Episode 13: Wendelin Van Draanen, MG and YA Author
Marketing, Market, Audience, Novel Publishing, Memoir Publishing, ER/CB Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, ER/CB Draft, Freelance Draft, Memoir Draft, Nonfiction Draft, Novel Draft, ER/CB Submission, Memoir Submission, Novel Submission Mary Kole Marketing, Market, Audience, Novel Publishing, Memoir Publishing, ER/CB Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, ER/CB Draft, Freelance Draft, Memoir Draft, Nonfiction Draft, Novel Draft, ER/CB Submission, Memoir Submission, Novel Submission Mary Kole

Episode 13: Wendelin Van Draanen, MG and YA Author

An uplifting conversation with author Wendelin Van Draanen, where we discuss the therapeutic nature of writing and the silver lining in a difficult path to publication.

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Writing Under a Pseudonym
Community, Writing, Marketing, Audience, Novel Idea, Freelance Idea, ER/CB Idea, Memoir Idea, Nonfiction Idea, Picture Book Idea, Short Story Idea, ER/CB Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Novel Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Short Story Publishing Guest User Community, Writing, Marketing, Audience, Novel Idea, Freelance Idea, ER/CB Idea, Memoir Idea, Nonfiction Idea, Picture Book Idea, Short Story Idea, ER/CB Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Novel Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Short Story Publishing Guest User

Writing Under a Pseudonym

Many authors write under a pseudonym, also known as a pen name. If you think writing under an alias is in your future, here are some criteria to help you decide. I’ve also got some tips on how best to come up with one.

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Episode 11: Erin Entrada Kelly, Middle Grade Author
Marketing, Market, Audience, Novel Publishing, Novel Draft, Novel Idea, ER/CB Draft, ER/CB Idea, ER/CB Publishing, Nonfiction Draft, Nonfiction Idea, Nonfiction Publishing, Picture Book Idea, Picture Book Draft, Picture Book Publishing Mary Kole Marketing, Market, Audience, Novel Publishing, Novel Draft, Novel Idea, ER/CB Draft, ER/CB Idea, ER/CB Publishing, Nonfiction Draft, Nonfiction Idea, Nonfiction Publishing, Picture Book Idea, Picture Book Draft, Picture Book Publishing Mary Kole

Episode 11: Erin Entrada Kelly, Middle Grade Author

An interview with middle grade author and Newbery medalist Erin Entrada Kelly, where we discuss writing outside your lived experience.

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Marketing Your Book With Emily Enger
Marketing, Market, Audience, Novel Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Memoir Publishing, ER/CB Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Freelance Publishing, ER/CB Idea, Freelance Idea, Memoir Idea, Nonfiction Idea, Novel Idea, Picture Book Idea, Short Story Idea, ER/CB Draft, Freelance Draft, Memoir Draft, Novel Draft, Nonfiction Draft, Short Story Draft, Picture Book Draft Mary Kole Marketing, Market, Audience, Novel Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Memoir Publishing, ER/CB Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Freelance Publishing, ER/CB Idea, Freelance Idea, Memoir Idea, Nonfiction Idea, Novel Idea, Picture Book Idea, Short Story Idea, ER/CB Draft, Freelance Draft, Memoir Draft, Novel Draft, Nonfiction Draft, Short Story Draft, Picture Book Draft Mary Kole

Marketing Your Book With Emily Enger

Book Marketer and PR Coach Emily Enger joins Mary to talk about some of the aspects of the writing process that might leave a yucky taste in our mouths. Tune in for actionable tips and insights into a publicist and marketer's side of the publishing world.

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Episode 10: Brittany Thurman, Picture Book Author
Marketing, Market, Audience, Picture Book Draft, Picture Book Publishing, Picture Book Editing, Picture Book Idea, Picture Book Outline, Picture Book Submission Mary Kole Marketing, Market, Audience, Picture Book Draft, Picture Book Publishing, Picture Book Editing, Picture Book Idea, Picture Book Outline, Picture Book Submission Mary Kole

Episode 10: Brittany Thurman, Picture Book Author

Debut picture book author Brittany Thurman discusses writing about complex issues for a young audience, bias in the publishing industry, and supporting Black writers.

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Episode 35: Gretchen McNeil, YA Horror/Suspense Novelist
Novel Idea, Market, Writing, Craft, Novel Draft, Novel Publishing, Novel Submission Mary Kole Novel Idea, Market, Writing, Craft, Novel Draft, Novel Publishing, Novel Submission Mary Kole

Episode 35: Gretchen McNeil, YA Horror/Suspense Novelist

Dark YA novelist Gretchen McNeil joins Mary in an episode all about recognizing and executing a good story idea. They discuss the shifting young adult book market and embracing diversity, mastering storytelling structure and the importance of shaping the reader's experience, and the controversial subject of IP development.

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Episode 30: Benjamin Roesch, YA/MG Author
Marketing, Market, Audience, Short Story Draft, Short Story Publishing, Short Story Submission, Novel Draft, Novel Idea, Novel Outline, Novel Publishing Mary Kole Marketing, Market, Audience, Short Story Draft, Short Story Publishing, Short Story Submission, Novel Draft, Novel Idea, Novel Outline, Novel Publishing Mary Kole

Episode 30: Benjamin Roesch, YA/MG Author

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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How to End a Chapter
Writing, Craft, Novel Draft, Memoir Draft, Picture Book Draft Mary Kole Writing, Craft, Novel Draft, Memoir Draft, Picture Book Draft Mary Kole

How to End a Chapter

Approaching how to end a chapter is tricky territory. It’s very easy to lose your reader in the white space and page break there, unless you give them a reason to stay and turn the page. Distractions are always beckoning, and nowhere is your grasp on your audience more tenuous. Check out this video to learn how to end your chapters in a compelling way!

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Episode 33: Sara Zarr, YA & Middle Grade Author
Marketing, Market, Audience, Novel Publishing, Freelance Publishing, ER/CB Publishing, Novel Submission Mary Kole Marketing, Market, Audience, Novel Publishing, Freelance Publishing, ER/CB Publishing, Novel Submission Mary Kole

Episode 33: Sara Zarr, YA & Middle Grade Author

Sara Zarr brings insight and personal experiences to surviving the sudden and drastic changes within the YA marketplace, such as the popularization of certain YA genres and how that affects YA authors who specialize outside of those genres.

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Episode 25: Leslie C. Youngblood, Author
Marketing, Market, Audience, Novel Publishing, ER/CB Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Novel Draft, Novel Submission, Novel Editing, Novel Idea, Novel Outline, ER/CB Draft, ER/CB Idea, ER/CB Outline Mary Kole Marketing, Market, Audience, Novel Publishing, ER/CB Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Novel Draft, Novel Submission, Novel Editing, Novel Idea, Novel Outline, ER/CB Draft, ER/CB Idea, ER/CB Outline Mary Kole

Episode 25: Leslie C. Youngblood, Author

Leslie C. Youngblood 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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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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Episode 24: Mindy McGinnis, YA Author
Marketing, Market, Audience, Novel Draft, Novel Editing, Novel Idea, Novel Outline, Novel Publishing, Novel Revision, Novel Submission Mary Kole Marketing, Market, Audience, Novel Draft, Novel Editing, Novel Idea, Novel Outline, Novel Publishing, Novel Revision, Novel Submission Mary Kole

Episode 24: Mindy McGinnis, YA Author

Mindy McGinnis, mystery, suspense, thriller author and dog haver, joins the Good Story Podcast to talk about her upcoming work with James Patterson, shit-shoveling, book snobbery, and showing characters' humanity.

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Moralizing in Books
Craft, Writing, Novel Draft, Picture Book Draft, ER/CB Draft, Nonfiction Draft, Memoir Draft, Freelance Draft, ER/CB Idea, Freelance Idea, Memoir Idea, Nonfiction Idea, Novel Idea, Short Story Idea, Picture Book Idea Mary Kole Craft, Writing, Novel Draft, Picture Book Draft, ER/CB Draft, Nonfiction Draft, Memoir Draft, Freelance Draft, ER/CB Idea, Freelance Idea, Memoir Idea, Nonfiction Idea, Novel Idea, Short Story Idea, Picture Book Idea Mary Kole

Moralizing in Books

Think twice before you moralize in your book. Ditch "sharing is caring!" and go for a more nuanced message. Here's how.

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Episode 18: Patricia Faithfull and Rick Williams, Aspiring Writers
Marketing, Market, Audience, ER/CB Editing, Freelance Editing, ER/CB Draft, Novel Editing, Short Story Editing, Picture Book Editing, Novel Draft Mary Kole Marketing, Market, Audience, ER/CB Editing, Freelance Editing, ER/CB Draft, Novel Editing, Short Story Editing, Picture Book Editing, Novel Draft Mary Kole

Episode 18: Patricia Faithfull and Rick Williams, Aspiring Writers

A conversation about "The Emotion Thesaurus" as well as writing tools in general and whether human input can ever be replaced by tools.

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Episode 20: Rachel Orr, YA and Children's Literary Agent
Marketing, Market, Audience, ER/CB Publishing, Novel Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Short Story Publishing, ER/CB Submission, Novel Submission, Picture Book Submission, Short Story Submission Mary Kole Marketing, Market, Audience, ER/CB Publishing, Novel Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Short Story Publishing, ER/CB Submission, Novel Submission, Picture Book Submission, Short Story Submission Mary Kole

Episode 20: Rachel Orr, YA and Children's Literary Agent

Decades-long agent, Rachel Orr, talks about real life clients as she shares what agents and editors are looking for, what to include in your query letter, and how to challenge the status quo.

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Episode 23: Jonathan Auxier, Writer of Strange Stories for Strange Kids
Marketing, Market, Audience, Novel Draft, Novel Editing, Novel Idea, Novel Outline, Novel Publishing, ER/CB Draft, ER/CB Idea, ER/CB Editing, ER/CB Outline, ER/CB Publishing, ER/CB Submission Mary Kole Marketing, Market, Audience, Novel Draft, Novel Editing, Novel Idea, Novel Outline, Novel Publishing, ER/CB Draft, ER/CB Idea, ER/CB Editing, ER/CB Outline, ER/CB Publishing, ER/CB Submission Mary Kole

Episode 23: Jonathan Auxier, Writer of Strange Stories for Strange Kids

NYT Bestselling young adult and middle-grade author Jonathan Auxier joins Mary Kole to discuss visual writing, worldbuilding, and how different media use dialogue to create action.

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Episode 19: Chuck Sambuchino, Freelance Editor and Publishing Expert
Marketing, Market, Audience, ER/CB Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Novel Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Short Story Publishing, ER/CB Submission, Freelance Submission, Memoir Submission, Nonfiction Submission, Novel Submission, Picture Book Submission, Short Story Submission Mary Kole Marketing, Market, Audience, ER/CB Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Novel Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Short Story Publishing, ER/CB Submission, Freelance Submission, Memoir Submission, Nonfiction Submission, Novel Submission, Picture Book Submission, Short Story Submission Mary Kole

Episode 19: Chuck Sambuchino, Freelance Editor and Publishing Expert

Insights from industry veteran Chuck Sambuchino on how to become a well-informed writer, build a platform, and get published.

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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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