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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Episode 27: Roz Morris, Ghostwriter and Writing Coach
Marketing, Market, Audience, Memoir Draft, Memoir Editing, Memoir Idea, Memoir Outline, Memoir Publishing, Memoir Submission, Nonfiction Draft, Nonfiction Editing, Nonfiction Idea, Nonfiction Outline, Nonfiction Publishing, Nonfiction Submission Mary Kole Marketing, Market, Audience, Memoir Draft, Memoir Editing, Memoir Idea, Memoir Outline, Memoir Publishing, Memoir Submission, Nonfiction Draft, Nonfiction Editing, Nonfiction Idea, Nonfiction Outline, Nonfiction Publishing, Nonfiction Submission Mary Kole

Episode 27: Roz Morris, Ghostwriter and Writing Coach

Roz Morris and Mary dive into the mechanics of storytelling and discuss how to connect with your audience—whether you're writing someone else's story or you're telling your own.

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Episode 22: Kelly Madrone, Award-Winning Writer and Ghostwriter
Marketing, Market, Audience, Memoir Draft, Memoir Editing, Memoir Idea, Memoir Outline, Memoir Publishing, Memoir Revision, Memoir Submission, Nonfiction Draft, Nonfiction Editing, Nonfiction Idea, Nonfiction Outline, Nonfiction Publishing, Nonfiction Submission Mary Kole Marketing, Market, Audience, Memoir Draft, Memoir Editing, Memoir Idea, Memoir Outline, Memoir Publishing, Memoir Revision, Memoir Submission, Nonfiction Draft, Nonfiction Editing, Nonfiction Idea, Nonfiction Outline, Nonfiction Publishing, Nonfiction Submission Mary Kole

Episode 22: Kelly Madrone, Award-Winning Writer and Ghostwriter

Ghostwriter Kelly Madrone joins us to talk about writing as someone else, modulating a professional potty mouth, and creating a story arc in memoir.

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Episode 31: Lisa Stringfellow, Middle-Grade Fantasy Author
Marketing, Market, Audience, Novel Draft, Novel Editing, Novel Idea, Novel Outline, Novel Publishing, Novel Submission Mary Kole Marketing, Market, Audience, Novel Draft, Novel Editing, Novel Idea, Novel Outline, Novel Publishing, Novel Submission Mary Kole

Episode 31: Lisa Stringfellow, Middle-Grade Fantasy Author

Lisa Stringfellow discusses her debut novel set in the Caribbean, “A Comb of Wishes.” She talks through her long journey from draft to finished book—plus plans for Book 2—and shares craft and industry tips she’s learned along the way.

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What Is a Sensitivity Reader?
Critique, Audience, Market, Novel Editing, Picture Book Editing, ER/CB Editing, Freelance Editing, Nonfiction Editing, Memoir Editing, Short Story Editing Mary Kole Critique, Audience, Market, Novel Editing, Picture Book Editing, ER/CB Editing, Freelance Editing, Nonfiction Editing, Memoir Editing, Short Story Editing Mary Kole

What Is a Sensitivity Reader?

There is a lot of controversy in the writing world about sensitivity readers, so what is a sensitivity reader? What does a sensitivity reader do? Learn more about this specializing writing and editing role here.

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Episode 12: John Cusick, Agent and Author
Marketing, Market, Audience, ER/CB Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Novel Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Short Story Publishing, Picture Book Submission, ER/CB Submission, Nonfiction Submission, Novel Submission Mary Kole Marketing, Market, Audience, ER/CB Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Novel Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Short Story Publishing, Picture Book Submission, ER/CB Submission, Nonfiction Submission, Novel Submission Mary Kole

Episode 12: John Cusick, Agent and Author

A conversation with John Cusick, literary agent and MG/YA author. We delve into writing for MG and YA readers, what agents are looking for, and breaking writing rules.

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Episode 2: Ryan Van Cleave, Nonfiction Writer and Writing Teacher
Marketing, Market, Audience, Memoir Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Memoir Draft, Nonfiction Draft, Nonfiction Outline, Memoir Outline Mary Kole Marketing, Market, Audience, Memoir Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Memoir Draft, Nonfiction Draft, Nonfiction Outline, Memoir Outline Mary Kole

Episode 2: Ryan Van Cleave, Nonfiction Writer and Writing Teacher

A podcast all about nonfiction book proposals, nonfiction article pitching, and strategically growing your writing career, including a ton of tips for that ever-intimidating concept of marketing yourself and your writing.

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4 Helpful Tips For Writing Fresh Fantasy Picture Books
Writing, Craft, Audience, Picture Book Draft, Picture Book Editing, Picture Book Idea, Picture Book Outline, Picture Book Publishing, Picture Book Submission Rhiannon Richardson Writing, Craft, Audience, Picture Book Draft, Picture Book Editing, Picture Book Idea, Picture Book Outline, Picture Book Publishing, Picture Book Submission Rhiannon Richardson

4 Helpful Tips For Writing Fresh Fantasy Picture Books

If you’re interested in writing a children’s picture book that uses fantasy elements to engage readers in a meaningful way, then you’ve come to the right place. In this post, we provide four tips on how to write original, highly engaging fantasy picture books that stand out!

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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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Episode 8: Jeff Lyons, Writing Teacher
Marketing, Market, Audience, Novel Publishing, ER/CB Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Novel Draft, ER/CB Draft, Nonfiction Draft, Freelance Draft, Memoir Draft, Picture Book Draft, Short Story Draft, Freelance Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Short Story Publishing Mary Kole Marketing, Market, Audience, Novel Publishing, ER/CB Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Novel Draft, ER/CB Draft, Nonfiction Draft, Freelance Draft, Memoir Draft, Picture Book Draft, Short Story Draft, Freelance Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Short Story Publishing Mary Kole

Episode 8: Jeff Lyons, Writing Teacher

Writing teachers Jeff Lyons and Mary Kole in conversation about craft, from the big picture to the nitty gritty.

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Episode 1: Chris Baty, Founder of NaNoWriMo
Marketing, Market, Audience, Novel Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Memoir Publishing, ER/CB Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Freelance Idea, ER/CB Draft, Freelance Draft, Memoir Draft, Novel Draft, Nonfiction Draft, Short Story Draft, Picture Book Draft, ER/CB Outline, Freelance Outline, Nonfiction Outline, Memoir Outline, Picture Book Outline, Novel Outline Mary Kole Marketing, Market, Audience, Novel Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Memoir Publishing, ER/CB Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Freelance Idea, ER/CB Draft, Freelance Draft, Memoir Draft, Novel Draft, Nonfiction Draft, Short Story Draft, Picture Book Draft, ER/CB Outline, Freelance Outline, Nonfiction Outline, Memoir Outline, Picture Book Outline, Novel Outline Mary Kole

Episode 1: Chris Baty, Founder of NaNoWriMo

An interview with NaNoWriMo founder and writing teacher Chris Baty, where we discuss plot, pantsing, not nipping good ideas in the bud, celebrating a hot pile of garbage, and the cult of busyness.

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Getting Started with Social Media for Writers
Community, Marketing, Audience, ER/CB Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Novel Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Short Story Publishing Guest User Community, Marketing, Audience, ER/CB Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Novel Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Short Story Publishing Guest User

Getting Started with Social Media for Writers

Have you started on your writing journey and want to know how to handle the dreaded social media options? Think of social media as a way to connect to others in the writing community. While there are many platforms to consider, it’s important to pick and choose what you like and enjoy. Here’s a checklist to help you get started. 

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Art Speaks: Creating Wordless Picture Books
Audience, Craft, Market, Picture Book Draft, Picture Book Editing, Picture Book Idea, Picture Book Outline Joiya Morrison-Efemini Audience, Craft, Market, Picture Book Draft, Picture Book Editing, Picture Book Idea, Picture Book Outline Joiya Morrison-Efemini

Art Speaks: Creating Wordless Picture Books

If you’re an author/illustrator in the picture book business, you probably feel like you’re at an advantage. While there is value in being able to create an entire work on your own, I’d like you to imagine not using your words. What does it look like to create wordless picture books?

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Books That Teach Life Lessons
Writing, Craft, Audience, Picture Book Idea, Picture Book Draft, ER/CB Idea, ER/CB Draft, Novel Idea, Novel Draft, Nonfiction Draft, Nonfiction Idea Mary Kole Writing, Craft, Audience, Picture Book Idea, Picture Book Draft, ER/CB Idea, ER/CB Draft, Novel Idea, Novel Draft, Nonfiction Draft, Nonfiction Idea Mary Kole

Books That Teach Life Lessons

Books that teach life lessons are fine...as long as you don't clobber readers over the head with your theme. So how do you weave a message into your story without being too obvious?

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Breaking Writing Rules
Writing, Craft, Market, Audience, Nonfiction Draft, Novel Draft, ER/CB Draft, Freelance Draft, Memoir Draft, Picture Book Draft, Short Story Draft Mary Kole Writing, Craft, Market, Audience, Nonfiction Draft, Novel Draft, ER/CB Draft, Freelance Draft, Memoir Draft, Picture Book Draft, Short Story Draft Mary Kole

Breaking Writing Rules

Breaking writing rules might seem like a bold artistic statement, but it could also backfire. Here are some considerations for writers who are inclined to take their projects in a more experimental direction.

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