“How well he reads our sex,” murmured Mrs Gramplain, “and yet how badly he plays bridge!”By Richard Crowest

“There is one character in fiction one hears no end of, but no one has ever seen her represented in portrait or in the flesh.”By Richard Crowest

“Once again Duncombe experienced the uncomfortable certainty of being face to face with a tragedy whose nature he could not guess at.”By Richard Crowest

Earlier this month, I spoke to writer Shaine Greenwood about his recently-published sci-fi anthology, The Aether, but we discussed a number of other topics, including beta readers, Patreon and self-promotion, social media, and whether writers should also be readers.About Shaine:Shaine Greenwood (he/him pronouns) is a Seattle-based writer who takes …

I briefly discuss NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month, which begins November 1), then talk about my current work in progress. I also offer what I hope are some words of encouragement on whether or not you should stick with a piece of writing even if you don’t feel a deep connection with it.**********Find out about NaNoWriMo (& sign up, if you’d…

Ekphrastic poetry includes vivid imagery about a work of art created by another artist. You may have read ekphrastic poems inspired by paintings or sculptures, but they can also be about music, dance, and other forms of art. I explain some reasons why ekphrastic poetry can be so appealing to readers and writers, and how these poems can get our crea…

I discuss some of the reasons why H. H. Munro (Saki) is considered by many to be a master of both satire and the short story, as well as some of the characteristics of the Edwardian Era, which Munro knew so well and incorporated into his oeuvre.*****************************************************************************************Email me: marisa…

I recently spoke to Marijah V. about writing, music, traveling, and a number of other topics. I think writers and non-writers alike can take away a great deal from our discussion!Marijah’s bio (from Amazon):Marijah, author and musician, resides between San Diego, CA and Baltimore, MD. She has attained a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music Performance, a…

I discuss some characteristics of the jisei, aka the Japanese death poem, and some reasons this form of poetry is so deeply ingrained in Japanese culture, and provide some insight into what this type of poetry can teach us about life.*****************************************************************************************Email me: marisadellefarfal…

I recently had a great discussion with writer WB Welch about novellas, horror writing, poetry, and how writers can fit writing into a busy schedule and effectively use social media.*****About WB Welch: While she's spent most of her professional career in marketing and customer communications, WB has had many hobbies over the years, including photog…

This episode originally aired on September 06, 2020. I think this question is on a lot of writers’ minds, and it applies to many other areas of our lives.************************************************************************************************************************************************Email me: [email protected]: @mar…

This week, I’m revisiting an topic that I originally discussed in my August 16, 2020 episode. Choosing a title is difficult for many of us (myself included), but there are a number of ways we can make this process easier for ourselves.*******************************************************************************************************************…

I originally covered impostor syndrome in my August 2, 2020, episode, but since it’s something many of us (writers & non-writers alike) deal with, I thought it would be a good one to revisit.************************************************************Email: [email protected]: https://twitter.com/marisadee13Instagram: www.instagra…

This episode originally aired on December 15, 2019. I feel I’ve come a long way as a podcaster since then, but my attitude toward self-promotion hasn’t changed. *****************************************************************************************Email: [email protected]: https://twitter.com/marisadee13Instagram: www.instagram…

In this week's episode, I provide an edited version of a Patreon-only episode that aired several months ago, on what I think it means for writers to be "good with words." Also, I signed up for Camp NaNoWriMo, and will be focusing on that during the month of July. If you'd also like to do Camp NaNoWriMo, you can learn more about it and sign up here:…

No matter what your book is about or how well-written it is, the blurb on the front cover or product page can make or break it. I discuss why blurbs are so important for writers, and (because writing good blurbs CAN be intimidating!) provide tips on writing them. **************************************************************************************…

I discuss why writers use beta readers for their works-in-progress, and describe some things writers should look out for in searching for beta readers. ***************************************************************************************** Email: [email protected] Twitter: https://twitter.com/marisadee13 Instagram: www.instagram.com/m…

Although they don't seem to get as much attention as novels and short stories, I believe novellas can stand on their own as great literary works. I discuss some unique characteristics of novellas and types of novellas, and explain some benefits of reading them...and crafting your own. ****************************************************************…

Although proofreading and copy-editing are not the most glamorous aspects of writing, I believe it's crucial for writers (self-published or not) to be able to proofread and copy-edit their works. I explain why I feel this way, and provide some ways you can start to develop these skills.***************************************************************…

I recently spoke to Daniela Valenti about writing a series of paranormal romance novels and creating strong female protagonists, as well as doing publicity for her book, submitting to reviewers, how writers can utilize social media, and a number of other topics.****************************************************************************************…

You may think of songs when you hear the word "ballad"--and you would not be incorrect--but there's more to ballads than meets the ear. I explain the ballad form, and briefly describe the ballad's history and several categories of ballads. ***************************************************************************************** Email: marisadellefa…

This is an edited version of an episode I originally posted on Patreon in January 2021. In it, I explain why I think periodically offering your eBook for free is a good option for writers who are enrolled in Amazon KDP (or for those who may one day publish through KDP).********************************************************************************…

I discuss the structure of limericks, provide some examples, and explain why dismissing them as "amateurish" is a mistake. ***************************************************************************************** Email: [email protected] Twitter: https://twitter.com/marisadee13 Instagram: www.instagram.com/marisadf13 Buy Me a Coffee: ww…

"The Lottery" is one of the best-known (and most shocking) short stories of the past century. I discuss some techniques Shirley Jackson used in crafting this groundbreakingly twisted work. **************************************************************************************** Email: [email protected] Twitter: https://twitter.com/marisa…

I explain why I'm writing the current draft of my work in progress by hand, and discuss some additional benefits of writing the "old-fashioned" way. ********************************************************************************************************** I have a Patreon page now! www.patreon.com/marisadf Email: [email protected] Twitt…

I describe vignettes and some of their main characteristics, differentiate them from flashbacks and flash fiction, and explain why I believe they are so important. ********************************************************************************************************** I have a Patreon page now! www.patreon.com/marisadf Email: marisadellefarfalle@…

Camp NaNoWriMo is going on right now, and there's another one coming up in July. I discuss some ways it's different from NaNoWriMo in November, and explain why you and other writers you know may benefit from it. For more information on all things NaNoWriMo-related, check out this link: https://nanowrimo.org/what-is-camp-nanowrimo ******************…

In addition to being the title of a much-discussed movie in the mid-1990s, "pulp" fiction was a type of literature that was popular in the early 20th century. I discuss some of its unique characteristics and explain why its influence is still felt in the work of many contemporary writers. ************************************************************…

I mentioned stream of consciousness in passing during last week's discussion of Modernist and Postmodernist literature. This week, I describe this technique in more detail, and explain how it can work well in both fiction and nonfiction writing. ********************************************************************************************************…

There's SO much that can be said about Modernist and Postmodernist Lit! I briefly attempt to describe the circumstances under which both originated, and some techniques writers who fall into these categories use. ********************************************************************************************************** I have a Patreon page now! www…

I believe a main character (aka, "MC") needs strong secondary characters to grow and remain compelling to readers. In this episode, I explain why secondary characters are so important, and describe different types of secondary characters. ********************************************************************************************************** I ha…

You may have seen questions on social media asking about your main character's (aka "MC") background, favorite things, hopes and dreams, etc. I explain how much of this stuff I think you really need to know. ********************************************************************************************************** I have a Patreon page now! www.patr…

“The camel is old—horribly, mustily old—and it is difficult to conceive that it has ever been anything else.”By Richard Crowest

I recently spoke to Brooke Knisley about writing (and teaching writing), freelancing, and a number of other interesting topics. ********************************************************************************************************** About Brooke: Brooke Knisley is a disabled writer and writing instructor whose work has appeared in Vulture, Playbo…

I continue my examination of U.S. Copyright Law by focusing on fair use, which is described by the U.S. Copyright Office as "a legal doctrine that promotes freedom of expression by permitting the unlicensed use of copyright-protected works in certain circumstances." ***********************************************************************************…

It is extremely important that creators of original works (including writers!) know about copyright law. In this intro to U.S. copyright law, I provide examples of what's copyrightable and what isn't, describe the exclusive rights of copyright holders, explain copyright duration and public domain, and discuss registration, deposit, and notice of co…

To expand upon what I discussed in last week's episode, the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution places limitations on certain types of speech. Another type of speech that is not protected is defamation--in particular (for writers, anyway), libel. I discuss the elements needed for a defamation suit, distinguish between public and private figure…

We've been hearing a lot lately about the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution...but let's face, it, the First Amendment is never not relevant, so all kinds of writers should have some understanding of what is and isn't protected under it. However, it is also frequently misunderstood, so in this episode, I provide basic information on the "free…

I recently spoke to writer Matthew Broberg-Moffitt about a number of topics, including his current projects (several children's books and a cookbook), finding an agent, #pitmad on Twitter, and sensitivity readers. ********************************************************************************************** About Matthew: Matthew Broberg-Moffitt is…

On one of the most, umm, eventful evenings in recent history, I spoke to Cassandra L. Thompson about gothic literature, founding a publishing house, and a number of other topics. About Cassandra: Cassandra L. Thompson has been creating stories since she got her grubby little hands around a pen. When she is not busy managing a house full of feral ch…

I discuss Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.'s 1985 essay, "How to Write with Style." *********************************************************************************************** I have a Patreon page now! www.patreon.com/marisadf Email: [email protected] Twitter: @marisadee13 Instagram: www.instagram.com/marisadf13 I'd also really appreciate it if …

I've been wanting to do an episode on fanfic since I started this podcast. My recent rediscovery of the long-gone (but not forgotten) series Carnivale made me realize I couldn't put it off any longer. However, this is just a quick look at the world of fanfic; lots more can be said, so I hope to explore this topic more in a future episode. *********…

Tim Baughman, Jr., returns to discuss his upcoming novel, Kotov Syndrome, his NaNoWriMo 2020 experience, what it's like to do a Twitter-based Choose-Your-Own-Adventure story, and more! **************************************************************************************************************************************************** About Tim: Tim B…

In this Season 2 premiere, I share some of what I learned from participating in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) last month. If you'd like to try your hand at NaNoWriMo 2021, please check out this link: https://nanowrimo.org *********************************************************************************************************************…

In this Season 1 finale, I provide a brief overview of horror fiction. I discuss the three main types of horror (according to Stephen King), and provide tips for would-be horror writers to keep in mind. ************************************************************************************************************************************************* E…

I had a great interview via Zoom with Jon Aaron Sandler several nights ago...enjoy!!!!! ************************************************************************************************************************************************** About Jon: Jon Aaron Sandler is a writer and performer based out of Toronto. You can find all his work at jonaarons…