Our mindsets can often hold us back in life more than we think. Self-doubt, anxiety, imposter syndrome…the list goes on. In this open, honest podcast, bestselling author Kristina Adams, and upcoming author Ellie Betts, share the highs and lows of their writing lives alongside interviews with authors, marketers, and content creators.  You’ll finish each episode feeling inspired, uplifted, and ready to get writing. Formerly called The Writer&#39;s Cookbook podcast (and still part of The Writer&#39;s Cookbook network).

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2023/4/27/18/d70812db-16b3-454e-abe4-a298ffdf4eef_ghosties_live.m4a

We recently went live over on YouTube to talk all things ghost-story writing with Matty Dalrymple, from The Indy Author, and Daniel Willcocks, from Activated Authors. Here&#39;s the recording from the live.If you&#39;d prefer to watch it, you can find a recording of the stream here: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ax5GPypvkyo" rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ax5GPypvkyo</a>

Writing Ghost Stories (with The Indy Author's Matty Dalrymple and Activated Author's Daniel Willcocks)

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2022/12/13/11/3f4d8174-cf6d-4424-be5b-67d1d77cd669_hiatus_v2.mp3

It’s time for a very important announcement! Productivity for Writers: <a href="https://amzn.to/3Yie2zq" rel="nofollow">https://amzn.to/3Yie2zq</a> *Writing Myths: <a href="https://amzn.to/3VXeSQG" rel="nofollow">https://amzn.to/3VXeSQG</a> *How to Write Believable Characters: <a href="https://amzn.to/3VTr2df" rel="nofollow">https://amzn.to/3VTr2df</a> * Backstory course: <a href="http://www.writerscookbook.com/backstory" rel="nofollow">www.writerscookbook.com/backstory</a> Merch: <a href="http://www.writerscookbook.com/merch" rel="nofollow">www.writerscookbook.com/merch</a> Chatter – Ethan Kross: <a href="https://amzn.to/3FrPxqX" rel="nofollow">https://amzn.to/3FrPxqX</a> * Kristina’s author website: <a href="http://www.kristinaadamsauthor.com/" rel="nofollow">www.kristinaadamsauthor.com</a>Kristina’s content marketing website: <a href="http://www.kristinaproffitt.com/" rel="nofollow">www.kristinaproffitt.com</a>Kristina’s blog: <a href="http://www.writerscookbook.com/" rel="nofollow">www.writerscookbook.com</a> Ellie’s Twitter: <a href="https://www.twitter.com/ebettswriter" rel="nofollow">www.twitter.com/ebettswriter</a> *Affiliate link

Self-care, energy levels, and looking ahead

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2022/12/13/11/faf58f95-725c-4b45-819d-03a53767fb55_s6_intro_outro_bloopers.mp3

As you’ve probably noticed, we’re trying to make things easier for ourselves by using a pre-recorded intro/outro. Turns out that recording that was easier said than done. Here’s what happened behind the scenes…

Just 4 Mins of us Not Being Able to Speak, Read Our Own Scripts, or Get Zoom to Behave...

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2022/12/3/23/8c13dc45-4e59-4562-97ea-8de6da5e7470_s6_bloopers.mp3

Basically a compilation of all the times we couldn&#39;t speak or got interrupted while recording season 6.

Blunders, Bumbles, and Bloopers

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2022/11/5/23/7f3eb197-74c2-41a8-ba3f-a5ecb7d1717a_gail_-_analytics_for_authors__full_.mp3

Gail Carriger has multiple NYT bestsellers and over a million books in print in dozens of different languages. She writes comedies of manners mixed with urban fantasy (and sexy queer joy as G. L. Carriger). She is best known for the Parasol Protectorate and Finishing School series. She was once an archaeologist and is fond of shoes, octopuses, and tea.In this episode, you&#39;ll learn:<ul><li>Why analytics for authors are so important</li><li>What you should be tracking</li><li>Where to get your data from</li><li>How data helps you make better decision</li></ul><h3>Links</h3><ul><li><a href="https://gailcarriger.com/" rel="nofollow">Gail Carriger&#39;s website</a></li><li><a href="http://gailcarriger.com/redirection" rel="nofollow">Gail&#39;s redirection post</a></li></ul>

Analytics for Authors (Full Interview with Gail Carriger)

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2022/11/21/21/2aa0c9e3-cae2-41b3-a54d-85881c584457_climax_v2.mp3

It&#39;s easy to lose momentum as you write, spending all your energy on your beginning and fizzling out as you push yourself to finish your book. But your climax is one of the most important parts of your book. Here&#39;s how to make sure your ending is epic.In this episode, you&#39;ll learn:<ul><li>How a bad (or no) climax can make your readers feel</li><li>Why your book doesn&#39;t have to have lots of twists to have a great ending</li><li>The importance of triggering an emotional reaction in your readers</li></ul>

Don't Forget Your Climax! How to Write Epic Endings

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2022/11/5/22/9070d156-e7ed-4ae4-a57e-f8b191a22eec_ensemble_cast.mp3

This week on The Writer&#39;s Mindset we share tips on how you can create a large, diverse cast of characters your readers will love just as much as you do.In this episode, you&#39;ll learn:<ul><li>Why it&#39;s important to have a diverse cast</li><li>Ways to bring your characters to life</li></ul>

How to Create a Large, Diverse Cast Your Readers Will Love

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2022/11/13/18/16db2547-b630-4ba4-b9a6-da9c2c034608_course_ad.mp3

Visit www.writerscookbook.com/backstory today to grab your spot

How to Get to Know Your Characters Better

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2022/11/5/23/570a1493-dcfb-42b1-91c7-00c99c630df2_issa_gosling_-_writing_habits_and_productivity.mp3

Clarissa has always lived more in the world of daydream and fiction than in reality. In her writing she explores purpose and belonging across worlds. Having never found an actual portal to faeryland, she creates her own fantastical worlds where dragons, fae and other magical creatures rule.She now lives in the Netherlands with her family, where she writes as much as they will let her. When not reading or writing, she drinks too much tea and has a burgeoning obsession with Bundt cakes.Clarissa is the author of the &#34;Dragons of Kaitstud&#34; and &#34;Lost Princess of Starlight&#34; YA fantasy series, and the &#34;Expat Life&#34; series of non-fiction guides for families moving, and living, abroad.She is an admin for the 365 Writing Challenge, an international group that supports people to build the habit of writing. And she is one of the co-hosts of the Reading Queens podcast, which discusses mainly young adult fantasy books and their major tropes.In this episode, you&#39;ll learn:<ul><li>Why accountability can be a great motivational tool</li><li>The downsides to NaNoWriMo</li><li>Ideas for flexible writing habits you could try</li></ul> Links<ul><li><a href="https://www.clarissagosling.com/" rel="nofollow">Clarissa&#39;s website</a></li></ul>

Writing Habits and Accountability (with Clarissa Gosling)

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2022/10/23/13/0f9f306d-f8ac-4a33-ac8a-11487724358e_gail_-_data_part_2.mp3

Part two of our interview with Gail!Gail Carriger has multiple NYT bestsellers and over a million books in print in dozens of different languages. She writes comedies of manners mixed with urban fantasy (and sexy queer joy as G. L. Carriger). She is best known for the Parasol Protectorate and Finishing School series. She was once an archaeologist and is fond of shoes, octopuses, and tea.In this episode, you&#39;ll learn:<ul><li>Why analytics for authors are so important</li><li>What you should be tracking</li><li>Where to get your data from</li><li>How data helps you make better decision</li></ul> Links<ul><li><a href="https://gailcarriger.com/" rel="nofollow">Gail Carriger&#39;s website</a></li><li><a href="http://gailcarriger.com/redirection" rel="nofollow">Gail&#39;s redirection post</a></li></ul> Time stamps<ul><li>00:00 – Intro</li><li>1:53 – Where to start</li><li>14:04 – Blog tours: are they worth it?</li><li>17:38 – Is it ever too late to start?</li><li>20:02 – Don’t carry stats in your head</li><li>30:51 – Which data source changed Gail’s life?</li><li>35:17 – Keep in touch</li></ul>

Analytics for Authors Part 2 (with Gail Carriger)

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2022/10/23/13/16545834-d944-4671-8007-ce8791f8dedd_gail_-_data_part_1.mp3

Part 2 coming next week!Part one of our interview with Gail if you&#39;d prefer to listen to it in two chunks :)Gail Carriger has multiple NYT bestsellers and over a million books in print in dozens of different languages. She writes comedies of manners mixed with urban fantasy (and sexy queer joy as G. L. Carriger). She is best known for the Parasol Protectorate and Finishing School series. She was once an archaeologist and is fond of shoes, octopuses, and tea.In this episode, you&#39;ll learn:<ul><li>Why analytics for authors are so important</li><li>What you should be tracking</li><li>Where to get your data from</li><li>How data helps you make better decision</li></ul><h2> </h2>Links<ul><li><a href="https://gailcarriger.com/" rel="nofollow">Gail Carriger&#39;s website</a></li><li><a href="http://gailcarriger.com/redirection" rel="nofollow">Gail&#39;s redirection post</a></li></ul> Time stamps<ul><li>0:00 – Intro </li><li>4:15 – Why Gail loves data</li><li>6:17 – What should authors be tracking and why?</li><li>13:06 – data sources</li><li>20:17 – Preorder launch tracking</li><li>21:52 – The minimum things you should be tracking</li><li>26:19 – Cosmo crashes the podcast</li><li>27:15 – How data informs career choices</li><li>30:34 – Tools to track </li><li>37:57 – Newsletter sign up tracking</li><li>46:06 – Social media tracking</li></ul>

Analytics for Authors Part 1 (with Gail Carriger)

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2022/10/11/21/cdd9cc12-6fc0-4472-b222-0168979ac01d_shane_millar_-_plotting_2.mp3

Shane Millar is a Fictionary Certified Story Coach and the author of the Write Better Fiction craft guides. He is also the author of the Myth &amp; Magic urban fantasy thriller series (writing as S. W. Millar).Shane holds a BA in journalism and is a member of The Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi). He lives in Buckinghamshire, England.He has taken too many writing courses to count and enjoys reading as much as possible. Shane is obsessed with five things: the writing craft, mythology, personal development, food, and martial arts movies.In this episode, you&#39;ll learn:<ul><li>How to use the 5 senses when plotting</li><li>Why your plot should be flexible</li><li>How much depth your plot really needs</li><li>Why every book is different</li></ul>Links<ul><li>Author Site: <a href="https://swmillar.com/" rel="nofollow">https://swmillar.com</a></li><li>Podcast: <a href="https://www.storytellersfaceoff.com/" rel="nofollow">https://www.storytellersfaceoff.com</a></li><li>Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/swmillarauthor" rel="nofollow">https://www.instagram.com/swmillarauthor</a></li><li>TikTok: <a href="https://https//www.tiktok.com/@swmillarauthor" rel="nofollow">https://https://www.tiktok.com/@swmillarauthor</a></li></ul>

Plotting Made Simple (with Shane Millar)

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2022/10/11/20/1efc36cb-36be-49a8-9ed8-342adcff3c38__-_how_cancer_inspired_her_to_get_published_v2.mp3

Clare grew up in Somerset but has lived most of her adult life in Nottingham, with brief sojourns in four other UK cities.She began her career as a journalist with the Nottingham Post group before working as a press officer and communications manager in the Government Communications Network. She began writing her first novel, Blue Tide Rising, while studying for an MA in Creative Writing at Nottingham Trent University.Blue Tide Rising was published in 2019 by independent publisher Inspired Quill. Clare’s second novel The Strawberry Girl is due out in May 2023.Clare is also a creative writing tutor who runs workshops across Nottinghamshire. For six years She ran Writing for Wellbeing sessions at the Maggie’s Cancer Centre, Nottingham. She currently handles PR and media for Nottinghamshire Hospice.Links:<ul><li><a href="https://clarestevens.com/" rel="nofollow">Clare&#39;s website</a> </li><li><a href="https://twitter.com/ClareWynStevens" rel="nofollow">Clare&#39;s Twitter</a> </li></ul> Books mentioned:<ul><li><a href="https://amzn.to/3ByCFgy" rel="nofollow">Blue Tide Rising - Clare Stevens</a> *</li><li><a href="https://amzn.to/3SkoAdz" rel="nofollow">Feel the Fear and do it Anyway - Susan Jeffers</a> *</li><li><a href="https://amzn.to/3xE6qLV" rel="nofollow">What Happens in New York - Kristina Adams</a> *</li></ul> * Affiliate link

Cancer, Writing, and Motivation (with Clare Stevens)

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2022/10/5/13/dde32408-dbb4-4fc6-9e53-fe46bfb704e4_jeremy_-_writing_and_full_time_job_2.mp3

J. W. Judge is a lawyer by day and a novelist in the early morning hours before the sun wakes all the other creatures. His writing is fueled by vivid dreams and an overactive imagination. He is the author of the dark fantasy trilogy The Zauberi Chronicles and has most recently written a book for writers, Write Your Novel One Day at a Time: How to Write a Novel While Having a Career, a Family, and a Life.

How to Juggle Writing and a Full-Time Job (with J.W. Judge)

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2022/9/2/14/f8cda96e-fb09-4533-ab65-702c3e661c15_becca_syme_-_burnout.mp3

Becca Syme is a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach and holds a Master’s degree in Transformational Leadership. She is the host of the Quitcast for Writers and the teacher of the popular Write Better-Faster class. Becca has coached 5700+ authors using success alignment and predictive reasoning to help authors write and market better-faster. She lives in the mountains of Montana where it is always winter and never Christmas.In this episode, you&#39;ll learn:<ul><li>What author burnout looks like</li><li>Why so many writers go through burnout more than once</li><li>How to avoid burning out - even if you&#39;re on the precipice</li><li>How long it takes to recover from burnout</li></ul>

Author Burnout (with Becca Syme)

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2022/9/20/20/4d217b38-4f76-4d06-a3d8-2f53f3d62c39_matty_-_short_stories_with_shoutout.mp3

Matty Dalrymple podcasts, writes, speaks, and consults on the writing craft and the publishing voyage as The Indy Author. She is the host of THE INDY AUTHOR PODCAST and the author of THE INDY AUTHOR’S GUIDE TO PODCASTING FOR AUTHORS. She is also the co-author, along with Mark Leslie Lefebvre, of TAKING THE SHORT TACK: CREATING INCOME AND CONNECTING WITH READERS USING SHORT FICTION.​Matty is also the author of the Lizzy Ballard Thrillers, beginning with ROCK PAPER SCISSORS; the Ann Kinnear Suspense Novels, beginning with THE SENSE OF DEATH; and the Ann Kinnear Suspense Shorts, including CLOSE THESE EYES. Matty is a member of International Thriller Writers and Sisters in Crime.​Matty lives with her husband, Wade Walton, and their dogs in Chester County, Pennsylvania.In this episode, you&#39;ll learn:<ul><li>How writing short fiction differs from writing novel length works</li><li>Ways to market short fiction</li><li>The business of short fiction</li></ul>Links:<a href="https://www.mattydalrymple.com/" rel="nofollow">Matty&#39;s website</a> <a href="https://www.theindyauthor.com/" rel="nofollow">The Indy Author podcast</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyGBAt4OKFg7I6GjOoz98mh6LLxMmBdFA" rel="nofollow">Stark Reflections on Publishing</a> Books discussed:<ul><li><a href="https://amzn.to/3PH7LYm" rel="nofollow">Taking the Short Tack - Matty Dalrymple and Mark Leslie Lefebvre</a> *</li><li><a href="https://amzn.to/3Ki0kGg" rel="nofollow">Anne Kinnear Suspense Shorts - Matty Dalrymple</a> *</li><li><a href="https://amzn.to/3dNyZPZ" rel="nofollow">Anne Kinnear Suspense Novels - Matty Dalrymple</a> *</li><li><a href="https://amzn.to/3QE30jV" rel="nofollow">Lizzy Ballard Thrillers - Matty Dalrymple</a> *</li></ul>*Affiliate link

Writing and Publishing Short Stories (with Matty Dalrymple)

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2022/8/16/21/370b227c-4bd0-46c7-9420-b26666a76c00_l_l_macrae_-_multiple_streams_of_income.mp3

Lauren is a fantasy author of character-driven stories and epic adventure. Her books usually contain dragons, bucket-loads of magic, and are typically fun and hopeful.She lives in a tiny village in the English countryside, has a degree in Psychology, and was a professional copywriter before going full-time as an author—swapping corporate copy for magic and dragons!In this episode, you&#39;ll learn:<ul><li>How in-person events can benefit writers</li><li>The different ways to monetise your books</li><li>How to build a fanbase</li></ul>

Managing Multiple Streams of Income (with L.L. MacRae)

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2022/8/16/21/4e1baf0b-122e-4c43-880f-f64aa41ce48c_jeff_elkins_-_dialogue-centric_first_drafts.mp3

Jeff Elkins writes stories about outsiders who fight for outcasts, rejects, and the oppressed. He is the author of more than ten novels, a Certified Three Story Method Editor, and the host of the Dialogue Doctor podcast. During the day, he leads the writing team for a training company that simulates difficult conversations. He lives north of Baltimore, Maryland with his wife of twenty-years and his five kids.In this episode, you&#39;ll learn:<ul><li>The benefits of writing a dialogue-centric first draft</li><li>How to add more emotion into your writing</li><li>Why character interaction is so important</li><li>How to write a dialogue-centric first draft</li></ul>

Writing Dialogue-Centric First Drafts (with Jeff Elkins)

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2022/8/23/14/2f2498da-5f66-43a6-bc63-1713037bf90a_roundtable_-_first_book_lessons.mp3

In our first episode of season six, we bring back past guests Elizabeth Spann Craig, Alexa Whitewolf, Matty Dalrymple, and Daniel Willcocks to ask them what they wish they&#39;d known before they published their first book.

Things You Should Know Before You Publish Your First Book

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2022/7/24/12/d9ac1d46-c726-4a82-93a3-ea476ca8ce6c_august_22_filler_-_theme.mp3

To tide you over during the summer, we&#39;ve put together compilations of some of the best bits from previous interviews. This week, we share our guests&#39; top tips on characters and theme.

Interview Compilation - Characters and Theme

Inspiration and motivation for writers

Our mindsets can often hold us back in life more than we think. Self-doubt, anxiety, imposter syndrome…the list goes on. In this open, honest podcast, bestselling author Kristina Adams, and upcoming author Ellie Betts, share the highs and lows of their writing lives alongside interviews with authors, marketers, and content creators. 

You’ll finish each episode feeling inspired, uplifted, and ready to get writing.

Formerly called The Writer's Cookbook podcast (and still part of The Writer's Cookbook network).