Afleveringen
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How do you know when your piece is done? I am often asked this question and there are no clear answers. After months of writing and revising how do you know your book, essay, and articles are solid and ready to send to editors?
In this episode we discuss the signs to watch for that indicate you have reached The End--part intuition, part copy blindness, and even some satisfaction--and the practices you need to perform before sending out the final document.
For more on this topic, the writer's craft, and crafting a writer's life join our Simply Write community at https://simplywrite.substack.com where Simply Paid, Subscriber Perks members receive bonuses including tip sheets and feedback.
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Working with an experienced agent can help a writer improve their books and get them published, but before signing with an agent, you need to have a Big Idea, clear title concept, and other key elements, in your work and pitch, that will make your book an "easy get," says renowned agent and author Lucinda Halpern.In this episode, Halpern goes deep into what agents want and how writers can not only create fantastic work but then put their business hats on to connect with an agent and sell their manuscripts.Halpern is a literary agent with over 15 years experience, and the founder of Lucinda Literary, based in New York. She's worked in publicity for HarperCollins, and has worked with all major publishers, including Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, Macmillan, Hachette, and Scholastic, representing New York Times and internationally best-selling authors in the categories of business, personal growth, psychology, narrative nonfiction, and upmarket fiction. Her classes and coaching programs have been taught to hundreds of writers worldwide, and became the inspiration for Get Signed: Find an Agent, Land a Book Deal, and Become a Published Author (Hay House/Penguin Random House; February 2024). Learn more at getsignedbook.com or lucindaliterary.com and follow Lucinda Halpern on Instagram and Twitter.Go to GetSigned book.com/bonuses to receive a free gift that Lucinda is offering to Simply Write w/Polly listeners and for more join our Simply Write community.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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We can be a neurotic bunch of writers irritated when we feel blocked, euphoric when the writing comes, worrying about if we are good enough, internalizing comments and criticism, stressing about every word and detail trying to work up the nerve to hit "send" and release the work to the world. But this anxiety can keep us from writing and diminish the quality of our work. Plus, it isn't a whole lot of fun. In this episode, we talk about how anxiety can block writers and what we can do to overcome it and keep writing.
For more on the writing craft and crafting a writer's life become part of our Simply Write community at https://simplywrite.substack.com and join the Simply, Paid Subscriber Perks program for early offers, craft tip sheets, writing assignments, and other bonus material.
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Most writers manage multiple projects and roles while also carving out time to write. Part of creating a sustainable writing career is to figure out ways to pay the bills and hone the craft. Writer and coach An Ly-Tampere coaches book coaches and talks about creating this niche within a writing career, how to combine the entrepreneurial spirit with creative work, and what writers can expect when looking for a coach. But beyond that, she says, the best coaches will have coaches themselves so that they can understand the writing business, how to inspire creativity and motivation, and other ways to help writers elevate their careers.
For more on An Ly's work and coaching go to https://anlytampere.com/blog/
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Hello Writers, today we are replaying one of our most popular episodes about focus and form. The tips we include can help you find the direction of your work and make it easier to write. Hope you find it valuable and tune in next week, for an all-new episode. Thanks for listening.
The clearer you are about the story you want to tell and where the clearer your writing will be and that's good for you and the readers.
For more on the writing craft and crafting a writer's life join the Simply Write community and become a member of the Simply Paid Subscriber Perks program for tip sheets, writing prompts, and assignments--with feedback, and all kinds of other fun stuff. Go to https://simplywrite.substack.com
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The author of "A Kiss in Kashmir" and other novels, short stories, and cookbooks, Monica Saigal talks about her heritage of food and stories and how those elements are central to her writing.
Food has a kind of intimacy, she says, because we experience it with all of our senses. To bring that experience alive on the page, she layers in those sensory details, creating a textured world for the reader so that they too become immersed in the story.
This episode is a masterclass in descriptive writing and world-building.
Learn more about Monica Saigal and work with her at https://monicabhide.com/meet-monica/
Join our Simply Write community and become a member of the Simply Paid Subscriber Perks program to receive tips sheets, writing prompts and assignments with feedback, and other perks at https://simplywrite.substack.com
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Are those inner voices getting oloud inyour head, or you having problems finding the time or getting stuck in which idea to choose? Yep, these situations diffuse our motivation, keep us anxious and make it hard for us to finish our writing.
In today's episode we get into each one and offer solutions that will help you get started and keep going.
And don't forget to join our Simply Write community and Simply Paid Subscribers Perks program for tip sheets, craft discussions, and even writing prompts and feedback at https://simplywrite.substack.com
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The key to writing a book, working full-time, and keeping up with friends, family, and other activities is flexibility, says author, pharmacist, and triathlete Miffie Seideman. In this episode we talk about the importance of getting your facts right, research, staying grounded, and the importance of Plan Bs and 5
Find Miffie Seideman and her book "The Grim Reader: A Pharmacist's Guide to Putting Your Characters in Peril" here: https://miffieseideman.com/books/
Join our Simply Write community and become a member of the Simply, Paid Subscriber Perks program to receive access to tips sheets, writing assignments, feedback on your work, and more here: https://miffieseideman.com/books/.
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It's time to send out your work, it's part of your job--writers write and share their work. Yet, no matter how many thousands of times I've done that over the years it always feels a little scary.
Getting notes or negative feedback isn't easy, but giving and receiving it is essential to becoming a better writer and improving your work. It is also part of the publishing process.
In this show we talk about the Feedback Loop, how to ask for it, what to do with it, and how to use it in your work. Then we also discuss how to give feedback to help other writers.
Want to know more about beta readers, how to deal with comments on your work, and more? Tune in here and join the Simply Write
community at https://simplywrite.substack.com
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Sandra Gurvis hasn't run off to the circus, but she did write about the evolution of the Greatest Show on Earth in her historical nonfiction book Three Ringling Circus: A History of Sarasota, Florida, and the Famous Ringling Brothers It's one of nearly 20 books Gurvis haws written over her long freelance career. Today she talks about the importance of a cornerstone client, writing both fiction and nonfiction, and how to manage loads of research even when it's conflicting.
Contact Sandra Gurvis here: https://www.sandragurvis.com/
Join our Simply Write community and become a paid subscriber to begin receiving perks at https://simplywrite.substack.com
Thanks for listening.
Now sit down and Simply, Write.
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Writers can suffer from aching backs, carpal tunnel, stiff necks, cognitive issues, and chronic illnesses, that make it impossible to write. Remember to take care of your brain and body so you are able to do the work you want to do.
Start by staying hydrated, sitting in a good chair, and taking breaks, and be sure to tune in to Simply Write w/Polly Campbell for more tips and tricks to keep your body, brain, and business healthy.
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Author Laura Heffernan made her way by writing romance and then shifted to add multiple cozy mysteries to her repertoire. This prolific writer talks about writing romances, cozy mysteries under a pseudonym, and publishing three books a year.
Find Laura Heffernan at https:lauraheffernan.com
For more on the writing craft and crafting a writer's life join the Simply Write community at https://simplywrite.substack.com
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A writing niche can make researching, interviewing, and even writing more efficient and leave you more time to write. In this episode, Polly Campbell explains how to find your niche and why it makes the writer's life easier.
Get in touch with Polly and join the Simply Write community https://simplywrite.substack.com
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Last time thriller writer Tara Laskowski was here she was working on her book The Weekend Retreat. The book is now available and Tara returns to tell us what it was like to write the book under contract and on deadline, why she decided to toss out the original story--tears may or may not have been involved-- and what she's been up to since the book's publication.
For more join Polly and the Simply Write community at https://SimplyWrite.substack.com
Find Tara Laskowski here: https://taralaskowski.com and her new book The Weekend Retreat is available wherever you buy books.
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Whether you are writing nonfiction essays or books or novels and short stories, the most compelling pieces include emotional resonance. As readers, we are often sucked in by the feelings our characters are experiencing. We want to follow them through the story to see what happens next and the unique ways they experience and express their fear, joy, sadness, love. Our characters' emotions provide conflict and tension and reveal who they are. And as in life, the emotions on the page, often motivate a range of behavior.
But writing big emotions can be fraught because we've got to imagine, or feel them ourselves. In this episode, we explore the importance of allowing the people in your stories to express their big feelings and the techniques we can use to make them universal and unique. It's not enough to say your character is scared, you've got to show us what that looks like so we can feel it too.
This episode will offer some tips to do just that and also explain why there are some pieces we should put on hold until we have time to process the emotional moments before we write about them.
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From the comfort of a recliner Rachael Herron writes about her obsessions, whatever the thing is that has captured her interest, the thing that she's thinking about when she can't fall asleep--and then she gets down to the writing business working on deadlines, revisions, her podcast or classes that are coming up.
Herron who produces her podcast Ink In Your Veins and has traditionally and self-published a range of fiction and nonfiction books, says she is "highly distractible" so she puts boundaries or "guardrails" in place so she can get the writing done each day. And while she has always wanted to be a writer, 99 percent of the time while she is writing she says she feels like a fraud or a terrible writer. Now she recognizes that this feeling is normal, it's part of the process, and that has helped her become comfortable in those feelings of discomfort that many writers experience.
For more, listen to this fantastic conversation with Rachael Herron and go to https://rachaelherron.com to learn more about her work and podcast Ink In Your Veins.
For more about our interview, and crafting a writer's life and join our Simply Write community at https://simplywrite.substack.com.
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You might be able to work in your pajamas, but creating freelance writing success or securing an agent and publishing deal often comes down to much more than your ability to write. You've got to act like a professional.
In this episode Polly talks about what it means to be a professional writer, including the importance of meeting deadlines, getting work in on time, meeting editorial market requirements, and taking notes in a way that will have editors coming back to work with you.
Professional writing is about being coachable, emotionally intelligent, and recognizing what your job is. Tune in to learn more about what makes someone a sought-after writer so that you can become one yourself.
For more on the other qualities editors, agents and publishers look for in a writer, join our Simply Write community at https://simplywrite.substack.com
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Don't be afraid to take a risk, says James Beard-winning food writer and author Danielle Centoni. "If you believe you can do the job do anything you can to prove to that person that you can."
Centoni, a food writer with a background in journalism and the co-author of Oregon Wine + Food and other books had a love for cooking and food and created an opportunity for herself when the newspaper she worked with was hiring for the foods section. After her newspaper experience, Centoni started writing cookbooks, and talks about what it's like to see her book used in a stranger's kitchen and why writing a book is a gratifying, labor of love. And by the time her recipes make it in the cookbook, she says it's got to be something she would make again and it must be "excellent."
"Do what you want with it," Centoni says about the recipes she develops in her cookbooks, "Put your own spin on it. You know whatever you want to do make it the thing that you love and come back to, like, that makes me so happy."
Get in touch with @DCentoni on Instagram.
Get in touch with Polly Campbell at https://simplywrite.substack.com and learn more about the writer's life, and how to develop a writing practice that
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Writer's Retreat for One
Producing on deadline is exhausting and a necessary part of the writer's work. Whether you are writing to publish or writing between breaks from your other job, between your child's school hours, or even early in the morning before the others in the house wake and you have to head out the door.
Yes, we have learned how to write in slivers of time. But the work deserves more and so do we.
Plan a writer's retreat for one. Whether it's a couple of days at the beach or a couple of hours on a Wednesday morning in a room in your house where you can go deep into a single project and work undisturbed and undistracted (put that phone away) setting longer blocks of time away to write is an important way to develop better work and feel better while writing.
For more on creating space to write and the ups and downs of publishing your work, join on Simply Write community at https://simplywrite.substack.com
You'll be better for it and so will the work.
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Though Amy Stewart author of the Drunken Botanist, the Kopp Sisters historical fiction series, and many others, has wanted to be a writer since she was a kid, that doesn't matter one bit, she says. We change throughout our lives, whether you wanted to write early or are coming to it now, writing is accessible to anyone. Writing, like her urban sketching and artwork she creates, is about practice, learning the skills, and processes that help you improve and get the world done. It's also important that writers stay well. Writing, sitting at the desk typing, can hurt the body over time. In this wide-ranging interview, Stewart explains her writing process, and why she isn't an early morning or late-night writer.
To learn more about author Amy Stewart and take her classes go to https://amystewart.com
Her newest book, The Tree Collectors which she both wrote and illustrated, is set for a July, 2024 release.
And connect with Polly and join our Simply Write community at https://simplywrite.substanc.com
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