I Need a Hero: Writing an Active Protagonist
Character, Objective, Stakes, Novel Draft, Novel Editing, Picture Book Draft, Picture Book Editing, ER/CB Draft, ER/CB Editing Michal Leah Character, Objective, Stakes, Novel Draft, Novel Editing, Picture Book Draft, Picture Book Editing, ER/CB Draft, ER/CB Editing Michal Leah

I Need a Hero: Writing an Active Protagonist

An active protagonist drives the story. Meaning? Your main character should want specific outcomes and fight for them. That’s where the conflict in the story comes from: everything that fights back. For tips on activating the hero of your story, read on.

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Writing Young Adult Characters
Writing, Character, Audience, Novel Draft, ER/CB Draft, Novel Editing, ER/CB Editing Mary Kole Writing, Character, Audience, Novel Draft, ER/CB Draft, Novel Editing, ER/CB Editing Mary Kole

Writing Young Adult Characters

Young adult characters are incredibly dynamic. Their worlds are bigger, larger than life. There's always something behind any big feelings in middle grade and young adult that fosters a relationship between the character and the audience. And that is super crucial in the young adult genre.

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Episode 7: Jessica Brody, Author and Writing Teacher
Writing, Craft, Character, ER/CB Outline, Novel Outline, Picture Book Outline, Freelance Outline, Nonfiction Outline, Novel Draft, Memoir Draft, ER/CB Draft, Freelance Draft, Nonfiction Draft, Picture Book Draft, Memoir Outline Mary Kole Writing, Craft, Character, ER/CB Outline, Novel Outline, Picture Book Outline, Freelance Outline, Nonfiction Outline, Novel Draft, Memoir Draft, ER/CB Draft, Freelance Draft, Nonfiction Draft, Picture Book Draft, Memoir Outline Mary Kole

Episode 7: Jessica Brody, Author and Writing Teacher

An interview with author and writing teacher Jessica Brody, where we discuss what makes a compelling story, how to apply story structure whether you're a plotter or pantser, and tackling large-scale revisions without ripping your hair out.

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Writing Your Debut Novel with Benjamin Roesch
Writing, Craft, Character, Revision + Editing, Novel Publishing, Novel Editing, Novel Submission, Short Story Editing, Short Story Publishing, Novel Draft, Short Story Draft Mary Kole Writing, Craft, Character, Revision + Editing, Novel Publishing, Novel Editing, Novel Submission, Short Story Editing, Short Story Publishing, Novel Draft, Short Story Draft Mary Kole

Writing Your Debut Novel with Benjamin Roesch

Benjamin Roesch joins us to talk about his debut novel—but not his first novel—published with LGBTQ+ young adult indie publisher Deep Hearts. We talk about turning short stories into a novel, coming of age fiction, and being an older debut writer.

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Episode 32: J.C. Geiger, YA Author & Mixtape Creator
Marketing, Craft, Writing, Character, Novel Draft, Novel Editing, Novel Idea, Novel Outline, Novel Publishing, ER/CB Draft, ER/CB Editing, ER/CB Outline, ER/CB Idea, ER/CB Submission, ER/CB Publishing, Nonfiction Draft, Nonfiction Editing, Nonfiction Idea, Nonfiction Outline, Nonfiction Publishing, Nonfiction Submission Mary Kole Marketing, Craft, Writing, Character, Novel Draft, Novel Editing, Novel Idea, Novel Outline, Novel Publishing, ER/CB Draft, ER/CB Editing, ER/CB Outline, ER/CB Idea, ER/CB Submission, ER/CB Publishing, Nonfiction Draft, Nonfiction Editing, Nonfiction Idea, Nonfiction Outline, Nonfiction Publishing, Nonfiction Submission Mary Kole

Episode 32: J.C. Geiger, YA Author & Mixtape Creator

Tune in for a chat with Mary Kole's long-time friend in the children's publishing space, YA Author J.C. Geiger. He tells all about how he made an epic mixtape with music no one's heard before (and met his heroes in the process), and talks about writing young adult characters, the future of post-pandemic fiction, and—of course—the power of music.

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The Writing Journey with Leslie C. Youngblood
Writing, Craft, Character, Freelance Publishing, Novel Publishing, Novel Draft, Novel Idea, Freelance Draft, Freelance Idea, ER/CB Draft, ER/CB Publishing, ER/CB Idea, ER/CB Outline, Memoir Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing Mary Kole Writing, Craft, Character, Freelance Publishing, Novel Publishing, Novel Draft, Novel Idea, Freelance Draft, Freelance Idea, ER/CB Draft, ER/CB Publishing, ER/CB Idea, ER/CB Outline, Memoir Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing Mary Kole

The Writing Journey with Leslie C. Youngblood

Author and former assistant professor of creative writing Leslie C. Youngblood joins Mary Kole on the Good Story Podcast. She shares her journey through her MFA program, gives tips on crafting interesting character relationships, and weighs in on one of the hottest questions for authors today: traditional or self-publishing?

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The Core of a Story with Roz Morris
Writing, Character, Audience, Craft, Novel Idea, Novel Draft, Novel Publishing, Novel Outline, Novel Editing, Memoir Draft, Memoir Editing, Memoir Publishing, Memoir Idea, Freelance Draft, Freelance Idea, Freelance Publishing, Nonfiction Idea, Picture Book Idea, Short Story Idea, Memoir Outline Mary Kole Writing, Character, Audience, Craft, Novel Idea, Novel Draft, Novel Publishing, Novel Outline, Novel Editing, Memoir Draft, Memoir Editing, Memoir Publishing, Memoir Idea, Freelance Draft, Freelance Idea, Freelance Publishing, Nonfiction Idea, Picture Book Idea, Short Story Idea, Memoir Outline Mary Kole

The Core of a Story with Roz Morris

Writer, writing teacher, ghost writer, and general literary icon Roz Morris joins Mary Kole for an interview on the Good Story Speaker Series. They dive into the mechanics of storytelling and discuss how to connect with your audience—whether you're writing someone else's story or your telling your own.

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