her latest, Heir. Sabaa discusses the big, thought-provoking questions she explores through her stories, weaving powerful themes of identity and connection. She also shares how she discovers the best version of a story and delights us with a peek at her unexpected talent of mimicking animal sounds.
This week, I chat with Isaac Fitzgerald, the author of Dirtbag, Massachusetts and Pen & Ink, known for his compelling non-fiction and memoir writing. As we chat about the fascinating differences (and similarities) between writing fiction and non-fiction, Isaac shares his heartfelt insights on the art of personal storytelling, and even gives a step-by-step guide to creating the perfect mixtape—because storytelling isn't just for the page. :)
This week, I chat with Margaret Owen, the author of The Merciful Crow and (a personal favorite) Little Thieves. As we bond over our feline companions, Margaret shares her approach to crafting vivid, character-driven stories, delves into the nitty-gritty of her zero-draft process, and reveals the one word she can never seem to spell correctly.
This week, I chat with Rebecca Roanhorse, the author of Black Sun and her latest, Mirrored Heavens. Rebecca shares her unique approach to weaving Indigenous mythology into modern fantasy, discusses the differences between writing personal projects, working within established franchises, and writing for TV, and reflects on the important realization that her memory isn’t terrible—it’s just not great at paying attention to reality.
This week, I chat with T. J. Klune, the beloved author of The House in the Cerulean Sea and Under the Whispering Door. T.J. reflects on his journey through both self-publishing and traditional publishing, shares his heartwarming approach to blending fantasy with deep emotional resonance, and talks about the simple joy he's found in realizing he can eat ice cream whenever he wants.
This week, I chat with Saara El-Arifi, the author of The Final Strife and Faebound. Saara shares her whimsical approach to 'finding her way' through her intricate stories, discusses the importance of diverse voices in fantasy, and reveals the delightfully unexpected place where she does most of her writing.
This week, I chat with Travis Baldree, the author of the cozy fantasy darlings Legends & Lattes and Bookshops & Bonedust. Travis shares his journey from audiobook narrator to novelist, offers practical advice for writers looking to carve their own path, and shares with us his most “useless” skill.
This week, I chat with Martha Wells, the celebrated author of many favorites, including The Murderbot Diaries and her newest book, Witch King. We discuss the evolution of her beloved characters, get a glimpse into the world-building techniques that make her stories so immersive, and learn about her surprising relationship with the arcade classic skee ball.
This week, I chat with the multi-talented Julia Whelan, author of My Oxford Year and Thank You for Listening, as well as a prolific audiobook narrator, actor, and the creator of Audiobrary- a platform dedicated to human storytelling. Join us as we delve into her writing and narration process, insights from both her literary and acting experiences, and the intriguing concept of "intimacy kink."
This week, I’m chatting with the ever enchanting Sarah Rees Brennan, the mind behind The Demon’s Lexicon, In Other Lands, and her latest, Long Live Evil. We explore her journey from her initial path to starting over, delve into the nuances of personal projects versus writing for hire, and discuss the most important topic- deliberate narrative tits.
This week, I chat with a writer who shares my love for making the world a little bit stranger—Alix Harrow, the brilliant author of The Once and Future Witches, Starling House, and more. Join us as we explore her unique writing rituals, the origins of her ideas, and the interesting “treasures” she discovered in an old teapot.
This week, I chat with the incomparable S. A. Cosby, author of the acclaimed “southern noir” crime novels Blacktop Wasteland, All The Sinners Bleed, and more. We delve into character development, the importance of knowing backstory, and learn about his unique favorite smell.
Welcome to the first episode of No Write Way, season 2, where I delve into how "Writing is like a Road Trip" with author Fonda Lee. We also talk through her creative process, unique hurdles, and the surprisingly strange item hanging in her bedroom.
Hydrate!, growing up around books, editing, negative feedback, short stories, getting an agent, using spreadsheets to track novel writing, idea cook time, {technical difficulties in the episode mean a mini-q&a with V!}, setting as character, juggling projects, work-life balance, daily schedule, and more! Listen in. This originally streamed 8/15/2020 on Instagram live. Follow Victoria @veschwabFollow Sarah @gaileyfrey
From learning disability to award winning author, living and working in Hong Kong, io9 and other work, novel vs. short story, revisiting old ideas, second guessing, explorative writing, dialogue, scriptwriting, description and scene setting, getting emotion on the page, daily routine, and more! Listen in. This originally streamed 8/22/2020 on Instagram live.Follow Victoria @veschwabFollow Charlie Jane @charliejaneanders
Rethinking social media, using mythology for personal catharsis, visiting a psychic, becoming a published author, finishing a trilogy, talking the story out, 9 box setup, outlining, growing as a writer, rewriting, breaking down goals, empowering upcoming writers, new vampires, and more! Listen in. This originally streamed 8/8/2020 on Instagram live.Follow Victoria @veschwabFollow Natalie @ncparker
Book lengths, second book syndrome, starting with fanfiction, getting feedback, the pressure and psychology of being published young, working on multiple projects, structural edits, starting with a synopsis and a chapter plan, character arc, using music to build character and setting, drafting troubles, tracking character experience, attempting to finding balance, and more! Listen in.This originally streamed 8/1/2020 on Instagram live.Follow Victoria @veschwabFollow Samantha @say_shannon