This week Ari and Rachel are discussing when it might be time to let go of a story idea.   In this episode, we cover: - Sunk Cost Fallacy - How much have you grown as a writer - Time is finite - How many stories do you have   As always, thanks for listening, share your answers to the questions in the comments or over on social media.   Want to be a Guest? We have all the guests for 2023 but we are accepting applications for 2024 guests. If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read the FAQs Page.  Once you've read everything, please fill in the Google Form linked on that page if you feel you could be a good fit.   Please note we may take a while to get back to you due to our workload.    Support the Podcast:   Patreon Want to support our show and show our little podcast some extra love, then please consider popping over to our Patreon Page and snapping up some goodies for as little as $1 a month!   Share If you enjoy our podcast, please share episodes on social media to spread the word about our show.   Music:   Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0

EPISODE SHOW NOTES Have you been torn between self-publishing and traditional publishing? We've all been there. There's a lot of decision making when it comes to writing a novel and a lot of that comes from the business side. Luckily, McKenzie Burns joins Ari and Rachel this week to discuss the benefits of self-publishing. In this episode, we cover: How McKenzie chose self-publishing over traditional Tools, programs, and resources you need when self-publishing Where you can self-publish your books The Benefits of self-publishing What you need to know about the business of self-publishing  As always, thanks for listening, and let us know your thoughts on this topic in the comments below. ABOUT MCKENZIE BURNS McKenzie Burns is a multi-genre author from the suburbs of Chicago with a passion for writing stories that involve diverse cultures, witty banter, and women who don’t take no for an answer. Her spare time is spent drinking copious amounts of coffee and scouring Spotify for obscure music. Website | Goodreads | Instagram | Twitter Buy links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW? We are accepting guest applications for The Merry Writer Podcast! If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read our FAQs Page. Once you've read everything, please fill in the Google Form linked on that page if you feel you could be a good fit. Due to high interest, our guest slots for 2023 are filled. Applications are still open (for 2024), but we may take a while to get back to you. SUPPORT THE PODCAST Patreon If you want to support our show and show our little podcast extra love, you can do by becoming a patron. Consider popping over to our Patreon Page and snap up some goodies for as little as $1 a month! Share If you enjoy our podcast, please share episodes on social media to spread the word about our show. CREDITS Hosts Ari Meghlen & Rachel Poli Music Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of http://www.incompetech.com | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Special Thanks Our patrons, Kristen Poli & Plottr

EPISODE SHOW NOTES   This week Ari and Rachel are looking at Writing and Life balance. We all want it but can we really have it?  What can we do to help us catch the elusive "balance."   In this episode, we cover: - Using dead time - Prioritisation - Delegation - Don't worry about the completion - Use timers   As always, thanks for listening, share your answers to the questions in the comments or over on social media.   Want to be a Guest? We have all the guests for 2023 but we are accepting applications for 2024 guests. If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read the FAQs Page.  Once you've read everything, please fill in the Google Form linked on that page if you feel you could be a good fit.   Please note we may take a while to get back to you due to our workload.    Support the Podcast:   Patreon Want to support our show and show our little podcast some extra love, then please consider popping over to our Patreon Page and snapping up some goodies for as little as $1 a month!   Share If you enjoy our podcast, please share episodes on social media to spread the word about our show.   Music:   Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0

EPISODE SHOW NOTES Have you ever tried writing a screenplay before? Have you thought of turning it into a novel or vice versa? If so, Rich Hosek, Arnold Rudnick, and Loyd Auerbach join Ari and Rachel this week to discuss screenplays and novels. In this episode, we cover: Why turn your unproduced screenplay into a novel The process of changing a screenplay into a novel What skills are needed for this process What challenges can arise during this process Creating a voice with three writers As always, thanks for listening, and let us know your thoughts on this topic in the comments below. ABOUT RICH HOSEK Rich has written for numerous television series with his writing partner Arnold Rudnick including, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Star Trek: Voyager, and The New Addams Family for which they won a Leo Award for Best Writing for Comedy or Variety. More recently he has been focusing his efforts on novels and short stories. He is a fan of Legos and Doctor Who now that there is a Doctor Who Lego set, his life is complete. Be sure to check out his other novels at RichHosek.com, his short story fiction podcast, Bedtime Stories for Insomniacs at BedtimeStories.studio, and follow him on Twitter @RichHosek and on Facebook @WrittenByRichHosek. ABOUT ARNOLD RUDNICK Arnold studied film and accounting at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, then moved to Los Angeles, where he worked in feature development at Paramount Pictures and Gary Lucchesi Productions. Arnold and Rich have collaborated on numerous scripts for film and television, including The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Star Trek: Voyager and The New Addams Family. He has also written children’s books, including ESPete: Sixth Grade Sens—which won a silver medal in the Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards and Reader’s Favorite Awards and was a pick in Danny Brassell’s Lazy Readers Book Club—and Little Green. He and his wife live in Los Angeles, California. ABOUT LOYD AUERBACH Loyd Auerbach, MS, is a world-recognized paranormal expert with thousands of media appearances and the author or coauthor of nine paranormal books and one on publishing and publicity. He is President of the Forever Family Foundation (since 2013, and Director of the Office of Paranormal Investigations (since 1989). He is on faculty at Atlantic University and JFK University (National University) and teaches online Parapsychology courses through the Rhine Education Center. He is on the Board of Directors of the Rhine Research Center and the advisory board of the Windbridge Institute. He is a past president of the Psychic Entertainers association, and besides working as a parapsychologist, he performs as professional mentalist Professor Paranormal (and occasional chocolatier). Follow him @profparanormal on Twitter, and catch his bi-weekly Q&A live streams on Facebook. Connect With Our Guests Website Amazon Goodreads Readers Favorite WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW? We are accepting guest applications for The Merry Writer Podcast! If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read our FAQs Page. Once you've read everything, please fill in the Google Form linked on that page if you feel you could be a good fit. Due to high interest, our guest slots for 2023 are filled. Applications are still open (for 2024), but we may take a while to get back to you. SUPPORT THE PODCAST Patreon If you want to support our show and show our little podcast extra love, you can do by becoming a patron. Consider popping over to our Patreon Page and snap up some goodies for as little as $1 a month! Share If you enjoy our podcast, please share episodes on social media to spread the word about our show. CREDITS Hosts Ari Meghlen & Rachel Poli Music Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of http://www.incompetech.com | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Special Thanks Our patrons, Kristen Poli & Plottr

EPISODE SHOW NOTES   This week Ari and Rachel are discussing the four types of stories.  Where does your story fall within these four?   In this episode we cover: - What the four types of stories are - Simple-Simple stories - Simple-Complex stories - Complex-Simple stories - Complex-Complex stories   As always, thanks for listening, share your answers to the questions in the comments or over on social media.   Want to be a Guest? We have all the guests for 2023 but we are accepting applications for 2024 guests. If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read the FAQs Page.  Once you've read everything, please fill in the Google Form linked on that page if you feel you could be a good fit.   Please note we may take a while to get back to you due to our workload.    Support the Podcast:   Patreon Want to support our show and show our little podcast some extra love, then please consider popping over to our Patreon Page and snapping up some goodies for as little as $1 a month!   Share If you enjoy our podcast, please share episodes on social media to spread the word about our show.   Music:   Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0

Edit: Sorry, I ended up deleting this episode. I have re-added it today.   EPISODE SHOW NOTES   This week, Ari and Rachel discuss organizing multiple novels. As writers, we tend to have too many ideas and decide to write a few simultaneously.   Here are some tips and tricks for keeping your notes organized.   As always, thanks for listening, share your answers to the questions in the comments or over on social media.   Want to be a Guest? We have all the guests for 2023 but we are accepting applications for 2024 guests. If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read the FAQs Page.  Once you've read everything, please fill in the Google Form linked on that page if you feel you could be a good fit.   Please note we may take a while to get back to you due to our workload.    Support the Podcast:   Patreon Want to support our show and show our little podcast some extra love, then please consider popping over to our Patreon Page and snapping up some goodies for as little as $1 a month!   Share If you enjoy our podcast, please share episodes on social media to spread the word about our show.   Music:   Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0

EPISODE SHOW NOTES   In today's episode, we are looking at all those bad ideas we have and why we shouldn't just discard them.  Let's try and turn some bad ideas into good ideas!   As always, thanks for listening, share your answers to the questions in the comments or over on social media.   Want to be a Guest? We currently have all the guests for 2023, but we are happy to start accepting applications for 2024 guests! If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read the FAQs Page.  Once you've read everything, please fill in the Google Form linked on that page if you feel you could be a good fit.  Please note we may take a while to get back to you due to our workload.    Support the Podcast:   Patreon Want to support our show and show our little podcast some extra love, then please consider popping over to our Patreon Page and snapping up some goodies for as little as $1 a month!   Share If you enjoy our podcast, please share episodes on social media to spread the word about our show.   Music:   Credit Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0

EPISODE SHOW NOTES Writing a novel can be confusing, especially if you're juggling multiple story arcs in one story. Luckily, Troy Lambert joins Ari and Rachel to discuss how to handle multiple novel plots and story arcs. This week, we cover: The benefits of having multiple story arcs in one book The difference and similarities between multiple plots and subplots The best way to weave plots together Organizational tips to keep track of your many plotlines As always, thanks for listening, and let us know your thoughts on this topic in the comments below. ABOUT TROY LAMBERT Troy Lambert is a freelance writer, author, editor, and the education lead for Plottr. The author of over 25 novels, he lives, works, and plays in the mountains of Idaho with his wife and two very talented dogs. Links Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/authortroy/ Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Harvested-Boucher-Mystery-Mysteries-Book-ebook/dp/B07P7RYHG2 WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW? We are accepting guest applications for The Merry Writer Podcast! If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read our FAQs Page. Once you've read everything, please fill in the Google Form linked on that page if you feel you could be a good fit. Due to high interest, our guest slots for 2023 are filled. Applications are still open (for 2024), but we may take a while to get back to you. SUPPORT THE PODCAST Patreon If you want to support our show and show our little podcast extra love, you can do by becoming a patron. Consider popping over to our Patreon Page and snap up some goodies for as little as $1 a month! Share If you enjoy our podcast, please share episodes on social media to spread the word about our show. CREDITS Hosts Ari Meghlen & Rachel Poli Music Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of http://www.incompetech.com | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0

EPISODE SHOW NOTES   In today's episode, we are talking about foreshadowing, what it is, how it works and why you might want to make sure you have some in your story!   As always, thanks for listening, share your answers to the questions in the comments or over on social media.   Want to be a Guest? We have opened up guest applications for 2023.  If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read the FAQs Page.  Once you've read everything, please fill in the Google Form linked on that page if you feel you could be a good fit.  Please note we may take a while to get back to you due to our workload.    Support the Podcast:   Patreon If you want to show our little podcast some extra love, please consider popping over to our Patreon Page where you can snap up some goodies for as little as $1 a month!   Share If you enjoy our podcast, please share episodes on social media to spread the word about our show.   Music: Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0

EPISODE SHOW NOTES   This week, Ari and Rachel discuss ways to set aside money for publishing your novel. They also discuss what you should save for and when to begin saving.   As always, thanks for listening, share your answers to the questions in the comments or over on social media.   Want to be a Guest? We have opened up guest applications for 2023.  If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read the FAQs Page.  Once you've read everything, please fill in the Google Form linked on that page if you feel you could be a good fit.  Please note we may take a while to get back to you due to our workload.    Support the Podcast:   Patreon Want to support our show and show our little podcast some extra love, then please consider popping over to our Patreon Page and snapping up some goodies for as little as $1 a month!   Share If you enjoy our podcast, please share episodes on social media to spread the word about our show.   Music:   Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0

EPISODE SHOW NOTES   Today is all about Deus Ex Machina, what it is, why it's bad and how to avoid it!    As always, thanks for listening, share your answers to the questions in the comments or over on social media.   Want to be a Guest? We have opened up guest applications for 2023.  If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read the FAQs Page.  Once you've read everything, please fill in the Google Form linked on that page if you feel you could be a good fit.  Please note we may take a while to get back to you due to our workload.    Support the Podcast:   Patreon Want to support our show and show our little podcast some extra love, then please consider popping over to our Patreon Page and snapping up some goodies for as little as $1 a month!   Share If you enjoy our podcast, please share episodes on social media to spread the word about our show.   Music: Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0

EPISODE SHOW NOTES   Have you ever gotten stuck on your novel before? Outlining is a great way to around that. However, outlining isn't for everyone. This week, we go over some different novel outlining methods you can try.   As always, thanks for listening, share your answers to the questions in the comments or over on social media.   Want to be a Guest? We have opened up guest applications for 2023.  If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read the FAQs Page.  Once you've read everything, please fill in the Google Form linked on that page if you feel you could be a good fit.  Please note we may take a while to get back to you due to our workload.    Support the Podcast:   Patreon Want to support our show and show our little podcast some extra love, then please consider popping over to our Patreon Page and snap-up some goodies for as little as $1 a month!   Share If you enjoy our podcast, please share episodes on social media to spread the word about our show.   Music:   Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0

EPISODE SHOW NOTES   In today's episode, we discuss the frustrating "As You Know, Bob" trope, why we don't like it and what you should do instead.   As always, thanks for listening, share your answers to the questions in the comments or over on social media.   Want to be a Guest? We have opened up guest applications for 2023.  If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read the FAQs Page.  Once you've read everything, please fill in the Google Form linked on that page if you feel you could be a good fit.  Please note we may take a while to get back to you due to our workload.    Support the Podcast:   Patreon Want to support our show and show our little podcast some extra love, then please consider popping over to our Patreon Page and snap-up some goodies for as little as $1 a month!   Share If you enjoy our podcast, please share episodes on social media to spread the word about our show.   Music:   Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0

EPISODE SHOW NOTES   Have you tried submitting a piece of writing before and encountered a word you didn't know? This week, we're going over some brief vocab words everyone should know within the writing industry.   As always, thanks for listening, share your answers to the questions in the comments or over on social media.   Want to be a Guest? We have opened up guest applications for 2023.  If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read the FAQs Page.  Once you've read everything, please fill in the Google Form linked on that page if you feel you could be a good fit.  Please note we may take a while to get back to you due to our workload.    Support the Podcast:   Patreon Want to support our show and show our little podcast some extra love, then please consider popping over to our Patreon Page and snap-up some goodies for as little as $1 a month!   Share If you enjoy our podcast, please share episodes on social media to spread the word about our show.   Music:   Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0

EPISODE SHOW NOTES   Today we are talking all about habits and why making writing a habit can be quite difficult for some writers and what things you can do to try and help.   As always, thanks for listening, share your answers to the questions in the comments or over on social media.   Want to be a Guest? We have opened up guest applications for 2023.  If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read the FAQs Page.  Once you've read everything, please fill in the Google Form linked on that page if you feel you could be a good fit.  Please note we may take a while to get back to you due to our workload.    Support the Podcast:   Patreon Want to support our show and show our little podcast some extra love, then please consider popping over to our Patreon Page and snapping up some goodies for as little as $1 a month!   Share If you enjoy our podcast, please share episodes on social media to spread the word about our show.   Music:   Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0

EPISODE SHOW NOTES   Are you releasing a debut novel? Are you working on a new project and want to spread the word? This week, we're discussing ways writers can get podcast interviews.   As always, thanks for listening, share your answers to the questions in the comments or over on social media.   Want to be a Guest? We have opened up guest applications for 2023.  If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read the FAQs Page.  Once you've read everything, please fill in the Google Form linked on that page if you feel you could be a good fit.  Please note we may take a while to get back to you due to our workload.    Support the Podcast:   Patreon Want to support our show and show our little podcast some extra love, then please consider popping over to our Patreon Page and snap-up some goodies for as little as $1 a month!   Share If you enjoy our podcast, please share episodes on social media to spread the word about our show.   Music:   Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0

EPISODE SHOW NOTES   Let's talk about procrastination!  That weird urge to delay a task rather than just working on it.  This can be a big thing with writers so in today's episode we cover what it is, why it can happen and how we can fix it.   As always, thanks for listening, share your answers to the questions in the comments or over on social media.   Want to be a Guest? We have opened up guest applications for 2023.  If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read the FAQs Page.  Once you've read everything, please fill in the Google Form linked on that page if you feel you could be a good fit.  Please note we may take a while to get back to you due to our workload.    Support the Podcast:   Patreon Want to support our show and show our little podcast some extra love, then please consider popping over to our Patreon Page and snap-up some goodies for as little as $1 a month!   Share If you enjoy our podcast, please share episodes on social media to spread the word about our show.   Music:   Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0

EPISODE SHOW NOTES   Some books are broken up into chapters. Others have parts. Some have prologues at the beginning, and others have epilogues. There's some debate about whether these chapters are needed. This week, Ari and Rachel discuss the pros and cons of having prologues and epilogues in your books. As always, thanks for listening. Share your answers to the questions in the comments or over on social media.   Want to be a Guest? We have opened up guest applications for 2023.  If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read the FAQs Page.  Once you've read everything, please fill in the Google Form linked on that page if you feel you could be a good fit.  Please note we may take a while to get back to you due to our workload.    Support the Podcast:   Patreon Want to support our show and show our little podcast some extra love, then please consider popping over to our Patreon Page and snap-up some goodies for as little as $1 a month!   Share If you enjoy our podcast, please share episodes on social media to spread the word about our show.   Music:   Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0

EPISODE SHOW NOTES   Social media is very much in our lives now, but does it have some negative effects and should we sometimes consider a break?  Rachel and Ari discuss when to step away from social media.   As always, thanks for listening, share your answers to the questions in the comments or over on social media.   Want to be a Guest? We have opened up guest applications for 2023.  If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read the FAQs Page.  Once you've read everything, please fill in the Google Form linked on that page if you feel you could be a good fit.  Please note we may take a while to get back to you due to our workload.    Support the Podcast:   Patreon Want to support our show and show our little podcast some extra love, then please consider popping over to our Patreon Page and snap-up some goodies for as little as $1 a month!   Share If you enjoy our podcast, please share episodes on social media to spread the word about our show.   Music:   Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0

EPISODE SHOW NOTES   If you're a writer, then you know writing a novel has multiple stages. It seems like a simple topic, but there's more to each step of the process than meets the eye. This week, Ari and Rachel go in-depth about the writing process step-by-step. As always, thanks for listening. Share your answers to the questions in the comments or over on social media.   Want to be a Guest? We have opened up guest applications for 2023.  If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read the FAQs Page.  Once you've read everything, please fill in the Google Form linked on that page if you feel you could be a good fit.  Please note we may take a while to get back to you due to our workload.    Support the Podcast:   Patreon Want to support our show and show our little podcast some extra love, then please consider popping over to our Patreon Page and snap-up some goodies for as little as $1 a month!   Share If you enjoy our podcast, please share episodes on social media to spread the word about our show.   Music:   Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0