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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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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Episode 21: Gabriela Pereira, founder of DIY MFA
Writing, Craft, Community, Marketing, Novel Draft, Novel Publishing, Picture Book Draft, Picture Book Publishing, Nonfiction Draft, Nonfiction Publishing, ER/CB Draft, ER/CB Publishing, Freelance Draft, Freelance Publishing, Memoir Draft, Memoir Publishing Mary Kole Writing, Craft, Community, Marketing, Novel Draft, Novel Publishing, Picture Book Draft, Picture Book Publishing, Nonfiction Draft, Nonfiction Publishing, ER/CB Draft, ER/CB Publishing, Freelance Draft, Freelance Publishing, Memoir Draft, Memoir Publishing Mary Kole

Episode 21: Gabriela Pereira, founder of DIY MFA

Gabriela Pereira discusses her journey to founding DIY MFA, the do-it-yourself alternative to a Masters degree in writing, while living with bipolar disorder. She shares tips about unconventional learning styles, finding a writing community in your backyard, and using storytelling to effectively market your work.

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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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Self Publishing in Five Easy Steps
Marketing, Community, ER/CB Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Novel Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Short Story Publishing Michal Leah Marketing, Community, ER/CB Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Novel Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Short Story Publishing Michal Leah

Self Publishing in Five Easy Steps

Turns out, there’s more to self publishing than just putting your book out there and seeing what happens. Ideally, you’ll have other people’s help as well. Here, we’ll run through the basics of self publishing in five steps.

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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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Episode 15: Cidney Swanson, Good Story Grant Recipient
Marketing, Market, Audience, Novel Draft, Novel Publishing, Novel Submission, Nonfiction Publishing, ER/CB Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Short Story Publishing Mary Kole Marketing, Market, Audience, Novel Draft, Novel Publishing, Novel Submission, Nonfiction Publishing, ER/CB Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Short Story Publishing Mary Kole

Episode 15: Cidney Swanson, Good Story Grant Recipient

A conversation with Cidney Swanson, sci-fi author and recipient of the 2020 Good Story Grant.

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DIY Author Marketing 101
Marketing, Market, Audience, ER/CB Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Novel Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Short Story Publishing Michal Leah Marketing, Market, Audience, ER/CB Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Novel Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Short Story Publishing Michal Leah

DIY Author Marketing 101

You’re published. Now what? However you got your book out into the world, you’re probably looking for more readers. Here are some DIY tips for author marketing.

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Episode 17: Anna Staniszewski, Children's Author
Marketing, Market, Audience, Novel Draft, Novel Submission, ER/CB Draft, ER/CB Publishing, ER/CB Submission, Picture Book Draft, Picture Book Publishing, Picture Book Submission, Picture Book Idea, Picture Book Editing, Picture Book Outline, ER/CB Editing, ER/CB Idea, ER/CB Outline Mary Kole Marketing, Market, Audience, Novel Draft, Novel Submission, ER/CB Draft, ER/CB Publishing, ER/CB Submission, Picture Book Draft, Picture Book Publishing, Picture Book Submission, Picture Book Idea, Picture Book Editing, Picture Book Outline, ER/CB Editing, ER/CB Idea, ER/CB Outline Mary Kole

Episode 17: Anna Staniszewski, Children's Author

On this month's episode, children's author Anna Staniszewski chats about her path to publication, writing for different age groups, and what it takes to make it as a full-time author.

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Episode 4: Laura Elliott, Ghostwriter
Marketing, Market, Audience, Memoir Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Memoir Draft, Nonfiction Draft, Nonfiction Outline, Memoir Outline, Memoir Idea, Nonfiction Idea Mary Kole Marketing, Market, Audience, Memoir Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Memoir Draft, Nonfiction Draft, Nonfiction Outline, Memoir Outline, Memoir Idea, Nonfiction Idea Mary Kole

Episode 4: Laura Elliott, Ghostwriter

A podcast interview with ghostwriter Laura Elliott, all about deep research, finding inspiration from various sources, and telling stories … even other people’s.

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Presenting the Premise
Craft, Marketing, Writing, ER/CB Idea, Freelance Idea, Nonfiction Idea, Novel Idea, Picture Book Idea, Short Story Idea Kristen Overman Craft, Marketing, Writing, ER/CB Idea, Freelance Idea, Nonfiction Idea, Novel Idea, Picture Book Idea, Short Story Idea Kristen Overman

Presenting the Premise

A series of things happening doesn’t make a story. Without a clear premise, readers have no idea what to expect from the story or why they should keep reading. Here's how to establish your premise from the start.

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What Type of Online Presence Do You Need?
Marketing, ER/CB Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Novel Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Short Story Publishing Guest User Marketing, ER/CB Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Novel Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Short Story Publishing Guest User

What Type of Online Presence Do You Need?

What’s the right way to have an online presence? Both before getting a book deal and after, this is a common question for writers. After all, we often hear that it is essential to get your name, your face, your everything out there in order to make potential readers aware of you.

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The Problem With Boy Books and Girl Books
Audience, Marketing, Market, Writing, ER/CB Idea, Novel Idea Guest User Audience, Marketing, Market, Writing, ER/CB Idea, Novel Idea Guest User

The Problem With Boy Books and Girl Books

“I’m looking for boy books.” When I worked as a librarian, I heard this statement often. A parent came into the children’s room, with or without their child in tow, and eagerly asked me for a “boy book.” They said it like I’d automatically know what they were talking about, like of course books about burping robots and trucks and alien invasions from outer space were for male readers alone.

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