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Hey fiction writer! Want your readers to stay up until 2am, so engrossed in your story they just can’t put it down? Want to build a successful, fulfilling, and sustainable writing life that works for YOU? Story Magic is the place for you. Every week, professional book coaches and editors Emily and Rachel from Golden May dive into writing craft, community, and mindset tips, tricks, and advice so you can write and publish books you’re damn proud of, again and again. We cover craft topics like story structure, character development, worldbuilding and ‘show, don’t tell’; we dive into how to grow your writing community of readers and writing partners; and we’ll talk about all those mindset challenges from imposter syndrome and perfectionism to fear of the blank page. Story Magic has all the tools you need to become the author you’re meant to be. You’ve got this, let’s go!
109 Episodes
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Today, Emily & Rachel are back from hiatus to talk about dictation with guest Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer! What you’ll learn from this episode: Incorporating dictation into your writing processManaging mindset and perfectionismTechnology and tipsJoin Sarah's DICTATION BOOKCAMP: https://www.fictioncourses.com/dictation Check out Sarah's books: https://www.choctawspirit.com/shop/books Ready to make readers so in love with your characters they can’t stop biting their nails in anticipation?...
Today, Emily & Rachel talk about book coaching behind the scenes with Sam Cameron! This is a special edition episode originally recorded for Sam Cameron's substack, Truant Pen. Check out Truant Pen here: https://truantpen.substack.com/ What you’ll learn from this episode: what 1:1 book coaching is really likelessons learned from writing, revising, querying, and getting an agentwhat coaching feels like to a coachhow rest is so important to the writing process Ready to make readers so in l...
Today, Emily & Rachel talk about studying published works. What you’ll learn from this episode: why studying published works is our fav trick for leveling up your skillshow to study and apply the lessonsgrowing your knowledge while keeping your unique voiceReady to make readers so in love with your characters they can’t stop biting their nails in anticipation? Grab The Magic of Character Arcs free email course: https://www.goldenmayediting.com/arcsmagic Join Tenacious Writing!...
Today, Emily & Rachel talk about revising large parts of your manuscript! What you’ll learn from this episode: Rewriting words is so normalHow to know you have to do itTips and tricks for rewriting Ready to make readers so in love with your characters they can’t stop biting their nails in anticipation? Grab The Magic of Character Arcs free email course: https://www.goldenmayediting.com/arcsmagic Join Tenacious Writing! With the perfect combo of craft, mindset, and community res...
Today, Emily & Rachel talk about atmosphere and setting with Thea Verdone. What you’ll learn from this episode: what makes a setting 'gothic'bringing atmosphere to life on the pagechoosing relevant and important setting detailsshowing world building on the pageCHECK OUT THEA's WEBSITE: https://theaverdone.com/ Read NEVER LEAVE, NEVER LIE: https://theaverdone.com/#never-leave-never-lie Ready to make readers so in love with your characters they can’t stop biting their nails in anticipatio...
Today, Emily & Rachel talk about publicity and book marketing with guest Jenn Vance. What you’ll learn from this episode: how publicity services can help youthe strategy of book marketingdifferent marketing methods and pathsfinding and embracing the strategy that works for youCheck out BOOKS FORWARD: https://booksforward.com/ Register for the FREE "Ask a Publicist" webinar: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/QMfcpNUFSyq61jzB72AEag Ready to make readers so in love with your ...
Today, Emily & Rachel talk about tackling serious themes with guest Michael Dante DiMartino. What you’ll learn from this episode: How to navigate serious topics for younger audiencesEmbracing seriousness but with the right toneThe craft of writing cross-mediumFinding your story's message during revisionsCheck out Michael's website: https://www.michaeldantedimartino.com/ Read BOTH HERE & GONE: https://www.michaeldantedimartino.com/here-and-now Ready to make readers so in love with yo...
Today, Emily & Rachel talk about Intuitive Writing with guest Becca Syme. What you’ll learn from this episode: What is intuitive writing Learning how to recognize your intuitionBuilding self-trustCheck out The Better-Faster Academy: https://betterfasteracademy.com/ Snag Becca's Free Resources: https://betterfasteracademy.com/links Ready to make readers so in love with your characters they can’t stop biting their nails in anticipation? Grab The Magic of Character Arcs free ema...
Today, Emily & Rachel talk about celebrating our 100th episode! Ready to make readers so in love with your characters they can’t stop biting their nails in anticipation? Grab The Magic of Character Arcs free email course: https://www.goldenmayediting.com/arcsmagic Join Tenacious Writing! With the perfect combo of craft, mindset, and community resources, you will build a writing life that feels sustainable, fulfilling, and fun—without any prescriptions or rules. Learn more: https://w...
Today, Emily & Rachel talk about story structure acts and act breaks. What you’ll learn from this episode: What are actsDifferent story structures (3 act vs 4 act vs 5) The purpose act breaks serveBreaking down some examplesReady to make readers so in love with your characters they can’t stop biting their nails in anticipation? Grab The Magic of Character Arcs free email course: https://www.goldenmayediting.com/arcsmagic Join Tenacious Writing! With the perfect combo of craft, ...
Today, Emily & Rachel talk about hybrid publishing with guest Evette Davis. What you’ll learn from this episode: what is hybrid publishing (vs indie or trad publishing)what it's like to query/submit to a hybrid publisherexpectations for hybrid publishingwhat it's like to republish a series with a hybrid publisherCheck out Evette's books: https://evettedavis.com/ Read The Council Trilogy now: https://evettedavis.com/#books Ready to make readers so in love with your characters they ...
Today, Emily & Rachel talk about writing retreats! What you’ll learn from this episode: Resetting mindsetWhat to do with your timeTips and tricks for making the “most” of itReady to make readers so in love with your characters they can’t stop biting their nails in anticipation? Grab The Magic of Character Arcs free email course: https://www.goldenmayediting.com/arcsmagic Join Tenacious Writing! With the perfect combo of craft, mindset, and community resources, you will build a writi...
Today, Emily & Rachel talk about pennames What you’ll learn from this episode: What pennames areWhen to use themCircumstances to consider when decidingReady to make readers so in love with your characters they can’t stop biting their nails in anticipation? Grab The Magic of Character Arcs free email course: https://www.goldenmayediting.com/arcsmagic Join Tenacious Writing! With the perfect combo of craft, mindset, and community resources, you will build a writing life that feels sus...
Today, Emily & Rachel talk about not doing what we say! What you’ll learn from this episode: Finding what works for youUsing tools in your writer toolbeltReady to make readers so in love with your characters they can’t stop biting their nails in anticipation? Grab The Magic of Character Arcs free email course: https://www.goldenmayediting.com/arcsmagic Join Tenacious Writing! With the perfect combo of craft, mindset, and community resources, you will build a writing life that feels ...
Today, Emily & Rachel talk about the individuality of the writing process with guests Karisa DeLay and Jaime Vendera. What you’ll learn from this episode: How processes change over timeHow mindset and process work togetherWriting as neurodivergent peopleLessons for our younger writer selvesLINKS: Check out Karisa's books: https://www.venderapublishing.com/author-bios/karisa-delayCheck out Jaime's books: https://www.venderapublishing.com/author-bios/jaime-venderaLearn more about Vend...
Today, Emily & Rachel talk about what we've learned from writing sequels. What you’ll learn from this episode: how much of a sequel needs to be planned before writinglaying the groundwork for future booksweaving together plot threads and subplotsmaking sure character goals and agency are still presentReady to make readers so in love with your characters they can’t stop biting their nails in anticipation? Grab The Magic of Character Arcs free email course: https://www.goldenmayeditin...
Today, Emily & Rachel talk about the market challenges of genre blending. What you’ll learn from this episode: what constitutes a historical fictionhow to balance blending different genresmeeting reader expectations vs breaking the moldfinding the right answers for yourself and your storyReady to make readers so in love with your characters they can’t stop biting their nails in anticipation? Grab The Magic of Character Arcs free email course: https://www.goldenmayediting.com/arcsmag...
Today, Emily & Rachel talk about returning to your story after a break. What you’ll learn from this episode: resetting your mindsetreacquainting yourself with your work in progressreconnecting with your whyrelying on your communityReady to make readers so in love with your characters they can’t stop biting their nails in anticipation? Grab The Magic of Character Arcs free email course: https://www.goldenmayediting.com/arcsmagic Join Tenacious Writing! With the perfect combo of craft...
Today, Emily & Rachel talk about internal dialogue and internal narration. What you’ll learn from this episode: Who are your characters talking to within their thoughtsConsidering this question within your narrative frameworkUsing internal voice to bolster characterizationStudying other works and comp titlesReady to make readers so in love with your characters they can’t stop biting their nails in anticipation? Grab The Magic of Character Arcs free email course: https://www.goldenma...
Today, Emily & Rachel talk about book marketing. What you’ll learn from this episode: What is going on with social mediaHow do we market our books when social media is in fluxMeeting the needs of your readersUsing universal fantasy to market our booksReady to make readers so in love with your characters they can’t stop biting their nails in anticipation? Grab The Magic of Character Arcs free email course: https://www.goldenmayediting.com/arcsmagic Join Tenacious Writing! With the pe...
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They talk about fear and/or burnout as possible reasons we avoid doing tasks or working on projects, but there's no mention of executive disfunction, adhd, an inability to prioritize, time-blindness, and other mental health-related issues. It strikes me that most of the creatives I know suffer more from the latter than the former — or that perhaps for us the latter cause and/or exacerbate the former.